LIGHTNOVELONLINE 46
Chapter 46: Go home early.
In the following days, Yi Er and Qi Yao did not receive any summons from the Imperial Palace.
The peace negotiations proceeded smoothly, and official media promptly disclosed relevant matters, so no matter where they were, they could know the progress and content of the negotiations.
Qi Yao’s firsthand information came not only from the news but also from idle chats with three teachers.
Yalman and Russell expressed their opinions, exchanging their insights in various ways every day, and even pulled Nos, who was engrossed in studying new technologies, into the discussion.
Qi Yao listened on the sidelines like an invisible zerg. Sometimes, if he thought something was right, he would nod in agreement to show his approval of the viewpoint.
Without thinking about Darren anymore, Yi Er gradually returned to his usual state of life.
News about the negotiations reached his ears every day. As a general of the Second Military District, he had much more information than Qi Yao.
But the two zergs tacitly communicated very little about these things.
They went to work every day as usual, punched in on time, and returned home to rest punctually. Their days were fulfilling and hopeful.
After Yalman and Russell thoroughly researched the Dark Blade, they returned to their respective positions.
Qi Yao gained a lot from this. While organizing his work notes, Nos invited him, “The Stardust is considered reborn now. I plan to make a new model. Are you interested in working on it with me?”
Qi Yao knew the new Stardust inside out. If he could participate in making the model, he would be overjoyed!
Nos said, “These days, there’s nothing much to do, so it’ll only take three to five days. After all, the Stardust is a very successful combat starship. Leaving a model is part of my work habits.”
Qi Yao immediately replied, “Okay! Teacher Nos, I’ll finish organizing the remaining notes and then start working!”
Nos went to draw model diagrams nearby, while Qi Yao, full of energy, quickly finished organizing the notes and joined in the model-making work.
The collaboration between master and apprentice was harmonious. After polishing and polishing the small parts, they were placed in a designated spot, waiting to be assembled.
Nos asked him casually, “Do you have any thoughts or insights on the negotiations with the Empire?”
Qi Yao: “……?”
If he said he had no thoughts, he would seem indifferent. But if he said he had thoughts, as a little male zerg who barely had any connection with the royal family, what profound insights could he have on this matter concerning the Empire’s peace?
His only thought was that amidst the flurry of news, thankfully, there hadn’t been a single mention of Darren.
After a moment of silence, Qi Yao cautiously replied, “I’m inexperienced and can only listen to the analysis of my teachers. For such an important matter, I believe His Majesty and His Highness will handle it well.”
Nos’s eyes flashed with insight for a moment, then returned to normal. He sighed softly, “Yes, we should trust His Majesty and His Highness. They will handle this matter well.”
Qi Yao was puzzled. When Yalman and Russell were discussing, Nos rarely expressed his opinions. Why did he start discussing with him after they left? And why did he sound so melancholic?
Did he notice details that other zergs hadn’t? Qi Yao felt that Nos had read something from him that other zergs didn’t know, but if Nos didn’t ask, he wouldn’t proactively speak.
Days passed by, and half a month later, the negotiations entered the final stage.
When it was time to get off work one day, Yi Er was delayed by some matters and couldn’t go to Nos’s office to pick up Qi Yao on time, so Qi Yao went to his office to wait for him to go home together.
On the way, Qi Yao was stopped by a female zerg, who said that there was a zerg waiting for him at the gate of the military district.
Qi Yao’s social circle was very small, and it was all related to Yi Er. Unable to recall anyone who might be looking for him and unable to enter the military district, he cautiously asked, “Do you know who that zerg is?”
The female zerg hesitated before saying, “You’ll find out when you go.”
Qi Yao expressed his thanks, glanced at the time, realizing it was still early, and turned to head to the military district gate for the appointment.
Before he could leave the gate, he saw a tall figure standing nearby.
The coffee-colored back of the head faced him, and Yao Li seemed to sense something, turning to give him a kind smile.
Different from the dominance when facing Si Niya, after taking off the marshal uniform of Glassy, Yao Li’s private interaction with Qi Yao resembled that of a gentle and loving father.
