Half a month later, the day of Qixue’s enfeoffment as Noble Consort arrived.
Over those half a month, Qixue could not have been happier. After revealing his identity to Helan Ji, the two grew even more in tune with each other. He could transform back into Rabbit Tuan at any time, hiding in Helan Ji’s sleeve and sticking to him every moment.
In the early morning, Helan Ji carried him to the morning court. Qixue curled up inside his robe, listening to the ministers’ reports. Drowsiness weighed down his eyelids, and he soon fell fast asleep.
Once, he accidentally revealed his rabbit ears. Helan Ji’s court robes were black, so the patch of white on his chest stood out glaringly.
Under the gaze of the civil and military officials, Helan Ji tucked the rabbit ears back into his robe and said indifferently, “Continue.”
From that day on, all the court officials knew that His Majesty had recently taken in a soft, fluffy little thing, rumored to be the Noble Consort’s beloved pet rabbit. His Majesty doted on the Noble Consort so much that he even kept the rabbit for him.
Rumors about the Noble Consort grew more and more exaggerated outside. Qixue felt immensely proud and wished the whole world knew how much Helan Ji adored him.
However, there was one downside to revealing his identity: His Majesty was too fond of his rabbit ears and tail, toying with them almost every night.
Qixue’s rabbit ears and tail were delicate, yet Helan Ji always touched them, often making Qixue tear up.
Once, Qixue buried his face in the pillow, crying sweetly and coyly, when he suddenly felt a wet sensation on his tail.
His Majesty… His Majesty was… How could he do this!
Qixue trembled as he opened his eyes wide, tears streaming down.
He had little shame, but this was too embarrassing to endure.
He wanted to protest, to beg for mercy, but before he could speak, a slender tendril gently covered his lips.
Tiny tendrils climbed onto his rabbit ears, gently scratching the soft fur. Qixue cried even harder, desperately flattening his ears against his scalp, but the tendrils pulled them up, teasing even the roots.
…
Whenever he recalled this, Qixue’s face flushed red. He turned back into Rabbit Tuan and hid in a corner, refusing to come out until Helan Ji coaxed him for a long time before he reluctantly hopped into his palm and allowed himself to be gently carried out.
But if Qixue were asked not to share the bed with Helan Ji at night, he refused.
He had already taken the Baosui Pill, and their Dual Cultivation Technique was finally showing results. His Majesty’s health had improved greatly—how could they skip their nightly pleasures?
Even the imperial physicians, when recently checking on Helan Ji, remarked that His Majesty’s health was quite robust lately. In contrast, Qixue had overindulged and showed signs of depletion, so they prescribed nourishing meals specifically for him.
This was not to say the Dual Cultivation Technique offered no benefits to Qixue—it simply bolstered his demon power, while it strengthened Helan Ji’s body. The effects differed in nature.
As for the Baosui Pill, Qixue had not yet told Helan Ji. After hearing Xuan Yang’s words, he suddenly felt uncertain. What if his constitution was incompatible with the pill, like those who took years to conceive? What then?
So he planned to wait until Xuan Yang entered the palace next time and ask if there was a way to test his constitution. If he was the type who conceived easily, then he could tell Helan Ji without worry.
There was also one piece of good news.
While learning the enfeoffment ceremony’s etiquette and procedures from the instructing palace ladies, Qixue learned he would receive the officials and accept their congratulations. He immediately worried about running into Wei Huai.
Fortunately, Luxiangqiu had inquired on his behalf and learned that Wei Huai was currently at Cloud Moon Temple, with no telling when he would leave. It was unlikely he would attend the ceremony, and Qixue breathed a sigh of relief. He truly could not imagine facing Wei Huai.
But what was Wei Huai doing at Cloud Moon Temple? He was not human—staying in a Daoist temple daily must be uncomfortable.
To be fair, Qixue still cared about Wei Huai. But he could not let that care drive him to seek him out. For his mission, he could court Wei Huai or discard him as needed, unbound by personal feelings.
On the day of the ceremony.
The enfeoffment followed the protocols for an empress, making the procedures extremely elaborate. Before dawn, Qixue rose to dress and adorn himself.
Great Yong revered black as noble, while red signified joy and auspiciousness. Qixue’s court attire was primarily red, embroidered with intricate gold thread patterns. His inner short robe was black with gold embroidery, layered solemnly and regally. His headdress was a pearl-curtain crown inlaid with gems.
Strings of jade pearls draped down, half-veiling Qixue’s face. Dong Yuan helped him onto the Jade Chariot, surrounded by numerous palace ladies and attendants like stars around the moon, proceeding to the palace’s main gate.
There, he transferred to a ornate sedan. The sedan was vividly colored, painted with phoenixes and gold, its four corners set with jade and gems, adorned with silk curtains—supremely luxurious, reserved for the empress’s wedding procession.
At the auspicious hour, after the ritual officials performed the betrothal and name-inquiry rites, the procession set off grandly.
Behind the sedan trailed a serpentine line of attendants, carrying hundreds of red chests filled with treasures and gifts—Qixue’s dowry.
