MORIC - Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Whose Secret

Xi Zhoumeng had asked to meet Wen Xinghuo to talk about Sheng Yangkui.

She had drunk too much last night and didn't remember much. This useless system of hers didn't even have an automatic recording function like the ones in novels.

"Is the practical training set, then?"

Wen Xinghuo asked Xi Zhoumeng.

The young miss seemed as if she hadn't eaten, ordering another pile of food and placing it all in front of Chi Yueshan.

Xi Zhoumeng: "I've heard this part already. I have no objections."

But was Ling Xun in the original novel?

She couldn't remember at all.

Xi Zhoumeng propped her chin on her hand, feeling as if she had read a fake book.

Wen Xinghuo: "Then I'll submit it in a moment."

Xi Zhoumeng: "What about the Princess? Is she confirmed to go with us? Did her people agree?"

Xi Zhoumeng looked at Wen Xinghuo, while Chi Yueshan was continuously being fed by Xi Zhoumeng.

She didn't understand the ways of the royal family at all, but that didn't stop her from thinking that Sheng Yangkui's life was exhausting. No matter how she looked at it, Xi Zhoumeng seemed the happiest.

But what did Xi Zhoumeng do before?

Chi Yueshan would never believe that such a person was just an ordinary office worker.

Wen Xinghuo: "She said it's no problem."

Xi Zhoumeng: "You've known her for so many years. Have you always contacted each other through normal channels?"

She leaned back. The atmosphere of the tea room was exceptionally serene, and the refreshments matched the environment well.

Xi Zhoumeng looked at Wen Xinghuo, her tone somewhat wistful: "I never noticed before that you'd managed to get close to the Princess."

Under the table, Chi Yueshan's hand stealthily pinched Xi Zhoumeng's waist.

Xi Zhoumeng suddenly leaned over, resting her head on Chi Yueshan's shoulder. "Why not just go to a knight academy?"

Wen Xinghuo: "The treatment and benefits are better for frontline soldiers."

She was very direct. For a moment, Xi Zhoumeng didn't know what to say. Instead, it was Chi Yueshan who asked, "Senior Xinghuo, I heard that Sheng Qiuyu... the second princess, is going to be exiled to a barren planet. Then the remaining candidates..."

This news wasn't deliberately hidden, but there had been no official announcement either. The academy students had already gone through several rounds of discussion about it.

It was never a big deal for a princess to be in a relationship, as long as she wasn't marked and bonded.

Once the Queen was chosen, you could marry whomever you loved, and no one would care.

At this stage, no matter how much you liked someone, you just had to endure it.

Wen Xinghuo: "There are only two people left."

The teacups in the room were very small, making Wen Xinghuo's hands look even larger.

She lowered her eyes to the surface of the tea, her tone firm. "If she becomes the Queen, I will protect her for my entire life."

Xi Zhoumeng subconsciously looked at Chi Yueshan.

Chi Yueshan had just stuffed a piece of matcha cake into her mouth and was using her hand to catch the crumbs, her face showing not a hint of jealousy.

Her tone was also very normal as she sighed, "Then what about you?"

Alphas with spiritual power of A-rank or higher had a duty to the Empire to procreate.

Being assigned an Omega was a common occurrence. If feelings developed, it was a welcome outcome; if not, there was nothing to be done.

Wen Xinghuo: "If your military rank is high enough, you won't be forcibly matched."

She showed no timidity, as if she had already decided who the Omega she needed in this life was.

"Isn't Marshal Shen single too?"

Xi Zhoumeng thought of the old rogue from last night's goose-tossing game, and then recalled something Xi Mingguang had vaguely mentioned before.

"She might have a partner now."

Before Wen Xinghuo could speak, Chi Yueshan let out a small "ah." "Doesn't the internet say Marshal Shen is single by choice?"

Xi Zhoumeng: "Matters of the heart are hard to explain."

She blinked, her eyes filled with a tenderness like spring water. "Just like you and me."

Chi Yueshan found this hard to handle and could only force a change of topic. "Then, Senior, why don't you just date the Princess directly?"

"Instead of getting involved with this person, Xi Zhoumeng..."

The previous dramas were simply too spectacular. This Xi Zhoumeng character acted as if she had taken on the persona of a scummy woman just to help Wen Xinghuo's love life along.

Although... although it was said to be to vent my anger.

Even though Chi Yueshan felt it was a bit unscrupulous, she also felt a small, secret thrill.

Wen Xinghuo put down her cup, refilled it with tea, and for once, seemed somewhat restless.

"I thought she didn't have those kinds of feelings for me."

Wen Xinghuo and Sheng Yangkui were very young when they first met. The Queen's reward was merely to have the Wen family bring her to the Upper World. The Wen family couldn't refuse and had no choice but to take in this illegitimate daughter.

For several years after that, Wen Xinghuo and Sheng Yangkui had to hide their connection from everyone.

Royal Omegas were privately tutored even for their schooling. They were only allowed out one day a month, and their daily lives were incredibly strict. However, retro trends were currently in fashion. Letters with wax seals, mixed with a bit of high-tech encryption, accompanied the revival of the pen pal trend.

