Chapter 122

Chapter 122

The coronation ceremony usually required extensive preparations.

The first step was for the Cabinet to review and approve the crown prince candidate as lawful and reasonable under the “Succession Act.”

On this matter, Cecil Ronin had prepared from the moment Baisha returned to the empire—he had submitted a genetic comparison between himself and Baisha, confirming she was a descendant from the same lineage, indeed closely related by blood, thus unquestionably meeting the succession criteria. Although this certification was not publicly disclosed, being highly confidential, it was accessible in the archives upon authorization.

Besides, the crown prince candidate must be physically and mentally healthy.

"Physically and mentally healthy" encompasses both physical and psychic strength.

Baisha's outstanding performance at the Tianquan Military Academy had already proven her physical fitness. The appearance of the "Mystical Bird" and the "Resonance" during the team competition also demonstrated her qualifications to be the crown prince.

Therefore, she had no obstacles in meeting the "physically and mentally healthy" criterion.

The only remaining factor of concern was—

"Although Princess Baisha is indeed exceptional, His Majesty is still young and may have children in the future. Traditionally, the emperor's first child should have the primary right to the throne..."

At the cabinet meeting, a minister raised this suggestion.

"Perhaps we should initially list Princess Baisha as a reserve candidate for the crown prince..."

Dressed in a gray-yellow uniform, Prime Minister Han Xi stood at his position, bowing slightly. Han Xi, with his handsome and indifferent features, spoke without any extra emotion, yet his gaze at his colleague was subtly intimidating: "Regarding this matter, I have already consulted His Majesty. His Majesty's exact words were—"

"'If waiting for my offspring to be born, then wait another hundred years.'"

The questioning minister: "..."

He immediately began to wonder if Emperor Cecil Ronin was a bachelor by choice. The emperor's temperament was unpredictable, known for his reclusive nature since his youth and even more so in adulthood. Among the Ronin family, he was an enigma, and it seemed unlikely that any noble family's descendant could endure his idiosyncrasies, making his bachelor status quite understandable.

The prevailing notion among imperial citizens was "no marriage without love"—even if the emperor bore the responsibility of producing heirs, if he expressed no desire to marry, no minister would force him to end his single life.

Thus, the minister chose to capitulate instantly.

After all, no matter who sits on the throne, it wouldn’t escape the grasp of the Luo Ning family. Deciding on the heir to the throne so early might be regretted by Emperor Cecil if he has his own children in the future... but what does that have to do with these ministers?

After the minister's concession, no one else raised objections.

The vote concluded, and Han Xi announced that the "Succession Bill" was effective, making Bai Sha Luo Ning the appropriate choice for the heir.

After cabinet approval, a three-day public announcement period began.

It was more of a notification than an announcement.

The cabinet issued directives for all major official platforms to feature the news of the "heir to the throne" as the top story.

The entire empire was stunned by this sudden news—at that moment, nearly every public forum and news site on the Star Web was discussing it.

Comments appeared on the Star Web:

"The heir to the throne—did I travel through time? Where did this heir come from?"

"You're not time-traveling, you're just out of the loop," someone proudly replied, "Didn’t you see the replay of the joint military exercise team match? Didn’t you notice that huge Xuan bird flying out at the end?"

The person replied, "I did see it. But that only meant the royal family had another direct descendant, I never thought they’d be declared the heir to the throne so publicly..."

"It’s not just ‘another direct descendant’, it's ‘the only direct descendant of the imperial royal family’! The significance is entirely different! And didn’t you read the announcement? The lineage of this heir comes from Prince Xipes Luo Ning!"

With the mention of Xipes Luo Ning, the voices questioning the cabinet's hasty decision subsided significantly.

People on the Star Web began to express their fond memories and admiration for Prince Xipes.

Unlike Cecil Luo Ning, Xipes Luo Ning was designated as the heir shortly after birth. The royal family was always generous in sharing information about the heir, so Xipes Luo Ning can be said to have grown up under the watchful and expectant eyes of the public.

...She was too perfect.

Whether it was her prowess as a warrior, her demeanor as royalty, her wisdom and benevolence as a ruler, she was beyond reproach. Those who witnessed her growth were full of loyalty and admiration, believing that the empire would enter another glorious era under her leadership.

Compared to Xipes, Cecil Luo Ning rarely appeared in the public eye since his youth. Certainly, Cecil has proven himself not to be a poor emperor. His actions since taking the throne have been commendable. But he couldn't surpass the "moonlight" status of Xipes in people's hearts.

Xipes Luo Ning disappeared, and the official statement was that she died accidentally in a spaceship explosion during a starfield expedition.

Such a reason was too abrupt—for someone as formidable as Xipes, it was hard for people to imagine her life ending in such a hasty manner.