He approached and, within a suitable range, said to Qi Yao standing under the gate, “I thought you wouldn’t come.”
Qi Yao hesitated. “I didn’t expect it to be you.”
Yao Li smiled knowingly. “You thought it was Darren.”
Qi Yao nodded in agreement with this answer.
Yao Li said, “He won’t ask to see you two again. I came to find you on my own initiative, and he doesn’t know.”
Qi Yao lowered his eyes, unsure of what to say.
Yao Li spoke gently, “The negotiations are over. Tomorrow, Darren and I will return to the Glassy Galaxy. If it’s convenient, can I speak with you for a few minutes? It won’t take long, maybe… ten to twenty minutes.”
After weighing for a few seconds, Qi Yao slowly nodded.
Not far away was a tea restaurant, crowded with zergs in the evening.
Yao Li had booked a private room here in advance.
The two zergs entered without obstruction, closed the door behind them, shutting out the noisy surroundings.
After sitting down, Yao Li said, “I’m sorry for impulsively inviting you and Yi Er that day.”
He looked sincerely at Qi Yao. “Is Yi Er… alright? Don’t worry, I’m just asking. Darren… he’s very worried about him.”
Qi Yao replied, “He’s fine. He works during the day and messes around with the fountain at home in the evening. He doesn’t have time to think about anything else.”
“The fountain?” Yao Li didn’t understand.
Qi Yao smiled and didn’t plan to explain further.
The two zergs sat silently for a while. The door of the private room was pushed open, and the female waitress brought in the dishes. Yao Li observed Qi Yao’s expression and, seeing him glance at the time, seeming really rushed, instructed the waitress, “Don’t bring in any more dishes.”
The waitress nodded and, as he left, closed the door to the private room again. Yao Li then officially broached today’s topic.
“It was my lack of consideration initially. I just wanted Darren and Yi Er to meet, without considering your feelings,” Yao Li apologized sincerely. “After you two left that night, Darren cried for a long time, saying sorry to Yi Er.”
Qi Yao stirred the tea in front of him without a word. That night, what he remembered more was Yi Er’s unbearable situation, and as for Darren… if he truly felt sorry for Yi Er, he shouldn’t have appeared on the Empire’s territory.
Yao Li said, “He has his reasons.”
Qi Yao couldn’t agree. “Yi Er also has his reasons, but reasons cannot be a universal excuse.”
He stopped his hand’s movement, raised his eyes, and said calmly, “Yi Er cannot psychologically accept Darren as the female of the Glassy Marshal, just like you and his female father. Neither of you can understand what kind of existence Darren, sacrificed for fourteen years ago, is in Yi Er’s heart.”
Yao Li’s eyes gradually darkened.
Qi Yao said, “Living in the Glassy Galaxy for fourteen years, every moment, Darren could choose to return to the Empire. But between the Empire and Galais, between Yi Er and you, he chose the latter every time. He’s a mature zerg now, and by making such a choice, he must bear the consequences.”
Yao Li probably didn’t expect this seemingly gentle male zerg to speak such ruthless words. After a pause, he said, “So this is also Yi Er’s choice.”
Qi Yao remained silent.
After a while, Yao Li said, “Si Niya and Dai Na have talked to Darren. After returning this time, Darren will be recognized as my female consort and obtain a legal status for permanent residence in the Glassy Galaxy. However, in your country, he will no longer have any honor, nor can he set foot in the Empire’s territory.”
Qi Yao was slightly surprised by this outcome, something he hadn’t anticipated.
He didn’t hear from Yao Li’s tone if there was anything wrong.
With a hint of regret lingering in his mind for a while, Qi Yao’s thoughts shifted, and he asked in a low voice, “When you brought him here, did you really not consider this consequence?”
Yao Li narrowed his eyes, concealing the deep emotions within.
Qi Yao lifted his head, capturing this gaze perfectly.
It was colder than the gaze he faced when confronting Si Niya in the Imperial Palace.
