Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 83
byChapter 83 The Little Wolf Returns
“Are you sure it’s here?”
With a deep, bone-visible wound on his head, Chu Jianhui’s expression was grim as he stared at the mine entrance before him.
“Confirmed. Nearly seventy percent of Hanxiao Star’s defense forces retreated here. Our brothers fought hard just to tear open a path.”
“Useless!” Hearing the phrase “fought hard,” and thinking of the originally overwhelming disparity in military strength, Chu Jianhui’s expression darkened further.
“Has that child been captured?”
“No news yet.”
Chu Jianhui frowned.
“No need to wait any longer! Taking this place is paramount.” Behind Chu Jianhui, a black-clad figure wearing a hood spoke, stepping past Chu Jianhui and entering the mine first.
Chu Jianhui instinctively felt something was amiss.
But thinking that his forces had already occupied nearly ninety percent of Hanxiao Star, and nothing should go wrong, he gritted his teeth and entered the dark mine as well.
Once inside, he realized it wasn’t very dark; lighting facilities were fully equipped, and there was a production line for mining and extraction that looked very advanced. Many already-cut ores were neatly stacked in large alloy boxes.
The black-clad figure ran a hand over the ores, like a greedy landowner caressing boxes of treasure, utterly intoxicated.
Chu Jianhui gave him a cold look and instructed his subordinates: “Move them out immediately, lest we face complications later.”
“Yes!” The subordinate took the order and summoned many people to transport the ore. Chu Jianhui, meanwhile, followed the black-clad figure toward the depths of the mine. “How much ore is left? Full-scale extraction—how long do you estimate it will take?”
“What are you afraid of, Marshal Chu? With so many men, are you still nervous?” the black-clad figure mocked.
Chu Jianhui’s eyes flashed cold, and he immediately grabbed the man’s neck: “Answer my question!”
“Everyone is within range.” In the temporary command room, Xiang Zhe looked up from the screen toward Lu Changqing.
Lu Changqing exchanged glances with Ning Tian, Shen Xingzhou, and the others, then nodded to Xiang Zhe.
Xiang Zhe pressed a button. Inside the mine, the lights above Chu Jianhui and his men suddenly flickered.
“Marshal Chu.” Lu Changqing’s voice echoed through the mine. Simultaneously, the heavy mine door slammed shut.
Chu Jianhui instinctively sensed danger. He and his many subordinates immediately stood back-to-back, forming a circle, on guard against the outside.
The lights above went out.
The mine plunged into darkness.
At the same time, not far beneath their feet, a grating sound began, eventually cracking open into a massive fissure.
“This is a geothermal well, but it’s rigged with 50 tons of high-energy composite explosives. Once detonated, the shockwave will transfer with maximum efficiency to the surrounding ore layers and geothermal fluid.”
“Marshal Chu, I trust you can imagine the consequences?”
Chu Jianhui sneered: “You think I’ll fall for any random trick you pull.”
“Then why don’t you send someone down to check!” Chu Yunqi, unable to hold back, spoke from beside Lu Changqing.
Chu Jianhui actually signaled a subordinate to descend the fissure and scout. Moments later, the subordinate reappeared, his face pale, and nodded to Chu Jianhui.
“Marshal Chu, how about you first order your forces outside to retreat and cease the burning, killing, and looting on Hanxiao Star?” Lu Changqing’s tone was steady.
Chu Jianhui clenched his fist, countering with a threat: “If anything happens to me today, not a single Hanxiao captive will survive!”
“You have quite the temper, Marshal.” Lu Changqing said, his emotions unperturbed. “However, our reinforcements are not far off. As for a dead man’s orders, I wonder how many living people will actually carry them out.”
“Hard to say. He wasn’t very effective even when he was alive,” Shen Xingzhou scoffed from the side.
Chu Jianhui’s face was ashen, but he finally restrained himself: “We are all family; we can discuss this reasonably.”
As he spoke, he was about to open his command channel to call for a “ceasefire,” but the black-robed man suddenly let out a sinister laugh and spoke before him: “Lu Changqing, are you willing to blow up this star mine?”
Hearing his voice, Lu Changqing paused for a moment, his hand tightening.
“Why aren’t you speaking? Surprised I’m here?” The black-robed man sneered, pulling back his hood.
Revealing the grim face of former Council President Lu Jingshan.
“You thought you could frame me and sow discord between me and His Majesty? Unfilial son! You harbor malicious intent, betraying both country and family. Compared to the Sirius Tribe, you are the true enemy of the Star River!”
What is he saying? In the temporary command room, several pairs of eyes swept toward Lu Changqing.
