Chapter 47

*Tool*
Zhu Yu’s constitution had always been good—hardly sick, rare colds.
No experience—unsure if flu or something else—speaking felt blades in the throat, burning waves.
Yzelia hauled her onto a warship—raced to the Royal Academy.
Dispatch cursed “madwoman” on comm—but cleared all air lanes for the rampaging ship.
The military bullied by habit—youngest general Yzelia—if not the imperial capital she might split a planet unheard.
Zhu Yu was old crew—many knew her. Army valued loyalty—Zhu Yu had stepped on Yzelia to steal the boss’s beloved—those who bled with Yzelia gave Zhu Yu little face.
Some came ready to snatch the bride—new and old hate—fist-waving “greetings.”
Grey-haired eagle in the corner—arm wound raw to bone—rebandaging—left hand middle finger at Zhu Yu.
Stretcher cat-beast tripped her with tail—almost stepped on—“Shameless to show your face!”
Strange—hostility everywhere—yet Zhu Yu felt no real danger. Fists and angry faces brought the original’s contact notes to mind.
Her eyes on eagle’s ration cans—fish oil by cat claws—written in those notes.
Eagle late child—mother old, spoiled temper—keep off front line—likes type-3 cans, won’t drink water—cat secretly dumps fish oil, sheds, no scout duty, bad alertness, how did she graduate…
They had known each other that well.
Zhu Yu glad throat was mute—one word might expose she was not their Zhu Yu.
First clear thought—these might have been the original’s friends—paths diverged.
That huge address book’s trivia—not only “keeping fish.”
Cabin blood thicker—stomach rolled—she fled to the lavatory—shopkeeper’s loquat syrup—half bottle.
Sweet down throat—nausea remained—leaned on sink—heaved—flashes of wounded crew, meat on Yzelia’s buttons—all out.
A tiny flame puffed with the retch—vanished in running water—Zhu Yu did not see.
Better after—“Huh—”
Touched throat—mirror—careful syllables: “I am Zhu Yu.”
Slight hoarse—uniform woman in glass met her gaze, brow up: “I am Zhu Yu.”
Confirmed—satisfied.
Could talk—not a duck—on this important day silence would be worse.
Credit to magic loquat syrup—washed—practiced marriage vow once in mirror.
None of the grand ritual she imagined appeared.
Everyone skipped extras as if agreed—only Zhu Yu cared—something sacred missing.
In her mind marriage was holy—hands on *Origins of Life*—her hand on top—I shield you—in vast lonely cosmos, holding hands, never lost.
That fantasy alone kept her awake, eyes hot.
Reality—clerk pulled files—sign a light name.
Yzelia blocked—tore half a page—naïve delay.
Clerk sighed relief—ten backup copies from the bag—even one for the general to rip for fun.
Twenty-five-year-old Bai Shuzhou might weigh gain. Eighteen-year-old only said: “Bring Imperial Sister to me.”
Yzelia clawed hair. “Your Highness—for the empire—we need better heirs—”
Pale blue eyes cold, light but absolute: “I don’t know what years did to you— even you defy me now.”
Late emperor chose Yzelia as playmate—for the road ahead—Bai Shuzhou should have been heir undisputed.
No if. Ill—cannot shift—empire would not take frail crippled ruler.
Still mother waited for miracle—until Omega presentation—power passed—Bai Qianze crowned same year.
Zhu Yu beside Bai Shuzhou—Yzelia wilted—secret brow lift.
Since the purge she felt better.
Borrowed princess’s shadow to needle Yzelia—small fish spread wings—proud brows.
See—my wife—of course on my side!
At signing she froze—staring at Bai Shuzhou’s already signed page.
Beautiful hand—slender hooks, strong bones—cold elegance—seconds to finish what Zhu Yu treasured.
Cancel divorce so simple—casual—no ceremony.
Her grand bouquet now awkward excess.
Royal affairs ran deep—Zhu Yu rushed civil affairs at dawn—why hesitate to sign? Staff imagined ten thousand words of plot—dared not rush—Bai Shuzhou tapped file, pale finger light: “What are you waiting for? Sign.”
Finger on paper, flat: “We signed the contract already—too late to regret.”
“Never regret!” Zhu Yu grabbed the pen—barely read—square steady blocks unlike Bai Shuzhou’s lean gold.
With Yzelia’s mess—ten minutes total.
Staff gone—Bai Shuzhou asked battle news natural—as if canceling divorce were a trivial aside unworthy of early mention.
