Chapter 97.3
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Qiao Zhiya felt like he had slept for a very long time, dreaming of many strange things. Then suddenly, the dream faded away, and he woke up. Before him was darkness, and beside him was a familiar presence. If he listened closely, he could hear the other person’s heartbeat. It felt like he was being carried and moved by someone.
Where is he?
He widened his eyes, staring at the sunlight filtering through the prickly fibers of the blanket. Unable to resist, he reached out to touch it, but suddenly, his movement halted. His back and buttocks were being dragged, and the blanket in front of him was lifted by a familiar hand. Sunlight poured in, and Chu Rong’s voice echoed around him.
“Woke up?”
He squinted, adjusting to the light, and slowly made out Chu Rong’s features. His gaze swept around his face, his eyes brightened, and he happily pounced forward. He called out, “Chu Rong, Chu Rong, Chu Rong! I dreamed about you!”
Even though the content of the dream was rather embarrassing, the Chu Rong in the dream was so gentle, and he liked it a lot!
As Chu Huai and Xiang Lingyun walked ahead, they heard his voice stop and both turned their heads to look. The surrounding officials also followed suit and looked over.
Qiao Zhiya hugged Chu Rong’s neck, resting his head on his shoulder. His ears were perked up, ready to nuzzle him, when suddenly he was met with the gazes of Fan Xiangnan and others behind Chuhuai, completely unexpected.
“……”
“It seems that Young Master Qiao Zhiya has not been too badly injured, this is really a blessing.” Xiang Lingyun said suddenly, breaking the quiet atmosphere at this time with a kind attitude.
Chu Huai turned his head, nodded his head and said, “He has been healing a while ago, and he is only slightly better today.”
“So it is.” Xiang Lingyun nodded and turned his head back.
The officials who received their hint also tactfully turned their heads back.
Qiao Zhiya’s eyes widened, completely dumbfounded. His gaze slowly shifted from the grinning Fan Xiangnan to the perplexed expression of Chu Yan, then gradually moved to the group of unfamiliar staff behind them. His face turned crimson with embarrassment, and he quickly ducked his head back under the blanket, covering himself entirely.
Chu Yan did not resist rolling his eyes, but a smile appeared on his face.
“Don’t move around.” Chu Rong gently patted him on the back, frowned, and then glanced back at the officials who were still sneaking glances at them. He wrapped Qiao Zhiya back up in the blanket, hurriedly exchanged greetings with Chu Huai, and then left with Qiao Zhiya in his arms ahead of schedule.
Now everyone was tactfully supporting the Chu family, so naturally, no one would object to their early departure. They all bid them farewell with smiles on their faces, then turned to converse amicably with Chu Huai who remained behind.
After getting on the hover car, Chu Rong pulled Qiao Zhiya out from the blanket and sat him facing him on his lap, squinting at him without saying a word.
Qiao Zhiya blushed and looked around. Seeing that there were only two of them in the car, his tense relaxed a bit. As he wanted to reach out and hug Chu Rong, he glanced at the vines on his wrists. He asked, “What is this?”
He tried to rub it off forcefully but found that the vines were like the leaf imprints left behind by an elven blessing, growing on his skin. Rubbing only resulted in reddening his skin, without removing anything.
Chu Rong then firmly grabbed his wrist and admonished, “No more fooling around like this in the future.”
Qiao Zhiya was brought back to his senses by his admonition, remembering what had happened before he “fell asleep.” He quickly raised his hand to touch his forehead, then was shocked to discover that the magic pool had expanded three times its previous size, and the magic inside had become even richer. His mouth fell open in astonishment.
A-Archmage? Did he actually ascend to Archmage? Just one step away from Magister Mage, and two steps away from Holy Magister? Oh my God, his village’s chieftain was only a Magister Mage, and his father was merely an Archmage. But he actually ascended to Archmage1I’ll be real, I don’t remember the magician ranks I translated before… too.
Th-this……
He tried to condense a bit of magic at his fingertips, and visibly, a thin veil of green light floated out, gently wrapping around his fingers. Then, he attempted to make it feel like a spiritual power. It caused the green veil to vanish, replaced by a noticeable soothing and healing pulse of power spreading throughout the carriage.
