Jiang Hao didn’t have a household registration, so Li Xiao deliberately chose a less formal, privately-owned airline and paid double the price to smoothly board the spaceship.
There were no direct flights from N2781 to the Imperial Capital planet; it required at least five transfers. From here on out, every transfer required passing through strict identity checks.

However, given Li Xiao’s status, he didn’t need to take commercial flights all the way back. By the time they reached the transit space station, the spaceship sent by the royal family was already waiting.

On another spaceship heading towards the Holy Ya Empire, Song Jin finished changing his bandages, casually grabbed a shirt, put it on, and flipped through the intelligence reports sent back by his subordinates.
Qian Can buried his head in organizing the medical kit, not even daring to breathe too loudly.
Since returning from N2781, the boss’s mood was visibly terrible. He was scary enough usually, but when he was angry, he was even more terrifying.

Song Jin’s terminal suddenly vibrated. He casually answered it, and the holographic image of the black-clad beta appeared in front of him.
“Did you find out?”

The black-clad beta: “Yes, the ones who attacked Ghost Dragon were Raven, a rebel organization from the Danse Empire. Striking at the same time were the Snow Leopards, who are based on N2781. Their local strength is second only to Ghost Dragon. The one who attacked you was nine times out of ten a person from the Snow Leopards.”

Song Jin recalled the masked alpha’s combat skills, looking thoughtful.
“The Snow Leopards actually have such a strong fighter?”
Qian Can was a bit puzzled: “Someone who could fight to a draw with Your Highness, and who had no problem breaking into Ghost Dragon’s headquarters to take out the boss—how could they be suppressed by Ghost Dragon?”

Song Jin: “Are they still fighting?”
The black-clad beta said respectfully: “After Raven blew up Ghost Dragon’s three spaceships, they took that batch of gold bars and left. The Snow Leopards and Ghost Dragon are still fighting, but with Ghost Dragon’s top management missing and their morale scattered, the Snow Leopards have a great chance of winning.”

Qian Can furrowed his brows and pondered: “Are these Snow Leopards simply looting a burning house, or do they have another purpose? Why did they snatch the blood?”
The black-clad beta: “That is still unclear.”

Song Jin pulled up the intelligence information regarding the Snow Leopards sent over by his subordinate and stopped when he turned to a photo.
The middle-aged alpha in the photo was the very person who drove the car to pick up the masked alpha.
It really is the Snow Leopards?
But those combat skills didn’t seem like those of someone in an ordinary gang.

Qian Can suddenly thought of something and guessed: “Could it be that the Snow Leopards believed Ghost Dragon’s nonsense about how drinking that blood can increase pheromone levels and extend lifespan, so they got envious and made a move to snatch it?”
Song Jin shook his head: “Keep tracking them. Once the blood analysis report comes out, hand it over to me immediately.”
The black-clad beta: “Copy that.”

Qian Can searched the internal database, found information related to Raven, and couldn’t help but be shocked after reading it down: “Just how many rogue organizations like this are there in Danse? How can the Danse royal family just let them be? If it were our Majesty, he would have wiped out a hundred of them.”

Song Jin: “If you found a rat and an ant in your bedroom, which one would you deal with first?”
Qian Can: “The rat, of course!”
Song Jin continued flipping through the intelligence, saying slowly: “Danse is plagued by rats; how could they possibly have the time to care about ants?”

Qian Can cupped his chin and casually picked up an apple to bite: “With Danse in such domestic chaos, then even fewer people will have the time to investigate the matter of the blood.”
Song Jin: “Even if they knew there was something fishy about this blood, do you think they would properly investigate it? If they had that kind of execution capability, things wouldn’t be in such a mess.”

Speaking up to this point, Qian Can straightened up and looked at Song Jin: “Then if we slack off even slightly on our end, the blood could flow into our country through grey channels, which would be very disadvantageous for us!”
Song Jin: “The root cause is in Danse. To eradicate it, the Danse side still needs to exert effort. Otherwise, no matter how much we try to prevent it, we won’t be able to stop it.”
Qian Can couldn’t help but click his tongue: “To have such neighbors is truly eight lifetimes of bad luck.”

