The warships on the military planets weren't actually too far away; they were at a safe distance, allowing them to both provide support or retreat as needed.

It took the Imperial fleet a day and a half to rendezvous with the fleets within the star system.

They were given firsthand information about the battle against the Star Beasts via video.

Everyone had a lot of questions, requiring a meeting to resolve them all.

However, some aspects of Blue Star's situation had been previously discussed between Xing and Erya. Since Blue Star had never publicly disclosed specific details about its own planet, it would be inappropriate for them to reveal such information on Blue Star's behalf at this time.

Therefore, it can only be said that the representatives from other planets got the picture, but not the details.

When asked about parts they didn’t understand, Shi Xing didn't provide answers.

However, in any case, the most important news is that the King Beast has been destroyed.

From now on, the twin star system will no longer be shrouded in the fear of being retaliated against by this star beast, and would be ready to fight at any time.

Taking this opportunity, Chi Yao also discussed with various military planets the issue of reducing the number of outposts along the lower border.

His proposal was well-reasoned and, given the period of unity following the destruction of the King Beast, it was easier to gain support.

Even Tianyuan Star and Gallia Star provided support.

Most of those present were from military planets, and the presence of outposts on the border was directly related to their interests. In the past, when relations with the Empire were not good, they might have argued with each other, but this move was clearly a measure that benefited all planets. Moreover, the elimination of the King Beast was entirely due to the Empire's two monarchs, so naturally, all planets were more restrained, controlling their prejudices and became more pragmatic.

The discussion went very well, with unanimous approval.

After returning to their star system, all that was needed was to inform the Alliance, and once approved internally, that should be sufficient.

But that has little to do with the empire.

It is believed that, for their own benefit, Tianyuan Star and Gallia Star will actively promote the implementation of this proposal.

After several meetings, all the manned motherships safely embarked on their return journey.

With external enemies and internal unity achieved, Shi Xing finally felt a true sense of peace.

The first two days were tense.

On the third morning, he didn't wake up at all, sleeping soundly wrapped in his blankets.

Chi Yao glanced at the communicator. They had slept for 7 hours total, but that was just his rest schedule. After periods of extreme exertion, Shi Xing's daily sleep duration could extend to 10 hours. Though these were data from his maturity phase, given the physical constitution of Blue Star humans, it was estimated that he wouldn’t sleep much less after reaching maturity.

Thinking back carefully, Chi Yao suddenly realized that since the preparations for the war began, Shi Xing had not only been living under immense pressure from intensive political work, but for the past two months, he had also been following his schedule without missing a single day…

Chi Yao felt a pang of heartache.

He touched Shi Xing's cheek.

Perhaps because the burden on his heart had been completely lifted, Shi Xing didn't wake up; even snuggling deeper into the blankets.

Chi Yao sighed, his voice almost inaudible, "I really don't know what to say to you."

He appears fragile and soft, but deep down he was incredibly stubborn.

Once he makes up his mind, he would’t turn back.

He didn't say anything else and kissed Shi Xing's forehead, then quietly went to wash up. He instructed Xu Jin and Yan Changyue to wait until Shi Xing woke up naturally.

Xu Jin: "Oh right, Xingxing hasn't had much rest for the past two months, and he's often stayed up late with you when necessary. Now that he's relaxed, it's time for him to take a break."

After speaking, he noticed that Chi Yao was staring at him with a strange expression.

Xu Jin: "What's wrong?"

Chi Yao shook his head, said nothing, and went to handle fleet affairs.

He suddenly realized that he hadn't paid as much attention to Shi Xing as his aides had... That shouldn't be the case. He should be more careful in the future. He can't let official duties become his sole focus when he gets busy, neglecting everything else.

After all, he’s not alone anymore.

Shi Xing woke up before noon, and upon checking the time, panicked.

As Yan Changyue entered the room, he heard Shi Xing's stern voice, "Why didn't you wake me up?!"

It was an unintentional remark, but the underlying tone was so natural that it made Yan Changyue's heart skip a beat.

Shi Xing hadn't fully woken up yet. After a moment of silence in the room, he realized his tone had been off, too stern, almost accusatory.

Shi Xing: "I... I didn't mean that, Chang Yue, I..."

The latter half of the sentence was gently taken up by the attendant.

"You're right, this is within my job responsibilities. It's my fault for not calling you after the allotted time."

Yan Changyue's face didn't show any displeasure; instead, a smile appeared on his face. "It's like this..."

He repeated Chi Yao's instructions from that morning.

Finally, with the keen observation and tact of an attendant, Yan Changyue added,, "My silence earlier wasn't because I thought there was anything wrong with what you said, but simply because I suddenly realized..."

