Third Legion.

Following the sudden movement at the border, Yi Anhe reported the situation to Li Ji at the first available moment.

Yi Anhe’s expression was exceptionally grave: “Judging by the received intelligence, the scale of Shengya’s troop deployment this time far exceeds their previous anti-crime sweep. Currently, the number of confirmed legions deployed exceeds one hundred, and regional legions from various locations are continuously pouring toward the Nanming Constellation border. The Shengya military has offered no explanation whatsoever for this operation.”

On another screen, Yi Yongning sat in his office with his hands clasped before him, wearing an equally serious expression.

“If Shengya wants to take advantage of the fire, the situation we face will be extremely grim.”

Yi Anhe glanced at the material beside him and asked his elder brother, Yi Yongning: “Should we have the military issue a public warning first to see if we can open a dialogue with them?”

Yi Yongning: “Arrangements are already made. Once the Shengya army crosses the safe zone, we will issue a warning immediately.”

Yi Anhe’s brow locked in a tight frown: “The border’s vicinity is entirely held by the Meng family army. To turn the tables, Meng Jian will definitely not obey the military’s directives. If the Meng family army lets the Shengya army in, over a hundred residential planets near the border will fall within Shengya’s strike range.”

Saying this, Yi Anhe projected a holographic image.

The image simulated the marching movements of the combined Yi-Gao forces, the Meng family army, and the Shengya army over the next three days.

If the Meng family army chose not to resist, it would be extremely difficult for the combined Yi-Gao forces to pass through the Meng family army to attack the Shengya forces; they would very likely suffer a full-scale counterattack by the Meng family army halfway through. Fighting to the death internally would allow Shengya to pick up an easy bargain.

Yi Yongning: “However, if we actively initiate negotiations with Meng Jian, the advantages we gained early on will be lost, and that old fool will definitely list a whole slew of conditions.”

Those with nothing to lose feared nothing. Having reached this stage, the Meng family no longer cared whether the masses lived or died; they were fully capable of allowing residential planets to be attacked by Shengya without lifting a finger. But the Royal Family could not.

At the thought of bowing his head to Meng Jian, Yi Yongning grew angrier the more he pondered it: “I’m afraid Meng Jian calculated that Shengya would move, which is why he could remain so composed! Old Zheng fleeing just now—was he trying to seize the Tianjiang Constellation amidst the chaos?!”

Yi Anhe: “From their standpoint, Shengya pressing the border is indeed an opportunity, albeit one with immense risk.”

Listening to the two brothers analyze the situation, Li Ji was in no rush to speak. Catching Song Jin approaching out of the corner of his eye, he gestured to him: “Little Song, Shengya has suddenly deployed troops—come share your thoughts as well.”

Eating the ice cream cone Li Xiao had given him as compensation, Song Jin strolled over unhurriedly: “What thoughts?”

Li Ji: “What measures do you think we should take?”

Song Jin scanned the simulation image floating in midair: “I’ll tell them not to rush in just yet—frighten Old Man Meng at the doorstep first, and see how he reacts before deciding.”

Li Ji thought as expected, nodding calmly on the surface.

The Yi brothers were left completely bewildered.

Them? Who did “them” refer to?

With the spoon held in his mouth, Song Jin dialed the channel number of Major General Qiu Tianhao, Commander of Shengya’s Second Legion.

In the popped-up video window appeared a handsome, middle-aged Alpha Major General.

Qiu Tianhao saluted respectfully: “Fourth Prince.”

Song Jin: “Press against the border line to give the Meng family’s watchdogs a lesson, then await my next command.”

Qiu Tianhao: “Yes sir.”

The Yi brothers, Old Liu, and the other officers present were utterly dumbfounded.

A Shengya Major General called Song Jin “Prince”?!

Doing whatever Song Jin ordered them to do?!

Everyone turned their eyes back to Song Jin, the look in their eyes completely altered.

Thinking back to Song Jin’s personal file investigated earlier, Yi Anhe suddenly understood.

