New Life, New Cooperation The aroma from the West Building’s kitchen wafted through the courtyard and into the living room. Du Yuan had risen early to stew a pot of Crucian Carp and Tofu Soup. She fried a few golden, crispy eggs—one portion for herself, and another to be packed for the new mother.
The carp soup was milky white and thick. Du Yuan used pure wild crucian carp; though they had many bones, the meat was incredibly sweet and firm. She used only the heads and bellies for the broth, setting the bonier parts aside to fertilize her plants. In the pot, small rectangular cubes of silken tofu bobbed in the white liquid, topped with bright green scallions and a pinch of black pepper.
"Can the patients here not have salt?" Sang Ye asked while adding seasonings to her own bowl. "She should recover quickly, right? Back in the Snow Mountains, a puncture wound healed in an hour or two."
Du Yuan looked at her blankly. "Is that so? I’ve never given birth."
They both turned to the only local present. Lin Changli stiffened under their collective gaze before nodding certainly. "She was likely fully recovered by the time you woke up." He had accompanied his sister, Lin Yangchuan, during her birth; the Empress, Lin Shuangxu, had returned to a council meeting just thirty minutes after delivery.
After breakfast, Sang Ye carried the food box to the hospital. Before they even reached the private suite, earth-shaking cries echoed through the floor—loud, rhythmic wails that sounded like they were coming through a megaphone.
The dream of the "demon twins" had officially become reality.
…
Inside the room, Jiang Sili was gently trying to coax the younger twin with a bottle, his Teng-Snake coiled helplessly around his shoulders. In Asu Ment's arms, the older twin heard her sister's cry and immediately spat out her milk to join the chorus.
Though neither was a first-time parent, it had been many years since they had cared for newborns. They looked utterly frazzled.
The arrival of the Guides changed everything. As Sang Ye and Du Yuan released soothing mental energy, the sisters gradually quieted down. Du Yuan took the older sister, and Sang Ye, out of curiosity, took the younger one. The exhausted parents finally had a moment to sit and eat.
The twins were sturdy babies with large eyes—they looked like Asu Ment, but their fine, soft hair was pitch black. Black hair was a dominant gene, after all; the golden hair of the Ment lineage couldn't compete. Within hours of birth, their skin had already smoothed out, their cheeks ruddy and plump like ripe apples.
Sitting by the window, Asu Ment looked nothing like a woman who had just given birth. Dressed in a bright morning gown, she reclined comfortably, sipping her soup with vigorous energy. Jiang Sili carefully deboned the fish for her, placing the pieces on a small saucer with a bit of vinegar.
Sang Ye’s arms began to ache—the babies were surprisingly heavy. She handed the younger twin to Lin Changli. The infant wasn't even as long as his forearm. To Sang Ye’s surprise, Lin Changli’s hold was expert. He held the baby upright against his shoulder to burp her, preventing gas and spitting up.
"Did you learn this from taking care of Chuanchuan?" Sang Ye teased.
Lin Changli nodded, his gaze softening. "My mother was busy with state affairs; she went to a meeting an hour after birth. She didn't trust anyone else with the baby. I had left the military by then, so I raised Chuanchuan until she was over a year old. The first word she ever said was 'Brother'."
He looked away, hiding the trace of sadness that flickered in his eyes.
…
After the visit, Sang Ye returned to the West Building to organize her latest harvest. With her increased mental rank, the "Black Soil" had begun to spread across the base, providing enough nutrients for trees to take root even outside her pocket dimension.
She began a massive greening project. Around the Sentinel residential quarters, she planted sweet-scented osmanthus, rose bushes, and thick shrubs. In the gaps, she sowed grass seeds. For the individual houses, she transplanted two types of shrubs—one tall, one short—allowing the residents to choose their favorite.
She also partitioned small garden plots for the Sentinels to grow their own vegetables. Ever since she introduced "semi-finished" food products, many Sentinels had abandoned nutrient solutions in favor of home cooking. The residential area was now frequently punctuated by the sounds of "exploding kitchens" as novices practiced their skills.
Next, she moved to the hospital. Instead of vegetables, she decided to plant medicinal herbs. Using the seeds from Du Yuan’s private collection, she planted traditional herbs like Spirit Grass and Mugwort.
Sang Ye arranged the greenery so that the most fragrant trees were closest to the wards, allowing the soothing scents of camphor, crape myrtle, and maple to drift inside. The once-cold, iron-gray buildings began to look soft and welcoming.
…
As Sang Ye was sketching out her next plans on a map, a figure approached. Melusine Caylen was standing by the medicinal fields in her white silk robe, her feet bare.
"Sang Ye, can this soil be transplanted to other planets?" Melusine asked, her large eyes blinking innocently.
Sang Ye shook her head. The "Black Soil" was a part of her mental energy. Once it left her range of perception, it lost its vitality and died within hours.
Melusine tapped her chin—a gesture Lin Changli would have recognized as her "I’m about to make a fortune" tell.
"My cousin works at the Imperial Botanical Research Institute," Melusine said. "She’s a research fanatic. If she heard about your results, she’d be here in a heartbeat. The Empire pays billions in patent fees for resilient tree species."
She looked at Sang Ye earnestly. "I’m a simple person; I only care about money. I’ve seen your cooperation with the Jiang family. Are you interested in working with me? We operate in a different lane—not retail, but the scientific and industrial sectors. Supplying major families, enterprises, the government, and the military."
Melusine’s plan was calculated: Sang Ye provides the seeds, Melusine brings her cousin’s research team to Black Tower, and they split the patent and bulk sales profits. "I always know how to make the most money," Melusine bragged, her Pi-Xiu (fortune beast) spiritual form wagging its tail behind her. "Think about it."
…
As the sun set, Sang Ye found Lin Changli waiting for her by the porch. The little Phoenix was napping on his shoulder.
"What did Melusine want?" he asked as they walked.
Sang Ye told him. She was worried it might be sensitive since Melusine was essentially looking to profit from the Imperial treasury, but Lin Changli was unbothered. "Money from the treasury has nothing to do with my family's private funds. No one works for free; making money is perfectly normal."
He seemed pleased that Sang Ye had considered his thoughts.
"What's for dinner?" Sang Ye asked, nudging the sleepy bird.
"How about Pasta?" Lin Changli suggested, remembering a new dish she had mentioned.
"Sure. Tomato Meat Sauce Pasta and a Creamy Chicken Stew. You handle the meat sauce, I'll do the chicken."
Inside the house, the sound of Du Yuan and Wu Jianing playing hide-and-seek and the honeyed scent of roasting sweet potatoes greeted them. Sang Ye’s stomach growled, and together, they stepped into the warm glow of home.
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