Chapter 55

"Um... Your Highness?"

Xia You's head cautiously peeked in through the tent window, his eyes darting around guiltily.

Lu Yinghui had heard the earlier ruckus of a tiger's leap and a man's shout from outside, which then eerily quieted down.

But sometimes, silence doesn't necessarily equate to serenity.

Lu Yinghui: "What's the matter?"

"Well..." Xia You turned his head, his expression revealing an indescribable unease.

"Suppose a furry companion creature were to... go bald. Would it affect its health?"

As he spoke, Xia You gestured towards his own head.

"I mean, would the... hair also... ahem, I'm saying, given how advanced our medical pods are, there's a way to remedy it even if it really goes bald... right?"

Imagining the future headlines featuring the young Crown Prince of the Empire with a bald head, or a young boy wearing an oversized hat—

Xia You quickly shook his head, planting both hands on the tent window, his gaze fixated intently on Lu Yinghui.

Lu Yinghui pondered for a moment before countering with a question, "How much hair loss are we talking?"

Xia You glanced again, and with a solemn expression, he turned back, voice grave: "Given the current trend, the outcome looks dire."

"Hmm." Lu Yinghui looked at Xia You, "Did you record it?"

Xia You met Lu Yinghui's gaze with his sapphire-like eyes, not a trace of mischief in them.

"I did." After a pause, Xia You whispered, "Shot from a mother-son tiger duo perspective. Clear and steady."

A flicker of amusement crossed Lu Yinghui's eyes as he leaned towards the young man by the window, murmuring, "Send me a copy."

Xia You silently chuckled, giving a thumbs-up in acknowledgment.

As long as His Highness had a sense of humor about it, as long as Spicy Stick wasn't chewed on, even if he turned into a bald tiger, it probably wouldn't be a major issue.

"By the way, Xia You."

Lu Yinghui suddenly spoke.

Xia You, originally heading back to continue documenting the young tiger's impending baldness, turned around in response, "Yes?"

"Give me your hand for a moment."

"Oh."

Xia You naturally extended his right hand.

Lu Yinghui chuckled, "The other one."

Xia You then offered his left hand, palm up, assuming Lu Yinghui wanted to give him something.

Xia You's left hand bore no adornments, save for the emergency communicator given to him by Meng Wenxuan a day before entering the protected area.

Lu Yinghui took Xia You's fingers and gently slid a golden ring onto them.

A chill brushed Xia You's fingers. Retrieving his hand, he glanced down to see a gold ring on his left pinky. The ring itself was of a plain gold design, but instead of a gemstone, its face was intricately engraved with tiny characters that together formed a unique pattern.

Xia You recognized this design and knew what the ring symbolized.

It was the emblem of the Lu family, resembling a miniaturized version of an elegant emblem.

In this interstellar era, there were numerous nobles, with many businessmen purchasing baron or viscount titles. Yet, they couldn't be considered as old and prestigious families.

Even the unique title of Duke Xia didn't qualify.

True aristocratic families weren't measured by their wealth or the number of family members, but by the significant role the bearers of the family name played in the empire.

Such families usually had their own unique crest.

This crest would be stamped on all private belongings of the family and engraved on the signs of their businesses.

Within these families, only the family head possessed the official crest. Typically, to ensure security, the crest was crafted into a set of two nested rings.

The family head wore one, and the other was entrusted either to the head's spouse or a most trusted confidant.

Lu Yinghui had always worn the Lu family's patriarchal ring on his left ring finger.

In this technologically advanced interstellar age, environmental protection became paramount. Once ubiquitous paper had become a rarity, and people grew accustomed to the more convenient and affordable digital screens for reading.

Paper goods became a luxury for the nobility.

Similarly, paper contracts gradually evolved into symbols of status and identity. When signing essential documents, Lu Yinghui would seal them with the imprint from his patriarchal ring.

Xia You had witnessed Lu Yinghui using the family ring before.

The young boy cradled his left hand with his right, gazing down at it for a lengthy moment, then looked up, locking eyes with Lu Yinghuai.

Xia You wanted to ask something, but the words stuck at the tip of her tongue. Separated by a tent, an awkward tension hung between them.

From not far behind, the joyful roars of a baby tiger could be heard, but they no longer captivated Xia You's attention.

Xia You stared at Lu Yinghuai for several seconds, then diverted her gaze to the forest beside them, slowly tightening her grip on her hand adorned with a signet ring.

