136: Chapter 136 Long Time No See

This is the day before the election results of the Human Federation are announced.

According to public perception, the two strongest candidates for Federal Prime Minister are Lin Heng, the leader of the Human Alliance Party, and Tao Lun, the veteran leader of the Mingheng Party.

The Mingheng Party blocked other parties' spots during the nomination phase and forced in two candidates of their own. Logically, these two should have complemented each other, but the result was that they became sworn enemies.

The two Mingheng Party candidates did not attack you; instead, they fought each other until both were severely injured.

This made the entire election outcome a foregone conclusion.

On the day the election results were announced, a special Formation exploded inside the Federal Government building. The explosion had no impact on the election results, but it directly caused the deaths of four Federal officials, injured over sixty people, and caused thousands of casualties among ordinary citizens.

When Noke brought this news to you, it was truly beyond your expectations.

There is no doubt that this was done by the Mingheng Party.

However, what you cannot understand is why they would do this.

At this point, the election result would not change; even if you were elected Federal Prime Minister, you would only have the ability to contend with the Mingheng Party, as their parliamentary seats still firmly hold the top position among all parties in the Human Federation.

"Could it be that the Mingheng Party simply wanted to disrupt the announcement of the results?" Noke said.

You frowned and shook your head: "The result is already set, no amount of sabotage will change it. If they really wanted to stop me from being elected, they should have attacked me during the election campaign."

Mu Xue had just entered the conference room, pulled out a chair to sit down, and had a lollipop in her mouth.

She happened to hear your conversation and interjected: "Then don't think about it anymore."

She glanced at you: "This is a good thing for us, right?"

"Indeed." You nodded, "After this incident, the Mingheng Party's image in the hearts of the public has plummeted to freezing point. Most importantly, our Party Army now has absolute authority to thoroughly investigate this case."

You tapped the table: "Mu Xue, can I leave this matter to you?"

Mu Xue took the lollipop out of her mouth and looked at you, asking: "Are we going to hunt down the murderer?"

You understood what she meant; this time the Party Army had received extremely high authorization, and Mu Xue wanted to use the pretext of investigating the case to conveniently eliminate a group of core members of the Mingheng Party.

"Do as you wish!" You looked at Mu Xue and said with a smile.

Since there is this opportunity, you must severely wound the opponent.

Mu Xue shoved the candy back into her mouth, stood up, and turned to walk out.

She paused at the door, looked back at you, the corner of her eyes curving slightly, and without saying anything, she pushed the door open and left.

Noke stood to the side, looking at the closed door, then at Lin Heng, gave a dry cough, and decided not to ask anything.

Then, the "investigation" into the Mingheng Party began.

Calling it an investigation would be better described as a thorough purge of the Mingheng Party.

Using the name of the Federal Security Bureau, Mu Xue directly mobilized the Federal Army to enter the Imperial Star, and over fifty thousand Mingheng Party cadres were arrested.

The Federal Government received a large number of reports, many of which claimed that Mu Xue's mobilization of the Federal Army into the Imperial Star was treason and would even directly overthrow the Federal Government; some suggested she should be sent to a military tribunal.

The final recipient of these reports was the Prime Minister of the Federal Government; although it was nominally Prime Minister Xiao Tianyu, after the election results came out, he recognized the reality and invited you into the Prime Minister's Office.

Naturally, your decision regarding the results of these reports was to reject them all.

Originally, according to your plan, it would take one hundred years after becoming Federal Prime Minister to control the parliament and hollow out the Mingheng Party, but because of the opponent's baffling actions, this time was greatly shortened, eventually taking only about five years.

"Alright, Elder Tao Lun, now I really want to know why, five years ago, you had to create that explosion when the election results were announced?" You brewed a cup of tea and handed it to the old man opposite you.

The old man was the veteran of the Mingheng Party, Tao Lun. During the era of the Human Emperor, when the Mingheng Party only had three seats in parliament, he had already joined this party; he could be said to be an absolute veteran of the Mingheng Party.

Tao Lun blew on the tea and glanced at you: "If I hadn't done that, would you be able to talk to me like this now?"

He was right; if not for that massive explosion five years ago, the Mingheng Party would at least have had significant weight in parliament.

