LIGHTNOVELONLINE 44
Chapter 44 Light. (Added lines about Daren…)
After ending the call, Yi Er remained silent, his face solemn.
Qi Yao whispered, “Yao Li is here, what about your father…”
Yi Er took a deep breath, after a moment, he said, “What must come will come. Let’s go, go home and change clothes, then we’ll go to the palace together to see His Highness.”
The Glassian starships had already gone far away. Their brief appearance caused a brief stir of curiosity in the alley, but it had no impact on life in the lower city area.
On the narrow and damp alleyway, dim streetlights cast long and thin shadows of Qi Yao and Yi Er.
Yi Er remained silent, his head bowed. His steps were not fast, but each step seemed particularly heavy.
Qi Yao, infected by Yi Er’s mood, also felt heavy-hearted.
“Don’t want to go see them?” He could guess Yi Er’s thoughts.
After a long pause, Yi Er replied, “I don’t know what to say when I see them.”
Qi Yao stepped on the uneven ground, and as he looked up at the dim streetlights, a ray of light seemed to penetrate his heavy heart.
He pointed to that dim yellow point, “Yi Er, look, it’s light.”
Yi Er didn’t understand, but still followed Qi Yao’s direction to look, seeing the small light of the street lamp.
Qi Yao said, “No matter how tiny the light is, it will illuminate the darkness. You have to believe in its existence.”
Yi Er hesitated, “…Are you talking about finding a way out?”
“Yes.” Qi Yao nodded, affirming, “Can’t you see the light ahead? Let me help you see it. I see it, and I’ll show it to you.”
Yi Er’s face cracked a faint smile because of the street lamp shining on it, unexpectedly bringing a hint of warmth to his forced smile.
Even the mist in his eyes seemed to shine along.
This male zerg never ceased to comfort him.
Bringing him to the lower city area, away from the troublesome matters in the empire; pointing at the street lamp, letting him see the light in the darkness…
He was like the beam of light shooting into his gloomy heart, tiny but undeniable.
Yi Er grabbed Qi Yao’s hand, “Thank you, my lord, I see it.”
Qi Yao’s five fingers intertwined with his, squeezing gently. He freed up his other hand and lightly pressed it in circles on Yi Er’s slightly furrowed brow, “No need to thank me. I just want my consort to know that he hasn’t missed anything, so there’s no need to retreat when facing Yao Li.”
Qi Yao encouraged him, “My consort, fearless of heaven and earth, radiant all over, unstoppable by any zergs.”
Yi Er’s faint smile indeed regained its luster, “Am I really that great?”
Qi Yao said naturally, “Just ask yourself, which zerg in the empire at your age has achieved what you have? Eighteen years old promoted to lieutenant general, twenty-four years old rose to general, appreciated by His Majesty and His Highness, single-handedly reversed the situation in the last border star system war, captured Gatt…”
Yi Er suddenly reached out, his large hand enveloping Qi Yao’s raised fingers, “Listening to you say that, I just realized how great I am.”
“Uh, you have something even greater.”
“What?”
Qi Yao pretended to be mysterious, “I won’t tell you.”
Yi Er’s curiosity was aroused, “Why won’t you tell me? Don’t I have the right to know? You haven’t finished counting just now.”
Qi Yao’s ears uncontrollably heated up, luckily it was dark now and wouldn’t be easily noticed, otherwise his lord’s face would have no place to hide.
“There are too many things that can’t be counted. Can I count them all for you?” He turned away from the topic, speeding up his pace with their hands held together, “Let’s hurry, don’t we need to go home and change clothes?”
“Oh…” Unable to ask for more details, Yi Er felt a bit disappointed.
Qi Yao suddenly said, “It seems like His Highness didn’t give us a specific time frame?”
“Hmm?”
“But we also can’t keep him waiting too long.”
“Hmm…”
“So, Yi Er, we should hurry up.”
Before long, the two zergs returned home.
