Alright, now back to the original question.
—What was going on here???
The ceremonial salute completely dumbfounded Jiang Jianming. He turned back to look at Ryann; the Crown Prince was gazing at him quietly.
It wasn’t until this moment that Jiang Jianming fell into deep thought.
Perhaps, just perhaps, could there be a possibility…
Could these ships be welcoming… himself!?
The answer was quickly revealed.
Xie Yuduo appeared in hologram form and stepped forward. The Major General’s face showed rare solemnity. “Imperial Major General Xie Yuduo, representing all officers and soldiers of the Silver Big Dipper First Army, welcomes His Highness the Crown Princess.”
He raised his arm in salute and shouted. “SALUTE!!”
The soldiers belonging to the Silver Big Dipper First Army all saluted in unison, their movements precise, their expressions serious, without a single flaw.
In an instant, vast arrays of holograms filled the view of the starry sea, then disappeared.
Jiang Jianming’s scalp tingled.
But this was just the beginning. Next to step forward was Lieutenant General Jin from the Second Fortress. Due to the imperial army’s redeployment and the dissolution of the Lava Space Bandits who had long threatened the Second Fortress, he was able to come fight in the Crystal Nest sector.
“Imperial Lieutenant General Jin Min, representing all officers and soldiers of the Silver Big Dipper Second Army, welcomes His Highness the Crown Princess.”
“SALUTE!!”
Emma Lin was the only Silver Big Dipper general remaining to guard the rear, so she wasn’t present. Therefore, when it came to the Third Fortress’s turn, a middle-aged military officer stepped forward in her place.
“Imperial Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Carter, representing the Silver Big Dipper Third Army…”
Jiang Jianming could no longer hear the voices.
At this moment, only two words filled his mind:
Want. Escape.
This current scene definitely ranked second among the “moments in life he most wanted to escape from.”
Oh, first place would probably be that night in his previous life, at the Blue Mother Star official residence, when Little Highness Ryann forcibly kissed him.
If at this moment he could transform into a squirrel, a sparrow, or any small non-human creature, he would dive straight into Ryann’s arms, crawl under the heir’s outer garment, and play dead.
But the problem was that he was human, and humans needed to maintain face, with so many soldiers watching.
So the commander could only remain silent, maintaining a state of “appearing calm on the surface but actually just frozen” inside his mecha.
Fate showed no mercy for his system freeze, and Jiang Jianming soon saw another familiar figure.
“Imperial General Celine, representing all Golden Sun Wheel forces supporting the Crystal Nest, welcomes His Highness the Crown Princess.”
The woman in the Golden Sun Wheel uniform looked straight at him, “And, speaking only for myself, I express sincere apologies for my disrespectful words to Your Highness back then.”
General Celine’s temperament remained as proud as ever, stiffly adding. “This official doesn’t dare hope for your forgiveness. I will prove my loyalty to the Empire and the royal family through actions.”
“SALUTE!!”
Among the saluting Golden Sun Wheel soldier holograms, Jiang Jianming saw Zheng Yue’s figure.
His former deputy’s eyes were red, as if he had just been crying. Jiang Jianming’s back broke out in goosebumps. He immediately thought of Tang Zhen and Man’er, which then made him think of Chen, Luther, Tang Ren, and that group of old acquaintances…
Damn it.
The future looked pitch black.
So when Colonel Lin Zhi from the Golden Sun Wheel space station stepped forward, just about to complete his “salute”—
Jiang Jianming finally couldn’t bear it anymore—
“—Enough!”
He suddenly stood up, slamming both hands on the control panel.
Jiang Jianming raised his eyebrows and shouted coldly, “How long do you plan to continue this farce?”
His icy voice transmitted through the military channel to every warship in this sector, instantly freezing the passionate and excited atmosphere to ten degrees below zero.
“The Crystal Nest hasn’t even been breached, yet you have the mood for ceremonial salutes?”
“The Mother Nucleus is still hiding who knows where, yet you think you have the right to line up ships in celebration?”
The advantages of memory fusion became apparent at this moment.
If Jiang Jianming only had the Base Body’s memories, he wouldn’t have dared to publicly scold these generals so harshly.
But as Dawn Aslan, he had scolded countless people in his previous life. From white-haired old generals to arrogant noble sons, even His Majesty the Great Emperor would get scolded by him in the council hall when he made mistakes. This kind of scene was nothing.
And once Jiang Jianming started speaking, his heart strangely calmed down.
Although there was a billion-fold difference between expectation and reality, he had originally planned to cool everyone’s heads anyway, so this seemed to be back on track.
He shot a fierce glare at the Crown Prince watching the show beside him, thinking this account would be settled privately later.
Then he lowered his voice and said into the channel. “I understand what you’re thinking.”
“You consider me special firstly because I’m a non-crystal human, fighting while ill seems pitiful; secondly because as a member of the royal family, my presence on the frontlines is rare.”
