This year was a special one for the Huaguo nation.
Firstly, Professor Shi Qing successfully developed artificial nerves. Many disabled people could now return to normal life without hindrance thanks to this invention.
Secondly, Huaguo and S country had some friction, and their relationship became tense.
As they were on the brink of war, the battle seemed to end before it even began. Ordinary people didn't know the details, but they could sense something from Queen's announcement of Qin Yunsheng, the protector of Professor Shi, as the Crown Prince.
One thing was for sure, this Crown Prince had a military background, and his military achievements could fill an entire wall, making him an impressive figure.
Some speculated that Qin Yunsheng's position as the Crown Prince might not be very stable, especially since there was a "hidden Crown Prince" in the past. Many people had considered him the "future Crown Prince," and his sudden replacement, even if they accepted it, was hard for the "hidden Crown Prince" himself to digest.
But the "hidden Crown Prince" accepted it.
Not only did he accept it, but he did so very quickly.
He was completely focused on his research and had no ambitions of becoming the Crown Prince.
People at the Institute of Technology were dumbfounded.
As they watched the Crown Prince's appearance on television, they couldn't believe their eyes.
Wasn't that Qin Yunsheng, the military officer who used to protect Professor Shi?
Although it was said that he was later called back to the army to prepare for the battle, their next encounter was in the news of him becoming the Crown Prince.
This world was truly magical.
Those who had a good relationship with Qin Yunsheng felt proud.
They were friends of the Crown Prince!
People who hadn't interacted much with Qin Yunsheng started to inquire around to find out if the Crown Prince had really spent time at the Institute of Technology.
Once confirmed, they began to question their life choices.
Then, someone remembered that when Shi Qing and Qin Yunsheng were together, Shi Yiyi had said a lot of things.
It was unclear what she thought now that Qin Yunsheng had become the Crown Prince.
Shi Yiyi said she had no opinion because she wasn't even at the Institute of Technology anymore.
Ever since she was discovered by the Duke targeting Shi Qing, she had been sent somewhere else.
The Duke might be indifferent to his family, but that didn't mean he would stand by and let his niece harm his own son.
Initially, Shi Yiyi had cried and begged to stay at the Shi family, and he had agreed because of her pitiful appearance. But she had taken advantage of him, living in his house, receiving money from him every month, and using his reputation to target his son.
He had raised her, but he didn't owe her.
At first, Shi Yiyi had cried nonstop, but after being forcibly sent away, she finally realized that her position in the Duke's eyes was nowhere near what she had imagined.
Discovering that all her years of plotting had been in vain, she naturally felt unwilling.
Shi Yiyi could only console herself that even though Shi Qing now had a great reputation, Qin Yunsheng was just a small military officer at most. Even with his achievements, Shi Qing still cherished him.
Then, Qin Yunsheng was named the Crown Prince.
Shi Yiyi: "..."
After being slapped in the face so many times, she felt like giving up hope.
She couldn't compete.
They were too powerful.
※※※
While colleagues at the Institute of Technology watched the ceremony on television, Shi Qing was present at the event.
The Crown Prince's uniform was indeed much more elegant.
The military officer's uniform had to consider mobility and ease of action, but the Crown Prince's uniform, worn only on special occasions, leaned more towards luxury.
As Qin Yunsheng approached the Queen, Shi Qing watched him with his chin resting on his hand.
The officer's steps were firm, and the beautiful uniform outlined his sturdy figure as he walked. His long, slender legs moved gracefully.
When he turned around, his deep eyes fell directly on his beloved without any regard for the numerous flashlights present, and he smiled at Shi Qing.
After the ceremony, there was a banquet. The young Marquis, holding a wine glass, cornered Qin Yunsheng and poured him a drink.
He successfully acquired a somewhat tipsy Crown Prince.
After the banquet, Shi Qing should have left with the Duke, but the young Marquis stood confidently by the Crown Prince's side.
Boldly, he said, "I'll accompany His Highness back."
At this moment, Qin Yunsheng was clearly drunk, but when he saw Shi Qing looking at him, he unconsciously showed a hint of a smile.
Onlookers, knowing their relationship, watched the two of them leave with confidence.
The military officer's nature was still within him. Even when he was drunk, Qin Yunsheng stood tall and walked straight. He seemed quite sober, except for the slight drowsiness in his eyes.
Shi Qing felt like he was leading a bear as he guided Qin Yunsheng to the resting room.
The young Marquis first stood by the bed and called out a word to Qin Yunsheng tentatively, "Lie down."
Upon receiving the command, the military officer, who was still tipsy, hesitated for a moment. Maybe it was because he realized that the young Marquis was standing in front of him, but he urgently tried to stand straight.
Shi Qing teased him, "Didn't I tell you to lie down?"
"No, I can't..." Qin Yunsheng said, still with a somewhat confused look. Despite his drowsiness, he tried to remain focused. "If I lie down, I might crush you."
"You've been working on your strength, haven't you?" Shi Qing asked.
The young Marquis extended his pale fingers and grabbed Qin Yunsheng's long, slender hand, feeling the calluses on his palm. He gently stroked them, and there was a hint of eagerness in his beautiful eyes.
"You promised me before that you'd get in shape before the artificial nerves hit the market, but you went to the battlefield afterward," he said. His tone sounded more like coaxing than displeasure, but the tipsy Qin Yunsheng still felt guilty.
His magnetic voice, slightly elongated due to his inebriation, replied, "I've been training."
"I'm not lying to you; I've already trained well," he assured.
Shi Qing chuckled and immediately took off his coat. Then, he approached Qin Yunsheng.
