Mighty King Rabbit Owo, You've Been Exposed

After turning down the position of heir, Xu Lingqu struck a deal with Andrew Uriufis. During the purge of Xu Chengbi's forces, she asked to protect two people: Xu Xiqin and Gina.

As Xu Chengbi's biological daughter, Xu Xiqin's status as a military academy student would remain unaffected, and she would still enter the Military Department normally in the future.

As for Gina, she had genuinely helped Xu Chengbi with many things in the past, so by rights she should have been a key target for interrogation. However, she only needed to give a full account to Ares and she would be free to go.

Everyone else would face round after round of interrogation from Ares.

In exchange, Xu Lingqu agreed to Andrew Uriufis that she would hold a press conference as the heir, during which she would reveal her Psychic Power Level in order to lure out the members of the Merlin Family.

As she walked out of the imperial palace with Liuming, night had fallen over the Capital Star, yet nothing had dimmed. All kinds of lights blazed, people came and went on the streets, and the Capital Star was as bright as day.

That was why Xu Lingqu could clearly see the crowd gathered at the palace gates at a single glance.

They were still wearing various military academy uniforms, more than a hundred people gathered there. At the front stood four figures: Shen Shouli, Jin, Xu Xiqin, and Liu Zheng.

They had all taken the fastest star-rail train to the Capital Star.

Seeing the palace behind Xu Lingqu, Jin guiltily rubbed his nose. She must have figured out his identity as a prince by now. With that, it would be awkward to act cheeky in front of Xu Lingqu again.

"Why are you all here?" she asked.

Jinfang Taibai was quick to answer: "The Federation got cold feet and withdrew from the eight-school competition outright, saying something like the Chief Commanders of Qingjun and Lianda couldn't attend. The League Center said we win by default. Yun Zhongxiao said we did well this time, winning all three league events, and organized a hundred people from the arena, with each school sending ten, and we all jumped on the fastest star-rail train and came straight to the Capital Star to receive commendation from the Military Department!"

He pointed at the Moxie people and said, "When we got here, they insisted on waiting outside for you, and since the rest of us had nothing better to do, we came along. What a pity—I was hoping you'd become the Chief Commander of the eight schools and lead all of us..."

It was such a waste to finally get a chance to be teammates with Xu Lingqu, and now it was gone! How infuriating!

Xu Lingqu nodded, then turned her gaze to Xu Xiqin. Her eyes were red, tears still wet on her face, and she looked at Xu Lingqu with a bewildered expression.

She had just received the news that her father was dead, charged with treason, and the Xu residence had been sealed off. Her mother and brother had been taken away by Ares for questioning. She had assumed she would be taken away too, but the Ares agents had inexplicably let her go, which only made her feel more lost.

The enormous upheaval left Xu Xiqin unable to think; she could only stand at the palace gates, dazed, waiting for Xu Lingqu to come out.

The moment she saw Xu Lingqu, Xu Xiqin could no longer control her emotions. She had been trying hard to grow up, but at heart she was still a little girl who instinctively relied on her family. This sudden catastrophe made her feel as if the whole world had abandoned her.

Tears streamed down her face in strings as Xu Xiqin hugged Xu Lingqu. "Sister, I only have you now."

Xu Lingqu gently patted her back and comforted her patiently: "I'm here."

Those who didn't know the full story were momentarily startled by Xu Xiqin's outburst. Jin turned around, waved at the crowd, and said, "Scatter, scatter. Go back to the dormitory the Military Department arranged for you. Our commander has no time to review the troops. Hurry up and leave."

Since Jin had said so, those who had come to watch the excitement wisely left. After a while, only the five of them remained at the palace gates.

Xu Lingqu's shoulder was soaked with Xu Xiqin's tears. Jin had known part of the truth from the start, and after leaving the pod, he had immediately grabbed an Ares agent to ask about the situation. His heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Shen Shouli and Liu Zheng had witnessed the Ares agents explaining the situation to Xu Xiqin. When he heard that it was his own grandfather who had made the move, Shen Shouli wasn't too surprised. He had known the old man wouldn't have come all the way to Yuheng Star just to watch him compete.

But—

He looked at Xu Lingqu, who was being leaned on by Xu Xiqin. Xu Chengbi was undoubtedly a heinous villain. Didn't that mean his adoption of Xu Lingqu had been nothing but a malicious scheme of exploitation?

How long had she been bearing the pressure from her "adoptive father" alone?

And that Tang Muwen, who had been getting close to her, was taken away on the spot by the Ares agents. Shen Shouli's heart ached slightly. Around Xu Lingqu, there really was a group of people who meant her harm.

He couldn't help her with anything; sometimes he was even dragging her down.

The five of them waited at the palace gates until Xu Xiqin had calmed down.

"Your mother and brother likely had no part in this; they'll be released soon," Xu Lingqu said, wiping her tears. "I've discussed it with Emperor Andrew. Your status as a military academy student won't be affected in any way. Xiqin, from now on you truly can take control of your own life."

"Emperor Andrew agreed just like that?" Liu Zheng asked in confusion. "He's quite agreeable?"

Jin felt his heart pound, hardly believing it: "He... Emperor Andrew must have agreed because you traded something with him, right!"

He knew his father's personality very well.

"That's right. In exchange, I'm holding a press conference tomorrow as the Empire's heir." Xu Lingqu said calmly.

Jin: ???

Xu Xiqin was so shocked she forgot to cry.

She lost an admiral father, but gained a queen sister.

"You'll know tomorrow. For now, go back and rest," Xu Lingqu said. She was tired and didn't want to say much more. She hated reporters the most, but tomorrow she had to hold a press conference...

She wondered what ridiculous questions they would ask.

-

Early the next morning.

Xu Lingqu held a press conference in the imperial palace's meeting hall. The scene was packed with cameras, and heavily armed Ares agents maintained order on both sides.

She sat down and faced the first question.

"Mighty King Rabbit Owo, do you know you've been exposed?"

Xu Lingqu: ...