Chapter 63

Ruan Ming had still been watching and waiting, but the moment he saw that the Xia Family's downfall was a foregone conclusion, he made his decision without hesitation — he chose to divorce Xia Ruzhi and sever all ties.

"Father, please, I'm begging you — don't divorce Mother." Ruan Zhuoxu and Ruan Xi knelt before him, pleading desperately.

They both knew that if Ruan Ming divorced Xia Ruzhi, their standing within the Ruan Family would plummet to nothing. Everything would be over.

But Ruan Ming was cold as stone, unmoved. "Get out! Your mother committed an act of such egregious betrayal, and you still want me to stay married to her? Are you trying to drag the entire Ruan Family to its doom? She isn't even my first wife — just a kept woman. Does she expect me to weather the storm by her side?"

"Father..." Ruan Zhuoxu and Ruan Xi pleaded with everything they had.

Ruan Ming couldn't be bothered to acknowledge them. "Don't any of you try to persuade me again, or you won't be my sons from this day forward. I have plenty of sons — two more won't make a difference, and two fewer won't either."

Even now, the mere thought of that insignificant woman Xia Ruzhi — someone he'd never even deemed worthy of his attention — daring to lay hands on his children right under his nose made his teeth itch with hatred. He wished he could kill her with his own hands.

Because of his revulsion toward Xia Ruzhi, his gaze had even turned cold toward these two children she had borne — children he had once favored — and everything about them now grated on his nerves.

Xia Ruzhi was not Ruan Ming's first wife. By the time she had married him, Ruan Ming had already risen to prominence. He had never trusted Omegas, and he had been wary of this second wife from the start, having notarized all his assets before the wedding. What's more, the scandal involving Xia Ruzhi and her father this time — plotting to harm the children from his first marriage — placed her firmly in the wrong.

Xia Ruzhi was still in prison, and in less than two days, Ruan Ming had already completed the divorce proceedings — just as he had once done with Tang Yun — and Xia Ruzhi didn't receive a single cent.

Ruan Xi had been coasting ever since transmigrating into this world, exploiting the System and the affections of the original body's mother and maternal grandfather to throw his weight around. When had he ever experienced such a dramatic reversal of fortune?

Looking at Ruan Ming, so utterly cold and merciless to this degree, he felt as though his entire sky had collapsed.

He had absolutely no idea what to do.

Auston and Ruan Tang and Ruan Yang each mobilized their own networks and influence, lending their full support. Before long, even with only fragmentary evidence at first, they had thoroughly and completely uncovered the full truth — how the Xia father and daughter had colluded with corrupt senior officials in the Imperial War Ministry and Ruan Family servants to drug Tang Yun's food and tamper with Yang Yang's mecha, all with ironclad evidence.

The case cast an incredibly wide net. It even uncovered numerous other illegal dealings of the Xia Family, and dragged into the light several high-ranking officials along with an underground organization that trafficked in illegal drugs — shocking the entire Empire.

Many people connected to the Xia Family were implicated and held accountable.

It was only because Ruan Ming's political instincts had always remained sharp — he had been in-laws with the Xia Family but had never waded into their murky waters, and this time he had severed ties with decisive speed — that he escaped being implicated, narrowly dodging the disaster.

But even so, the blow to the Ruan Family by virtue of the marital connection was still considerable, and the losses were severe.

The charges against Xia Ruzhi, her father, and their entire circle of conspirators were formally sealed. They were officially taken into custody, awaiting the formal trial and nationwide sentencing.

Because of this monumental case, the names of the brothers Ruan Tang and Ruan Yang were practically plastered across Star Blog's trending topics every single day.

Ruan Tang's fame surged enormously across the entire Empire, making him a representative of outstanding young Omegas. As for Ruan Yang, people online rehashed his illustrious battle achievements over and over again, and he once more became the nation's idol.

Before the Xia Ruzhi Case went to trial, Ruan Yang's rehabilitation was officially declared complete. Under the careful management of professional medical specialists, his body had fully recovered to its former state.

After the brothers discussed it together, they formally announced the news to the public.

The news of Ruan Yang's awakening sent shockwaves through the entire Empire once more.

It had everyone who had been following the saga — still reeling from all the twists and turns — exclaiming: "Heaven has eyes! Good people do get rewarded in the end. Don't believe it? Look up and ask Heaven — whom has it ever let off?"

