The Uriufises

"When was this decision made?" Xu Lingqu asked instead of answering.

Andrew Uriufis replied with full confidence: "Three minutes ago."

He looked at Xu Lingqu and saw the words "Don't you realize how absurd that sounds?" practically written across her face. He laughed for no particular reason.

Xu Lingqu now had the distinct feeling that Jin was indeed the Third Prince—his wild talk must be hereditary.

"I'm serious." Andrew took a sip of his flower tea, his gaze darkening. "The moment Chi Ren revealed that your psychic power level is SS+, you became the perfect heir."

He probably wasn't just spouting nonsense, and Xu Lingqu frowned slightly.

She had made it clear from the start that she didn't understand this feudal, imperial power structure in the interstellar era.

Because of the system, the Interstellar Empire faced numerous problems. The people of Star System No. 4 were impoverished and weak, while the nobles on Capital Star lived in luxury. Star Systems No. 2 and No. 3 were overexploited, and at this rate, they would end up like Star System No. 4 in a few decades.

Taking the efforts of the majority to support a small minority—that was feudal monarchy.

Before Andrew made up his mind to reform, the Imperial Military was riddled with corruption. Xu Chengbi, as an admiral, had laid countless hidden landmines.

Compared to the Federation, where the Merlin Family dominated, the Empire was only slightly better—but not by much.

"I refuse," Xu Lingqu said bluntly. She would never uphold the interests of any stale old aristocracy.

Those old forces clinging to imperial power would only meet their end at her hands.

As a human who had lived under communist education in the Chinese Republic before the apocalypse on Earth, she'd have to be insane to defend feudal monarchy or become it herself in a normal world.

Andrew stared at the young woman before him. She met his gaze with neither humility nor arrogance. He sighed softly, a helpless smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Xu Lingqu was vigilant enough not to take his verbal promises at face value. She clearly didn't trust the imperial family, which was why she refused so decisively.

A trace of confusion flickered in his sharp, majestic eyes. He changed the subject and asked Xu Lingqu, "Has Jin ever told you anything about the Uriufises?"

"No. He probably still doesn't know he's been exposed to me," Xu Lingqu said candidly. "All I know about you is that you're short-lived, and that Luminous and Chi Ren are wary of you. But Chi Ren is willing to serve you."

The two dogs had already run into the garden, happily chasing butterflies.

"Yes. It's thanks to Chi Ren that we became ruling monarchs and have passed the throne down through generations." Andrew turned to look at the garden. The usually composed and dignified Chi Ren was chasing after Luminous, frolicking about with great delight, and a genuine, relaxed smile graced Andrew's face.

"Every Uriufis lives to be only 40 to 50 years old—just a third of the average interstellar human lifespan. That's an open secret. Another open secret is that members of the Uriufis family always have psychic power at S-level or above... As a result, almost every Uriufis monarch faces the same dilemma I did: inherit the throne in their twenties, immediately marry a noble girl, have children, and when the child grows up, prepare to die..."

Uriufis—the most honored family in the Interstellar Empire. Each member lived a brief life, dedicated solely to the most primitive biological drive: reproduction. Like breeding machines, they mechanically passed on Chi Ren and the throne generation after generation.

"In a sense, having a life of our own is a luxury for us," Andrew said, as if recalling something blissful. His eyes suddenly softened, and his dark red hair seemed to glow. "My wife, Yuan Xin, gave me that luxury."

In Andrew's generation, there were seven Uriufises: four men and three women. Four of them had S+ level psychic power, all competing for the throne.

Each generation strictly limited the number of offspring—more than five but fewer than ten—to ensure at least one S+ to inherit Chi Ren, while avoiding too many, which could lead to internal strife and division.

Andrew was the ultimate victor among that generation. On the day he inherited the throne, he met the love of his life, Yuan Xin.

"She was quirky and unlike the stiff noble ladies I'd met before. She was smart, beautiful, lovely, radiating vitality. But that wasn't her most precious quality. Her most precious quality was her courage—far braver than a coward like me."

"After marrying me and learning about the fate of the Uriufises, Yuan Xin, along with her good friend Li Jingcheng, began researching a drug that could cure the Uriufis short-lifespan genetic defect. The conclusion was that to become normal people, they would have to abandon the stable inheritance of high psychic power."

"The day we made the decision, we were on a swing in the garden. Yuan Xin leaned against my shoulder. We both knew clearly what it would mean once the drug was used. If the Empire had no one to inherit Chi Ren after I died, we would be traitors who doomed the nation. Moreover, the drug was not guaranteed to work; if it failed, it would cause severe backlash, further shortening our already limited lifespans. Our first child, Xi'en, is currently suffering from that backlash."

Andrew shook his head with a bitter smile. "I didn't dare make the decision. I wanted our offspring to break free from the shackles of inheritance, but I'm a coward. I wanted it, yet I didn't dare say it. So she took on the burden. She fully understood my cowardice and told me that as long as she lived, she would continue the research, improve the success rate, and eliminate the backlash. She would also develop a drug to prolong my life. But just when we were filled with hope for the future, she died."

"When Jin was three, she was killed by some nobles who knew the truth. They thought she was trying to destroy the Empire by doing this. After her death, those people immediately pressured me to find a new woman and sire new offspring, abandoning the three children who were already undergoing treatment, so they could produce short-lived Uriufises who would continue to breed according to their wishes."

At this point, Xu Lingqu watched the aging emperor appear steeped in sorrow. His lively expression turned lifeless again.

"I executed them, but then I fell into a haze. I had no right to wish for a longer life, nor the right to protect my love. Am I truly the most honored monarch? Or just a weapon, kept fed and then discarded when the time comes?"