Chapter 102 Part 2

He recognized Rabbit Tuan at once. Though they’d met only once, Rabbit Tuan’s true form was so striking he couldn’t forget it. Not to mention his human form, which haunted his dreams. So this little rabbit was Qi Guifei…

The Silver Dragon Child’s expression grew complicated—a mix of disappointment and resignation. Probably only a stunning beauty like Qi Guifei could capture the Palace Lord’s heart…

But how had such a tiny rabbit endured their Palace Lord, that old lecherous dragon?

Rabbit Tuan blinked, and seeing that the Silver Dragon Child recognized him, he dropped the consort’s pretense. “That’s right, it’s me. What gift did that old eel bring? Take it out and let me see.”

“Ah… sure.”

The Silver Dragon Child took out several food boxes from his Sleeve Universe and arranged them on the table. “It’s not some rare treasure. The Palace Lord was thinking of you and brought some food. He wrote a list last night before we left, and I got pastries, floral dew, and spirit fruits from the kitchen. They’re all delicious—try them.”

“You mean these were taken from Cloud Moon Temple before you left last night? Not fetched after arriving at the Summer Palace?”

Rabbit Tuan hopped onto the table and inspected each box. They were all his favorites. Xie Shu clearly remembered his tastes to select such perfect pastries and fruits.

And these weren’t apology gifts—they were prepared specially before departure… Even knowing what he’d done and being so angry, Xie Shu still prepared gifts for him, all things he loved…

Not an apology or anything valuable, but filled with deep affection, it moved Rabbit Tuan’s heart, turning his entire rabbit form a faint pink.

After eating the pastries and drinking the floral dew, Rabbit Tuan’s belly swelled round. Unable to hold back, he waved his little paw for the Silver Dragon Child to lean down and whispered in his ear, “Has Xie Shu returned to Cloud Moon Temple?”

His fur was dusted with the sweet scent of pastries, looking utterly tempting. The Silver Dragon Child instinctively licked his sharp teeth and whispered back, “Not yet. The Palace Lord is investigating the underground dragon veins at the Imperial Mausoleum, checking for any anomalies.”

Investigating the dragon veins? What a high-sounding excuse.

Rabbit Tuan huffed. “Actually, he’s just waiting for me to come find him, right?”

The Silver Dragon Child stammered, “Well…”

“Never mind. Take me to him.”

Rabbit Tuan hopped straight into the Silver Dragon Child’s arms.

Since Xie Shu had made the first move toward reconciliation, he supposed he could reluctantly give the man some face and go to him of his own accord.

He had known Xie Shu couldn’t bear to cut ties completely. Sure, Xie Shu had a bad temper, but his taste was impeccable. How could anyone resist a cute and clever rabbit like him? Not even the iron-hearted Xie Shu was immune.

Flustered by Rabbit Tuan’s affectionate leap into his arms, the Silver Dragon Child blushed furiously. After a moment of floundering, he carefully cradled him. “A-alright… I’ll take you there right now.”

Rabbit Tuan had the demons pass a message to Helan Ji, informing His Majesty that he was heading to the Imperial Mausoleum to see Xie Shu. Then he set off with the Silver Dragon Child.

Though still a young dragon, the Silver Dragon Child possessed impressive spells. He traveled swiftly, soaring through the clouds and mist, arriving at the Imperial Mausoleum in just a few breaths.

He gently set Rabbit Tuan down and pointed to a distant figure. “The Palace Lord is right over there.”

“I see him. Thanks!”

Rabbit Tuan shifted into human form and flashed the Silver Dragon Child a smile. The young dragon’s face turned scarlet all the way to his neck. As he departed, he accidentally crashed into a tree, ending up covered in leaves.

The commotion was loud enough that Xie Shu must have heard it, but he didn’t turn around until Qixue reached his side. “Just woken up?”

Qixue hugged him from behind, rubbing his cheek against Xie Shu’s broad, solid back. “Yep, and I slept so soundly. The moment I got up, I had some delicious pastries—unlike someone, who must be too heartbroken to eat or sleep, hmm?”

His hand roamed over Xie Shu’s chest. Xie Shu turned, grabbed the wandering hand, and gazed down at him. “You know the answer.”

His eyes burned into Qixue’s. After a moment of locked stares, Qixue suddenly hooked his arm around Xie Shu’s neck, rose on tiptoe, and kissed him fiercely. They tangled together, tearing at each other’s clothes until robes, hair crown, and silk shoes littered the ground.

…

Rabbit Tuan lay sprawled limply on the thick, long dragon tail, too exhausted to even open his eyes.

He looked utterly disheveled, the entire rabbit licked from head to tail. Even in his original form, his rabbit fur was soaked, the base of his tail flushed red, his little tail twitching nonstop.

Xie Shu had long since reverted to his silver-haired, golden-eyed demonic form, lounging in the tree shade with his dragon tail coiled in loops that cradled the tiny rabbit, the cool, smooth scales as comfortable as a waterbed for Rabbit Tuan’s rest.

Fortunately, Rabbit Tuan had used the Dual Cultivation Technique, absorbing a good deal of Xie Shu’s essence. After circulating his magic through his meridians a few times, most of his stamina returned—he could at least sit up now.

Xie Shu cast a dust-removal spell over him, cleaning him thoroughly until his rabbit fur fluffed up soft and plush again.

Energized, Rabbit Tuan smirked smugly and patted Xie Shu’s dragon tail with his paw. “Not bad. These two diamond pestles of yours haven’t lost their edge—they’re as effective as ever.”

Xie Shu retorted, “You’re still as stamina-poor as before. One touch and you’re begging for mercy—you can’t handle me at all.”

Irked at having his shortcomings exposed, Rabbit Tuan shot back, “Why don’t you admit you’re just as hopeless, crumbling at the slightest tease from me?”

