Chapter 50

After that, Ruan Tang began working under the Empress's people, attending the official duties of various royal members, and suddenly became active in Dias's aristocratic circles.

This really surprised many nobles in Dias.

Although Ruan Tang was titled Duchess and quite favored by Auston, in reality he was nothing more than a breeding tool, and Duke Auston himself was seen as a man on the verge of being discarded—like the hounds that are cooked once the rabbit is caught.

Although Auston's ferocious reputation spread far and wide in the Imperial Star and everyone feared him, not many actually took him seriously.

While people feared his power and had to avoid his edge, not a single one of them didn't persuade themselves not to argue with a dying man, only then swallowing their pride.

As for Ruan Tang, although everyone treated him with respect on the surface out of fear of Auston, in private no one really took him seriously.

But now, Ruan Tang had gained the Empress's favor, showing signs of leaping from a breeding tool to a confidant under the Empress. Following the Empress Faction's people, he began to engage with official business and the core of power, attending various public events and charity galas, and the scene was different.

Although in everyone's eyes, Auston was a pawn that would be abandoned no matter who came out on top... the Empress, however, held immense power. The Emperor and Empress had been fighting for so many years; everyone knew the Emperor hated the Empress to the bone but could not touch her, forced to endure and compromise under the pressure of her clan's power.

Now although the Crown Prince was dead, the Empress still had Duke Auston, her eldest son, who could sire a Crown Prince for her...

In the future, when the Emperor and Empress fight, who will win or lose is still unknown.

"Dr. Ruan..." Because of this, many in the Imperial Star aristocratic circles looked up to Ruan Tang, no longer calling him Duchess but instead addressing him as Dr. Ruan.

Even though Ruan Tang had already left the First Research Institute, the title Duchess only represented his identity as a duke's accessory, while the respectful title Dr. Ruan represented that they saw him as a person himself.

"Oh, dear Dr. Ruan, you look absolutely wonderful tonight." The bejeweled noble ladies eagerly came forward to greet Ruan Tang with great warmth, as if they had known him forever, many times more intimate than the distant reverence of the past.

Because of the change in these people's attitudes, Ruan Tang once again recognized the fickleness and reality of this circle. But he did not show it at all on his face, and was able to smile and chat with them: "I dare not compare with you; you are truly radiant..."

Having just begun to touch the core of official business and high-level socializing in this circle, he deeply understood that he still had much to learn, so he maintained a humble attitude and spent his time observing and reading people.

Ruan Tang had originally thought that although the Empress had promised to give him a chance, she would not actually help him much. All the rules and handling of official business would have to be quietly observed from the Empress's confidants, slowly figured out, before he could stumble onto the right track.

After all, in his eyes, the people around the Empress were foxes who had cultivated for a thousand years. No matter what his identity, they would not be happy to see him snatch their work opportunities and take their place in the Empress's heart... In Ruan Tang's original prediction, these people would respect him on the surface but not take him seriously, would not be happy to see him grow, and would secretly trip him up or even stab him in the back.

Therefore, Ruan Tang remained cautious, trying to quietly absorb knowledge from their way of doing things, enriching himself.

Unexpectedly, a few old-timers among them seemed to have been prompted, treating him with remarkable sincerity, teaching him many truly practical things, saving Ruan Tang from many detours...

If he didn't know what kind of person the Empress was, Ruan Tang would almost think the Empress was treating him like her own son.

Only then would she let the old-timers who had become shrewd guide him like this.

In the Imperial Star of Dias, every noble family had many Alpha children. From birth, they were destined to compete for the family's resources and power status. The successful ones would get the best resources and most of the assets, while the losers had to stay away from the core of power. Even Alphas had to serve as tools for the family to marry, exchange interests, and serve the most successful leader.

The children of the Ruan Family were extraordinarily numerous, as many as twenty or so, and the struggle among them was especially fierce.

Although Ruan Tang was not favored, and his Omega identity kept him away from conflicts, he had always observed coldly, absorbed by osmosis, and with his natural studiousness, he still had some understanding of such matters.

Additionally, with Ruan Ming's genes at play within him, Ruan Tang learned quickly in this regard.

In almost no time, with the help of a few old-timers who inexplicably harbored goodwill towards him, Ruan Tang showed his edge within the Empress's sphere of influence, revealing his astonishing ability and talent, like a rising new star, a blade just unsheathed.

He made it impossible for the Empress and everyone in her sphere to ignore him.

Originally, few people in the Empress Faction took Ruan Tang seriously, but after he truly displayed his astonishing abilities, many began to have thoughts of their own and make plans.

The Empress's power network was also a little world of its own, where everyone fought to become the most favored person by the Empress's side.

Ruan Tang came and snatched away so many of their resources, immediately making many displeased. They all began to probe Ruan Tang with their own agendas, trying to find a weakness in him, to pressure and bring him down.

