Chapter Seventy-Three: The Future Overlord of the Imperial Capital

It took quite an effort to finally calm Kuang Shao down. Moke Lianhao promised to restore the mech as good as new. Considering that the Moke family was no less skilled than the Kuang family when it came to mechs, Kuang Shao was reluctantly pacified, though he still refused to have the inspection done at the Moke residence, choosing instead to leave with Zhan Yu.

Moke Lianhao personally escorted Kuang Shao and Zhan Yu to the door before returning to the little building with Xuan Xuan in his arms.

He carried his daughter directly to the doorway of Moke Yi’s study. Looking at her, he felt a mix of helplessness, anger, but above all, relief—thankful that Xuan Xuan had made it through the day unscathed.

“Is Father in?” Moke Lianhao asked the person standing guard at the door.

The attendant nodded respectfully. “The master is in the study.”

Moke Lianhao entered the study with Xuan Xuan in his arms and found Moke Yi still at work. “Father,” he greeted.

Moke Yi looked up. Seeing Xuan Xuan safe and sound in her father's arms, he beckoned her over. “Come here, let Grandpa have a look.”

Glancing at her father’s less-than-pleased expression, Xuan Xuan shuffled over to Moke Yi, realizing she must have worried them all.

“Grandpa,” she called sweetly.

Moke Yi sighed softly, picked Xuan Xuan up, and gently smoothed her hair, which Kuang Shao had ruffled. “As long as you’re alright,” he said.

Noticing her father’s helpless expression, Xuan Xuan grinned and hugged Moke Yi. “Happy birthday, Grandpa,” she said.

“Good girl,” Moke Yi tapped her head affectionately, this clever little imp. Turning to Moke Lianhao, he said, “It’s good that Xuan Xuan is fine. Your mother doesn’t know yet—don’t let her worry.”

“She only dares to be so reckless because she has your protection to rely on,” Moke Lianhao said with some exasperation. Whenever there was trouble, Xuan Xuan knew Grandpa’s words carried more weight than his, or she would go straight to Tong Wan.

Moke Yi glanced at him and cradled Xuan Xuan. “What of it, if my granddaughter is a little unruly? If she pokes a hole in the sky, I’ll patch it up for her.”

Xuan Xuan clung to his neck. In just a few short months, she had experienced a kind of familial support and affection she had never known before.

Moke Lianhao thought that his daughter was destined, like his second brother, to become a force to be reckoned with in the capital.

“Your elder brothers haven’t returned yet?” Moke Yi asked.

Moke Lianhao shook his head. “It seems today’s events were long in the making—even my brothers have been entangled.”

“It’s just the three of you being useless, letting Xuan Xuan get frightened,” Moke Yi glared at him. “Has the Xuan family left?”

He glanced at Xuan Xuan, his face darkening, and nodded. “Yes. But today’s events—were they involved?”

“Hmph.” Moke Yi let out a cold laugh. “They’re just pawns, being used without even realizing it. A pack of fools, not worth our attention. Don’t let them near Xuan Xuan again. What did he say to you?”

Curious, Xuan Xuan looked at Moke Lianhao. Who were they talking about? Did it concern her?

Moke Lianhao nodded, ignoring Xuan Xuan’s inquisitive gaze. “He just said Xuan Guo should attend the affiliated elementary school.”

“Let her go, then. I’d like to see what waves she can stir,” Moke Yi replied. “In the end, we owe them, not that we really do, but let’s repay it anyway. Even if the accounts were settled long ago, at least people won’t say the Moke family is ungenerous. Besides, she’ll be under your watchful eye—more convenient.”

Moke Lianhao frowned, not entirely willing. He still hadn’t gotten over what happened at the kindergarten last time—if not for Xuan Guo, Xuan Xuan wouldn’t have been hurt.

Noticing his son’s expression, Moke Yi understood it was because he cherished his daughter. Wasn’t he himself just as fond of his granddaughter?

“Such a little shrimp is hardly worth your worry. Let her go to school. With the Xuan family’s skill at stirring up gossip, it’s the perfect way to cement Xuan Xuan’s reputation as a ‘good-for-nothing’ and draw less attention from others. Having a person like her around for Xuan Xuan to toy with isn’t a bad thing.” Moke Yi tapped his granddaughter’s nose. “Don’t underestimate your own daughter.”

Were they raising a person or a pet? Xuan Xuan was a bit puzzled, but she could sense her father and grandfather’s protectiveness. She smiled, eyes narrowing with delight.

Seeing his daughter so happy, Moke Lianhao nodded as well. His father wanted to give Xuan Xuan a whetstone to sharpen herself against—though such a person might be a bit vexing, but the more vexing, the better for her temperament. He nodded decisively. “Yes.”

“If someone wants to be used as a pawn, let them. Give them the chance,” Moke Yi said with a chuckle, dismissing them as nothing more than clowns. Suddenly recalling Xuan Xuan’s teacher, he asked, “Did Moke Wu come today?”

Moke Wu? Xuan Xuan frowned—wasn’t that the steward from the last time at Zhuji Tower?

Why did he bring him up suddenly? Moke Lianhao nodded with a smile. “It’s your grand birthday, of course he’d come to pay his respects.”

“Heh, nothing on the star network yet?” Moke Yi chuckled. If it weren’t for appearances, he’d much rather have a quiet family dinner for his birthday.

Still, Moke Wu was a middle manager under his command, and such an occasion was an opportunity not to be missed.

Hearing the question, Moke Lianhao frowned and shook his head. “Nothing—there’s been no news these past months. I wonder if something happened.”