The procession halted before Jianzhang Hall.
The officials and noblewomen had already gathered. Most stood below the steps; only a few high-ranking nobles could observe from within the hall.
Incense burned in the crane censers inside Jianzhang Hall. Helan Ji sat upon the dragon throne, with the empress’s seat beside him, awaiting Qixue’s arrival.
The ritual officials loudly announced the sedan’s arrival. Helan Ji rose and exited the hall, stepping onto the red silk carpet laid out on the ground to welcome Qixue.
His court robes were primarily black, embroidered with subtle gold patterns, topped with a twelve-pendant crown—his presence stern and imposing. He walked down the steps to the end of the red silk and extended his hand to the sedan.
A snow-white, slender hand with pink-tipped fingers rested on Helan Ji’s palm. That hand alone captivated all eyes, sparking fantasies of its owner’s heavenly beauty.
“Your Majesty…”
The pearl curtains swayed slightly as Qixue descended the sedan, smiling at Helan Ji. His eyes shimmered with intoxicating waves, brimming with tender affection.
The nearest officials glimpsed Qixue’s stunning visage and were entranced by his pearl-like radiance and moonlit elegance, losing themselves in a daze.
Helan Ji supported Qixue as they passed through the ranks of civil and military officials toward the jade steps.
No one remained unmoved by Qixue’s beauty. Though rumors of the Noble Consort’s peerless allure had spread, seeing his true face still left them dazzled.
Such a peerlessly elegant beauty—small wonder His Majesty showered him with boundless favor.
The ritual officials presented the decree and escorted the procession, performing obeisance at the ancestral temple, offering prayers to heaven, earth, and ancestors. Helan Ji and Qixue entered Jianzhang Hall and took their seats on the thrones, sharing three cups of nuptial wine.
Palace ladies presented the nuptial wine. Qixue raised his cup, full of joy, and said to Helan Ji, “After drinking this cross-cupped wine, Your Majesty will be my husband.”
Helan Ji revealed a faint smile. “I have waited for this day for a long time.”
He leaned close to Qixue, his arm crossing over Qixue’s as they drank, their cheeks nearly touching.
After drinking, they partook of the feast.
With the three cups drained, the rite was complete.
Qixue and Helan Ji had finally become true husband and wife.
Officials inside and outside the hall shouted congratulations: “We congratulate Your Majesty! We congratulate the Noble Consort!”
The ceremony was not yet over. Qixue still had to receive gifts and congratulations from the courtiers and noblewomen.
By now, Qixue was exhausted. Gazing at the sea of people outside the hall, unsure how long the congratulations would last, he grew fearful and softly whined to Helan Ji, “Your Majesty, I’m so tired.”
Helan Ji held his hand. “Yuan Yuan has worked hard. Just a little longer—it will end soon.”
Qixue’s heart sweetened. He smiled at Helan Ji. “Aiya… you can’t say it like that. This only happens once in a lifetime, and the husband I’m marrying is Your Majesty—how could it be hard?”
–
Cloud Moon Temple, water prison.
The water prison was dim and damp, its walls covered in moss. The rippling water reflected eerie light on the ceiling.
In the deepest cell, Wei Huai was shackled by his arms to the wall, his body from the chest down submerged.
His head hung low, black hair disheveled, skin pale from soaking, breathing faint—he looked near death.
Suddenly, the cell door creaked open. The dark iron chains locking Wei Huai fell away; his sentence was served, and all binding spells lost effect. He was now free to leave the prison.
Freed, Wei Huai sprang to life. He braced one hand on the pool’s edge and leaped out effortlessly.
He slicked his messy black hair back, revealing his sharp brow bones.
Over the past half month, he had endured torment—not a grain of rice, his demon power sealed by Xie Shu. He had survived solely on his robust physique, finally outlasting his punishment.
Drenched clothes clung to Wei Huai, his hair unkempt, wrists bruised purple—he looked utterly wretched.
After Xie Shu’s inhuman treatment, rage filled him, but he had no time to settle scores. He did not even bother changing clothes before hurrying down the mountain.
He had been locked away an extra half month—how had A Xue fared in the palace? Had he eaten well? Stayed warm? Encountered danger?
Wei Huai raced down the mountain, a smile on his face as he coldly warned Xie Shu, “If anything happens to A Xue, I’ll slaughter your disciples, smash your Dao Field, and burn Cang Mountain. You know I always keep my word.”
He knew Xie Shu could hear.
At the mountain’s base, Wei Huai found his mount, the White Tiger, and sped toward the Imperial Palace like lightning. His sealed demon power was slowly recovering but remained sluggish; it would take two or three days to fully restore. He could not wait that long.
He had to find A Xue.
The White Tiger reached the palace walls. With swift motion, it charged upward, scaling the wall in a few bounds and flipping over, carrying Wei Huai inside.
Along the way, Wei Huai heard ritual music echoing. He pondered briefly, recalling it was Helan Ji’s enfeoffment day for the Noble Consort.
He had no interest in watching, and his attire was unsuitable anyway. Ignoring it, he rode the White Tiger to the Demon Beast Garden.
