MORIC - Chapter 188
Chapter 188: Helping My Wife Put On Her Pants
It had been a long time since Sheng Yangkui had returned to the Royal Palace.
But thinking back carefully, this "long time" was merely three months.
In any of her lives, she had rarely had such a period of freedom. Even being placed in a sanatorium by Shen Yu, under constant surveillance, was better to her than the alien presence that existed everywhere in her consciousness.
Shen Yu had specially sent people to escort her back. Although the Capital Star was not a scene of utter devastation, this was the first time in many years that a Zerg Tide had spread to the capital.
The city's prosperity had turned to silence, and the occasional, distant sound of cannon fire only intensified this feeling.
The Royal Palace still stood in its lofty position, but after a joint resolution by Shen Yu and the Parliament, it too had been placed under control. The Queen was in poor health and was being treated by a dedicated doctor.
The hovercar stopped in the parking lot. The door opened slowly. The one escorting her was Shen Yu's secretary, an Alpha woman who was once a knight.
However, before she could serve the Royal Palace, she had been admitted to a civil position in the military under Shen Yu.
"Princess, please exit the vehicle."
The female Alpha wore gloves. The experience of an adult Alpha was incomparable to that of a student; her eyes held a respectful gaze.
For some reason, Sheng Yangkui thought of Wen Xinghuo. She wondered what she was doing right now.
She was so busy every day. In truth, Sheng Yangkui didn't have to come back; she could have just stayed with the Expeditionary Force.
But Wen Xinghuo had been resolute, and she wasn't a person of many words to begin with, finding it even harder to squeeze out a single term of endearment. Usually, she would just nod, reach out, and give Sheng Yangkui a hug.
Would she be sad when she found out?
The escalators in the vast plaza were still moving up and down automatically. When the Royal Palace wasn't hosting a banquet, it was always deeply cold—a quietness Sheng Yangkui was familiar with.
The people here were brought by Shen Yu. The female Alpha secretary led Sheng Yangkui forward.
The little princess was petite, looking like a porcelain doll next to an ordinary Alpha.
Standing opposite them was Sheng Yangkui's lady-in-waiting. She smiled at the secretary and bowed respectfully to Sheng Yangkui.
And standing at the top of the escalator was a woman in magnificent robes. The crown was still on her head, but the scepter no longer held any authority, especially since she now had difficulty even walking. For an occasion like this, welcoming her successor, she was still in a wheelchair.
The Omega successor turned around.
Sheng Yangkui's dress looked to be of fine quality, with wisteria in full bloom. As she walked up the steps, slowly ascending, it created the illusion of falling blossoms.
This dress was a gift from Xi Zhoumeng before her surgery.
The senior who had differentiated into an Alpha hadn't changed a bit in this regard. "Dress nicely. What's with Shen Yu? A person has to look beautiful, no matter where they are."
Chi Yueshan had wanted to interrupt this person's lecturing habit, but Sheng Yangkui shook her head. She accepted it gladly, a complete reversal of her former timidity, and even asked Xi Zhoumeng, "Senior Xi, when you get married, will you wear a wedding dress or a suit?"
The question was so unexpected that even Chi Yueshan was stunned.
Xi Zhoumeng replied in a second, "A wedding dress, of course."
Her finger tapped the embroidery on the handmade dress. "What about you? Have you thought about this question?"
Sheng Yangkui nodded. "I have."
Xi Zhoumeng: "Wen Xinghuo in a wedding dress… that image is just…"
One of them was about to undergo surgery to split her consciousness, and the other was about to face an invasion.
Yet here they were, sitting together and chatting idly.
Xi Zhoumeng propped up her face and sighed, as if she couldn't dare to imagine what Wen Xinghuo would look like in a dress.
Her nails were so extravagant that Chi Yueshan found them obstructive just by looking, but they were sparkly and, on the contrary, a perfect match for Xi Zhoumeng's Moon-Swallower mecha.
If Chi Yueshan hadn't forbidden it, she would have even wanted to give the mecha a full beauty treatment.
Xuan Ping, who was waiting to create the chip container, even chimed in, "What kind of wedding dress would Senior Wen wear? I feel like I've never seen her in white."
Xi Zhoumeng: "Exactly. White makes her look even darker."
Sheng Yangkui: "I'm fine with anything."
Xi Zhoumeng: "Then you'll wear the suit, and she'll wear the dress."
Even Chi Yueshan couldn't hold it in and let out a laugh.
Xuan Ping sighed. "That's not good, is it? How embarrassing would that be on the news headlines? Something like 'Our New Generation of Military Officers Rips Wedding Dress'."
This group of people had no limits when it came to teasing, making even Sheng Yangkui's mind wander.
Xi Zhoumeng: "It's fine. We'll do whatever we want when the time comes."
