Just a few steps away from the entrance of the military department, the venerable Grand Marshal of the Empire, Chen Hanke, was drenched by the downpour, his trouser legs stained with the mud splashed up by the crystal bones.
However, Ryann could see that although Chen Hanke was howling in grief, his expression did not seem surprised that he would say such words and do such things.
Sure enough, a few seconds later, Chen Hanke put away the exaggerated expression on his face, grinned, and let out a low laugh.
“Your Highness, you should know,” the old man slowly wiped the rainwater off his face and straightened his back, “Fifty-two years, or over a hundred years if you count from the old empire. We have been able to gain enough time by hibernating and enduring, sacrificing and giving up.”
“Stepping on the bones of our heroic kin, we allowed the empire to recuperate, allowed the people to live and work in peace, and rebuilt the order of civilization from the chaos brought about by the crystal particles.”
“With the blood of the sacrificed as nourishment, we allowed the solidification rays and tranquilizers to subtly spread among the military and the people, so technology could develop, talents could grow, and the power of various fields was strengthening.”
Old Marshal Chen laughed slowly, his eyes carrying a sharpness that questioned the soul, “It was the White Bird Project that saved mankind. What do you want to convince me with, to make human civilization give up the strategy of ‘sacrificing individuals for the survival of the species’, to give up this lifeline that has always been there?”
****
In the back garden of the White Jade Palace.
When the conversation ceased, the rain gradually lessened. The black-haired young man, Jiang Jianming, sat opposite the female emperor of the empire under the pavilion, with no one else around, except for the occasional few gray sparrows flying by.
After a long time, Jiang Jianming raised his dark eyes, “Your Majesty, forgive my frankness.”
He said cautiously, “I have understood the matter of the White Bird Project, and the choice that the empire needs to face now. But isn’t there something wrong with the way you and the old marshal are canvassing votes?”
A look of indescribable expression appeared on the young man’s handsome face, “At least, shouldn’t the people each of you are pulling for be reversed…?”
Lin Ge burst into laughter, “You think the Crown Prince will definitely not agree with Old Chen’s suggestion, don’t you?”
She laughed while mysteriously winking, “Isn’t it a coincidence? Zhen feels the same way. Although your life is at stake, that little rascal never plays by the rules.”
As she spoke, the female emperor took off the black velvet cloak from her shoulders, “The rain has made it cold, you are a patient, you should put it on.”
“Your Majesty,” Jiang Jianming quickly stood up, bowed his head and took a half step back, “There is a difference between monarch and minister, we can’t do this.”
“……”
Lin Ge just tilted her head to look at him, “You clearly don’t like Zhen, do you? You are now Zhen’s son-in-law, why be so reserved?”
She stood up, walked around, and wrapped the cloak around Jiang Jianming’s slender shoulders.
At the same time, she whispered, “No one wants to be a deserter, everyone knows that the interstellar race war is a matter of life and death. Our differences lie in whether the decisive battle is now or in the future.”
Jiang Jianming pursed his lips, nodding thoughtfully.
Over the long course of time, humans had indeed been driven to desperation by the crystal particles.
The old humans were extinct, corpses were everywhere, civilization was destroyed overnight, people went mad in fear of the crystal disorder, and in the dark world, they hurt each other. How hopeless was that situation?
In the abyss of despair, they miraculously made it to the present, stepping on the backbone of their ancestors, through the struggle and sacrifice of generation after generation.
Not only did they continue the species, but they also established a peaceful new empire and regained the glory of humanity.
“If it weren’t for the sudden emergence of the Crystal Cult traitors within humanity,” the female emperor’s face flashed with a cold and fierce color, “we could have dragged on a bit longer, waited until we had a better grasp of the situation, and then launched a collective counterattack against the Crystal Nest. The bullshit plan of sacrificing half of humanity could have been logically abandoned… but now the contradictions have erupted, a decision must be made.”
“To be honest, Old Chen is also conflicted. Who doesn’t want to give it a go? But with the survival of an entire human civilization on his shoulders, he needs enough reason and courage to gamble.”
Jiang Jianming nodded again, “Then Your Majesty is looking for me…”
Zhen just wants to talk to you. Lin Ge looked at him with a smile, suppressing her suddenly rolling emotions.
She said, “Chen and Zhen are just the opposite, saying Zhen wants to break the cauldrons and sink the boats, but Zhen has no confidence in her heart. The Crown Princess is cautious and patient, Zhen wants to hear your opinion.”
The cold wind, carrying the damp air, blew through the back garden of the palace. Jiang Jianming held down the fluttering cloak on his shoulder, sighing inwardly.
These two people were not canvassing votes, but each felt a heavy responsibility and an uncertain future. They were afraid that their own choice was the wrong one, afraid that they would lead the empire astray, so they hesitated and repeatedly sought confirmation.
Lin Ge curved her lips, her expression somewhat expectant, “Don’t worry, just treat it as a casual chat… tell me your thoughts.”
****
In response to the old man’s question, Ryann gave a calm answer without hesitation, “Sacrifice is to buy time, and buying time is to wait for the opportunity to win in one fell swoop…now is the time.”
Old Marshal Chen raised an eyebrow, “Oh? Why are you so sure? Why is it now, and not ten years later, fifty years later, a hundred years later?”
Ryann slowly curled his lips, “Because now, we have a special existence. Once missed, it will be too late for regrets.”
****
Jiang Jianming fell silent, shaking his head after six or seven seconds, “Your Majesty, forgive me.”
The young disabled man’s eyes were deep, his tone calm, “In my humble opinion, there are still too many unknown variables now. Whether it’s amputation or going all out, there are countless hopes and hidden dangers involved, it’s hard to say what the future will be.”