“Most of you perhaps once sneered at me, then felt guilty after seeing me almost die in battle.”
“Today I want to tell you, there’s no need for that.”
Beside him, Ryann’s expression grew increasingly peculiar as he listened. He frowned, wanting to interrupt, but ultimately remained silent.
Jiang Jianming mercilessly berated this group of people. He started seriously, talking about how many disabled humans faced discrimination in the old empire era, saying if they felt guilty about each case, how could they ever feel guilty enough?
Soon he got carried away, his words becoming more unrestrained. From “If sleeping for a year at Black Shark Base warrants a fleet welcome, then the whole empire should salute koalas*,” to “Have you considered how much military salary and royal pension I receive? Getting paid for work is natural law, why do you need to worry about me?”
(*Koalas reportedly sleep more than eighteen hours a day)
Finally he said, “Never mind that I haven’t sacrificed anything, but even if I had died, so what? From emperors down to every nameless soldier, haven’t enough people died in the Crystal Nest!?”
“If anyone tries these tricks again, I’ll sign your transfer papers and send you back to the empire that very day, I don’t care if you ring bells for me in the Glorious Cathedral.”
After the scolding, Jiang Jianming slightly calmed his breathing and said coolly, “Whoever was responsible for today’s event, step forward.”
Xie Yuduo sighed, his hologram voluntarily stepping forward with lowered head. “Little Excellency, please calm your anger. This matter was indeed due to this official’s improper actions…”
Though the Major General spoke thus, his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Many soldiers here didn’t know Jiang Jianming was the Base Body, but he knew.
Xie Yuduo arranged such a grand ceremony to welcome not just Little Excellency Jiang, but also Commander Aslan, that non-crystal human who ignited the spark for the new empire yet remained hidden in the long night throughout his life. However…
Jiang Jianming said, “Don’t let this happen again. Everyone return to your posts, back to your duties.”
After saying this, he ignored everything else, treating even the Crown Prince sitting beside him like air. He directly pushed the mecha control stick and piloted the Crown of Golden Dawn toward the space station.
Xie Yuduo watched that retreating figure, secretly shaking his head and sighing again.
He thought to himself: Oh, Little Excellency, despite being someone with brilliant battlefield strategies and no stranger to schemes and tricks in daily life, today you’ve become blind to your own situation.
When people admire you, care for you, and spontaneously want to treat you well, how can you forbid it with just a “don’t”?
On the contrary, the more you say you’re unworthy and it’s unnecessary, the more others want to treat you twice as well. Isn’t that just human nature?
Today the Commander banned the visible gestures, but in the future, the invisible ones…
Xie Yuduo shook his head with a secret smile, turning to call the warships back to position.
In his heart, he thought: Can’t really blame him though. Dawn Aslan rarely appeared in public back then, never displaying crystal bones or personally fighting enemies in that era where military might was supreme.
Toward monarchs, he seemed more defiant than loyal; toward subordinates, more distant than close.
Yet such a person, after sixty-some years, could match the prestige of that god-like founding emperor among the people. Besides his unconsciously bewitching personality, there could be no other explanation.
…
The Crown of Golden Dawn stopped at the end of the mecha runway in the imperial space station. Jiang Jianming emerged from the cockpit, supporting himself on the edge as he stepped onto the ground.
Behind him, Ryann didn’t move, but gazed at him deeply and said, “Commander, have you considered one question?”
Actually at this moment, Ryann was thinking the same thing as Xie Yuduo.
He wanted to tell this Commander who was missing a screw in his head—
Have you considered, or could you try to consider?
People respect you, love you, even cherish you. Not because you’re non-crystal, but because of your ability, courage, and will to break destiny despite being a non-crystal race.
Not because you’re the Crown Princess, but because of your detachment, generosity, and kindness that remained unchanged even after becoming royal.
But Jiang Jianming turned his eyebrows and glanced back, snorting. “Your Highness doesn’t need to pretend. You had a part in today’s affairs too, didn’t you?”
Ryann then didn’t want to say anything more.
Hmm… might as well let his Commander stay confused in this dead end for a while longer, it’s quite cute.
So Ryann silently stepped forward to admit his fault, like a big lion with drooping ears and wagging tail. Jiang Jianming really had no anger left for this person now, softening his attitude after being nuzzled a bit.
They dawdled like this, even stealing another kiss where no one could see, before getting back on track.
From afar, they saw two Silver Big Dipper soldiers who had just come from another entrance, returning from the lined-up starships.
The two soldiers walked while sighing, their faces wearing dreamy expressions.
“Colonel Jiang’s scolding style was really something…”
“I know I was wrong, but I want to be scolded again.”
“…”
“Are they sick?”
Jiang Jianming found it utterly incomprehensible, frantically searching for his concealment device. “If the army needs psychologists, we can request more from the empire.”