“My brother is still too merciful towards them,” Song Jin threw out a sentence lightly. “Once I succeed the throne, I’ll just bomb Danse flat, and there won’t be any of this crap left.”

Qian Can froze. The apple he had taken two bites of slipped from his hand and rolled straight into the trash can.
“…”
You’re not serious, are you?

Qian Can hurriedly grabbed a new apple and sycophantically handed it to Song Jin: “Boss, I know you’re very angry, but please don’t be angry just yet. Have an apple to cool down.”
Song Jin casually took it: “The Danse military is having a transition next month?”
“Yeah.” Qian Can took the opportunity to lean against the sofa and sit on the carpet. “I wonder if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will change personnel. It would be best if a few smart ones came. My mom is annoyed to death, complaining every day that that bunch of idiots over there don’t listen to reason.”

Song Jin thought about matters, took a bite of the apple, and put it back on the table with disgust: “It’s not sweet.”
Qian Can: “…”
That’s still not sweet?

–

Jiang Hao never expected that with one random hug from his brother, they would hug the golden thigh of the royal family.
When the spaceship landed on the royal family’s exclusive landing pad, his entire being was still in a daze.
The area where the royal palace was located had a typical desert climate, but because this was the royal family’s mother planet, the royal family had never considered moving the capital all these years.

Jiang Hao’s attention was drawn to the extremely luxurious palace. By the time he snapped out of it, he had already followed Li Xiao into a side hall.
The attendant who led them over respectfully said to Li Xiao: “Please rest for a while, Your Highness. Someone will come to notify you when it’s dinner time.”
Li Xiao scanned this familiar yet unfamiliar environment, running his hand across the low cabinet. His fingers picked up some fine dust.

He didn’t speak, just slightly lowered his eyes to look at the attendant, his meaning self-evident.
The attendant’s expression stiffened for a moment, and he smiled: “Apologies, the cleaning robots broke down and were sent for repairs these past few days. I’ll have them come over to clean immediately.”

“Prepare two bedrooms first. He will stay in the guest room on the same floor as me,” Li Xiao’s tone was flat.
Unable to judge whether he was angry or not, the attendant hastily agreed, left, and rushed to the duty room to find people.

Seeing the situation, a group of people in the duty room immediately gathered around to gossip.
“How was it? Did he really come back?”
“Not a single piece of news for so many years, suddenly coming back definitely means no good.”
“Does he look like His Majesty? He couldn’t be a fake, right?”

“What is your status, daring to discuss His Highness behind his back?!” The attendant vented all the anger he received from Li Xiao onto them. “Take the cleaning tools and go clean up the house. I told you to clean it long ago, yet you dragged it out until now! If the higher-ups investigate, don’t expect me to cover for you!”
The few people shrank their necks and ran off dejectedly.
The supervisor clearly said himself that there was no need to clean, and now that the higher-ups might blame him, he throws the entire pot onto us.

After everyone left, the attendant suddenly revealed a disdainful smile.
“What kind of proper Highness is one born from a second wife? He really takes himself seriously.”

In the side hall, Li Xiao pushed open the door to the bedroom he lived in when he was a child. The furnishings were still the same, just covered in dust, not quite the same as in his memory.
He walked over to the desk, opened the bottom left drawer, and dug out a palm-sized photo frame from under a stack of exercise books.
The photo showed a young married couple and their eighteen-year-old son; the youth was also holding a three-year-old child in his arms—this was him.

Li Xiao stared at the family’s smiles in the photo for a long time, then placed it back on the desk.

Hearing that the prince who had been away for ten years had returned to the palace made everyone up and down the palace tense up, observing His Majesty’s next move.
According to royal etiquette, even if they didn’t hold a grand welcome banquet, they would at least host a special cocktail party for the Second Prince.
But for three consecutive days, let alone a cocktail party, His Majesty didn’t even go to see him once.
The attendants discussed continuously in private, reaching a conclusion—His Majesty still disliked the Second Prince just as before.

