Ch53.2 - Hope for the future of us

The emperor nodded. “These merchants are influential and well-known in various places. Their disappearance has caused panic and anxiety among the people. The common people’s worry is the country’s worry.”

The other princes hadn’t said anything yet but the crown prince had already taken the lead. “Emperor Father, the other planet detained our merchants which caused a national unrest. This behavior is truly outrageous. This son is willing to follow the army and demonstrate our national prestige.”

The emperor looked at him and didn’t say anything.

No one knew whether the crown prince really cared about the common people or not. However, everyone knew that the crown prince really wanted to flaunt himself, especially in this situation. It was certainly alright to show off himself, but he hadn’t thought that in face of such a situation, the suspicious emperor would grow even more resistant, the more impatient crown prince was.

Zuo Qingshan said, “Your Majesty, the new type of combat aircraft developed by other party has a stealth mechanism. I heard that it can also avoid our detection radar, which is really dire for us. There might be more changes this time, so the battle tactics can’t be the same as before. This time, this minister might bring a lot of scientific researchers along.”

The crown prince said, “Even if the technology is that powerful, so what? Just let our divine priests predict— what location can still not be predicted.”

Zuo Qingshan retorted, “It takes a lot of energy for a divine priest to predict once and the enemy won’t give us any time to prepare. Is Your Highness, the Crown Prince taking the lives of all soldiers as a joke?”

The crown prince took a sharp breath. “You…”

At last, the emperor didn’t want to listen anymore and said, “Enough.”

Zuo Qingshan and the crown prince both shut up.

The emperor looked at his other two sons who didn’t speak much on the side. Over the years, these three children have grown up. The eldest prince wasn’t befitting and beyond hope while the second prince didn’t have a bad personality but had a mediocre ability. Only the third prince was the best candidate to inherit the throne. Unfortunately, this child’s health condition was a big problem. However, it seemed his third son was in good condition.

The emperor said, “Xingwang, I remember that you’re knowledgeable about mechas and weapons.”

Lu Xingwang looked up and answered neither humble nor arrogant. “Yes.”

“You can follow along this time then.” The emperor said blandly, “It just so happens that you and Qingshan often work together and you both get along well. It can be regarded as a tacit understanding.”

The crown prince couldn’t believe it. Father Emperor actually sent a sickly person to go instead of him? It might look like it was just accompanying the military, but anyone with a discerning eye would know that this was a good opportunity to gain the common people’s trust and goodwill! If they successfully won this battle, would the common still see him as the crown prince? Wouldn’t they want to vow to their death just to follow the Third Prince?

The crown prince was unreconciled. He then said, “Father Emperor, this son is also willing to go. This humble one has been training my divine power these and have become more proficient in using my divine power in these past few years. After all, third brother is weak. If he travelled with the army, he might not be able to bear the exhaustion of travelling with the boat.”

The emperor looked up. “I appreciate that you want to share my worries, but you’re not familiar with the mecha after all. There are also quite a lot of powerful soldiers in the army that have divine powers, so there’s no need to trouble yourself.”

The crown prince was rendered speechless, unable to utter a reply.

The emperor meant that, “What’s the use of your superpower? There are many people in the army whose divine power is more capable than you in terms of combat. Your younger brother is talented in technology, so he cannot be replaced at all.”

This was just too ridiculous. Before when Lu Xingwang had divine power, he was no match for him. But now that Lu Xingwang had no divine power and of no use, the latter still suppressed him!

The emperor didn’t want to continue to discuss. He waved his hand, “Everyone, leave.”

Everyone saluted and left. Everyone had different thoughts. Some were happy, some were sad, but the crown prince was very annoyed.

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The empress face turned solemn. “Now His Majesty’s health is becoming worse than before. Although you’re the crown prince, you have no real power. Although His Majesty has no intention of abolishing you from being the crown prince, he also has no intention of letting you inherit the throne.

“He and I have been married for many years. It was obvious since a long time ago that he wanted the most to pass the throne to his third son, the third prince who was born to that lowly woman from the Lan Clan.”

The crown prince was also angry. “Father Emperor is really muddled-headed. He’s still pinning his hopes on such a sickly man.”

The queen also didn’t want her son to be wronged.

“I originally thought that Lu Xingwang wouldn’t have a few years to live anyway, so I didn’t care about him. But now it seems…”

The crown prince became elated. “What do you mean by that, Mother?”

The empress nodded faintly.

“But…but Lu Xingwang is partnering with Zuo Qingshan!” The crown prince hesitated again. “Wouldn’t this be very risky?”

The empress snarled. “What are you afraid of? How do you think I got rid of Imperial Concubine Lan and the old general before? I can also get rid of these two kids. Coincidentally, they would leave the palace soon so something’s bound to happen.”

Upon hearing what she said, the crown prince knew that his mother was going to repeat her old trick again. If it was before, he’d definitely discourage his mother from interacting with those interstellar thieves. But now, he only wanted Lu Xingwang to die soon, so he didn’t bother to do so.

