Starry Empire - Imperial Capital
"What did you say? You lost them?"
"The Princess Fleet has so many interstellar warships, and you're telling me they've vanished into thin air and their whereabouts are unknown? You can't find them?" Qin Ming glared angrily at his younger brother, Qin Hu, who was communicating with him to report the situation.
With a melancholy expression, Qin Hu said helplessly, "I have ordered a large number of interstellar warships to conduct a thorough search around the star system where the princess fleet disappeared, but we have indeed found no trace of them."
"Shut up! That's not what I want to hear right now!"
When I assigned you this task, I gave you countless instructions!
"You absolutely must kill Qin Xiaolei. What did you promise me?"
Veins bulged on Qin Ming's face. He paced back and forth, then angrily pointed at Qin Hu: "Has your arrogant temper flared up again?"
Qin Hu lowered his head guiltily.
If he hadn't wanted to toy with the princess's fleet like a cat playing with a mouse, perhaps the subsequent incident wouldn't have happened.
Qin Ming knows his younger brother best. He's good at everything, except that he sometimes relapses into his old habits on the battlefield.
"You...you..." Qin Ming felt like he was about to be driven mad by his younger brother.
"Ming'er is alright... Although Ah Hu is partly responsible, this is the situation now."
No matter how much you scold Ah Hu, it's no use.
Instead of arguing here, brothers should think of a solution.
Moreover, the most important thing now is how to consolidate the power of the Star Empire.
Although we currently hold the initiative, there are still many people within the Star Empire who are not convinced by us.
"We must find a way to consolidate our power before that guy dies, and then let you succeed to the throne smoothly!" Consort Zhen came out at this moment to comfort her son.
When Qin Ming saw his mother intervene, he stopped scolding his younger brother and just glared at him a few times in anger at his lack of ambition.
Qin Ming calmed himself down.
"The search for Qin Xiaolei cannot be delayed; we must find this woman!"
In addition, there is the current situation in the empire.
Of the eight star regions, the Starry Central Star Region and the Azure Star Region are completely under our control.
The Snow Swallow Starfield and the Azure Moon Starfield are close to us.
The regions that did not express their stance were the Zisu Star Region, the Pegasus Star Region, the Chuhe Star Region, and the North Wind Star Region. Qin Ming raised his hand and opened the map of the Star Glory Empire.
"Therefore, my plan is to take a three-pronged approach: first, to consolidate our relationship with the Snow Swallow Star Region and the Azure Moon Star Region; second, to win over the Purple Perilla Star Region and the Pegasus Star Region through marriage alliances, bestowal of titles and other means."
Third, weaken the Chuhe Star Region and the Beifeng Star Region, and prepare for military suppression.
"The Chuhe Star Region is the strongest star region. Isn't there any possibility of winning it over?" Consort Zhen asked with some concern.
Qin Ming smiled coldly: "That old bastard Chu Changhe is protecting the Empress in his own residence; his attitude is already very clear."
Although he had always been a neutral party, now that he has chosen to protect the Queen, he is on the opposite side of us.
The North Wind Star Region has always been in cahoots with the Chu River Star Region.
Therefore, these two star systems are two stubborn obstacles we must stumble over.
Consort Zhen understood her son's thoughts, and she continued, "But if we take direct action against them, it will definitely affect our current reputation."
"After all, you haven't even ascended the throne yet, and you're already targeting families that have guarded the frontier for thousands of years. What will other interstellar powers and powerful families think of this?"
"Then I'll force them to rebel first!" Qin Ming said coldly.
"Didn't you already plan this beforehand? Summon Chu Changhe back to the Imperial Capital Star, take the opportunity to place him under house arrest, and force the Chu family fleet in the Chuhe Star Region to rebel."
But now, the Chu family fleet is completely still; your plan has failed.
"Do you really intend to kill Chu Changhe on the capital planet to force the Chu family fleet to betray you? Wouldn't that be shooting yourself in the foot?" Consort Zhen said.
Qin Ming said, "I never expected that Chu Changhe's granddaughter could be so patient."
However, my methods are not that simple.
Moreover, there's no rush. Let me first consolidate the Zisu Star Region and the Pegasus Star Region.
Even if we really go to war with the Chuhe Star Region and the Beifeng Star Region, we'll have the confidence to win quickly!
"Oh right, I have some information here."
When I ambushed the princess's fleet before, an unidentified interstellar fleet came to our aid; it was very powerful.
A mere three hundred interstellar warships could overwhelm our three legion fleets.
Although the models of those interstellar warships are unknown, some of them are very similar to several interstellar warships currently in service in the Xiaolong system of the North Wind Starfield.
"Brother, could this be a reason for us to take action?" Qin Hu suddenly thought of this.
"The Xiaolong Galaxy?" Qin Ming squinted, recalling information related to this place.
He recalled the young lord who had become famous in one battle during the Zerg disaster in the Azure Starfield.
There's also the guy who jumped two ranks during the Zerg catastrophe in the North Wind Starfield, becoming the youngest marquis.
Most importantly, it is rumored that he is also the son-in-law of the Chu family, and the future grandson-in-law of Chu Changhe.
Qin Ming's lips curled up slightly: "This is indeed a good opportunity."
We will use the pretext that the Dragon Lord is suspected of being a traitor to the Princess in the Dragon Star System to force the North Wind Star Region to hand over the Dragon Lord!
If the North Wind Star Region does not hand over the spoils, we can take advantage of the situation to launch a military campaign against it. If the Chu family dares to send troops to support the North Wind Star Region at this time, they will be guilty of collateral damage!
"If the Chu family doesn't send troops, then the Chu family's reputation will collapse. If the North Wind Star Region, which claims to be your sworn brothers, refuses to help you in your time of need, then is the Chu family still the number one family in the Star Glory Empire?!"
Consort Zhen, who was standing to the side, also saw through her son's scheme. She sneered, "What if the North Wind Star Region hands over this Dragon Lord?"
This person is the future grandson-in-law of the Chu family, which is tantamount to sowing discord between the North Wind Star Region and the Chu River Star Region.
Brilliant!
Son, when are you planning to make your move?
"No rush, let's calm things down first and deal with the Zisu Star Region and the Pegasus Star Region."
"Let the shells fly for a while longer." Qin Ming said, his hands behind his back and his eyes half-closed.
He had already begun to fantasize about becoming the new generation of Star Emperor.
...
In a quiet residence on the planet of the capital.
"Chu Changhe, come to pay your respects to the Empress." A voice rang out outside a courtyard.
There was no sound inside the room.
Chu Changhe called out a few more times, but there was still no response. He slowly pushed open the door.
In the courtyard, a woman with disheveled hair was sitting in a chair, with a holographic image playing in front of her.
The figure in the holographic image is the deceased eldest prince.
The disheveled, unkempt woman before them was none other than the Empress.
Seeing the Empress's state of mind, Chu Changhe sighed deeply.
Because of the death of the eldest prince, the empress became despondent and listless, unwilling to believe the fact that the eldest prince had passed away.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, you once saved my granddaughter Chu Xuan's life."
I, Chu Changhe, do not participate in partisan disputes, but I will always remember your kindness.
As long as I, Chu Changhe, am alive, no one will dare to touch a single hair on your head.
Regarding the whereabouts of the little princess, I have also secretly sent people to search for her, and I will ensure her safety.” After Chu Changhe finished speaking, he looked at the Empress.
The Empress still had a dazed look in her eyes, and she even raised her hand to try to touch the eldest prince in the holographic projection, whispering the eldest prince's nickname.
Chu Changhe sighed and silently left the courtyard.
