After Crossing Over, I Marked the Empress

The Empress’s camp was set up near the makeshift guesthouse.

Though the space wasn’t large, the area divisions were clear.

The command center was in the innermost independent military tent, the middle was a military restricted area, and the outermost plaza was a public access zone with more people.

On the plaza, besides some officers and soldiers resting in shifts, there were many medical staff, supply personnel, and logistics workers coming and going.

Dawn hadn’t broken yet, but the entire camp was brightly lit, with the acrid smell of burnt materials still lingering in the air.

A news interview vehicle was parked in a corner of the plaza.

Live broadcast equipment was set up on the vehicle’s roof, streaming real-time panoramic views of the camp plaza.

Two reporters and a cameraman behind them were permitted to interview people on the plaza, provided they didn’t interfere with disaster relief efforts.

At this moment, a helicopter slowly descended onto the temporary helipad outside the plaza.

A stretcher was first brought out from the cabin, carried by two soldiers heading straight into the camp.

Seeing this, everyone quickly cleared a path to allow the stretcher unobstructed passage.

The four news workers also skillfully retreated to the side.

Only after the stretcher had left the plaza area did they give a brief report.

[The person on the stretcher is a member of the Empress’s personal guard team. She’s injured in the head and shoulder. We hope this brave soldier recovers soon.]

[According to the latest news received by our station, the Northern Commander has safely arrived at the military camp. One of those who went to rescue the commander was the guard team soldier we just saw.]

Upon receiving this news, the over 600 million online citizens finally felt their taut nerves truly relax.

Ordinary people feared civil war most.

Natural disasters and foreign enemies could be resisted and fought against collectively, snatching life from death’s grasp.

But civil war was different. No matter which side won, everyone would lose in the end.

“Oh? Another guard team member came down from the helicopter.”

“That’s Captain Shen! I heard she led the team to rescue the Northern Commander!”

Someone on the plaza recognized Shen Han’s captain status.

The four TV station staff hurried over with their equipment. They certainly wouldn’t ignore such “fresh” firsthand information.

The four understood propriety and didn’t run up to block Shen Han’s path.

They just filmed and interviewed alongside her.

[Captain Shen, did you engage in close combat with the foreign armed forces?]

[Can you briefly describe the situation at the time?]

[Captain Shen, do you think this was a long-planned terrorist attack?]

Shen Han still wore the camouflage combat uniform she had left in.

After several rounds of intense fighting, it was damaged in places, with bloodstains on the torn fabric, collar, and legs.

This Alpha captain who had just returned from the battlefield looked somewhat disheveled, but her entire being exuded an air of iron-blooded devotion.

Her back remained straight, slender yet giving an impression of indomitability.

Hearing the reporters’ questions, Shen Han halted her steps.

She raised her eyes to meet the camera lens directly facing her and spoke steadily and firmly: “The territory of the Free Federation is inviolable. Should any dare to invade, we will punish them, no matter how far!”

Shen Han couldn’t disclose information about the previous battles or Gu Yuwei here.

But she knew there must have been public unrest during this night, so she made that statement.

The Alpha captain’s declaration, through various channels, traversed thousands of miles to reach the eyes and ears of Federation citizens.

It instantly stirred a sense of pride and passion in everyone’s hearts!

In an instant, the screen of the Federation’s Second Television Station’s live broadcast room was flooded with bullet comments.

Countless people repeatedly posted the phrase “Should any dare to invade, we will punish them, no matter how far!”

In the main city of the Fourth Southern District, at the He family estate.

The He family’s younger generation had barely woken up when they were called to pay attention to this current event.

They didn’t dare complain aloud, but all felt the old master was being overly cautious.

How could civil war break out so easily?

Even the political upheaval a year ago, which was so fierce, ended up fine, didn’t it?

He Meng thought the same, but she didn’t dare disobey her grandfather’s arrangements.

She covered a yawn as she stood up, intending to sneak a cigarette under the guise of going to the bathroom to wake herself up.

Suddenly, she heard a female reporter addressing Captain Shen behind her.

At first, He Meng didn’t pay much attention, until she heard that somewhat familiar voice sound from behind, causing her to turn abruptly, her eyes fixed on the projection screen.

In the image, the Alpha still had the same handsome yet delicate appearance she remembered.

But at this moment, her eyes held a determination He Meng had never seen before.

Facing the enemy with drawn sword!

After hearing the Alpha’s brief yet powerful statement, He Meng felt her eyes inexplicably stinging.

She also felt some regret. Why had she committed that disciplinary violation when she was hired as a special instructor for the prospective guard team?

If she were still an instructor now, wouldn’t she have had the chance to be by her side?

A year ago, He Meng’s attitude towards Shen Han was more one of curiosity.

But now, she genuinely felt that the other was an exceptionally outstanding and charismatic person!