Noticing Xia You's fingers turning red from her own clenching, Lu Yinghuai couldn't help but speak up, "Xia You, I..."

"Your Highness!" Interrupting Lu Yinghuai, Xia You looked up, her eyes and brows curved in a gentle arc, revealing no shadow of melancholy, "It's a sunny day outside. Why not step out and enjoy it?"

Silence lingered for a few moments before Lu Yinghuai responded with a soft smile, "Alright."

Just as Xia You had mentioned, the sunlight outside was radiant. Snow-capped mountains stretched endlessly in the distance, creating a stunning silhouette against the horizon.

At the camp's center lay a young orange-black tiger, snuggling up to a larger tiger with black and white stripes. The larger tiger would incessantly lick the smaller one, asserting dominance by pressing it down with its paw whenever the cub tried to change its position.

Oblivious to the sheen on its fur from excessive grooming, the young tiger, Latiao, continued to relish the attention, edging even closer to the white tiger.

Ever since Qin Anhong could remember, the emperor had always been transparent with his son.

From a young age, Qin Anhong knew his mother was a hero - the most beautiful, charismatic, and enchanting woman in the world. He also knew she suffered from a mental disorder, having been in the Blue Star Sanctuary for over a decade.

Furthermore, he was aware that his own congenital deficiencies, mental disarray, delayed development, and the necessity for medication-induced spiritual embodiment by age ten were consequences of his mother's overpowering mental strength and ailment.

But this only deepened Qin Anhong's adoration and reverence for his mother because, as the emperor told him, her final triumphant battle was to bring him into this world.

Qin Anhong visited the Blue Star every year. However, due to the high-risk nature of Lu Jiuzhu's hibernation chamber, even as the crown prince, even as her only son, he couldn't see her.

Yet he continued to visit annually.

Until this year, when Qin Anhong's mental powers suddenly surged, transferring his consciousness to his companion beast.

A little tiger cub, mirroring his own state, perhaps even worse off, with fur still growing in patches.

Yet, amidst these unforeseen incidents, Qin Anhong finally witnessed the miracle he'd longed for since childhood.

While felines initially enjoy grooming, excessive licking can become overbearing. Despite the pressure on his head, Latiao sneakily snuggled further into the white tiger's embrace.

Covering the larger white tiger's paw with his own orange-black one.

The next second, instinctively, the white tiger raised its paw. The little tiger, "Spicy Strip", braced itself, ears pinned back, expecting a hit.

However, the white tiger didn’t strike. Instead, it gently covered the little tiger's paw with its own larger one.

Spicy Strip paused, then grinned goofily, his head wobbling from the white tiger's licks.

Xia You and Lu Yinghuai watched, exchanged glances, and then burst into laughter together.

Lu Yinghuai activated his holographic computer, adjusted the camera, and captured the moment: the two tigers, big and small, under the bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds. Without needing any edits, he directly sent the photo to the Emperor, who was far away in the Imperial Capital.

Swiftly, he set his communicator to "Do Not Disturb", and with an air of nonchalance, he relaxed his wrist, acting as if nothing had happened.

Xia You blinked.

Lu Yinghuai whispered, "His Majesty tried to visit the Blue Star several times, but he was always stopped by the Senate and the Military. The Senate elders even wanted him to appoint a new heir, while the Military was afraid he'd come to the reserve to reclaim the tiger using the royal fleet."

Xia You chuckled, "The Emperor always seemed so composed and dignified. He wouldn't possibly... I mean, he wouldn’t, right?"

Towards the end of her sentence, seeing the meaningful look in Lu Yinghuai’s eyes, she asked in disbelief.

"Back then, the relations between the Empire and the Federation were quite tense. The military had captured a few spies. On the eve of my sister's wedding, they were still interrogating them."

Lu Yinghuai rubbed his temples.

"His Majesty thought that my sister preferred her role as Marshal and was considering calling off the wedding. Before the official time to greet the bride, he rushed over with his styling team and wedding attire, personally leading the royal fleet to confront the military."

Thus, in the following years, Queen Lu Jiuzhu took on the dual role of Queen and Marshal of the Empire, a position of immense power that regularly gave the aristocrats of the Senate high blood pressure.

"Their Majesties truly share a deep bond," Xia You remarked, her hands behind her back, fingers of the right hand fondly tracing the family crest ring on her left pinky.