No wonder no flaws could be found no matter how they investigated—so that was how it was.

His Highness the Second Prince went to Shengya once and straight-up married the neighbor’s prince back home. No wonder he was so tough and uncompromising when facing the Meng family.

Recalling past events, Yi Yongning could not help but feel inwardly shocked.

When His Majesty was on a tour, Shengya’s sudden troop deployment at the border for an anti-crime sweep had likely been orchestrated behind the scenes by Li Xiao and Song Jin as well.

Li Xiao had truly laid a massive game of chess, calculating against everyone without making a sound, playing Meng Jian like a fiddle in the palm of his hand.

A faint smile welled up in Li Ji’s eyes as he asked the Yi brothers: “Do you know what to do now?”

The Yi brothers acknowledged in unison.

“Everything shall follow your arrangements.”

Yi Yongning’s Office.

The adjutant handed the updated frontline and border battle reports to Yi Yongning: “Preparations to hold a press conference are complete!”

Yi Yongning: “No need for now.”

The adjutant was puzzled: “Have we established contact with the opposing army?”

Yi Yongning shook his head, a mix of emotions welling up in his heart: “In the end, this is still a young people’s battlefield. Old fellows like us ought to step aside.”

In scheming, tactics, boldness, and network connections, Meng Jian fell short of Li Xiao in every aspect.

At the beginning, he thought he was dealing with an unweaned wolf pup and held him in contempt, only to realize in the end that it was a giant beast far fiercer than himself—and by then, everything was too late.

At this thought, Yi Yongning composed himself and issued orders to the adjutant: “Keep an eye on the borders of Tianjiang Constellation and Zifu Constellation, and strengthen surveillance over all garrison bases within the territory. Report immediately if there is any movement.”

The adjutant bowed his head: “Yes sir!”

Civilian Space Station No. 991, Zifu Constellation.

Wrapped up tightly, Zheng Kang’an disembarked from the spacecraft, escorted by a group of subordinates through the VIP channel to meet up with the personnel sent to receive him.

His terminal vibrated. Hearing the news, the adjutant gasped in surprise, stepping up beside Zheng Kang’an to report in a low voice: “Shengya has deployed its army!”

Zheng Kang’an’s steps came to a sudden halt, asking in shock: “When?!”

Adjutant: “Around the same time you departed. The entire army is pressed against the border line, and just a moment ago, they bombed three of our warships.”

Zheng Kang’an’s face changed dramatically: “What is Meng Jian’s move?”

Adjutant: “Unclear at present.”

Zheng Kang’an’s mind was already in a clutter, and now it was completely tangled beyond sorting out.

Shengya was far harder to deal with than the Yi family army; if the neighbors were playing for real, Meng Jian couldn’t win without adjusting his plan immediately.

Should he attack Tianjiang Constellation, or go to Nanming Constellation to offer support?

After pondering for a moment, Zheng Kang’an simply sent a video call request to Meng Jian’s backup terminal.

Meng Jian was currently gathering everyone for an emergency meeting. Accepting Zheng Kang’an’s video call, he said composedly, “Proceed according to the original plan.”

Zheng Kang’an locked himself inside the VIP lounge, barking in a low voice upon hearing this: “Shengya has already fought its way in, and you still want me to attack Tianjiang Constellation?! Are you trying to hand Danse over to Shengya on a silver platter?!”

Meng Jian: “Rest assured, I have already made arrangements.”

Zheng Kang’an: “…”

How could he possibly rest assured in a situation like this!

When Zheng Kang’an hung up the call, his adjutant checked the time and reminded him, “Sir, the spacecraft has arrived and will only dock for ten minutes. We must hurry.”

Zheng Kang’an’s hand resting on the armrest tightened, and at the last moment, he stood up and left the lounge.

Just as the entire network was discussing this civil war between the Royal Family and the Meng family, the account of Legion Nine suddenly posted a new update—

【Emergency at the border! 236 Shengya fleets are about to cross the Nanming Constellation border line!】

【At 10:32 AM, Capital Planet District One time, Shengya forces bombed three of our warships!】

The atmosphere on the network instantly grew tense.

