After the Princess's Royal Guard Fleet left, Zhao Chen also said goodbye to Teacher Qin, Su Lan, and Xue Xiaoxiao. The three of them would return to the North Star Academy with the North Star Academy's fleet.
Zhao Chen returned to the Starship's Bridge.
As he stepped onto the Bridge, several gazes fell upon him.
Among them, Zhao Wan'er crossed her arms, squinting at Zhao Chen before glancing at the slightly blushing Chu Xuan. "Big brother, tell me, since when did I get a sister-in-law?"
"And you even became the Chu family's grandson-in-law? Not bad at all."
"Wan'er, I told you! There must be some misunderstanding!" Chu Xuan jumped in frustration, not even daring to meet Zhao Chen's eyes at this moment.
What on earth was that old man of hers trying to do?
"I didn't expect Governor Chu's arrangement either."
"However, this relationship between Chu Xuan and me is likely just a gimmick, something temporarily decided just to ensure my safety," Zhao Chen explained.
Zhao Wan'er looked at Zhao Chen and then at Chu Xuan, temporarily accepting the reason. "True, how could the Chu family possibly want you as a grandson-in-law, big brother?"
Chu Xuan kept sending communication requests to her grandfather, but they were all rejected.
Instead, the Bridge of the T3 Blizzard, which had just left the Starport and was approaching the Chu Family Fleet, received a message. It was from the T4 Boreas-class Heavy Interstellar Battleship, signed by Chu Changhe.
The content was that Chu Changhe wanted to pay a visit to Zhao Chen's T3 Blizzard.
Governor Chu wanted to come to his T3 Blizzard?
This arrangement was somewhat unexpected for Zhao Chen. He didn't know whether to say the old man was bold enough to dare enter someone else's Starship...
...or if he truly trusted him completely.
Chu Xuan and Zhao Wan'er also saw the message, but the form of address on it made Chu Xuan's cheeks turn even redder.
"Precious grandson-in-law?"
Chu Xuan was so embarrassed and indignant that she wished she could go and pluck that old fellow's beard right now!
"Let's go welcome him," Zhao Chen said.
He was an Imperial Duke and a Governor-General, after all. Since he was willing to come to Zhao Chen's Starship despite the risks, it was only natural to welcome him.
"Mhm." Zhao Wan'er nodded. Although she was surprised by Zhao Chen and Chu Xuan's new status, she was also very curious about this legendary Marshal.
"Charlotte, have the Starship continue sailing at a constant speed, following the Chu Family Fleet," Zhao Chen ordered.
Zhao Chen's T3 Blizzard and the Chu Family Fleet were currently traveling at a constant speed toward the Lantian Star System's Starport.
"Yes," Charlotte accepted the order.
Zhao Chen and the others also headed to the Starship's hangar to wait ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) for Governor Chu's shuttle.
During this time, Zhao Wan'er asked about the Royal Fleet and learned that her big brother had actually been promoted to an Imperial Viscount.
But considering Zhao Chen's rescue of the teachers and students of the Two Academies, this reward was indeed reasonable.
Soon, a shuttle docked in the hangar, and the hatch opened.
Only an old man and an officer acting as a guard stepped out.
A grand Five-Star Marshal only brought one guard?
This was a bit too confident.
"Grandson-in-law, here's a little gift for our first meeting. They're all specialties from the Chu River Star Region!" Governor Chu said with a kind expression, carrying a gift box. He wasn't wearing a military uniform, but loose casual clothes.
At first glance, it really looked like relatives visiting each other.
"Meeting... meeting my foot!" Chu Xuan rushed in front of her grandfather in shame and anger. "You... you better explain this to me! What on earth is this 'grandson... grandson... in-law' thing about?!"
"Oh my, my granddaughter is actually shy."
"Ever since you met my grandson-in-law, haven't you been mentioning him to me all the time, saying how this and that about him is good?"
"After the first meeting, you even insisted on going to the Arctic Fox Starport to find him."
"Then, after I brought you back to the family, you insisted on going to the North Star Academy to find Little Zhao. When I didn't let you, you threw a huge tantrum."
"Sigh... when a girl grows up, she can't be kept at home..."
"And then, who would have thought you'd actually sneak onto his Starship!"
"If it weren't for Little Zhao's great skill, do you know that by going to the Zerg's Dead End this time, you might have ended up as bug food?" Governor Chu said solemnly, tapping Chu Xuan's head with his hand.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wan'er looked at Chu Xuan with a subtle gaze.
Chu Xuan, this tough woman who didn't fear bugs on the battlefield, was now blushing so hard it looked like she might bleed.
"What... what are you talking about!" Chu Xuan stamped her feet in anxiety.
Governor Chu squinted and said with a smile, "Are you saying what I just said isn't true?"
Chu Xuan was stunned. What her grandfather said just now was indeed true, but the problem was that those things didn't happen like that. Why did it sound so different coming from her grandfather's mouth?
"Besides, didn't I go to the North Star Academy because you wanted me to get in touch with Zhao Chen!"
How did it turn into me desperately chasing after Zhao Chen?
But Chu Xuan couldn't say that out loud.
This left Chu Xuan with a feeling like a mute eating yellow lotus, unable to speak of the bitterness.
"Alright, I'll explain it to you properly in a bit." Governor Chu patted his granddaughter's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Would Grandpa ever harm you?"
Although she was ashamed and indignant at her grandfather's behavior...
...Chu Xuan knew that her grandfather would never do anything to hurt her.
"If there isn't a reasonable explanation later, see if I don't pluck out all your whiskers!" Chu Xuan said with a fierce look.
"Grand... Little Zhao, could you show me around this legendary Starship?" Governor Chu smiled and walked to Zhao Chen's side. He originally wanted to say "grandson-in-law," but seeing Chu Xuan's hand poised and ready, Governor Chu rarely backed down for the sake of his precious beard.
"This way, please," Zhao Chen invited Governor Chu.
Governor Chu smiled and looked at Zhao Wan'er and the others beside Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen immediately understood the meaning. "Wan'er, you guys go to the Bridge first and help me see what kind of good things the Princess sent earlier. If you like them, just divide them among yourselves."
He couldn't sell them anyway, so if they liked them, he might as well give them to them.
"Alright." Zhao Wan'er saw that her brother wanted to have a private talk with this Governor-General Chu He and tactfully left.
"Chu Xuan, go share these specialties from the Chu River Star Region I brought with those kids." Governor Chu handed the gift box to Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan was no fool either. She rolled her eyes at her grandfather. "I'm waiting for your explanation. If I'm not satisfied... hmph, I'm not done with you!"
Everyone else left, leaving only the guard officer who followed Governor Chu by Zhao Chen and Governor Chu's side.
That officer also tactfully followed a few meters behind Zhao Chen and Governor Chu, leaving plenty of private space for the two.
"I want to ask, were those actions of yours during the mission to rescue the teachers and students of the Two Academies intentional? What was your purpose?" Governor Chu asked Zhao Chen as they walked, hands behind his back.
Zhao Chen didn't answer directly but instead asked back, "Why did Governor Chu say I'm your grandson-in-law? I wonder what your purpose is in that?"
