Chapter 488: Chapter 488: Comparisons Are Odious

Shen Ningning had just told Xie Suzhi about possibly hearing her mother, Shen Siyi’s, voice in the Immortal Realm, and he, even more anxious than her, immediately invited Master Gu to their estate.

They had to get to the bottom of it.

Master Gu listened as Shen Ningning told him she’d heard a crackling sound.

His eyes lit up. "Could it be? Has Miss Shen found a way to connect the two systems?"

These terms were entirely foreign to Shen Ningning and Xie Suzhi.

"Master Gu, perhaps you could explain it more simply."

"Let me give you an analogy," Master Gu quickly explained, taking two apples from the fruit bowl. "Let’s say these are two people. If I put this teacup between them like a mountain, they can’t see or hear each other, right?"

Shen Ningning nodded, understanding at once.

Master Gu continued, "Now, I want to move this mountain, but I discover it’s too solid. So, I come up with another idea: drill a hole through it."

He pointed to the side of the cup. "Then I run a string through it. This way, even though the two people can’t see each other, they can hear each other’s voices."

Shen Ningning’s eyes widened in realization. "So, you mean that, to some extent, Mother is also trying to find us?"

Master Gu nodded emphatically.

"Miss Shen is an expert in physics. If she found an opportunity to return to the modern era, or even back to our post-apocalyptic world, she would surely find a way to come back here. However, breaking through the barriers of time and space takes time."

At this, Master Gu let out a long sigh. "With the technology of our era, we were a long way from achieving faster-than-light communication. Even our ending up here was a complete accident."

Shen Ningning immediately thought of the white light Master Gu had mentioned before.

She blinked her big eyes. "Could it have something to do with the Moon? After all, you were on your way to the Moon when you encountered that strange light."

Master Gu chuckled. "If only it were that simple."

But they had already studied it. The Moon’s light was just refracted sunlight; it had no unusual properties.

Xie Suzhi was even more confused by all this than Shen Ningning was.

He frowned, understanding only one thing.

Shen Siyi was trying to find them and come back, but it was incredibly difficult.

Xie Suzhi closed his eyes. "Fifty years... can she make it back in fifty years?"

’Even if the Spiritual Spring Water can extend one’s life, I’m already approaching middle age. How many more days do I have to wait for Shen Siyi’s return?’

Sadness flickered in Master Gu’s eyes.

"Chancellor Xie, I understand how you feel, but no one can say for sure, not even me."

At this, Master Gu sighed.

’Of course, I hope Shen Siyi returns too.’

’If she returns, it means I have a chance to go home.’

’Back then, when I was chosen to be an engineer on the spaceship, I said goodbye to my wife and children. I told them to wait for my good news, that once I established our new home on the Moon, I would bring them over.’

’But alas...’

’I’ve been in this strange world for almost thirty years. Can I really go back?’

In the hall, the two men who missed their wives sighed in unison.

Only Shen Ningning’s eyes were sparkling.

"I believe Mother will definitely come back! And Father, you won’t have to wait that long. Master Gu, if you want to go home, there will be a way."

The girl’s round, dark eyes glistened, reflecting a spirit that refused to be discouraged by life.

"Let’s wait for Mother together!"

Xie Suzhi was somewhat comforted by his daughter’s confidence. His sorrowful expression dissipated, replaced by a faint smile.

"Alright, Father will wait with Ningning."

Master Gu watched the father and daughter, united in spirit, and felt a pang of envy.

’I’m all alone, while Xie Suzhi has his children with him.’

’Sigh... Comparisons are infuriating.’

Just then, Xie Mingxu rushed home, his breath unsteady, looking as if he had been in a great hurry.

"Little sister, come to the Imperial Palace with me at once. We need to see the Crown Prince."

Xie Mingxu grabbed Shen Ningning’s wrist, eager to rush back to the Imperial Palace.

Shen Ningning’s heart skipped a beat.

’When I went to the palace yesterday, the Divine Doctor had already ground the Heaven Suppressing Pearl into powder. If it really could control Mo Lingwei’s condition, the remaining powder was enough to last him for three months.’

"Brother, what’s the rush? Did he have a bad reaction after taking the Heaven Suppressing Pearl?"

Xie Mingxu shook his head repeatedly. "No, after he took it, he woke up lucid this morning, and his headache vanished without a trace. It’s nothing short of a miracle. The Emperor is overjoyed and wants you to come to the palace and explain the origin of this Heaven Suppressing Pearl to him."

So that was why Xie Mingxu had been running so fast with such a grave expression—he was worried about Shen Ningning.

’Who would have thought the people from Changliu Country would actually send over a useful remedy?’

’We were just locked in a life-or-death struggle with them.’

’The Emperor will definitely be suspicious. Why would the Great Sun King suddenly be so kind to Shen Ningning? He must have some ulterior motive.’

It was often said that emperors are suspicious by nature. As a military general raised under Xie Suzhi’s tutelage, Xie Mingxu understood this principle all too well.

He was afraid that Shen Ningning would become the target of the Emperor’s suspicion.

Compared to her father and brother, Shen Ningning wasn’t worried at all.

’Uncle Emperor is as good to me as one of my own uncles.’

She immediately followed Xie Mingxu into the palace and explained the situation to the Emperor.

Mo Lingwei sat to one side, his face still faintly pale, but color had returned to his thin lips. He seemed to be in even better spirits than usual.

Ever since he learned the medicine he took was a gift from Changliu Country, he had been frowning deeply.

"There’s no kindness without a motive. They’re either villains or thieves. Give the pearl back to them. I don’t want it."

Hearing this, Shen Ningning let out a helpless laugh. "How can we give it back? Grandpa Divine Doctor already ground it into powder!"

Mo Lingwei’s thin lips pressed into a line. "Then give them back the powder. Send them away. Otherwise, I’m afraid they’re using my illness as an excuse to come after you."

Hearing this, the Emperor’s eyes showed hesitation.

’Cangyun Country only has one precious blessed girl, Ningning. We absolutely cannot let the people of Changliu Country snatch her away.’

But...

’My son’s illness needs to be cured. If it keeps draining him like this, I fear his life will be cut short.’

The Emperor took a deep breath. "Ningning, you’ve always been full of ideas. We wish to hear your thoughts. Changliu Country would not give us this for nothing. This Heaven Suppressing Pearl is only a three-month supply. If it runs out, will Changliu Country provide more? And what will their conditions be?"

Shen Ningning blinked her round eyes, her fair, delicate face cherubic. "I already thought about this on my way here, Uncle Emperor. Rather than clinging to the past, we should put our own interests on the table and negotiate with them in good faith."

"After all, the reason Changliu Country came to us with the Heaven Suppressing Pearl is that they knew we needed it. They must have their own conditions. And since it happens to be truly effective for the Crown Prince’s illness, this gives us a chance to negotiate properly with Changliu Country."

The Emperor pondered for a moment before slowly nodding. "We were thinking the same."

Thus, the Emperor decided to hold a private banquet three days later at Qingmeng Garden, outside the palace. Xie Suzhi would represent him and, together with Shen Ningning, negotiate with the envoys from Changliu Country, Xiuxiu and the others.

Mo Lingwei, of course, couldn’t bear the thought of Shen Ningning going to bargain with tigers. He wasn’t at ease, even with Xie Suzhi accompanying her.

’I’m afraid those despicable scoundrels from Changliu Country will use my illness to exploit Shen Ningning’s weakness, forcing her to hand over resources.’

"I’ll go with you." Mo Lingwei’s dark eyes were cold and sharp. "I’d like to see for myself just what it is they want."

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