Lu Jingshan finished his sanctimonious speech and raised his right hand: “You have bombs? Don’t I?”
His finger pressed against a terminal, his eyes filled with malice: “If I press this button, your true face—your shameful appearance—will be exposed to the entire world.”
What… true face? Ning Tian and Chu Yunqi, among others, looked at Lu Changqing again.
Lu Changqing’s awareness was extremely sensitive; he could sense everyone’s gaze without turning around.
But his posture remained upright, and his tone was still calm: “I told you long ago, reveal whatever you want to reveal. Why wait until now?”
“Good, haha, you think I wouldn’t dare?” Lu Jingshan’s face was twisted. “Beast, you know what I hold. Do you think you can continue to be the revered Dean Lu, hanging high like the bright moon? Will anyone truly—”
Mid-sentence, Lu Jingshan’s voice abruptly cut off!
A flash of white shadow suddenly appeared, tackling Lu Jingshan to the ground. Sharp teeth instantly bit through his raised wrist!
“Ah!!” Lu Jingshan screamed, then abruptly stopped—
A massive wolf head pressed close to him, letting out a low growl. Icy blue wolf eyes, filled with the aura of slaughter, fixated on him.
The blood seemed genuinely frozen; no blood flowed from Lu Jingshan’s severed wrist. Through those eyes filled with cold killing intent, Lu Jingshan saw frost forming on his eyebrows and hair. Yet, he stared back at the wolf eyes and laughed maniacally: “Idiot, do you know what you love, you bea—”
The moment the last word left his mouth, with a bang, the Snow Wolf violently slammed him against the mine wall. Lu Jingshan’s body slid down the stone wall, motionless.
After the series of sudden events, the Chu family soldiers finally reacted, aiming their weapons at the Snow Wolf, which was strikingly visible in the darkness.
However, no one pulled the trigger.
Because Chu Jianhui spoke: “Everyone, hold your positions!”
“Marshal Chu is wise.” From behind Chu Jianhui, a tall, imposing shadow slowly emerged, holding a dagger motionless against Chu Jianhui’s carotid artery.
“It’s Big Brother He!” Behind the optical computer screen, Xiang Zhe exclaimed excitedly! Ning Tian and the others were equally thrilled, gathering around.
Lu Changqing was naturally delighted, but unlike the others, after the initial joy, he glanced at Lu Jingshan by the cave wall, then looked at He Chen, silently clenching his fingers.
In the mine, Chu Jianhui clenched his fists: “He Chen, how did you return? The Sirius Tribe—”
“The Sirius Tribe was not as formidable as the Marshal’s Chu family army and has been beaten back to their lair. A man who is utterly shameless is invincible. Your subordinate learned a lesson today, thank you, Marshal.” He Chen said calmly.
Chu Jianhui’s face was pale and green. He closed his eyes: Why bother with further arguments?
The tide had turned…
*
Chu Jianheng, however, did not believe the tide had turned.
In the imperial bedchamber, he lay half-reclined on the couch, pounding the bed forcefully: “Gather the troops! Continue the attack! They just fought a fierce battle; they are at the end of their rope now!”
“Your Majesty, they have Zero, who can fight a hundred men. And, and the He family rebels also have that new weapon, ‘Hive.’ Our side, our morale is low, and two units directly defected this morning…”
“Defected?”
“Yes.” The man’s voice grew softer. “The slogan they are using is, is one given by the Third Prince. The Prince says Your Majesty is frail and misled by treacherous individuals, forcing you to issue… absurd orders.”
“Nonsense!” Chu Jianheng’s chest heaved, nearly choking on a mouthful of stale air. “How dare he! How dare he! That unfilial son, he’s rebelling against heaven itself!”
“Your Majesty, Hanxiao Star is requesting a communication!” A court official suddenly reported.
“Do not connect! I have nothing to say to rebels!” Chu Jianheng angrily snorted.
“Your Majesty! Please take the call. Perhaps they are seeking peace,” someone immediately advised.
Chu Jianheng paused for a moment, using the suggestion as an excuse to back down: “Then connect it.”
On Hanxiao Star, during the waiting interval, Lu Changqing looked at He Chen and asked quietly: “Are you injured?”
Before He Chen could answer, the video connected. The two exchanged a glance and simultaneously turned toward the screen.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.” Lu Changqing said.
“Changqing, I misjudged you.” Chu Jianheng said, his gaze, heavy with venom and hatred, shifted to He Chen. “And you!”
“Do both of you deserve the trust I placed in you?”
“And does Your Majesty deserve the trust of the populace? Does he deserve the trust of the soldiers?” He Chen countered, his eyes sharp.