She was the type of person who, when serious, could make people believe her unconditionally. It was only because she was usually too relaxed and too lazy to change that she gave off the impression that leaving things to her would be a disaster.
But now, no one would think her words were false.
It was as if someone could truly rewrite the future with just a few words.
Do whatever you want.
This was an attitude Sheng Yangkui had never experienced in her entire life.
Temperament is innate, and personality can be changed, but she felt she was probably the type who would be difficult to prop up her entire life.
Like a fool in a TV drama who is reborn ten years in the past, knows the future, but is still unable to change anything and remains a failure.
She envied Xi Zhoumeng's innate flamboyance, Chi Yueshan's fearless courage to charge forward, and Xuan Ping's firm resolve to shoulder responsibility and overcome all objections with ease.
What about me?
At this moment, as dusk fell, the wound on her forehead had healed completely. In just three months, Xuan Ping had reassembled her team from the previous life and had even poached a medical research team that Xi Li had previously had his eye on.
These were almost all of Xi Zhoumeng's trump cards. Even after her consciousness was split, her gaze remained firm, but she didn't say much.
She just patted Sheng Yangkui's shoulder.
Go.
It was "go," not "return."
I finally have a place I can go back to.
A place where everyone is.
Not this Royal Palace that has trapped me for two lifetimes, possibly three.
Sheng Yangkui stood before the Queen. She had feared the consciousness within this shell for many years.
She had resisted, too.
Instinct urged her to flee, and this time she had used many methods as well.
People helped her. Shen Yu even hired top doctors to treat her.
But her body still withered rapidly, including on the day the consciousness chip was to be transplanted.
Xuan Ping was also surprised at how poor Sheng Yangkui's health was at such a young age.
There were many reasons.
For example, in the initial DNA test during her childhood, she was the one whose values were closest to the previous Queen's.
But no one knew this at first.
Later, it was her food, clothing, and lodging, and the bullying from her two older sisters.
Could the Queen have been unaware?
She was clearly doing it on purpose.
Perhaps the previous Queen's body had been very healthy and her spiritual power not weak, so the invasion after succession had taken a toll on her.
This time, she wanted to raise a weak, easily controllable successor.
It would be best if she obediently offered herself up.
But she never expected that even the weakest, most controllable person would rush into a flame for love like a moth.
And would use excuses to avoid returning.
Doctors had consulted on Sheng Yangkui's case many times, and the conclusion was that she had the Gamma-87 Lesion, which had appeared in the royal family during the Prime Century.
It caused weakness in the limbs, involuntary twitching of the fingers, and eventually, brain atrophy.
The Zerg parasitized generation after generation, evolving from a lower form, and had also learned the meaning of striking first to gain the upper hand.
At this moment, Sheng Yangkui's hand was still twitching involuntarily, but it was hidden by her wide sleeves. At a glance, she still looked like a delicate flower.
She lowered her head obediently.
The Queen touched her face. "Good child, you've finally returned."
As she got closer, Sheng Yangkui smelled the scent on her.
The incense in the Queen's chambers had been the same for a decade. In her past life, when she became Queen, she had burned it daily as well.
Because the smell of her body was foul. The side effects of parasitism would affect the physical body, attracting mosquitoes and insects.
The insects would further Zergify, swarming densely under the magnificent cloak. With a lift of her hand, it was as if the sleeve was a human abyss.
Sheng Yangkui revealed a docile smile.
The Queen: "We haven't seen each other in a long time. Tonight, we will dine in the Rose Hall."
Sheng Yangkui nodded.
Then she heard the lady-in-waiting beside her say, "Your Majesty, you need to first receive your injection…"
The Queen waved her hand. "I am very happy that my youngest has returned. The succession ceremony is tomorrow. It won't make a difference to delay the injection for a little while."
Sheng Yangkui said nothing. The other's hand only briefly patted hers, but it made Sheng Yangkui feel an immense chill.
"Will it start tomorrow?"
Sheng Yangkui's tone was gentle, with a hint of a young girl's coyness.
In the past, at a dining occasion like this, Sheng Yangkui would never have been the only one present. It was always Sheng Qiuyu and Sheng Xinggui who did the talking, while she only needed to eat in silence.
The Queen: "Are you still thinking about that Alpha?"
The hand holding the scepter was incredibly old. In just twenty years, it was as if sixty had passed.
Sheng Yangkui was almost glad that she hadn't aged this much by the time Wen Xinghuo killed her.
She shook her head. "I broke up with her."
She looked perfectly obedient. "But I've developed the Gamma-87 Lesion. Removing my glands would cause an infection and be life-threaten…"
Before Sheng Yangkui could finish, the Queen interrupted her.
"We will hold the succession ceremony first. After that, I… cough, cough, cough…"
Her body truly couldn't hold on any longer. If Sheng Yangkui didn't return, this body would die, and it might be just like the previous life.