Li Xiao was happy to have the leisure time, sleeping until he woke naturally every day, and even had time to help Jiang Hao correct his homework.
Jiang Hao, having grown up in a bandit’s den since childhood, had never even seen the ordinary people’s world, let alone royal etiquette. Besides the cold attitude of the people here, he was satisfied with everything.

By the fourth day, Li Xiao woke up early.
Going downstairs, he saw Jiang Hao doing morning exercises in the small garden and casually greeted him.
Seeing him holding something that looked like a gift box, Jiang Hao was puzzled: “Are you going out?”
Li Xiao: “Want to come with me?”
Jiang Hao: “Sure.”
He couldn’t play with his sword in the palace, and having finished a whole semester’s worth of homework, he was very bored.

On the 15th of every month, the admirals in charge of the various constellations had to come to the palace to report on their work.
Keeping track of the time, Li Xiao rushed toward the Political Affairs Hall of the main palace. As he rounded the corridor of the outer palace, he saw Meng Jian walking towards him.
Meng Jian was seventy this year. Considering the average lifespan of an alpha was 150, he wasn’t considered too old. Perhaps due to his background as a military general, his physique was sturdy and upright, and he walked with a vigorous stride, not showing any signs of aging.

As the two crossed paths, Li Xiao walked up with a smile: “Admiral Meng, what a coincidence running into you here.”
Meng Jian’s gaze swept over the somewhat unclassy gift box in Li Xiao’s hand and his civilian attire, and he asked indifferently: “People’s memories fail them as they get older. May I ask who you are?”
Li Xiao: “Li Xiao. His Majesty is my brother.”

Meng Jian realized who he was and hurriedly said: “Apologies, apologies, so it’s the Second Prince! When did you return? Why wasn’t there any news at all?”
Li Xiao waved his hand dismissively: “I just returned to the palace, and there aren’t many people I know. Seeing you feels truly familiar. I heard you’re going to take over the Tianjiang Constellation, congratulations.”

Hearing his tone, which was clearly trying to build a connection, Meng Jian smiled: “Nothing to congratulate. Being in charge of the Tianjiang Constellation is a heavy responsibility. At my age, I don’t even know if I can manage it well.”
“On the contrary, I feel that with your outstanding abilities and strong sense of responsibility, you are the most suitable to take over the Tianjiang Constellation. I think my brother must also feel very reassured.” Li Xiao made a ‘please’ gesture, and the two chatted as they walked.

Everyone likes hearing flattering words, and Meng Jian was no exception. Li Xiao’s stream of rainbow farts (flattery) made him feel light and airy, to the point where he didn’t even mind chatting a few more sentences with this down-and-out prince.
Jiang Hao followed from a moderate distance, completely placing himself in the position of an underling, taking the opportunity to learn Li Xiao’s skill in praising people.

When King Li Ji walked out of the Political Affairs Hall, he happened to see the scene in the distance by the garden where Li Xiao and Meng Jian were chatting happily. His face darkened right then and there.
“They have a good relationship?”
The special assistant was stumped by the question and answered cautiously: “Logically speaking, with the Second Prince having been away for so many years, he shouldn’t be very familiar with Admiral Meng.”

Displeased, Li Ji turned and went back to the office, saying coldly: “Have him come to the main palace for lunch at noon!”
The special assistant hurriedly complied: “Yes.”

After escorting Meng Jian all the way to his car, Li Xiao watched him leave, only to turn around and be notified to go to the main palace for lunch at noon.
He first took Jiang Hao back to the side hall, then went alone to the main palace, waiting there early.
After waiting for half an hour, footsteps sounded outside the dining room door. Li Xiao’s heart tightened.

Li Ji wore white everyday clothes, adorned with quite a few gorgeous accessories. This was a tradition of the Danse royal family; the higher the status, the more accessories.
In contrast, Li Xiao had nothing except for a pair of ear studs and eight silver rings clamped to the tips of his ears.