After gazing at Shi Xing for a moment, he said softly, "Your Highness, you are quite imposing when you are serious now, which is a good thing."

A monarch should be dignified.

Now that he has become His Majesty's partner, sooner or later Shi Xing will have to face many situations alone, situations that Chi Yao cannot handle for him. His current growth is good and something that everyone is happy to see.

Shi Xing was a little embarrassed.

Thinking of something, he added, "And what about military affairs..."

Yan Changyue: "His Majesty said he would handle it. We're returning now. There aren't that many matters to attend to each day."

  "……oh."

That's true.

With his tense nerves relaxing again, Shi Xing let out a big yawn.

Still half-asleep while brushing his teeth, he stuck his toothbrush under the automatic soap dispenser. Only when he was about to put it in his mouth did the unfamiliar scent alert him to his mistake.

Rubbing his temples, Shi Xing thought: Chi Yao was right, he was exhausted.

Suddenly relaxing, he felt a little dumbfounded.

After lunch, he took a long nap in the afternoon. He got up and wandered to the study, intending to handle some official business. Yet before he knew it, he'd leaned against Chi Yao and drifted off again. When he awoke, he found himself asleep on Chi Yao's lap while His Highness was sorting through the official documents he'd pulled from the communicator.

Shi Xing was a little embarrassed.

Chi Yao stuffed a piece of crystal fruit into his mouth; it was something Yan Changyue had brought in along the way.

"Take a rest, don't feel burdened. Once the issues are resolved in the next couple of days, there won't be any problems on the way back."

With rules and regulations in place, the officers simply need to follow the established standards.

"Everyone can take the day off tomorrow. Let's all relax and unwind."

"Really?" Shi Xing blinked, disbelieving.

 "Really."

As he spoke, he stuffed another piece of crystal fruit into Shi Xing's mouth, silencing him from saying anything more.

A few days later, they received a message from the Daixing mothership, saying that their current situation had been sent back to the star system through Daixing Technology, and everyone in the star system knew the result. They didn't need to rush and could just slowly head back.

After that, time really did slow down.

Interstellar travel is monotonous, and when not on duty, everyone's average wake-up time has become later.

Shi Xing maintained his habits from his mature period; after major events, when he was exhausted, he would often fall asleep immediately.

In the evening, someone suggested watching a movie. Shi Xing was initially very interested, but as the movie progressed, Chi Yao noticed that the person next to him had closed their eyes. He pulled the person into his arms, but didn't disturb them, and continued watching the movie on the projector.

Fei Chu was the first to notice, and clicked his tongue in disgust, but Chi Yao remained unmoved.

Before everyone parted ways after the event, Chi Yao asked Fei Chu a question. Fei Chu felt as if a knife had pierced his heart, and he left heartbroken.

He only asked one question, but the answer undeniably hit a nerve.

"Tell me, if Shi Xing and I go to the childcare center one day, will you still be single?"

The childcare center is where the Twin Star System nurtures its offspring.

Fei Chu found these words too vicious; the moment he heard them, he was poisoned to death.

And so, life became leisurely. The journey there took a month without stopping, and on the way back, they would occasionally find suitable desolate planets to land on, inspect the mothership and warships, etc. It took a month and a half, but the atmosphere was leisurely and comfortable.

Because of their proximity, many military planets have shamelessly come over, offering generous terms in exchange for medical assistance.

During this period of time, Chi Yao did not prevent medical officers assigned to the unit from taking on private contracts.

In just one and a half months, Er Ya earned another asteroid.

Of course, Er Ya herself did not belong to the empire, and Chi Yao had no say in her actions.

In short, after a harmonious month and a half, the fleet returned to the Twin Star System.

From the moment they crossed the border, the imperial capital had been busily preparing.

After entering the star system, the video of the King Beast's defeat has already been uploaded to the shared star network.

More than a century later, the people of the Empire once again proclaimed their monarch on the StarNet, thus receiving goodwill and favor from netizens on other planets.

Lu Li saw it and thought it was great, so he forwarded it to Lu Lu, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

Tan Shao could hear Shi Xing's name everywhere she went online, whether she was out or at home, and the messages were mostly praising him, which was quite torturous.

The day of landing has finally arrived.

Once again landing at the empire's port, though it hadn't been long, Shi Xing felt as if an entire lifetime had passed.

Even more people came to welcome them.

From entering the port, switching from the mothership to the spacecraft, to landing in the imperial capital, stepping off the spacecraft

The first thing Shi Xing saw when he stepped out of the cabin was a sea of ​​people.

Ren Yanyong, Wei Zhen, and other important civilian officials and marshals of various legions were all present.

After nearly two weeks of busy welcoming ceremonies, Ren Yanyong wiped his sweat and said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, we've managed to control the situation, but the people are just too enthusiastic and difficult to disperse."

