Interstellar Power Couple
Translator: Lala
Quality Check: Mukyuu
Editor: Mukyuu
First Published on Chaleuria
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Chapter 81: The Start of Bankruptcy
Haweila Palace was to the east of Lin City. It was said that this place had once been the centre of Lin City, long ago. But as the city grew and its political spheres changed, eventually the centre shifted to where Parliament was while the area surrounding Haweila Palace grew quieter with time, because it lacked development. Now, looking down from their aircraft, all they could see was the towering palace surrounded by faint fog, surrounding the building with vaguely shaped wisps. Varicoloured butterflies fluttered above the bright green grass, and it looked as close to paradise as anything in the world could get, and the sight inspired warm emotions in its onlookers.
In exchange for being distanced from the centre of power, it got its domain of tranquility. It would have been nice if the residents here could be content with enjoying their peace and quiet too. It was a pity that a few of them were too greedy, and wanted too much for their own good.
“Has the Xiao family arrived yet?” Within the palace, a wizened old man looked at the time and asked the chief of staff. The man looked to be around eighty or ninety years old. He wore a crown on his head of salt and pepper hair and his figure was wiry. There were many wrinkles decorating his face, and his pearly white teeth, all of them present and neatly lined up, were the only things that belied his age. When he sat upon his chair embedded with innumerable priceless gemstones, he gave the impression of a withered tree being placed upon a throne.
“They have. I have sent someone to welcome them already. Everyone you invited is present.” The head of staff carefully arranged Emperor Suron’s sleeves. He retreated respectfully to the side and spoke again, “Would you like me to invite these guests over here?”
“No need. I will go out and greet them myself.” Emperor Suron stretched out his twig like arms, taking the Emperor’s staff offered up by the chief of staff, before walking outside with measured strides.
Right at this moment, Xiao Zhicheng’s fighter aircraft landed in the Haweila Palace’s airport. He had only brought his wife, his mother, and his youngest son’s family. Although he wanted everyone to come, his other four children didn’t like these events that needed them to make superficial pleasantries at every turn, so they had not come.
Xiao Lingyu and Lei Jue didn’t like them either, but Emperor Suron had invited them with so much grandeur, they couldn’t skip it. Plus, they also had their own motives for coming.
Lei Jue smoothed the hair of Kangkang, who was asleep in his arms, and fixed his son’s little hat on his head again. After that, he glanced at his eldest, who had his fist stuffed in his mouth. Because both sons had incredibly strong metal elemental powers, anyone in their right minds wouldn’t dare touch them carelessly, otherwise they would suffer from a high voltage attack.
“Don’t worry, I’m here.” Xiao Lingyu could sense Lei Jue’s underlying worry and massaged his shoulders. “Just do what you want to do.”
“Yeah.” Lei Jue reached out his senses to see whether the nightleisure bugs he’d brought with him were okay and then headed down the aircraft with Xiao Lingyu and their elders.
The sky had yet to darken, but many people had arrived already. The uniformed servants were greeting each of the guests at the airport and guiding them to the banquet hall of Haweila Palace. Lei Jue discovered that the person who came to greet them was a little different from the ones greeting the other guests however; not only in dress, but also in age.
“This way please.” The assistant head of staff bowed slightly to the Xiao’s and, after taking the invitation letter from Xiao Zhicheng, he showed them the way. “The Emperor is waiting for you at the Coldjade Palace.”
“Thank you, Mr. Liang.” Xiao Zhicheng nodded, making idle conversation with Mr. Liang as they walked at the head of the group. They hadn’t walked for long when they stopped, having seen familiar faces.
The Zuo family had deliberately chosen to arrive at about the same time as the Xiao family, so it was no surprise at all that they would run into each other at the airport. Zuo Zhihuan even feigned surprised at the coincidence, smiling as he said, “I was worried that we might be late too, but now it looks like we’re not.” Xiao Zhicheng took the coincidence at face value and greeted Zuo Zhihuan very naturally.
