The Crown Prince's appearance was undeniably magnificent, a brilliance that stemmed not only from his exorbitantly priced royal robes but also from his innate status towering at the apex of life's hierarchy since birth.
Power and prestige, the awe and reverence of millions—all seeped into his flesh and soul, forging an arrogant and noble ruler.
Even as a prisoner, his dignity remained unbroken.
Not a single strand of his silver hair lost its luster, gleaming like fine jade veiled in mist.
Lien only now noticed the unfortunate soul sharing his imprisonment—none other than the very culprit who had landed him in prison. His face instantly darkened with murderous intent.
Shen Ying, however, studied the Crown Prince for a long moment, as if confirming that a prisoner could truly stand before him with such unshackled arrogance.
With a resigned sigh, he asked, "Who released His Highness from his restraints?"
"Even if the Crown Prince holds a unique status, he should at least consider appearances. Other prisoners are watching."
The Crown Prince paid no heed to the warden's discomfort. His gaze swept over Lien as he remarked coolly, "A mere pirate dares to challenge the Empire's highest-security prison?"
"A ten-thousand-year sentence—not a single day less. You won't leave a moment sooner."
Lien's lips curled into a vicious grin. "Well, if it isn’t the illustrious Crown Prince?"
"How did you end up on a prison transport ship?"
"After that day, I was already plotting how to assassinate the royal heir once I escaped—your defenses were always impenetrable. Who knew vengeance would come so swiftly?"
The Crown Prince scoffed. "A lofty ambition. I don’t scorn dreamers."
Lien didn’t bother with further taunts. Instead, he turned to Shen Ying and asked, "How did he end up here?"
Shen Ying, surprisingly accommodating, glanced at the Crown Prince’s records before answering, "His Highness stands accused of 29 felonies, including plotting to assassinate the Emperor and attempting to seize the throne."
Lien burst into laughter. "Hah! Tried to kill the Emperor and failed? How pathetic."
The Crown Prince frowned slightly but dismissed a convict’s opinion without a second thought.
He issued a command to Shen Ying: "Lock this wretch in the deepest, darkest corner of the prison."
Though the cells in the airborne prison were structurally identical, their conditions still varied by rank.
The lowest level, closest to the engine systems, suffered the worst—deafening noise, crushing gravity, and the most deplorable living conditions. Only the dregs of the prison hierarchy ended up there.
With a single order, the Crown Prince rid himself of an eyesore before turning back to Shen Ying. "A year of communication blackout was a wise decision."
"Beyond that, deny all external data requests. However, the prison’s jump coordinates will now be determined by me."
"But I’m tired now." Though his face betrayed no exhaustion, the relentless upheavals and strategizing had left him sleepless for days.
As a 3S-level psychic, endurance was hardly an issue—yet the sleep-inducing injection administered before his arrival had stirred an unexpected drowsiness.
"Prepare a room for me. The bed must be a Tier-7 Terrium alloy ergonomic model."
"Bring water and food. I’m not particular—just follow my usual dietary preferences. They’re in my prison records."
Shen Ying glanced at the Crown Prince's file—the thick stack of documents, with dozens of pages detailing his daily life, preferences, and aversions.
She couldn't help but marvel. How on earth did this thing even get mixed in here?
Truly befitting the highest-stakes political struggle, the Crown Prince’s influence and reach persisted in every aspect, even as he was reduced to a prisoner.
Finally, the Crown Prince spoke: "Prepare a standalone terminal for me, one independent of the prison’s system."
"That’s all. You may go."
His tone was so naturally commanding that even Secretary Zhu only showed a flicker of hesitation at the request for a terminal, finding nothing unusual about the rest.
Meanwhile, Lien watched Shen Ying with an amused smirk, as if waiting to see how the woman who had just stood firm against him would react.
But Shen Ying’s expression remained unreadable—if anything, her smile deepened.
She readily agreed, "Of course, Your Highness. It would be my honor to fulfill your commands."
"Just sleep, food, and a terminal? Your Highness is far too considerate of the prison’s limitations. We, your humble subjects, are ashamed."
"How about this—though the prison is spacious, it’s still confined and oppressive. Should we retrofit a scout ship so Your Highness can take leisurely excursions?"
"As for your sleeping conditions, while seventh-grade Tyrium alloy barely suffices for your noble body, the temperature might be too cold."
"Shall I arrange someone to warm your bed first?"
The Crown Prince didn’t detect any mockery in her tone. Instead, he frowned in displeasure. "Excursions are unnecessary. Too conspicuous—it would expose the prison’s coordinates."
The aerial prison was equipped with an exorbitantly expensive cloaking system. Ships, however, were not.
"As for warming the bed," the Crown Prince fixed Shen Ying with a stern glare, "My body is a temple. No impurity shall defile it."
