Chapter 33 – Princess Carry
The optical computer gently unfolded. The image of a handsome and elegant middle-aged man appeared in midair. Li Hetao was wearing the imperial family’s iconic platinum costume and holding a glass of wine in his hand. He looked over with a smile: “They think our level of openness with the Republic is too high and want to shut down a few kaifang* planets.”
[*T/N: 开放 kāifàng can mean “to be open to the public,” “to open up to the outside (as in other countries, or planets in this interstellar setting),” “to be open-minded,” “unrestrained by convention,” or even “unconstrained in one’s sexuality.” I thought of translating this word as simply “open” in an attempt to encompass all the possible meanings, but at this point in time I’m really not sure what kind of “open” the author means, and “open planet” sounds weird and non-sensical. So I’m leaving it in pinyin for now.]
Contrary to the iron-blooded family tradition of the Li family, Li Hetao had a gentle personality and loved peace. He was a rare dove faction* ruler. During his reign, the relationship between the Empire and the Republic made rapid progress, and the opening of the kaifang planets was a typical example.
[*T/N: dove faction a.k.a. peace party; the faction seeking peace]
“The number of planets that border the Empire and the Republic do not exceed one hundred. We have opened less than a tenth of that number and they’re saying it’s too high?” Liao Yunyan sneered, “I say they have too much free time on their hands, fussing over their little acres of land every day…”
“You called me for something?” Li Hetao interrupted her with a smile.
Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.
Liao Yunyan said, “Li Rong was poisoned at tonight’s banquet!”
Li Hetao was stunned for a moment. A cracking sound came through the optical computer and the glass in his hand shattered into pieces.
The bustling banquet hall suddenly became quiet, as if even the air was freezing.
Why did the emperor get angry all of a sudden?
The congressman who was just proposing that they should restrict opening up broke into a cold sweat.
After a while, the amiable emperor took the handkerchief handed to him by the secretary, wiped his hands nonchalantly, and said calmly: “I have something else to do, let’s talk about it later.”
The congressman had prepared a long script of dialogue in his head, but he did not dare to make any more mistakes at this moment. He could only swallow his words and step aside, as if he had a raw egg stuffed in his throat.
It was not until Li Hetao left that the congressman breathed a sigh of relief.
Someone whispered: “Isn’t it just a matter of closing a few kaifang planets? Why so angry all of a sudden?”
Imperial Household Hospital
“It wasn’t poison. It was an accident. It was really just an accident!” Li Rong had already explained it a hundred times, and his mouth was about to dry up. “Why are you not willing to believe me?”
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Liao Yunyan said ruthlessly: “First you have to tell me why did you get a nosebleed and fainted?”
Li Rong looked at the sky speechlessly.
“What did the doctor say?” The ward door opened and Li Hetao strode in.
Liao Yunyan recounted the test results just now and said disapprovingly, “He even fainted due to a nosebleed, but he still refused to fess up and just said that no one harmed him.”
Li Rong was still making his final struggle: “There is really no one, when did I ever lie to you…”
“Son,” Li Hetao sat down on the bedside, and said in a serious tone as he used to do when the House of Representatives was in a meeting, “On a micro level, we are a family, so as parents we are naturally worried about your safety. However, on a macro level, you are this empire’s only heir. If someone coerced or potentially threatened you, it will cause immeasurable harm to the entire empire.”
Li Rong: “…I just got overly excited.”
Liao Yunyan: “Then why were you so excited?”
Li Hetao said kindly: “Believe me, we can’t let you be threatened, tell us…”
“Because An Ji kissed me!” Li Rong couldn’t bear it anymore and roared.
As if the pause button had been pressed, the air in the ward froze.
After a long silence, Liao Yunyan finally regained her precarious consciousness and said stiffly: “What did you just say?”
Translations by Vanilla Muse. Read on vmnovels [dot] com
“An Ji took the initiative to hold my hand and kissed me.” Since the cat was already out of the bag, Li Rong decided to spill all the beans. In order to maintain his dignity as an SSS-level alpha, he specifically emphasized the word ‘initiative.’ “So I was a little excited and accidentally fainted.”
Liao Yunyan trembled and looked over in disbelief.
Li Rong raised his eyebrows: “Do you understand now?”
“You… how much medicine have you been fed?” Liao Yunyan’s face was full of despair, and her voice was trembling, “Otherwise, why would you be hallucinating?”
“If you don’t believe me, you can ask the doctor. It was An Ji who sent me here.” The young prince raised his chin.
Liao Yunyan said suspiciously: “Is this really true?”
The doctor nodded. “It was that omega who brought His Highness here.”
The surveillance camera footage was quickly found, and Li Rong came over excitedly. At the same time, he was also a little curious. How did An Ji, who was as fragile as a rose, bring a tall and strong adult like him here?
He must have suffered a lot in the process, but An Ji was willing to do this for him… Li Rong blushed, raised his head and looked at the surveillance video, trying to find some proof of love.
When he saw the surveillance video clearly, his eyes widened suddenly, and his face morphed into an expression of astonishment as if struck by lightning.
Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.
“This…” Liao Yunyan was not much better than him. After a long silence, she finally came to her senses and said in disbelief, “So this is the type of interaction you two have…?”
“No!” Li Rong blurted out, his fair face turning red instantly.
“It’s okay, we understand.” Liao Yunyan’s thoughts were running a hundred miles a minute. She softened her tone, “We are not such unenlightened parents. It doesn’t matter even if you like to be on the weak side*. I saw too many such scenes when I was in the Republic. No one said that the alpha has to be strong and the omega has to be weak.”
[*T/N: Pretty sure “weak” here is an euphemism for being the one on the bottom. Lol.]
“I’m not weak!” Li Rong denied, as angry as a young male lion whose authority was challenged.
Liao Yunyan: “Then why were you brought here in a princess carry?”
Li Rong: “…”
