Only, for this business of the bride-snatching, Zhao Chen still needed one important preparation.
Zhao Chen raised a hand and opened, within his handheld terminal, several private comm accounts, then clicked one of them.
He waited a few minutes' time.
A video window popped open; on the far side was a woman cold as a fairy of ice.
It was only when her eyes met Zhao Chen's, the two of them looking upon each other, that this iceberg showed a trace of a mark of thawing.
"What is it you want with me?" Chu Xuan inquired.
Zhao Chen came straight to the point, laying out the matter of Su Lan and Qin Hu without preamble.
"So — in order to keep the Prince Faction and the Su family from making their marriage-alliance smoothly, you mean to snatch the bride?" Chu Xuan looked at Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen nodded.
"That's right. Though, of course, it isn't only for this reason. I have two other factors besides. Su Lan is on good terms with us, and Xue Xiaoxiao says she will absolutely never marry Qin Hu. The moment the bride-fetching fleet sails clear of the Purple Perilla Star Region, Su Lan will take her own life the first chance she gets. Come what may, I cannot stand by and watch, wide-eyed, as a friend of former days dies in such a manner."
Chu Xuan nodded in agreement; she'd had dealings with Su Lan before — a very fine friend.
Being herself a woman as well, Chu Xuan naturally understood, too, the harm such a political marriage did to a woman.
"The last factor concerns the North Wind Star Region. I have a premonition that the Prince Faction will soon actively set off the conflict between the North Wind Star Region and the Chu River Star Region, and seize the chance to step onto the stage. Rather than let them go hunting an opening in the dark, better that I hand them this opening myself. And along the way, I can clear out some of the malignant tumors in the North Wind Star Region besides," Zhao Chen said, his look turning serious.
Chu Xuan very soon grasped the meaning behind Zhao Chen's words.
For, after all, she'd been holding the Chu River Star Region in his stead for several months now; had she been without ability, the Chu River Star Region would long since have been turned on its head.
"So — you want me to send troops to help you?" Chu Xuan inquired.
Zhao Chen shook his head.
"I don't need a single soldier or ship from you. What I need is for you to say one sentence."
"One sentence?" Chu Xuan was surprised.
Zhao Chen raised a hand, and the holographic image of a crimson-red interstellar warship appeared before Chu Xuan.
"I think you must be aware that I have a private cooperation with your grandfather — that I'm helping him develop a T4 interstellar destroyer of comparatively good cost-effectiveness. This research has progressed swiftly, and, by a happy coincidence, it's thrown off a derivative besides. And that is this T4 Vermilion Bird-class Medium Interstellar Cruiser — a T-grade interstellar-warship technology I worked out in the course of the research. If I'm to lock horns with the Prince Faction, then I'll surely have to bring this interstellar warship out. And were they to learn that I, a mere Owl Dragon lord, possess the ability to develop a T4 interstellar warship, they might even move directly against me. That's a situation I'd rather not face just yet. But if this interstellar warship were developed by the Chu family — why, then the result is another matter entirely!" Zhao Chen looked at Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan knew now what Zhao Chen meant to do.
She spoke up.
"You want me to announce that the Chu family developed and produced this interstellar warship."
Zhao Chen nodded.
"When the time comes, in making the announcement, you can append the names of a few collaborating starship research institutes. The Owl Dragon Starship Research Institute, for instance."
Chu Xuan looked at Zhao Chen with narrowed eyes; the corner of her mouth curled faintly upward, and she propped her chin on her hand.
"And what's in it for me?"
Zhao Chen was taken aback.
Chu Xuan said, blinking her eyes, "What I represent now is the Chu family, the Chu River Star Region. A thing with no benefit in it, I'll not go doing. For, after all, it's the Chu family's banner that's being flown."
Why do I have the feeling I'm dealing with that old rascal Chu Changhe?
Chu Xuan, oh Chu Xuan — it's been but a few months, and you're already no longer so easily fooled — so guileless — as before.
"How's this, then: this T4 Vermilion Bird — if you want it, I can sell it to you, at a somewhat cheaper price," Zhao Chen promised.
"How much cheaper? The Lord Commander had best make it clear — no writing me a check that'll bounce," Chu Xuan said teasingly.
This lass has grown shrewd.
Zhao Chen thought it over, then spoke.
"100 billion star coins."
Perhaps someone might reckon a single T4 interstellar warship at 100 billion star coins too steep a price.
For one must bear in mind — the little Princess, in forging her own interstellar legion of upward of 100,000 interstellar warships, had spent only 400 billion star coins!
But one must also bear in mind that a T4 interstellar warship, in the present interstellar environment, was an existence that had a price but no market.
As a rule, such things were sold privately, among a handful of the most intimate of partners.
And even sold privately, the price was still exceedingly steep — several tens of billions of star coins at the very least.
"10 billion." Chu Xuan spoke.
The corner of Zhao Chen's mouth twitched.
"10 billion star coins? Your T4 Boreas, when you sold it to the royal house, wasn't even this cheap, surely!"
"20 billion," Chu Xuan said.
"Impossible. You yourself know the cost of developing a T4 interstellar warship — 20 billion is absolutely impossible!"
"35 billion."
"Lay your hand on your own conscience! A T4 interstellar warship at 35 billion apiece — where would you ever buy one!"
"50 billion!"
"This…" Zhao Chen made to speak still.
Chu Xuan cut him off without ceremony.
"50 billion, and I'm already showing you plenty of face. Acquaintance is acquaintance, and business is business."
Zhao Chen wore a look of deep deliberation; and at last, amid all his wavering and indecision, he heaved a sigh.
"For the sake of what's between us two, then — 50 billion apiece it is!"
"One more thing, besides. Since you can develop even a T4-grade interstellar cruiser, I imagine your T4 interstellar destroyer ought to be ready to bring out soon enough. There's no need for three years — let's say before the end of this year." Chu Xuan went straight on.
Zhao Chen's eyes went wide.
Before Zhao Chen could get a word out, Chu Xuan said directly, "Then let's leave it at that; I'm rather busy over here. I'll go publish that announcement you asked for right now."
With that, the comm cut off.
Zhao Chen knit his brows faintly; he had the feeling this lass wasn't so adorable as she'd once been.
But it was all right — Zhao Chen hadn't come off too badly by it either.
The T4 interstellar destroyer, take it early or take it late, it'd be taken all the same; and given the Starlight Empire's present state of things, it was about time to add a log to the Chu family's fire.
As for the T4 Vermilion Bird's selling price — its manufacturing cost came to a mere 1.5 billion star coins; this one deal could be counted as no small earning.
Close to a thirtyfold profit.
Of course, that was only on account of its being Chu Xuan, and on account of the Starlight Empire's present situation.
In anyone else's case, without 100 billion there'd have been absolutely no taking the T4 Vermilion Bird away!
The matter now nailed down, Zhao Chen could go on enjoying the last of his leisure-hours before the storm.
A few days later.
A great event erupted in the Starlight Empire.
The Chu family of the Chu River Star Region announced, at this juncture, that a few of the starship research institutes under its command had developed and manufactured an interstellar warship named the T4 Vermilion Bird-class Medium Interstellar Cruiser!
In that instant, the whole of the Starlight Empire came to a boil.
And behind that announcement there was a whole string of collaborators.
Among them, one name: the Owl Dragon Starship First Research Institute!