Under Yao Li’s gaze, he didn’t feel uncomfortable. Yao Li slowly retracted his eyes and said sternly, “You probably don’t know that when he came to the Glassy Galaxy, he had a name belonging to the Glassy for fourteen years.”
“Oh.” Qi Yao didn’t know what expression to make and wasn’t interested in knowing Darren’s name in the Glassy Galaxy.
He just suddenly thought of Nos. Previously, he felt Nos’s evaluation of Darren was excessive, but now, he seemed to understand Nos.
Darren was indeed selfish.
He had endured a painful first half of his life in the Empire. In the latter half, he met Yao Li, who treated him well, and regarded the good treatment from Yao Li as fate, abandoning his homeland to start anew.
He had a happy new life. How could he easily reclaim the old mate he had forgotten in the first half of his life?
Two opposing camps had an unsolvable situation. There was no win-win solution in this scenario. They should just stay in their respective places and live quietly. No one needed to consider the other’s position because no one could make choices for the other.
He suddenly understood and summarized Yao Li’s statement with a new conclusion: “So from now on, you live your life, and we’ll live ours. We live in our respective countries, lead our own lives, and don’t disturb each other.”
Yao Li replied lightly, “Theoretically.”
Qi Yao observed him. “You seem pleased with this decision.”
Perhaps because they would never see each other again, Yao Li didn’t care anymore. “As early as two years ago, when Darren decided to go and treat Yi Er without permission, he should have realized that they could no longer be a loving family.”
This statement sounded even more ruthless than Qi Yao’s current attitude. He focused his gaze, slowly taking in Yao Li’s deliberately concealed satisfaction, and asked in a deep voice, “Were all your previous actions fake?”
Yao Li said, “Not entirely. Every invitation to you two was sincere, including this one.”
Qi Yao pursued, “Does Darren know what kind of zerg you are?”
Yao Li shrugged. “We’ve lived together for fourteen years.”
“I thought he, at least, was respected by you.”
Yao Li raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying it. “I do respect him. You see, even though he’s an zerg of your empire, even though he’s been married and had offspring, I still made him my female consort, and even rejected the love of the Imperial Crown Prince for him.”
“Is that your idea of respect? Are you sure it’s not twisted possession?”
Yao Li laughed, shaking all over. “How could I have twisted possession of him?”
Qi Yao couldn’t find fault, but at the same time, he felt uncomfortable in his stomach. Even the interest in the conversation had waned by more than half. He sneered, “It’s best if it’s like this.”
Yao Li looked kindly at him. “It’s always been like this.”
Qi Yao didn’t ask any more questions, took a sip of tea, suppressed the discomfort, and then heard Yao Li ask him, “Can I ask one more question? What were you doing on the asteroid that day?”
Qi Yao asked back, “What do you think we were doing?”
Yao Li shrugged.
“It’s not what you think. Meeting you on the asteroid that day was unexpected for both me and Yi Er.” Qi Yao faced Yao Li’s cold and probing gaze directly, speaking word by word, “If possible, I would rather have avoided it for a few days, so Yi Er wouldn’t have encountered you.”
After saying this, he glanced at the time again, unwilling to stay for another moment, stood up, “Twenty minutes have passed. I should go. Thank you for inviting me only this time.”
He didn’t even want to say goodbye. Qi Yao strode out of the tea restaurant.
As the night slowly fell, Qi Yao returned to the military district along the path he came.
From afar, he could see the lights still on in Yi Er’s office. He hurriedly ran over.
Breathlessly pushing the door open, Yi Er, seeing him, thought Nos had made him work overtime again and joked, “Did you miscalculate the model parts again?”
Qi Yao slowed his pace. “How is that possible? Your lord still has some confidence.”
“Then why are you running?”
“I’m afraid you’ll wait too long.”
Yi Er smiled and vacated his office chair for Qi Yao to sit down. “Take a breath. Let me show you something.”
“What?”
The holographic screen was playing today’s hot news.