"I’ll let it slide this time. But if there’s a next—"
Before he could finish his warning, Shen Ying had already turned away, waving a hand at the surrounding guards. "Take them down for decontamination and prison uniforms."
"Both go to the lowest level. Adjacent cells."
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened instantly. He finally realized her earlier words had been nothing but mockery.
Never in his life had he suffered such humiliation. A cold fury gathered in his eyes.
"Warden Shen, do you understand what you’re saying?"
Before Shen Ying could respond, Secretary Zhu and two other human guards panicked.
Secretary Zhu quickly lowered his voice. "Warden, this isn’t appropriate. His Highness’s status is… unique. Sending him to the lower levels—no, sending him to prison at all—"
"At least assign him a quiet, private space."
When Shen Ying remained unmoved, Secretary Zhu pulled her aside, whispering just loud enough for her to hear: "This political struggle isn’t over yet. The Crown Prince may be here, but the final outcome is still uncertain."
"We’re just a prison. Rules must be followed, but why provoke his displeasure over this?"
Shen Ying nodded. "So Secretary Zhu’s superiors support the Crown Prince."
The secretary didn’t deny it. But then Shen Ying continued, "System, revoke Secretary Zhu’s administrative privileges, operational access to all non-essential prison machinery, and restrict his movement clearance to Level C."
Level C—effectively confining him to his office, quarters, cafeteria, and a few recreational rooms.
The secretary's face changed drastically. "Warden, you can't do this. I'm an administrator dispatched by the headquarters to work with you to ensure the operation of the prison."
"My authority should be on par with yours and cannot be granted or deprived by you."
Shen Ying said, "However, the reality is that I can deprive you of it."
Regardless of the regulations of the headquarters, in the airborne prison system, Shen Ying held the highest authority and could do anything here.
Seeing this, the Crown Prince's first reaction was that this person had defected to his rival camp.
Immediately, he commanded, "Airborne prison, arrest her."
This order was not only given to those present but also to the mechanical prison guards and the surrounding weapon devices.
Upon hearing the Crown Prince's order, the prison guards hesitated for a moment and then actually walked towards Shen Ying.
Even the mechanical prison guards and the intelligent gun muzzles around the walls were aimed at her.
It was not surprising. The old emperor had been bedridden for many years, and the Crown Prince had already started to hold power. Naturally, the Crown Prince had long exerted his influence over an institution as special and high - investment as the airborne prison.
As the heir to the imperial throne, although it was unknown for what purpose he had requested the authorization of the prison before, the former warden definitely couldn't refuse his request.
Imperial officials were loyal to His Majesty the Emperor and absolutely obeyed orders, even if it went against their own lives.
The former warden definitely wouldn't give the Crown Prince the highest administrative authority of the prison, as it went against the operating rules of the prison.
Presumably, the Crown Prince wasn't preparing for today at that time. So, the former warden authorized the Crown Prince to have the right to kill anyone within the airborne prison, including the warden.
At this time, two prison guards had grabbed Shen Ying from the left and right. The Crown Prince came up to her, looking down at her coldly and saying, "Those people are really quick. They managed to turn you around in such a short time."
"But you have to remember, your father is on my side."
As soon as he finished speaking, sparks suddenly flashed in the mechanical prison guards' heads, and their heads drooped as they were forced to shut down.
At the same time, the prison guards holding Shen Ying were instantly shot and fell to the ground. There were two mosquito - sized medicine needles stuck in their necks.
The Crown Prince reacted quickly and was about to issue a kill order when his long hair was grabbed. Someone grabbed his head and slammed it into the head of the nearest mechanical prison guard.
The Crown Prince, whose spiritual power was suppressed and who had been injected with a muscle - relaxing agent, was in a momentary daze.
Then, a metal restraint was slapped onto his mouth and instantly expanded to fit tightly against the lower half of his face, making it impossible for the Crown Prince to speak.
Shen Ying and the former warden had command chips implanted in their brains, so they could give orders silently.
However, the noble body of the Crown Prince wouldn't have something implanted just for a prison, and he could only give commands verbally.
Before he expected Shen Ying to defect from the natural stance inherited from her father, once he fell behind one step, he was in a losing position step by step.
After the Crown Prince was gagged, Shen Ying didn't let go of the hand that was holding his hair.
Instead, she pulled his head in front of her, looking down and continuing his words, "And you, all of you. Now you are all mine."
She looked at the Crown Prince and then glanced at Lien.
She said to the two of them, "From this moment on, forget your former identities. They have nothing to do with you anymore."
"The only identities you'll have for the rest of your lives are Prisoners 3077 and 3078 in the airborne prison. These are the names that belong to you."
"From the moment you enter the airborne prison, you all belong to me."
"Your bodies, spirits, wills, dignities, honors and disgraces, and futures are all at my disposal."
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