Lu Yinghuai paused, "Yes, they do."

Yet now, this family that should shine with happiness found itself in a tragic situation: one with a dormant consciousness, a young prince with a recurring illness, and another separated by the vastness of space, only able to look upon each other through live broadcasts.

A shadow passed over Xia You’s eyes.

After a long pause, Xia You whispered, "Your Highness... how much longer can you maintain your current state?"

Lu Yinghuai's fingers tightened momentarily. He closed his eyes, struggling but finally said, "Seven days, or... even less."

In fact, had it not been for Xia You by his side, Lu Yinghuai would have already succumbed to the effects of the mental force suppression potion, slipping into a deep slumber.

With her head bowed, Xia You's gaze aimlessly wandered across the ground. After a prolonged silence, she murmured, "...What does it feel like to be in such a deep sleep?"

For a fleeting moment, Lu Yinghuai wondered if his decision was truly the right one. However, this doubt was quickly dispelled when he saw the bright spark ignite in the young man's eyes.

He reached out, placing his hand on Xia You's head, pausing momentarily before gently caressing the soft strands of the youth's hair.

"It's not painful, more like drifting into sleep. However, many of your body's vitals will drop suddenly, but they shouldn't plummet to dangerous levels."

A hopeful glint shone in Xia You's eyes, "Can my psychic energy help you, Your Highness? I can stay by your side, always!"

Meeting Xia You's shimmering gaze, Lu Yinghuai felt a warmth in his heart, "Yes, it can. And if something were to happen to me, many would come seeking you."

Xia You blinked in surprise, lifting his left hand.

Under the sun's rays, a golden family crest ring on his little finger gleamed brilliantly.

"Is it because of this?"

"Yes." Lu Yinghuai extended his left hand, where a larger, patriarchal ring graced his ring finger. "This ring holds immense power. Apart from military affairs, all matters of the Lu family will be under your purview."

Xia You suddenly felt a weight on his pinky.

He swallowed hard, hesitated for a beat, then whispered, "Uncle Zhou and Major General Wei would respect me even without this ring, right?"

"Indeed, they would," Lu Yinghuai's eyes crinkled in amusement. "But with this ring, Xia You can decide on matters even Uncle Zhou and Wei Cheng can't."

A realization hit Xia You, his heartbeat racing, voice raspy, "What matters?"

Lu Yinghuai pointed at himself with the hand adorned with the ring, a gentle smile lighting up his deep purple eyes.

"Me."

"If my condition worsens or exhibits unforeseen changes, requiring alternative medical interventions or a change in psychic treatment, Xia You, as my lawful spouse and current head of the Lu family, has the authority to decide all treatment courses for me."

Once again, Xia You clenched his ringed finger, gripping it so tightly it trembled.

The ultimate reason His Highness bestowed this ring upon him was to entrust himself, in his entirety, to Xia You.

"My sister's treatment has always been decided by His Majesty. However, His Majesty's decisions have always been influenced more by the fact that she is his beloved, rather than his Queen or the former Marshal of the Empire."

As Lu Yinghuai spoke, his voice maintained a gentle laughter. However, in a place hidden from Xia You's view, a trace of melancholy flashed across his eyes.

It was but a fleeting moment.

"As the Marshal of the Empire, in the event of my unconscious slumber, the treatment plan would typically be determined by His Majesty."

"For Lu Yinghuai is the Marshal of the Empire."

For a moment, Xia You felt as though his throat had been sapped of all moisture, each swallow feeling as rough and slightly painful as sandpaper.

"Yet, the laws of the Empire respect the individual choices of each citizen, even if they are the Empire's Marshal."

Lu Yinghuai took a step forward, turning to face Xia You. With his elongated left finger, he gently pried open Xia You's clenched and stiffened fingers, freeing the hand that bore the imprint of the grip, and cradled it in his own palm.

"I am also just an ordinary person. Perhaps, I am not as selflessly noble as many perceive."

"If given the choice, I'd rather leave my legacy to my family rather than my nation."

"Yet this decision does carry my personal biases and selfishness, and it might also place you under considerable strain."

"I've set up a blank will in the computer's authority terminal. Regardless of future outcomes, the computer will automatically upload my medical choices to fill this will, ensuring all medical decisions are genuinely my own."

