After the Royal Princess Guard Fleet departed, Zhao Chen also bid farewell to Teacher Qin, Senior Su Lan, and Xue Xiaoxiao. The three of them would return to the North Star Starship Military Academy with the academy's fleet.
Zhao Chen himself returned to the starship bridge.
As he stepped onto the bridge, several pairs of eyes fell upon him.
Among them, Zhao Wan'er crossed her arms, squinting at Zhao Chen before glancing at Chu Xuan, whose cheeks were slightly flushed. "Bro, care to explain when I suddenly gained a sister-in-law?
And you've become the Chu Family's grandson-in-law? Impressive."
"Wan'er, I told you! There must be some misunderstanding here!" Chu Xuan stomped her feet anxiously, not daring to meet Zhao Chen's gaze at the moment.
What on earth was her old man trying to do?
"Governor Chu's arrangement was something I never expected.
But this relationship between Chu Xuan and me is likely just a pretense, something temporarily set up to ensure my safety," Zhao Chen explained.
Zhao Wan'er looked at Zhao Chen, then at Chu Xuan, and reluctantly accepted this explanation for now. "That makes sense. Why would the Chu Family want you as their grandson-in-law anyway?"
Chu Xuan, meanwhile, kept trying to send communication requests to her grandfather, but all of them were rejected.
Instead, just as the T3 Blizzard had left the starport and approached the Chu Family fleet, a message arrived on its bridge. It was from the T4 Boreas-class Heavy Interstellar Battleship, signed by Chu Changhe.
The message stated that Chu Changhe wished to pay a visit to Zhao Chen's T3 Blizzard.
Governor Chu wanted to come aboard his T3 Blizzard?
This arrangement left Zhao Chen somewhat surprised. He didn't know whether to say the old man was bold enough to board someone else's starship or if he truly trusted Zhao Chen completely.
Chu Xuan and Zhao Wan'er also saw the message, but the way it was addressed made Chu Xuan's cheeks flush even redder.
"My precious grandson-in-law"?
Chu Xuan was so embarrassed and furious that she wished she could go and pull out that old man's beard right now!
"Let's go welcome him," Zhao Chen said.
After all, he was an Imperial Duke and a Star Sector Governor who was willing to take the risk to board Zhao Chen's starship. It was only right to greet him properly.
"Mm-hmm," Zhao Wan'er nodded. Although she was still puzzled about Zhao Chen and Chu Xuan's supposed relationship, she was also very curious about this legendary marshal.
"Charlotte, have the starship continue to follow the Chu Family fleet at a steady speed," Zhao Chen ordered.
Zhao Chen's T3 Blizzard and the Chu Family fleet were currently cruising steadily toward the starport of the Lantian Star System.
"Understood," Charlotte acknowledged the command.
Zhao Chen and the others then headed to the starship hangar to await Governor Chu's shuttle.
During this time, Zhao Wan'er inquired about the Royal Fleet and learned that her brother had been promoted to Imperial Viscount.
Considering Zhao Chen's rescue of the faculty and students of the two academies, this commendation was indeed well-deserved.
Soon, a shuttle docked in the hangar. When the hatch opened, only an elderly man and an officer acting as his guard stepped out.
A Five-Star Marshal, coming with just one guard?
Wasn't that a bit too confident?
"Grandson-in-law, I brought you a little gift. They're all specialties from the Chu River Star Sector!" Governor Chu said with a kindly expression, holding a gift box. He wasn't wearing a military uniform but rather loose, casual clothes.
At first glance, this really gave off the vibe of two families visiting each other as in-laws.
"See... see what!" Chu Xuan, flushed with embarrassment and anger, rushed straight up to her grandfather. "You... you better explain to me clearly what exactly is going on here! What on earth is this whole 'grand... grand... son-in-law' business all about!"
"Oh, my granddaughter is still shy.
Ever since you met my grandson-in-law, haven't you been talking about him in front of me all the time, saying how good he is, how wonderful he is?
After your first meeting, you even insisted on going to the Arctic Fox Starport to find him.
Later, after I brought you back to the family, you insisted on going to the North Star Starship Military Academy to find Xiao Zhao, throwing tantrums and threatening to hang yourself if I didn't let you go.
Sigh... a grown daughter is no longer her family's to keep...
And then, who would have thought you'd sneak onto his starship!
If it weren't for Xiao Zhao's exceptional skills, do you have any idea that on this trip to the Zerg Desperate Situation, you might have ended up as Zerg food?" Governor Chu said with a stern expression, tapping Chu Xuan's head with his hand.
Hearing this, Zhao Wan'er looked at Chu Xuan with a subtle gaze.
Chu Xuan, the tough woman who feared no Zerg on the battlefield, now blushed so deeply it seemed as if blood might drip from her face.
"You... what nonsense are you talking about!" Chu Xuan stomped her feet in frustration.
Governor Chu narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Was everything I just said untrue?"
Chu Xuan froze. Everything her grandfather had said was indeed true, but the problem was that those things weren't like that at all. Why did they sound completely different coming from her grandfather's mouth?
And besides, wasn't it you who told me to get in touch with Zhao Chen when I went to the North Star Starship Military Academy?
How did it suddenly become me chasing after Zhao Chen?
But Chu Xuan couldn't possibly say this out loud.
It left her feeling like she had swallowed a bitter pill but couldn't voice her grievance.
"Alright, I'll explain this matter to you properly later," Governor Chu said, patting his granddaughter's shoulder and whispering in her ear, "Would your grandfather ever harm you?"
Although she was still embarrassed and angry at her grandfather's behavior, Chu Xuan knew he would never do anything to hurt her.
"If there isn't a reasonable explanation later, just watch me pluck out all your beard!" Chu Xuan said with a fierce expression.
"Grand... Xiao Zhao, could you show me around this legendary starship?" Governor Chu walked over to Zhao Chen with a smile. He had originally intended to call him 'grandson-in-law,' but seeing Chu Xuan's hand poised and ready, he decided to back down for the sake of his precious beard.
"This way, please," Zhao Chen invited Governor Chu.
Governor Chu smiled and glanced at Zhao Wan'er and the others beside Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen immediately understood the implication. "Wan'er, you all go to the bridge first and help me check out the things the princess sent earlier. If you like any of them, feel free to take them and divide them among yourselves."
Since they couldn't be sold anyway, if they liked them, he might as well give them away.
"Alright," Zhao Wan'er, realizing her brother wanted to have a private chat with Governor Chu He, tactfully left.
"Xuan'er, distribute these local specialties from the Chu River Star Sector and the gifts I brought to the children," Governor Chu said, handing the gift boxes to Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan wasn't a fool either. She shot her grandfather a glare. "I'm still waiting for your explanation. If I'm not satisfied... hmph, you won't hear the end of it!"
The group had left, leaving only the guard officer accompanying Governor Chu beside Zhao Chen and the Governor.
The officer was also tactful, following several meters behind Zhao Chen and Governor Chu, giving the two ample private space.
"I want to ask whether your actions during the rescue operation for the faculty and students of the two academies were intentional. What was your purpose?" Governor Chu asked Zhao Chen as they walked, his hands clasped behind his back.
Zhao Chen did not answer directly but instead asked in return, "Governor Chu, why did you refer to me as your grandson-in-law? I wonder what your purpose was in saying that?"
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