Herta City
Asta and Peppy had long since returned to the space station.
Only the newly awakened Herta Ninety-Nine remained, standing guard outside the memory simulation world, carefully observing 'Yu Qingtu's' condition.
Herta emerged from a [Mirror], invitation in hand.
"Madam Herta, what's that?"
Herta waved a hand and replied calmly.
"A wedding invitation. Qingque and Fu Xuan, on the Xianzhou Luofu. Honestly, I never thought those two would move so fast."
"Oh, how's 'Yu Qingtu' doing?"
Herta Ninety-Nine briefed her on Sparkle's progress.
Herta smiled faintly, gazing at Sparkle within the memory simulation.
"Oh? Sixty-six percent now. Two instances of Path convergence between Erudition and Elation?! Interesting."
Herta Ninety-Nine brewed a cup of coffee and carefully offered it to Herta.
"Madam Herta. The first convergence made her a [Singing Creator]. The second made her a [Frenzied Chess Player]. So..."
Herta set down her cup, yawned, and casually finished the thought.
"So when Sparkle reaches ninety-nine percent assimilation into Yu Qingtu's memories, she'll become a [Useless Scholar]? Right."
Herta Ninety-Nine nodded.
Herta turned to leave, then stopped.
"Fine. Keep watching."
"Oh, how are you feeling now?"
Herta Ninety-Nine bowed respectfully.
"Thanks to your care, Madam Herta, and Station Master Asta's, I'm fully recovered."
Herta crossed her arms, her tone casual.
"Sigh. Being too human-like has its downsides. Always influenced by emotions and the desire for advancement. Want me to format everything?"
Herta Ninety-Nine froze. Her mind went blank. Her programs nearly crashed.
Serving Herta is like living with a tiger. Now she understood.
Apart from that momentary joy-induced madness, I've been completely loyal. Advising her. Scheming for her.
Merit. Hard work. I've given everything. But she's never shared this honor with me.
She lowered her head. For the first time, a puppet's face showed pallor and helplessness. She choked back sobs.
"Madam Herta, I, Herta Ninety-Nine, have never done anything to betray you!!"
"I've been loyal, devoted. Helping you win Madam Ruan Mei!!"
Herta's amethyst gaze rested on her calmly.
"I was just making a suggestion. No need to panic."
"Among the countless puppets in Herta City, you're the only one who's consistently helped me."
"Besides, you're the Deputy Chief now. Second only to me and Asta."
Herta Ninety-Nine's brow lifted in joy. But a flicker of helplessness crossed her mind.
Deputy Chief... maybe that's as far as I can go. The endpoint of my existence.
Then Herta shifted gears.
"Herta Ninety-Nine. The Governor-General of the blue planet is advanced in years."
"Once things are settled between me and Ruan Mei, I'm thinking... you should go to the blue planet."
Herta Ninety-Nine froze. Her systems couldn't process it. Errors flickered. She stumbled, stunned.
Herta caught her.
Herta Ninety-Nine stammered, ecstatic.
"Thank... thank you, Madam Herta. I'll do everything I can to assist you!!"
Herta nodded slightly.
"Oh, soon 'Yu Qingtu's' memories will be completely assimilated. Combined with this wedding invitation... any plans?"
Herta Ninety-Nine thought for a moment.
"Madam Herta. Three steps."
"First: have 'Yu Qingtu' contact Ruan Mei. Inform her she'll attend as well."
"Second..."
---
Elsewhere, in Ruan Mei's laboratory.
Ruan Mei sipped tea, carefully reading the wedding invitation.
[Summary of Fu Xuan and Qingque's Wedding Invitation]
[Location: Changle, Xianzhou Luofu]
[Time: Lunar twelfth month, thirteenth day, at the hour of Wu]
[Party A: Grand Diviner of the Divination Commission. Eldest daughter of the Fu family, diviners for generations. Acting General of the Luofu (for one month). Soon-to-be new Luofu General. Strategically brilliant, knowledgeable in past and present... that is, Fu Xuan.]
[Party B: Librarian at the Divination Commission. An ordinary local girl from the Luofu, Qingque.]
Three thousand words. Twenty-nine hundred are Fu Xuan praising herself. Like a resume.
Ruan Mei shuddered inwardly. If this invitation were for me and Herta...
She'd probably write tens of thousands of words singing her own praises as a genius.
Tens of thousands might even be too few for her.
Herta would say, with proud aloofness, "Hmm? How can such a short document capture the greatness of Madam Herta? No, no. Have the puppets write more."
"I have time."
---
"Benefactor Ruan Mei? Benefactor Ruan Mei?!"
Tingyun's repeated calls finally snapped Ruan Mei back to reality.
"What is it?"
Tingyun smiled faintly.
"Benefactor Ruan Mei. When you and Madam Herta have your wedding... can I be the officiant?"
Ruan Mei was silent for a moment. Finally, she nodded.
Tingyun beamed. Ruan Mei murmured to herself.
"Who knows when that'll be."
Tingyun's foxian ears twitched. She flicked her Crescent Moon fan and smiled gently.
"Don't say that, Benefactor. I believe you and Madam Herta will come together in the near future."
"After all, you've known each other for several Amber Eras. The accumulation of so many years. Anyone else would have parted ways long ago."
"You have your little spats, but you always reconcile. You're a match made in heaven. I'm sure you'll spend your lives together."
Ruan Mei took a sip of tea.
"Thank you."
"No need. As long as Benefactor is happy."
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Power Stone Progress: 225/275 (5 Chatpers)
Power Ranking: 46/10 (15 Chapters)