"That was so satisfying, it felt like reading one of those cathartic revenge novels... the face-slapping was on point! The villains got their comeuppance, and the good person recovered!"

"This is absolutely the most satisfying plot I've read all year."

"Hahaha, I'm dead — that wicked mistress caused all that chaos and in the end it was all for nothing. Empty-handed as can be!"

"This storyline is just so delightful."

Before Ruan Yang fell into his coma, the Empire's military leadership and high command had originally planned to promote him to the rank of Lieutenant General upon his triumphant return, in recognition of his extraordinary military achievements. But because of his accident and years-long coma, the matter had been shelved indefinitely.

Now that Ruan Yang had awakened, his battle record was being re-circulated once more. On top of that, it had been uncovered that his accident was caused by internal strife and lax oversight within the Imperial War Ministry — meaning the Empire owed him some form of restitution.

Furthermore, the Empress Faction wanted to use this opportunity to bolster Ruan Tang's standing and add to the feathers in their own wings, pulling strings and exerting pressure behind the scenes.

No matter how many reservations the Emperor harbored, no matter how concerned he was about the growing power of the Empress Faction — after several rounds of high-level discussions within the Imperial Parliament and the Imperial War Ministry...

The Emperor still decided to award Ruan Yang the rank of Lieutenant General.

From the Empire's youngest Major General to Lieutenant General — for Ruan Yang, it felt as though he had merely taken a nap.

And for Ruan Tang, besides having Auston as his husband, he now had an elder brother who was a general as well — two weighty, bona fide pillars of support that elevated his standing among the noble circles of Imperial Star to even greater heights.

The Ruan brothers were suddenly the talk of the town, their prominence unmatched.

"Ah Yang, Ah Yang — you've woken up! Why didn't you even tell your father? Father has missed you so much, has worried about you so much... Father knows he was wrong, but he was simply muddled for a moment and deceived by that woman. Please, believe your father, forgive this foolish old man..." After Ruan Yang's awakening, Ruan Ming had been camping out at the gates of the Auston Ducal Palace multiple times.

Each time, Ruan Tang had people politely escort him away.

It wasn't until this time — when Ruan Yang was returning from the Imperial War Ministry — that Ruan Ming managed to corner both Ruan Yang and Ruan Tang right at the gate, desperately playing the emotional card.

Unlike Ruan Tang, whom he hadn't raised himself, with Ruan Yang, Ruan Ming genuinely felt he could put on a display of fatherly devotion. "Ah Yang, Xiao Tang, I know you brothers resent me, but your younger brother has really misunderstood me. Please, just listen to your father's explanation."

His body had long since been ruined. He could no longer pilot a mecha.

Even with the title of Marshal, he held no real power anymore.

The Ruan Family had no one of promise left. Now that the son he had once valued above all others — Ruan Yang — had awakened, this was the most tremendous piece of good news imaginable for Ruan Ming.

No one could have been happier. Ruan Ming truly felt as though this were a gift bestowed upon him by heaven itself.

He was desperate to bring this son back to his side.

"Marshal Ruan, please maintain your dignity. You and I aren't that close." Ruan Yang was utterly dismissive of the fatherly affection being directed at him. He pushed Ruan Ming's hand away and, gripping Ruan Tang — who wore the same look of disdain — headed back into the Ducal Palace.

For this biological father who, throughout all those years of his coma, couldn't even spare a single moment to visit him once, it was incredibly difficult for Ruan Yang to believe that his feelings ran deep.

Watching one son after another dismiss him without a shred of regard, Ruan Ming's smile froze on his face, and he felt utterly humiliated.

Under the watchful eye of the entire Empire, the Xia Ruzhi Case quickly went to trial.

Ruan Tang arrived at the courthouse dressed in formal attire alongside Ruan Yang, who wore the full uniform of a Lieutenant General, and together they looked upon the bedraggled Xia father and daughter.

When Xia Ruzhi saw Ruan Yang — fully recovered, clad in the uniform of a Lieutenant General — hatred burned in her eyes so fiercely it was as though they might drip blood. She wished she could have lunged forward and torn the two children born of Tang Yun to shreds.

But alas, she would never have such an opportunity again for the rest of her life.

The Xia Family's network of allies and influence had been swept almost entirely clean under the combined pressure of Auston, Ruan Yang, and Ruan Tang.

For such a sensational case — one that had drawn the intense attention of the entire society and caused profound public outrage — the sentences handed down to Xia Ruzhi and her father were severe.

