Ch72 - His Highness has no appetite

Half a month later.

Today was the day Jian Mei would leave the mansion.

Most people traveled by carriage, but after hearing that the young master’s leg had healed, Lord Jia Si generously rewarded Jian Mei with 100 gold coins—an enormous sum for an ordinary person. Jian Mei initially refused, but the young master insisted, reminding him that life at the Imperial Capital Academy would be expensive.

Including the 50 gold coins from the gentleman and lady, another 50 discreetly given by the young master, and his own carefully saved earnings, Jian Mei now had a total of 200 gold coins.

Xiao Ban advised him to deposit the money at a treasury hall and carry only a few coins for daily use.

Jian Mei agreed. When he left the treasury hall, he carried a deposit plaque—thin, light, and extraordinary. Only he could see it; to ordinary people, it was invisible.

Xiao Ban warned him, “Meimei, don’t flaunt your wealth outside. We’re just commoners—we can’t afford to offend the wrong people.”

Jian Mei nodded. “I know.”

They shared a carriage with Shen Huai. Along the way, Shen Huai, who had already enrolled, told them, “The best school in the capital right now is Jishe Academy. It offers the finest education, and nearly all the noble families send their children there. If you get in, you’ll have access to the best resources.”

Xiao Ban muttered, “We probably don’t stand a chance.”

Shen Huai turned to Jian Mei. “Meimei, I think you should give it a try!”

Jian Mei blinked. “Huh?”

“He doesn’t have any divine abilities,” Xiao Ban cut in quickly. “There are other schools in the capital—Jishe Academy isn’t the only option.”

Shen Huai disagreed. He believed people should always aim high, just as water naturally flowed downward. “With better teaching resources, you’ll have more opportunities,” he said. “Since you want to be a doctor and join the Association of Pharmacists, Jishe Academy is the only top-tier school that can give you those connections. It’s the best place for you to shine.”

Jian Mei felt his friend had a point, but he only said softly, “I heard their admission requirements are really high.”

Shen Huai had full confidence in Jian Mei. “You should give it a try—there’s nothing to lose. Do you know how many influential figures have graduated from Jishe Academy? Even the crown prince, Lu Xingwang, is an alumnus. That alone speaks volumes about their faculty.”

Shen Huai’s words left Jian Mei a little tempted.

If you’re going to study, wouldn’t you want to aim for the best?

Xiao Ban clearly wasn’t thrilled, but since Jian Mei didn’t seem opposed, he had no choice but to hold back. He pursed his lips and let out a quiet huff of discontent.

The journey was long and he spent most of the time sitting in the carriage, deep in thought. It was his first time leaving his small town to see the outside world, and he quickly realized that Golden Town was just a tiny corner of it. Stan Star was home to breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cities.

There was Flower City, where blossoms bloomed year-round under the blessing of the flower gods; the Water City, where rain never ceased; and Green City, a town seamlessly entwined with the forest. Every city and region had its own unique charm. This enchanted, fairy-tale world dazzled his senses at every turn, leaving him in awe.

Shen Huai chuckled. “Are you surprised with this? Just wait until you see the Imperial Palace—it’s even more majestic!”

Seated in the flying carriage, Jian Mei gazed at the scenery below. His eyes lingered, and before he knew it, he was lost in thought.

Xiao Ban glanced at him. “What’s got you so mesmerized?”

“I’m just looking at the scenery,” Jian Mei replied.

This was the planet where Dazhuang-ge had lived. Somewhere in this vast world, he had once stood, walked, and left traces of his existence behind. Perhaps on this very road, his footprints had long faded into time. And now, Jian Mei was retracing those same paths.

It was a strange feeling—though they hadn’t reunited, it felt as if fate was slowly weaving their lives back together.

We’ll meet again, won’t we?

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Lu Xingwang sat down, his gaze sweeping over the lavish spread before him, yet his expression remained indifferent. He picked up his chopsticks and ate in silence.

