Qixue’s eyes lit up. “In other words, if I desperately bully and humiliate Ji Yuheng until he harbors killing intent toward me, his destiny will vanish?”
Xuan Yang nodded. “Exactly.”
This was far too easy! Humiliating Ji Yuheng—what could be simpler? Qixue immediately thought of several methods!
Qixue excitedly rubbed his fists, his towering hatred for Ji Yuheng greatly sparking his inspiration. He even wished he could grab Ji Yuheng right then and test them out, tormenting him until he was no longer human.
Xuan Yang said, “I’ll handle Xie Shu. I’ll leave Ji Yuheng to you. A Xue, can you do this for me?”
“A Xue will absolutely not fail the Holy Monarch’s expectations. If I can’t, then take my head!” Qixue swore fervently.
“No need for blood oaths—I couldn’t bear that for you.”
Xuan Yang chuckled softly and gazed tenderly at Qixue. “Our path is destined to be full of thorns. A Xue, I’m glad to have you with me; it keeps me from feeling so lonely and tormented.”
Flattered, Qixue said sweetly, “This is what A Xue should do. A Xue will accompany the Holy Monarch to the end, even if it means my body scatters and bones turn to dust.”
“I don’t need you scattering to dust. Your safety is more important than anything.”
At this point, Xuan Yang suddenly asked Qixue, “A Xue, would you dual cultivate with me?”
“…?” Qixue’s eyes widened. “!”
Xuan Yang sighed softly. “I’m worried about you and hope you raise your demon power quickly. Dual cultivating with Helan Ji will only give you limited demon power, but with me, the speed would be entirely different—your strength would soon rival a Demon King’s.”
“N-No… it won’t work!”
Though Xuan Yang’s reasoning was incredibly tempting, Qixue rejected it outright, shaking his head with a flushed face. “How could I dual cultivate with the Holy Monarch?”
“Why not?” Xuan Yang asked. “Demons don’t value chastity. Or do you intend to remain chaste for Helan Ji?”
Qixue hesitated, then answered, “That’s one reason. Though I don’t value chastity myself, His Majesty is human—he might care deeply. I don’t want to hurt him.”
“And?” Xuan Yang pressed.
“Of course, it’s because… I wouldn’t dare have such thoughts toward the Holy Monarch…”
Qixue stammered, even feeling his explanation was offensive. To him, Xuan Yang was his god, like a father and brother; his feelings were utterly pure. “This would be blaspheming the Holy Monarch.”
“What if I permit you to blaspheme me?”
Xuan Yang caressed Qixue’s cheek, rubbing his soft skin. “Would you dual cultivate with me?”
Qixue still shook his head, shyly dodging Xuan Yang’s hand. “Really, it won’t work…”
“Very well, I won’t force you. Do as you wish.” Xuan Yang withdrew his hand. “If you change your mind later, just tell me.”
“Thank you, Holy Monarch,” Qixue thanked him awkwardly.
“Rest now. I should go.”
Xuan Yang escorted Qixue out of the courtyard, signaling the Dream Entering Technique was ending.
As Qixue pushed open the door and was about to step over the threshold, Xuan Yang, standing behind him, suddenly spoke softly. “I’ll miss you, A Xue.”
This was what Qixue said to Xuan Yang every time they parted; this time, Xuan Yang said it first.
Qixue paused, then turned back with a smile for Xuan Yang. “I’ll miss you too, Holy Monarch.”
Xuan Yang gazed deeply at him. “Sleep.”
He exited Qixue’s dream. The dreamscape instantly turned pitch black, and Qixue soon fell into a deep sleep.
After waking up, Qixue still clearly remembered that dream. For a fleeting moment, he had wondered if Xuan Yang was fond of him romantically—perhaps it was just an illusion. He always felt that Xuan Yang’s attitude toward him was somewhat ambiguous.
But Qixue quickly dismissed the idea and felt deeply ashamed, believing he had profaned Xuan Yang.
The Holy Monarch was the Cave Abyss God Spirit, who showed mercy to all things in the world. His love was a great love; how could it be confined to vulgar male-female romance? He had underestimated the Holy Monarch far too much.
The Holy Monarch merely pitied him and was willing to offer this incarnation for dual cultivation with him. His demon clan wasn’t human, after all—they had no such thing as chastity. The Holy Monarch simply treated the body as a tool to boost cultivation.
Sigh… The Holy Monarch favored him so much, yet he had still refused. Wasn’t that ungrateful?
Yet he might have been influenced by human notions of chastity. He simply couldn’t bring himself to dual cultivate with the Holy Monarch. Anyone else would be fine, but not him—he couldn’t accept it.
…
Qixue sat on his throne, lost in thought as he recalled the events of that day. Until the imperial clansmen and vassal kings below chorused their thanks to the emperor and the Noble Consort—he was startled awake by the resounding voices, finally coming back to his senses and realizing where he was.
