「The next day」

When the news came that Belina had decreed a marriage between Louisa and Qi Jingshen, Yu Lan’s first thought was of the man in the mall—the one whose wicked, almost demonic, aura had washed over her.

No matter how she tried, she couldn’t picture what he and Louisa would be like together.

Huo Zhanting and the others, however, frowned slightly upon hearing the news. The current situation was on the verge of another battle for the throne.

Qi Jingshen’s sudden entry into the fray was tantamount to standing on the opposing side.

Huo Zhanting quickly began discussing their next move with Su Xingye and Li Yucheng.

Li Yucheng was wealthy, and now, for Yu Lan’s sake, he was pouring massive amounts of money into Huo Zhanting’s First Legion.

At the same time, the laboratories under his control began to be equipped with all sorts of advanced, cutting-edge technology.

Meanwhile, Jun Lin Yuan had the forces on Jade Star under his command prepare to support Central Star at a moment’s notice.

In this tense moment, brought on by the sudden news of the arranged marriage, only Shen Zueran remained in high spirits. He even unhurriedly walked into the kitchen to brew some tea for everyone.

"Lanlan, have some tea. There’s no need to worry," Shen Zueran said comfortingly. "Qi Jingshen won’t necessarily side with Louisa."

’He managed the Second Legion to be in no way inferior to Huo Zhanting’s First Legion, all without financial support from the Royal Family. Would a man like that be some simple character? His sudden arrival on Central Star probably means he has grand ambitions. I just don’t know what he’s planning to do, though.’

Shen Zueran furrowed his brow in thought.

Just then, a guard hurried in from the entrance to report.

"Your Highness, Marquis Yisha requests an audience."

’Marquis Yisha, Princess Louisa’s biological mother. Why would she come to see Princess Yu Lan?’

The guard, filled with confusion, bowed his head respectfully after speaking and stood waiting for a reply.

In the villa’s living room, Yu Lan was stunned by the news. She also couldn’t understand why Marquis Yisha would come to see her.

’Could it be that she hasn’t seen Louisa in years, and now, in a burst of maternal love, she’s here to knock me down a peg or two on her daughter’s behalf?’

Although she thought this, Yu Lan’s expression betrayed nothing. Instead, she smiled and nodded.

"Our visitors are guests. Please show Marquis Yisha in."

「Three minutes later」

Marquis Yisha, whose face bore a seventy percent resemblance to the current Queen Belina, entered the villa with her main husband, the renowned Marshal of the Ninth Army, Arturo.

In that instant, sunlight fell upon the pair, obscuring their faces. But Shen Zueran’s pupils suddenly contracted as he suppressed a tremor of shock. In that brief moment, he realized that even Marquis Yisha’s and Yu Lan’s figures were remarkably similar.

The next moment, Marquis Yisha and Marshal Arturo walked into the villa and appeared before them.

"Hello. I am your aunt, Isha. May I call you Lanlan?"

The moment she saw Yu Lan, a smile touched Marquis Yisha’s face, and her tone was gentle, polite, and respectful.

This stunned Yu Lan for a moment, as she had expected her to be looking for trouble.

It was just a form of address, so Yu Lan nodded. "Of course. Please, feel free."

Seeing the wariness in Yu Lan’s eyes, Isha felt a pang of regret for some reason.

’From the moment I first saw Yu Lan, an inexplicable sense of familiarity and closeness has sprung up in my heart, constantly urging me to come and meet her. In the natural world, it’s the kind of affection a mother animal feels for her cub. But... Yu Lan isn’t my child. My child is Louisa.’

In the unseen world, a bond that had been maliciously severed would naturally break through all barriers and reunite in an embrace upon their meeting again.

"Marquis Yisha, Marshal Arturo, please have some tea."

Shen Zueran, dressed in a white shirt and suit trousers, calmly brought tea out from the kitchen and placed it before them.

Marquis Yisha lifted the teacup to her lips and took a careful sip.

Only then did she speak again.

"I’ve come here about Louisa."

"I’m sorry."

Marquis Yisha said, her amber eyes gazing quietly at Yu Lan,

"You must have had a very difficult time recently."

"She must have caused you a lot of trouble. It’s my fault, and Arturo’s. We didn’t raise her well."

Yu Lan froze, never having expected Marquis Yisha to apologize to her.

The next moment, Marquis Yisha continued, her voice holding the wisdom and frankness of someone who saw everything clearly:

"This business with Garbage Star has everything to do with Louisa, doesn’t it?"

"Although they covered their tracks well, what’s done is done. No matter what, traces are always left behind."

"After the trial ended yesterday, Arturo and I went to see Her Majesty the Queen. We wanted to take Louisa back to Rose Star and never have her set foot on Central Star again."

"But," a trace of sorrow and confusion crossed Marquis Yisha’s brow, "Her Majesty the Queen refused."

’Yu Lan is clearly just as outstanding. There’s no reason why Louisa must stay on Central Star.’

Marquis Yisha didn’t understand, but she had already made her decision.

"The Empire does not need a queen who puts profit above all else."

"The Ninth Legion, which Arturo and I command, will no longer support Louisa’s ascension to the throne."

"Lanlan, if you need any help, you can ask us at any time."

"This is our contact information."

With that, Marquis Yisha slowly took out a gilt-edged business card and placed it in front of Yu Lan.

Yu Lan and the other males present were all stunned.

Holding the card with their contact information, Yu Lan stared blankly at Marquis Yisha and her Beast Husband as they left together, pursing her lips.

"Marquis Yisha truly lives up to her reputation for being wise and gentle," Shen Zueran sighed.

’To think she would give up supporting her own biological daughter’s bid for the throne and instead offer help to Yu Lan, simply because the Empire doesn’t need a profit-driven queen... So decisive and magnanimous. It’s truly admirable. If Marquis Yisha had been chosen to succeed the throne when the last queen passed away, what would the Empire be like now?’

Shen Zueran couldn’t imagine it. He simply turned to look at Yu Lan, his dark eyes instantly softening as he said gently,

"Keep this card. It might be useful later."

「Meanwhile」

Having walked out of the villa, Marquis Yisha was talking with her husband, Marshal Arturo.

"I don’t know why, but the moment I saw Lanlan, I just felt... I just felt..."

Marquis Yisha placed a hand on her chest, trying to find the words to describe the emotional surge of that moment.

Finally, after a moment,

even someone as noble and elegant as Isha could only use the most plain and barren of words to say:

"I feel like... she’s my child."

"I want to protect her, to hold her, like I would a cub."

"She must have gone through so much to get where she is today."

"Arturo, do you feel the same way I do?"

Marshal Arturo, whose charm had not faded with the erosion of time but had instead matured, becoming more handsome with an unfathomable presence, paused for a moment at Isha’s question before nodding.

This was a feeling they had never even had for their own biological daughter, Louisa.

Why did they feel this way when they saw Yu Lan?

It was like a treasure that should have been cherished in the palm of one’s hand, stolen away when its owner wasn’t looking. After being lost for many years, it had reappeared before its owner. A turbulent feeling of having recovered what was lost surged through their bodies, so intense it made their very souls tremble.