On the other side

Aruo was packing up things for His Highness because he was going on a long expedition. On the other hand, Lu Xingwang was being checked by the military doctor sent by Zuo Qingshan. The military doctor had always been his personal physician since the priests from the palace weren’t trustworthy.

The military doctor said, “Your Highness, your physical condition isn’t bad. The poison in your body is indeed debilitating and if you continue the medication, you will recover within a year. By then, your divine power may be recovered which means that you can’t stop from medications. You haven’t been taking your medicine on time recently, right? The poison became unstable again.”

Over the years, Lu Xingwang had been listening to Jian Mei’s advice to take his medicine timely.

These medicines were all herbs concocted by Jian Mei, so he never thought too much about it, nor did he speculate or relate it to his divine power.

But what the military doctor said today gave him a sudden realization: Jian Mei’s body gradually deteriorated since he started taking the medicine.

But Jian Mei almost never told him about his condition, even if he was sick, he wouldn’t tell him, so he didn’t guess it either.

After the military doctor left Lu Xingwang turned on his communication terminal. Just in time as Jian Mei just sent him a message saying, “Good morning!”

Lu Xingwang was very worried about Jian Mei’s condition so he asked him about it.

Lu Xingwang: Morning, are you feeling better?

Jian Mei: I’m feeling much better. I’m not coughing much today, don’t worry.”

Lu Xingwang hummed in response and then he asked Jian Mei about what he was most worried about now.

Lu Xingwang: Jian Mei, tell me honestly. Have you always been sick? Have you always been sickly ever since we met?

This question caught Jian Mei by surprise.

Jian Mei didn’t know how Lu Xingwang guessed it, but since he found out about it now, he honestly admitted it.

Jian Mei: Yes. But I didn’t mean to hide it. At that time, I was much better and my illness probably have recovered, so I didn’t tell you about it.

Lu Xingwang’s heart sank. He asked, “What about after that?”

[I was fine after that.] Jian Mei vaguely recalled it. “I was in a good condition that year. I don’t know why but in the past two years, my health has gradually deteriorated.”

With this, Lu Xingwang could roughly sort out the details and problems.

There must be some connection between the two of them. This connection allowed Jian Mei to slowly return his divine power back to him and this process of returning the divine power back to him caused Jian Mei’s health to decline. If this connection between them wasn’t cut off, Jian Mei’s health would eventually decline and die.

Upon realizing this, Lu Xingwang felt very irrepressibly dejected and silent.

His silence flustered Jian Mei hesitantly asked, “What’s wrong? Are you angry? I didn’t mean to hide it.”

Lu Xingwang replied, “I’m not angry.”

“That’s good,” said Jian Mei.

Jian Mei typed and replied to him, “By the way, no one had been at home for the past two days, so you haven’t taken your medicine. Auntie will come over today and will bring your medicine with her.”

Medicine… Could it bethemedicine?

Lu Xingwang remembered what the military doctor told him. If he continued with the medication, the poison in his body might completely disappear in less than a year. He would also recover his divine power and wouldn’t die. A bright future that he dreamed of awaited him.

He might be able to inherit the throne, he might be able to make a name for himself and be famous all over the world and wash away the shame of the past few years.

However, the price of this was Jian Mei’s death.

Lu Xingwang fell into silence. He was close to life and death once again. But this time, he wasn’t just deciding for his own life and death.

Ding dong.

The communication terminal rang once again.

Jian Mei had sent him a message saying, “Although I’m sick, I’m cooperating with the treatment very well. You should also take your medicine on time and take care of your body, so that both of us can recover.”

He still didn’t know that double-edged things existed in the world. Jian Mei was still as bright and brilliant, he was always so optimistic and positive.

Even now, he was obviously in a bad condition but he still tried to comfort him by saying, “As long as you treat your illness and be healthy, there’s a future. When the technology is more developed in the future, maybe we can meet each other.”

We wouldn’t be able to meet each other.

But I want you to have a future.

Lu Xingwang was silent for a long time. After that, he sent a reply to Jian Mei. He said, “I went to the doctor today and said that my illness has been cured.”

Jian Mei was elated. “For real?”

“For real.” Lu Xingwang replied to him saying, “You don’t have to give me medicine in the future.”

Translator’s Note:

Hi, everyone. I know it has been a while since I updated ODBA. My previous job was very hectic which made me sick, but I’m doing very well now. This is quite a long read, but I hope you take your time to read it.

I started ODBA last November 2021 and it has been a while since then. We have reached 1/3 of the novel and I think it’s time to bring an end to this.

I will start updating ODBA soon, expect 2 updates every week. I can’t update 3 chapters a week like before since I am now working a full time job.

I also want to inform you that I have no editors or proofreaders at the moment since it’s been a long time since I contacted them. If you see mistakes, feel free to mention me in CG’s Discord channel.

I will also not be looking for new editors for the mean time since my schedule changes from time to time but will try to contact my previous editors.

Thank you for reading ODBA and waiting for me until now.

I hope you guys are doing well 🤍