Her life was like the brightest meteor, fleeting in an instant.

But while she was alive, her brilliance overshadowed all geniuses of her time.

The stronger she was, the deeper the regret in people's memories— even now, on the anniversary of Xipes Luo Ning's death, many citizens still hold memorial activities spontaneously.

Xipes Luo Ning had never married, yet she left a descendant—!

"This prince just enrolled in the military academy. So, Xipes Luo Ning must have died shortly after giving birth to her. Oh, poor Bai Sha Luo Ning..."

"But, a child can't be born to Xipes Luo Ning alone, right? Who is the child’s father?!"

"Do you really need to ask? I think you're just forcing the cabinet to make a difficult announcement. I believe the child's father probably perished with Prince Xipes in that accident..."

"As long as Bai Sha Luo Ning is here, it's enough. Bloodline authentication can't be faked. Who the child's father is doesn’t really matter!"

But there are always some unique voices on the Star Web.

For instance, a netizen lamented, "But I still find it hard to accept that a child suddenly appears years after the death of an unwed 'moonlight'—"

A passerby replied, "Are you sure about the unwed part? Maybe it was a secret marriage."

Netizen: "Either way, it's hard to accept!"

Passerby: "What does Prince Xipes' marital status have to do with you? Goodness, even thinking about the heir to the throne?"

The netizen whimpered, "Look at my ID."

The passerby checked the netizen's profile.

This netizen seemed to be quite old, having surfed the Star Web for over a decade, only changing their name once—from the former ID “I am Prince Xipes' Dog 231” to the current “Widow with Nowhere to Mourn.”

Passerby: "..."

On this netizen's profile, starting from over a decade ago, all posts were related to Prince Xipes. They had not been very active in recent years, only sharing texts and images of remembrance.

Clearly, this was a die-hard fan of Prince Xipes Luo Ning.

The netizen continued, "Actually, I've always had this mysterious feeling that Prince Xipes faked her death—but I can't find a reason for why she would do that. So, this feeling has always been just a feeling."

The passerby thought this person was obsessed and didn't want to argue further, offering comforting words instead: "That's right, as long as you remember, Prince Xipes will always live in your heart."

The netizen remained silent for a while before replying with a beating heart emoji.

The confirmation of the heir to the throne stirred up a storm in the Empire and similarly ignited a wave of public opinion in the Federation.

That day, the terms "Imperial Heir" and "Postponement of the Inter-School Joint Military Exercise between the Two Nations" surged to the first and second spots on the Star Web's trending list.

The joint military exercise was postponed because the heir of the Empire was to undergo a coronation ceremony!

Oh, you ask who the heir of the Empire is?

It's the commander of the Empire in this military exercise.

Inside the training room of the Central Federation Military Academy, Zhou Xiao, Zhou Ying, Yaning, and Yan Jingyi looked at each other in front of the light computer screen.

"Sha Sha... is going to be the heir to the Empire?" Yaning said with a bewildered expression.

Yan Jingyi didn't speak, her gaze fixed on the light screen.

The news on the screen featured the Empire's official release with photos, using Bai Sha's picture from the opening ceremony of the military exercise. But everyone present knew that Bai Sha had made some "disguises" at that time, so strictly speaking, that wasn't really her.

Zhou Ying was the first to react, smiling at his twin brother, "Bai Sha becoming the heir to the throne is a good thing, isn't it, brother? You don't seem too happy."

Actually, Zhou Ying was exaggerating a bit. Zhou Xiao stood there, still as serene as frosty pine and bamboo, showing no signs of dejection or annoyance. He just didn't seem "happy."

"No," he replied calmly, shaking his head, "It's a good thing."

It's just that the distance between him and Bai Sha was growing further apart.

It wasn't just the distance in geographical terms, but also the gap in their backgrounds.

They believed that the affection they shared with Bai Sha wouldn't deteriorate—but some chasms are objectively there.

Yaning and Yan Jingyi couldn't help but worry that they would drift further apart from Bai Sha over time, eventually becoming strangers.

Zhou Ying was the odd one out in their group—he seemed not to worry at all.

"None of us are unhappy. The strange one is you, Zhou Ying," Yan Jingyi eyed him coldly, "You've been acting weird since the start. Why are you so excited?"

For most people, the excitement would stem from a close friend becoming the heir to the Empire. The title "heir" symbolizes the pinnacle of power in the Empire, and even though they are in the Federation, they would still benefit from that power.

But Zhou Ying was not an "ordinary person". Although adept at wielding power and influence, if not for being born into the Zhou family, and if he did not need to use that power to break free from the constraints of his birth, he would have scorned such "power" and "connections".

