Chapter 36 - The General's Wife is an Illegal Resident in the Star System

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

 

I’ve finished setting up the Bella Novels Discord server! You can join us using this invite. There, you’ll be able to easily follow chapter updates for the novel(s) of your choice—along with access to many other features and community content.

I’m also introducing something new: the Chapter Boost System! This system lets you accelerate a novel’s releases by one, five, or even ten chapters.

Join the Discord to learn more about how it works and take part in this new feature!

 

If you’re able to provide me with the Raws of the Novels I need, you'll be the first person to receive my translation of them. You’ll also gain instant access to up to 30 advanced chapters for the novel of your choice, OR you can also request a SuperBoost for that novel.

For more details, you can check out the Raw Provider new page. 

 

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read. 

Chapter 36: You Are a Federation Spy

 

 

"Lieutenant Bu, you can't enter." The two soldiers stationed at the villa's gate stopped Bu Xiaoyu, who was trying to storm in.

 

"If you're calling me Lieutenant Bu, you should know I have the authority to come and go from this villa," Bu Xiaoyu said angrily, her face darkening.

 

"The General has ordered that you no longer have free access here," one of the soldiers replied with a resolute tone, undeterred by her rank or her previous unfettered access.

 

Bu Xiaoyu's face twisted with disbelief. "That's impossible."

 

"This is the General's direct order," the other soldier stated impassively. Even if Colonel Zhou himself had come, it wouldn't have changed his stance.

 

"What's going on?" Lu Li emerged after finishing his noodles, intending to go for a walk and enjoy the sunshine. Hearing the commotion by the gate, he approached to find Bu Xiaoyu in a heated exchange with the soldiers, her face flushed with rage.

 

"Madam," both soldiers saluted Lu Li respectfully upon seeing him, the contrast in their treatment intensifying Bu Xiaoyu's irritation as she glared at Lu Li with growing resentment.

 

"What's the issue?" Lu Li glanced between them, his gaze settling on Bu Xiaoyu, whose eyes were red-rimmed.

 

"Lieutenant Bu wants to enter the villa, but the General instructed this morning that, going forward, Lieutenant Bu needs your permission to enter," the soldier explained.

 

Lu Li hadn't expected Qin Yu to act so quickly. They had only discussed it this morning, and already he had given such an order. He looked at Bu Xiaoyu, who wore an expression of barely-contained frustration. "Do you need something?"

 

"I'd like to speak with you," Bu Xiaoyu replied, staring at him intently.

 

"Alright, come in." After a brief hesitation, Lu Li agreed. He wasn't sure what she wanted to discuss, but after yesterday's incident, he wanted to clear the air. She was, after all, one of Qin Yu's subordinates, and he didn't want any lingering tension over something so trivial.

 

At Lu Li's words, the soldiers stepped aside, no longer barring Bu Xiaoyu's entry.

 

Despite being granted access, Bu Xiaoyu felt no gratitude toward Lu Li. She used to enter the villa at will, and now needing his permission felt like an unbearable humiliation.

 

Initially, Lu Li intended to lead her to the living room, but he suddenly recalled the previous night, when he and Qin Yu had gotten carried away on the couch and carpet there. Unsure if the cleaning bot had fully tidied up, he opted for the garden instead. Although much smaller than the one at the villa in Qin Lu Star, the garden here was in full bloom—a pleasant spot for a conversation.

 

Bu Xiaoyu, however, misinterpreted his choice, assuming he didn't want her inside the villa. She smirked coldly, thinking that once she exposed his true nature, he'd no longer have the luxury of acting like the villa's master.

 

In the garden, there were two wicker chairs, one of which Lu Li had been using to bask in the sun. He gestured for her to sit.

 

"No need." Bu Xiaoyu declined curtly, standing ramrod straight, her gaze icy.

 

Lu Li had sensed from the start that Lieutenant Bu seemed to harbor a grudge against him, consistently showing him a cold attitude. He was truly unsure what he'd done to offend her. "What did you want to discuss?"

 

"I'll be direct. Will you leave the General yourself, or shall I reveal the truth to everyone?" Bu Xiaoyu's voice was cold.

 

"What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean," Lu Li said, now certain it wasn't his imagination—this lieutenant genuinely held a grudge against him.

 

"Don't play innocent. You may fool others, but not me. I don't know what intentions you have in staying by the General's side, but if you intend to harm him, then it concerns me. Leave while you still can, or don't blame me for exposing your identity in front of everyone." Bu Xiaoyu sneered.

 

The last trace of warmth disappeared from Lu Li's expression as he fixed her with a cold stare. "Lieutenant Bu, I don't know what you're talking about. If your idea of a 'conversation' is to throw around baseless accusations, then we have nothing else to discuss. Please leave."

 

"Oh, I'm sure this clueless act is how you've managed to deceive the General. But now that I know the truth, I won't let you harm him."

 

"Me? Harm Qin Yu?" Lu Li let out a bitter laugh. He didn't enjoy causing trouble, but that didn't mean he'd let others walk all over him. Even the most patient person has their limits. "Lieutenant Bu, is this the standard of military conduct in the Glory Empire? To barge in without evidence and hurl accusations?"

 

"You!" Bu Xiaoyu's anger flared at his mocking tone, her fist clenching as if she might strike him. She held herself back, refusing to let herself be goaded.

 

If Lu Li knew her thoughts, he'd likely have had a laugh at her expense.

 

"I may lack evidence, but I know you're a spy from the Federation. You're staying close to the General to steal the Empire's secrets." Bu Xiaoyu's glare was venomous.

 

Lu Li's body tensed as her words struck him with intense shock. His hand clenched tightly behind him. How could she possibly know about that?

 

Could it be… No, impossible. Only Qin Yu and Zhou Junyan knew he was a spy; no third person could know. Qin Yu would never expose him, nor would Zhou Junyan, who was loyal to Qin Yu; he would never divulge such information to Bu Xiaoyu without explicit orders.

 

Although Lu Li wasn't well-acquainted with Zhou Junyan, he knew that the colonel and Bu Xiaoyu weren't particularly close. If it wasn't from them, how on earth did she find out?

 

Suddenly, a possibility dawned on him, and a tumultuous wave within him stilled in an instant.

 

"Lieutenant Bu, you're the General's subordinate, a well-trained soldier. You should know better than to joke about such matters. The consequences of slandering the General's wife—I'm sure you're aware." Lu Li raised his eyebrows, fixing her with a stern, cold glare—his feigned anger exuding a commanding aura.

 

Now he understood her intentions. She didn't truly know; she was merely fishing for information, hoping he'd slip up and prove her right.

 

Bu Xiaoyu's disappointment was palpable. She hadn't expected Lu Li to reveal not a single flaw, entirely contrary to her expectations. She had no concrete proof that he was a spy from the Federation—only suspicions based on his Federation origins and the General's prior campaigns against them, yet his composure threw her off.

 

"Whether it's true or not, you know in your heart." Bu Xiaoyu muttered, refusing to admit defeat. No matter how he defended himself, she'd made up her mind—Lu Li was a Federation spy.

 

Lu Li acknowledged that her intuition had been right—but that was in the past. He no longer had ties with his adoptive father. Now, he only wanted to be with Qin Yu.

Last Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter
⥼ Bonus Discord Chapter ⤴

 

❧ Join Bella Novels' Newsletter by clicking here ↫ and
receive an email for each New Update -͙✧˖*°࿐