Chapter 19
Seeing Shi Xiaowang frozen in surprise, Jian Mo found it amusing but didn’t point it out.
Instead, he took advantage of the silence to study him carefully.
Tiny beads of sweat dotted Shi Xiaowang’s nose bridge. The face that had been soft and pink before he went out was now flushed red, perfectly matching the little rose on his chest.
Jian Mo picked up a cup and poured him some tea.
With a face that red, he must be exhausted from the journey.
“Have some water first. The ceremony will probably take a while yet.”
“Oh, thank you…”
Finally coming back to his senses, Shi Xiaowang hurriedly accepted the cup, took a small sip, and then remembered to respond to Jian Mo’s first remark.
“It’s okay. I’m already really happy that you could come, sir.”
“Mm.”
Jian Mo replied briefly.
Shi Xiaowang kept sipping water, his mind racing for something to talk about.
He could joke around with Jian Mo on the optical brain just fine — so why was it that now, seeing him in person, he suddenly couldn’t say a word?
A stiff, formal version of Shi Xiaowang like this was rare nowadays.
Jian Mo looked at him, amusement flickering in his eyes.
“Sit down, Boss Shi. You’ll have plenty of time to stand later.”
He still wanted to tease him a bit more, but if he really tired the boy out, that wouldn’t do.
“Ah?”
The title Boss Shi completely blanked Shi Xiaowang’s mind for a moment.
Meeting Jian Mo’s smiling eyes, his nerves suddenly relaxed, and he grinned sheepishly.
“Alright then, Boss Jian.”
“What are you planning to plant next? Still more roses?”
Jian Mo pushed the plate of prepared pastries toward him.
Shi Xiaowang’s attention was instantly caught. Real pastries — not nutrient supplements!
“I’ll keep planting roses, but I’m planning to grow other things too.”
He spoke as he picked up a piece of pastry, popping it into his mouth — his eyes lit up immediately, and he looked up at Jian Mo in delight.
“This is delicious!”
“Then I’ll have Uncle Ye stock some at home.”
“Okay!”
After that, the two of them fell into a brief silence again.
In the future…
“What are these pastries made of?”
Shi Xiaowang quickly changed the subject — the future could wait.
“They’re made from nutrient compounds too. But here, specialists work to improve their flavor and presentation.”
Jian Mo answered easily.
“Oh.”
A trace of disappointment flashed through Shi Xiaowang’s eyes.
“Actually, I’ve been thinking… besides flowers, I’d like to try planting food crops and vegetables. Uncle Ye told me that, because of the cost of war and the damage from pollution, most people rarely get to eat natural food anymore. But now that we’ve got the energy and maybe a way to deal with pollution — shouldn’t we try moving in that direction? After all, food is the people’s first need.”
“Of course you can. His Majesty would support it too.”
Jian Mo said.
“If you need large-scale cultivation, you can talk to Meng Zhan directly. He’ll help you.”
“Okay!”
Shi Xiaowang smiled brightly and nodded.
“Also, I saw at the research institute that they’re raising chickens and fish. If we can grow pollution-free plants, that could solve their feed problem too — then our Jian Da Meow will finally get to eat meat again!”
Jian Mo gave a soft “mm.”
“Jian Da Meow will be very grateful to you.”
“Of course! I treat him the best!”
Xiaowang puffed up his chest proudly, then sneaked a glance at Jian Mo.
“Sir.”
He leaned across the table toward him, testing the waters.
“Can you give Jian Da Meow to me? I really, really like him. I’ll take good care of him — I promise.”
The eager, hopeful look in his eyes made Jian Mo chuckle.
“Honestly, I’d like him to be with you too — but I can’t.”
Xiaowang immediately deflated, his face falling into a pitiful puppy expression.
“Why not?”
“Because…”
Meeting Xiaowang’s unwilling gaze, Jian Mo’s eyes gleamed with mirth.
“Because you don’t have a pet license.”
He said it perfectly straight-faced.
“Ah?”
Xiaowang blinked, then sat up straighter and leaned closer, eager to learn.
“Then how do I get a pet license?”
Jian Mo’s smile deepened.
“I’m not too sure myself.”
“Then I’ll ask Uncle Ye when I get back.”
“Uncle Ye probably doesn’t know either.”
Jian Mo arched a brow.
…Then where was he supposed to ask?
“Are you serious?”
Seeing Xiaowang’s troubled face, Jian Mo finally burst out laughing.
“No, I’m teasing you.”
Realizing he’d been tricked, Xiaowang turned his head away and glared.
“You’re terrible!”
“Sorry. Don’t be mad.”
Jian Mo apologized right away, though the smile never left his eyes.
After watching the pufferfish version of Xiaowang for a moment, he finally explained seriously,
“I know you like Jian Da Meow, and I believe you’d treat him better than I do. But he really can’t go with you. I can’t tell you the reason yet — but maybe one day, you’ll understand.”
Shi Xiaowang glanced at him.
“Alright.”
“Still mad?” Jian Mo asked with a light laugh.
Shi Xiaowang huffed, then gave him another look.
“I’ll let it go — for Jian Da Meow’s sake.”
“Thank you.”
Jian Mo said it without the slightest guilt.
Shi Xiaowang couldn’t help but glance at him again.
When they first met, he had thought Jian Mo was serious and steady — a bit cold, even, like someone who kept everyone at a distance.
