Chapter 145 Chapter 145

Thanks to Rong Heng's generous bribe, the cubs reluctantly accepted this young father.

However, when the cubs got up the next day, they felt awkward facing Rong Heng's familiar face for a long time, and no one could call him "Little Dad".

Rong Heng waited for a long time but didn't hear what he wanted to hear. Finally, he waved his hand impatiently and started to chase them away. The cubs immediately stopped and dispersed.

"I was wondering why we suddenly let them sleep in the bedroom last night." It turned out that it was to trick the cubs into giving in.

Ruan Shiqing leaned against the head of the bed, smiling at him with raised eyebrows. Two buttons on the top of her blue plaid pajamas were rubbed open, revealing a fair and delicate collarbone with two or three red marks faintly visible on it.

Thinking of those troublesome brats, Rong Heng couldn't help but snort softly, and then his eyes were fixed on the half-exposed collarbone, unable to move.

Ruan Shiqing noticed his gaze, lowered his head, pulled up his collar, buttoned up his shirt as if nothing had happened, and kicked him lightly under the quilt: "I have something important to do during the day."

“…”

There was indeed something important to do. Rong Heng withdrew his gaze with regret, and reluctantly got up to wash up.

After breakfast, Ruan Shiqing and Ruan Jiao went to the underground prison to train the insect tribe as usual. The three cubs followed them because they had nothing to do. 09 stayed behind and collected fallen star fruits in the yard.

After Rong Heng stood at the door and watched them leave, the corners of his smiling mouth gradually drooped, and he went to the backyard in a somewhat annoyed manner.

He paced anxiously for a few steps, then woke Noah up.

"Your Highness, what do you need?"

Last time Rong Heng asked about Queen Farah's death, Noah's program had a bug and was forced to hibernate. When it was restarted later, that memory seemed to have been automatically cleared.

Noah returned to normal, and Rong Heng never mentioned the incident again.

Today he woke up Noah, thinking that it was most likely Si Yan who tampered with Noah's stored memory. He originally wanted her to contact Si Yan directly and expose Si Yan's disguise in front of her, but he changed his mind.

"Nothing." Rong Heng was silent for a moment, but still did not let Noah contact Si Yan.

He picked up his smartphone and called Lucien.

Before leaving B3024, Ruan Shiqing had obtained a lot of information from No. 4. From then on, he began to suspect that Lucien was Si Yan, but this guess still needed to be verified... Instead of using Noah to test him, it would be better to confront him directly.

After a moment's wait, the call was connected.

Lucien's holographic image appeared in the courtyard. He was hunched over and looked old, but he still saluted him with basic etiquette: "Good day, Your Highness."

Rong Heng looked at him calmly. He had never thought about it in this way before. He did not think that Lucien and Si Yan had anything in common. But now, after careful observation, he found that their postures when greeting were very similar.

Even if he hunches over to act old, that innate temperament cannot be completely concealed.

As he recalled his communications with Lucien in his youth, and compared the vague images in his memory with the present, he became more and more certain that the person now was not Lucien at all!

The person in front of him is most likely Si Yan.

He couldn't help but want to sneer, asking what the other party thought he was? A puppet in the palm of his hand, or a chess piece to be manipulated at will?

However, he finally managed to hold it in and pretended to be calm while talking to Lucien. He was even able to calmly ask about Sik Jin's situation as usual.

Lucien said Sikkim's current situation is unclear.

Sikkim is currently the safest planet in the Empire, so many nobles and wealthy people are trying every means to seek shelter from Sikkim; many refugees from other planets also want to be sheltered...

However, Si Yan did not show up, and the ruling government became a hands-off manager; the four chaebol leaders had not made public appearances since the hotel attack, and the Imperial Parliament, which obeyed the chaebol's control, was semi-paralyzed; various forces within the military blamed each other, and no one wanted to take the responsibility of being the first to speak out... In short, Sikkim almost came to a standstill.

However, many ordinary people have received too much information on the holographic network. Some of them want to petition for Si Yan to abdicate and bring back the crown prince; some of them join church organizations, preach everywhere, spread panic and attract believers...