Seeing that the Royal Family held strong momentum with an ever-increasing chance of victory, this civil war had actually drawn the wolf from next door over.

More than ten hot trending terms—such as #Shengya Army Pressing the Border#, #Shengya Forces Bomb Three of Our Warships#, and #Shengya’s Intention in Deploying Troops#—hung high on the hot search list, with discussion volume exploding exponentially.

Under related topics, panic over the war continued to intensify.

“Help! Shengya, stop playing around! Interstellar war is no joke!”

“If Shengya fights its way in, it won’t just be the Nanming Constellation that suffers!”

“Shengya really harbours malicious intentions!”

“What do we do?! How about the Royal Family and the Meng family call a truce first and properly think about how to deal with Shengya!”

“Find a way to negotiate first!”

“If we fight Meng Jian, we can still hide in other constellations; if we fight Shengya, where can we hide?!”

“Our Second Prince is the daughter-in-law of your Shengya—can’t you give us a little face? QuQ”

Third Legion, Flagship Command Bridge.

Song Jin liked the last comment and couldn’t stop laughing.

“They want to sell you off to Shengya.”

Li Xiao had several holographic maps open, checking the Tianjiang Constellation border, the entire territory of Nanming Constellation, as well as the border conditions, saying faintly: “Wasn’t I sold to you long ago?”

Song Jin tilted his head to look at him: “Then will you return to Shengya with me after the war?”

Li Xiao: “Sure, I have to go meet the parents eventually.”

Song Jin turned Li Xiao’s face to make him look at him directly: “I mean you living with me long-term in Shengya.”

Seeing his serious face, Li Xiao casually said, “I don’t mind, but my brother would cry.”

“He wouldn’t, he—”

Midway through his sentence, Song Jin felt a powerful gaze. Turning his head, he saw Li Ji staring at him unblinkingly.

Song Jin: “…”

This damn brother-con.

Li Xiao: “Besides, if you live in Shengya long-term, you won’t get to eat Danse’s desserts.”

When Song Jin thought about it, that was indeed true.

“Then we’ll come stay in Danse on weekends in the future.”

Li Xiao: “Can you endure it?”

Song Jin: “On weekdays, I can send dedicated personnel to fetch them from Danse every day. Opening a special express line will allow a same-day round trip.”

Li Xiao patted his head: “…”

Opening a dedicated flight route just for snacks—truly worthy of a spoiled cat-child.

Over there, Li Ji cupped his chin and stared at the young couple, terrified his younger brother would be lured away.

His terminal suddenly vibrated. Seeing it was Meng Jian, Li Ji picked it up casually.

In the popped-up video window appeared Meng Jian’s old face.

The tiny bit of respect Meng Jian usually feigned was completely gone; looking at Li Ji through the screen, his eyes were filled entirely with arrogance and hostility.

“Your Majesty, Shengya has fought its way in—don’t tell me you haven’t received news yet?”

Li Ji unhurriedly lifted his teacup to sip: “So what? Isn’t guarding the border your duty?”

Meng Jian: “As long as you publicly announce an end to this farce, I will immediately deploy troops to drive away the enemy.”

“An end?”

Li Ji raised his eyes to look straight into Meng Jian’s eyes. “Do you mean you’ll obediently surrender and accept legal sanctions?”

Meng Jian: “I am unaware of what laws I have broken that require accepting sanctions. On the contrary, with Shengya pressing the border, if I do not send troops to stop them, hundreds of residential planets will instantly be engulfed in flames of war.”

Li Ji narrowed his eyes slightly: “Are you threatening me?”

Meng Jian: “I am merely stating the current situation truthfully.”

“Meng Jian!”

Li Ji set down his teacup heavily, shouting in a low voice, “Is this your attitude when suing for peace?!”