Initially letting him play around, Chu Rong noticed the unusual energy fluctuation in the carriage and quickly surrounded him with his spiritual power. He reached out and grabbed his raised fingers, frowning as he said, “Don’t release it recklessly. Be careful not to attract attention.”
Ning Kongran told him about this before – Qiao Zhiya’s special powers were even more unsuitable for public discovery.
Qiao Zhiya snapped back to reality, staring at him for a moment before suddenly rushing towards him with excitement. His ears perked up and wiggled as he exclaimed, “Chu Rong! I’ve become even stronger! I can protect you better now!”
Chu Rong hugged him tightly, reaching up to rub the back of his head. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. He looked towards the slowly emerging silhouette of the Chu family villa outside the window and said softly, “Qiao, we’re home.”
Fearing that Chu Huai might run away or change his mind, on the second day of the live broadcast, Xiang Lingyun urged various departments to begin preparations for the presidential inauguration ceremony. Chu Huai also knew that the Federation couldn’t afford to remain chaotic for long, so all the ceremonies were kept simple. After completing the formalities, only an official announcement was issued, followed by a brief press conference, and then he quietly took office.
After officially taking office, he immediately announced detailed information about the war, listing the charges against traitors such as Ning Tianya, Ning Tianxing, and Long Ruifeng. He condemned the Empire for inciting war for mankind by creating fake Zergs. Then, he released some footage from the battlefield, openly discussing the possibility of going to war with the Empire.
After providing explanations to the public, he began the subsequent efforts to comfort and compensate the injured soldiers from the battle. He conducted a thorough inspection of the population and officials at all levels of the Federation, upgraded the defenses of all planets, deployed the military to contain the remaining Zerg, and officially scheduled trials for the traitors.
Due to the severity of the matter, the trials were conducted publicly, and the proceedings were broadcasted live for the public to gain detailed insights into the truth behind the battle.
The long-stagnant Federal government finally resumed its normal operation, bringing relief to the people who had been concerned about the future since the appearance of the Zergs. With the restoration of confidence, attention shifted back to the war itself.
The battlefield footage clearly and vividly displayed the situation where soldiers from the Ning family and the Empire took advantage of the cleanup operation led by the Chu, Xiang, and Wei families to launch attacks. The spectacular and terrifying scenes of the ensuing clashes between the flagship vessels solidified the evidence, escalating the public’s hatred towards the Ning family and the Empire to its peak!
The joint military expedition turned out to be nothing but a conspiracy! After inviting the Federal army, the Empire unexpectedly turned their cannons on the Federal soldiers while they were engaged in eradicating the Zergs. Meanwhile, the Ning family shamelessly assisted the Empire in bombarding their own compatriots!
If it weren’t for the sudden appearance of the Chu family’s flagship, if it weren’t for Chu Rong holding back the Zerg Queen, the Federal army could have been wiped out by the fake Zergs and the traitors!
Unforgivable! Treason is unforgivable! The Empire’s despicable deception is unforgivable!
The public became furious, with some continuously protesting at the gates of the Ning family’s pharmaceutical city, which had long been sealed off by the government. People voluntarily boycotted the medicines produced by the Ning family, and on planets guarded by Ning family troops, there were even incidents of crowds gathering to storm military areas.
Chu Huai promptly stepped forward to appease the public’s emotions and then instructed Yuan Lie to lead troops to the planet where the Ning family troops were stationed. They aimed to assimilate and calm down the soldiers who were unaware of the situation, removing all insignia representing the Ning family. Additionally, he dispatched He Hongjun to reclaim all private planets owned by the Ning family.
The true cleaning of the Ning family began, and everything that could support a large family was swiftly uprooted at a speed akin to an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. Apart from Patriarch Ning and other Ning family members who had fled to the Empire, everyone associated with the Ning family was temporarily detained and placed under custody, awaiting further interrogation and investigation.
Chu Rong and Chu Huai got busy again, so only Chu Yan, Gu Yan’an, and Qiao Zhiya were left at home. But Qiao Zhiya couldn’t help but feel uneasy because he discovered something even more concerning than his own magic upgrade and Chu Rong.
——Gu Yan’an is pregnant! The Chu family has a little baby!
