Morning. Sunlight pierced through the thin mist by Emerald Lake, streaming into the floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor of the villa.
Jiang Lijin shuffled down the stairs in her slippers, the sound of chopping coming from the kitchen.
A floral apron was wrapped around a silver-white machine chassis, its two mechanical arms moving swiftly as they sliced the carrots on the cutting board into thin strips.
A smiley face lit up on the screen at the front of the machine.
(๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧
"Good morning, Host. Today's breakfast is millet porridge with soup dumplings. For this meal, I took the liberty of hacking into the back kitchen system of a five-star hotel in the Central Star Zone and got their exclusive recipe." Xiao Yi's voice grew a bit louder. "So, tell me, isn't this butler way more useful than certain young masters who only know how to throw money around?"
Jiang Lijin pulled out a dining chair and sat down, yawning. Before she could speak, a retort came from the second floor.
"You rusty tin can, that electricity bill for hacking systems is still paid by yours truly," Tinia said, poking his messy blond hair out from the second floor, holding a light computer as he trotted down the stairs.
Tinia sidled up to Jiang Lijin, seeking praise. "Sister, the entire PR department of Yunglan Group is in position. I've bought out the headline slots of all major media outlets on the Starnet for twenty-four hours. As soon as you give the signal, the press release announcing the new Empress of the Empire is female will blanket the entire network in three seconds. Guaranteed, they won't even find the button to pull the trending topics."
"Good work." Jiang Lijin grabbed a bun and took a bite. Thin skin, generous filling, delicious broth—Xiao Yi's cooking was decent.
Chiron walked down from upstairs, pushing a red-stamped document folder over to Jiang Lijin.
"The final report from the Academy of Sciences." Chiron pulled out the chair next to Jiang Lijin and sat down. " Nine core academicians have jointly signed off. The gene sequence comparison results are solid. Rowan's female identity is protected by the Empire's highest law from the moment this report is declassified. No one dares to challenge it."
"The bounty on the underground black market has been rescinded," Tianyan said, leaning against the stair railing. "The mercenary groups secretly funded by the old nobility had their hideouts taken down by Tianque and his people last night. All they can do now is throw tantrums at the cabinet meetings."
Tianque stood behind Tianyan, silent, simply handing Jiang Lijin a stack of documents.
Jiang Lijin flipped through it for a moment. The paper listed all the core members of the old nobility factions, their names marked with red crosses.
"Clean work. Thanks for the effort." Jiang Lijin closed the folder.
Rowan, clutching a teddy bear, walked over from behind Tianque. The Little Emperor was wearing a custom-made little suit today, his red hair neatly combed.
"Sister." Rowan walked up to Jiang Lijin, looking up. "Are we going to fight the bad guys today?"
"No fighting." Jiang Lijin reached out and ruffled Rowan's hair. "Sister is taking you to reclaim what's rightfully yours."
After breakfast, the roar of engines came from outside.
Ryan, leading the fully armed Shield Squad, stood in formation beside the hover vehicles. Seeing Jiang Lijin emerge, Ryan saluted.
"Your Highness, the route has been swept. All airspace along the way is cleared."
Jiang Lijin took Rowan's hand and got into the car, with Chiron following into the back seat.
Xiao Yi glided to the window, its screen switching to an expression with sunglasses.
(⌐■_■)
"Host, go ahead with peace of mind. I'll take care of the house. If anyone dares to climb the wall, I'll give them a free full-body laser hair removal."
Jiang Lijin lowered the window and tapped Xiao Yi's metal head. "Keep an eye on the place. Just don't blow up the kitchen."
The hovercar lifted off, heading toward the Central Star Zone.
...
The Cabinet Building.
In the round-table conference room, a furious argument was underway.
"Prince Daron died under suspicious circumstances. The Supervisory Bureau must provide an explanation," a bald, old-nobility councilor slammed the table. "With the imperial family now so few members and young Prince Rowan still a child, he cannot preside over affairs. I propose that Duke Sterling, a cadet branch member, temporarily serve as Regent."
"Nonsense." An independent-leaning elder councilor stood up. "Prince Rowan has already been crowned. He is the rightful ruler. Are you trying to rebel?"
"A male cub without even psychic abilities—how can he command respect?" the bald councilor sneered.
