Chapter 64

Under the moonlight that had faded, and the faint morning light, the azure sky was radiant and dazzling. The magnificent and splendid aurora, upon encountering the sunlight, instantly rippled like water waves, slowly dissipating, as if it were a mirage that never truly existed. Qing Ying opened his eyes and realized that the young girl who had been lying on top of him last night had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a strand of golden hair and a faint, intoxicating fragrance.

Rising to tidy up, he washed and dressed. The piano keys, which had not been closed, were black and white, gleaming and shiny; a small, exquisitely crafted box with a Russian style lay quietly in his coat pocket. Thinking of Xue'er, the girl he had loved in two lifetimes, and then of Sonia, the girl who had suddenly entered his heart, Qing Ying felt both guilt and confusion. He had already made up his mind to be with Xue'er, but now Sonia had appeared; and he had responded to her kiss last night, even being forcefully pushed down and slept with her. How could he extricate himself from such a situation?

After much thought, Qing Ying decided he needed to have a serious talk with Sonia, to make her give up the sudden feelings that had developed in just 10 days. However, after searching the entire Winter Palace, he found no trace of the young girl. When he returned to his room to pack his belongings, he suddenly noticed a letter placed in the most conspicuous spot. The elegant handwriting and the faint fragrance caught his attention. After a moment, he slowly put down the letter, and a hint of a smile tinged with emotion quietly spread across his face.

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The "Sapphire" was a fast cruise ship that had been launched less than two years ago, with an average cruising speed of 15 knots. In the late 19th century, when science and technology were rapidly advancing, this was considered a fairly good speed. It took 60 hours for the ship to cross the entire Baltic Sea and slowly enter the port of Kiel in the German Empire.

It was night, and the sky was filled with stars. When Qing Ying arrived at the train station in the suburbs of Kiel, he found that the few trains bound for Berlin had already departed. Only a freight train, scheduled to depart at 11 PM, was still puffing out white smoke. Although the station could not possibly send a special passenger train for Qing Ying, adding a passenger car to the freight train was easy. Forty minutes later, an open flatbed freight train rumbled out into the night, with a smaller passenger car hanging behind. Qing Ying lay on a wooden bench, and amidst the vibrations and jolts, he gradually fell asleep.

At noon, the sky was clear and blue, with white clouds dancing in the air. It was June, and the city of Berlin was lush with green grass and trees, filled with cedars, pines, and blooming flowers. As Qing Ying stepped out of the train station, he saw a black car with the Hohenzollern family crest parked at the exit, standing out among the many horse-drawn carriages. The engine roared, and the summer breeze blew. Looking at the familiar scenery along the way, Qing Ying was filled with myriad thoughts and deep emotions. Two and a half years ago, he had traveled from the 21st century to this parallel universe in Berlin, and he still remembered the clear sky and the thunder that had changed his fate. Over a year ago, he had set out from here to Wilhelmshaven, beginning an exciting and wonderful journey around the world. Today, as he finally returned, the sun was still shining, and the breeze was still gentle, as if nothing had changed, yet everything had changed!

Re-entering the walls of Berlin, seeing the intricate and delicate decorations, Qing Ying, who had already fully experienced the grandeur of the Russian palaces, felt no particular emotion toward this level of architecture. He walked steadily, heading straight for the study where Wilhelm II worked. According to his previous impression, at this time, his "father" would usually be lying on a recliner, taking a nap, while Queen Victoria would typically be by his side, cutting a plate of fruit and chatting with her husband.

When Qing Ying entered the study, he saw exactly this scene. On a rectangular wooden table, two stacks of documents, each a foot high, were piled up. Wilhelm was half-lying in a recliner, enjoying the cool breeze from his wife's fan.

Seeing Qing Ying suddenly appear at the door, Wilhelm was slightly startled, a hint of joy appearing on his face, but he maintained his composure and did not make any excessive movements. Queen Victoria, however, was not so restrained. She stood there for a moment, then suddenly screamed, threw her fan, and quickly walked forward, hugging Qing Ying tightly, as if afraid that someone would take her son away again. Without the cool breeze, Wilhelm was greatly displeased and couldn't help but glare at Qing Ying, the culprit. However, seeing his second son return safely after more than a year, his joy and satisfaction were no less than Queen Victoria's.

