Chapter 53: Fifty-third Day of Lying Flat Like a Salted Fish

If Nan Yingzhe knew that the Emperor’s critical illness was the result of Geshu Ming’s poisoning, things would have been much simpler.

He wouldn’t even need to find Ying Xun to hijack the medicine; he would only need to wait for Geshu Ming’s next move.

Unfortunately, he didn’t know.

Geshu Ming held no affection for the Imperial Family, and she was unaware that Nan Yingzhe had served under Lu Yuan for four years.

In fact, it was more than four years.

It was just that in the early years, Nan Yingzhe wasn’t part of Lu Yuan’s personal guard. He couldn’t be considered part of Lu Yuan’s direct command.

But whether it was during the time he was slowly accumulating military merits to climb the ranks, or the years he spent as part of Lu Yuan’s guard, Geshu Ming never had the chance to meet him. Much less would she discover that he was the Emperor’s grandson.

Thus, there was almost no intersection between Geshu Ming and Nan Yingzhe.

However, at this moment, Geshu Ming had already received news of the Emperor’s grave illness.

This information was not easy to come by.

To maintain the stability of the Empire, the Imperial Family had made no attempt to go public with the news. This was also why the fleet from Health Pharmaceuticals carrying the medicine had no overt military protection. Or rather, it was why a civilian vessel from Health Pharmaceuticals was delivering the medicine instead of the military using a direct military corridor.

Furthermore, the doctors treating the Emperor spent the vast majority of their time living entirely within the Imperial Palace. Geshu Ming could neither see if there were any unusual movements within the Emperor’s medical team nor contact these doctors. It was difficult to get any information out of them.

But Geshu Ming had her own ways.

After all, she was the person capable of poisoning the Emperor in the first place.

With so many people in the Imperial Palace, it was only natural that she could find one or two who weren’t entirely loyal to the Emperor.

So, although she was a bit late, Geshu Ming eventually learned that the Emperor was seriously ill and that medicine was being sent from the other side of the distant galaxy.

…Should she intercept it?

Geshu Ming dismissed the messenger and leaned back in her chair, lost in thought.

An interception wasn’t actually necessary.

Geshu Ming knew the nature of the poison she had used. It appeared very similar to a rare condition called Alma Disease, sharing symptoms like loss of Mental Power control, heart palpitations, and headaches. In reality, they were completely unrelated.

Using the medication for that disease would superficially alleviate the symptoms, but it would actually have no effect at all.

However, if she didn’t intercept it, it would look too fake.

The Emperor was suspicious by nature.

Alma Disease was far too rare. Even if the Emperor couldn’t find evidence or be certain that his illness was the result of someone’s interference, he certainly wouldn’t believe it was something he was simply meant to have.

He would surely doubt everything, feeling that someone must have done something to cause his illness.

Under such circumstances, if the fleet delivering the medicine arrived smoothly and safely, the Emperor would definitely be suspicious: the medicine brought by this fleet might be fake! Otherwise, the person behind the scenes wouldn’t have let it arrive so easily!

Therefore, the best approach was to hijack the ship, but not completely. She would make the fleet struggle through immense hardships to finally reach the Capital Star, creating the illusion that the mastermind had tried their best to stop it but failed. That way, the Emperor would know the medicine was real.

Then she had to consider how many people to send for the job…

The Emperor needed the medicine. Even if he hadn’t sent a military escort on the surface, he would have made arrangements in the shadows. For instance, arranging for several armies to conduct exercises near the delivery route, while in reality, they were guarding the way…

Geshu Ming thought for a while before making up her mind.

Closing her eyes, her Mental Power slowly submerged. In her mind, “islands” gradually emerged, each corresponding to a member of the Geshu Family.

Geshu Ming’s Mental Power lingered for a moment in an empty area before spreading out, connecting to several of the “islands” belonging to the Geshu Family.

