Chapter 69: Tattling

Chapter 69: Accusations

The empire's power was distributed among the military, the Elder Council, and the royal family. Yet, this supposedly unbreakable trinity had become unstable three years prior, its foundation crumbling.

The military suffered defeat, the Marshal went missing, and the revelation of the merfolk soon dragged the Elder Council into scandalous turmoil. Among the empire's highest echelons, the balance between the three factions had long been disrupted. Meanwhile, the royal family, untouched by any issues, had steadily gained the upper hand over the years.

However, the Imperial Military remained the most formidable force in the galaxy, its armory and all combat power answering solely to the Marshal's command.

Both the royal family and the Elder Council still deeply feared this decisive ruler.

Though the Marshal, constrained by public opinion, had accepted the arrangements made three years ago, it did not mean the military was a pushover.

Si Jisheng narrowed his silver eyes slightly, their depths unreadable, as he calmly flipped through the documents in his hands.

The conference hall fell into dead silence.

Across the table, the young and impetuous prince of the royal family sat with a pale face, his composure clearly lacking, a sheen of cold sweat forming unnoticed on his forehead.

Beside him sat a figure entirely concealed beneath a black cloak, their face hidden, yet far more composed.

If the military was the empire's spear and shield, and the Elder Council handled its policies, then the royal family served as the empire's figurehead—both to the outside world and its citizens. Regardless of bloodline, the various royal family members formed a council.

This council held veto power over imperial policies.

After a moment, the cloaked figure suddenly spoke, "Gelan, is this how I taught you to behave?"

The voice was gravelly with age.

The young royal member took a deep breath before replying, "The signing of that document did fall under my responsibility." Gelan's tone fluctuated, clearly betraying his panic. "But, sir, it's meaningless, isn't it?"

"That convention could never be implemented!"

"Swish—"

The sound of papers being turned.

The silver eyes remained coldly fixed on the pages, as if the other party were nothing more than a clown beneath his notice.

Arrogant, rude, and contemptuous!

Fear pushed to its limit gave way to anger. Just as Gelan was about to question the other's attitude, a hand patted his shoulder, quelling his anger in an instant. He could only grudgingly acknowledge, "Teacher."

The cloaked figure chuckled. "He's still young, sir. The Duke was truly unable to attend, so he sent me to accompany this youngster to your appointment."

"Young?" Si Jisheng finally spoke, his silver eyes lifting slightly. After a pause, he added, "If he isn’t fit to sit in the council, then he shouldn't remain there."

Gelan was aghast. "What right does the military have to interfere—" His words were abruptly cut off by the cloaked figure, who interceded. "Sir, I spent most of my life in the Elder Council and was only called 'experienced' after retiring. Isn't it too harsh to demand this of a prince who just came of age?"

The black mechanical glove set down the finished document. The man in the military coat at the head of the table stood up directly, his words perfectly matching the public's perception of him—icy, authoritarian, and uncompromising.

"If the Duke and the council cannot provide a reasonable explanation, then the sacrificial lamb they've pushed forward must be prepared for sacrifice."

Without sparing any courtesy, he exposed every ploy on the table.

Si Jisheng strode to the door, ignoring Gelan and the cloaked figure, whose expressions had twisted in fury, and pulled it open. He stepped out, scanning the area until his gaze settled on a familiar figure.

As the distance closed, the locator automatically alerted him. The moment the indicator on his wrist device lit up, Si Jisheng noticed.

The golden-haired boy was slouched in the soft sofa of the reception hall, sipping juice from a cup. The cup obscured the lower half of his face, leaving only a pair of curious blue eyes peeking over the rim, flickering about as he observed his surroundings.

But the moment someone met his gaze, he would shy away. Deng Xi was still wary around unfamiliar humans.

Yet, knowing that Little Mute was just beyond the door, his anxiety remained manageable. At the very least, he could sit quietly amidst the crowd of aloof, imposing men, waiting patiently for the person he wanted to see to finish his work.

He even dared to observe them with bold curiosity.

That was progress.

The Secretary-General, spotting the Marshal's partner, immediately stepped forward to arrange everything meticulously. Under the discreet scrutiny of the royal knights, he made it clear with his solemn demeanor that this boy held considerable standing.

By the time Deng Xi noticed the footsteps of military boots stopping beside him, Si Jisheng had already leaned down and taken the juice cup from his hands.

The little mermaid, caught off guard by the sudden theft of his drink, blinked up in confusion. Before his delight at seeing Little Mute could surface, his eyes widened as the man drained the remaining juice in one gulp.

The empty cup was placed back on the table.

This overt claim of ownership in front of everyone instantly made the observing knights avert their eyes, studiously ignoring the scene.

Si Jisheng's voice was low. "What did I say?"

Deng Xi glanced at his juice, then at Little Mute, sulking. Pouting, he drawled, "Only one cup a day."

Only the three of them were near the sofa—the military soldiers and the knight commander remained by the door, too far to hear.

