Qixue touched the medicine bottle in his bosom and walked into Helan Ji’s bedchamber.
He passed through layers of light-colored gauze curtains, and the medicinal scent grew stronger the deeper he went.
To prevent Helan Ji from catching a chill, the windows of the bedchamber were tightly shut. In the scorching summer heat, the room felt like a steaming hot cage. Before long, fine beads of sweat formed on Qixue’s forehead, and combined with his nervousness, he found it hard to catch his breath.
Wei Huai followed closely behind him, lifting the curtains for him as they entered the inner chamber together.
Eunuch Xue happened to be inside. When he saw Qixue, he was overjoyed and immediately knelt down to pay his respects. “It’s the Lady who has returned! This old servant greets the Lady!”
“Eunuch Xue, please rise quickly.”
Qixue stepped forward to help Eunuch Xue to his feet. Now that his eyes had mostly healed, he could finally see the eunuch clearly. Seeing the white hair at his temples and how much older he looked—like he had aged a dozen years—Qixue felt a pang in his heart.
He knew that Eunuch Xue must have exhausted himself caring for the gravely ill Helan Ji, which was why he had become so haggard.
What distressed Qixue even more was that even the person attending to His Majesty had worn himself out like this—what must His Majesty himself be like? How emaciated and worn must he be?
Qixue’s expression darkened as he quickened his pace inward and asked Eunuch Xue, “How is His Majesty? Is he any better now?”
“Thanks to the medicine from Xuan Yang Immortal Master, His Majesty has improved somewhat, though it’s still touch and go. He hasn’t woken up yet.”
Eunuch Xue let out a long sigh, but when his gaze fell on Qixue, it quickly turned from sorrow to joy. “The root of His Majesty’s illness is a disease of the heart. He has been constantly worried about you, my Lady. Now that you’ve returned, his heart ailment will surely heal, and His Majesty’s health will soon recover.”
“It certainly will.”
Qixue held back his heartache and gave Eunuch Xue a smile. “I’ve obtained Xie Guoshi’s spiritual medicine for His Majesty. I’ll feed it to him right away, and he’ll get better once he takes it.”
“That’s wonderful!” Eunuch Xue beamed. “It must be your sincere plea that moved the State Preceptor to help.”
As they spoke, they reached Helan Ji’s bedside. Qixue caught sight of the figure on the bed, and his nose immediately tingled. He rushed forward eagerly. “Your Majesty!”
His heart was entirely focused on Helan Ji; he had eyes for no one else. He didn’t notice Xuan Yang standing silently behind the curtains, watching him quietly.
Xuan Yang wore a simple Daoist robe and held a snow-white whisk. His refined, compassionate face was partially veiled by white gauze, resembling a merciful statue of a god.
But his gaze was dark and greedy, fixed intently on Qixue until Wei Huai followed closely behind. Only then did he silently conceal his form.
Qixue knelt by the bed and finally saw Helan Ji’s face clearly. With just one glance, tears spilled from his eyes like beads from a broken string, falling steadily.
He had already heard that Helan Ji had turned white-haired overnight due to his disappearance, but he hadn’t imagined it would be like this—Helan Ji’s hair was truly silver-white as snow, without a single black strand.
His face was gaunt and withered. His once tall frame had wasted away to skin and bones, like a skeletal rack—shockingly emaciated. His skin was pallid with a greenish tint, devoid of any vitality. He had always looked sickly, but now he resembled a corpse.
“Your Majesty… A’Man…”
Even with mental preparation, Qixue couldn’t hold back his tears. He burst into loud, heaving sobs. “I’m sorry… It’s all my fault… This is all because of me that Your Majesty has fallen so ill…”
“Don’t cry, A’Xue. How could this be your fault?”
Wei Huai knelt on one knee behind Qixue, pulling him into his arms and stroking his hair to comfort him. “Don’t blame yourself. If His Majesty saw you crying so heartbrokenly, he would ache for you too.”
“Even for the child in your belly, you shouldn’t grieve like this. Let me help you up, alright? Sit down and talk to His Majesty.”