–

[…Scheduled for December 24th, Star Calendar 5479, at 9:00 AM Capital Star time, a joint exercise with the Fifth Legion will be conducted in the Silver Core Sector.

Please enter Zone A2037 to stand by before midnight on December 23rd…]

“…”

Looking at the notification on his Optical Computer, Chen Feiyun frowned.

A sudden military exercise… what was the point?

The military was an organization that placed extreme importance on discipline and order. While military operations required adaptability, daily activities were always highly planned. A joint exercise involving two legions would typically be scheduled at the beginning of the year; it was impossible to decide on one so suddenly.

Especially since…

Today was already the 21st.

Their Mecha Maneuver Team could make it in time, but the main force might not even be able to set out…

If only they had been notified even one day earlier.

Chen Feiyun shook his head. Whatever.

Regardless, this wasn’t his responsibility. He couldn’t do anything about it anyway.

Reaching out to open the communication system on his Optical Computer, Chen Feiyun entered the Mecha Maneuver Team’s internal channel.

“All units, assemble.”

“Yes, sir!”

–

Fifth Legion, Planet Zhou, Command Headquarters.

“It’s about time for us to head out too.” Marshal Zhou Fei stood with his arms crossed over his chest, looking at the group of people standing below. He flashed a grim smile, the flesh on his face bunching together in a way that looked quite terrifying.

“Remember,” he emphasized, “in this exercise, we are opponents with the First Legion. Opponents, you hear me? No matter what happens, harass them! Attack them! Block them!”

“…Meaning something is going to happen?” Gu Wenqin, the captain of the Fifth Legion’s Mecha Maneuver Team, asked.

“That’s none of your business.” Zhou Fei chuckled, a fierce light shooting from his eyes like a vicious wolf. “That’s the First Legion’s mission. It has nothing to do with us.”

Gu Wenqin shrugged. “Fine. It just so happens I have a grudge against Chen Feiyun. I’ve been waiting for a chance to give him a beating.”

“You have a grudge against Chen Feiyun?” Beside him, a Lieutenant General named Long Xingfeng asked in surprise. “Aren’t you two best friends? You eat together every day.”

Gu Wenqin glanced at him and sneered. “I’m friends with him? That idiot watched as the Marshal was lost right in front of him… I’m friends with an idiot like that? Am I an idiot?”

“Hey, hey, watch it,” Zhou Fei rolled his eyes at him. “Your Marshal is still sitting right here!”

“Watch what?” Gu Wenqin wasn’t afraid at all, even talking back. “Is there a problem with me calling Lu Yuan ‘Marshal’? If Lu Yuan were standing here, wouldn’t you have to call him ‘Marshal’ too?”

“Then at least show some restraint for me!” Zhou Fei slapped the table and sat up straight, about to say something.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Gu Wenqin replied lazily. “It’s fine to say it here, but not outside. The matter with Lu Yuan… isn’t that simple. It’s not something to keep bringing up.”

“…You act as if you don’t bring it up often yourself. How many times have you said it in the last year and a half? My ears are growing callouses from hearing it!”

“You brat…” Zhou Fei was speechless. After a long pause, he slapped the table again, forcing himself to regain his momentum. “No matter how many times I’ve said it, I’ll say it again! We’re heading out soon, so all of you better stay sharp!”

–

Various factions were beginning to move one after another, and each of them seemed to have some connection, however slight, to Lu Yuan.

Yet Lu Yuan…

Was lying down.

“You’ve been so idle these past two days.” Even Goudan was complaining. “The last time you moved was the day you helped those kids pick their names…”

“Hmm… surely the day I confirmed the names and told them counts as moving too!” Lu Yuan argued.

“Fine.” Goudan sounded pained.

“So, what do you want?” Lu Yuan asked.

If Goudan didn’t need his help with something, he wouldn’t care whether Lu Yuan was idle every day.

“Heh heh.” Goudan scratched his head and laughed. “About that textbook matter, why don’t you work on it now?”