Xia Zhongming and the many high-ranking members of the Xia Family who had participated in the plot against Ruan Yang, along with the senior military officials they had colluded with, were all sentenced to death.

As for Xia Ruzhi, she received a sentence of life imprisonment — she would spend the rest of her life behind bars, stripped of freedom, never to walk out again...

The moment the verdict was delivered, Ruan Tang and Ruan Yang locked eyes, and in that instant they both felt that justice had finally been served.

After the sentencing, they went together to the Imperial Resident Name Administration Bureau to file for a surname change, switching to the surname Tang in honor of Tang Yun.

As for the surname Ruan — Ruan Ming's surname — by now, the two brothers were thoroughly and utterly disgusted by it.

Their surname-change petition was swiftly approved and posted online, prompting netizens who were still following the drama to exclaim: "Now that's what you call satisfying!"

"A scumbag like that deserves exactly this kind of comeuppance."

With this move, Ruan Tang and Tang Yang thoroughly tore away all pretenses with their father Ruan Ming and drew a clear line between them. Ruan Ming, who had spent his entire life guarding his reputation and face above all else, had never imagined that he would end up being slapped in the face by his two sons in unison — he nearly fainted from sheer fury.

His other son — born to a mistress who had been waiting in the wings to ascend — hurriedly rushed him to the hospital.

Sometimes, fortune and misfortune seemed to arrive in rapid succession. On the very same day that Ruan Tang and Ruan Yang changed their names and Xia Ruzhi's sentence was handed down...

The physician at the Ducal Palace brought Ruan Tang yet another piece of wonderful news.

The toxins in Ruan Tang's mother, Tang Yun's, body had been almost entirely flushed out. She was fully lucid again.

A large vial of residual poisoned blood had been drawn out of her body by medical equipment, and her gaze was gradually clearing.

Ruan Tang and Ruan Yang each stood vigil at her side, one on her left and one on her right, each clasping her hand, trembling with overwhelming emotion. "Mother, it's Xiao Tang — do you recognize me? Xia Ruzhi has been sentenced. The Xia Family is finished. Our grudge has been avenged. From now on, we can live in peace."

Tang Yun looked at the Ruan Tang before her. Though she saw him every day, her mind had been clouded — she had long since lost the ability to recognize that this radiant young Omega before her was the tiny, soft, glutinous little rice dumpling she had once held in her arms.

When she had given birth to Ruan Tang, the love between her and Ruan Ming had long since faded. She had carried him only out of stubborn pride, and to fortify her position — and her eldest children's standing — in the endless battle against Ruan Ming's mistresses.

In those early days after Ruan Tang's birth, she had not been without her doubts, questioning whether she had truly done wrong — whether she should have brought an innocent life into this world just to sustain such a broken marriage. Sometimes she even thought that perhaps it would have been better to simply sever things cleanly with Ruan Ming.

But those thoughts and regrets vanished the moment she looked at Ruan Tang —

She was a woman with an extraordinarily strong maternal instinct.

In her eyes, even if Ruan Tang was no longer a crystallization of love, he was still her angel.

"You... you're Xiao Tang? You've grown so big?" Tang Yun's eyes brimmed with tears. She clutched Ruan Tang's hand tightly, her voice breaking with sobs. Then she turned to look at her eldest son beside her. "Ah Yang — Ah Yang, you've woken up too..."

Ruan Yang's voice carried its own tremor. "Yes, Mother."

Tang Yun gazed at her two sons before her, trying to piece together the fragmented memories and experiences from all those years of confusion. Overwhelmed, she pulled them into her arms and wept uncontrollably.

Ruan Yang and Ruan Tang, caught up in the tide of her emotions, felt their own hearts surge with feeling.

The three of them held each other tightly, and it felt as though the long-overcast sky had finally cleared.

Ruan Tang reported the events of his day to Auston, one thing after another, just as he always did. And Auston was, as ever, coolly indifferent in response.

It wasn't until Ruan Tang sent him a message — informing him that his legal name had been officially changed to one bearing Tang Yun's surname —

That Auston finally sent him a single reply: "If I'm not mistaken, your mother's surname is Tang, isn't it? So, does that mean your name is now Tang Tang?"

Ruan Tang's original name had been a combination of Ruan Ming's and Tang Yun's surnames. Now, with the surname Ruan stripped away, all that remained was the doubled character for Tang.