The teacup shattered with a clatter, scorching tea dripping from the edge of the table and soaking the hem of Li Ji’s clothes.

Seeing Li Ji enraged, Meng Jian’s terrible mood improved, assuming a dominant, overbearing posture: “Shengya’s army is about to enter our borders, leaving you little time to think. I presume you won’t leave the border residents to their fate, right?”

“I presume General Meng won’t leave the border residents to their fate either, right?” Li Xiao walked over to the left side of Li Ji’s seat.

Meng Jian raised his eyes to look at Li Xiao, his face turning cold: “Then that depends on when you think things through clearly.”

Li Xiao: “What do you want us to think through?”

Meng Jian: “Shengya’s purpose needs no elaboration. Right now is not the time for civil war; we should unite against external foes, driving out foreign enemies before settling internal disputes.”

Li Xiao: “Even if Shengya fights its way in, they will hit you first. For the Royal Family, nothing could be better.”

Meng Jian nodded: “So you mean you’ll leave the border’s residential planets unattended?”

Li Xiao: “Who said Shengya will definitely attack residential planets? Even if they want to seize territory, aren’t the garrisoned legions the first to be driven out?”

Meng Jian: “You certainly have confidence. I just don’t know if the people at the border have as much confidence as you do.”

“I have always had great confidence in my own judgment.”

Li Xiao looked down at Meng Jian, his cold voice betraying no emotion: “I’ll give you two paths: surrender now, or surrender after being beaten to a pulp by Shengya.”

“In your dreams!”

Meng Jian barked, “If I am defeated, do you think you can withstand Shengya’s grand army with just your tiny force? Aren’t you being far too naive?”

Li Xiao: “The troops in the Zifu Constellation haven’t moved yet. Reassisting them over won’t take much time either.”

Meng Jian let out a calm, composure-filled cold laugh: “Do you really think you still have usable troops in your hands?”

Just as he finished speaking, an urgent voice echoed from Li Ji’s side across the screen.

“Your Majesty, terrible news! A fight has broken out at the Zifu Constellation border! After that old immortal Zheng Kang’an fled, he turned around and attacked Tianjiang Constellation!”

Li Xiao thought the voice sounded a bit familiar. Turning his head to look, Song Jin was standing outside the camera’s capture range, continuing in a different, disguised voice: “Urgent dispatch from the Nanming Constellation border! The Shengya legion has expanded to three hundred and twenty fleets! The warships they’re using are more advanced than ours—if this continues, we really won’t be able to hold out!”

Li Xiao: “…”

Song Jin used a third, crude voice to curse loudly: “Damn it! Is Shengya set on launching a war of aggression?! Absolutely shameless!”

Li Xiao: “…”

Li Ji could not help but glance sideways: “…”

“…” Old Liu kept his head bowed, not daring to let his gaze wander.

Song Jin used a fourth, frail and anxious voice to say urgently: “What do we do?! If war breaks out simultaneously in Tianjiang Constellation and Nanming Constellation, we won’t be able to take it! Should we consider General Meng’s proposal? Right now there’s no better way!”

Li Xiao: “…”

This rich variety of expressions is so cute—I really want to pinch his cheek.

On the other end of the screen, Meng Jian grew increasingly triumphant: “I’ll give you one hour to think. This is your final chance to negotiate with me.”

Li Xiao’s expression grew solemn.

With a dark face, Li Ji slammed his hand heavily onto the table, standing up and roaring in fury: “Meng Jian! Don’t push it too far!”

Looking at the Li brothers who had finally lost their composure, Meng Jian felt in an exceptionally splendid mood.

Shengya was indeed coming on strong, but for him, it served as a great opportunity—an opportunity to defeat the Royal Family while simultaneously winning back his reputation.

After hanging up the video call, Song Jin strolled over unhurriedly: “Fools—far easier to trick than my old man.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Why compare Meng Jian to him?

Shedding his enraged posture from earlier, Li Ji stood calmly, allowing Old Liu to wipe his wet hem: “You acted well.”