After hearing this news from Chu Yan, Qiao Zhiya was so excited that he couldn’t even speak. He immediately left Chu Yan and rushed back to the main residence, where he found Gu Yan’an in the kitchen cutting fruit. When his eyes fell on the knife in her hand, he froze in fear, his ears stiffening. He quickly stepped forward, snatched the knife, and put it away in the storage ring. Then, with a tense expression, he pushed her out, his whole body exuding nervousness.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Yan’an turned her head in confusion as she was pushed out by him. She smiled and asked, “Are you hungry? Or do you not want to eat this fruit? I can get you something else.”
Qiao Zhiya shook his head vigorously, his face flushed red, still not saying a word. He carefully settled Gu Yan’an on the sofa, poured a cup of hot tea and placed it in her hand. Then, with a sparkling gaze, he sat next to her, occasionally glancing at her flat abdomen. He shuffled closer but hesitated, his hands fidgeting restlessly. Eventually, he restrained himself and clasped his hands together, his face turning as red as if it were about to bleed.
Seeing his reaction, Gu Yan’an became even more puzzled. She thought he might want something but was too shy to ask for it. So, she set down her tea cup, moved over to him, and took his hand in hers. Patting it soothingly, she said in a gentle voice, “Is there something you want to tell me? It’s okay, just say it. Dasao will help you sort it out.”
Qiao Zhiya’s eyes lit up at her words, and he obediently held her hand without moving. He glanced at her belly and asked cautiously, “Really? Can you arrange anything?”
“Of course I can,” Ge Yan’an nodded, looking at his beautiful face, with some “superstitious” thoughts swirling in her mind.
She heard that looking at beautiful people during pregnancy can make the baby look better. The facial features of the Chu family are too stern, while the Gu family have a more generous appearance.
‘It would be great if the child could be as beautiful as Qiao Zhiya,’ she thought.
Qiao Zhiya looked at her with a hopeful look. The more he looked at her still-flat belly, the bigger his courage became. The moment the itchiness in his heart became unbearable, he blurted, “Well, can I sleep with the baby tonight?”
As soon as they stepped into the house, both Chu Huai and Chu Rong heard this rather unfortunate statement upon entering the living room. Chu Huai knew Qiao Zhiya’s personality well and guessed that he must have done something silly again, so he couldn’t help but laugh. Chu Rong, on the other hand, had a dark expression on his face. He strode forward, bypassed the sofa, and pulled Qiao Zhiya away from Gu Yan’an’s side, saying coldly, “No, Dage and Dasao are moving to the Presidential Palace. You can only sleep with me.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Yan, who had just finished cutting the fruit in place of Gu Yan’an, was taken aback and asked, “Dage and Dasao are moving to the Presidential Palace?”
Gu Yan’an also looked surprised and glanced at Chu Huai. Chu Huai nodded helplessly and said, “It’s customary. We can’t be the exceptions.”
Feeling the pull from Chu Rong, Qiao Zhiya recalled the cold and impersonal atmosphere of the Presidential Palace, devoid of any family warmth. Glancing at Gu Yan’an’s belly, his ears drooped, and a clear expression of unhappiness spread across his face. No, he didn’t want the baby to be born in such a place. The baby would surely be unhappy too.
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Qiao Zhiya felt like he had slept for a very long time, dreaming of many strange things. Then suddenly, the dream faded away, and he woke up. Before him was darkness, and beside him was a familiar presence. If he listened closely, he could hear the other person’s heartbeat. It felt like he was being carried and moved by someone.
Where is he?
He widened his eyes, staring at the sunlight filtering through the prickly fibers of the blanket. Unable to resist, he reached out to touch it, but suddenly, his movement halted. His back and buttocks were being dragged, and the blanket in front of him was lifted by a familiar hand. Sunlight poured in, and Chu Rong’s voice echoed around him.
“Woke up?”
He squinted, adjusting to the light, and slowly made out Chu Rong’s features. His gaze swept around his face, his eyes brightened, and he happily pounced forward. He called out, “Chu Rong, Chu Rong, Chu Rong! I dreamed about you!”
Even though the content of the dream was rather embarrassing, the Chu Rong in the dream was so gentle, and he liked it a lot!
As Chu Huai and Xiang Lingyun walked ahead, they heard his voice stop and both turned their heads to look. The surrounding officials also followed suit and looked over.
Qiao Zhiya hugged Chu Rong’s neck, resting his head on his shoulder. His ears were perked up, ready to nuzzle him, when suddenly he was met with the gazes of Fan Xiangnan and others behind Chuhuai, completely unexpected.