Looking at Xuan Xuan, Moke Yi smiled. He couldn’t even gauge the extent of Xuan Xuan’s mental strength. As for that teacher, nothing could have happened—perhaps just delayed by something. “No, he’s probably just preoccupied. Reward him well and look after his family; have him keep an eye on this matter and put in more effort. The materials previously requested should be ready both on the star network and in reality, right?”

Moke Lianhao nodded. Everything had been prepared, just in case Xuan Xuan’s teacher reappeared suddenly.

“Alright, I still have work to finish. Take Xuan Xuan downstairs. Though things were handled quietly, there’s still some impact—don’t let word spread,” Moke Yi said, handing Xuan Xuan to Moke Lianhao. He smiled at Xuan Xuan, “Don’t go running off on your own again.”

Xuan Xuan giggled, knowing it was for her own good, and nodded at her grandfather. Nestling into her father’s arms, her mind wandered to the conversation between Moke Lianhao and Moke Yi. No wonder she felt as if she’d forgotten something—she’d neglected the issue she’d promised to discuss with her father.

It seemed they’d talked about training a few people. The basic “source of magic” wasn’t difficult. Given her father’s eye for talent, those selected shouldn’t be hard to teach. But the device to convert magic crystals would be a bit more troublesome.

Propping her chin in her hand, lost in thought, she was startled by a light tap from her father.

Pouting, she looked up. Moke Lianhao gestured to the side. “Go play with your brothers. Daddy has things to do.”

Moke Weihai and Moke Weihan were old enough now to entertain the young guests at home. As young masters of the Moke family, they were still a bit immature, but already carried themselves with a certain dignity.

The guests of similar age gathered with them. Xuan Xuan looked at Moke Lianhao with displeasure—she had no interest in mingling with a bunch of children.

Moke Lianhao ignored her reluctance—he still had unfinished matters to attend to.

“Weihai, Weihan, come here,” he called. As his two nephews approached to carry Xuan Xuan, Moke Lianhao smiled, “Take good care of her—don’t let her run off.”

“Don’t worry, Third Uncle,” the brothers replied, nodding.

Moke Lianhao handed Xuan Xuan to Moke Weihai, ruffling her hair. “Be good.”

Watching her father leave, Xuan Xuan pouted and slipped out of Moke Weihai’s arms.

She had barely taken a few steps when the not-so-likable Ai Zhe came running over. He didn’t say anything upon seeing Xuan Xuan, though his eyes betrayed a hint of joy. Still, he kept his customary stern face and called out, “Hey.”

Xuan Xuan pretended not to hear. She had a name, after all—not “hey.” He never greeted her kindly, and she couldn’t recall ever offending him.

Ai Zhe’s flushed cheeks instantly darkened. His rosebud lips pursed, his eyes—once alight with happiness—now looked aggrieved, though he still maintained his stern expression as he watched Xuan Xuan walk away.

Moke Weihan shot Ai Zhe a glare—he detested him most of all, always making Xuan Xuan unhappy. He caught up with Xuan Xuan and handed her a gift he had prepared earlier. As host, Moke Weihai didn’t show Ai Zhe any special consideration, but neither did he say anything—he simply ignored him.

Ai Zhe felt wronged. He didn’t dislike her that much, but she always ignored him. Even when he greeted her, she never responded. Today, seeing her, he’d left his friends behind to come over, but she acted as if he didn’t exist. Especially that time when he’d spoken so gently to her, yet she ignored him and let someone from the Zhan family carry her away.

Today, despite being surrounded by people, he’d run out to say hello, only for her to ignore him again. And then her two brothers—especially Moke Weihai—also brushed him off.

In this year’s final exams, Moke Weihai had come in first by a wide margin, while Ai Zhe could only manage a joint second place with Moke Weihan.

His father hadn’t wanted him to come today at all. His grandfather pushed him daily to study and train, all in hopes he’d catch up with the two Moke brothers. But after a whole winter break without seeing that chubby little girl, and knowing today was her grandfather’s birthday, he’d begged for ages before his grandfather reluctantly allowed him to attend. Yet, when he finally saw her from afar and hurried over, she didn’t even acknowledge him.

Surrounded by a crowd, Ai Zhe felt even more aggrieved. With a flick of his sleeve, he stormed off.

“Father,” he called, eyes rimmed red as he spotted his father, Ai Kang.

Ai Kang excused himself from his conversation and pulled Ai Zhe aside, frowning as he scolded, “You insisted on coming today—what’s the matter now? Those who achieve great things shouldn’t wear their feelings on their sleeves. Look at you—how old are you now? So useless. If your grandfather sees this, he’ll say I don’t discipline you.”

Ai Zhe lowered his head, silent. When had his father ever cared about anything besides whether he was pleasing to his grandfather?

Seeing his son’s silence, Ai Kang became even more displeased, his tone harsher. “Your grades this term were terrible. It’s bad enough you didn’t get first place, but you had to lose to the Moke boys again. Are you trying to embarrass me in front of your grandfather?”

“Take the young master back to study,” Ai Kang ordered a servant.

As he followed the attendant, just before stepping out of the parlor, Ai Zhe glanced back. He saw Xuan Xuan in her father’s arms, speaking softly as he wiped the smudge from her mouth, while the Moke brothers stood by, grinning. For some reason, the scene stung his eyes. Turning away, he followed the servant out and did not look back again.

ps:
ps: The first chapter after going live is here. Douya is rolling around and acting cute, asking for pink tickets.