He took a sip of tea and said: "Because I am a human. The Mingheng Party, after all, is a party relying on the support of alien races. Tsk tsk, it's a pity, it's a pity."

You looked at the old man and said nothing.

...

This is the first year after you became Federal Prime Minister.

Chen Qing was called to your office.

"Transfer this woman from your Propaganda Department to me." You slapped a stack of files onto the table and said to Chen Qing.

Chen Qing looked at the woman's file on the table and was immediately terrified; his pupils contracted sharply.

"Your Highness, the work of this woman named Liu Lin in our Propaganda Department has a special nature." He observed your expression: "Please, Your Highness, forgive me for not being able to transfer her to the Prime Minister's Office!"

You smiled at Chen Qing and said nothing.

Chen Qing looked at you, his throat moving twice as he swallowed.

You remained smiling.

"Your Highness, you already know?" Chen Qing said.

One month before Liu Ziyi's suicide.

Mu Xue was standing by the lakeside in casual clothes; the entire lake was pale green, like a mirror in which one could see countless stars and specks of light.

"Young Miss Liu Ziyi, I wonder what business you have with me?" Mu Xue unwrapped a lollipop, put it in her mouth, and asked.

Liu Ziyi spoke quietly: "I want to die."

Mu Xue was stunned after hearing this.

She picked up a round stone from the ground, threw it toward the lake, and skipped it several times.

Liu Ziyi just watched Mu Xue pick up stones and skip them, counting quietly, until Mu Xue picked up the fourth stone.

Mu Xue asked: "Why?"

"Does Young Miss Mu Xue know about the White Moon Bird?" Liu Ziyi squatted on the ground watching Mu Xue throw the fourth stone.

The stone skipped seven times on the lake surface with a pattering sound.

"Hmm." Mu Xue said: "That seems to be a type of bird in the Moon Spirit Galaxy, known as the least suitable bird for keeping as a pet, though the price is very expensive. I remember someone seemed to have given me one."

"I used the biggest and best cage for it, the finest feed, but in less than a month, that White Moon Bird died." Mu Xue picked up the fifth stone.

Liu Ziyi watched her throw the stone onto the lake; this stone skipped twelve times on the surface.

"Then does Young Miss Mu Xue know why the White Moon Bird is not suitable to be kept?" Liu Ziyi asked.

"I don't know, maybe it's just pretentious." Mu Xue handed Liu Ziyi a lollipop and said.

Liu Ziyi took the lollipop, stood up, and brushed the dust off her body: "Because some birds cannot be caged; every feather on its body shines with the brilliance of freedom."

Mu Xue roughly understood the meaning in Liu Ziyi's words: "You think you are being kept by Lin Heng?"

Liu Ziyi put the lollipop in her mouth and said: "I don't know."

Mu Xue looked at the strange light flashing in Liu Ziyi's eyes, then turned her head to look at the lake: "To be honest, I'm a little envious of you?"

"You want to die too?"

"..." Mu Xue turned her head to look at Liu Ziyi, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.

After a moment of silence, Mu Xue suddenly turned around and stepped onto the lake surface. Spiritual energy condensed into a thin cushion under her feet, supporting her as she stood on the water and walked step by step to the center of the lake.

The lake breeze blew from the opposite shore, pushing her black hair back and revealing her eyes, which were always lazily half-closed.

Mu Xue turned her head to look at Liu Ziyi.

Liu Ziyi also looked at Mu Xue. Mu Xue stood in the center of the lake, the breeze blew past, and she pushed her black hair back.

She turned her head to look at herself, those eyes bright.

Mu Xue raised her hand, her fingers shaped into a pistol, aiming at herself.

"Young Miss Liu Ziyi, then please go die."

"Bang!" Mu Xue said, her fingers making a shooting motion.

Liu Ziyi looked at Mu Xue in the center of the lake and suddenly smiled.

"Then I will trouble you." Liu Ziyi said.

...

Seeing you running over, Mu Xue stood in front of you.

You saw Mu Xue and were stunned.

Mu Xue saw you and was also stunned.

To be honest, Mu Xue had thought of many things to say to you, but the moment she saw you, she couldn't say a word.

It was the first time she had seen you so fragile.

Mu Xue bit her lip and patted your shoulder.

"It was a micro-spiritual energy bullet, it pierced directly through her body."