“……”
“It seems that Young Master Qiao Zhiya has not been too badly injured, this is really a blessing.” Xiang Lingyun said suddenly, breaking the quiet atmosphere at this time with a kind attitude.
Chu Huai turned his head, nodded his head and said, “He has been healing a while ago, and he is only slightly better today.”
“So it is.” Xiang Lingyun nodded and turned his head back.
The officials who received their hint also tactfully turned their heads back.
Qiao Zhiya’s eyes widened, completely dumbfounded. His gaze slowly shifted from the grinning Fan Xiangnan to the perplexed expression of Chu Yan, then gradually moved to the group of unfamiliar staff behind them. His face turned crimson with embarrassment, and he quickly ducked his head back under the blanket, covering himself entirely.
Chu Yan did not resist rolling his eyes, but a smile appeared on his face.
“Don’t move around.” Chu Rong gently patted him on the back, frowned, and then glanced back at the officials who were still sneaking glances at them. He wrapped Qiao Zhiya back up in the blanket, hurriedly exchanged greetings with Chu Huai, and then left with Qiao Zhiya in his arms ahead of schedule.
Now everyone was tactfully supporting the Chu family, so naturally, no one would object to their early departure. They all bid them farewell with smiles on their faces, then turned to converse amicably with Chu Huai who remained behind.
After getting on the hover car, Chu Rong pulled Qiao Zhiya out from the blanket and sat him facing him on his lap, squinting at him without saying a word.
Qiao Zhiya blushed and looked around. Seeing that there were only two of them in the car, his tense relaxed a bit. As he wanted to reach out and hug Chu Rong, he glanced at the vines on his wrists. He asked, “What is this?”
He tried to rub it off forcefully but found that the vines were like the leaf imprints left behind by an elven blessing, growing on his skin. Rubbing only resulted in reddening his skin, without removing anything.
Chu Rong then firmly grabbed his wrist and admonished, “No more fooling around like this in the future.”
Qiao Zhiya was brought back to his senses by his admonition, remembering what had happened before he “fell asleep.” He quickly raised his hand to touch his forehead, then was shocked to discover that the magic pool had expanded three times its previous size, and the magic inside had become even richer. His mouth fell open in astonishment.
A-Archmage? Did he actually ascend to Archmage? Just one step away from Magister Mage, and two steps away from Holy Magister? Oh my God, his village’s chieftain was only a Magister Mage, and his father was merely an Archmage. But he actually ascended to Archmage1I’ll be real, I don’t remember the magician ranks I translated before… too.
Th-this……
He tried to condense a bit of magic at his fingertips, and visibly, a thin veil of green light floated out, gently wrapping around his fingers. Then, he attempted to make it feel like a spiritual power. It caused the green veil to vanish, replaced by a noticeable soothing and healing pulse of power spreading throughout the carriage.
Initially letting him play around, Chu Rong noticed the unusual energy fluctuation in the carriage and quickly surrounded him with his spiritual power. He reached out and grabbed his raised fingers, frowning as he said, “Don’t release it recklessly. Be careful not to attract attention.”
Ning Kongran told him about this before – Qiao Zhiya’s special powers were even more unsuitable for public discovery.
Qiao Zhiya snapped back to reality, staring at him for a moment before suddenly rushing towards him with excitement. His ears perked up and wiggled as he exclaimed, “Chu Rong! I’ve become even stronger! I can protect you better now!”
Chu Rong hugged him tightly, reaching up to rub the back of his head. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. He looked towards the slowly emerging silhouette of the Chu family villa outside the window and said softly, “Qiao, we’re home.”
Fearing that Chu Huai might run away or change his mind, on the second day of the live broadcast, Xiang Lingyun urged various departments to begin preparations for the presidential inauguration ceremony. Chu Huai also knew that the Federation couldn’t afford to remain chaotic for long, so all the ceremonies were kept simple. After completing the formalities, only an official announcement was issued, followed by a brief press conference, and then he quietly took office.
After officially taking office, he immediately announced detailed information about the war, listing the charges against traitors such as Ning Tianya, Ning Tianxing, and Long Ruifeng. He condemned the Empire for inciting war for mankind by creating fake Zergs. Then, he released some footage from the battlefield, openly discussing the possibility of going to war with the Empire.