At least, his initial reaction should have been like Yaning's...

"Why shouldn't I be excited?" Zhou Ying laughed. "Some in the Federal Military have always had issues with Sasha. Now that she's the crown princess, what do you think their reaction will be? Will they become more hostile towards her, or try to curry favor and let bygones be bygones..."

What tactic would be most effective for Bai Sha?

Playing the emotional card.

Indeed, they received a summons from the Military Chief Ning Hongxue that very day.

When Ning Hongxue met them, he was in uniform, but without the usual dazzling military badges, seemingly removed on purpose.

"Please, have a seat," he gestured for the four to make themselves comfortable. "There's no need to be formal."

Despite his casual words, the four heightened their vigilance due to his unusual demeanor.

"I apologize, Commander Ning," Zhou Xiao said expressionlessly. "We failed to win the first team match."

"The team match? That's no longer of any concern. The sudden appearance of so many robots in the arena has rendered the results irrelevant," Ning Hongxue replied amicably. "Although the empire’s... the Crown Princess indeed shone, you all weren't far behind."

Zhou Ying, always inscrutable, sat down leisurely. "You summoned us for a reason, Uncle?"

Ning Hongxue nodded. "Indeed. But it’s nothing too difficult."

As he spoke, Ning Hongxue pushed four silver-white invitations towards them.

"As you can see: The Empire has sent an invitation to the Federation. They invite us to send representatives to witness the coronation of the Crown Princess," the dark-haired man said with a smile. "We’ve decided that you should be among those invited."

They exchanged glances and unfolded the invitations before them.

Indeed, these were invitations sent from the Empire.

Yaning let out a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, Commander Ning. We’ll accept them."

"It can't be just the four of us going. Who else will accompany us?" Zhou Ying inquired.

"Some authoritative media will send reporters," Ning Hongxue said with a lazy wave of his hand. "You'll leave and return with these reporters — this invitation bears no political significance. The Federation won't send diplomats or military personnel. After all, the host wouldn't want to entertain too many guests."

Yaning and Yan Jingyi couldn't hide a hint of joy on their faces.

A trip to the Empire!

That meant they could spend some peaceful time with Bai Sha!

"Thank you, Uncle," Zhou Ying said briskly, tucking away the invitation and looking up with a smile. "But is this an invitation you secured for us, or did the Empire specifically ask for us to be invited?"

Ning Hongxue's smiling gaze swept over Zhou Ying, harboring an inexplicable chill.

In terms of appearance, as the Zhou twins grew up, it was clear that Zhou Ying resembled Ning Hongxue more.

Their smiles concealed blades as they eyed each other, a testament to the strange wonders of blood relations, chilling the spines of onlookers.

After a standoff, Ning Hongxue was the first to relent. Lowering his eyes with a resigned sigh, he admitted, "Alright, it was His Majesty, Cecil Ronin of Ares Empire. He knows of your past relationship with Bai Sha and specifically sent these invitations for you."

Zhou Ying: "I thought as much."

"What's the point in fussing over these details, Ah Ying," Ning Hongxue said. "Now go. This trip to the Empire is like a short vacation for you."

The four stood up, bidding farewell to Ning Hongxue with a bow.

Before leaving, Yaning asked, "By the way, Commander, how is Janis doing now?"

"She has too many flaws; the researchers are adjusting her," was all Ning Hongxue said.

Yaning wanted to ask more, but Yan Jingyi, frowning, pulled him away.

As they left Ning Hongxue's office, Yaning sighed, "You guessed it, they want us to play the emotional card..."

"Not exactly," Yan Jingyi raised an eyebrow. "The invitation was specifically sent to us by the Empire, not allocated by the Federal Military. At first, I really thought Ning Hongxue was being thoughtful, sending us to the coronation ceremony... But Zhou Ying, how did you guess?"

"You should at least take a look at the invitation," Zhou Ying said with a hint of resignation.

The group then opened the invitations and were momentarily stunned at first glance.

"To the invitees," their names written in the designated section, every stroke unmistakably Bai Sha's handwriting.

— This was an invitation personally penned by Bai Sha for them.

Bai Sha's handwriting was remarkably meticulous, rivaling the beauty of some printed fonts.

Perhaps Ning Hongxue couldn't recognize Bai Sha's handwriting and shamelessly tried to take credit for obtaining the invitations.

Yan Jingyi tucked the invitation into her bosom, exclaiming, "Utterly shameless!"

……

Bai Sha was not very aware of all that was happening outside.

Ever since she agreed to become the Crown Princess, her intensive training program had been reinstated!

The instructors were mostly the same as before, but the standards of teaching were now even more rigorous.