Mu Xue herself didn't know why she had to explain these things to you; was it to make you believe more firmly that Liu Ziyi was dead?

No, no, now she should tell you that Liu Ziyi is not dead.

How should she say it? Maybe hold up a sign and tell you this is a prank?

"This is a training bullet used by the Federal Army; even if fired at a person, the body will subconsciously mobilize spiritual energy to defend, so nothing will happen."

Well, Mu Xue knew she couldn't say it.

"To be killed by this kind of bullet, there is only one possibility, which is that the person voluntarily released all their spiritual energy, so there is no other possibility except suicide."

You still didn't say a word.

Looking at your silence, Mu Xue scratched her hair; should she hug you now?

"Do you want to eat this?" Mu Xue handed you a lollipop.

You actually didn't want it, how hateful.

"Hey!" Mu Xue sighed: "Then do you want this? The last letter Young Miss Ziyi wrote for you."

Seeing your eyes finally brighten, Mu Xue couldn't help but smile bitterly and handed the letter to you.

She kept the lollipop in her mouth, retreated to the side, and watched you quietly.

The next day, a newcomer named Liu Lin came to the Human Alliance Party's Propaganda Department.

"General, if Your Highness finds out, he will kill us, right?" Chen Qing looked at Mu Xue and said.

"Do you think Lin Heng will kill her?" Mu Xue pointed at Liu Ziyi.

Chen Qing shook his head.

"Then will he kill me?"

Chen Qing shook his head again.

Mu Xue patted Chen Qing's shoulder: "Child, if Lin Heng finds out, he won't kill us, he will only kill you."

Chen Qing felt like he was about to cry; they couldn't play with him like this.

"This is for you." Mu Xue handed Chen Qing a lollipop: "Consider it the reward for helping us."

Chen Qing was helpless and could only smile bitterly as he took the lollipop.

After Mu Xue left the Human Alliance Party's Propaganda Department, she was originally going to return to the warship, but Noke hurriedly found her and said Your Highness wanted to see her.

"What's the matter?" Mu Xue sat casually on a chair with the lollipop in her mouth.

You waved your hand, signaling Noke to leave.

"Do you want a candy?" Mu Xue handed you a lollipop.

"Why aren't you talking? Also, your expression is terrible, Lin Heng!"

You sighed, took Mu Xue's lollipop, and tapped her on the head with the stick.

"Ah!" Mu Xue covered her head: "You hit me?"

She looked at you with an expression of disbelief.

"Some birds cannot be caged, because every feather on them shines with the brilliance of freedom." You tapped Mu Xue on the head again: "Liu Ziyi is not a bird."

Mu Xue pouted: "She said it herself, what does it have to do with me? Besides, you already knew."

"I'll go find Chen Qing, alright?" Mu Xue said.

You tapped Mu Xue on the head again: "Forget it, just let Ziyi stay with Chen Qing."

"Lin Heng!" Mu Xue was like a bristling kitten: "You already took my candy, and you still hit me!"

"Then should I return it to you?" You said.

"I don't want it!" Mu Xue said as she dashed out the door.

Watching Mu Xue's retreating figure, you couldn't help but mutter: "What Life Qi?"

...

Inside the Prime Minister's Office.

The office door was slowly pushed open.

"Your Highness, the person has been brought." Chen Qing looked at you and said: "Then I won't disturb you."

You waved your hand, signaling this guy to get out quickly.

The room quieted down; looking at the woman standing at the door, you took a deep breath.

"Tell me, how long has it been since we last met?" You asked.

"Two years and three months." Liu Ziyi replied.

Looking at her, you couldn't describe your own mood; you had thought you would have Life Qi, worry, feel guilty, etc., but the moment you saw her, you only felt calm, and you just wanted to walk over and hold her properly.

Actually, when you saw the layout of Liu Ziyi's room, you understood that her suicide was a lie to you.

You were selfish; because you needed her, you trapped her, but she was free.

She did not belong exclusively to you.

"Then, Young Miss Ziyi." You walked up to her, reached out, and gently pulled her into your arms: "Long time no see."

Liu Ziyi reached out to hug you back, burying her face in the crook of your shoulder.

She closed her eyes and whispered: "Mm, long time no see."