I was beheaded, the Zerg Queen's consciousness disappeared, but it might make a comeback.
Chi Yueshan and Xi Zhoumeng had discussed this issue many times, and everyone's goal was the same.
This time, they wanted the Zerg to disappear forever.
Low-grade Zerg could die as they may. The consciousness-invading Zerg Queen would be ended by Xi Zhoumeng.
The rest would be left to Wen Xinghuo, who insisted on defending the Capital Star.
Sheng Yangkui stood silently as before, her violet eyes reflecting concern.
But the Zerg Queen didn't understand these emotions. It still judged humans based on the memories of the brain it parasitized.
In its eyes, Sheng Yangkui was the same as before.
That was enough.
"Then tomorrow…"
Sheng Yangkui: "Okay."
On the day of the succession ceremony, the Capital Star issued an announcement about Xi Zhoumeng's appointment as the Commander of the Expeditionary Force.
There were forty-three minutes until the ship's departure.
The Xi household was still a mess.
"You grabbed the wrong one. I want the pink one, the strapless one, the one with the silver bust."
"I'm not eating the rose pastries, they're too rich."
"Can't we use a bigger suitcase?"
"Bring two barrels of milk from Planet Ai'erli. What? That planet has been occupied by the Zerg?"
Xi Zhoumeng had been busy since she woke up. The maids and robots of the Xi household were all running around in circles. Her tone now carried a strong sense of disbelief. "What is the Expeditionary Force doing? Are they all useless? Those are top-tier dairy cows! The Zerg don't even drink milk."
Xi Mingguang, who had been eating breakfast in the main hall, choked on that sentence and coughed for a long time.
Xi Li hadn't even changed out of his pajamas. It was only after Xi Chun's reminder that he tied his belt, rubbing his temples as he asked Xi Zhoumeng, "Big Miss, are you going to be a commander or going on vacation?"
The former-former Commander Xi was enjoying being fed by his Omega wife, a scholar of astrology, and covered his face in pain.
"Zhoumeng, can you tone it down a little?"
"The facilities on the ship are very complete, including the pan-fried yellow croaker you mentioned. The backup kitchen has it in stock."
The command of the Expeditionary Force had changed hands twice in just a few months. For someone like Xi Mingguang to still be alive was considered a great fortune. She had originally been very worried that Xi Zhoumeng would face danger in the Expeditionary Force.
Now, she wasn't worried at all about her getting beaten up by Zerg; she was worried about her being reported by her colleagues.
Xi Zhoumeng didn't have the slightest air of a commander.
She still hadn't been willing to put on her pants. Her upper body was clad in the uniform, but she was particularly disdainful of the fabric of the Expeditionary Force uniform.
"Do I have to wear this? Is it too late to change it into a skirt?"
Xi Li let out a breath. He leaned against the staircase railing, glanced at Xi Chun who had been playing games since early morning, and then at the various work robots scurrying all over the floor.
"What's the problem with the pants, sis? Is the crotch too tight?"
"The Expeditionary Force uniform is already the best-looking one. If you don't believe me, ask Mom."
Chu Jing was about to feed Xi Mingguang again, but Xi Mingguang's eyes pleaded with her, saying she couldn't eat anymore.
Chu Jing had no choice but to eat the rest of the red bean porridge herself, nodding in agreement. "It's true. I don't like stand-up collars. Shen Yu's uniform looks like something a pallbearer would wear."
Chi Yueshan happened to hear this as she walked over and immediately felt that Xi Zhoumeng's compatibility with this family was just too high.
This venomous tongue was clearly inherited, wasn't it? So harsh.
When Xi Li saw her, it was as if he had seen his savior. "Yueshan, you're here! Can you please hurry up and manage your wife?"
He looked like he was about to go crazy. "Her ship is at 10:20, and she still hasn't finished packing."
The child Chi Yueshan was holding was living up to her nickname. She loved to sleep, and when she slept, it was no different from being in a coma; it was very difficult to wake her.
Now dressed in baby clothes designed by Xi Zhoumeng, she looked deadly cute.
Xi Zhoumeng didn't tone it down after Chi Yueshan arrived. She even had time to complain, "Look at these pants. Can they show off my perfect curves?"
Chi Yueshan: "You usually wear big, poofy skirts anyway. What curves do you need?"
Xi Zhoumeng: "You don't understand what national beauty is."
Just as she was about to continue ordering people around, Chi Yueshan took a step forward. "Take your pants and come with me."
Xi Zhoumeng: "For what?"
Her long, golden hair hanging in front of her eyes had been lightly permed, making it less sharp than when it was straight, but her gaze still had a dizzying effect on people.
But Chi Yueshan was immune.
Chi Yueshan smiled. "Of course, it's to personally help my helpless Alpha put on her pants."
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