Han Chang had organized a vast array of books, eagerly ready to teach Bai Sha, yet his teaching hours were continually reduced. Now, deepening political understanding, enhancing political sensitivity, and expanding international perspectives were not the top priorities.

The most crucial task was to ensure Bai Sha could effortlessly navigate the upcoming Crown Princess coronation ceremony.

First and foremost, Bai Sha needed an official "royal portrait" for her own, to be placed on her family tree and to be presented to the outside world.

For this, Cecil Ronin summoned the best "image design team" for her — actually a hastily assembled group comprising the country's finest fashion designers, hairstylists, and beauticians. Among them were a few who Bai Sha found overwhelming; one would exclaim over her face as a 'wasteful beauty,' while another incessantly fiddled with her hair, urging her to try various beauty treatments, all to make her appear "radiantly beautiful."

For the photo shoot, Bai Sha changed into a somewhat cumbersome gown.

The gown, though military in overall style, was extravagantly ornate to the point of impracticality, leaning towards fantasy and romance — the white base shirt with subtle patterns, initially unobtrusive, complemented the collar’s elaborate gold-thread and gemstone embroidery, exuding a noble, ethereal aura. The matching trousers, tucked into tasseled military boots, and the silver-purple, asymmetrical overcoat trailing beyond one knee, embroidered with gold threads in simple yet elegant patterns.

Bai Sha, adjusting the gemstone bead string on her collar, her silver-grey hair shimmering under the military cap, remarked, "This should be enough."

The female designer in charge of her outfit looked at her obsessively, yet unmercifully retorted, "Not yet."

Bai Sha: "What else is there?"

The designer: "This is a brooch. Ah, and this passionflower gemstone chain, it's worn around the waist—"

The brooch — bearable, not too large. The passionflower chain — a royal symbol, naturally.

But there were always some accessories that Bai Sha wasn't sure where to wear.

Like the gold metal hoop in front of her, beautifully crafted with interlocking gold filigree and adorned with blue crystals.

"Where is this supposed to be worn? A bracelet?" Bai Sha picked it up with her gloved hand, sensing the size was off.

"Almost forgot this one! This is the pièce de résistance of the whole outfit!" the designer’s eyes sparkled brightly. "It’s a leg ring!!"

Bai Sha was startled by her sudden rise in pitch.

"That's not necessary," Bai Sha said with a touch of resignation. "Aren't photos usually taken only up to the waist?"

Speaking, she adjusted her hat and, pushing past the surrounding people, made her way out. "That's enough for today. This attire is already perfect."

"But, Your Highness—"

Bai Sha, leveraging her long strides, quickly walked away, leaving the overly enthusiastic designer behind.

Passing by a fountain pool outside, she instinctively paused to look at her reflection in the water, momentarily taken aback.

The reflection was somewhat blurry, but clear enough.

She saw another "herself" bending down: the cold and opulent gold and gems did not overshadow her, but instead appropriately dispelled the last traces of fragility from her delicate face. Even with a calm demeanor and without posing, there was an aura of inviolability and nobility.

This attire was not just about opulence—it was also power, a weapon.

Taking a deep breath, Bai Sha headed towards the Emperor's chamber, where the photographer was waiting for her.

On a normal day, to get a satisfactory photo, she would have had to pose for hours, but now she was stunning from every angle. A few quick shots should suffice, right?

Her uncle had once said:

"The photos taken today will be seen by future generations. In my experience, just put on a killer expression, and the photographer will be extremely pleased. The aesthetic of the royal photographers is uniform, focusing on 'royal dignity'. But there are exceptions... your mother was smiling in her photo, a very happy smile."

Bai Sha didn't particularly aim to leave a "break-the-mold" photo. She just wanted to quickly finish these tedious preparations and return to her laboratory. She had many experimental data from the joint military exercises still to review...

Thinking about her experiments, Bai Sha's mind was filled with data. She walked into the photoshoot area with her head down, and after a few steps, she noticed a pair of shiny black military boots in her line of sight.

"Who taught you to walk with your head down?" Bai Sha felt a flick on her forehead.

"Don't touch my hair, Uncle," Bai Sha responded, not wanting to go back and be fussed over again. She quickly looked up, then froze.

She felt her outfit today was already quite striking, but to her surprise, her uncle managed to outdo her, wearing a black and gold half-shoulder cape adorned with ribbons, tassels, gems, and pearls... resembling a walking Christmas tree.

Yet, it looked really good.

He even tied his long hair into a high ponytail — Bai Sha's favorite hairstyle when she used to play with character designs.

Bai Sha, feeling a bit sheepish, changed the subject: "Uncle, today is my photo shoot," she emphasized the word 'my'.

"I know," Cecil Ronin turned his head, slightly uncomfortable, "...But we've never had a photo together, have we?"