Ryann lowered his head to hide his curved lips. “…”
See? Really cute indeed.
That night, the Golden Sun Wheel space station completed docking with Black Shark Base, and the army welcomed these researchers with a solemn ceremony.
These researchers and newly enlisted non-crystal soldiers would be stationed at Black Shark Base long-term. Except for some non-crystal individuals who could serve as mecha pilots and join the vanguard in the Crystal Nest after passing selection, they would not directly participate in combat.
Meanwhile, the military held an overnight meeting and reached their final decision after four hours.
—While preparing for a prolonged war, they would firmly maintain their offensive strategy, with determining the Crystal Nest Mother Nucleus’ coordinates as the primary task.
Afterward, Ryann and Jiang Jianming walked out of the conference room side by side.
Jiang Jianming was thinking about upcoming strategies, unconsciously slowing his pace and falling several steps behind Ryann.
Just as they reached a corner, he heard a familiar voice call out. “Jiang Jianming, you bastard, stop right there!”
Jiang Jianming looked up and stopped, indeed seeing Tang Zhen in Silver Big Dipper uniform, eyebrows raised, storming toward him aggressively.
Ryann turned back, “Hmm?”
“Jiang Jianming, you bas— Y-Your Highness!!”
Tang Zhen instantly cowered, awkwardly shuffling toward the corner. Ever since military academy days, he had been terrified of Ryann, and still hadn’t shaken off that shadow.
The Crown Prince, on the contrary, quickly flashed a smile and raised his eyebrows, leaving with: “You two talk.”
In an instant, Jiang Jianming and Tang Zhen were left facing each other.
It had only been two or three years, yet the two former military academy classmates had undergone enormous changes in both status and mindset.
“I’m sorry!”
Jiang Jianming started with his usual tactics, “I know I was wrong, forgive me.”
“Get lost, you don’t know shit!”
Tang Zhen laughed angrily, raising his hand to point at the other’s nose before dropping it, finally grabbing his own hair in frustration, “I really can’t with you…”
He took a breath, “Jiang Jianming, when the hell will you realize that when someone dies, their friends will be sad, huh!?”
“When will you learn to be honest with your friends, when will you learn to share the burdens you bear and let people help you carry them, huh!?”
Jiang Jianming lowered his eyes in silence. In his previous life, due to having to conceal his non-crystal status, he rarely formed deep friendships. Speaking of close friends, he could barely count them on one hand.
But in this life, Tang Zhen, Bei Man’er, Xie Yuduo, Zheng Yue, the Lance sisters… these people could all be called his friends.
There was also Gao Long whom he met on Beta Alien Star, his junior Kevin, Changze who claimed to admire him. And many others he’d met along the way.
Yet his mindset was still stuck in the past, accustomed to silence and endurance, accustomed to maintaining a certain distance.
“Being your friend is such a goddamn headache. Listen here, Jiang Jianming, don’t think you’re so special now with your noble status. Back then, this young master was the famous young master Tang of the capital, and I still hung out with you every day.”
Tang Zhen continued ranting, arms crossed and head held high, “Now if you think you’ve made it big and can kick this young master aside, let me tell you, no way!”
Jiang Jianming blinked slowly, saying softly. “I really know I was wrong this time, and I’ll try my best to change in the future.”
Usually when he wasn’t being sincere, he would just smile and casually brush it off with “yes yes sure next time definitely,” so it was rare for him to seriously say he would change.
“That’s more like it.”
Tang Zhen adjusted his military cap, grumbling awkwardly. “Also, I brag to others, and I’ll say it to your face too…”
“Even if someday you become the Commander, I’ll follow orders on the battlefield, but off the battlefield, I still have to call you Xiao Jiang!”
Jiang Jianming’s eyes softened. “Thank you.”
Tang Zhen waved his hand. “Never mind, just make sure you’re reflecting.”
“I am reflecting, and I’m changing too.”
Jiang Jianming: “Do you know about the Base Body project?”
Tang Zhen: “Yeah, we’ll be using it next time we go into the Crystal Nest… What are you changing?”
Jiang Jianming smiled at Tang Zhen. After checking that no one was around, he leaned in and whispered. “It’s like this, I’m Base Body 001, and I’m also Dawn Aslan’s consciousness projection. Just merged with the original consciousness yesterday.”
“So, the Commander position, I’ve already held it before. Telling you secretly, don’t tell others.”
…….
Ten minutes later.
Ryann had been lying lazily buried in bed in his room.
Hearing the door, he turned his head, saying somewhat surprised. “I thought you two would talk for a long time.”
“Couldn’t talk anymore.”
Jiang Jianming walked in expressionlessly. Casually taking off his outer clothes and loosening his collar, “Young Master Tang went into seclusion, in a state unable to communicate with the outside world… Let him calm down for a few days.”
