The Empress’s disdain was unmistakable, a man well into his fifties, yet still a virgin.
"When exactly is your rebellious phase going to arrive? Can your father and I even live long enough to see it?"
"Is this lifeti only going to give us a grandchild from Xia Tian?"
The chatter of the Empress, seeing her release a sigh, she lanted, "Forget it, I have no expectations anymore. That chatterbox Xia Tian, who could stand her?"
"Oh— disconnected."
Their communication screen suddenly turned black, the Crown Prince instinctively went to deal with the official business.
His mother must indeed be getting older; even though she had children when she herself was over a hundred years old. In her youth, she was fiery and active on the battlefield, but now, every day, she fretted about having grandchildren.
It seems that no matter the person, their mindset might change when they get older.
The Crown Prince shook his head and continued to bury himself in his work, as there was much to do, and won only slowed him down.
On Blue Star, the Empress felt like a frostbitten eggplant, completely drained of energy.
She was overwheld with a sense of hopelessness.
Yet, they were the Royal Family. How could they not carry on the bloodline? But she didn’t want her child to marry just for the sake of having children, which really worried her.
"Eldest, what a coincidence."
Nian Shutong had just co from the direction of the silk factory and saw the sighing "Eldest."
With a greeting, Nian Shutong walked on without pause, but the Eldest wouldn’t have it.
The Empress imdiately got up and followed Nian Shutong’s pace.
"May I join you? I’m not very familiar with this place, and Xia Tian got taken away by my old man."
Nian Shutong, without stopping, responded, "Isn’t it late? Shouldn’t you be resting?"
"Not tired yet."
The Empress was very curious about Nian Shutong, and since Dou Dou was asleep and she had nothing else to do.
"Alright, if you want to look, just follow."
Nian Shutong led the way with the Empress following behind like a curious old lady, starting to ask questions left and right.
"How old are you this year?"
The first question montarily stumped Nian Shutong. Who did she an by ’young lady’? It seed to refer to herself.
She ntally calculated, always feeling a bit rusty about ntioning her age.
"Twenty."
"You’re so young, and to take on such a big planet like this, remarkable."
The Empress genuinely admired her, then continued to ask, "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Listening to the Empress, who played her part with great enthusiasm, Nian Shutong could only play along as a cooperative young girl.
"I’m already married."
"Oh, that’s wonderful! It’s always best to marry early, have kids early." The Empress, perhaps stirred by the Crown Prince’s situation, started recounting the benefits of marrying and having children early to Nian Shutong.
"I’m telling you, having children early is good for a woman’s health, and while young, nothing gets delayed. You can’t wait until you’re too old."
"I know you young people are under a lot of pressure, but you can’t just not have children. Without people, how can there be a ho, and without a ho, how can there be a country?"
"The Insect Race has been eyeing us for centuries, the battle has never ceased for hundreds of years, there must always be people to take on these tasks, but if no one has children, where will people co from."
Listening to the Empress’s reflections, Nian Shutong too felt it made a lot of sense, no matter how humanity advances, people are the fundantal essence.
"Actually, it’s not that I don’t want to have children, it’s just that I can’t afford to," Emperor said.
Emperor’s remark made Empress even more inclined to chat.
"Yes, indeed, we’re still not doing enough. If we can’t even satisfy basic human needs, how can we think about progressing further?"
"Even my own son doesn’t want to have children. To this day, he’s still a virgin. How can I expect others to do what he won’t?"
Empress’s words just made Shutong laugh. He hadn’t expected to hear gossip about the Crown Prince—it was truly thrilling.
They talked a lot and surprisingly found that they had similar perspectives and values.
Shutong took Empress to Rubble’s workshop and found the mask machine Rubble had already set up.
After arranging his own formula and raw materials, a mask-making machine started production, with several robots handling the operations on the assembly line.
When the first silk mask ca out, Empress, playing the role of an old lady, curiously asked, "What’s this?"
"This is called a face mask. It’s used on the face and can make your skin softer."
"Is it really that useful?" Empress asked with interest. "Can I try one?"
"Of course."
Shutong took two masks and walked out with Empress. After washing their faces, they sat down on two lounge chairs by the stream and relaxed with the masks on.
"Make sure not to make any large facial movents or wrinkle the mask. Fifteen minutes should be enough."
Shutong reminded her of the precautions, and Empress just nodded in agreent, not daring to speak.
anwhile, Emperor, who had spent most of the day at the brewery, was being helped back by Xia Tian.
Xia Tian felt like he had suddenly aged ten years. Supporting his father, the teary and whining Emperor, with both arms, he said,
"Where’s my Empress? I miss her."
"Alright, alright, we’re almost there."
Xia Tian didn’t know how many tis he had used this tone—sothing he’d use for pacifying a child. It had been many years since his father had gotten drunk, but whenever he did, he turned into a child, always whining for his mother.
It was so embarrassing that Xia Tian felt it was even affecting his own views on choosing a spouse.
Busy helping Emperor, Xia Tian kept his head down, not watching where he was going, and most certainly not noticing Shutong and Empress lying on the chairs with masks on.
As Xia Tian helped Emperor across the bridge and toward the stream, it was just about ti for Empress and Shutong to remove their masks. They stood up almost simultaneously.
Under the terrible moonlight, their faces, pale as zombies, suddenly rose from the ground.
"Ah———-"
"Splash!"
"Father!"
"Empress!"
Several cries rang out in quick succession.
Shutong watched as Xia Tian scread and Emperor fell into the water. Empress quickly perford a one-handed rescue, pulling the subrged Emperor out, and her first words were to Shutong, "I’m surnad Huang, called Empress."
"Great na."
Shutong praised her enthusiastically. At that mont, Empress no longer cared about hiding her identity, as long as she appeared cooperative.
"Old Huang, you’ve been drinking again!"
"You really can’t be left alone for three days without causing trouble! Neither of you three, father and sons, can give peace!"
Empress scolded Emperor rcilessly, who, having been startled by the water, was sowhat sober but still confused.
"Who are you, demon! Give back my Empress!"
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