Some commotion arose in the projected screen.

The two camera lenses originally focused on Shen Han, one of them now switched angles.

The TV station’s live broadcast reacted extremely quickly, presenting one wide shot and two close-ups simultaneously in split-screen.

In the wide shot, a group of people could be seen emerging from within the camp.

Soldiers with guns lined up in two rows, leaving a central passage.

The close-ups were focused on two people respectively.

One was Shen Han standing in place, the other was Gu Junwan walking out of the camp surrounded by guards.

The Empress had emerged!

So much had happened in one night, and Gu Junwan had been personally coordinating rescue and combat operations from the command room.

It could be said that although she hadn’t rushed to the front lines, the pressure she bore was no less than anyone else’s.

The 11th Division soldiers had already arrested the few mercenaries who had fled after being injured in the car crash.

And at the road battlefield, rescue and cleanup work was already underway.

The disaster relief officers and soldiers resting on the plaza had now stood up, all rendering a salute in Gu Junwan’s direction.

The TV station’s news workers were asked to retreat a distance, but the guards didn’t stop them from continuing to film, just not allowing them to get too close to the Empress.

An hour ago, Gu Junwan had heard reports about the situation at the abandoned theater.

She knew Shen Han and Ning Xi were both injured, and she had been waiting for her Alpha’s return.

Only because they encountered Gu Yuwei’s air force midway did they delay for quite a while.

When she finally saw the little red dot representing Shen Han’s locator appear outside the camp, she found the dot had stopped moving after a while.

Then, in the Second Television Station’s news broadcast, she saw her Alpha and heard what she said.

She knew her appearance now would attract a lot of attention.

But she wanted to see Shen Han immediately, couldn’t wait a moment longer!

So, this scene unfolded before the live broadcast cameras.

Watching Gu Junwan walk towards her, Shen Han’s heart instantly filled with warmth.

Sensing the concern and tenderness hidden beneath her Omega’s calm facade, she felt everything she had done was worthwhile.

“Snap!”

Shen Han gave a standard military salute to the Empress standing before her.

Gu Junwan slightly raised her chin, her golden eyes reflecting only the beads of sweat on her Alpha’s forehead and her split lip.

The Omega’s slender hand, hidden beneath her sleeve, clenched tightly, her knuckles turning somewhat pale from the force.

Her heart felt as if gripped by an invisible hand, even her breathing becoming labored.

In the instant their eyes met, without anyone speaking, everything was understood.

Just as Gu Junwan was about to have someone take Shen Han to the medical bay,

The Alpha, who had been standing straight before her saluting a second ago, suddenly collapsed forward.

“Your Majesty, be careful!”

“Captain Shen has fainted!”

“Medic! Where’s the medic?”

Shen Han’s sudden collapse caused a small commotion both in front of and behind the cameras.

The reporter who had been chasing Shen Han with questions earlier now looked very upset.

She turned to her camera crew and said quietly, “I didn’t know she was injured. If I had, I definitely wouldn’t have asked her so many questions.”

The cameraman, slightly older, immediately comforted her: “It was unintentional, don’t worry.”

“Captain Shen’s words and actions before the camera just now have inspired countless citizens. Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.”

The collapsing Captain Shen fell onto Gu Junwan, then pushed her backwards.

Fortunately, Xu Zhao, following closely behind, was quick to catch her Empress’s back, preventing them both from falling to the ground.

Guard team members lifted their unconscious captain onto the medics’ stretcher, then the group moved together to the central area of the camp.

Those on the original plaza couldn’t enter, but silently prayed for Captain Shen’s wellbeing.

In this situation, even the citizens who had been eagerly following online didn’t joke or make wild speculations.

Only He Meng, far away in the He family residence in the Fourth District, felt she had caught something.

Earlier, the two camera lenses had been focused on Gu Junwan and Shen Han’s faces.

In the frame, one looked composed and beautiful, the other stood at attention saluting, nothing seeming amiss.

But He Meng still noticed a subtle detail in Gu Junwan’s eyes.

She felt that when looking at Shen Han, it wasn’t the gaze of an Empress towards her guard.

It was more like… an Omega looking at her Alpha!

Once this bold speculation arose, He Meng’s thoughts began to race uncontrollably.

She belatedly realized she had overlooked a crucial link all along.

A year ago, it was indeed wrong of her to ambush Shen Han outside her apartment building with contraband, she admitted that.

But how did such an insignificant episode end up being reported to the Empress?

To make an imperfect analogy, this question was like illegal parking.

Many people do it every day, but most cases aren’t easily caught.

Previously, He Meng had thought she just had bad luck, happening to be made an example of by the Empress.

Now, she realized that while it was indeed bad luck, the nature of it was completely different.

Thinking of this, He Meng couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

So, had she accidentally tried to ‘steal’ from the Empress herself?!