Alright, this old man really wants to take advantage of me.
But considering age and seniority, he could indeed be my grandfather. I'll just treat it as respecting the elderly and caring for the young, Zhao Chen convinced himself.
"Grandpa Chu, I'm doing just fine. It's just that Governor Bilan and the others keep insisting I share my starship technology with them for cooperation, and they won't let me leave unless I agree.
They even claim I'm suspected of colluding with the Mechanical Race, insisting on taking me back for investigation." Zhao Chen now wore an expression of utter innocence and grievance.
Zhao Chen said pitifully, "Tell me, why did I come all the way to the Water Lily Star System?
Wasn't it to rescue the faculty and students of the two academies? I risked my life, charging alone into the Swarm to save those future talents and flowers of the Empire.
And now, Governor Bilan and the others actually suspect me? How heartless!"
Seeing Zhao Chen's aggrieved look, Xue Xiaoxiao and the other girls' eyes lit up. They hadn't realized before how skilled this guy was at acting.
Seeing Zhao Chen directly complain to Grandpa Chu, Governor Bilan's face stiffened.
Before he could explain,
Governor Chu erupted in anger. He pointed directly at Governor Bilan and roared, "Blue Fatty, you dare call my grandson-in-law a spy for the Mechanical Race?
Are you insulting our Chu Family?
The entire Stellar Glory Empire knows that our Chu Family has an irreconcilable feud with the Mechanical Race. The memorial tablets in our family's ancestral hall are all for those who sacrificed their lives fighting the Mechanical Race.
You damn Blue Fatty could become a little bride for the Mechanical Race, but no one from my Chu Family would ever side with them!"
Governor Chu's anger was expected by everyone present.
The deep-seated hatred between the Chu Family and the Mechanical Race was well-known throughout the Stellar Glory Empire.
That was why the Imperial Royal Family felt at ease allowing the Chu Family to expand their influence in the Chu River Star Sector, even funding the development of T4-class interstellar warships. After all, the other side of the Chu River Star Sector bordered the Mechanical Race, which served as a check on this duke.
The stronger the Chu River Star Sector became, the safer the Stellar Glory Empire felt.
Now, Governor Bilan and the others accusing Zhao Chen, the Chu Family's grandson-in-law, of colluding with the Mechanical Race was tantamount to slapping the Chu Family in the face!
"Governor Chu, there's a misunderstanding here. Please let us explain slowly..." Marshal Huang Zhixiong stepped forward to speak.
Governor Chu looked at him with disdain. "Explain my ass! I know exactly what you old bastards are scheming.
And you, Huang Haozi, don't think just because you've gone from a skinny rat to a fat rat, you can talk to me here. You damn well don't have the right.
And another thing! You better not wear that military uniform in front of me. You damn well don't deserve it!
Damn it, just thinking about you wearing the same uniform as me pisses me off! I won't feel right unless I kick you a few times.
Back then, you were planted in my Legion Fleet just to earn military merits. I should've dragged you to the frontline to fight the Mechanical Race back then!
That bit of punishment with the military rod was letting you off too easy!"
He kept calling him "Haozi" (rat).
Zhao Chen could see the anger in Marshal Huang Zhixiong's eyes, but he dared not show any emotion.
This was the stark difference between two Five-Star Marshals.
Governor Chu's subsequent words also confirmed a long-standing rumor.
When Marshal Huang Zhixiong was young, he had once been assigned to serve in Marshal Chu Changhe's Legion Fleet. After all, serving on the border frontline was the most convenient way to earn military merits.
Unfortunately, Huang Zhixiong's family behind him forgot about Chu Changhe's temperament.
After several major and minor mistakes occurred, and even worse, violating the military regulations set by Chu Changhe—drinking and seeking women on a starship during a mission!
Chu Changhe directly confronted Huang Zhixiong and nearly ordered the execution of this kid on the spot.
If it weren't for Huang Zhixiong's elder sister, a consort of the current emperor, pleading with His Majesty, who invoked a favor Chu Changhe owed him, urging Chu Changhe to spare Huang Zhixiong once,
there would be no Marshal Huang Zhixiong today.
But as the saying goes, while the death penalty may be avoided, punishment is inevitable.
Chu Changhe personally enforced ancient military regulations, wielding a military rod to strike Huang Zhixiong one hundred times!
This beating left Huang Zhixiong on the brink of death, and before his family came to retrieve him, he was denied medical treatment, only kept barely alive.
Later, when Huang Zhixiong's family came to take him, he truly resembled a dead rat. If not for the advanced medical technology of the time, he would never have been saved.
From then until now, Huang Zhixiong has never dared to set foot in the Chu River Star Sector again, nor has he dared to meet Chu Changhe.
This was their first meeting in years.
Hearing Chu Changhe bring up the past, Huang Zhixiong clenched his fists, his eyes filled with shame, anger, and fear.
In the end, he silently retreated several steps, moving out of the range of Governor Chu's video window.
Chairman Feng, witnessing this scene, cursed inwardly: Trash will always be trash. He was trash before, and even with a new facade, he's still nothing but an empty shell.
"Governor Chu, please calm down. The matters between you and Marshal Huang are all in the past.
Let's not bring them up again.
Regarding the matter of student Zhao Chen, I have already investigated and clarified it. It was a mistake made by our subordinates, and I will now order strict punishment for those responsible.
How dare they falsely accuse Governor Chu's esteemed son-in-law? They truly have the courage of a bear and the heart of a leopard!" Governor Bilan said with an apologetic smile.
"Then I intend to take my grandson-in-law away now. Do you intend to stop me?" Governor Chu stared at the other party.
Governor Bilan smiled and said, "Student Zhao Chen is a young hero who saved the faculty and students of the two academies.
Naturally, he is free to come and go! No one in the Azure Star Domain will hinder student Zhao Chen.
Anyone who dares to bully student Zhao Chen is opposing me and the Azure Star Domain!"
This old fox has thick skin. His ability to lie through his teeth is even more impressive than mine.
Zhao Chen applauded inwardly.
"Hmph, I know exactly what you're thinking.
But let me make this clear: Zhao Chen is my grandson-in-law. If any of you dare to touch Zhao Chen, you are touching me, Chu Changhe.
Weigh your own capabilities carefully.
If you feel dissatisfied, you can bring out your fleets, and we can settle this!
I, Old Man Chu, will see this through to the end with these old bones!"
After speaking, Governor Chu turned a kindly gaze toward Zhao Chen. "Grandson-in-law, since there's nothing else to handle,
let's leave this foul and chaotic place."
"Alright." Zhao Chen stood up. Just as he was about to bid farewell to the three disgruntled old foxes,
an adjutant appeared beside Governor Chu in the video window and whispered a few words.
Almost simultaneously, Governor Bilan received a communication request from a subordinate.
On the communication window, the subordinate hurriedly reported.
"Report, the Princess's Royal Guard Fleet has arrived and demands to see Baron Zhao Chen of the Fierce Dragon Star System immediately."
Everyone in the booth looked at Zhao Chen with surprise.
The Princess?
There was only one princess in the Stellar Glory Empire.
Moreover, she was the Emperor's most treasured jewel, her status even surpassing that of the Crown Prince and other princes.
Not only was Zhao Chen Governor Chu's grandson-in-law, but he also had connections with the Empire's little princess?
Xue Xiaoxiao stared at Zhao Chen with sparkling eyes, as if she had caught a whiff of some juicy gossip.
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