Even the royals followed this trend, and many had one or two pen pals whose faces they had never seen.

Wen Xinghuo and Sheng Yangkui's daily interactions weren't on the holobrain, but as friends through pages and pages of encrypted letters.

Perhaps because Sheng Xinggui and Sheng Qiuyu both had many pen pals, it wasn't conspicuous for Sheng Yangkui to have one or two.

The most painful and agonizing time for Wen Xinghuo was when she was studying in the Upper World.

The sickly youngest child of the Xi family hadn't yet transferred to the new school and made Wen Xinghuo her servant.

But that didn't stop Wen Xinghuo from being the target of bullying.

She had nowhere to turn and no one to rely on.

Her family, only acting out of deference to the Queen's command, didn't consider her part of the family at all.

Those pages of letters, every single word, were practically Wen Xinghuo's nourishment.

On a narrow wooden bed in a cold attic at night, the words poured into Wen Xinghuo's body, one by one.

When she was hungry, she would open them to read. When she was cold, she would open them to read. When she was bullied until she was covered in bruises and couldn't fight back, she would still open them to read.

On them were intimate greetings.

Every letter began with "Dear Xinghuo."

Are you okay?

I... am not doing well.

I hate this crowded and cold house.

I hate the twisted students at the Upper World academy.

I hate the Wen family, whose empty noble title only brings me more discrimination.

And I hate myself.

I'm not pretty, my voice isn't pleasant, and even if I can differentiate into an Alpha...

...no one will like me.

But Wen Xinghuo never mentioned a single one of these bad things.

This was perhaps her only shred of dignity, preserved between the lines of Sheng Yangkui's every caring and lively sharing.

She would reply: I'm doing great.

I will live better than anyone else.

I'm going to climb up. What the Wen family can't give me, I can get for myself.

Thinking of Sheng Yangkui, Wen Xinghuo always seemed much more relaxed.

Her appearance was already special enough, and her height added to her imposing presence. Many people had to look up to her, but they never considered that she might be living at an altitude where the air was thin.

Chi Yueshan sighed. "She looks at me like she wants to eat me alive."

She said it very quietly, but with only three people there, it was heard very clearly.

Xi Zhoumeng sighed. "Yeah, she glares at me too. I always feel like she likes you so much she wants to kill me and Chi Yueshan."

Wen Xinghuo chuckled. "How could that be? She's very timid."

Xi Zhoumeng thought: How could a timid person fall in love with the one who beheaded her?

Wouldn't that make her a lunatic?

Chi Yueshan was also full of complaints. Previously, all her attention had been drawn to Xi Zhoumeng, her number one love rival who seemed like the main partner, so she hadn't paid attention to anything else.

If she and Xi Zhoumeng hadn't fallen for each other, the current situation would look more like Sheng Yangkui was reaping the fisherman's benefits.

"So how did you fall for her?"

Xi Zhoumeng asked very directly. She was also a little curious; there was so little written about Sheng Yangkui in the book.

Wen Xinghuo: "The retro social trends from before... you might not like them, but most people have had a pen pal at some point, right?"

She lowered her eyes, a faint smile on her lips, as if that was a rare, novel joy in her life.

"Reconnecting with her started with exchanging letters."

Wen Xinghuo didn't usually smile, but this smile was completely involuntary.

Xi Zhoumeng thought: Do I also have such an ugly smile when I think of Chi Yueshan?

Chi Yueshan: "I thought she was the one who was always fanatically in love with you."

Wen Xinghuo shook her head. "Her health is poor. Even if she can come out once a month, she can't meet with me openly."

Xi Zhoumeng nodded. "I get it. With the way she has ladies-in-waiting following her everywhere, the two of you would be put on a wanted list just for getting a room."

Wen Xinghuo: ...

Xi Zhoumeng: "Go on. I originally wanted to ask her out alone, but it's too much trouble. The royal ladies-in-waiting are all very annoying."

With nothing better to do, she took the rings off her own hand and had Chi Yueshan try them on one by one.

Wen Xinghuo: "You ask. I don't know how to start."

Xi Zhoumeng: "It might not be right to say this, but don't you think Sheng Yangkui's appearance back then was a bit too coincidental?"

As Xi Zhoumeng spoke, she opened her holobrain and pulled a folded newspaper from her bag.

Although technology was advanced, print media hadn't declined. The streets were still full of people drinking coffee and reading newspapers.

Xi Zhoumeng: "This is the news about the kidnapping case from back then. The one on the holobrain is a video."

After putting the rings on Chi Yueshan, she refused to let go, playing with her hand. It was hard for Wen Xinghuo not to notice.

After Xi Zhoumeng took off her gloves, there were teeth marks on the back of her hand.

Chi Yueshan really wanted to shake off Xi Zhoumeng's hand, but she couldn't get away at all, so she could only watch the video with her in a clingy posture.

"Although there are no loopholes in any aspect, and that day was indeed the time for the royals to go on a tour..."