This decision stemmed from Lu Yinghuai's personal desires, and this will was the strongest shield he could provide Xia You against the repercussions of his choice.

"So..."

"Xia You," Lu Yinghuai whispered, his gaze fixed on the young man before him, his eyes brimming with unshed tears, "Is that acceptable?"

Xia You sniffed, hastily wiping his cheeks with his sleeves, straightened his back, and gripping Lu Yinghuai's hand firmly, proclaimed loudly, "Acceptable? I am Your Highness's sole lawful spouse. This is my rightful prerogative! It's only fitting for Your Highness to grant me this!"

"Who else would Your Highness bestow this right upon, now that we're married?"

Xia You, neck stiffened in defiance, glared at Lu Yinghuai, his reddened eyes full of disapproval.

Observing the young man before him, clearly distressed yet so obstinate, Lu Yinghuai felt a sudden itch in his hand.

And so, the Marshal, who often indulged himself after venturing into the forest and saw a decline in self-restraint, found himself—

Xia You: "…?"

Xia You shook her head, causing the fingers Lu Yinghuai lightly rested on her cheek to quiver slightly.

The atmosphere tensed for a brief moment.

Xia You looked at Lu Yinghuai in disbelief.

Lu Yinghuai cleared his throat softly, withdrew his hand, and then looked down at Xia You, who was clutching her left hand.

As if scalded, Xia You quickly pulled her hand away and surreptitiously rubbed it against her clothes, trying to rid herself of the lingering warmth.

Both felt a tad awkward and simultaneously turned their gazes towards the direction of the little tiger and the white tiger.

That glance led to...

Xia You hurriedly moved to intercept the little tiger charging towards the portable bath.

But the little tiger was too swift. Although Xia You managed to grab it, she almost couldn't halt its charge. Fortunately, Lu Yinghuai, grabbing the scruff of the tiger's neck, forcefully yanked it back.

The tiger, named Latiao, tucked its tail, casting a disgruntled look at Lu Yinghuai.

With a sympathetic touch on the little tiger's fur, Xia You said, "Latiao, how about we take a break for a couple of days before being licked again, okay?"

The white tiger wasn't grooming the little tiger as its cub, but rather, was pulling at it forcefully as if it were prey. In just a few hours, patches of fur on Latiao's head seemed to thin.

The little tiger's expression was somewhat dismissive.

After all, the condition of one's companion beast didn't affect the appearance of their human form.

Lu Yinghuai remarked, "The health of a companion beast's fur and claws represents the state of its spiritual power. Do you believe your spiritual power is currently in good shape?"

Latiao curled its paws and stubbornly remained silent.

"If you want your future companion beast to have patchy fur and a balding head, then continue," he continued.

Although Lu Yinghuai's tone was indifferent, his words made Latiao shiver involuntarily.

However, the white tiger's affection made Latiao somewhat reluctant to leave.

Suddenly, he recalled that his uncle's companion beast had been a black panther for such a long time, and no one had known.

He could also hide his true form, as long as no one discovered...

Lu Yinghuai stood behind the little tiger, oblivious to its flickering gaze. However, Xia You clearly noticed the little tiger's sly glances towards the tree where the black panther hung, discerning the mischief it was contemplating.

Xia You cleared her throat.

Both Latiao and Lu Yinghuai turned to look at her.

Xia You produced a second-generation livestream ball, fresh from its delivery and unused, from her spatial knot and showcased it in a 360° view in front of Latiao.

After Lu Yinghuai informed Xia You about the existence of companion beasts, he also unveiled the livestreams he'd previously kept hidden from her and granted her the privilege to view the livestream's comments.

Latiao: "?"

A smile tugged at the corners of Lu Yinghuai's lips.

Xia You said earnestly, "So, Latiao, here's the deal."

"Remember how this livestream ball has been hovering around us?"

"His Highness mentioned that the livestream wasn’t just internal; it's open to the First Legion and some specially privileged viewers."

"Yesterday, I reviewed some recordings from our previous streams..."

Xia You activated her light computer and from the myriad of saved videos, she randomly picked one. It was a recording of their broadcast when they were with Xue Bing.

Turning the light screen toward Latiao, Xia You pressed the play button.

The recorded livestream included not only the video but also the live comments from the audience.

And the comments during this segment...

The little tiger, seeing the frequently appearing [Crown Prince] comment, wore an increasingly stunned expression.

