The indigo Crown Prince ceremonial robe was soaked at the front and casually tossed to the ground like a pile of dark clouds. His undergarments and underpants were crumpled and draped over the bed’s edge, while the canopy embroidered with flowering branches swayed lightly, partially obscuring the figures within.
“Wu… mm…”
Qixue collapsed into Ji Yuheng’s arms, his snow-white rabbit ears trembling violently. His fluffy tail had absorbed so much moisture that it hung limply, drenched. His entire body was slick with fragrant sweat, and the crooks of his pale pink elbows and knees glistened with crystalline sheen.
The tent was filled with a decadent, alluring fragrance. Ji Yuheng held both of Qixue’s wrists with one hand to prevent him from struggling free, kissing his cheeks and the nape of his neck from above.
Qixue’s soft lips glistened like ripe, juicy fruit. They parted slightly as he let out a sweet, whimpering moan. “Yun Qi, I really can’t… I can’t take anymore…”
Before he could finish, Ji Yuheng captured his lips. At the same time, Ji Yuheng’s palm covered his tail and gave it a gentle squeeze. Qixue felt all the strength drain from his body, turning into a pool of spring water, rippling under Ji Yuheng’s touch.
…
Even at the end, when Qixue shifted back to his little rabbit form, he couldn’t fully escape Ji Yuheng’s control. Ji Yuheng cradled him in his palm, kissing his little head and pink nose, then gently rubbing his soft belly with a finger.
Rabbit Tuan turned completely pink, his little paws kicking wildly. He hugged Ji Yuheng’s finger, his belly twitching with pleasure.
He couldn’t take it anymore. With a cry, he shifted back to human form, only to be pulled by Ji Yuheng into an endless sea of passion.
–
After Qixue fell into a deep sleep, Ji Yuheng didn’t leave. Instead, he gently cleaned up the aftermath and lay back down beside Qixue, holding him close with his eyes closed in feigned rest.
Before the enfeoffment ceremony was about to begin, he noticed Qixue hadn’t arrived. After asking the palace servants, he learned the Noble Consort was feeling unwell and wouldn’t attend the ceremony.
Though he suspected it might just be Qixue’s excuse to skip the event, Ji Yuheng was still worried enough to visit Chenglu Palace. He never expected to end up in bed.
But he didn’t regret it. In fact, he secretly lamented that they hadn’t gone all the way.
Qixue had held firm to his bottom line, refusing to let him enter, because he didn’t want to get pregnant with his child.
Ji Yuheng said nothing, simply obeying Qixue’s command. Beyond that, though, he’d done everything else. His mother concubine hadn’t been wrong about him—he was utterly depraved at heart. As long as it wasn’t penetration, he was willing to try anything.
He’d dared to toy with Qixue like this only because he’d checked his pulse beforehand and confirmed his condition was healthy and stable. Otherwise, he never would have touched him.
Ji Yuheng stayed in Chenglu Palace with Qixue for a long time, until he heard that Helan Ji was looking for him. Then he hurriedly donned his still-damp Crown Prince robe, carrying the scent of fragrance on his body, and returned to Mingguang Palace first to bathe and change.
Mingguang Palace had always been the East Palace for the Crown Prince, and Ji Yuheng had officially moved in. Currently, Palace Supervisor Wang and most of the servants were old retainers he’d brought from the County Princess Mansion. Even if they noticed anything amiss, they would keep their mouths shut.
After Ji Yuheng left, Qixue slept for a long while. When he woke, he found Ji Yuheng gone, the bed neatly made, and his own body fresh and clean, without a single trace left behind.
Subconsciously, he sniffed the air, searching for Ji Yuheng’s scent. He was disappointed to find almost none lingering and lay back down in a sulk.
Qixue discovered that Ji Yuheng’s embraces and kisses could alleviate his physical discomfort. During their earlier entanglement, he’d clearly felt the previous unease fade away entirely. But with Ji Yuheng’s departure, the dizziness and nausea returned. He just wanted to lie there lazily. Though he felt hungry, he couldn’t stomach a thing.
The longer Qixue lay, the more restless he became. He simply shifted into Rabbit Tuan and burrowed around on the bed, his plump rabbit rear raised high, his little tail twitching, his tiny paws scratching nonstop at the sheets as if trying to dig a rabbit burrow.
Rabbit Tuan was focused on excavating his pit when he felt someone touch the tip of his tail. He looked back, and his round, black-grape eyes reflected the handsome face of the young Daoist.
“A Xue.”
Xuan Yang sat at the bed’s edge, holding his whisk. He reached out to stroke the tip of his tail and tapped his little head.
He said affectionately to Qixue, “I heard you were unwell and grew worried. Fortunately, you look fine—even energetic enough to play alone. You’re still just a child who hasn’t grown up.”
Rabbit Tuan’s tail shook with surprise and embarrassment. “No, Holy Monarch… I’m not playing. I just feel restless, and digging a burrow makes me feel better.”
He shyly hid under the covers. Xuan Yang chuckled and stroked his little head. “Alright, it’s my mistake—I wronged you, A Xue. Where do you feel unwell? Tell me. I know some medicine.”
Rabbit Tuan asked sheepishly, “Won’t that trouble the Holy Monarch too much?”
“How could it?”
Xuan Yang cradled Rabbit Tuan in his palm and gently stroked the soft fur. “I’m only afraid you don’t rely on me enough.”
“Thank you, Holy Monarch.”
Rabbit Tuan thanked him and honestly described his symptoms: loss of appetite, lethargy, weakness all over, now dizziness and nausea. When he got irritable, he wanted to make a burrow.