The assistant head of staff, Mr. Liang, frowned to himself but did not interrupt them. However, seeing that the two families had no intention of separating even after a while, he politely reminded Xiao Zhicheng, “Marshals, it’s quite windy out here, the children might catch a cold. Allow me to welcome you inside.”
Xiao Zhicheng smiled, “You’re right, Mr. Liang.”
It wasn’t far from the airport to the palace, and they arrived after walking through a garden. Xiao Zhicheng continued his idle conversation with Zuo Zhihuan the entire time, while Luo Yuling spoke with Ding Yuwen as they walked.
It wasn’t Ding Yuwen’s first time seeing the Xiao triplets; even so, she still failed to hide her envy, unable to stop wondering when she’d finally become a grandmother.
Grandmother Xiao smiled, comforting her, “It’ll be soon I’m sure. Zuo Qiu and the others have grown up now, so all that’s left is for them to get married, and kids will be on the way immediately, no?”
Ding Yuwen looked at her children, following behind them, a smile growing on her face too. Her smile was a lot brighter than usual, because recently, the relationship between the children was a lot better than it had been before; of course she was happy. If it had been in the past, she would have never seen the sight of Zuo Feng chatting with Zuo Yan so peacefully, and yet she’d seen it many times already today.
Zuo Feng was thinking back to how he’d been so rude to his younger brother in the past, and he couldn’t get over the guilt, which was why he was doing his best to make conversation. On top of that, today’s party reminded him of what his father had said to them back in the study, something about helping out the Xiao Family or something. He wanted to know if his younger brother knew something.
Actually, he was more curious about what the Xiao family could possibly want help for. God knew how many people at this party alone would hope to ride the Xiao family’s coattails.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out why Xiao Lingyu and Lei Jue were the only ones in their generation to come today.
Xiao Lingyu and Lei Jue were fine because they were taken already, otherwise, no matter which one of the Xiao siblings appeared today, the fight for their hand would stir up quite a ruckus.
As if sensing something, Lei Jue lifted his head and looked over. Seeing Zuo Feng, he couldn’t help but be reminded of the word ‘Aunt’, so he smiled at him, “I was hoping to send Xiao Lei back to where he was born at the start of autumn so he can find a partner. May I trouble Brother Feng to help take care of him?”
Zuo Feng had suffered at Lei Jue’s hands before, so his automatic reaction to anything Lei Jue said was to analyse it a few times.
Autumn was the lions’ mating season and rutting season. Since there was nothing suspicious about letting Xiao Lei go back to his birthplace in search of a mate, Zuo Feng nodded, “I can.”
Lei Jue felt a bit surprised at that; not because of how easily Zuo Feng had agreed, but because of Zuo Feng’s attitude—it was quite different from before.
His uncle was amazing. It hadn’t even been that long and yet it was like Zuo Feng had become a completely different person.
As if Di Lin knew that his nephew was praising him inwardly, the spiritual connection that occured between members of their clan grew stronger. Lei Jue could practically sense Di Lin’s exact location; he appeared to be in Zuo Feng’s pants pockets.
While Zuo Feng wasn’t looking, Lei Jue glanced at Zuo Feng’s right pant pocket. He realised that Zuo Feng had had his hand stuck in there this whole time, and instead of being still, the hand was constantly moving inside the pocket as if it was touching something.
I wonder what he’s doing?
Lei Jue’s eyebrow twitched upwards before he shifted his gaze away, suddenly realising that he had quite a mean streak. By turning his head however, he caught Xiao Lingyu smiling at him.
“What?”
“What’s up with ‘Brother Feng’, hmm?” Xiao Lingyu murmured by Lei Jue’s ear in a low voice, his tone joking. “Wrong generation.”
“Should I call him ‘aunt’ then?” Lei Jue murmured back. “You’re jealous? Over this?”
“Who said I was jealous?” Xiao Lingyu replied without batting an eyelid. “I was just a little salty.”
The two were smiling as they whispered to each other as if they were in their own little world. Since they were in public however, no one thought their actions were inappropriate, merely taking their intimacy as a sign that they were close.
Whispering to each other like this would be unacceptable after entering the palace however. Lei Jue and Xiao Lingyu stopped themselves, and the guests that had been chattering idly before stopped their conversations after seeing them.
