Lu Yang's words were enough, and Cui Cui had her transfer procedures completed immediately. From this day on, Cui Cui, like little Harvey, would be attending the Imperial Elementary School.
Wei Xingzhou was initially worried, staying here to pick up and drop off the children every day. After some time, he was sure that Cui Cui could thrive here and that Lu Wanqing and Lu Yang would take excellent care of her. Reluctantly, he had to leave. Many matters awaited his attention back in the Federation, and he had already delayed too long to care for Cui Cui.
One morning, Wei Xingzhou sent Cui Cui to the Imperial Elementary School. After the school gate closed, he lingered, looking back repeatedly, unwilling to part.
Lu Wanqing walked beside him. Seeing his demeanor, she couldn't help but remind him, "If you miss Cui Cui dearly, you can meet her on the star network or make a call."
When she couldn't personally care for all five children, she had done the same. While a call wasn't as heartwarming as being physically present, the advanced technology of the interstellar era allowed them to see their children anytime and play with them on the star network, which was quite good.
"Yes," Wei Xingzhou agreed, but he felt a bit down without Cui Cui.
Lu Wanqing saw Wei Xingzhou off onto his spaceship. Watching it lift off and depart, she let out a soft sigh and looked up at Lu Yang beside her.
Lu Yang had a cold and proud demeanor, but when he looked at her, his deep eyes were filled with tenderness. "Let's go back."
"Mm," Lu Wanqing nodded.
They returned to the palace together. The palace, which had been lively just a few days prior, felt much quieter, though not entirely desolate, as their eldest and second brothers were still there.
With everyone else gone, only her brothers remained, and Lu Wanqing felt a different kind of joy, a profound happiness.
"Big Brother, Second Brother," Lu Wanqing called out happily as she ran towards her two elder brothers upon returning to the palace. She couldn't resist hugging them again.
After not seeing them for over three thousand years, she had never dared to dream of the possibility of meeting them again in this lifetime. Now, it all felt like a dream unfolding around her.
Lu Ming and Lu Ze looked at Lu Wanqing with doting eyes. Lu Ze, in particular, was incredibly proud. His sister was so accomplished in the interstellar era, a revered Super S-class mecha master, and wealthy enough to buy planets.
For the next period, Lu Wanqing spent her time accompanying her eldest and second brothers, taking them to various places across the galaxy, teaching them how to use hovercars, aircraft, the star network, and other advanced interstellar technologies. She shared all the interstellar knowledge she had accumulated over the years, ensuring her brothers wouldn't face difficulties without guidance.
Furthermore, Lu Wanqing specifically took her elder brothers back to Water Land Star. She showed them her home and gifted each of them a large plot of land in the prime location, allowing them to build their own houses according to their own designs and hire people for construction.
Neither her eldest nor second brother hesitated in accepting her gifts. They were family, just as her brothers had always given her the best things in the world as gifts over three thousand years ago. In the face of true kinship, such formalities were unnecessary.
However, while their reunion was filled with warmth, the atmosphere at the negotiation conference between humans and the insectoids was incredibly tense.
Neither humans nor insectoids were willing to relinquish their administrative rights over Earth. Moreover, the two races harbored mutual animosity, creating an atmosphere that felt on the verge of war at any moment.
This tense negotiation, however, lasted only a month. After a month, the composition of Lu Wanqing's ability water was analyzed. Scientists from Tianxing, utilizing Tianxing's most advanced scientific technology, were the first to synthesize a purification water that was slightly similar to Lu Wanqing's ability water.
It was described as "slightly similar" because the purification capability of the artificially synthesized water could not compare to the ability water catalyzed by Lu Wanqing's abilities. However, they were certain that this synthesized water, when used to irrigate Earth's mutated creatures, would slowly purify the mutated substances within their bodies.
Even though the purification speed was less than one ten-thousandth of Lu Wanqing's ability water, this represented an unprecedented leap forward in scientific research for saving Earth.
Even with just one ten-thousandth of the purification capacity, as long as they persisted—one year, two years, three years, ten years, or even a hundred years later—Earth would undoubtedly be purified and restored to its historically recorded blue appearance.
This news caused the ongoing human-insectoid negotiations to be temporarily suspended. Both humans and insectoids were ecstatic, all hoping for Earth's swift recovery.
The insectoids' technology simply couldn't compare to that of humans, especially with Tianxing above the Empire, whose technology was something the insectoids couldn't catch up to for a thousand years.
With this news, the human-insectoid negotiations finally had an opportunity for de-escalation. The insectoids were willing to take a step back and collaborate with humans to protect Earth.
The humans, naturally, did not want the insectoids to interfere with Earth. However, the insectoids still possessed giant star cannons. As long as the insectoids were not extinct, pushing them too hard might provoke them into desperate measures. If the insectoids were to go berserk and fire a giant star cannon, causing Earth to be destroyed along with them, it was a scenario humans wished to avoid. Therefore, for Earth's safety, humans had to reluctantly take a step back and cooperate with the insectoids.
However, to avoid unnecessary complications, humans and insectoids also discussed the administrative division of Earth. Areas suitable for human habitation and activity were allocated to humans, while significant portions suitable for insectoid life were also given to them.
As a condition for the insectoids' concession, humans agreed to provide the insectoids with a free copy of the formula for the artificial purification water developed by Tianxing, enabling them to produce similar purification water and conserve Earth's resources.
With the territories demarcated, the true work of saving Earth would begin.
Lu Wanqing was also excited at the prospect of saving Earth and proactively volunteered her assistance.
Lu Yang understood her feelings and happily agreed.
In the following period, the three major human factions—the Federation, the Empire, and Tianxing—convened again. After deliberation, they further divided the human-controlled areas of Earth. Portions were allocated to the Federation's jurisdiction, others to the Empire, and still others to Tianxing.