After providing explanations to the public, he began the subsequent efforts to comfort and compensate the injured soldiers from the battle. He conducted a thorough inspection of the population and officials at all levels of the Federation, upgraded the defenses of all planets, deployed the military to contain the remaining Zerg, and officially scheduled trials for the traitors.
Due to the severity of the matter, the trials were conducted publicly, and the proceedings were broadcasted live for the public to gain detailed insights into the truth behind the battle.
The long-stagnant Federal government finally resumed its normal operation, bringing relief to the people who had been concerned about the future since the appearance of the Zergs. With the restoration of confidence, attention shifted back to the war itself.
The battlefield footage clearly and vividly displayed the situation where soldiers from the Ning family and the Empire took advantage of the cleanup operation led by the Chu, Xiang, and Wei families to launch attacks. The spectacular and terrifying scenes of the ensuing clashes between the flagship vessels solidified the evidence, escalating the public’s hatred towards the Ning family and the Empire to its peak!
The joint military expedition turned out to be nothing but a conspiracy! After inviting the Federal army, the Empire unexpectedly turned their cannons on the Federal soldiers while they were engaged in eradicating the Zergs. Meanwhile, the Ning family shamelessly assisted the Empire in bombarding their own compatriots!
If it weren’t for the sudden appearance of the Chu family’s flagship, if it weren’t for Chu Rong holding back the Zerg Queen, the Federal army could have been wiped out by the fake Zergs and the traitors!
Unforgivable! Treason is unforgivable! The Empire’s despicable deception is unforgivable!
The public became furious, with some continuously protesting at the gates of the Ning family’s pharmaceutical city, which had long been sealed off by the government. People voluntarily boycotted the medicines produced by the Ning family, and on planets guarded by Ning family troops, there were even incidents of crowds gathering to storm military areas.
Chu Huai promptly stepped forward to appease the public’s emotions and then instructed Yuan Lie to lead troops to the planet where the Ning family troops were stationed. They aimed to assimilate and calm down the soldiers who were unaware of the situation, removing all insignia representing the Ning family. Additionally, he dispatched He Hongjun to reclaim all private planets owned by the Ning family.
The true cleaning of the Ning family began, and everything that could support a large family was swiftly uprooted at a speed akin to an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. Apart from Patriarch Ning and other Ning family members who had fled to the Empire, everyone associated with the Ning family was temporarily detained and placed under custody, awaiting further interrogation and investigation.
Chu Rong and Chu Huai got busy again, so only Chu Yan, Gu Yan’an, and Qiao Zhiya were left at home. But Qiao Zhiya couldn’t help but feel uneasy because he discovered something even more concerning than his own magic upgrade and Chu Rong.
——Gu Yan’an is pregnant! The Chu family has a little baby!
After hearing this news from Chu Yan, Qiao Zhiya was so excited that he couldn’t even speak. He immediately left Chu Yan and rushed back to the main residence, where he found Gu Yan’an in the kitchen cutting fruit. When his eyes fell on the knife in her hand, he froze in fear, his ears stiffening. He quickly stepped forward, snatched the knife, and put it away in the storage ring. Then, with a tense expression, he pushed her out, his whole body exuding nervousness.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Yan’an turned her head in confusion as she was pushed out by him. She smiled and asked, “Are you hungry? Or do you not want to eat this fruit? I can get you something else.”
Qiao Zhiya shook his head vigorously, his face flushed red, still not saying a word. He carefully settled Gu Yan’an on the sofa, poured a cup of hot tea and placed it in her hand. Then, with a sparkling gaze, he sat next to her, occasionally glancing at her flat abdomen. He shuffled closer but hesitated, his hands fidgeting restlessly. Eventually, he restrained himself and clasped his hands together, his face turning as red as if it were about to bleed.
Seeing his reaction, Gu Yan’an became even more puzzled. She thought he might want something but was too shy to ask for it. So, she set down her tea cup, moved over to him, and took his hand in hers. Patting it soothingly, she said in a gentle voice, “Is there something you want to tell me? It’s okay, just say it. Dasao will help you sort it out.”
Qiao Zhiya’s eyes lit up at her words, and he obediently held her hand without moving. He glanced at her belly and asked cautiously, “Really? Can you arrange anything?”
“Of course I can,” Ge Yan’an nodded, looking at his beautiful face, with some “superstitious” thoughts swirling in her mind.