Lei Jue caught sight of the man walking towards them from the banquet hall—Emperor Suron, the star of tonight’s birthday celebration.
Despite having seen a few pictures of this ‘star’ before on the internet, and thus knowing that he would look quite old because he hadn’t used any biotechnological means to make himself look younger, it was only now, seeing the man from up close, that he realised those photos were most likely taken many years ago, because the man looked much older in person than he had in those pictures.
Even if something wasn’t quite right, no one would let it show on their faces on a day like this, so Lei Jue couldn’t tell what everyone’s opinions were of this emperor. Either way, he didn’t think he’d understand.
Technology had advanced to the extent of being able to make someone look decades younger, so why would Emperor Suron let himself go like this?
If someone tried to claim it was because the old man respected the laws of nature and life, Lei Jue wouldn’t believe them even if they tried beating it into him. If that were really the case, the Emperor wouldn’t have made his incessant schemes for immortality.
“We wish the emperor a long life, and bountiful relationships with his loved ones.” As someone of the same generation, the old madam Xiao gave the emperor her well wishes.
“Thank you, Old Madam Xiao.” Emperor Suron smiled before turning to Lei Jue. “And you must be Lei Jue. Lingyu too, it has been many years since I last saw Lingyu.”
“That is correct, your majesty.” Xiao Zhicheng nodded. “I believe the last time we brought him out was at your birthday party ten years ago.”
“Indeed. Time passes by so quickly.” Emperor Suron sighed. He smiled, peering at the child in Xiao Lingyu’s arms before looking at the one in Lei Jue’s arms too. His gaze felt like it was coming from some kind neighbourhood grandpa, but despite that, Lei Jue and Xiao Lingyu still felt a strange sense of unease.
“The children are asleep?” Emperor Suron looked at the mini elemental user in the baby carrier around Lei Jue’s chest.
“Yes, they woke up a bit too early this morning.” Lei Jue replied, putting a protective hand over his youngest son.
“If you get tired of carrying him, you can send him to the guest bedroom and let him sleep.” Emperor Suron did not wait for Lei Jue’s reply before calling over the chief of staff. “De Lin, arrange for a lounge. We mustn’t let the little guest feel uncomfortable.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, but there is no need.” Xiao Lingyu said, “The child is still too young, and he is unable to control his powers. We would be incredibly sorry if he accidentally broke something here.”
“How could such a small child possibly use his powers for no reason? Don’t worry, it will be fine.” Emperor Suron gave a kindly smile.
He never expected for a loud and explosive ‘bang!’ to echo in the banquet hall right after he spoke.
Mr. Pipi had not been able to hold back his curiosity for his new environment any longer. There were only three bedrooms and one living room in the small house at home, and the furthest he ever got was from his room to Grandfather and Grandmother’s room, or to Uncle Lingshu’s room, and they all looked the same at that, he was bored of it already!
Completely oblivious to the surprise of the people around him, Pipi giggled and let out a burst of metal elemental energy from his pinky finger, aiming for the crystal light spheres in the hall once again!
Bang!
“Ah!” Shrieks of terror came from the guests who stood near the light sphere.
All the guests were shocked into silence.
Emperor Suron laughed, “What an impish child.”
Xiao Lingyu hurriedly pulled the little demon’s finger back, “Don’t be naughty!”
Unheeding his father’s words, Pipi slipped his little hand out of his father’s and changed his target. Everyone in the banquet hall then bore witness to the little child, not even waist high, use a strong burst of metal elemental energy to instantly melt the emperor’s throne into a golden puddle!
As the invaluable gems dropped onto the floor one by one, Xiao Lingyu felt a heart attack about to happen.
As if he’d done something incredible and praiseworthy, Pipi began clapping loudly.
Lei Jue fell silent.
He could hear his wallet crying.
As everyone stared at the remnants of the chair, which no longer bore any resemblance to its original form, Zuo Feng’s entire body stiffened as he felt something poke a hole in his pants and, through it, climb its way onto the top of his thighs.