Chapter 22: Chief Judge Zhu’s Secret
When early winter arrived in the Ole Empire, the magnificent main hall of the palace would be filled with fragrant Lita flowers.
This was the origin of the name of Princess Eloris Anrui of the northern Anrui family.
—Eloris Anrui.
A beautiful name, like a flower, signifying beauty, purity, and blessings.
However, this princess, once praised by the Anrui family as the most gentle and dignified, was suddenly reported dead just as she was about to come of age. It was also in that year that an exceptionally outstanding new student appeared in the Southern Military Academy.
Her name had only three characters.
—Zhu Yiqiao.
“Chief Zhu, are you ready?”
At that time, seventeen-year-old Zhu Yiqiao, among a group of alphas and betas, was only of slightly above average height. But her proportions were excellent, and with her narrow waist cinched by the uniform belt, it was hard to associate this slender alpha with the one who broke the explosive power test record.
“Mm.” Zhu Yiqiao put on her military cap. “Let’s go.”
“Let’s move out.”
The cheerful and enthusiastic female alpha classmate reached out to put her arm around Zhu Yiqiao’s shoulder, but just as she was about to get close, Zhu Yiqiao sidestepped her.
“Sorry,” Zhu Yiqiao said softly. “I don’t like physical contact.”
The alpha retracted her hand and scratched her head: “It’s okay, it’s my fault, I’m used to it.”
Then, to avoid embarrassment, the alpha tried to change the subject: “Chief Zhu, have you heard? Princess Lorya of the Anrui family is going to marry into the Sain family.”
“Is that so?”
“The accuracy of this news is 99%.” The alpha continued, “Because my alpha mother has business dealings with the Anrui family, she told me this news. If Princess Lorya successfully marries into the Sain family, then the Anrui family can gain the support of the Sain family and the Resetuer Group.”
Zhu Yiqiao’s voice was indifferent: “Mm.”
Perhaps because her reaction was too apathetic, the alpha felt that she wasn’t interested in this matter, so she brought up another topic.
“Then, Chief Zhu, you know Princess Eloris, right?”
“—I do.”
The two walked along the apricot tree-lined path covered with snowflakes. There were few passersby along the way, and even the cleaning robots responsible for clearing the snow were nowhere to be seen. The heavy snow connected the horizon, a vast expanse of white as far as the eye could see.
The alpha didn’t notice the reaction of the person beside her, continuing to talk to herself: “Although Princess Eloris rarely appears in public, my mother said that her appearance is too aggressive, not like an omega at all. And many people speculate that Princess Eloris had an accident because she was trying to escape an arranged marriage.”
Zhu Yiqiao’s gaze was calm and as cold as the icicles hanging from the branches.
“Escape marriage?”
The alpha waved her hand: “This is all what I saw on the forum. Everyone thinks that Princess Eloris is too proud, and even looks down on the alphas of the Sain family.”
“Omegas should marry alphas, stay at home and take care of the family. Isn’t that the first principle taught at the Omega Noble Academy?”
Having said that, the alpha, who had been looking straight ahead, suddenly turned to observe the other person’s attitude: “Chief Zhu, what do you think?”
However, the alpha, who had been the top student since entering the school and was hailed by all the students, and even the instructors, as the next sharp blade of the North, looked at her with an icy gaze, as if looking at trash.
“—I don’t think so.”
The alpha was long used to the chief’s coldness. She shrugged indifferently, as if she didn’t care about her answer, sticking to her own opinion from beginning to end.
“That’s the Empire’s answer.”
“I agree with the Empire. If Chief Zhu doesn’t agree, I won’t argue with you.” A fake smile reappeared on her face. “Chief Zhu, next time I’ll take you to the Omega Noble Academy to have a look.”
“You know? The omegas there are all gentle and well-behaved, speaking softly. I think no one would refuse such an omega.” After saying that, she frowned in confusion. “I heard that Princess Eloris was the most outstanding student there, then why would she refuse an arranged marriage and run away…?”
The cold wind scattered her voice, and the chill in the air made her shiver. When she subconsciously looked at the person beside her again, she found that Zhu Yiqiao had already walked far away.
“According to the latest discoveries of the Academy of Sciences, there seems to be an anomaly in the universe. Some experts predict that perhaps transmigration…”
The latest scientific discoveries were being broadcast throughout the vast campus. Zhu Yiqiao, turning onto a side path, suddenly slowed down. Her expression remained unchanged, but her right hand gripped the electronic gun at her waist. A bullet shot out from the muzzle, piercing the moving target in the distant shooting range.
Although electronic guns weren’t as lethal as real firearms, they still posed a certain risk of injury. Therefore, only the top student who scored full marks in the military academy assessments could be granted an exception to carry one.