“Brother, long time no see,” Li Xiao stood up to greet him.
Li Ji sat down in the main seat before replying indifferently: “En.”
Li Xiao was long used to his cold attitude. In fact, the last time the two brothers ate at the same table was almost twenty years ago.

At the dining table, neither of them spoke.
Thinking of the scene in the garden, Li Ji lost his patience first and asked coldly: “You have dealings with Meng Jian?”
Li Xiao’s action of picking up food paused, and he said somewhat hesitantly: “I’m not… familiar with him. But Admiral Meng’s abilities are outstanding; many people around me admire him.”

Observing this, Li Ji suppressed his surging anger and asked calmly: “And what about you? Do you admire him too?”
Li Xiao lowered his head, avoiding Li Ji’s probing gaze: “Compared to the other four admirals, he is indeed more excellent.”

With a smack, Li Ji heavily slammed his chopsticks down, stood up, and left.
“Brother!” Li Xiao called out to stop him. “There’s a matter I want to ask for your help with. My friend’s mother is a refugee, resulting in him being born without a household registration. I want to help him get registered.”

Li Ji instantly recalled the youth following behind Li Xiao in the garden. His anger surged even higher, and he left without looking back: “Old Liu, get it done for him!”
The special assistant hurriedly complied: “Yes!”

When the special assistant rushed to the break room, he heard the sound of porcelain shattering from inside.
“Your Majesty, getting angry harms your health.”
Li Ji took the tea brought over by the special assistant, took two sips, and was so angry he smashed the teacup onto the floor as well.
“Suspend the transition process. Delay all handover work by a month, and bring back the document I signed this morning!”

The special assistant was shocked: “Are you concerned about the Second Prince?”
Li Ji: “Coming back right at the time of the transition, does he think he’s hiding himself well?!”
The special assistant’s gaze inadvertently swept over a document on the table.
It was a proposal sent over by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that morning regarding sending students to the Holy Ya Empire’s Central Military Academy for an exchange study.
The Holy Ya Empire had shown a lot of sincerity in establishing diplomatic relations over the years, it’s just that they had always given them the cold shoulder.

“Weren’t you just worrying about who to send as an exchange student?” The special assistant picked up the document and handed it to Li Ji. “Why not let the Second Prince go study for a period of time? Firstly, it prevents him from having too much contact with the Meng family. Secondly, it’s a good opportunity to observe the purpose of his return this time.”

–

For a person of unknown origin like Jiang Hao, trying to get a household registration was almost impossible.
But with His Majesty personally speaking up, astonishingly, all the procedures were completed in a single afternoon.
Looking at the terminal issued to his hands and the resident ID number in the information section, Jiang Hao simply couldn’t believe it was real.

Returning to the side hall in the evening, a group of attendants passed by, ignoring them entirely.
Over the past few days, the reactions of these people had grown increasingly cold; even Jiang Hao could see it.

“Big brother, you clearly have an exalted status, why is their attitude towards you so weird?” Jiang Hao couldn’t help but ask as they went upstairs.
Li Xiao: “A down-and-out prince who left home as a child and suddenly returned after growing up—what good do you think he could possibly be up to?”
Jiang Hao: “? What?”
Li Xiao casually replied: “Of course, only scheming to usurp the throne, right?”
Jiang Hao: “…???”
Is this something that can be said to me?

Watching Li Xiao return to his room, Jiang Hao went back to his own room and used his original terminal to make a video call to his brother, Jiang Chi.
Hearing that Jiang Hao’s household registration had come through so quickly, Jiang Chi almost burst into tears, repeatedly urging him: “Hao Hao, remember! You must abide by the law and be an honest, good citizen! There’s no future in committing crimes. Whether our Old Jiang family can wash our hands clean depends entirely on you!”

Thinking of Li Xiao’s remarks about usurping the throne, Jiang Hao found it somewhat hard to articulate: “Brother, I might already be on the path of committing a crime.”
Jiang Chi: “…???”
What the hell?!