Having not seen her favorite child for over a year, Queen Victoria had so many things to say that when she suddenly released them, it was like the Rhine River breaking its banks, unstoppable. A series of concerned questions, like a machine gun, shot out from her mouth. She asked Qing Ying about every aspect of his life, from food and drink to weather, daily routines, entertainment, and sleep, leaving nothing out. In response to Queen Victoria's inquiries, Qing Ying had to answer each one. Wilhelm II, though pretending to be impatient, leaned forward involuntarily, his ears perking up, revealing his true feelings.

After circling the globe, experiencing all kinds of hardships, and reuniting after a year, Qing Ying also had a lot to say to his "parents." When talking about his experiences over the past year, he chose to elaborate on the favorable aspects, omitting any mention of his relationships with Xue'er and Sonia. When he spoke of the three months of solitary sea travel and the five months of arduous land journey, Queen Victoria was both heartbroken and shocked, covering her mouth in distress. She lovingly patted Qing Ying's head and then turned to look at her husband with anger, her face showing clear resentment. Seeing his wife's reaction, Wilhelm could only nod and smile, muttering to himself, "A son is a wife's lover from a past life."

"Alright, dear, even if the journey was hard, he is now standing in front of you, safe and sound. Eitel has just returned; let him rest a bit, don't keep pestering him." Seeing his wife repeatedly asking the same questions, Wilhelm couldn't help but interrupt. Queen Victoria realized her behavior was inappropriate, glared at her husband, and then released Qing Ying, stopping her questions. Wilhelm shook his head helplessly and said, "The child has just come from the station and hasn't even had lunch. As a mother, shouldn't you personally cook a meal for your son, whom you haven't seen in a year?"

Thinking of Qing Ying not having lunch, Queen Victoria became very anxious. She nodded at Wilhelm and said, "If that's the case, I'll go first. You two can chat for a while." With that, she stood up, gave Qing Ying a lingering look, and left the room.

The warm afternoon breeze gently blew, causing their clothes and hair to flutter. Qing Ying stood straight in front of Wilhelm II, and it was only then that Wilhelm began to truly examine his son, whom he hadn't seen for a year.

At first glance, Qing Ying seemed unchanged from when he was just 11, but upon closer inspection, he had undergone a remarkable transformation. When he left, he could only reach Wilhelm's chest, but now he was as tall as Wilhelm's shoulders. His handsome face, still youthful, now bore the marks of time, making him appear less naive and more mature. Most notably, his eyes, which shone like stars, revealed a depth and resilience that was completely different from before. As a man who had also gone through hardships, Wilhelm immediately recognized that this unique aura could only be the result of significant trials and tribulations.

"Over the past year, you have grown a lot. I was still wondering whether sending you out was a good or bad decision, but now it seems that even though you missed a year of schooling, it was worth it." Wilhelm nodded in satisfaction, a rare smile appearing on his face. "Especially the ship sale in St. Petersburg a week ago, where you successfully sold a 20 million mark warship to Little Nicky (Wilhelm II's nickname for Nicholas II), solving the employment problem for 2,000 Germans for the next three years. I only intended for you to gain some experience, and the Royal Shipyard had already prepared a candidate to lobby the Russian Navy, but you managed to accomplish this task."

Qing Ying bowed and replied, "Father, you flatter me. It was all thanks to the empire's designers, who worked hard to create a design that could captivate Nicholas. Additionally, Germany and Russia share common interests in the Far East, which made it easier for me to succeed. If anyone else had been sent, they probably could have achieved the same result." He paused and added, "However, the empire's sale of warships to Russia is not in Britain's best interest, especially since the warship will serve in the Russian Pacific Fleet. Therefore, Eitel believes it is necessary to explain and justify this action to Britain."

Hearing this, Wilhelm's eyes gradually narrowed, and a hint of disappointment appeared in his gaze.

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