In the end, Yu Lan agreed to attend Barnes’s inauguration as the Star Commander of Garbage Star.

However, she had no intention of making a grand affair of it by taking the First Legion starship Huo Zhanting had offered.

"Right now, we don’t know if Barnes’s rise to power will be good or bad for Garbage Star."

"It would be better if we went disguised as traveling merchants. We can look around Garbage Star, and by then, the situation should be clear."

This was Yu Lan’s proposal, and with two 3S-level males, Shen Zueran and Pei Shiyi, accompanying her, there was no need to worry about security.

The only one slightly disappointed was Huo Zhanting, who had arranged everything in the hopes of showing his strength to Yu Lan.

Li Yucheng seized the opportunity:

"In that case, just take one of the Li Family’s commercial ships to Garbage Star. Once you get to the Star Port, you can leave directly without attracting any attention."

And so, the matter was settled.

Accompanied by Shen Zueran and Pei Shiyi, Yu Lan boarded a very inconspicuous Li Family commercial ship and headed straight for Garbage Star.

「Meanwhile」

The fleet sent to escort the Prince of Heqin, Sheng Yiqing, had descended into a rare state of panic.

After two or three days with no sign of Sheng Yiqing, the officer in charge grit his teeth and ordered the door to his room opened.

What they found was an empty room.

Goddammit!

Sheng Yiqing had run away!

"The Prince of Heqin has run away!"

With a single shriek from a guard, the news swept through the entire starship like a firestorm.

’We’re screwed, we’re screwed, we’re so screwed.’

This thought flashed through the minds of every guard present.

They had somehow managed to lose Princess Yu Lan’s Beast Husband.

’So... does this mean we can take his place?’

’Anyway, just put on the veil, hide the face, and once the marriage is consummated, Princess Yu Lan will have to take responsibility for us, right?’

"My beast form is a fox, so I can go!"

"Bullshit! Your beast form is a damn white fox. Prince Sheng Yiqing is a red fox, so it should be me!"

In an instant, a brawl broke out across the warship among all those with a fox beast form.

Even a Samoyed jumped into the fray, just to stir the pot.

"Enough!"

The fleet captain was so furious watching this scene that his vision started to go dark.

At his furious roar, the entire area instantly fell silent.

"Find him. At any cost, you must bring Prince Sheng Yiqing back."

"Where was the last planet the starship docked for resupply?"

A guard answered respectfully,

"It was Garbage Star, Captain."

Garbage Star!

The captain’s pupils constricted.

*

"Wow, I can’t believe this is Garbage Star."

"It’s so well-managed now."

"Those people on the Main Star should really come see this and learn a thing or two."

Yu Lan, Shen Zueran, and Pei Shiyi walked down a street on Garbage Star.

The streets they passed were clean and tidy, without a trace of filth.

Although the pedestrians on the street wore tattered clothes, they were washed clean, and everyone seemed to be in good spirits.

But an undeniable sadness still clung to their expressions.

Yu Lan looked where they were headed and realized it was Gu Deming’s burial site.

Even though several days had passed since the news of Gu Deming’s death, the people of Garbage Star were still mired in grief.

People were constantly arriving from all over to pay their respects at his resting place.

This was why the new Star Commander, Barnes, wanted to hold a celebration.

Garbage Star needed a joyous occasion to break through the sorrow and give everyone new hope for the future.

Yu Lan sighed and decided to change their course for now.

"Let’s go. We should pay our respects as well."

「Half an hour later」

Yu Lan, Pei Shiyi, and Shen Zueran left the cemetery.

Checking the map, they saw there was an orphanage right near the cemetery.

The 3S-level males, with their excellent hearing, could already hear the cheerful sounds of children inside reading along with their matrons.

Shen Zueran’s brow twitched. ’I remember... didn’t Yu Lan grow up in an orphanage when she was on Garbage Star?’

"Lanlan?"

The tall, handsome man turned his head, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Yu Lan nodded. "Since we’re already here, let’s go. We can take a look at the place where I grew up."

’For a chaotic place like Garbage Star to have an orphanage...’

’To be honest, thinking about it now, it does seem a little suspicious.’

’But it’s also true that I grew up safely.’

Suppressing her doubts, Yu Lan and the others headed straight for the orphanage.

*

"Matron, we have visitors!"

"A really handsome big brother and pretty big sister~"

The trio had only just appeared at the orphanage entrance when they were spotted by the little ones, who chattered excitedly and hurried to report to the matron.

A moment later, a gentle, kind-looking matron walked out from a room behind them. But when she saw Yu Lan’s face, her expression froze.

A flash of panic crossed her face before she quickly forced it down.

"Princess Yu Lan."

The matron gave a quick bow. "I didn’t expect you to come. Please forgive my poor welcome, please forgive me."

Without waiting for Yu Lan’s reply, she looked at the little ones hopping around her, and her voice suddenly became sharp and urgent.

"Princess Yu Lan is here! You little troublemakers, get back to your rooms, now! What if you bother our noble guest?"

The group of little ones looked on in confusion at the matron, who had suddenly gone from gentle to tense and furious.

After a soft "oh," they scampered off on their little legs, PITTER-PATTER-PATTER, straight toward the rooms upstairs.

Yu Lan frowned imperceptibly. She had brought Shen Zueran and Pei Shiyi here to revisit an old haunt, not to tear the orphanage down.

This was the place she grew up, after all.

In fact, the moment Shen Zueran had gotten confirmation from Yu Lan, he had already decided he would send people to set up a live-streaming hub at the orphanage for daily, structured lessons to help cultivate the children’s talents.

Pei Shiyi, with a grand wave of his hand, had declared he would cover all of the orphanage’s seafood expenses.

But now, the matron’s behavior sparked a flicker of doubt in Yu Lan, while Shen Zueran gazed thoughtfully at the woman’s face.

’Why does she seem so familiar?’

’She looks like... Qingti, the most capable Chief Palace Maid who served Belina when she was still a princess.’

Once the connection was made, Shen Zueran’s thoughts began to race uncontrollably.

’Why would Belina’s Chief Palace Maid, Qingti, suddenly disappear, only to become the matron of a remote orphanage on Garbage Star?’

’And Yu Lan just so happened to grow up in this very orphanage.’

’Her getting lost back then... was it really an accident?’

’Or was it all arranged by Belina?’

The thrilling tension of being on the verge of uncovering a long-hidden truth pounded in Shen Zueran’s chest. He lowered his gaze, concealing the storm of emotions in his eyes.

Only after seeing all the little ones run into the building behind her did Qingti let out an imperceptible sigh of relief.

She stepped toward Yu Lan, her expression a mask of perfectly measured deference and fear.

"I was unaware of Your Highness’s visit today and was not prepared. It is my failing."

"Please, forgive me."