She heard that looking at beautiful people during pregnancy can make the baby look better. The facial features of the Chu family are too stern, while the Gu family have a more generous appearance.
‘It would be great if the child could be as beautiful as Qiao Zhiya,’ she thought.
Qiao Zhiya looked at her with a hopeful look. The more he looked at her still-flat belly, the bigger his courage became. The moment the itchiness in his heart became unbearable, he blurted, “Well, can I sleep with the baby tonight?”
As soon as they stepped into the house, both Chu Huai and Chu Rong heard this rather unfortunate statement upon entering the living room. Chu Huai knew Qiao Zhiya’s personality well and guessed that he must have done something silly again, so he couldn’t help but laugh. Chu Rong, on the other hand, had a dark expression on his face. He strode forward, bypassed the sofa, and pulled Qiao Zhiya away from Gu Yan’an’s side, saying coldly, “No, Dage and Dasao are moving to the Presidential Palace. You can only sleep with me.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Yan, who had just finished cutting the fruit in place of Gu Yan’an, was taken aback and asked, “Dage and Dasao are moving to the Presidential Palace?”
Gu Yan’an also looked surprised and glanced at Chu Huai. Chu Huai nodded helplessly and said, “It’s customary. We can’t be the exceptions.”
Feeling the pull from Chu Rong, Qiao Zhiya recalled the cold and impersonal atmosphere of the Presidential Palace, devoid of any family warmth. Glancing at Gu Yan’an’s belly, his ears drooped, and a clear expression of unhappiness spread across his face. No, he didn’t want the baby to be born in such a place. The baby would surely be unhappy too.
Qiao Zhiya felt like he had slept for a very long time, dreaming of many strange things. Then suddenly, the dream faded away, and he woke up. Before him was darkness, and beside him was a familiar presence. If he listened closely, he could hear the other person's heartbeat. It felt like he was being carried and moved by someone.Where is he?He widened his eyes, staring at the sunlight filtering through the prickly fibers of the blanket. Unable to resist, he reached out to touch it, but suddenly, his movement halted. His back and buttocks were being dragged, and the blanket in front of him was lifted by a familiar hand. Sunlight poured in, and Chu Rong's voice echoed around him.Woke up?He squinted, adjusting to the light, and slowly made out Chu Rong's features. His gaze swept around his face, his eyes brightened, and he happily pounced forward. He called out, Chu Rong, Chu Rong, Chu Rong! I dreamed about you!Even though the content of the dream was rather embarrassing, the Chu Rong in the dream was so gentle, and he liked it a lot!As Chu Huai and Xiang Lingyun walked ahead, they heard his voice stop and both turned their heads to look. The surrounding officials also followed suit and looked over.Qiao Zhiya hugged Chu Rong's neck, resting his head on his shoulder. His ears were perked up, ready to nuzzle him, when suddenly he was met with the gazes of Fan Xiangnan and others behind Chuhuai, completely unexpected.It seems that Young Master Qiao Zhiya has not been too badly injured, this is really a blessing. Xiang Lingyun said suddenly, breaking the quiet atmosphere at this time with a kind attitude.Chu Huai turned his head, nodded his head and said, He has been healing a while ago, and he is only slightly better today.So it is. Xiang Lingyun nodded and turned his head back.The officials who received their hint also tactfully turned their heads back.Qiao Zhiya's eyes widened, completely dumbfounded. His gaze slowly shifted from the grinning Fan Xiangnan to the perplexed expression of Chu Yan, then gradually moved to the group of unfamiliar staff behind them. His face turned crimson with embarrassment, and he quickly ducked his head back under the blanket, covering himself entirely.Chu Yan did not resist rolling his eyes, but a smile appeared on his face.Don't move around. Chu Rong gently patted him on the back, frowned, and then glanced back at the officials who were still sneaking glances at them. He wrapped Qiao Zhiya back up in the blanket, hurriedly exchanged greetings with Chu Huai, and then left with Qiao Zhiya in his arms ahead of schedule.Now everyone was tactfully supporting the Chu family, so naturally, no one would object to their early departure. They all bid them farewell with smiles on their faces, then turned to converse amicably with Chu Huai who remained behind.After getting on the hover car, Chu Rong pulled Qiao Zhiya out from the blanket and sat him facing him on his lap, squinting at him without saying a word.Qiao Zhiya blushed and looked around. Seeing that there were only two of them in the car, his tense relaxed a bit. As he wanted to reach out and hug Chu Rong, he glanced at the vines on his wrists. He