It wasn’t severe, but it was enough to make him suffer—which was why he’d started missing Ji Yuheng so soon after he left.
After hearing him out, Xuan Yang frowned slightly, looking concerned. “Why didn’t you send someone up the mountain to tell me? I could have come down sooner to examine you.”
“It’s just a minor ailment. No need to trouble the Holy Monarch.”
Rabbit Tuan said embarrassedly, lying fully in Xuan Yang’s hand and exposing his soft belly for inspection.
Xuan Yang infused him with spiritual power and admonished helplessly, “Even the slightest discomfort must be reported to me. If you always push yourself like this, how can I rest easy?”
Rabbit Tuan hugged his finger with his little paws, acting coquettish. “The Holy Monarch takes care of me, and it pains me to see you tire yourself… Besides…”
He was about to say it didn’t feel like illness—his pulse was always healthy—but then he remembered something: his symptoms matched those of a pregnant doe rabbit. Could it be that he—
The thought made him shiver. He stammered, “Holy Monarch… do you think I might be pregnant?”
“…”
Xuan Yang’s movements paused ever so slightly. His spiritual power circulated through Rabbit Tuan’s meridians once, and his frown smoothed out. A faint smile curved his lips. “You’re right, A Xue. You are with child.”
“R-Really?”
Rabbit Tuan had only half-hoped, but Xuan Yang’s confirmation hit him like a thunderbolt. “I’m really pregnant with His Majesty’s child?”
Xuan Yang said, “Shift back to human form. Let me check you again.”
“O-Okay…”
Rabbit Tuan, usually nimble, now fumbled awkwardly. He carefully climbed down from Xuan Yang’s palm and shifted into human form, sitting beside him.
Xuan Yang pulled him into his arms, undid his collar, and placed his warm palm on his abdomen, infusing spiritual power and stroking gently a few times. “Yes, you are indeed pregnant. Congratulations, A Xue. You’ve gotten what you wished for.”
Qixue’s expression shifted from shock to immense joy. His eyes grew moist at the corners, but his smile blazed brightly. In disbelief, he touched his belly. “Oh my god… I’m really pregnant with a baby. I’m going to have His Majesty’s child…”
He stroked his belly tenderly and carefully, a dazed sense of unreality washing over him, yet his heart swelled full with happiness, making his whole body feel light as if floating.
It was so miraculous—there was actually a child inside here?
Qixue stroked his belly over and over, asking Xuan Yang expectantly and nervously, “Holy Monarch, can you see it with your spiritual power? What does it look like? Is it in little rabbit shape or little human shape?”
Xuan Yang shook his head. “The child is too small; it has no form yet. I only know you’re pregnant—nothing more.”
“So tiny…” Qixue murmured softly. “No wonder the imperial physicians couldn’t detect it when they took my pulse.”
“Yes,” Xuan Yang said. “You’ll need to wait at least half a month for them to discern the joyful pulse.”
Qixue beamed sweetly. “The Holy Monarch is truly divine. Those mortals can’t compare, of course.”
As he spoke, a wave of nausea surged in Qixue’s stomach, making him dry-heave. Xuan Yang immediately held him tight and infused more spiritual power to ease the discomfort.
With Xuan Yang’s spiritual power, Qixue felt a bit better, but still unwell. He leaned weakly against Xuan Yang’s chest, his complexion pale.
Xuan Yang wiped the thin sweat from his forehead and said tenderly, “You’re a male rabbit; pregnancy doesn’t suit you. It will be much harder than for ordinary people. Are you sure you want to have this child?”
“Of course I do…”
Qixue touched his belly and bit his lip. “If I dry-heave too much, will it hurt the baby?”
“No,” Xuan Yang said. “The child isn’t that fragile.”
“That’s good.” Qixue relaxed. “By the way, I noticed I feel much better around Ji Yuheng. Why is his constitution so magical? Little animals love him so much.”
Xuan Yang explained, “He is a child of the Heavenly Dao, blessed with great destiny. Living beings are drawn to destiny and naturally like him more. Your comfort comes from its protection.”
Qixue blinked. “Does that mean I have to stay by his side every day to avoid feeling bad?”
Xuan Yang shook his head. “A Xue, come to Cloud Moon Temple. You won’t need his destiny—I’ll protect you.”
“For the first three months, you’ll suffer greatly and need preservation measures. I can’t trust others to care for you. It’s safest if I do it personally.”
“But I’m a demon—won’t it be dangerous living in Cloud Moon Temple? The Daoists won’t kill me, will they?”
“I won’t let them touch you,” Xuan Yang said. “Or do you doubt I can protect you properly?”
Qixue hurriedly explained, “Of course I trust the Holy Monarch!”
“Good.”
Xuan Yang gently stroked his cheek. “With me here, you won’t need anyone else’s care. Once you’re in the temple, we can dual cultivate. You can consume my Primordial Yang, and your child will be healthier…”
Qixue flushed instantly and whispered, “How could I dual cultivate with the Holy Monarch…”
“Don’t you want your child healthier?” Xuan Yang stroked his little belly. “You need me, A Xue. This incarnation can feed you freely—even drain it dry, no problem.”
“No, no…”
Qixue shook his head, unable to accept it. “I want the child healthy, but there must be other ways…”
He thought for a moment, then had a flash of inspiration. “Right—couldn’t I use Ji Yuheng’s or Xie Shu’s Primordial Yang? They’re both blessed with great destiny, so theirs should work just as well, right?”
