Victor’s voice hung in the air. The great hall was so quiet that every breath could be heard clearly.
Jiang Lijin released Rowan’s hand and patted the little one on the back. Rowan, quick-witted, toddled off to the side on her own, standing on tiptoe to touch the intricate carvings on a pillar, not disturbing the adults’ conversation.
Victor clasped his hands together and bowed his head even deeper.
“The Thorn Crown for the coronation is currently not in the imperial treasury,” he said, pausing with a tone betraying barely concealed worry. “According to imperial tradition, before a new emperor ascends the throne, the crown is kept by the Cabinet. It is only brought out on the day of the coronation by the Cabinet’s chief secretary. But Prince Darren has just announced that since His Highness the Third Prince is young, and his guardian’s status is questionable, the Cabinet refuses to hand over the crown in three days.”
Without a crown, the coronation ceremony would be a joke. Not only would it lack legitimacy, but it would also become a laughingstock across the entire galaxy.
Prince Darren intended to turn Rowan’s coronation into a farce, using it to announce to the outside world that this little emperor couldn’t even control the Cabinet, and was utterly unworthy of the throne.
Jiang Lijin found a velvet-upholstered chair and sat down, crossing her legs and tapping her fingers idly on the armrest.
“No crown, no coronation?” she asked.
Chiron walked over to the tea table, deftly poured a glass of warm water, and walked back to her side, naturally handing it over.
“The Cabinet is forcing you to back down,” Chiron said calmly, laying out the situation clearly. “If you go to beg them, they’ll take the chance to impose conditions—like sharing guardianship, or appointing more of their people to the parliament.”
He stood beside her, tall and straight, his light gray shirt sleeves rolled up, revealing the smooth lines of his forearms. His gray eyes, however, held a cold edge.
Jiang Lijin took the glass, drank a sip to wet her throat, and turned to look at Victor.
“So without that shabby hat, the kid can’t become emperor?”
The words “shabby hat” made Victor’s white beard tremble, and he nearly lost his perfect courtly composure. He had served the royal family for most of his life, but this was the first time he had heard anyone describe the empire’s supreme symbol of power in such terms.
“Your Highness, please choose your words carefully,” Victor said, wiping cold sweat from his brow. “The crown is the symbol of imperial authority. No previous emperor has ever taken the throne without wearing it. It concerns the legitimacy and honor of the royal family. If the new emperor’s coronation proceeds without the crown, not only will the nobles refuse to recognize the ceremony’s validity, but the common people will gossip, saying the emperor’s claim to the throne is unsound. The lords of other star systems will seize on it to belittle imperial power. Prince Darren is trying to undermine His Highness’s authority from its very foundation.”
Jiang Lijin laughed. Honor? Honor was something you earned yourself, not something given by others. Prince Darren thought he could choke her with a hat—old age had clearly rusted his brain.
“Alright, I understand.” Jiang Lijin shoved the glass back into Chiron’s hands. “Leave the crown to me. Just arrange the venue and the schedule. Three days from now, the coronation will go ahead as planned.”
Victor seemed about to speak again, but seeing Jiang Lijin’s unflappable, carefree demeanor, he could only bow and take his leave.
Rowan ran back and hugged Jiang Lijin’s leg, looking up to ask, “Big sister, what’s a shabby hat?”
Jiang Lijin bent down and lifted her up, gently pinching her cheek. “It’s a heavy iron ring that makes your hair fall out if you wear it. If you don’t like it, we’ll swap it for a lighter one later.”
Rowan nodded obediently. “Okay, I trust big sister.”
Chiron stood with the glass in hand, watching the two of them. A faint ripple passed through his eyes, and even the cold aura around him softened a little.
“What’s your plan?” he asked. “The Cabinet’s vault is heavily guarded. A forceful theft would give them ammunition against you. Darren would love it if you sent the Divine Shield Squad to smash down the Cabinet’s doors—that would give him the excuse to impeach you.”
“Who said I was going to steal it by force?” Jiang Lijin carried Rowan as she walked out. “I’m a civilized person.”
In her mind, Xiao Yi’s voice chimed in at just the right moment: [Host, the system store has ‘Wall-Passing Talismans.’ Only five hundred points—a steal! Want one?]
[No,] Jiang Lijin replied in her thoughts. [Why spend points when I have free family to use? I’m still in debt on my points!]
Xiao Yi dejectedly retreated.
She freed one hand, tapped open her wrist-mounted holographic communicator, and dialed Tian Que’s contact number.
A holographic projection appeared, showing Tian Que’s cold, sharp face. White hair, red pupils, set against the backdrop of a villa’s back garden. He was leaning against a tree, a dagger in his hand.
“What’s up?”
“Ever seen the empire’s Thorn Crown?” Jiang Lijin asked.
Tian Que thought for half a second, then nodded. There wasn’t a blueprint the black market didn’t have; he had long memorized the details of the empire’s national treasure.
“It’s in the Cabinet building. Prince Darren is withholding it.” Jiang Lijin leaned back in her seat, her tone as casual as if she were asking a family member to grab takeout. “The coronation is in three days. Go fetch it for me.”
Fetch it? From inside the Cabinet vault? Chiron raised an eyebrow at this.
But Tian Que didn’t even twitch. The short blade spun between his fingers and was instantly stashed back in his sleeve. “Location.”
Chiron quickly pulled up some data on his end. “Most likely in the central vault, three floors underground in the Cabinet building. Combination lock, biometric security, heat-sensing infrared nets, and pressure-sensitive flooring…”
“Got it,” Tian Que cut him off, his red eyes utterly calm. “When do you need it?”
“Sooner the better,” Jiang Lijin said with a grin.
“Half an hour.” Tian Que cut the connection.
…
Inside the Cabinet building, three floors underground.
Prince Darren stood before the thick alloy blast door, watching Halloran direct the Guard Corps soldiers as they set up defenses. Soldiers stationed every three steps, posts every five—even the ventilation ducts were fitted with laser cutting grids. The entire corridor was filled with fully armed troops, making the very air feel sluggish.
“Your Highness, security has been raised to the highest level,” Halloran said, leaning on his cane as he approached. “Even if that Divine Shield Squad tried to force their way in, it would take them half a day just to breach this door. Once they make a scene, the entire galaxy’s network will see the scandal of a regent prince threatening the Cabinet with military force. She’ll completely lose the support of the people and the nobles.”
Prince Darren adjusted his tie and sneered. “Jiang Lijin is too arrogant. She really thinks that the old emperor’s will lets her do whatever she wants? Without the crown, even if Rowan ascends the throne, he’ll be nothing but an illegitimate joke. The nobles will never recognize an emperor whose coronation ceremony isn’t even complete.”
“She’ll definitely come begging you,” Halloran echoed.
“Beg?” Darren narrowed his eyes, his face full of arrogance. “I want her to hand over custody of Rowan and then get the hell off the capital planet. A little girl like that—what chance does she have against me?”
Just as the two were speaking, the lights above flickered a couple of times.
“What was that?” Halloran frowned.
"The backup power switch test, a normal occurrence," the supervisor next to him hurried over to report. "There was a slight fluctuation in the main grid earlier, but it's been resolved. Everything is safe."
Darren didn't pay it any mind and turned to walk toward the elevator. "Let's go. I'll open a bottle of wine in my office. We'll take our time waiting for that regent prince to cave in."