Xie Shu said coolly, “I have no need to hold back.”

Rabbit Tuan: “Oh? Then I don’t need to endure you either. If you get too rough and I can’t take it, I’ll just find someone else. Plenty of people are lining up for me, while you’ve only got me…”

“Shut up.” Xie Shu deftly pinched his three-lobed mouth shut.

Rabbit Tuan flashed a sly look and stuck out half his pink tongue to lick Xie Shu’s fingertip, forcing him to release. “See? You can’t do a thing with me.”

Xie Shu fell silent. The tip of his dragon tail flicked Rabbit Tuan’s rear a few times, but without any real force. Far from hurting, Rabbit Tuan brazenly rolled onto his back. “Go on, hit me then. Kill me, and you’ll be wifeless.”

Xie Shu withdrew his tail and countered, “Are you my wife?”

“Didn’t we sign the marriage certificate? It barely counts as half. Welcome to marrying into the Qi family as my live-in son-in-law. From now on, you’ll take my surname—Qi Xie Shi…”

Rabbit Tuan slowly pulled out the marriage certificate, torn in half and crumpled by Xie Shu. “Here, I picked it up. But I tore it in a fit of anger—does it still count?”

“It counts.”

Xie Shu took the certificate and brushed it with spiritual power. The tattered document mended seamlessly, restored to pristine condition.

“Whoa, didn’t expect you to be so handy.”

Rabbit Tuan clambered up the dragon tail to Xie Shu’s knee and patted the certificate with a paw. “But I don’t like the contents. Can you change them?”

“How do you want it changed?” Xie Shu asked.

Rabbit Tuan said, “First, erase ‘Heavenly Destined Marriage.’ I hate how you keep bringing it up, like you wouldn’t like me if we weren’t fated. Are you only into me because of that title?”

“No.”

Xie Shu denied it, paused, then continued, “At first, I couldn’t accept you as my Fated Dao Companion. To me, you were all looks—no substance, spoiled, frivolous, promiscuous, utterly worthless from head to toe—”

Rabbit Tuan headbutted his palm in outrage. “I’m not that awful!”

“You’re right—you’re wonderful, which is why I’m smitten.”

Xie Shu explained, “My feelings for you have nothing to do with your status or looks. I kept mentioning the Heavenly Destined Marriage to push you away from Helan Ji sooner, but you weren’t willing.”

Pushing against his palm, Rabbit Tuan grumbled, “I like His Majesty. I’m not marrying you—face reality.”

Xie Shu: “After he dies?”

Rabbit Tuan snapped angrily, “Don’t say such inauspicious things!”

“He’s mortal. His days are numbered.” Xie Shu said, “He asked me to look after you after his death. What do you think?”

So His Majesty had already spoken to Xie Shu…

Rabbit Tuan froze, his mood sinking as he mumbled, “We’ll talk about it when the time comes.”

Even if they agreed, he wouldn’t live that long anyway…

Seeing his evasive response, Xie Shu didn’t press and simply channeled magic to erase “Heavenly Destined Marriage” from the certificate. “What else?”

Rabbit Tuan glanced at it. “Wipe out all mentions of His Majesty. Change it to say we’re getting married because we love each other. But I’m warning you upfront— even with the certificate, I don’t know when I’ll marry you, and after, you’ll take my surname. You’ll be Qi Xie Shi.”

Xie Shu said nothing, silently rewriting the certificate to match Rabbit Tuan’s demands. At the end, he added: After marriage, he would take Qixue’s surname and become Qi Xie Shi.

“Wait, no need for that line.”

Seeing “Qi Xie Shi” actually written, Rabbit Tuan hurriedly stopped him. “You’re really adding it?”

He’d only been joking to tease Xie Shu—who knew he’d take it seriously and include it? So embarrassing.

Rabbit Tuan fidgeted awkwardly, scratching his paws raw, and muttered, “Better remove it.”

“No need.”

Xie Shu kept “Qi Xie Shi” and handed the revised certificate back. “Do you accept this new marriage certificate?”

“I-I do…” Rabbit Tuan mumbled, then asked Xie Shu, “So, you’re finally willing to be my lover?”

Xie Shu’s face was impassive. “Not a lover. We have a betrothal—I’m your fiancé.”

Rabbit Tuan: “Ooh, so now I’ve got an ex-husband, a current husband, and a fiancé?” Even a son.

“Say what you want.” Xie Shu ignored him.

Rabbit Tuan’s heart sweetened. He stored the certificate in his jade token for safekeeping. “I’ll keep it. Just wait to be my live-in son-in-law, Qi Xie Shi.”

Xie Shu: “Still no token of affection?”

When he’d given Rabbit Tuan his reverse scale before, he’d asked for one then too, but Rabbit Tuan had nothing prepared. Now Xie Shu brought it up again.

Rabbit Tuan thought for a moment. “What do you want?”

“Anything, as long as it’s from you,” Xie Shu said.

“Wait here.” Rabbit Tuan waved a paw. “I’ll prepare one.”

“You mean it?” Xie Shu seemed skeptical.

“Absolutely.” Rabbit Tuan nodded proudly. “I’ve got it all planned—one for each of you.”

“…” Xie Shu fell silent, stood, and coiled his dragon tail around Rabbit Tuan. Unable to hold back, he swatted the rabbit’s rear several times, making it jiggle.

Suspended midair by his belly, Rabbit Tuan thrashed and yelled furiously, “Qi Xie Shi, haven’t you heard ‘the wife is the husband’s sky’? So unfilial as a son-in-law—watch out, or I’ll divorce you!”

“Too late.”

Xie Shu said coldly, “The certificate is sealed—we’re husband and wife now. Through lifetimes, we’ll never part. Don’t dream of shaking me off.”