Xie Shu’s divination had not pinpointed Qixue’s location in the palace. Unsure where to search, Wei Huai started at the Demon Beast Garden, home to many demons and weak little ones—perhaps Qixue had turned into a rabbit and blended in.
The Demon Beast Garden was eerily quiet that day, with only an old inner servant sweeping.
Wei Huai approached and asked, “Has a white little rabbit appeared in the garden recently?”
The old inner servant focused on sweeping and startled at the voice. He turned, studied Wei Huai, then knelt in surprise. “This old servant greets the Great General!”
It was no wonder he had not recognized him at first—Wei Huai looked so disheveled. Apart from his handsome face, his clothes were beggar-like.
“Spare me these formalities.”
Wei Huai helped him up. “Elder, I’m looking for a white rabbit. Have you seen one in the garden?”
“What ‘elder’? General Wei flatters this old servant.”
The old inner servant waved flattered hands and racked his brain. “Rabbit demons… The garden hasn’t kept any in the past half year, and this old servant hasn’t seen a white rabbit.”
“Truly none?” Wei Huai pressed. “Please think again, elder—this is very important to me.”
The old inner servant thought hard. “Really none. But if the general seeks a white rabbit, I hear the Qi Noble Consort keeps one. The Noble Consort dotes on it greatly—even His Majesty dotes on it and brings it to court.”
Wei Huai: “Qi Noble Consort?”
The old inner servant shook his head. “Not ‘Qi’—it’s ‘Qi’ as in gorgeous ‘Qi.’ This old servant is illiterate and can’t write the character.”
White rabbit? Qi—as in Qixue’s “Qi”?
Wei Huai’s pupils contracted sharply. Without another word, he mounted the White Tiger.
The White Tiger let out a “roar,” pawed a pouch of gold beans from its thick fur, hooked and tossed it neatly into the old inner servant’s arms, then shot off like a meteor, following the ritual music.
He arrived at Jianzhang Hall. Qixue had already received all congratulations; the ceremony neared its end. Qixue and Helan Ji walked hand in hand over the red silk, about to board the sedan.
Wei Huai was still far from the flower-strewn palanquin, but the moment that slender figure in resplendent crimson court robes entered his sight, he immediately recognized the Noble Consort.
His entire body went rigid, the blood draining from his face as every muscle and bone trembled. The knuckles of his clenched fists emitted a chilling “creak creak.”
There was no mistaking it.
That was A Xue.
They had entwined night after night, slept in each other’s arms—he had kissed that skin, measured that slender waist with his own hands, traced those brows and eyes countless times. They belonged to the one true love of his life. How could he possibly be wrong?
Yet his A Xue had abandoned him at their wedding and was now marrying someone else—that someone being his best friend, the most exalted ruler of Great Yong, Emperor Helan Ji.
A Xue was the Noble Consort His Majesty was taking as spouse.
Why? Why had A Xue done this?
Had he left him solely to enter the imperial family and become the Emperor’s consort?
Wei Huai’s heart bled, riven as if by knives, twisted as if by awls, the pain tearing him apart.
His eyes bloodshot, he leaped down from the White Tiger’s back and charged forward heedless of all else—until the Emperor’s elite Zhu Yan Guards blocked his path.
“Who are you?!”
The Zhu Yan Guards bellowed, drawing their blades on Wei Huai. They failed to recognize the disheveled man and assumed he was some lunatic who had wandered in from outside.
“Get lost!”
Wei Huai kicked one aside. His movements were so swift and agile that the Zhu Yan Guards were no match for him. It was only then that they recognized him in shock: “The Great General?”
The usual Wei Huai dressed in fine brocade, his bearing elegant and dashing, noble yet carefree. But now, he bore not a trace of his former poise—like a malevolent ghost crawled from a lake.
He staggered toward the palanquin. Qixue had already boarded the carriage compartment, and the flower-strewn palanquin began to move slowly—only for Wei Huai to seize the shaft.
His fingers dug deep into the wood, his grip so powerful that the wheels could not turn an inch.
“A Xue…”
Wei Huai lowered his gaze, his voice hoarse and rasping, like a sob wrung from blood.
“Why did you abandon me? Why marry another man? Where exactly do I fall short of Helan Ji? Is it just because he is the Emperor, the Son of Heaven, that you give him your heart and scorn me utterly?”
He addressed the Emperor by his personal name, and the implications of his words were utterly terrifying. The female officials and palace servants trailing the palanquin all paled in horror. Only Dong Yuan smiled and spoke amiably.
“What’s this, General Wei? Seeing the Noble Consort’s procession, why don’t you yield the way or pay your respects? Instead, you’re babbling nonsense here, polluting Her Ladyship’s ears?”
“By the rules, you should offer congratulations to the Noble Consort, wishing His Majesty and Her Ladyship eternal union and a lifetime together to white hair and old age.”
“Though you’ve arrived late, no matter. The Noble Consort is ever magnanimous and won’t hold such a trifle against you.”
“Come now, General Wei. Please hurry and pay your respects to the Noble Consort.”
