Chapter 179
Chapter 179: If You Hit the Cubs in Your Belly, They Know
Jiang Tea Tea pressed her earpiece. “So you’re only giving me Barley Star garrison authority? No other authority?”
Chong Ming went silent for a beat, then snorted. “Garrison Armed Unit 108—five hundred people at your disposal—and you’re still not satisfied? Jiang Tea Tea, classmate, you’re greedy.”
Jiang Tea Tea curled her lips. “That’s not greed. It’s my first mission. I want to show off. Give me more.”
They were speaking through secure frequency waves, but in front of Chong Ming, a massive screen displayed Jiang Tea Tea’s every movement in full 360-degree coverage.
He could see her grin, the cunning gleam in her eyes. He could see her hand resting on her stomach—idly stroking his cub.
“The situation is tangled,” Chong Ming said evenly. “I’m only giving you authority over the military. Mobilizing troops directly prevents White Wolf Clan insiders from getting wind of it, tipping them off, and creating complications.”
What he didn’t say was even clearer: he would not give her authority over Barley Star’s police bureau or special operations bureau.
Those departments had White Wolf Clan people inside. Too many leaks. Too many loose mouths.
The garrison forces belonged to a different system, isolated—safer for an operation like this.
Jiang Tea Tea’s voice turned cold in an instant. “They’re not Lang Yin Feng and Lang Luo Feng’s children. Not one of them. Including me.”
Strictly speaking, including the fake heiress, none of the seventeen were Lang Yin Feng and Lang Luo Feng’s children.
Chong Ming’s brow furrowed. “What? I don’t understand what you mean.”
Jiang Tea Tea’s tone sharpened like a blade. “I mean the Lang family’s sixteen children—plus me, seventeen in total—are not Lang Yin Feng and Lang Luo Feng’s children.”
“My gene spectrum and the other sixteen gene spectrums were altered.”
“And you—Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming, the empire’s top authority who can access any information—were fooled too.”
Chong Ming’s voice sank. “Are you sure?”
Jiang Tea Tea answered without hesitation. “Yes, Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming.”
A low laugh came through. “Good.”
Jiang Tea Tea continued, relentless. “I asked you before why you were investigating the Lang family, and you never gave me a straight answer.”
Chong Ming asked, “You know now?”
“Yes.” Jiang Tea Tea didn’t bother playing coy. “Not long ago you investigated Li Ao at the Ability Research Institute, and when you pulled the turnip, you brought out the mud.”
“The Lang family isn’t just the turnip or just the pit—they’re both. You have some evidence, but it wasn’t enough. So you turned it into a mission and handed it to me and Sui Xuan Chu.”
“To build our credentials.”
“Our evidence spans a thousand years. More than you imagined.”
Chong Ming admitted it calmly. “You’re right. Li Ao was connected to too much.”
“A small Ability Research Institute was rotten to the core. Not only did it reach far, it also took big steps.”
He paused, voice colder. “I truly didn’t expect that Lang Yin Feng and Lang Luo Feng’s seventeen children—including you—aren’t theirs.”
“Altering gene spectrums without authorization is a severe crime. Those two will be executed. No matter what else we dig up behind them, we’ll sentence them under the highest law.”
Nothing in this world was perfectly controllable. Acknowledging variables, accepting them, using them—no one could calculate everything to the end.
Chong Ming’s greatest strength was that he accepted change. When the unexpected happened, he adjusted instantly.
He was the Zhen Lin Empire’s best leader.
Sui Xuan Chu had only just turned eighteen. Even if he lived to one hundred and fifty, he couldn’t become what Chong Ming was.
Jiang Tea Tea’s smile didn’t fade. “Then let’s play big.”
“Just for the last thousand years alone, the evidence we have shows the Lang family’s crimes began at least a thousand years ago.”
“A thousand years of co-conspirators—that’s a massive investigation. Are you ready on your end?”
“Of course,” Chong Ming replied.
Jiang Tea Tea’s tone grew brighter with ambition. “Then besides Garrison 108—five hundred troops under my command—I want one of your space patrol cruisers deployed here.”
Chong Ming sounded mildly surprised. “A space patrol cruiser… to patrol Barley Star?”
“Yes.” Jiang Tea Tea’s voice turned sweet and vicious all at once. “You value me. Lang Yin Feng and Lang Luo Feng want to use me as their public face, their money tree, to raise the White Wolf Clan’s prestige and make them a great race of the Zhen Lin Empire.”
“If they learn that Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming deployed a space patrol cruiser to Barley Star to protect my safety—because my parents are holding a family banquet for me, because you’re emphasizing how important I am—they’ll get so excited they’ll invite everyone.”
“All their clients. Potential clients. Even those they don’t do business with.”
A net thrown wide.
Catch all the fish in one sweep, rather than hunting them down one by one.