The alloy doors of the conference room slid open from both sides.
Ryan entered with two Shield Squad members, pulse rifles in hand, stationing themselves on either side.
Jiang Lijin walked in, holding Rowan's hand. She wore a black trench coat and a white shirt today, no jewelry. Chiron followed behind, carrying the document folder.
The conference room fell silent.
"Keep arguing, by all means." Jiang Lijin pulled out the chair beside the main seat for Rowan to sit, then rested one hand on the table, scanning the people around it. "Who was it just now that proposed electing a Regent? Step forward, let me see your face. I want to know who's so eager to share my burdens."
The bald councilor stood up. "Miss Jiang, this is an Imperial Cabinet meeting. You, an outsider..."
"Outsider?" Jiang Lijin cut him off. "I am the Prince Regent personally appointed by the late Emperor. Under Imperial law, I have the authority to participate in and veto any Cabinet proposal. What, do you have a problem with the late Emperor's final decree?"
Jiang Lijin reached out her hand, and Chiron handed her the document folder. She casually tossed it onto the center of the round table.
"Open it yourselves and take a look." Jiang Lijin pulled up a chair and sat down, leaning back.
One of the councilors nearest to it picked up the folder and pulled out the papers inside. After a glance, the councilor's hand began to tremble.
"This... this is impossible."
He passed the report to the person next to him.
Gasps filled the conference room.
"Gene sequence comparison results... female?"
"Prince Rowan is a female?"
The bald councilor grabbed the report, staring at the conclusion and the signatures of nine academicians.
"Fake. This is a fabrication." He shouted, his voice cracking. "The old Emperor announced a male heir back then. Jiang Lijin, to seize control of the government, you dare to forge a report from the Academy of Sciences!"
Chiron stepped forward, facing him. "This report was conducted under the direct supervision of myself and nine academicians from the Academy of Sciences. All raw data has been uploaded in real-time to the mainframe. Councilor, anyone who questions the authenticity of this report can request arbitration by the mainframe. But the premise is: can you bear the charge of treason for slandering the Imperial Academy of Sciences and the Imperial family?"
The entire room went silent.
Mainframe arbitration was a process in the interstellar age that could not be tampered with. Since Chiron dared to go so far, the report had to be fact.
Females were already rare in the interstellar world, let alone one with legitimate royal blood. Those among the independents and even some within the old nobility looked at Rowan with changed eyes.
The long-term benefits of pledging allegiance to a female Emperor far outweighed pulling in a puppet from a cadet branch.
"Does anyone else have objections?" Jiang Lijin tapped the table.
No one spoke.
The bald councilor slumped back into his chair.
"Since no one has objections, let's talk business." Jiang Lijin tossed the list from Tianque onto the table. "The late Prince Daron was suspected of misappropriating military funds and privately mobilizing orbital cannons. Everyone on this list is his accomplice."
Jiang Lijin looked at Ryan.
"Arrest them."
Ryan gave the signal. Shield Squad members poured into the conference room from outside, pinning down those on the list and clamping heavy shackles on them.
"Jiang Lijin. You're purging dissent. You're settling personal scores." The bald councilman shouted, struggling as his shoulders were held down, the handcuffs clanking with metallic sounds.
Jiang Lijin stood up and walked over to him.
"Yes, I am purging dissent," Jiang Lijin said. "So what? Can you produce any evidence that you haven't colluded with Prince Daron?"
The bald councilman couldn't find a retort and was dragged out.
Nearly half the seats in the meeting hall were now empty. The remaining council members fell silent.
Jiang Lijin turned and walked over to Rowan.
The little emperor sat in the wide chair, her back held very straight.
"Excellent," Jiang Lijin addressed the assembly. "From this day forward, Rowan of the Oduin family formally takes command of the Empire. All cabinet proposals must pass her review. Anyone with objections, speak now."
In the silence, the elderly councilman from the neutral faction stood up and bowed.
"I pledge my life to Your Majesty Rowan."
The sound of chairs being pushed back rang out. Those still in the room rose to their feet and lowered their heads.
"I pledge my life to Your Majesty Rowan."
Their voices echoed through the hall.
Jiang Lijin stepped back, yielding the center stage to this six-year-old child.
She glanced at Chiron. He was silently watching her.
