Chapter 15: …Uncontrollable
The sudden cough broke the spell.
Especially since Ming Fei, flustered by her daughter’s words, was blushing crimson, her cheeks as red as the double-petaled sunflowers in the nearby pots. Zhu Yiqiao, having heard everything, watched her intently, her gaze deep and unreadable. An unspoken tension hung in the air between them. Oblivious to this, Ming Zaozao looked up at Ming Fei with concern.
“Mama.”
Ming Zaozao asked, “Are you sick? Did you catch a cold?”
Ming Fei quickly shook her head. “No, I’m not sick. My throat just tickled a bit.”
Both mother and daughter were wearing light blue pajamas. Ming Zaozao’s pajamas had a strawberry bear embroidered on them, and she wore matching bear paw socks. She grabbed Ming Fei’s hand and pressed her chubby cheek against her palm. Satisfied that Ming Fei wasn’t running a fever, she released her hand.
“See?” she said seriously. “Mama’s not too hot!”
This was a new method of checking for illness that Ming Zaozao had learned from a cartoon, even though the main character was a little fox in the forest. She’d imitated it with great enthusiasm.
Ming Fei, charmed by her daughter, felt the heat in her cheeks subside slightly.
“Thank you for the checkup, Dr. Zaozao.”
Dr. Zaozao then raised another question. “Mama, what’s wrong with your face?”
Ming Fei, still blushing, couldn’t think of a suitable answer.
Ming Zaozao touched her own cheek, then looked at Zhu Yiqiao’s normal-colored face on the screen, and, with an air of profound wisdom, declared, “Baby knows!”
“Mama is like the little fox’s friend, the little bunny,” Ming Zaozao whispered. “The little bunny is very cute, and when the little fox says it likes the bunny, the bunny blushes. Mama is like that too.”
Even though her daughter had whispered, Ming Fei knew 008 would have picked up every word and transmitted it to Zhu Yiqiao, who had likely heard Ming Zaozao’s conclusion in its entirety.
This made Ming Fei blush even harder.
She had always been shy and reserved. At the orphanage, she never tried to stand out in front of potential adoptive parents. She always stood at the back, quietly waiting. Even though she longed for a warm home, she would always defer to her younger “sisters” who needed it more.
Because of her gentle and timid nature, everyone who knew her assumed she would differentiate as an omega or a beta.
It wasn’t until her fifth year in this world, after graduating and choosing to stay at the university, that she gradually became more confident and outgoing while learning to teach. But she still blushed easily when embarrassed, like now. She couldn’t control it, only wait for the heat to subside.
However, faced with Ming Zaozao’s innocent observation and Zhu Yiqiao’s scrutinizing gaze, Ming Fei instinctively denied it.
“…No,” she coughed, “It’s just… warm in here, and I’m wearing too many layers.”
She placed Ming Zaozao on the wicker chair and stood up, preparing to leave the balcony. “Zaozao, you two chat. I’m going to start dinner.”
Ming Zaozao nodded. “Okay!”
“Mm.”
Out of politeness, Ming Fei said to the person on the screen, “Goodbye, Chief Justice Zhu.”
She didn’t wait for a response, hurrying towards the kitchen as if fleeing from a wild beast, almost knocking over a box on the table as she passed.
Ming Zaozao, oblivious to her mother’s flustered state, continued chatting with Zhu Yiqiao, ending the call ten minutes later.
The rain had completely stopped. After dinner, the night sky was dark and starless.
Ming Fei took Ming Zaozao for a walk in the nearby park. Passing the statue of a local historical figure, Ming Zaozao suddenly stopped, walked over, and placed the pink wildflowers she’d picked at the base of the statue.
After completing this small act of tribute, she ran back to Ming Fei, her eyes crinkling into a smile.
“Zaozao is such a good girl.” Ming Fei picked her up with one arm. “Do you want to go see the stone bridge?”
“Yes!”
After walking a few steps, Ming Zaozao asked softly, “Mama, what does Pretty Auntie do?”
Her understanding of Zhu Yiqiao’s profession came mostly from Lan Lubai and Min Man. Due to the Court’s complex nature, their explanations had been vague. Ming Fei had rarely discussed Zhu Yiqiao’s position and accomplishments with her daughter, so Ming Zaozao only had a hazy understanding.
This wasn’t a difficult question to answer, especially with 008, the intelligent robot, accompanying them.
Its white display screen showed emojis conveying admiration and respect, and it began reciting Zhu Yiqiao’s credentials.
“Baby, Chief Justice Zhu is the current Chief Justice of the Court of the Yi Meng Independent State.”
008’s robotic voice was cheerful. “According to official records, Chief Justice Zhu joined the military eight years ago and was exceptionally selected for the Zhong Meng Elite Squad after only one year. During her year with the Elite Squad, Chief Justice Zhu completed several high-risk missions in the Bei Xia Bay sub-battlefield and, on July 12, 160 NE, successfully eliminated the Lieutenant General leading the Bay campaign.”
Since Ming Zaozao was only two years and two months old, 008 censored some details of Zhu Yiqiao’s past. “On September 25, 160 NE, Chief Justice Zhu was transferred to the Ares Special Forces, directly under the Yi Meng Independent State Military Department. This unit comprises the military’s most elite personnel and is the most highly trained force since the founding of the Independent State.”
