Xuan Yang held Qixue in his arms and sat quietly for a moment before leaving without doing anything.
He was not in a hurry for this moment. After they married, he could do whatever he wanted with Qixue, so there was no need to rush. He did not want his jealousy to deepen Qixue’s fear of him.
After he left, Qixue sat on the edge of the bed and spaced out for a while.
There were only two months left before he had to leave… He only had this much time left to stay by His Majesty and the others’ sides.
It was impossible not to feel heartbroken, but thinking that Helan Ji’s body could be completely healed made Qixue feel it was all worth it.
He had always been willing to sacrifice everything for His Majesty.
“Creeeak…”
The window was pushed open a narrow crack, and Luxiangqiu slipped in from outside. She looked at Qixue with a deeply shocked expression.
“?” Qixue snapped back to attention and noticed her strange gaze. He asked in confusion, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because I’m too shocked…”
Luxiangqiu’s tone was light and dreamy: “Didn’t you notice? The way the Holy Monarch spoke to you just now was so humble… That’s the Cave Abyss God Spirit, the supreme god of all demons in the world, groveling before you like that. A Xue, you’re too amazing…”
Her words reminded Qixue. It was exactly as she said—the Holy Monarch had nearly begged him. He was so desperate for his love that, in his presence, the Holy Monarch seemed like an ordinary man trapped by emotions, not a grand and ruthless deity.
Qixue suddenly felt deeply guilty and heartbroken. He even blamed himself a little. Why couldn’t he respond to Xuan Yang’s love? He clearly revered him so much and naturally believed his body and soul should be devoted to Xuan Yang.
But he just couldn’t do it.
He could offer his body, but his heart already belonged to someone else and could not be shared with Xuan Yang.
Luxiangqiu hopped onto Qixue’s knee. Her shock gradually turned to excitement as she bounced around on his leg.
She said, “I didn’t tell you before, but after you went missing, Helan Ji fell gravely ill because of you. Wei Huai and Ji Yuheng also dealt with a large group of people for your sake. The court was in chaos at the time. Many scholars and officials hated you, writing articles cursing you as a calamitous demon consort who bewitched with fox charms and nightmares, disrupting the court. They even said you colluded with the Great General Husuibao to seduce him into becoming your lackey…”
“I was really furious back then. How could they say that about you…”
“…” Qixue thought for a moment and said sincerely, “Actually, there’s no need to be angry. What they said was mostly true. Though I didn’t intend to disrupt the court, the turmoil did start because of me.”
They hadn’t even covered everything—even the Crown Prince and the State Preceptor were his lackeys.
Luxiangqiu was indignant: “No, you don’t know how vicious their insults were! Anyway, I was so angry, so I called a bunch of little bird friends to poop on their heads every day! I also eavesdropped on their secrets and spread them everywhere, making their lives miserable!”
These things sounded a bit funny, but Qixue knew they were all expressions of Luxiangqiu’s love for him.
He felt touched and gently held her wing: “Xiangxiang, having you as a friend is truly wonderful.”
“What are you talking about? This is what I should do. How could I let them curse you?”
Luxiangqiu rubbed against his finger and continued, “Getting back to the point, I just wanted to praise you. Your charm is unmatched. Those hateful guys just haven’t gotten close to you. Anyone who knows you will fall in love with you—even a god spirit will be captivated by you…”
“What if the Heavenly Dao had consciousness? Would it fall in love with you too? I think it definitely would. No one can resist loving you…”
“I haven’t thought about that much.”
Qixue shook his head. He wasn’t that competitive; he didn’t need even the heavens to love him.
But he remembered something else: “Since so many people already despise me as a demon consort, before I leave, I might as well ruin my reputation even more. I’ll take all the blame on myself so His Majesty can completely escape the label of a tyrant.”
Luxiangqiu jumped up at once: “No, you can’t do that! Why should you? Even for Helan Ji’s sake, it’s not worth humiliating yourself like that. They can’t curse you!”
Qixue stroked her little head and soothed her gently: “It’s fine. I’ll fake my death anyway, and I won’t need the identity of ‘Noble Consort Qi’ anymore. What does a notorious demon consort have to do with the divine consort of the Cave Abyss God Spirit? In the future, I’ll properly cultivate the role of divine consort, and all the demons in the world will sing praises of my beauty.”
“That’s still not okay. I just can’t stand seeing you insulted…”
Luxiangqiu grumbled aggrievedly, repeating, “Even for Helan Ji’s sake, it’s not okay.”
“Alright, I’ll think about it some more.”