When going to the Imperial Palace to meet with Si Niya, they couldn’t dress too casually.
Following Yi Er’s instructions, Dean had already prepared many formal clothes for Qi Yao early on.
Yi Er chose a high-end ceremonial outfit that matched his own attire, and Xiao En ironed it before helping Qi Yao put it on.
Qi Yao didn’t want his help; he wasn’t incapable of dressing himself. But Yi Er insisted, and he eventually relented.
Standing in front of the dressing mirror, Qi Yao let Yi Er handle him like a puppet, buttoning buttons and tying ties meticulously.
Except when Yi Er was adjusting his pants, his movements showed a hint of hesitation.
Then, he froze for a moment, looked up at Qi Yao, calm and indifferent, “I seem to understand what you meant by something greater now.”
Qi Yao: “…………”
Yi Er smoothed his clothes, smiling lowly, with a hint of mischief, “I’m just making the most of my advantages and strengths, my lord. You need to work harder, otherwise, I won’t be satisfied every time.”
“…………”
If he had known he wouldn’t have teased him to cheer him up; he should have let him sulk alone.
Now, with Yi Er in a good mood, he was making fun of him.
Being questioned about his abilities by his queen, this time, Qi Yao’s blush on his ears couldn’t be hidden at all, boldly displaying in front of Yi Er. He stuttered, “You, I, how can I compare to you? You’ve already completed the second molting. Your physical advantage is too strong, and your recovery ability is high, I’m simply…”
Yi Er shamelessly said, “I’m just making the most of what I have.”
Qi Yao didn’t want to be looked down upon by his consort either. His face remained red for quite a while, as he humbly asked, “Then, how… how do I work… work harder? Do I need to lift weights?”
Yi Er was amused by him again, whispering softly, “No need, my lord. You just need to hurry up and complete the second molting. Once everything is improved, I won’t feel like I’m bullying you anymore.”
“……”
The second molting?
This mystical thing, who knows when it will happen?
Imperial Palace.
The brightly lit banquet hall was entertaining the Glassy envoys.
Under Si Niya’s orders, attendants were waiting for Yi Er and Qi Yao at the palace gate.
After loitering in the lower city area and returning home for a while, the two zergs unexpectedly arrived just in time, without delaying the start of the banquet.
Sitting at the head was Si Niya, whose expression wasn’t as grim as expected. Sitting next to Dai Na, the two zergs were respectful and courteous, smiling at each other, showing no signs of the discord they had caused last night.
Skipping over the formalities, Si Niya let Qi Yao and Yi Er take their seats.
After sitting down, Qi Yao looked around and noticed a big problem, “Where’s Yao Li? Wasn’t he supposed to be entertained here? Why isn’t he here?”
Yi Er was just as puzzled.
In the vast banquet hall, big enough to accommodate thousands of zergs, all the ministers and envoys were present, except for one of the main characters of this banquet, Yao Li.
Qi Yao lowered his voice and whispered to Yi Er, “Could it be that Yao Li’s request to meet you and me was just a gimmick…”
Before he could finish his sentence, an attendant approached them, bowing respectfully, “General, General’s Lord, His Majesty invites you to sit inside for a while.”
Qi Yao and Yi Er glanced at each other, then looked to the head table, where Si Niya and Dai Na were no longer visible.
They had no choice but to stand up and follow the attendant.
They were taken into a small room.
Yao Li, Si Niya, and Dai Na were all in this small room.
There was also another zerg beside Yao Li, fully armed, with only a pair of deep blue eyes visible, eagerly looking at the door. When Yi Er entered, his gaze couldn’t move away.
The moment Yi Er and Qi Yao entered, they recognized who he was.
They were both stunned, not expecting Si Niya to meet them alone for Darren.
Once the door of the room was closed tightly, there was good sound insulation.
Darren looked at Yi Er, and all the zergs looked at Darren.
They stared at each other in silence, without saying a word.