Chong Ming didn’t hold back his praise. “Jiang Tea Tea, classmate—that’s a very good plan. We’ll do it your way.”
“The cruiser will arrive outside Barley Star in two days. I’m granting you authority to mobilize it.”
Jiang Tea Tea’s voice lifted, crisp with delight. “Thank you, Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming. I’m going to tell my Mom and Dad this good news.”
Chong Ming paused. “Wait. Jiang Tea Tea.”
Her hand hovered over the cut-off gesture. “What now, Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming… official?”
Chong Ming’s gaze shifted on the screen to her stomach. “How’s the cub?”
Jiang Tea Tea’s hand moved from rubbing to patting her belly. “Fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Chong Ming’s lips curved. “A cub at seven and a half months can feel it if you hit it.”
Jiang Tea Tea’s head snapped up, anger flaring. “You—are you spying on me again?”
Chong Ming’s eyes stayed calmly amused. “I’m not spying. I heard you pat your belly.”
“When your ability rank is high enough, your hearing is good. And when you talk to me, you fidget. Loudly.”
“Enough.” Jiang Tea Tea cut the call and flipped her middle finger at empty air.
On the other side, Chong Ming watched the screen and laughed under his breath. Only when she left the room did he finally close the feed and call for his adjutant AI.
Jiang Tea Tea left her room and headed downstairs to find Lang Luo Feng.
Lang Luo Feng had just finished happily telling Lang Yin Feng that Jiang Tea Tea had agreed to attend the banquet.
Lang Yin Feng hadn’t even had time to celebrate before Jiang Tea Tea’s voice echoed through the hall.
“Madam Lang! Madam Lang! Where are you?”
Lang Yin Feng urged his wife, voice tight with anxiety. “She’s calling you. Go. And don’t let her change her mind.”
Lang Luo Feng nodded briskly. “Relax. Once she agrees, she won’t get the chance to regret it.”
In the first-floor hall, Jiang Tea Tea spotted Lang Luo Feng approaching.
She looked like a harmless little rabbit—soft, obedient, innocent. “Madam Lang, about the family banquet… there’s something else I want to tell you.”
Lang Luo Feng’s heart dropped.
Was she going to back out?
She forced a kind smile and stepped closer. “What is it? Tell me.”
Jiang Tea Tea grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside, lowering her voice. “It’s like this—Madam Lang. I agreed to attend the banquet, and I couldn’t help telling Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming.”
“He called me to congratulate me on finding my family. And he said that two days before the banquet, he’ll deploy a space patrol cruiser to patrol Barley Star.”
Lang Luo Feng’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You mean… you have Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming’s contact? You’ve been in private contact with him?”
Jiang Tea Tea blinked, eyes pure as a newborn’s. “Yes. After I awakened as a 3S-rank mutant plant-type healer, I got his contact.”
“I’ve even soothed his ability backlash and combed his mental power. Why?”
Lang Luo Feng looked like she’d been struck by a jackpot. “Nothing, nothing. It’s a good thing you’re valued by Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming.”
“A cruiser patrolling Barley Star is proof of his importance to you. That’s wonderful. Very wonderful.”
Jiang Tea Tea smiled sweetly. “Good. Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming told me I’m young, so if I run into anything I can’t decide, I can ask him. You said you were holding a banquet to welcome me, so I asked him specifically.”
“When you decide the exact date, tell me.”
Lang Luo Feng’s delight overflowed. “Yes, yes, yes. I’ll tell you as soon as it’s set. Go rest.”
Jiang Tea Tea nodded, stepped back, and went upstairs, looking bright and happy.
Lang Luo Feng watched her disappear, then rushed back to report everything to Lang Yin Feng.
Lang Yin Feng slapped his thigh. “Wrong. Wrong. We were all wrong.”
Lang Luo Feng jumped. “Wrong about what?”
Lang Yin Feng looked as if he could barely contain himself. “We underestimated Jiang Tea Tea. We really misjudged her.”
“She’s the only mutant 3S-grade plant-type healer in the galaxy. Her healer identity and her awakened ability were revealed publicly by Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming himself.”
“If he revealed her himself, it means he values her more than anyone. It means she’s treated him before.”
“Not once. Not twice. Many times.” Lang Yin Feng’s eyes glittered. “They’ve met more than we imagined. They’re close enough for private contact.”
“And what kind of person is Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming?” His voice grew reverent and excited. “In name, he’s the Zhen Lin Empire’s commander-in-chief, the Prince Regent.”
“But in truth? He holds real power. He’s the emperor.”
“He’s one hundred and fifty years old. He’s never had scandals.” Lang Yin Feng leaned closer, voice dropping. “And only recently did rumors come out that he has a mate… and a cub.”
“What do you think that means?”
Lang Luo Feng’s pupils constricted violently. “You mean… Jiang Tea Tea’s cub is his?”
“And Jiang Tea Tea is the mate he revealed?”