Qixue soothed her and did not discuss it further. Honestly, he hadn’t expected Xiangxiang’s reaction to be so strong. It seemed that during his absence, the rumors about him had really hurt her heart…
He felt sorry for Luxiangqiu and comforted her for a good while longer. He personally shelled a bunch of melon seeds for her, and only then did Luxiangqiu turn from worry to joy, happily munching on the kernels.
However, Qixue did not intend to completely abandon the plan. Before leaving, he definitely wanted to do some bad things, the most important being to sow discord between Ji Yuheng and Xie Shu. Only if they turned against each other could Helan Ji rest easy.
Thinking about scheming against Ji Yuheng made Qixue truly reluctant and heartbroken. He really liked the gentle Ji Yuheng. But for His Majesty’s sake, this was something he had to do. He wouldn’t go too far—just some stirring up of trouble.
Qixue stroked Luxiangqiu and said to her, “Go to sleep early. I need to go find Yun Qi.”
“Ji Yuheng?” The little parrot tilted her head with a melon seed in her beak. “What are you going to see him for?”
“A rendezvous.”
Qixue said without hesitation: “I sent him a message to meet at the East Palace tonight. It’s been a while, and he misses me. I miss him too…”
“You’re such a flirtatious bad rabbit!” Luxiangqiu exclaimed admiringly. “But I like it!”
Qixue smiled. According to his prior plan, he first went to Chang Le Palace to accompany Helan Ji and slept embracing him. Once Helan Ji fell asleep, he quietly got out of bed, transformed into Rabbit Tuan’s form, and sneaked out of the palace.
“…”
In the bed curtains, Helan Ji, who should have been fast asleep, opened his eyes. His gaze was profound as he called softly, “Xue Ming.”
Eunuch Xue lit a lamp and entered the bedroom. Standing beyond the curtains, he asked, “What are your orders, Your Majesty?”
Helan Ji said, “Send a few demonic beasts skilled in concealment to Mingguang Palace to see what the Crown Prince is doing. Also, check if Yuan Yuan went to the Crown Prince’s bedroom.”
Ever since his grave illness, Helan Ji had lost the ability to control the Nightmare Art. However, the palace kept many demons, so even without the Nightmare Art, his eyes and ears were everywhere.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Eunuch Xue accepted the order and left.
…
Crown Prince’s East Palace, Mingguang Palace.
It was midsummer, and even at night, the air was humid and hot. In the luxurious Crown Prince’s bedroom, ice basins filled with ice blocks provided cool relief, but Ji Yuheng had no intention of sleeping.
He had not changed out of his formal attire and sat rigidly by the window, gazing at the bright moon in the sky.
Tonight was the fifteenth, with the moon like a silver wheel, its glow spilling over the world. But Ji Yuheng was not looking at the moonlight or the full moon itself, but at the mottled shadows in the moon that resembled the Jade Rabbit pounding medicine. He stared at that rabbit.
He had not paid much attention to the Jade Rabbit before, but ever since falling for Qixue, he had come to love everything rabbit-related by association—rabbit jade carvings, handkerchiefs embroidered with white rabbits, and now the Jade Rabbit in the moon.
To him, Qixue was the little rabbit living in the moon palace, the bright moon in his heart: pure, beautiful, untouched by the mortal world, visible but unattainable.
He waited a long time, but Qixue still did not appear. The gentle and handsome young man lowered his eyes and unconsciously slipped his hand into his sleeve, gently caressing the scars on his arm.
It was so late… Would Mother Concubine still come?
Thinking that Qixue might not come after all, Ji Yuheng felt both disappointed and relieved. He had dressed so neatly precisely because he did not want Qixue to see the unhealed wounds on his body, lest he frighten him.
These wounds were his self-punishment for losing Mother Concubine.
Although Ji Yuheng had stopped cutting himself after Qixue returned to the palace, the previous cuts were deep and had not healed yet. If he got too intimate with Qixue, they would surely be discovered. That was one reason he had avoided Qixue before.
He waited even longer, but Qixue still did not come. Ji Yuheng decided he would not show up tonight. Though disappointed, he prepared to change and go to bed.
But as he stood, a sudden dizziness washed over him, followed by an inexplicable drowsiness that made him extremely sleepy. He collapsed to the ground and fell into a deep slumber.
A faint fragrance lingered in the bedroom.
After a while, a snow-white Rabbit Tuan sneaked into the bedroom. He transformed into human form and stealthily lifted Ji Yuheng’s arms, dragging him with great effort toward the bed.
So heavy… Why was Yun Qi so heavy when asleep…
Qixue exerted all his strength and finally, after much hardship, managed to get Ji Yuheng onto the bed. His stunning face lost its tenderness, replaced by helplessness and beads of sweat.