But now, the person in front of him finally matched the one who used to joke with him over the optical brain — maybe even livelier.
He didn’t dislike this version of Jian Mo.
This Jian Mo felt… closer.
“Marshal, Young Duke — the ceremony is ready. It’s time for your entrance.”
A servant knocked on the door to remind them.
“Alright.”
Shi Xiaowang replied, brushing pastry crumbs off his hands before standing and looking at Jian Mo.
“Shall we go?”
“Mm.”
They walked out through the corridor. At a fork, Jian Mo stopped and said, “Go ahead. I’ll be waiting on the ceremonial stage.”
“Oh.”
Shi Xiaowang nodded, then suddenly looked back.
“You’ll be waiting on the stage?”
“Yes.”
Jian Mo was amused by the wide-eyed look on his face. He reached out and brushed away an unnoticed pastry crumb from the corner of Shi Xiaowang’s lips.
“I am the Marshal, after all — I’m allowed on stage.”
Shi Xiaowang laughed.
“Okay. Then wait for me.”
“Of course. Go on.”
At the formal ceremony, Shi Xiaowang was draped in a red velvet cloak adorned with intricate royal embroidery, making his already petite figure appear even more exquisite and radiant.
He followed the guards, walking step by step down the red carpet. His posture was straight and proper, every movement full of serious focus.
[Ahhh!! The Little Duke looks so beautiful today!]
[Right?! He’s always cute, but dressed like this, he’s got real noble grace!]
[He’s so different from usual! Normally I just call him “baby,” but today I feel like I should say “Your Grace.]
[That’s what we call presence! Our baby’s royal aura!]
The live-stream audience overflowed with excitement and affection.
Jian Mo didn’t see the “royal aura” they were talking about — all he saw was how tense Xiaowang looked, those usually bright peach-blossom eyes frozen in place, not daring to move.
You’ll get used to it, Little Duke, Jian Mo thought. Moments like this — under everyone’s gaze — will only become more frequent from now on.
Xiaowang suddenly looked up toward the stage. When he met Jian Mo’s gentle gaze, it was like a warm breeze brushing past a frozen peach blossom — and the little flower in his heart bloomed again.
The ceremonial platform was grand. In the center sat His Majesty, with Jian Mo beside him, and a few others whose clothes suggested they were princes.
But that wasn’t important. What surprised Shi Xiaowang was that, after the blessing speech, it wasn’t His Majesty who stepped forward to present him with the Duke’s medal — it was Jian Mo.
“Wait — isn’t the Duke’s medal supposed to be presented by His Majesty?”
Shi Xiaowang asked softly, eyes wide.
“Usually, yes. But I requested it, and His Majesty agreed.”
Jian Mo replied just as quietly, taking the medal from the tray held by the attendant. He smiled faintly.
“Would you prefer His Majesty instead?”
Shi Xiaowang immediately shook his head, eyes bright.
“No, I like this arrangement.”
Jian Mo’s lips curved. Personally, he pinned the Duke’s medal on him.
Then, under the gaze of everyone present, he took Shi Xiaowang’s hand and gently kissed the back of it.
The warmth of his lips made Shi Xiaowang’s fingers twitch, but all it did was make Jian Mo’s grip tighten slightly.
Unable to suppress his smile, Shi Xiaowang met his eyes again — and this time, he smiled as naturally as he always did, eyes curving like crescents.
“I’m really happy,” he whispered, unable to keep the joy from his voice.
Jian Mo smiled and let his thumb trace lightly over the back of Xiaowang’s hand.
“That’s good.”
[Wait, it’s not the Emperor giving the medal? Who is that?]
[That’s Jian Mo! The official announcement confirmed it. It’s the first time I’ve seen what he looks like.]
[Guys… someone slap me… I actually think he and the Little Duke look perfect together. And I swear, he really seems to care about him.]
[I know what you mean. I still remember he killed the old Marshal — that’s unforgivable — but after what the Little Duke said that day, I kind of see his point. Now that I see them together… I don’t hate him anymore.]
[Maybe the fact that His Majesty let him present the medal means what the Little Duke said was true? I mean, if something like that really happened, would the government still be covering it up after all this time?]
[You’re all overthinking it. Am I the only one who thinks this looks less like an investiture ceremony and more like… a wedding?]
[…Now that you say that… it really does…]
[It really does!]
What was supposed to be a simple investiture ceremony turned into something far more surprising.
After Jian Mo pinned on the Duke’s medal, an attendant brought forward another medal.
Shi Xiaowang blinked in confusion.
That hadn’t been in the ceremony outline.
This time, His Majesty himself stood up, walked over to him, and smiled warmly — addressing Shi Xiaowang and everyone present.
“Shi Xiaowang was originally a Duke — it was only a matter of time. But beyond his title, he is the Federation’s greatest hero. Everyone should know that he purified the plants, allowing flowers that hadn’t bloomed in three hundred years to blossom again. I believe he deserves the Federation’s highest honor. This award belongs solely to Shi Xiaowang — it has nothing to do with his title. Today, I present him with this Lifetime Honor Medal.”
After finishing, His Majesty picked up the medal and smiled kindly at the still-stunned Xiaowang.
“This is the Federation’s gift to you.”
Only when the medal was pinned on did Shi Xiaowang finally come back to himself.
He bowed slightly and said brightly,
“Thank you, Your Majesty — and thank you, Uncle. I’m truly honored to receive such a gift.”