Song Jin rested an arm on Li Xiao’s shoulder: “Learned it from him.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Shifting the blame to him again.

Song Jin: “No contact from Gao Wanxin?”

Li Ji: “I asked—he also wants a truce with Meng Jian to deal with Shengya’s forces first.”

Song Jin looked at Li Xiao with a smile: “What he will do can be tested out immediately. You haven’t forgotten the bet we made, have you?”

Li Xiao’s gaze swept over the raised corners of his lips: “As long as you haven’t forgotten, that’s enough.”

Song Jin snorted lightly: “Don’t be too confident.”

Li Xiao: “That’s very difficult.”

Song Jin: “…”

Legion Seventy-Two.

After ending the video call with Li Ji, Meng Jian contacted Gao Wanxin once more.

“Li Ji can’t hold out and will agree to a truce shortly. When that time comes, take advantage of the chaos to eliminate them, and shift the blame onto Shengya.”

Gao Wanxin’s face betrayed neither joy nor anger: “That isn’t hard to do. The key is that Shengya’s forces aren’t easy to deal with.”

“We can deploy garrison troops from the other four constellations over. At worst, we cede a portion of planets—it’s no big deal. No matter how strong Shengya is, it’s impossible for them to swallow all of Danse in one bite.”

Meng Jian spoke in a relaxed tone, “As long as we kill Li Xiao and Li Ji, our plan is more than half successful.”

With Zheng Kang’an keeping an eye on Tianjiang Constellation, the Yi family army’s support won’t make it over. Even if the Li brothers want to flee halfway, the Gao family army will block their retreat.

From the moment they set foot in Nanming Constellation, they were destined to never return.

Gao Wanxin: “Having reached this point, we can only do this.”

Meng Jian said with confidence: “Rest assured, I won’t mistreat an ally.”

After hanging up, Meng Jian gestured to his adjutant: “Has the announcement been issued?”

Adjutant: “Issued. The results are highly ideal.”

Saying this, the adjutant opened the Lingfeng network platform.

Using Meng Jian’s personal account, the adjutant had published a long post, summarized in one phrase: Call a truce and unite against external foes.

Uncharacteristically, there were no insults beneath this post; the top comments were all supportive, praising Meng Jian’s righteousness.

Coupled with the operation of paid internet trolls, the comment section was harmony itself, bearing the grand posture of a “Return of the God of War.”

Meng Jian watched the border situation while waiting for time to pass.

Half an hour later, the adjutant reported urgently: “Li Ji posted a new update!”

In a good mood, Meng Jian checked it, but when he saw the content of the update, his expression changed violently.

Li Ji: 【Everyone, no need to panic. Shengya’s forces are reinforcements requested by the Royal Family @Song Yu.】

A short single sentence stirred up monstrous waves across the network.

Within minutes, the comment section exploded.

“Turns out it was this kind of development?! I almost had a heart attack!”

“Hahahahaha dying of laughter! Meng Jian: Let’s call a truce and fight them together. The Royal Families of both empires: It’s us fighting you together.“

“Real or fake?! Isn’t Shengya here to take advantage of the fire?”

“Suspecting His Majesty’s account was hacked QuQ, seeking verification, waiting online, very anxious!”

“So they’re here to beat the Meng family army?! No wonder they bombed three of the Meng family’s warships right off the bat, hahahaha!”

“Are the relations between the two Royal Families this good now?”

“Still a bit worried—what if Shengya feigns compliance while secretly invading under the guise of offering support?”

“Your Majesty, Shengya cannot be trusted!”

Meng Jian’s ears buzzed, his mind a complete mess. For a moment, he couldn’t tell whether this update posted by Li Ji was real or fake.

Li Ji borrowing troops from Shengya? How could that be possible?!

If it was truly reinforcements called by Li Ji, why did he perform like that in the video call just now—

Meng Jian’s heart skipped a beat.

Was he fooled?

The Li brothers teamed up to fool him?!