There were even those with ulterior motives who went to Auston to spread rumors and stir up trouble—

After all, the strained mother-son relationship between Duke Auston and the Empress was well known, and Ruan Tang was Auston's most beloved wife.

Although it was previously well known that he was a breeding tool the Empress had foisted on Auston, those transactions were only between the Ruan Family and the Empress. Ruan Tang and the Empress seemed to avoid each other, having very little contact...

And now Ruan Tang was thriving within the Empress's sphere of influence. What would Auston think? Would he therefore abandon Ruan Tang?

Thinking of this, all those who disliked Ruan Tang eagerly awaited—

"Your Grace, the Duchess has been getting extremely close to Her Majesty the Empress lately, getting along so well. She's almost outshining all of us in Her Majesty's heart." This senator, who had official business with Auston, went to Auston and jabbed at him with a veiled remark.

At least half of Ruan Tang's current glory came from Auston's favor for him. If he lost Auston's favor, even if he was now thriving in the Empress's camp, he would probably be overwhelmed and unable to handle everything.

He had thought Auston would fly into a rage upon hearing this, but unexpectedly, after listening to the senator, Auston looked completely matter-of-fact: "It's only natural for you to be outshined. My wife is so good-looking; he's far more likable than a piece of old jerky like you."

Senator: "..."

Was that what he meant by his words?

The councilor who was in charge of sowing discord immediately choked up, paused for a good while, then rallied and said, “But, while drawing close to Her Majesty the Empress is a good thing, an Omega’s proper duty should still be looking after the family and their own alpha — especially when Dr. Ruan’s status is also the Duchess… and the Gu Family… My Lord, don’t you agree?”

"The Duchess is now thriving in the circle, but he spends less time at home, which is a dereliction of duty... Those who know, understand he wants to share Her Majesty's burdens; those who don't might think he's so eager to socialize because he wants to trade up for a different Alpha." He, presuming on his familiarity with Auston, spoke in a tone that seemed very concerned for Auston.

He considered himself favored by the Empress and also on good terms with Auston, so he wasn't too afraid of Auston, thinking Auston wouldn't do anything to him...

"How dare you! My Omega is not to be slandered by you! Our relationship is perfectly fine; why do you need to meddle like a straight-A chauvinist?" Unexpectedly, the Auston who had been affable just a second ago flew into a rage when he heard the senator subtly poisoning his ear about Ruan Tang. He violently overturned the table: "Saying he wants to change Alphas... aren't you cursing me as a dead man?"

He knew in his heart what this person was trying to do, and he knew that as an outsider coming in midway, it wasn't easy for Ruan Tang to squeeze into that circle.

Therefore, he wanted to use this person to make an example and establish authority for Ruan Tang.

To let Ruan Tang step on his shoulders and rise more easily.

The senator had never seen Auston so angry, instantly turning pale with fright: "Your Grace, I..."

He clearly meant to badmouth Ruan Tang, not to say anything about Auston. How could Auston twist it like this?

"Guards, drag him away and break his legs!" Auston didn't give him a chance at all, fully embodying the adjective 'mercurial', saying icily.

The senator immediately screamed in fear: "Your Grace, I didn't mean that! I am the Empress's man, you can't treat me like this..."

"If he's the Empress's man, then break both legs!" Auston said indifferently.

In the Auston Ducal Palace, all these punishments were carried out by robots. No one paid him any attention, and he was forcibly dragged away from Auston's presence.

All those who disliked Ruan Tang were waiting for good news from the person who had gone to fan the flames in front of Auston, hoping Auston would suppress Ruan Tang's arrogance.

Unexpectedly, Auston actually had the person who spoke ill of Ruan Tang in front of him beaten until both legs were broken, and threw him directly out of the Ducal Palace.

Afterward, Auston still bestowed his favor on Ruan Tang as before.

This almost made those waiting to watch the show faint, crying out how could this be?

At a time like this, shouldn't Duke Auston have loathed Ruan Tang, hated him, struck back at him, even killed him to feel satisfied?

The Empress was the person Duke Auston hated most. Since Ruan Tang had become the Empress's man, why didn't Auston hate him for that? Why did he still protect him?

Sure enough, this madman's way of thinking was different from normal people.

Everyone was extremely surprised, never expecting that Auston's infatuation with Ruan Tang had reached such a degree, and at the same time, they admired Ruan Tang's methods of controlling his Alpha.

To be able to make that madman Auston obedient to him to such a degree was truly no small feat.

And when the Empress heard about this, not only did she show no sympathy for her subordinate who had his legs broken by Auston, but she became even more satisfied with Ruan Tang and looked at him with new eyes.

She just liked smart and capable Omegas like this.

In the Empress's eyes, for an Omega to be able to control his Alpha to this extent was also a manifestation of ability.