asked, What is this?He tried to rub it off forcefully but found that the vines were like the leaf imprints left behind by an elven blessing, growing on his skin. Rubbing only resulted in reddening his skin, without removing anything.Chu Rong then firmly grabbed his wrist and admonished, No more fooling around like this in the future.Qiao Zhiya was brought back to his senses by his admonition, remembering what had happened before he fell asleep. He quickly raised his hand to touch his forehead, then was shocked to discover that the magic pool had expanded three times its previous size, and the magic inside had become even richer. His mouth fell open in astonishment.A-Archmage? Did he actually ascend to Archmage? Just one step away from Magister Mage, and two steps away from Holy Magister? Oh my God, his village's chieftain was only a Magister Mage, and his father was merely an Archmage. But he actually ascended to Archmage1I'll be real, I don't remember the magician ranks I translated before too.Th-thisHe tried to condense a bit of magic at his fingertips, and visibly, a thin veil of green light floated out, gently wrapping around his fingers. Then, he attempted to make it feel like a spiritual power. It caused the green veil to vanish, replaced by a noticeable soothing and healing pulse of power spreading throughout the carriage.Initially letting him play around, Chu Rong noticed the unusual energy fluctuation in the carriage and quickly surrounded him with his spiritual power. He reached out and grabbed his raised fingers, frowning as he said, Don't release it recklessly. Be careful not to attract attention.Ning Kongran told him about this before Qiao Zhiya's special powers were even more unsuitable for public discovery.Qiao Zhiya snapped back to reality, staring at him for a moment before suddenly rushing towards him with excitement. His ears perked up and wiggled as he exclaimed, Chu Rong! I've become even stronger! I can protect you better now!Chu Rong hugged him tightly, reaching up to rub the back of his head. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. He looked towards the slowly emerging silhouette of the Chu family villa outside the window and said softly, Qiao, we're home.Fearing that Chu Huai might run away or change his mind, on the second day of the live broadcast, Xiang Lingyun urged various departments to begin preparations for the presidential inauguration ceremony. Chu Huai also knew that the Federation couldn't afford to remain chaotic for long, so all the ceremonies were kept simple. After completing the formalities, only an official announcement was issued, followed by a brief press conference, and then he quietly took office.After officially taking office, he immediately announced detailed information about the war, listing the charges against traitors such as Ning Tianya, Ning Tianxing, and Long Ruifeng. He condemned the Empire for inciting war for mankind by creating fake Zergs. Then, he released some footage from the battlefield, openly discussing the possibility of going to war with the Empire.After providing explanations to the public, he began the subsequent efforts to comfort and compensate the injured soldiers from the battle. He conducted a thorough inspection of the population and officials at all levels of the Federation, upgraded the defenses of all planets, deployed the military to contain the remaining Zerg, and officially scheduled trials for the traitors.Due to the severity of the matter, the trials were conducted publicly, and the proceedings were broadcasted live for the public to gain detailed insights into the truth behind the battle.The long-stagnant Federal government finally resumed its normal operation, bringing relief to the people who had been concerned about the future since the appearance of the Zergs. With the restoration of confidence, attention shifted back to the war itself.The battlefield footage clearly and vividly displayed the situation where soldiers from the Ning family and the Empire took advantage of the cleanup operation led by the Chu, Xiang, and Wei families to launch attacks. The spectacular and terrifying scenes of the ensuing clashes between the flagship vessels solidified the evidence, escalating the public's hatred towards the Ning family and the Empire to its peak!The joint military expedition turned out to be nothing but a conspiracy! After inviting the Federal army, the Empire unexpectedly turned their cannons on the Federal soldiers while they were engaged in eradicating the Zergs. Meanwhile, the Ning family shamelessly assisted the Empire in bombarding their own compatriots!If it weren't for the sudden appearance of the Chu family's flagship, if it weren't for Chu Rong holding back the Zerg Queen, the Federal army could have been wiped out by the fake Zergs and the traitors!Unforgivable! Treason is unforgivable! The Empire's despicable deception