The Secretary-General's brow twitched, taking pity, and he took the blame. "Marshal, I was the one who gave it to him."

Deng Xi's eyes brightened, silently thanking Uncle Secretary-General in his heart.

Si Jisheng gave him a cool glance. "Go see the guests out."

The Secretary-General could only shoot Deng Xi a look that said "good luck" before leaving.

Deng Xi watched his retreating figure, noticing that the previously closed conference hall doors were now wide open. A young, brown-haired human man stalked out, followed by an elderly figure moving slowly with a cane, entirely shrouded in a black cloak.

As if shunning daylight.

Only when the cloaked figure stepped from the dim conference hall into the sunlight of the reception room did the harsh light reveal the leathered skin beneath the hood—half of an aged face.

Beady eyes showed no sign of frailty but instead locked onto Deng Xi with hawk-like intensity, filled with observation, reassessment, and even a hint of shock.

Unnerved by the stare, Deng Xi clutched Little Mute's sleeve, musing inwardly: *Do all humans look this ugly when they grow old?*

That wrinkled face... he felt like he'd seen it somewhere before.

But unlike merfolk, whose features were distinct and striking, humans all looked rather plain to Deng Xi. He was terrible with faces, unable to remember the forgettable features of too many strangers.

Like the women who brought him snacks every day—there were so many, and they rarely met, so Deng Xi could only recall a few with particularly unusual hair or eye colors.

Deng Xi zoned out for a moment, thinking, but still couldn't place the memory.

The royal knights followed Gelan out, and the Secretary-General led the military soldiers away, leaving the oversized lounge empty save for Deng Xi and Si Jisheng.

The cushions sank slightly as Si Jisheng sat down beside him. "Did you forget how you complained about your toothache the night before last?"

Jolted back to attention, Deng Xi pressed his lips together, sheepish as he lowered his lashes. "I didn't forget."

Deng Xi loved sweets. Initially, Si Jisheng alternated between giving him juice and sweetened milk, occasionally doling out small cakes, chocolates, and candies.

Both lacked self-control.

After only a few days, Deng Xi felt a sour sensation in his teeth. Panicked, he opened his mouth wide for Little Mute to inspect if his teeth were about to fall out.

Si Jisheng pressed his fingertip against the aching tooth Deng Xi pointed to, rubbing it lightly. Finding no looseness, he glanced at the leftover candy wrappers on the table and realized—Deng Xi had eaten too much sugar.

The next day, Deng Xi was cut off from his morning honey milk, post-lunch fruit juice, and afternoon tea with cake.

Deng Xi held up his fingers clumsily, trying to justify himself, "I only had a little bit."

Si Jisheng was firm. "Then you won’t be having any cake later."

Deng Xi shoved the juice away petulantly. "I won’t drink it anymore!"

"But you promised. You can't take it back now."

Si Jisheng paused slightly. "You can have it tomorrow instead."

Deng Xi looked up with his clear blue eyes, his silent accusation clear.

*That's so mean.*

*How could you do this?*

Unfazed, Si Jisheng deflected. "Why did you come here all of a sudden?"

Only then did Deng Xi remember his real reason for coming. He hesitated for a moment before slightly turning his face away, his ear fins trembling self-consciously beneath his golden hair under Little Mute’s gaze. "Are my ear fins... not pretty?"

Because Deng Xi cared so much, his ear fins had emerged uncontrollably much earlier.

Golden and translucent, delicate as butterfly wings, they glistened with scattered light, trembling faintly as if ready to take flight.

Si Jisheng’s voice was low and firm. "They’re gorgeous."

Deng Xi's eyes crinkling slightly. "You mean it?"

Si Jisheng gave a quiet "Mm."

As for the Mermaid Language, Deng Xi didn’t think to ask. The sea’s gift to the merfolk, the language of mermaids, would never be seen as flawed by them.

Unable to resist, Deng Xi leaned closer to Little Mute, wrapping his arms around the man’s shoulders and burying his face against him, whining pitifully, "Someone bullied me."

"They said my ear fins aren’t pretty."

"And they said sooo many awful things."

Si Jisheng’s face darkened immediately. The instinctive urge to pull away halted abruptly, not wanting to frighten Deng Xi. His tone, contrary to his icy demeanor, was gentle and coaxing as he turned slightly to murmur by the little mermaid’s ear, "What happened?"

Finally able to vent the emotions he’d been suppressing, Deng Xi sank into the cold, deep-sea aura surrounding Si Jisheng, his troubled thoughts calming.

He thought for a moment but didn’t answer.

Deng Xi spoke with conflicted hesitation, "But... there were also so, *so* many people who said they liked me."

That statement made Si Jisheng’s expression grow even colder, his silver eyes narrowing slightly. "How did they say it?"

Deng Xi couldn’t quite remember. He struggled to recall, "They said I’m very beautiful, that my singing is so lovely it made them cry."

"And... they said they wanted to hold me."

Author’s Note:

*Marshal: Hug who?*