Watching the serious look on his lover's face, as if he were waiting for him to give orders, the young Marquis patted his shoulder.
"Good, raise your hands."
The tipsy man raised both hands obediently, presenting himself in a harmless posture in front of the young Marquis.
Shi Qing locked eyes with him.
One pair of eyes shone brightly, as if filled with starlight.
The other pair of eyes was deep and seemingly composed, but there was a hint of unease within.
Shi Qing helped him remove those beautiful little badges from his uniform. Perhaps recalling his previous thoughts, the tipsy man suddenly muttered:
"Don't tie me up."
The young Marquis raised an eyebrow, and a mischievous smile played at the corner of his lips as he leaned closer to Qin Yunsheng.
"I wasn't planning to tie you up," he whispered.
"You've already tied yourself up and delivered yourself to me."
The Next Morning
Qin Yunsheng woke up first.
As he moved his hand, a soft body in his arms let out a dissatisfied murmur.
The Crown Prince immediately froze in place, not daring to move.
He heard the chirping of birds outside.
Qin Yunsheng instinctively raised his head and, at the same time, recalled a scene that matched the birds' playful chirping.
A chubby, cute, pale yellow bird was perched on a tree branch. Another black bird flew to it and used its beak to groom the cute little bird's feathers.
Perhaps feeling cramped on the tree branch, the pale yellow bird spread its wings and lightly groomed the lower feathers on its abdomen with its beak.
"Chirp chirp~"
The birds were chirping cheerfully, and when the black bird landed beside the yellow bird, it snuggled up to it affectionately. It was reminiscent of how Shi Qing nestled comfortably in his lover's arms.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves on the trees, creating a soothing sound. The military officer, still somewhat groggy from last night's festivities, watched as two leaves were blown together by the wind, making a soft rustling noise. His ears turned slightly red.
It seemed the wind had blown all night and only calmed down in the morning. By then, Qin Yunsheng had regained most of his composure, while the young Marquis appeared drowsy and sleepy, rubbing his eyes with a yawn, looking adorably exhausted.
As the military officer listened to the rustling leaves, he couldn't help but kick the young Marquis off the bed, not wanting to be subjected to the embarrassment of last night.
Meanwhile, the two birds—black and yellow—continued their grooming routine, and the plump, cute yellow bird, although initially irritated, settled down once the sleek black bird had tidied its feathers.
Qin Yunsheng: "..."
All the memories came flooding back. He couldn't believe how he had behaved while drunk, but he didn't regret it.
※※※
Shi Qing and Qin Yunsheng were about to hold their wedding.
The Crown Prince and Professor Shi, who had developed artificial nerves, were a couple!
This news spread like wildfire throughout the nation.
While same-sex relationships were legal in Huaguo, they were still considered a minority, especially when one of the individuals involved was the Crown Prince. People wondered aloud how the Crown Prince, who was in a same-sex relationship, would produce an heir to the throne.
Anyone foolish enough to voice such concerns was swiftly criticized.
"Are you an idiot? Queen Elizabeth never married or had children, and the succession was settled without a hitch. The Crown Prince can adopt an heir if needed. Besides, Professor Shi has made enormous contributions to our country. He's a brilliant scientist and a good person. People like him deserve happiness."
Their wedding was a national celebration. The couple received countless blessings from the public.
Of course, there were concerns as well.
After all, the royal family had a high divorce rate, and they were more known for short-term romances than lasting relationships. But as the years passed, the worries began to fade.
The first year of their marriage, while people wished them well, they still held some reservations.
By the third year, when Queen Elizabeth retired, and Qin Yunsheng ascended the throne, their relationship remained as strong as ever. Whenever they attended events together, their eyes were glued to each other.
Five years into their marriage, then ten years, then thirty...
Their love never wavered, and despite being public figures scrutinized by millions of eyes, they never had a single scandal.
Instead, after retiring, they traveled the world together and continued to show affection, making headlines for their adorable public displays of affection. Even in their old age, they outdid younger couples in showing their love.
The key was, no one could find their love annoying because, aside from their remarkable contributions to the country, both of them were incredibly good-looking!
They continued this loving relationship until their final days. One day, a parent was helping their child with their homework, flipping through a textbook, and came across a passage about the love between the emperor and Professor Shi.
The parent sighed and said to their spouse, who was sitting nearby, "It's a pity our little one was born too late to see such a wonderful person as Professor Shi."
The spouse smiled and picked up their child, giving them a kiss.
"Don't worry. We'll read about them in the textbooks."
【Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the mission. Please choose: 1. Go on vacation, 2. Continue completing missions.】
Shi Qing: 【2】
System: 【Ding! Please prepare as you are about to transition to another mission world. Transitioning to mission world in 3, 2, 1...】
※※※
Shi Qing opened his eyes and found himself lying on a rocky shore by the water.
He moved his legs.
"Splash!"
A beautiful fish tail emerged from the water.
Thank you for reading this far! You can access more chapters from HERE by joining my Patreon community. You'll gain exclusive early access to the COMPLETE NOVEL.
As a member of my Patreon community, here is what you'll get:
For $5
- Early access to 100s of chapters before they go public.
- You also get access to all the novels I'm translating, you can find them here HERE.
- Your name will be featured on the "Wall of Gratitude".
- The power to vote on which novel I translate next.
- You Get Ad-free Chapters.
For $10
- You get to suggest a Novel for me to translate.
- You get access to Digital art.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in gold).
For $20
- You get to recommend a Novel and I will immediately start translating it.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in blue).
Plus, you can Cancel your membership at any time.
Don't let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!