Nowadays, crowds gather in the square of Parka Palace every day. Those who march to protest and those who preach their doctrines to recruit believers each occupy their own territory, and the square is as noisy as a vegetable market.

In addition to internal worries, there is also the threat of external invasion from the Zerg.

Panic continues to grow amid the chaos. The current situation in Sikkim is like a bowstring that is stretched to an extreme and may break at any time. When that happens, people will riot and chaos will inevitably occur.

But this was expected.

It was Si Yan's painstaking planning and secret promotion that led to the current situation.

"According to online opinion polls, nearly 60 percent of the public hope that you can return and inherit the throne."

"You know, I'm not ready to inherit the throne." Rong Heng crossed his legs and pretended to be relaxed, but his eyes were fixed on Lucien. "But it's almost time to go back to Xijin."

Even if he doesn't inherit the throne, someone has to clean up these messes.

Rong Heng had his own plan in mind, but he said casually: "But I am short of manpower here. When I return to Sikkim, it will be time to meet other members of the Elders' Council."

The White Robe Council of Elders, founded by Queen Farah, brings together the top elites from all walks of life, a total of thirteen people.

Rong Heng had only met Lucien so far, so the request he made now was reasonable.

But Si Yan understood Rong Heng and knew that he would never do something without a purpose. Since Rong Heng was attacked, the two had cooperated tacitly for nearly two years. They both knew that the other did not completely trust themselves, so they never rashly tested the waters. But now, Rong Heng took the initiative to take the first step.

He must have guessed something, or he must have been certain of his guess. This communication was originally intended to test him.

Si Yan looked helpless and bowed: "Your Highness, you should have guessed that I am the only one in the White Robe Elders Council from beginning to end."

The Council of Elders disintegrated long after Queen Farah's death.

Farah had established the Council of Elders, but before he could make it work, he was killed on the front line. Seeing their ideals shattered, the others went their separate ways. The great elder Lucien wanted to support the prince, but Rong Heng was too young and temperamental at the time, so Lucien did not dare to have too much hope for him and only kept in touch with him.

Moreover, he was too old and had been suffering from serious illness and organ failure in recent years, so he was no longer able to do anything.

Later, Rong Heng was attacked and disappeared. Si Yan learned from the awakened Noah that he was not dead. After several twists and turns, he determined his coordinates. Only then did he think of using Lucien's identity to assist him.

According to his original plan, he was not going to let Rong Heng know his identity. The real Lucien had passed away some time ago. When Rong Heng entered Xijin, he would receive the last words of "Lucien".

It’s a pity that the child was smarter than he thought, and he still couldn’t keep it secret.

The two looked at each other in silence, and neither of them took the initiative to remove the thin layer of window paper.

Rong Heng stared at him for a long while, then suddenly stood up angrily. His movements were so quick and violent that he overturned the chair behind him, which fell to the ground with a dull sound.

Like a wild beast that was mad but had nowhere to vent its anger, he growled at Lucien's image: "Who do you think you are? Do you have to make everyone obey your orders? Do you push them forward?"

"You want to avenge your wife, and I want to avenge my mother! I won't be like those idiots and let you do whatever you want!"

He glared at Si Yan with red eyes, anger rising in his chest. If Si Yan was in front of him at this moment, he would definitely rush up to fight him.

However, Si Yan just looked at him calmly. He no longer pretended to be a man, and his hunched back straightened. Even with his old face and gray hair, he could no longer be mistaken.

"I don't mean to put you aside." He seemed to be considering how to explain. He paused for a long time before speaking again. His voice was still cold, but his eyes showed a rare gentleness: "You are different from them."

"It is my responsibility to avenge Farah, but it is not your responsibility."

He knew too well how tormenting and painful it was to be trapped in hatred and waste away day after day.

This pain was the punishment he deserved, but it was not something Rong Heng should endure.

He was reluctant to do so, and was also afraid that if Farah knew about it, she would blame him and would not forgive him.