Meng Jian reacted abruptly, quickly verifying the situation in Tianjiang Constellation.

After Zheng Kang’an departed, his personnel had already begun taking action.

By this time, the Intelligence Bureau had likely reported all movements to the Royal Family.

The shortage of troops was fake.

Using Danse to make up numbers was fake.

Mixing special forces into Danse to create mystery was also meant to divert his attention.

Everything was done to force him to reveal his bottom cards.

He had underestimated his enemy once again.

Clearly, after the S1301 operation went wrong, he had already sensed something, yet he had consistently believed the Li brothers couldn’t pull it off, refusing to believe it.

“Father!”

Meng Zai strode into the conference area, switching his open screen to public mode for him, saying almost through gritted teeth, “The Shengya Royal Family responded!”

Meng Jian snapped his head up.

Displayed on screen was Shengya’s network platform, where King Song Yu of the Shengya Empire had published a new update.

【Strategic Cooperative Partner @Li Ji】

Immediately following, the Shengya military released a live video stream of a press conference.

Military Spokesperson: “Major General Meng Jian of the Danse Empire and his family have employed various biochemical weapons over the past century, launching large-scale massacres and assassinations against dozens of races, resulting in over a hundred million casualties. They secretly colluded with our nation’s Major General Lin Quan to conduct illegal human experimentation, tricking ordinary people into becoming test subjects and causing physical mutations in hundreds of thousands, turning them into tools for their usurpation of power. Such actions pierce the bottom line of humanity—appalling and committing monstrous crimes.”

“For many years, our Royal Family has paid close attention to the field of illegal human research, maintaining zero tolerance toward related illegal crimes. To protect our domestic populace from illegal harm, we have decided to cooperate with the Danse Empire’s Royal Family to jointly arrest Meng Jian and his faction. The military actively responds and will render necessary support to the Danse Royal Family in subsequent operations…”

Meng Jian was stunned, unable to utter a word for a long time.

“What’s going on?!”

Meng Zai was thoroughly baffled.

If Shengya was taking advantage of the fire, he had anticipated it, but for Shengya to send troops to help Li Ji and the others—how was he supposed to make sense of this?!

No matter how one looked at it, Shengya and Danse were nowhere near close enough for this!

Lin Xu asked anxiously, “Could it be related to Li Xiao? Song Jin is a Shengya citizen.”

Meng Jian’s heart twitched as a thought flashed across his mind quickly.

Meng Zai: “Just a minor noble—how could he have such immense capability?”

Lin Xu thought for a moment: “Perhaps Li Xiao sought help from Shengya, and Shengya pretended to agree on the surface, but actually wants to take the opportunity to move against Danse?”

“There is that possibility.”

Meng Zai felt exceedingly troubled, “Then what do we do? The Royal Family has publicly announced Shengya as an ally, so we can’t deploy garrison troops from other constellations, nor do we know how many troops Shengya will send. Continuing to hold the border means taking a beating.”

Meng Jian clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, saying with a taut face to his adjutant: “Direct public opinion to portray Shengya as untrustworthy! Put pressure on the Royal Family to disintegrate their alliance!”

Meng Zai: “How could it be so easy to disintegrate?”

Meng Jian: “Even if the alliance isn’t canceled temporarily, it doesn’t matter. Once Li Xiao and Li Ji die, as long as we hold the moral high ground, we can deploy garrison forces to deal with Shengya’s army.”

In this way, it aligned with his original plan.

It was just that the role originally played by Danse was now replaced by Shengya.

However, just as the adjutant nodded in agreement, he saw a new update with over a hundred million heat pop up on the automatically refreshed screen.

“The Shengya Royal Family posted an update!”

Meng Jian, father and son, looked over. Their pupils shrank simultaneously, their expressions turning extremely hideous.

【Our cutest Fourth Prince has reached adulthood! According to Royal custom, we release eighteen photos of him from birth to adulthood. Remember to click the original image to save! @Song Jin】

Eighteen photos, spanning from birth to eighteen years of age.