Even its tail drooped, and its paws sagged limply to the ground.

Xia You picked up one of the tiger's front paws, gave it a squeeze, shook it a little, and then waved it in front of Latiao.

Lu Yinghuai, covering his lips with his hand, released his grip on the back of the little tiger's neck.

But in Latiao's mind, the scent of catnip and maternal affection were now long gone.

His mind was filled with all the foolish antics he had displayed both before and after regaining consciousness in the reserve.

A meter-long tiger slouched on the ground, its entire being from ear-tip to tail-tip exuding an aura of world-weariness.

Xia You tried to console, "It's okay. Everyone really likes you, and your popularity among the troops has soared!"

The despair in the little tiger's eyes deepened.

Lu Yinghuai turned his head, barely suppressing a laugh.

Xia You patted the dazed tiger and seized the chance to go to the river's edge, pouring the deep green catnip-infused water into the flowing river.

In contrast to the vast volume of the river, the catnip was swiftly diluted, the green hue disappearing in a blink.

However, Xia You didn't account for the splash angle and got soaked by the tiger's bathwater, drenching most of her.

Thankfully, the portable bathtub water was warm, and after drying herself promptly, she felt fine.

Xia You cleaned and stowed the portable bathtub back into the spatial knot. By the time she returned to the camp, the little tiger had curled itself into a dark-orange ball, continuing its self-imposed isolation.

The white tiger cast several glances in Latiao's direction, seemingly puzzled.

The black panther went on another territorial patrol, while Lu Yinghuai squatted next to the little deer that Xia You had saved, inspecting its wounds.

Xia You also squatted down, gently removing the bandage from the deer's other foreleg.

The wound on the deer's front limb, caused by the tiger, had already healed due to a special medication, and the gel had metabolized cleanly, not hindering its movement.

After removing the bandage, the deer staggered a bit but managed to stand on its own.

The next moment, the deer, which was just resting near the tent, darted into the forest with a speed Xia You couldn't comprehend, its slender legs leaving behind a blur.

"Ah... they run that fast?" Xia You lamented, wishing she could have petted the deer one last time.

Lu Yinghuai paused and remarked objectively, "It’s quick to flee. It should survive for a while out there."

"Hmm? Your Highness, are you craving venison?"

"No, it's just..." Lu Yinghuai started, but suddenly noticing a looming shadow behind Xia You, he exclaimed sharply, "Watch out!"

Simultaneously, he reached out and pulled Xia You into his embrace, decisively rolling to the ground with her.

In Lu Yinghuai's embrace, Xia You turned to look in the direction they had come from. The white tiger was rolling vigorously on the ground, and the small orange-black tiger was tightly clinging to the white tiger's head, refusing to let go.

Lu Yinghuai leaned closer, sniffing Xia You and asked in a deep voice, "Did you come into contact with the catnip?"

"I accidentally got some on me when I was pouring it out."

Xia You gestured to a spot on her clothing.

"But I've wiped it off. The fabric has self-cleaning and quick-drying features."

Lu Yinghuai glanced back at the white tiger, his expression changing, "Clearly, she now perceives you as the most tempting target."

Latiao, who was previously sulking, immediately noticed the white tiger's hunting stance and pounced on her at full speed.

However, given the stark difference in their sizes, Latiao had no chance of holding the white tiger back and ended up clinging to her face, trying desperately to be a distraction.

In the midst of the chaos, the small tiger kept jabbing its claws into the white tiger's mouth, crying out in protest.

Xia You gestured to indicate the size difference between herself and the white tiger, then asked Lu Yinghuai, "Your Highness, if I approach her now, do you think she'll bite off my fingers?"

Lu Yinghuai: "??"

The man looked at the young boy, eyes filled with a mix of confusion and concern.

Xia You straightened her clothes, "It's been so diluted by now! And earlier, she didn’t bite Latiao, just licked him clean."

Although Xia You wasn’t certain if she could withstand the aggressive licks from the white tiger.

After all, the papillae on the tongue of felines can be quite painful when used with force.

Xia You glanced at the white tiger, "And now, she seems... well, unable to open her mouth."

Two minutes later.

Latiao, who was forced to continue clinging to its mother's head, looked exasperatedly at Xia You, who was sneaking closer, daringly reaching out to touch the massive tiger.

Author's note:

Xia You: There's no fuzzy creature I can't pet!