Shi Xing glanced at it and said, "It's alright, no need to chase them away, it's a happy occasion."

Shi Xing was easy to talk to. Ren Yanyong looked at Chi Yao anxiously. Perhaps it was Shi Xing's tacit agreement, but Chi Yao nodded without saying anything more.

The crowd squeezed the aisle, causing it to shrink and deform. Shi Xing gently pushed everyone back using his mental barrier.

The Empire's mental power is highly aggressive, and the barrier conveys a stronger sense of isolation and rejection.

But when it's done by a Blue Star human, it feels very different; their gentle spiritual power makes it impossible to get angry.

Upon arriving in the capital, even on the StarNet, there were calls to be separated by the barrier of Shi Xing.

Fei Chu was both amused and exasperated.

Upon returning to the capital, before resting, he first gave a speech and released a video to the entire empire.

Considering everyone is tired, a few words will suffice.

The speech received enthusiastic applause from the entire army.

In subsequent interviews with several major media outlets, the faces of the two individuals were blurred.

Most of the questions were about the King Beast, Blue Star, and the process of killing them.

Not many.

The elders forbade them from asking so many questions.

Before Shi Xing left, the excellent reporter finally couldn't resist asking the usual questions and, during the free time, asked a fatal question.

"Your Highness Shixing, Blue Star has been found. If Blue Star returns to the Twin Star System, will you return to Blue Star, or will you choose to remain in the Empire?"

Chi Yao left first, but upon hearing this, he paused and turned back.

He and Shi Xing had never discussed this issue.

Chi Yao was also very curious at this moment.

Even based on the characteristics of Blue Star people and their natural yearning for Blue Star, he didn't have a standard answer in his mind.

Shi Xing didn't notice the gaze. When the reporter called out, he and Chi Yao did the same thing: they turned around.

Shi Xing looked at the reporter, his expressionless face giving the reporter a great sense of pressure.

Even if Shi Xing didn't do it intentionally.

This glance prompted the hesitant reporter to add another explanation: "As everyone knows, you are not an ordinary Blue Star human; you are the guardian of Blue Star. As a guardian, when Blue Star is in ruins and needs rebuilding, will you fulfill your duty of 'guarding'?"

Good question.

Chi Yao thought about it and felt that this angle was truly wonderful.

If he doesn't like the answer today, then no reporter will dare to ask him such questions face-to-face in the future.

He won't give them that chance again.

Shi Xing did not answer immediately, but paused for a moment.

As noon approached, the last rays of morning light shone through the glass and fell on Shi Xing's shoulder.

Chi Yao inexplicably felt that Shi Xing's figure became ethereal for a moment.

Shi Xing said slowly, "I will naturally continue to fulfill my duty as a guardian."

"It was decided at birth."

"I will also provide assistance to Blue Star within my capabilities to rebuild the home of Blue Star's inhabitants."

Before the reporter could speak again, Shi Xing continued, "But—"

"I probably won't stay on Blue Star for long."

The reporter, probably getting carried away, asked, "Why?"

Unexpectedly, Shi Xing smiled, a bright and radiant smile.

"Because my home is in the empire."

"My lover is also in the empire."

After speaking, he turned and glanced at Chi Yao. The fervent sincerity made Chi Yao almost unable to look him in the eyes.

Okay, this reporter can stay. Chi Yao silently suppressed the thousand ways he had been thinking about how to handle the situation.

Shi Xing reached out his hand to Chi Yao.

Chi Yao looked at him quietly, his eyes filled with emotions that only Shi Xing could understand.

Shi Xing had no choice but to call out, "Your Highness."

Chi Yao then stepped forward and reluctantly took his hand.

Shi Xing's smile widened, and only then did all the reporters notice that Chi Yao's expression was off, as if...

Shi Xing revealed a triumphant smile.

He told the reporter, "Alright, don't ask such unpleasant questions next time."

The reporter was suddenly startled, glanced at His Majesty, realized something, and broke out in a cold sweat.

Ignoring the reporters, Shi Xing turned to Chi Yao and smiled softly, "Your Highness, let's go back to the palace."

Chi Yao: "Mm."

"We can have fresh prawns for lunch."

"Peel it yourself."

"Your Highness, I was helping my people out of a predicament..."

As the two walked away, their voices gradually faded into the distance. From the reporter's perspective, it was unclear what Shi Xing said, but Chi Yao's slightly furrowed brows finally relaxed. Shi Xing's smile widened, and Chi Yao couldn't help but smile back.

The two drew closer and closer, walking side by side in the sunlight, a perfect match.

The reporter wiped the sweat from his neck, glanced at his interview transcript, and had to admit—

He really did ask a stupid question.