“What have I done to betray you? You were the ones who concealed the star mine and committed treason first!”
“Your Majesty, we are not talking about the current situation.” Lu Changqing spoke calmly. “The matter we need to discuss is somewhat confidential. Your Majesty should dismiss those around you.”
“Oh? What secret requires such measures? Lu Changqing, Lu Changqing, even now you are still trying to mystify me!”
“It concerns the Fire Lizard Tribe.” Lu Changqing said unhurriedly. “If Your Majesty doesn’t mind, we can speak openly like this.”
The Fire Lizard Tribe? Chu Jianheng gripped the bedsheet, coughed twice, and looked at those around him: “You may all withdraw for now.”
After they left, he looked at the screen, his expression so dark it seemed ready to drip water: “What do you want to say?”
“It might be clearer if we start with Marshal Shen’s incident.” Lu Changqing glanced toward Shen Xingzhou, who was sitting with Shen Xian on one side of the command room.
Shen Xingzhou looked through the video at Chu Jianheng, whose face was aged and sickly, almost unrecognizable, and sneered: “Forget it, I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Then let’s be direct,” Lu Changqing looked at the inscrutable Chu Jianheng. “We possess evidence sufficient to prove that the Fire Lizard Tribe invasion back then was a deliberate act of internal and external collusion with the Empire.”
“And the person who authorized this collusion was none other than Your Majesty.”
“Nonsense! What evidence could possibly prove that I authorized it?!”
His first reaction was to ask what evidence could prove it, not… to deny the event itself.
Chu Yunqi, sitting behind the table, clenched his fingers, his voice hoarse: “Father, why would you do such a thing?”
“Unfilial son, do you still have the face to call me ‘Father’?”
“No face.” Chu Yunqi spoke, his voice unusually low and calm. “Your son doesn’t even have the face to be a person, to be a member of the Chu family like this.”
“Hmph.” Chu Jianheng exhaled scornfully through his nose, looking at Lu Changqing and He Chen. “With a piece of evidence that anyone could fabricate, what do you intend to do?”
“Whether it is fabricated or not, the world has eyes and will understand.” Lu Changqing said.
“However, further instability in the situation benefits no one. We are willing to negotiate peace with Your Majesty—” He said, looking at He Chen, as if confirming his opinion.
He Chen tightened his fingers and nodded. The larger picture was more important now. If they continued fighting, they would eventually win, but at the cost of countless lives.
He took over from Lu Changqing: “We are willing to negotiate peace and destroy this evidence. Provided that Your Majesty admits that due to frail health and being misled by treacherous individuals, he mistakenly viewed the Han River Allied Forces as enemies and issued a series of poor decisions.”
After he finished, Lu Changqing added: “If Your Majesty is unwilling, this evidence will immediately be transmitted to every corner of the Empire. Along with Your Majesty’s actions of not only failing to send troops to resist the foreign enemy invasion but also secretly attacking our forces from the rear. Your Majesty values public opinion, so you must know the consequences of losing the people’s trust.”
“Your Majesty, it is not too late to turn back.” Elder Fang suddenly spoke—as Chu Jianheng’s godfather and teacher. “The Han River has Zero, the Third Prince, and the support of the people. Your Majesty should know that a single spark can start a prairie fire. Even the Chu family army is unstable now, let alone other bases. If you don’t stop, the result of continuing this fight…”
Elder Fang omitted the latter half of the sentence, earnestly advising: “Your Majesty loves his people like his own children. How could he bear to incite civil war and put the populace in harm’s way? Be magnanimous, treat the events of the past two days as a minor misunderstanding, and let it go lightly.”
Let it go lightly, let it go lightly… Chu Jianheng closed his eyes, weighing the true power he still controlled. A mouthful of bloody phlegm nearly choked him.
He coughed violently for a long time, and finally uttered the word, “Fine.”
Fine, fine. Stabilize them first, then he would plan his next move…
The video call disconnected. Chu Jianheng closed his eyes to recover his strength, then called people in and gave the order for the ceasefire.
When those people tried to consult him further, he was utterly exhausted and dismissed them, followed by another bout of coughing that felt like it would tear out his heart and lungs.
A maid cautiously walked in: “Does Your Majesty wish for tea?”
“Nonsense! Cough, cough!” Chu Jianheng started coughing again.
The maid didn’t dare delay, quickly pouring a cup of warm tea and presenting it. Chu Jianheng drank the tea greedily, supported by her hand.
Then he felt an extremely strong wave of drowsiness, and at the same time, smelled a familiar, unusual fragrance.