The first photo was taken in a hospital. Former King Song Zheng held an infant in one arm while holding hands with his partner, Shen Sinian.

The tiny baby in his arms possessed soft, light-golden hair, large eyes with long eyelashes, staring dunt-like at the camera, looking even more exquisite than a doll.

The second photo was taken in a garden of the Shengya Royal Palace. One-year-old Song Jin sat inside a baby mecha Rong Shi had built for him, intently staring at a swarm of butterflies five meters away like a kitten learning to hunt, his chubby face revealing a touch of stubbornness and murderous intent.

It was just that this “ferocious” expression was overly cute, lacking a shred of intimidation, causing Song Yu standing nearby to burst out laughing.

The third photo was taken on the Snow Planet. Two-year-old Song Jin wore cat-themed winter clothing, chasing Song Zheng with a snowball while his cheeks burned red. The snow reached up to his calves, making running clumsily a huge effort. His padded coat and fluffy hat were already covered in snow, making it look like he had taken quite a few tumbles earlier.

Running ahead, Song Zheng turned his head back, seemingly checking if the little cub had fallen down.

…

From cub to adulthood, eighteen photos bore witness to Song Jin’s growth.

Immediately after, King Song Yu retweeted this update posted by the official Royal account, captioning it—

【My youngest brother @Song Jin is currently in Danse. The ceremony originally scheduled for next month is postponed; the new time will be announced separately.】

The entire nation of Shengya was shocked.

The trending term #Song Jin Fourth Prince# rapidly topped the hot searches, its heat several times higher than that of Shengya supporting Danse.

Under related topics—

“Ahhhhh? Song Jin is the Fourth Prince?!”

“Song Jin?! The Song Jin I know?!”

“The baby is so cute wwww, are there any more photos in stock, please release more!”

“My idol is actually His Highness the Prince?!”

“No wonder I couldn’t win Song Jin over—finally found the reason (dog head)”

“Wait, Song Jin is married to Danse’s Second Prince, so we’re in-laws with the neighbor?!”

“Holy crap! Does Li Xiao know Song Jin is a prince?!”

“Where will the two princes belong in the future? Is Li Xiao marrying into Shengya, right?!”

Let alone Shengya, Danse’s network exploded as well.

The sudden arrival of Shengya’s forces as support—even if stated by Li Ji himself—was still disbelieved by many, who frantically warned of Shengya’s danger beneath Li Ji’s update.

Yet who could have imagined that Song Jin was actually Shengya’s Fourth Prince!

Song Jin was Second Prince Li Xiao’s partner, recognized by everyone as Danse’s daughter-in-law, who had personally fought for the Royal Family since the civil war began with incredible strength.

If this layer of relationship with Song Jin existed, Shengya’s sudden deployment of troops was entirely understandable.

Third Legion.

At the command seat, Li Ji had long guessed Song Jin’s identity and wasn’t surprised by this. However, upon seeing a comment reading “Song Jin is actually His Majesty’s biological brother of the same father and mother,” he felt as if an arrow had struck his knee, unable to calm down for a long time.

He couldn’t fathom what his father had been thinking back then.

Even if he wanted to improve the genetic pool, he could have fused Wei Feng’s genes with his own; why did he insist on using his uncle’s, making him and Li Xiao brothers with different fathers and mothers?

Old Liu placed newly brewed tea before Li Ji. Seeing him holding his chin looking somewhat depressed, he scanned the screen and whispered: “His Highness the Second Prince treats you as a biological brother.”

Li Ji: “Do I need you to tell me that?”

Old Liu: “…”

Then what do you still have to be depressed about?

In front of the monitoring console not far away, Li Xiao saved those eighteen photos and asked Song Jin: “Are there any more?”

Song Jin: “What, photos?”

Li Xiao nodded: “Every single one counts—I want them all.”

Song Jin: “You like them?”

Li Xiao: “Mm.”

Song Jin smiled: “Me or the photos—which do you like more?”

Li Xiao: “…”