ABFMV Chapter 30

Admiral Peter broke into a cold sweat. “Madam, you must be joking.”

He kept a smile on his face for a moment, then cautiously asked, “I heard your daughter ran into a bit of… trouble on her way to choosing a major?”

At those words, Rong Ruyue lifted her eyes. “I’d nearly forgotten if you hadn’t mentioned it, Admiral. Linlang was able to get into the Manufacturing Department and even be taken in as Elder Jiang’s apprentice, thanks in no small part to your help. I had no idea you were such a warm-hearted man. I really must thank you properly.”

At her signal, a retainer stepped forward respectfully, holding a flat wooden case. He opened it right in front of Admiral Peter.

Inside lay a sheer silk robe, glimmering under the light with a rainbow sheen, delicate as a cicada’s wing.

One glance was enough to see it was priceless, made from the finest material.

Admiral Peter waved his hand. “I can’t possibly accept such a gift, Madam. Besides, my wife has little interest in clothes or finery. Even if you gave her this robe, it would be pearls before swine.”

Rong Ruyue chuckled. “You misunderstand, Admiral. This robe isn’t for your wife—it’s for you.”

Admiral Peter froze. “For me?”

He was a grown man, and she was giving him a gauzy silk robe?

He racked his brain but couldn’t think of any deeper meaning, and in the end, reluctantly accepted it.

Truth be told, given Rong Ruyue’s temperament, the fact that she wasn’t handing him a burial shroud was a blessing enough. Fine then—if it’s just a robe, he could always toss it once he got home.

But Rong Ruyue’s attendant carefully lifted the robe and, with great ceremony, draped it over Admiral Peter’s shoulders.

Peter waved his hands frantically, practically screaming “no” with his whole body, but the attendant ignored him, fastening the sash snugly so that he was fully dressed in it.

Xu Linlang sneaked a glance and couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.

That robe was clearly meant for a woman. On Admiral Peter, it looked flamboyantly out of place—add in his baffled expression, and the sight was downright comical.

Rong Ruyue simply arched a brow and gave him an appraising look. “This robe is woven from the silk of luminous silkworms. It actually suits you quite well.”

Only then did Peter understand her intent. Rong Ruyue was mocking him—hinting he had spun his own cocoon and trapped himself.

She was making sport of him.

But he couldn’t lash out, because she was right. He’d brought this humiliation on himself.

If he hadn’t meddled, Xu Linlang would have ended up in the Mech Repair Department, with no ties whatsoever to the Mech Manufacturing Department.

Xu Linlang watched his pitiful, uncomfortable state and politely twisted the knife: “Thank you so much, Admiral. Let’s consider this robe the Xu family’s token of gratitude. I hope you’ll continue looking after me.”

Admiral Peter forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. She called it a token of thanks, but it was more like an insult.

Maintaining his strained smile, he finally got to the point. “The truth is, His Majesty wishes to meet Linlang. He said that her being accepted as Elder Jiang’s disciple brings great honor to the royal family, and he intends to reward the Xu household.”

Rong Ruyue’s face remained impassive. “So, you mean His Majesty is summoning Linlang to the palace?”

Peter nodded. “Yes. His Majesty specifically instructed that you, Madam, needn’t come along. Instead, he named the student Qiye to accompany Miss Linlang. His Majesty wants to meet him as well.”

Rong Ruyue accepted smoothly. “Understood. Does His Majesty wish to see them immediately, or at another time?”

“Tomorrow,” Peter said. “I was ordered to give you advance notice.”

“Got it,” Rong Ruyue replied evenly.

With his message delivered, Admiral Peter took his leave.

Xu Linlang frowned, worried. “Why would His Majesty suddenly want to see me?”

Rong Ruyue ruffled her hair gently. “If I can see what’s going on, then surely His Majesty has seen it too. Don’t be afraid—he summoned you himself. He won’t harm you. If he wanted you gone, he would’ve chosen a time with no ties to him whatsoever.”

“But why does he also want to see Qiye?” Linlang asked, still uneasy.

Rong Ruyue sighed. “His Majesty is cautious. A report from the military isn’t enough for him—he needs to see with his own eyes before he’ll tolerate Qiye’s existence.”

Linlang bit her lip. “Tolerate? What a cruel word.”

Qiye was a living, independent being, yet whether he could continue existing depended on Rong Chen’s permission.

Seeing her expression darken, Rong Ruyue squeezed her hand. “Some thoughts are best kept inside. In the palace, words can bring disaster if spoken carelessly.”

Linlang knew that. Even the arrogant, domineering girl in the game’s storyline had kept her tongue in check within the palace.

When Rong Ruyue noticed her daughter’s dejection, she smiled softly. “But even if you do slip up, don’t worry. No matter what happens, your parents will cover for you. All that matters is that you don’t suffer.”

Linlang couldn’t help but throw her arms around her. “Mom, I won’t bring shame to you.”

She had seen the Xu family’s downfall in the game—the Marshal’s and Rong Ruyue’s deaths.

This time, she intended to protect the Xu family.