Unimportant—so unmentioned.
Huge flowers and careful love letter forgotten on the outer table.
Alone—Bai Shuzhou ordered Yzelia forward, eyes narrow:
“Where is Imperial Sister—what is she doing—tell all you know.”
“All consequences—I bear them.”
Yzelia glanced Zhu Yu—lips tight—silent.
Flat: “Don’t speak—leave—and don’t return.”
Yzelia grit—could not say how Bai Qianze was—could not fully dodge—mumbled empire business, busy emperor, still cares.
Bai Shuzhou closed eyes: “Out.”
Tone like the hand withdrawn without warning. Panic—no second chances—she hated cling.
Yzelia vague: “Old subjects—the military must activate—”
“Activate?” Hand on white sheet tightened—ice shards—“I refuse.”
Hard—she had promised AH-003—would not break word again.
“On the council agenda,” Yzelia shook head, sighed low—“cost too high—they won’t stop—without value the Academy drops treatment—expensive investment.”
Bai Shuzhou cut: “All treatment costs—mine personally.”
“Not money,” Yzelia pained—“resource allocation—you know this illness—alive today already—”
Braked—wrong word.
“Them?” Bai Shuzhou caught it.
“Cough—Zhu Yu why are you still here—can you hear this?!” Yzelia deflected.
Too sensitive—knowing hurts. Bai Shuzhou down eyes: “You—leave.”
“Okay.” Wife spoke—Zhu Yu nodded out—beside big matters, renewing marriage was nothing.
Drowsy late. Cold wall—half-heard talk inside—uncomfortable again—value for treatment—investment in living research—
「Damn.」
Blood-red bold thought smashed in—Zhu Yu jolted awake—stood—rubbed face.
Sister said anger destroys reason—disaster.
Fine—she would help Bai Shuzhou—they were not alone.
Afternoon sun through glass—bright patches on white hall. Alone at the window, palms together, she whispered the unheard marriage vow whole.
Inside Yzelia reported war—lives to cold numbers—grey border lit by fire.
Not a word on Bai Qianze—but emperor vanished days—federation cooperation—urgent military—Bai Shuzhou guessed—
—「Future.」
AH-001’s gift—prophecy.
Died in bright spring—never reached the future she foresaw.
That child hardly knew seasons—tubes from birth—machines to live.
Young Bai Shuzhou could not read autopsy numbers. Later—many similar reports.
Once she believed everything told her.
Now AH-003 lived before her.
AH-001 worth above her—if alive—
Lies like air—nowhere to tell.
Bai Qianze strongest Alpha—could suppress chaotic gift-bearers—huge cost. Bai Shuzhou had hurt her when she lost control.
Never announced. The more restrained he seemed—the heavier her guilt.
Born carrying empire’s hope—ephemeral bloom—only “breeding” seemed left.
Before eighteen she waited for adulthood—stronger—all solved.
Why still so powerless after years?!
……
Yzelia gone—Zhu Yu peeked—rushed forgotten flowers to the bedside.
“Beautiful flowers.” Soft—but eyes on Zhu Yu’s face.
Eyes lit.
Love letter out—Bai Shuzhou skimmed—little finger hooked Zhu Yu’s—pulled her down—arms around neck—kiss up.
Not gentle brush. Urgent taking. Zhu Yu dazed—held tight—warm palm on trembling spine.
Pale gold between tongues. Kiss tasted faint blood—lip nipped—soft pain swallowed.
Rose on nose now bitter—not sweet like before.
Open eyes—blue without desire—taking—and Zhu Yu never refused Bai Shuzhou.
Not how lovers should look. First kiss had at least hate’s waves—not this pure…use.
“What happened?” Zhu Yu breathed—hoarser from kiss and worry.
Bai Shuzhou looked at bitten lip—blood bead—charm on honest face.
No answer—pulled hand—kissed corner—wanted more.
Cool lip at ear, wet breath—low order: “Kiss me.”
Zhu Yu gathered warm light on palm—on Bai Shuzhou’s hand—stiff voice: “Just this? Massage works—why must—”
Brow knit—first command hesitated—“Faster this way—you unwilling?”
Proud add: “Contract said so.”
Contract stabbed—hands dropped—blurted: “Then just do it—faster, no?”
Regret instantly—too disrespectful.
Bai Shuzhou watched—lip pressed—blue mirrored Zhu Yu—seconds—voice like state affairs:
“Also true.”
“No marking.”