He stopped thinking about Xuan Yang. His gaze swept over the steps below, and he easily spotted Ji Yuheng by feel alone. Malicious ideas bubbled up in his heart as he pondered how to deal with Ji Yuheng.
If possible, what he wanted most was to stop Ji Yuheng from becoming the Crown Prince—that would settle it once and for all. Of course, he would also humiliate Ji Yuheng thoroughly. Even if it wasn’t his main task, he was more than willing. What method should he use…
Qixue drifted off again. Helan Ji, sitting beside him, noticed his absentmindedness and assumed he was just bored. He gently grasped Qixue’s hand, his cold and indifferent gaze sweeping over those below, scrutinizing every imperial clansman and heir from on high.
In such a setting, no one dared meet Helan Ji’s eyes. His majesty weighed too heavily on them all, deeply intimidating everyone—especially the younger children, who were so frightened by Helan Ji that they didn’t even dare cry, trembling in their adults’ arms.
Eunuch Xue announced loudly, “Announcing the audience with the vassal kings!”
The imperial clansmen paid their respects to the emperor and Noble Consort in turns, according to their ranks.
Most of them were relatively young; the elders had come mainly to bring their children to pay respects to the emperor. Helan Ji had summoned the clansmen to the capital this time to select the heir apparent, so there were naturally age requirements: between ten and thirty years old, and open to both men and women. In Great Yong, either men or women could ascend to the throne.
Helan Ji accepted their obeisance without a word from start to finish. The civil and military officials stood below in silent observation as well, though they each had their own calculations in mind and favored candidates for heir.
Ji Yuheng was the standout among them. In terms of reputation, ability, character, and even appearance, he was the top choice—the perfect Crown Prince.
Of course, in the original story, his path to the throne wouldn’t be smooth sailing, or there’d be no plot left.
Before Helan Ji named him heir, Ji Yuheng faced all sorts of overt and covert schemes, intrigues, and perils—but he always turned danger into safety.
Qixue suddenly remembered something: in the original story, someone had tampered with Ji Yuheng’s congratulatory gift. In a moment, when he came forward to pay respects, an accident would happen. He could seize the chance to make things difficult for Ji Yuheng and embarrass him first.
Nearly half a shichen had passed, and Qixue’s buttocks ached from sitting. In his eager anticipation, Ji Yuheng finally stepped forward to pay respects, followed by two palace maids carrying the congratulatory gifts he had prepared for the emperor and Noble Consort.
“The Nanping Heir, Ji Yuheng, pays respects to His Majesty… and to the Noble Consort.”
Ji Yuheng ascended the jade steps and arrived before Jianzhang Hall. He lowered his head and knelt in obeisance to Helan Ji and Qixue.
Before uttering “Noble Consort,” his warm voice paused for an instant, which he then perfectly concealed.
At that moment, one of the palace maids behind him let out a soft cry. The treasure casket in her hands suddenly cracked open, and the casket full of precious southern pearls spilled out with a clatter, scattering across the ground.
“Tap, tap…”
One southern pearl bounced upward, rolling right to Qixue’s feet.
Qixue extended his foot and gently pressed down on the pearl, rolling it under his sole a few times.
Such an accident left all the palace maids and eunuchs pale-faced, and they moved to bend down and pick them up. But Qixue stopped them: “Don’t pick them up.”
The palace servants halted and stood back in place obediently. Qixue clipped the pearl under his toes, pinched it between them, then rose gracefully from the throne and descended step by step to stand before Ji Yuheng.
“Young Master Shizi.”
Qixue’s tone was soft and gentle. He leaned slightly toward the kneeling Ji Yuheng and said, “Are these southern pearls in the casket a gift for me?”
“Yes, Noble Consort,” Ji Yuheng replied respectfully without lifting his head.
“But your gift to me has spilled all over the ground.” Qixue feigned distress. “I’m very angry. What should we do?”
Ji Yuheng said, “This subject is guilty for failing to present the gift to Your Ladyship. Punish me as you see fit.”
“Young Master Shizi needn’t panic. I’m not some malicious person who would punish you harshly. Get up quickly.”
Qixue gently pulled Ji Yuheng to his feet and said to him, “I only want you to pick up every single pearl and put them back in the casket. Any problem with that?”
Ji Yuheng kept his eyes lowered. “No problem.”
“If you can’t manage it…”
Qixue took the pearl from between his toes. With his soft fingertip, he pressed it against Ji Yuheng’s lips, forcing him to open his mouth and take in the pearl he had stepped on.
“As punishment, for every pearl missing, you’ll get a lash from me.”
His fingers trailed down Ji Yuheng’s jaw, over his throat and collarbone, and tapped his chest. “I hit hard, so you must be very careful.”