That’s right—Yun Qi’s sudden sleep was his doing. Back when he had followed Wei Huai’s army south to Nanping County, a fox demon named Ying Niang had given him ten fragrance pills containing potent Soul-Bewitching Techniques. Burning them would knock out everyone in the room. He had used half a pill to knock out Yun Qi.
As for why he did it, it was just to tease him a little and play something different.
Qixue rested for a bit, then took out several sturdy ropes from the jade token. He bound Ji Yuheng’s hands and feet to the bedposts, ensuring he could not break free, and blindfolded him with a silk ribbon.
After thinking it over, he was still upset that Ji Yuheng had not come to see him earlier. Though there were reasons—Ji Yuheng felt guilty toward him—he was still a bit angry. Probably because Ji Yuheng was too good to him. Even with excuses, he did not like being ignored and wanted to teach him a small lesson.
To be honest, Qixue just liked throwing little tantrums at Ji Yuheng. Who made Ji Yuheng so gentle with him, indulging and spoiling him no matter what he did? He had been a bit spoiled by Ji Yuheng.
Preparations complete, Qixue shed his clothes, baring his beautiful body completely naked as he climbed onto Ji Yuheng’s lap. He gently shook him: “Wake up, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Wake up quickly.”
…
Ji Yuheng awoke from his deep sleep. As his senses returned, he realized his limbs were bound and his eyes covered with silk, leaving him immobile.
Who had tied him up?
His body tensed instantly, his smooth jawline tightening as he became extremely alert, sensing his surroundings.
The fragrance in the air was the East Palace’s signature incense, and the surface beneath him felt soft. He was still in his own bedroom, just tied to the bed.
Confirming he had not been taken outside the palace, Ji Yuheng relaxed slightly. Then he felt someone sit on him. Plump, soft flesh pressed against his thigh, and as the person leaned down, a familiar sweet scent filled his breath.
It was Mother Concubine’s fragrance.
Realizing the one who bound him was Qixue, Ji Yuheng relaxed completely. Joy filled his heart, and his ears gradually turned red.
So Mother Concubine had not broken her promise. He had just arrived late and even tied him… tied him to the bed.
What did Mother Concubine want to do?
Qixue did not notice that Ji Yuheng had woken and recognized him. He deliberately altered his voice with the Disguise Technique and asked coyly, “Has Your Highness the Crown Prince woken up?”
“…Yes.” Ji Yuheng answered softly, his voice gentle as water. “Why did you tie me up?”
He did not expose Qixue’s identity because he could tell Qixue had used magic to change his voice, likely not wanting him to recognize him right away. Though he did not know the reason, he was happy to play along.
“Of course, it’s because this servant wants to fly up the branch and become a phoenix, to be Your Highness’s Crown Princess.”
Qixue spoke in a saccharine, coquettish tone, his fingers drawing ambiguous circles on Ji Yuheng’s chest: “As long as I violate Your Highness and conceive your child, the position of Crown Princess will be mine.”
His tone was so pure and innocent, yet the words he spoke were utterly depraved. Ji Yuheng’s breathing hitched, and he instantly grew hard. He struggled to speak in a hoarse voice, “You want to be my Crown Princess? It’s not that easy…”
It was the first time Qixue had heard Ji Yuheng refer to himself as “gu” in his presence. The unfamiliarity made him feel strange, yet also a bit thrilled. He lowered his head and licked Ji Yuheng’s earlobe. “Why not?”
Ji Yuheng’s breaths came out scorching hot, his voice turning husky. “I have someone in my heart. I absolutely won’t accept anyone besides him.”
“Your Highness has someone?” Qixue pressed against his ear and gently blew hot air into the ear canal. “Can you tell this servant who that person is?”
“It’s…” Ji Yuheng’s ear turned bright red from the blowing, thin sweat beading on his forehead. “My mother consort.”
“Mother consort?” Qixue feigned shock. “Heavens, Your Highness the Crown Prince, you’re so lewd, so filthy. How can you like your own mother consort?”
The more he humiliated Ji Yuheng, the more aroused Ji Yuheng became. His jade-like face flushed with a thin red tint as he hoarsely admitted, “I am indeed a lewd and filthy person…”
“But I like it.”
Qixue was also entranced, forgetting to maintain his disguise in self-reference. He lay by Ji Yuheng’s ear, speaking in a coquettish, dripping tone as his fingertip slid over Ji Yuheng’s thin lips.
“I just like lewd and filthy men like you, with such dirty minds…”
“A clear-hearted, desireless gentleman is too boring—what’s the difference from a eunuch? Only a lewd hypocrite like Your Highness can…”
He gently licked his ear canal. “Fuck me… so comfortably, right?”