“On December 11, 160 NE, Chief Justice Zhu was deployed to the main battlefield, earning numerous distinguished service medals, gaining international recognition, and within just three years, achieving the rank of Colonel, receiving the highest military honors and ten of the Yi Meng Independent State’s most prestigious medals.”
Hearing this, Ming Zaozao clapped enthusiastically.
“Auntie is so amazing!”
If Ming Fei hadn’t been holding Ming Zaozao, she would have joined in the applause upon hearing the date 160 NE. She understood better than Ming Zaozao how difficult it was to achieve such feats.
That was why she had always deeply respected and admired the Chief Justice.
“Is there more?” Ming Zaozao wanted to know more. “Huahua, Baby wants to hear more!”
“Okay, Baby ^^”
008 continued, “On December 5, 163 NE, the decade-long Soga Campaign ended in a decisive victory. This was the most significant war for the Yi Meng Independent State in the past thirty years. The commanding officer who led this campaign to victory was none other than Chief Justice Zhu, then a Colonel.”
“Many soldiers who participated in this campaign praised Chief Justice Zhu in their reports. They understood the brutality and danger of war better than the citizens of the Yi Meng Independent State, and they also knew better than anyone the exceptional qualities of Chief Justice Zhu.”
“But unfortunately, this brilliant military star officially retired on December 30, 163 NE.”
“On January 6, 164 NE, the former Colonel Zhu was appointed by the current monarch to the Court, directly assuming the position of Deputy Executive Officer, second only to the Chief Justice.”
“In her second year, during the annual performance review, Chief Justice Zhu exposed the criminal activities of the then-Chief Justice Lian, presenting irrefutable evidence of her crimes to the public.”
“On September 15, 166 NE, under the banner of the Yi Meng Independent State, the monarch officially appointed Zhu Yiqiao as the new Chief Justice. Since then, Chief Justice Zhu has held significant power, leading the privileged institution of the Court, becoming the youngest Chief Justice in the history of the Yi Meng Independent State.”
008 concluded, “Even as a robot, I would like to present a bouquet of flowers to this Chief Justice. To praise her, to celebrate her, and to remember her even centuries from now is something every citizen of the Independent State would do.”
Ming Zaozao clapped until her hands were red.
A gentle breeze rustled through the trees. Ming Fei adjusted her daughter’s jacket. “Are you cold, Zaozao?”
“Not cold!”
Ming Fei, as if performing a magic trick, pulled a hat out of her large pocket and put it on Ming Zaozao.
Ming Zaozao beamed, her dimples showing. “Thank you, Mama!”
008 started playing a cheerful melody. Ming Fei glanced at its display and saw the song title was “Great Mother.” She then instructed 008 to stop the music.
Under the dim moonlight, the stone bridge over the lake resembled a pale crescent moon. As Ming Fei slowed her pace, her gaze sweeping across the distant lake markers, a sense of unease crept into her heart.
After the gene theft list was released, how would Zhu Yiqiao… treat them?
Would Zhu Yiqiao want to… take Zaozao away?
Out of guilt and remorse for unknowingly using her genetic sample, Ming Fei could accept any of Zhu Yiqiao’s demands. But she wouldn’t yield on this matter. If it came to that, what would she do?
“September 28, 167 New Era, 14:21, apparent temperature 18°C, humidity 60%, visibility 20km—”
The broadcast ended. Arriving at the university, Ming Fei turned off the car’s systems, grabbed her briefcase, and stepped out.
There hadn’t been any rain in Xi He City recently. The roads were spotless, thanks to the cleaning robots. Ming Fei, dressed in a cream-colored trench coat, stopped by a plum tree.
Three students were sitting on a bench beside the tree, looking at their phones, their voices filled with excitement.
“Chief Justice Zhu is back!!”
“Does that mean the gene theft list is about to be released?” the girl with crimson hair exclaimed. “The Court is so efficient! Chief Justice Zhu was in Taiya Kingdom for only a week, and five Taiya Kingdom officials have been arrested! They even apprehended a military captain with the help of the local police.”
“So many people are involved. I never imagined the SE Group had such deep roots.”
As the students continued their animated discussion, Ming Fei’s thoughts came to a standstill. She was happy about the Court’s progress but also nervous about Zhu Yiqiao’s return.
Nervous that Zhu Yiqiao might return to Huifu Gardens.
Even more nervous about Zhu Yiqiao’s next move.
Zhu Yiqiao had said she would release the gene theft list upon her return, so—
The vibration of her phone interrupted her worries. She turned towards the library, took out her phone, and her expression changed slightly as she saw the caller ID.
[Chief Justice Zhu]
Ming Fei pressed her lips together, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.
During the past week, she had only sent text messages to Zhu Yiqiao, never overstepping the boundaries and only discussing matters related to Ming Zaozao. Whenever Ming Zaozao video called Zhu Yiqiao, Ming Fei would excuse herself, making sure she wasn’t visible on screen.
But now, she had no way out.
Ming Fei took a deep breath, composing herself before answering the call.
The sun was shining brightly, making the lake beside the library sparkle. The shimmering water reflected in Ming Fei’s eyes. She clenched her hand slightly, her voice soft as she spoke.
“Chief Justice Zhu.”
She asked preemptively, “Is there something I can help you with?”