Chi Lian tilted her head, to the right and a dry laugh came from her mouth. She looked at the young emperor as if he was no different from a clown jumping around, juggling so many balls in the air that a few were bound to fall to the ground.
"What you are saying to me right now is that you want to sacrifice my daughter at the altar of your politics."
The emperor felt embarrassed and it showed on his face. Over the years, the royal family had benefited so much from the Chi and Jun family. He had lived with them on and off, Mei-Mei was like a sister to him. He felt sorry for her but some things were of greater importance.
They had to consider the bigger picture, the image of the Chinese empire had to come before the scandal of a space pilot having an affair with his friends widow within less than a month of said friends death and having a child with her.
"Aunt, Phoenix media cannot report anything on this matter. Even if the rumors surface the only statement I need you to make is no comment or unconfirmed. When Mo Liang's fame dies down, then you can do as you please and I won't step in. Please do not make me command you or use other means to protect the interests of the country."
Chi Lian narrowed her eyes at the emperor, "You want me to let my daughter live in more shame and humiliation. He shoved her in public, the flowers she took him are somewhere in the airport trash can. My daughter, the baby that I raised so preciously has been turned into a laughingstock and you want me to back off. Junjie, did you become heartless when the crown was put on your head. Mei-Mei is like your sister! You should be on her side."
"I am the emperor, I cannot blindly take a side aunt." Emperor Long Junjie winced as he heard the words in his own ears. "Aunt, they can get a divorce quietly and this will all be over. Mei-Mei can return home and everyone can live in peace."
"Peace!! I think you mean pieces." Chi Lian exploded.
Emperor Junjie put his hands together as if he was begging her, "Aunt please understand my situation. The race for space is one that different nations have been competing in for the last one hundred years or more. This allied joint exploration mission for the search of an inhabitable planet similar to earth is good for the whole world. There are only handful of space pilots that know where this planet that has been discovered is or how to fly there.
Next week, Mo Liang and other space pilots are giving a speech in Washington, then Saint Petersburg. Even the Vatican wants to meet them, our country cannot fall short of one space pilot that participated in the mission.
Every country will be trying to prove that they contributed the most. The new planet will be divided according to contribution size. Who sent the most pilots, soldiers, doctors? Whose people found what and whose people died after making significant contributions?"
Chi Lian received an alert on the smartwatch that was on her wrist. The alert informed her that Me-Mei had been hospitalized. A short video had also been sent, it showed Mo Hao shoved Mei-Mei and she fell and hit her head.
Chi Lian's heart picked up speed, here she was wasting her time when her daughter was hospitalized. "Mei-Mei is in the hospital, I have to go. As for Mo Liang, you will get your wish, I will not touch him. I don't have to, my daughter will save herself from the fire pit you want her to stay in."
She bowed and gave the emperor a frosty look. "Your highness."
As she turned to leave, two of the royal guards moved as if they wanted to stop her, the emperor shook his head and told them to let her go. What he knew for sure was that he would not be invited to the Chi or Jun families for a while, his aunt was royally pissed off.
"Send the best doctors to the hospital Mei-Mei was sent to and find out why she was hospitalized." he ordered Wang Meilan.
**************
It had been seven years since Chi Lian last saw her daughter up close in person. When Mei-Mei left the family back then, she had sent her away with a slap and told her never to return.
The words had been said in the heat of the moment, just like the slap. Chi Lian never got an opportunity to apologize to Mei-Mei for that slap.
She always thought that she would have the opportunity because they had many years ahead of them. Human life expectancy had been pushed to at least one hundred fifty years. As far as she was concerned, they had time on their side. What she did not anticipate was that her daughter was as mule-headed as her mother.
When Mei-Mei said she would not return, she had made good on her words and never returned. Even when she started suffering in the Mo family, she never once called to beg for help. Mei-Mei's pride was was bigger than the ocean.
Looking at her daughter that was laying on the hospital bed, attached to machines, so pale and thin, Chi Lian could not help breaking down. Hot tears spilled from her eyes and fell on Mei-Mei's hands. Jun Muyang could never stand watching his wife cry, he embraced her quickly and comforted her.
"It will be okay, the doctors have said that she lost some blood and has a traumatic brain injury. It was bad enough that she needed surgery to relieve the pressure but she will be okay.
They wanted to put her in a med bed but I stopped them. She is already malnourished and has anemia. If she is treated hastily and sent away, I fear that the next time we see our daughter, she will be in a coffin.
I ordered them to put her in a medically induced coma while we figure out our next steps. Chi-Chi, it's time to forgive her, I don't want to lose my little princess. I would rather kill Mo Liang than see my daughter die. This feud between the two of you, it is time for it to end."
Chi Lian nodded, using the hands of Muyang's shirt, she wiped her tears.
"Have you seen the video?" he asked her.
She nodded, her blood boiled when she thought about the contents of the video. Chi Lian knew her daughter well enough to understand that she would sign those divorce papers and stay for a year or two to protect Mingzhu and repay that life saving favor.
"I saw it and I have figured things out so I know just what to do. Where is the man that brought her in, Mo Jingzhe?"
"Outside with the rest of the family. Do you want to thank him?" Muyang figured she wanted to repay him, he was Mei-Mei's savior.
"No." Chi Lian shook her head. "I don't just want to thank him, I want him to do me a favor. I want him to seduce Mei-Mei."