What is this scent? Ah, Consort He, that woman… Chu Jianheng lifted his eyelids: “Didn’t I confine you?”
Consort He curtsied gracefully: “I must see Your Majesty off on his final journey.”
What? Chu Jianheng opened his mouth to ask, but in those brief two seconds, he had inexplicably lost control of his body. His eyes could see, his ears could hear, but his body could not move.
Viper! How dare she! He stared stiffly, watching Consort He’s beautiful, gentle, and utterly harmless face!
“Your Majesty was gravely ill and passed away in his sleep. It has nothing to do with this tea, and nothing to do with your concubine.”
“After all, these are two harmless things…” Consort He said, shaking the teacup. Her hand, dyed with nail polish and emitting a strong, unusual fragrance, brushed over Chu Jianheng’s wide-open eyes: “Your Majesty, you are tired. Sleep.”
“Yunqi will guard this empire for you from now on. Although you were unkind and did not value Yunqi’s life, he is a filial child. Your concubine will certainly instruct him to prepare grand and abundant offerings for Your Majesty during the annual and family sacrifices…”
No! No! Presumptuous! Scoundrel!
Chu Jianheng was unwilling! Extremely unwilling, but amidst that intense unwillingness, his consciousness seemed to break free from his body, finally becoming hazy, leaving nothing behind.
His face remained calm and placid, truly appearing to be in a deep sleep…
*
“If the Chu family army truly retreats as agreed, the remaining issue is just the He family army.” In the command room, He Chen gathered the allied forces’ generals and opened the Pingliao Star Sector battle map.
“The He family army is already quietly collapsing,” Zhao Huai said loudly. “Many officers from commoner backgrounds like us have long intended to defect; they just needed an opportunity.”
“We just finished a major battle. The soldiers are tired. It’s not too late to rest before dealing with the He family.”
“I fear the He family knows we are tired and won’t give us time to breathe.”
“Capture the king to capture the bandits. No need for rest. As long as we capture Chu Yunlan, the He family army’s defense line will collapse on its own.”
…A group of people immersed themselves in discussion. Lu Changqing sat in a corner, silent, but his gaze occasionally drifted toward He Chen.
When He Chen looked over, Lu Changqing gave him a slight nod and walked out of the command room.
A moment later, He Chen also emerged from the command room.
“There’s been a change in the Capital Star.” Stepping into an empty compartment, Lu Changqing whispered to He Chen.
“What change?”
Lu Changqing leaned closer to his ear, lowering his voice even further, only vaguely mentioning words like “Consort He.”
A look of surprise flashed across He Chen’s brows. He looked back at Lu Changqing: “Senior Brother isn’t surprised?”
“Not surprised. But I genuinely wasn’t involved in this matter and didn’t know about it beforehand. I just had a vague intuition, based on my understanding of Consort He and the Emperor.” Fearing He Chen might misunderstand, Lu Changqing explained seriously.
He Chen nodded.
Seeing that he seemed to accept it, Lu Changqing’s tension eased slightly. He continued: “The irreversible damage of that ‘Hive’ weapon to Warriors is already evident. I will spread this information as quickly as possible. The He family army’s morale will collapse; taking them down is only a matter of time, so—”
Lu Changqing paused here.
“So what?” He Chen looked up at him.
His eyes were bloodshot from fatigue, but his gaze was still clear.
There was no suspicion toward him in his eyes, or anything else… He seemed not to have taken Lu Jingshan’s words to heart…
“So there’s no need to rush. They can no longer organize an effective attack. You—” Lu Changqing raised his hand, intending to check the small crack above He Chen’s brow bone, but remembering He Chen’s previous avoidance, he lowered his wrist. “You are tired. You should rest when you need to.”
“Just a little tired, I’m fine.” He Chen said, looking at Lu Changqing. “How about Senior Brother? Are you injured?”
“No.” Lu Changqing said. “Leyan is fine too, but he was a bit startled. He might need your comfort.”
“Mhm, I’ll go see him later.” He Chen said, tapping his fingers. Why did he feel like Senior Brother was being overly polite to him after returning from battle?
He knew this wasn’t the time to relax and think about such things, but, but he had returned victorious. Shouldn’t there be, cough, hand-holding or a hug or something?
Or, should he take the initiative? But he wasn’t very good at it yet…
“I have something I want to tell you.” Lu Changqing said calmly at this moment.
“What is it?” He Chen looked at him, his heart stirring. “Is it about—”
“But before we talk about that,” Lu Changqing couldn’t help but interrupt what He Chen was about to say, his tone slightly urgent but quickly calming down. “Before we talk about that, there are two important people you should meet first.”