Yi Er was actually prepared in his heart, but when this moment happened again, he still couldn’t take that brave step forward.
Time passed slowly and quietly.
Darren removed the wrapping on his head, revealing his original appearance.
Silver hair, blue eyes.
He eagerly walked up to Yi Er, bowed, then raised his head, prepared for a long time, and tremblingly said to Yi Er, “After you left that night, I thought for a long time. For fourteen years, as your female father, I didn’t fulfill my fatherly duties, letting you grow up in an environment lacking family love; as a former officer of the Empire, knowing I survived, I didn’t contribute to the Empire. Not coming back to report, not coming to find you, those are the two things I regret most in my life.”
Darren said, “I don’t know how to make up for the psychological trauma you’ve suffered, but I came here today sincerely wanting to make it up to you.”
Yi Er remained silent in shock.
The overwhelming realization also took Dai Na a while to react. He had noticed the eyes of this female zerg who never left Yao Li’s side early on. At first, he was skeptical, but now he finally got confirmation.
He looked at Darren’s back, still unable to believe his eyes, “Brother…?”
Darren turned around, apologetically bowed his head, “Dai Na, thank you for taking care of Yi Er for me all these years.”
Si Niya’s expression was uncertain. Despite his usual calmness, he was a bit confused about the current situation. He could only direct his anger towards Yao Li, “We show the utmost respect to the Glassy envoys. As per your request, we brought Yi Er and Qi Yao here. You must explain to me clearly what’s going on now? How could our empire’s hero who died in battle fourteen years ago be with you?”
If he remembered correctly, before he and Dai Na came in, Yao Li and Darren’s hands were clasped together.
That was a gesture only close zergs would make.
Yao Li stood up, calmly saying, “As Your Majesty can see, Darren is now… my mate.”
“Mate?” Si Niya and Dai Na were both shocked.
Yao Li continued slowly, “Fourteen years ago, I accidentally traversed through a wormhole and found him amidst the wreckage outside the wormhole. I brought him back to Glassy, used the most advanced medical technology to heal his severely damaged body, comforted his painful memories he didn’t want to recall due to his injuries, and from my subordinate, he gradually became my mate. It’s as simple as that.”
Si Niya was impatient. Ever since he knew Darren was still alive, he hadn’t been in a good mood. “Yao Li, how can you use such a casual attitude to deceive our empire’s hero into your hands and come here to boast to me?”
Yao Li said, “Your Majesty, I didn’t deceive you. Darren and I fell in love with each other. I know he was married and divorced, had children, such zergs are considered the lowest in your empire, right? I have no reason to deceive such a zerg. In my eyes, Darren is precious, and he deserves to be treated seriously.”
Si Niya wasn’t moved by his words at all, “He became your mate, did he bear children for you?”
Yao Li smiled, “He did, two. One female and one male, at home, not brought out.”
Si Niya’s pupils shook, not only Si Niya, but everyone present besides Yao Li and Darren felt uncomfortable.
Yao Li said, “Your Highness, I am here on behalf of the Glassy Star System, sincerely willing to negotiate. Bringing Darren here is because he wants to come back and see. He has a great regret in his heart that he wants to make up for.”
Si Niya calmly thought it over. Now that Darren had remarried and had children, it would be difficult for him to return to the empire.
Dai Na’s face also alternated between green and white. He had many questions for Darren, but now was clearly not the time.
Yi Er couldn’t snap out of it from the explosive news that Darren had borne children again, still in a daze recalling Darren’s words about wanting to make up for him.
Qi Yao carefully observed Yi Er from the side, afraid that he couldn’t accept this information and would make a disqualifying move.
Si Niya quickly finished his thoughts. He solemnly said to Yao Li, “To negotiate, show your sincerity. I won’t relax the conditions for negotiation just because Darren was once a hero of our empire.”
Yao Li calmly sat down, “No hurry. My consort wants to have a meal with her child. After finishing this meal, we can discuss the negotiation in detail.”