Chapter 27: Initiating Intimacy

The chaos within the imperial palace remained unknown to the outside world for the time being.

As for the upcoming court ball, Nian Tu did not share Lu Zhan’s concerns regarding the royal family's schemes. Her worries were much simpler: she did not know how to dance.

She had never encountered social dancing while on Earth, and the dances here seemed even more difficult and complex. As a male from a waste planet, Lu Zhan’s knowledge of ballroom dancing was also limited to the courses he had taken in school. Like his cooking classes, he had never been interested in them, so he had barely scraped a passing grade. Even if he wanted to teach Nian Tu, he lacked the ability.

Xion’s proficiency was quite good—enough to serve as Nian Tu’s teacher—but he had to depart from the Central Planet immediately to return to the 286th Legion base. He swore that, this time, he was definitely not deceiving Nian Tu. As the supreme commander of the 286th Legion, he could not be away from his base for long. He had already been on leave for half a month since accompanying Nian Tu to the Central Planet, reaching the maximum duration allowed.

Lu Zhan’s leave was longer than Xion’s, and he was already in the process of transferring his position to the Central Planet, which would allow him to stay and keep Nian Tu company. Nian Tu felt she didn't need anyone to accompany her; she wasn't a minor and could live independently. However, Xion and Lu Zhan insisted that at least one of them remain by her side to take care of her. This was their duty as her guardians.

Xion donned his uniform, adjusted his attire, and promised Nian Tu with an apologetic look, "I will come back often."

The base was located in a remote area. The journey from the Central Planet to the base required three space jumps; even on the fastest military spacecraft, a round trip consumed two days of travel. "Coming back often" meant Xion would frequently be exhausted by such travel.

Nian Tu felt tired just thinking about it. She suggested, "Let me go to the base with you."

Her identity had been entered into the system, and she now held Imperial citizenship. Her mission to the Central Planet was complete, so there was no absolute need for her to stay here. She didn’t want Xion to exhaust himself traveling back and forth for her sake, nor did she want Lu Zhan to transfer his job on her account. Wherever they worked, she could simply follow them.

Xion’s expression softened, laced with helplessness. Being clung to by his little female made his heart melt entirely. He believed no other male in the entire Empire enjoyed such treatment. In the past, at the legion, he would often hear his married subordinates sighing about how indifferent their wives were, how they never missed them, and how they would never take the initiative to contact them.

Xion knew Nian Tu was unlike those cold-hearted females, but he had never expected her to be so reluctant to part with him, even wishing to follow him to the base. Touched, he shook his head and explained, "Females must reside on high-level planets. Where I am stationed is too remote; it wouldn't be safe for you."

The Central Planet was the heart of the Empire and the seat of the imperial palace—it was an absolute high-level planet. In contrast, the 286th Legion base was located on a mid-level planet, and the surrounding planets it guarded were low-level ones with very little development, making it one of the most desolate and remote areas in the Empire. Imperial law forbade females from living in such places; even an occasional visit required layers of reports and official approval.

Upon hearing this, Nian Tu’s little face was instantly filled with disappointment. She listlessly changed into her outdoor clothes and reached out to tug at Xion’s sleeve. If she couldn't go to the base, she would at least see him off.

When they had arrived at the Central Planet, the military spacecraft they traveled on belonged to the 286th Regiment of the White Tiger Legion. The ship had been docked at the nearest military garrison base all these days. The subordinate in charge of piloting the ship had received news of the departure that morning and had been waiting for Xion for quite some time. Seeing Xion arrive late, he couldn't wait to rush up and tease him