He didn’t know that Qixue wasn’t actually pregnant. The mere mention of the child made Qixue feel even more guilty toward Helan Ji, and he cried even harder. “I’ve let Your Majesty down…”
The more heartbroken Qixue was for Helan Ji, the more heartbroken Wei Huai was for him. He lifted Qixue from the floor and sat him on the edge of the bed, then knelt before him, tilting his head up to wipe away his tears.
“You’ve done nothing to let His Majesty down.”
Wei Huai’s tone was soft and gentle. “You didn’t choose to leave him on your own. After falling into the ancient mirror, you desperately tried to return to his side. You even begged Xie Shu for medicine for him. You’ve done so much, all for him. You’re the best to him in the entire world—so much so that it makes me jealous. How could you have let him down? He should be grateful to you.”
He caressed Qixue’s cheek. Qixue gradually stopped crying and murmured, “Really? Am I the best to His Majesty?”
“If you don’t believe me, why not ask him yourself?”
Wei Huai smiled and coaxed him. “Come, feed His Majesty the spiritual medicine you obtained. See if Xie Shu was telling the truth and if it’s really effective.”
Eunuch Xue timely offered a cup of tea, but Qixue shook his head and gestured for them to help prop Helan Ji up. He carefully held the pill between his teeth, kissed Helan Ji’s bloodless lips, pried open his teeth, and pushed the pill in with the tip of his tongue.
The pill melted in his mouth. Infused with dragon blood and heavenly treasures, the spiritual medicine had powerful regenerative effects. It awakened the vitality in Helan Ji’s body. A bit of color returned to his face, his eyelids fluttered, and he opened his dark phoenix eyes.
“Your Majesty!”
Seeing him awake, Qixue called out in surprise and delight, caressing his face. Helan Ji’s brows furrowed slightly, as if he wasn’t fully conscious yet. After a moment, he uncertainly murmured, “Yuan Yuan?”
“It’s me, Your Majesty.”
Qixue’s smile mingled with tears as he grasped Helan Ji’s cold hand and said sweetly, “I’ve obtained spiritual medicine for you. Xie Guoshi said that once you take it, you’ll recover quickly. And now you’ve woken up—Xie Guoshi’s medicine really works.”
“So you went to beg for medicine for me.” Helan Ji coughed a few times, his voice hoarse. “That day, you returned but left again soon after. I’ve never been fully clear-headed. I thought I was dreaming… Or is this still a dream?”
“Yuan Yuan, whether it’s a dream or reality, please don’t leave me, alright? Even if I die, it doesn’t matter. I just want you by my side, never going anywhere.”
“I won’t go, Your Majesty. I’m not going anywhere.”
Qixue’s heart was filled with bitterness and tenderness. He sniffled and gently nestled into Helan Ji’s arms. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I’ll stay by your side and watch you get better with my own eyes. You won’t die—you’ll live to a ripe old age.”
“Good…”
Helan Ji weakly lifted his hand to stroke Qixue’s hair, but he was too frail; he didn’t even have the strength for that. His hand suddenly slipped down, and he fell back into a coma.
His sudden unconsciousness terrified Qixue. He quickly instructed Eunuch Xue, “What’s wrong with His Majesty? Why did he faint again? Call the imperial physician at once!”
“No need for a physician. I’ll check.”
Xuan Yang emerged from behind the curtains. Wei Huai watched him coldly, but Xuan Yang ignored the icy stare and approached the bed, channeling spiritual power into Helan Ji to examine him.
“It’s nothing serious. The spiritual medicine is repairing his meridians, but the potency is too strong for him to bear right now, so he’s fainted. He should wake up by evening.”
Xuan Yang’s tone was indifferent as he gently withdrew his hand and met Qixue’s gaze with lowered eyes. “My Lady need not worry excessively, lest it harm your phoenix body.”
“Yes, I understand. Thank you, Xuan Yang Daoist.”
Xuan Yang’s presence was intimidating. Qixue’s lashes trembled, and he lowered his head, not daring to meet his eyes. He feared Xuan Yang might suddenly take him away in front of everyone and send him back to Dali Mountain.