"...and this trafficking gang also passed along the same route, why did Sheng Yangkui run over there by herself?"

Chi Yueshan clearly remembered that Xi Zhoumeng had been absent-minded when Sheng Yangkui was talking about it yesterday.

But now she was speaking so logically. Just how much did she remember?

And when did she find all this information?

Didn't we mess around until dawn before she fell asleep first?

Damn it, I lost again.

Wen Xinghuo watched it once. "A'Kui said she was attracted by a parade float in the park that day and got lost."

Xi Zhoumeng: "I know you don't care."

She sighed and turned off the sharing mode. "But you have your suspicions too, don't you?"

Xi Zhoumeng gave a meaningful smile. "Just like how you suspect me."

She thought: Is this love?

Even if the reborn Sheng Yangkui seized the first opportunity from Chi Yueshan, it would be hard to achieve the perfect combination of timing, location, and human harmony.

Yet, she was the one who caught Wen Xinghuo's eye.

Xi Zhoumeng didn't know whether to consider Chi Yueshan unlucky or if love was just that incomprehensible.

If it were the Chi Yueshan of yesterday, she might not have understood.

But the Chi Yueshan of today understood.

Wen Xinghuo suspected Xi Zhoumeng's origins.

In the middle of the night, Chi Yueshan had asked many questions and learned that this person had been sick right after she arrived.

She had heard from Xi Yang what Xi Zhoumeng was like as a child: wild and crazy, unwilling to learn anything, and not a sweet-talker.

After getting sick, she seemed to have come to her senses and no longer fought with her big brother all day.

Chi Yueshan was too stunned to even drink her water, staring foolishly at the two of them.

What does this mean? Could Sheng Yangkui be a transmigrator too?

Wen Xinghuo furrowed her brows, then took a deep breath and exhaled.

"I know that's your secret."

"And I've never been certain."

Xi Zhoumeng: "Then what about Sheng Yangkui's origins? Do you dare to ask?"

She revealed a gloating smile. "If she dares to tell you, would you dare to listen?"

She acted as if she knew something. Wen Xinghuo looked up. "You know?"

Xi Zhoumeng: "Then you have to answer a question for me."

Wen Xinghuo's feelings for Sheng Yangkui couldn't be faked. Chi Yueshan wasn't a fool; of course she could distinguish between liking someone and not.

Just like how she had chosen to pursue her even when so many people were convinced that Wen Xinghuo and Xi Zhoumeng were a couple.

Relationships have cracks, and sometimes you can take advantage of them.

Besides, love doesn't follow a first-come, first-served rule, nor does it listen to reason.

Wen Xinghuo: "Ask."

Sheng Yangkui and she hadn't spent much time together. Every time Wen Xinghuo tried to take a step forward, Sheng Yangkui would become flustered.

The little princess might not have gotten enough nutrition in the womb. She didn't grow to the same stature as her two older sisters, looking like an old photograph frozen in time.

Wen Xinghuo would occasionally be in a daze, doubting the other's reality.

She had wanted to protect Sheng Yangkui since she was a child, regardless of whether she became the Queen or not.

How could she even consider the knight academy Xi Zhoumeng mentioned? The tuition was so high, and she didn't have the advantage of free tuition for S+ spiritual power. Moreover, the Wen family was already in decline and had nothing to support her future.

Not to mention proposing to an Omega princess.

A fallen noble didn't even have the right to bring it up.

She only had one path to take: go to the front lines.

But the Wen family was despicable. They were unwilling to invest in her, yet they wanted to suck Wen Xinghuo's blood.

They wished she would marry a noble Omega early on, so the Wen family could be worry-free for several more decades.

The cooperation with Xi Zhoumeng was entirely mutual.

She couldn't even tell Sheng Yangkui, and besides, Wen Xinghuo had always felt that Sheng Yangkui didn't care.

She was already on edge enough every day.

Wen Xinghuo could keenly feel her fear of the Queen, even through the holobrain.

Several times, Wen Xinghuo had asked why, but Sheng Yangkui refused to say.

Her eyes would fill with tears, and seeing them, Wen Xinghuo experienced for the first time the cheesy feeling of her heart breaking. How could she bear to press her further?

Even last night when they were so close, Sheng Yangkui still gave Wen Xinghuo the feeling that she was treating this interaction as their last.

It was so precious it couldn't be replicated; even holding hands required a long period of testing the waters.

Xi Zhoumeng rarely had such a serious conversation with Wen Xinghuo.

She had been in this book for so many years, but you couldn't say the two were very close. Xi Zhoumeng wasn't used to being too familiar with people.

But you couldn't say they were distant, either. At least, for a long time, they had been on parallel paths.

Now, sitting together, they seemed like strangers to each other.

Seeing the two of them being so solemn, Chi Yueshan felt too embarrassed to keep eating.

She looked seriously at this pair of rumored childhood sweethearts and thought: How are they so unfamiliar with each other?

They're both such great actors, and they had me completely fooled.

Xi Zhoumeng asked, "If Sheng Yangkui didn't exist, would you have fallen for Chi Yueshan?"

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