The room was eerily quiet. Suddenly, he recalled how Aruo had once recommended a radio station to him. Since he was eating anyway, he figured he might as well listen.

He activated the communication terminal beside him and entered a command. The system automatically tuned in to the interstellar broadcast channel. A lively female voice came through:

“Welcome, everyone, to today’s broadcast! First up, the latest major developments from the United Planets. In recent news, the A690 star system has been making frequent diplomatic overtures to our nation, expressing interest in forming a strategic partnership…”

The cheerful voice of the female announcer continued, but the listener remained indifferent.

These so-called news reports were things he already knew inside and out. Rather than a way to pass the time, the broadcast was nothing more than background noise.

Just as Lu Xingwang was about to finish his meal and turn off the broadcast, the cheerful voice suddenly cut in:

“And now, an urgent missing person announcement. Lu Dazhuang, a child from an unknown planet—your friend Jian Mei is desperately searching for you. If you hear this broadcast, please report to the announcement station immediately. Contact info: XXXX…”

The crown prince froze, swallowed by a deathly silence.

Lu Xingwang’s once-serene expression suddenly tensed. The knife and fork in his hand scraped against the plate, producing a sharp, jarring sound. Though his face betrayed nothing, the dignified crown prince would never normally commit such a breach of etiquette while dining.

The attendants instinctively turned to look. Just moments ago, the prince had been composed, but now he sat motionless—frozen in place, as if the missing person announcement had struck him like a thunderclap.

Then, he lifted his gaze toward the communication terminal, his eyes narrowing slightly with a hint of danger. His pitch-black eyes were as deep as ink, turbulent emotions surging within them—so intense that it was almost impossible to meet his gaze.

The attendants sensed something was off. Just as one of them was about to speak, they saw Lu Xingwang set down his utensils, rise from his seat, and stride straight toward the door.

A servant hurriedly followed. “Where are you going, Your Highness?”

“Summon Sun Qishan from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Have him bring someone from the interstellar station to the palace,” Lu Xingwang said, turning slightly to glance at the servant. His lips parted, his voice clear and steady. “Immediately.”

……

The next day.

Jishe Academy – Admissions Hall.

With the start of the spring semester, Jishe Academy launched its large-scale admissions drive. Jian Mei, Shen Huai, and Xiao Ban arrived early in the morning. Having just reached the imperial capital, Jian Mei was undoubtedly the most wide-eyed of the group.

On his first day, when he saw the Imperial Palace, he had insisted Shen Huai take a picture of him with the communication terminal as a souvenir. Now, standing at the academy gates, he was once again full of awe and wonder.

The reason was simple—this place didn’t look like a school at all. It resembled a futuristic city. Hovering light vehicles zipped through the air, and the academy was divided into different zones. From above, the A, B, and C sections gleamed in distinct colors.

The architectural styles of the teaching buildings varied wildly. Some resembled small floating houses, while others were lush courtyards overflowing with greenery. Some students even brought magical beasts as pets. When a student strolled past with a winged owl perched on their shoulder, Jian Mei’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Shen Huai pointed ahead. “Look over there.”

At the front of the hall, four students dressed in different colors stood overseeing the registration of new students.

The crisp orange, green, red, and gold uniforms radiated prestige. The students here were nothing like the simple, down-to-earth townsfolk. Their clothing was stylish, their hairstyles varied, and they carried themselves with effortless confidence. The natural pride and refined arrogance of the privileged were on full display.

Dressed in a green uniform today, Shen Huai said, “Come on, I’ll take you to the test room.”

Jian Mei and Xiao Ban, not yet in uniform, wore their own clothes. When they arrived at the testing area, a long line of new students had already formed. Shen Huai couldn’t hold a spot for him, so he simply said, “Just wait here. When it’s your turn, go up.”

Jian Mei nodded. “Got it.”