Fortunately, Xuan Yang didn’t do that. He merely pressed Qixue’s shoulder unobtrusively before withdrawing.
Wei Huai wasn’t entirely reassured about Xuan Yang, so he summoned one of his trusted aides—a Daoist by background, skilled in medicine, essentially a half-physician cultivator. The man usually treated demons in the military camp and could certainly examine Helan Ji.
The aide’s diagnosis aligned with Xuan Yang’s: Helan Ji’s condition was steadily improving. Wei Huai relaxed then and dismissed the aide.
He stayed with Qixue for a long time, chatting with him, but with urgent court matters, he had to leave first, allowing Qixue to quietly accompany Helan Ji.
Qixue transformed back into Rabbit Tuan and nestled affectionately in the crook of Helan Ji’s neck. His soft rabbit ears draped over Helan Ji’s face as he murmured to him, chattering on about his experiences in the ancient mirror.
Though Helan Ji was still unconscious, Rabbit Tuan believed he could hear. He thought that if His Majesty heard his voice, he’d know he was by his side and feel reassured.
“You have to get better soon, Your Majesty.”
The small, fluffy Rabbit Tuan’s voice was soft and fine, sounding even more childish than his human form—like a warm little milk bun.
“It’s been over a month since I last saw you, and I really missed you. Back in my hometown, I’d never missed anyone like this. It’s probably because I like you so much that I miss you this way. I even wanted to bear your child, but I can’t bear to…”
At the end, Rabbit Tuan’s black eyes dimmed, and he fell silent, subdued.
Yes, thinking of their future parting, he already couldn’t bear it. But he had to leave. He’d rather never see His Majesty again than let him suffer.
Perhaps he should ask the Holy Monarch to cast a forgetting spell on His Majesty and Seventh Brother… As for himself, he couldn’t bear to forget them. He might suffer in endless longing, but forgetting them would plunge his life into eternal emptiness—a pain equal to losing his freedom.
Unknowingly, Rabbit Tuan fell asleep and had a sorrowful dream. He dreamed he became the divine consort of the Cave Abyss God Spirit. After the wedding, It allowed him to descend the mountain to visit them, but Helan Ji and the others had been spelled to forget him—they didn’t recognize him.
In the dream, Rabbit Tuan felt heartbroken, his eyes growing wet until he cried himself awake.
He slowly woke, feeling a slender hand stroking his rabbit fur. It must be Helan Ji.
“Your Majesty?” Rabbit Tuan twitched his ears and hugged the hand with his paws. “You’re awake?”
The room was pitch black, without lamps lit. Rabbit Tuan’s eyes weren’t fully healed yet; without candlelight, he couldn’t see a thing. He only knew from sensation and scent that Helan Ji was holding him.
“Awake.”
Helan Ji’s voice was low and gentle. “Good thing it’s not a dream. Yuan Yuan, you’re really still by my side.”
“Of course I have to stay with Your Majesty.”
Rabbit Tuan happily licked the pad of Helan Ji’s finger. “Your Majesty, how do you feel now? Any better?”
“Much better.” Helan Ji said, “The medicine you begged for me is very effective. I can sit up on my own now.”
“That’s great!”
Rabbit Tuan shook his ears, wriggled his bunny butt off Helan Ji’s hand, and tried to hop to the ground by feel. “It’s so dark in here. I’ll call Eunuch Xue to light the lamps.”
“No need. This is fine.”
Helan Ji extended his long arm, scooping the airborne Rabbit Tuan back into his embrace. “Don’t leave me.”
“But Your Majesty, I can’t see you clearly. I want to look at you more…”
Rabbit Tuan’s soft body squirmed in his arms. “It’s been so long. Don’t you want to look at me properly? How can we talk in this darkness?”
Helan Ji: “While you were asleep just now, I already looked at you for a long time.”
“But I want to see Your Majesty too.” Rabbit Tuan whined coquettishly.
“…” Helan Ji fell silent for a long while before saying, “Yuan Yuan, don’t look at me. My appearance now is too hideous—even I find it frightening. I don’t want to scare you.”