“Indeed.” Lin Ge laughed bitterly, “If it really could be predicted by human power, what would we have to worry about? Did Zhen make it difficult for you?”
Jiang Jianming’s expression remained unchanged, he continued, “I can’t judge right or wrong for the two plans… but I judge that the key to deciding victory or defeat will be the collective will of our humanity.”
“General Xie’s Silver Big Dipper fleet has already opened a new route, the third-generation tranquilizer that blocks acute crystal disorder has been developed by the base, and the Crystal Cult’s attack on Star City has been repelled… From a technical, resource, or military perspective, we are not without the power to fight.”
“What’s important is, when facing the fear of racial extinction, will human will, be invigorated or decayed.”
“Whether there is confidence, whether there is faith, whether there is a bright enough light guiding ahead.”
****
Old Marshal Chen: “What do you mean by the special existence?”
Ryann: “You know.”
****
Lin Ge: “So, what would this guiding light be?”
Jiang Jianming: “Your Majesty knows better than I do.”
****
“Jiang Jianming’s talent is rare in my life,” the Crown Prince affirmed, “He suffers from crystal disorder, perhaps his days are numbered. But he has been in the military for less than a year, has killed alien creatures, fought space bandits, quelled internal strife, maneuvered under the hands of the Crystal Cult, and sat on the command seat of a starship.”
“Leaving aside his military command ability. His vision, his thoughts, his character and temperament…any of these are stunningly rare.”
Old Marshal Chen was silent, his eyes sometimes bright, sometimes dark.
Ryann took two steps forward, his boots first stepping on the puddle, then on the debris from the recent explosion, “Give him more opportunities, and he will lead humanity to victory in every battle.”
“And I can protect him on the battlefield, only I can do that. If the empire is wise, it will know to cherish us.”
“Invincible?” Old Marshal Chen shook his head, “The Crystal Nest is not a place to be despised, please remember that you have died once, Your Highness Ryann.”
Ryann retorted, “Back then, did I go to die, or to fight?”
Old Marshal Chen: “…”
Ryann: “If it’s the latter, I’m still here now, not dead, alive and talking to you, which means my fight has not been lost.”
“If you haven’t lost, you can win.”
“Especially now, I have him.”
The Crown Prince with platinum curls said this with a very proud and self-satisfied look. He looked like a reckless emperor, and also like an unrivaled youth.
But the next moment, he suddenly hooked up the corner of his eye and laughed, “——By the way, speaking of which, you haven’t calculated his military merits for killing a traitorous criminal and the bishop of the Crystal Cult.”
Old Marshal Chen: “?”
“But at this rank now, it’s indeed not easy to promote anymore. Hmm, convert it into currency points for him.”
“…..”
****
“Your Majesty, you know my background is not very good, and I have encountered bumps along the way. I know in my heart that sometimes you have to give in, you have to compromise.”
As the rain gradually lessened, Lin Ge and Jiang Jianming got up while talking. The two left the palace and headed towards the gate.
Jiang Jianming, holding an umbrella, said somewhat melancholically, “Most people in this world, or almost all people, will more or less be oppressed by the torrent of reality, and retract their edges in front of reality.”
“But Ryann is different.”
“Last night, His Highness asked me why I was moved by him, I said because of his strength.”
Jiang Jianming’s eyes softened, “This is true, he is stronger than any human who has died in this empire in the past, and he will be stronger than any human who will be born in this empire in the future… I’m not just talking about strength, and not just about his learning and adaptation ability that is almost scary, but about his soul.”
“He is unrestrained, undefeated, even if frustrated, he does not think that is called failure. He has infinite pride and arrogance, he is a person who can be uncompromising and fearless.”
“I even feel that there will never be a second person like this in the world. His Highness is still somewhat childish, but he has been in the empire for less than a year, and I can see his bright future.”
Lin Ge helplessly shook her black hair and laughed, saying that Jiang Jianming was too indulgent with that little rascal, causing the filter to be too thick.
Jiang Jianming didn’t mind, and continued in a warm and gentle tone, “So, I choose to be loyal to my Highness. As long as it’s a choice given by the Crown Prince, no matter what the result is…it will be my answer.”
Lin Ge immediately made a disgusted tongue click, and continued walking a few steps before saying, “Tomorrow night, Zhen will be meeting guests from the autonomous region, remember to bring your little Highness along.”
Jiang Jianming: “Yes, Your Majesty.”
He suddenly thought of something and frowned, “Is the autonomous region also here to negotiate the crystal particle strategy? Their predecessor is the historically long-standing Dove Red Leaf Society, they should also know a lot, could it be…”
Lin Ge laughed loudly, “This is a secret, saved as a surprise for tomorrow.”
By the time the Emperor and the Crown Princess arrived at the military department, the rain had finally stopped. The fine sunlight leaked a little bit from the clouds and shone on the shimmering puddles.
From afar, Lin Ge and Jiang Jianming both saw the clearly exploded entrance of the military department. The aircraft was tragically overturned in a damaged state, and the high-tech rain barrier was gone, repairing this thing would cost tens of thousands of currency points.
Jiang Jianming closed his eyes and took a deep breath, unable to bear to look directly. Lin Ge, on the other hand, glared with her phoenix eyes and let out a string of swear words that did not match her status.
And the culprit–Crown Prince Ryann was sitting diagonally on the high railing, facing Old Marshal Chen with a stern face.
From this side, His Highness raised his chin in pleasure and said something with a smile. Suddenly, as if sensing something, he turned his head, his wet golden hair reflecting the water light, and the glow in his eyes when he looked over was blinding.
Jiang Jianming’s pace remained unchanged, but the heart in his chest heatedly pounded harder.
He thought to himself: This person, the way he carelessly gets drenched in the rain is really good-looking.