After the first bullet was fired, the second bullet immediately hit the bullseye of a fixed target next to it.
After the third, fourth, and fifth bullets were used up, Zhu Yiqiao removed the electronic gun and put it back at her waist. She turned and left the shooting range, a slight change in her frosty expression, her dark eyebrows furrowed, a deep disgust swirling in her blue eyes.
She hated alphas.
Most alphas were arrogant, conceited, stupid, ugly, and vulgar, but in order to successfully enter the military academy, she had to disguise herself as an alpha. Because the Ole Empire had issued a regulation a hundred years ago that only alphas or betas could apply to the military academy.
However—
She was an omega.
An omega who, after being predicted to differentiate as an omega since childhood, was sent to the Omega Noble Academy for study and discipline.
In the Ole Empire, omegas had no right to enter the military academy for study. The so-called Omega Noble Academy, or Omega School, focused on teaching courses like flower arranging, tea art, etiquette, makeup, etc., and she had absolutely no interest in these.
To be honest, she could calmly accept her omega identity. More accurately, she could accept all of herself, whether good or bad, whether omega, alpha, or beta, she could accept it unconditionally and consistently.
Because—she was herself.
But she hated the Ole Empire’s discipline, definition, and alienation of omegas. Before she was predicted to differentiate into an omega, this hatred had already planted a seed in her heart, taking root and sprouting, and she didn’t want those so-called omega courses and excellent alpha partners at all.
What she truly wanted—was wealth, power, and to become a true decision-maker.
It had always been this way since she was a child.
Therefore, she obediently studied the courses at the Omega Noble Academy on the surface, but secretly used all her time to strengthen herself. Because the fastest way to gain power in the Ole Empire was to become an excellent general, and she was also very interested in joining the army.
And after setting this as her goal, she had never slacked off for a moment.
At first, she tried to communicate with her mother, but her mother… didn’t understand her thoughts.
When she was still Princess Eloris, her omega mother would teach her every week—how to be an excellent omega. And the excellence her mother defined was to become an excellent partner for an alpha.
“Eloris, an omega cannot have a cold expression. Coldness creates a sense of aggression, and omegas should be gentle.”
“Eloris, you must become the most outstanding omega in the North and marry the most outstanding alpha in the North.”
“Eloris, starting tomorrow, you must learn…”
The floodgates of memory opened, countless words and images replayed in her mind again. Zhu Yiqiao remembered the last moment before her omega mother passed away.
Her omega mother was born into a noble family. After differentiating, she was engaged to her alpha mother, who was also a noble, and they officially married the following year. In their decades of love and companionship, they were a model couple envied by everyone. Whenever anyone mentioned her alpha mother, they would praise her omega partner who had devoted everything to the family.
But on their thirtieth wedding anniversary, her omega mother discovered that her alpha partner had been unfaithful, even… having a child outside of their marriage.
For various reasons, her omega mother didn’t choose to leave. After that, her mother endured, suffered, and was repeatedly tormented by the past training, so much so that at the end of the following summer, when she discovered her partner’s infidelity again, she suffered a complete mental breakdown.
No matter how much time passed, Zhu Yiqiao would always remember that day.
The fire was burning, and the daylight was scorching. Her omega mother lay in the hospital bed, emaciated, thin as a skeleton. Her gentle face was the same as before, but it no longer had any vitality, like a dissipating cloud.
And this omega mother, who had taught her so much, had also loved her with all her heart.
At the end of her life, her mother held her hand and, with the last of her strength, gently stroked her face.
“Eloris, go pursue the life you want.”
“Mother knows what you want. Go, my child.”
“Cough… cough… Mother is sorry for all the things you didn’t like in the past. I apologize to you, Eloris.”
Tears welled up in her eyes: “Mother has prepared everything for you. You no longer have to be bound by these things.”
“Leave here, Eloris, go where you want to go.”
Finally, the candle of life burned out. As her eyes filled with tears, she heard her omega mother softly say, filled with love,
“…Eloris, I love you.
“I… will always love you.”
“Beep—”
“0619 at your service. The time is 23:59, October 17, 167 New Calendar. A new day is about to begin. Heavy rain is expected at 3 am, and the rain will continue—”
In the spacious and bright living room, the crystal chandelier clearly illuminated Ming Fei’s expression. After 0619, ordered to announce the time, entered sleep mode, Zhu Yiqiao looked down at Ming Fei, pinching her chin. Her gloved right hand exerted a slight force, as if reminding her to answer the question.
The pear fragrance in the air became stronger.
Ming Fei, silent for a long time, suppressed the surprise in her eyes, and as she gave her answer, she also offered her sincerity.
“…Yes, I am.”
She asked softly, uncertainly, “Then… what about Jiejie?”