is unforgivable!The public became furious, with some continuously protesting at the gates of the Ning family's pharmaceutical city, which had long been sealed off by the government. People voluntarily boycotted the medicines produced by the Ning family, and on planets guarded by Ning family troops, there were even incidents of crowds gathering to storm military areas.Chu Huai promptly stepped forward to appease the public's emotions and then instructed Yuan Lie to lead troops to the planet where the Ning family troops were stationed. They aimed to assimilate and calm down the soldiers who were unaware of the situation, removing all insignia representing the Ning family. Additionally, he dispatched He Hongjun to reclaim all private planets owned by the Ning family.The true cleaning of the Ning family began, and everything that could support a large family was swiftly uprooted at a speed akin to an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. Apart from Patriarch Ning and other Ning family members who had fled to the Empire, everyone associated with the Ning family was temporarily detained and placed under custody, awaiting further interrogation and investigation.Chu Rong and Chu Huai got busy again, so only Chu Yan, Gu Yan'an, and Qiao Zhiya were left at home. But Qiao Zhiya couldn't help but feel uneasy because he discovered something even more concerning than his own magic upgrade and Chu Rong.Gu Yan'an is pregnant! The Chu family has a little baby!After hearing this news from Chu Yan, Qiao Zhiya was so excited that he couldn't even speak. He immediately left Chu Yan and rushed back to the main residence, where he found Gu Yan'an in the kitchen cutting fruit. When his eyes fell on the knife in her hand, he froze in fear, his ears stiffening. He quickly stepped forward, snatched the knife, and put it away in the storage ring. Then, with a tense expression, he pushed her out, his whole body exuding nervousness.What's wrong? Gu Yan'an turned her head in confusion as she was pushed out by him. She smiled and asked, Are you hungry? Or do you not want to eat this fruit? I can get you something else.Qiao Zhiya shook his head vigorously, his face flushed red, still not saying a word. He carefully settled Gu Yan'an on the sofa, poured a cup of hot tea and placed it in her hand. Then, with a sparkling gaze, he sat next to her, occasionally glancing at her flat abdomen. He shuffled closer but hesitated, his hands fidgeting restlessly. Eventually, he restrained himself and clasped his hands together, his face turning as red as if it were about to bleed.Seeing his reaction, Gu Yan'an became even more puzzled. She thought he might want something but was too shy to ask for it. So, she set down her tea cup, moved over to him, and took his hand in hers. Patting it soothingly, she said in a gentle voice, Is there something you want to tell me? It's okay, just say it. Dasao will help you sort it out.Qiao Zhiya's eyes lit up at her words, and he obediently held her hand without moving. He glanced at her belly and asked cautiously, Really? Can you arrange anything?Of course I can, Ge Yan'an nodded, looking at his beautiful face, with some superstitious thoughts swirling in her mind.She heard that looking at beautiful people during pregnancy can make the baby look better. The facial features of the Chu family are too stern, while the Gu family have a more generous appearance.It would be great if the child could be as beautiful as Qiao Zhiya,' she thought.Qiao Zhiya looked at her with a hopeful look. The more he looked at her still-flat belly, the bigger his courage became. The moment the itchiness in his heart became unbearable, he blurted, Well, can I sleep with the baby tonight?As soon as they stepped into the house, both Chu Huai and Chu Rong heard this rather unfortunate statement upon entering the living room. Chu Huai knew Qiao Zhiya's personality well and guessed that he must have done something silly again, so he couldn't help but laugh. Chu Rong, on the other hand, had a dark expression on his face. He strode forward, bypassed the sofa, and pulled Qiao Zhiya away from Gu Yan'an's side, saying coldly, No, Dage and Dasao are moving to the Presidential Palace. You can only sleep with me.Upon hearing this, Chu Yan, who had just finished cutting the fruit in place of Gu Yan'an, was taken aback and asked, Dage and Dasao are moving to the Presidential Palace?Gu Yan'an also looked surprised and glanced at Chu Huai. Chu Huai nodded helplessly and said, It's customary. We can't be the exceptions.Feeling the pull from Chu Rong, Qiao Zhiya recalled the cold and impersonal atmosphere of the Presidential Palace, devoid of any family warmth. Glancing at Gu Yan'an's belly, his ears drooped, and a clear expression of unhappiness spread across his face. No, he didn't want the baby to be born in such a place. The baby would surely be unhappy too.