He obediently lined up. The children in front of him, who had come together, were chatting excitedly:

“My divine power is wind-element, level three.”

“Wow, that’s amazing! Mine is fire-element, but only level two.”

“I have both plant and earth-element divine power. My family is from Bly Town, and my father is the managing priest there.”

Dressed in stylish, expensive clothing, the children boasted and compared their abilities.

Jian Mei was completely lost in their conversation.

Eventually, someone noticed him and asked curiously, “Where are you from?”

Jian Mei was caught off guard, so he replied, “I’m from Golden Town.”

“Where’s that?” The child in red gave him a once-over before asking, “What’s your divine power?”

Jian Mei replied honestly, “I don’t know.”

“……”

The children exchanged glances, momentarily speechless.

“So, are you a commoner? Why are you at our school? Did you get lost?” The blonde girl let out a soft laugh, eyeing Jian Mei up and down. “What brand is your outfit? Why is it already pilling?”

Jian Mei lowered his head. This was the new outfit he had bought for the New Year, and he had only washed it two or three times. He shook his head and answered honestly, “It’s not a brand. I bought it from an uncle’s clothing shop on the street.”

The blonde girl let out a disdainful chuckle.

They all came from prestigious families and had never encountered someone so poor—let alone someone without any divine power. They had no idea what he was even doing here.

The boy in red smirked. “What are you doing here? You’re not trying to… make noble friends, are you?”

The blonde girl folded her arms, eyeing Jian Mei with thinly veiled contempt. “Didn’t expect someone your age to be so calculating. Well? Want to add us as friends? If we ever have an event, maybe we’ll think about letting you join.”

……

Jian Mei looked at them, a little puzzled, as they went on and on. After a moment, he hesitated before asking, “Why would I want to be friends with you?”

Then, he pointed toward the testing area. “Also… aren’t you guys not officially enrolled yet?”

The implication was obvious: What’s with all the arrogance? None of us have been accepted yet, so what’s there to be smug about?

The children’s expressions wavered slightly.

“We have divine powers. Of course, we’ll get in,” the blonde girl scoffed. “But you… you don’t stand a chance.”

“I know,” Jian Mei replied.

His tone was casual, as if he truly didn’t care. “I’m just here to give it a try.” His calm, indifferent gaze made the others uneasy. “So it doesn’t matter to me.”

They should have felt victorious—but somehow, they didn’t. It was as if this boy had flipped the script without even trying, leaving an unsettling knot of frustration in their chests.

……

Before long, they reached the divine power testing area.

The children ahead of him were all from wealthy families, and their divine power levels had already been tested before. So, it was no surprise when the power stone confirmed their abilities one after another.

The test supervisor, an elder from the academy’s board of directors, recorded the results and called out, “Next.”

The line moved forward at a steady, unhurried pace.

Finally, it was Jian Mei’s turn. The old man instructed, “Just place your hand on the stone. If you have divine power, the stone will glow in the corresponding color.”

The divine power testing room was enclosed to ensure students’ privacy.

Jian Mei hadn’t seen what colors the previous children had triggered, but since the instructor told him to proceed, he simply followed along. Stepping forward, he stood before the stone and slowly placed his hand on it, which felt cold to the touch.

The divine power testing stone floated into the air, spinning steadily as it remained completely transparent. Even as it slowly descended, no color appeared.

The old man stroked his beard and sighed. “I’m sorry, child. It seems you have no divine power.”

Jian Mei showed no sign of disappointment. He bowed politely. “I understand, teacher. Thank you.”

The old man shook his head slightly, signaling that it was alright.

Just as Jian Mei was about to leave, the stone on the table suddenly lit up again. Earlier, it had remained colorless and unresponsive, as if it had stalled from an overflow of power. But now, after a brief delay, it finally began to change.

Right before the elder and the academy’s other administrators, the stone erupted into an eerie, dazzling glow of multicolored lights.