First Appearance

Xu Lingqu spent her first two days at the Xu residence barely leaving her room.

She had been scheduled to meet Admiral Xu Chengbi, but word came that a nest of interstellar pirates had been spotted near the Mulan Frontier. After concluding his meetings, the Admiral had taken the Emperor's orders and departed to deal with them.

Xu Lingqu suspected he was deliberately avoiding the mess at home.

During that time, Lady Gina brought in a physician from the Capital Star to examine Xu Lingqu's condition.

"Congenital deficiency, compounded by the harsh conditions at the Zhuyun Frontier over the years—these ailments have accumulated." The physician frowned as he examined her, and finally said, "The best I can recommend is regular use of medical instruments for physiotherapy, along with moderate exercise. Those prescriptions from the doctors back at Zhuyun Frontier aren't harmful, but they won't do much either. Once you finish what they gave you, no need to go back for more."

It matched what Xu Lingqu had already estimated: this body wasn't something that could be cured overnight with a dose of medicine.

She would need patience.

—

Xu Lingqu sat before a vanity mirror, Lady Gina standing expressionless behind her, meticulously tending to her long hair.

The beauty industry in the interstellar age hadn't advanced as dramatically as one might expect; it wasn't all that different from the Earth era.

Lady Gina picked up a lipstick and applied it. The color instantly brought life to Xu Lingqu's pallid face, making her look far less sickly.

Today was the gathering Lady Catherine had insisted she attend.

The Admiral was away at the frontier, so Lady Gina had stayed behind to look after Xu Lingqu personally. Catherine certainly wouldn't bother herself with how Xu Lingqu dressed—that duty fell to Lady Gina.

"If you get tired, you can slip away unnoticed," Lady Gina reminded her.

Xu Lingqu gave a slight nod, rose to her feet, and headed to where the party was being held.

By the time she reached the back garden of the Xu residence, most of the guests had already arrived—nobles from the political heart of the Interstellar Empire, all residing nearby.

Truth be told, this party didn't really need Xu Lingqu, its supposed centerpiece. Everyone in the garden was already deep in conversation, and at the heart of the crowd stood Catherine with her daughter, Xu Xiqin. Neither seemed to care whether Xu Lingqu had shown up at all.

Xu Lingqu was just wondering whether she might as well head back to bed when Catherine's gaze cut through the crowd and locked onto her.

"Lingqu is here," Catherine said, a polished smile spreading across her face as she beckoned Xu Lingqu over.

At once, every guest's eyes turned to Xu Lingqu, and whispers rippled through the garden.

"So that's the adopted daughter Admiral Xu Chengbi took in?"

"Don't be naive—you actually believe she's a real adopted daughter?"

"Tsk... never took Admiral Xu for that kind of man. Lady Catherine is certainly magnanimous..."

"She's clearly no match for Xu Xiqin. If I were Lady Catherine, I'd be relieved."

Xu Lingqu paid the murmurs no mind, walking slowly to Catherine's side and looking at Xu Xiqin—her nominal younger sister.

The girl had inherited her mother's golden hair, yet favored her father in features, bearing the look of a classic Eastern beauty. Her demeanor was cool and aloof, and the custom gown she wore shimmered brilliantly, making her seem like an elf untouched by the mortal world.

Catherine watched the two of them stand side by side, a satisfied smile curling on her lips. Her goal was achieved: Xu Lingqu made a perfect foil for Xu Xiqin.

She gave Xu Xiqin's shoulder a contented pat, signaling she was off to chat with the countess nearby, and left the two girls staring at each other.

"You..." Xu Xiqin broke the silence first. "I heard you applied to Moye Military Academy too."

Mm, your brother signed me up, Xu Lingqu thought, nodding.

Xu Xiqin wore a deeply puzzled expression, as if she'd stumbled upon one of the great unsolved mysteries of Xu Lingqu. "I only chose Moye because I admire the Galaxy Admiral. What about you?"

Galaxy Admiral? The Milky Way?

Xu Lingqu's heart stirred, but she went along smoothly: "I also admire... the Galaxy Admiral."

Xu Xiqin tilted her head, looking at Xu Lingqu with unconcealed suspicion for a long moment. Xu Lingqu's expression didn't waver—she could lie with perfect composure.

"Admiring the Galaxy Admiral is only natural." Xu Xiqin seemed to convince herself quickly, and edged a step closer. "I heard you signed up for the Command Department. We can go through the Moye trial together then."

She didn't elaborate on the Galaxy Admiral, which left Xu Lingqu slightly regretful.

But realizing she knew nothing about this so-called Moye Military Academy, and Xu Xiqin seemed to know quite a bit, Xu Lingqu pressed on: "I don't actually know the specifics of the trial."

The moment she voiced her confusion, Xu Xiqin enthusiastically launched into an explanation, like an eager little golden retriever desperate to help.

"The Moye trial lasts about a month and a half. I heard from my brother that the location is set on a small planet in the Tri-Star System, something like a wilderness exercise. There's bound to be some cross-country training involved. I've already prepared myself to become a sharpshooter in the jungle." The more Xu Xiqin spoke, the brighter her eyes gleamed, as if she weren't talking about grueling training but a free-for-all sale at a cake shop.

Then I'm in for it, Xu Lingqu thought grimly. Dragging this body through cross-country training—she was afraid her soul would be sprinting ahead while her body dropped dead after two steps.

"Mother also told me you're not in good health." Xu Xiqin suddenly reached out and wrapped an arm around Xu Lingqu. "Don't worry. The Command Department's training intensity won't be that heavy, and I'll be there. If you run into any trouble, just tell me."

She really was like an enthusiastic golden retriever, eager to nuzzle up to any human she'd only just met.

Judging by Xu Xiqin's cold, beautiful exterior, it was hard to imagine she was actually like this.

"Thanks," Xu Lingqu said, gently pushing her arm away—the embrace was far too tight, and she worried this body might get squeezed unconscious on the spot.

"No need to thank me for something so small." Xu Xiqin smiled, about to draw closer again, when Lady Catherine, with a darkened face, called her name from not far away.

She might have moved aside to talk with the countess, but her gaze had never left Xu Lingqu and Xu Xiqin.

Watching her foolish daughter wrap her arm around Xu Lingqu while chatting and laughing, Catherine looked ready to summon a medical robot to administer a cardiac stimulant on the spot.

Called away by her mother, Xu Xiqin gave Xu Lingqu an apologetic little tongue-out and obediently walked over.

Xu Lingqu caught the unspeakable look on Lady Catherine's face and found it absolutely hilarious, though she managed not to laugh aloud.

Keeping her expression neutral, she gave Xu Xiqin a nod, then deliberately steered clear of the crowds and headed toward the garden.

Lady Catherine's green-faced anger was amusing enough, but Xu Xiqin's guilty, puppy-dog demeanor was even more entertaining.

The garden was quiet and sparsely populated—only the whisper of wind through the flower clusters and the gentle burble of the central fountain broke the stillness.

Xu Lingqu strolled leisurely through it. Fewer people meant more comfort, and the extra walking counted as decent exercise for this body anyway.