The final result of the peace negotiations was that Yao Li, with his own power, overpowered the protests of other envoys in the Glassy Galaxy, allowing Gatt to stay in the Empire. This demonstrated the determination of the Glassy to negotiate peace and prematurely ended the deadlock in the negotiations, conclusively ending this long negotiation.
News commentators speculated about Yao Li’s reasons for doing this. Even Yi Er couldn’t understand. “Gatt is the Crown Prince of the Empire. Why didn’t he take him away?”
“In the news comments, everyone is speculating about the reason Yao Li did this. Even I can’t figure it out,” said Yi Er.
Thinking back to the conversation with Yao Li just now, Qi Yao seemed to know the reason.
In this matter concerning Darren, aside from the few zergs who were aware, Yao Li had always guarded Darren well, even when he met Yi Er that night, they secretly met in a soundproof room.
In fact, as long as no one spoke, no zerg would know that Darren was still alive, but Si Niya still took action and reset Darren’s achievements in the Empire to zero, ruthlessly expelling him from the Empire.
Darren’s resurrection and marriage to the marshal of Glassy, along with their children, was an irreparable stain for the Imperial royal family.
And not wanting this stain to exist, there was only one way…
Even Qi Yao could think of it, Yao Li couldn’t possibly not.
If they stayed a few more days, it probably wouldn’t be long before Si Niya secretly made the decision to erase Darren.
It was probably because of this that Yao Li wanted to end the negotiations in a hurry.
A grand marshal of a star system, with a smaller mindset than him, and more in love than him, he didn’t know whether to be happy or sad.
Seeing Qi Yao lost in thought, Yi Er asked, “Have you figured out the reason?”
Qi Yao didn’t answer, staring at the holoscreen, half in thought and half in jest, saying, “Let me combine the other details of the negotiations and give you a serious analysis.”
Yi Er laughed at his big talk, “If you haven’t figured it out, don’t force it.”
Qi Yao exerted himself, pretending to analyze it thoroughly, pulling his chair closer and pressing his face to the screen.
He clicked here and there, inadvertently touching an unclosed page next to the news page.
Yi Er was putting on his coat and didn’t notice his actions.
Carefully browsing, he found that the page was a transfer agreement for a small asteroid.
Yi Er originally had two asteroids, one inherited from Darren and the other purchased at a high price after competing with Dai Na.
After marriage, he only gave Qi Yao one.
The asteroid that originally belonged to Darren was not given to him by Yi Er.
Now that asteroid appeared in the transfer agreement.
After hastily browsing the agreement, one would find Yi Er’s electronic signature at the end, neat and smooth, without any connected strokes.
He returned the asteroid to Darren intact.
Yi Er put on his clothes and said as he walked, “Have you analyzed it?”
Qi Yao panicked, fumbling to close the page, unfortunately seen by Yi Er.
Yi Er didn’t mind letting him see, admitting openly, “Did you see it?”
“…Um.”
“Is there anything you want to say?”
“…No.”
Returning the asteroid was Yi Er’s freedom, and Qi Yao also felt it was good to return it, so it wouldn’t be easy to think of Darren in the future.
However, Yi Er said, “But I do.”
“Um? What do you want to say?”
Yi Er lowered his long eyelashes, pondering as he said, “Lord, I am no longer the offspring of an Imperial hero…”
Qi Yao was surprised. It turned out Yi Er knew.
Whether he was or wasn’t didn’t matter anymore, he didn’t care.
He comforted Yi Er, “Whether you’re the offspring of a hero or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are you.”
Yi Er stared at him motionlessly.
Qi Yao spoke sincerely, feeling extremely embarrassed to be stared at like that, avoiding his gaze and scolding, “What are you staring at me for all the time?”
“To distinguish between true and false.”
“…Did you figure it out?”
“I did.”
Qi Yao pushed away the increasingly close figure, “If you figured it out, move away. Don’t bother me from reading the news.”
Yi Er didn’t mind, smiling as he closed the holoscreen and pulled Qi Yao up by the hand, saying, “Let’s go, it’s time to go home.”