Chapter 22 Part 4

Luckily, the one who’d seen him use the Disguise Technique was Xu Taifei, who had lost her mind and acted like a child. As long as he had a good excuse, he could fool her.

He hesitated a moment, then whispered to Xu Taifei, “Your Ladyship, could you not tell them I can ‘change faces’?”

“Why?”

Xu Taifei asked blankly. “It’s so cool. I want you to do it more for me.”

“Because… it’s a secret,” Qixue said. “I can show you, but only when it’s just us. I only want to share this secret with you.”

“A secret only I know?” Xu Taifei’s eyes sparkled. “Does that mean you’ll be my daughter? A Xue, can you call me ‘Mother Concubine’?”

Qixue thought it over and realized it was an unmissable opportunity. Though he couldn’t truly be her daughter, gaining her favor meant a chance to see His Majesty.

“Mother Concubine,” Qixue called sweetly. “Please help A Xue.”

That one “Mother Concubine” elicited a huge reaction from Xu Taifei. Tears welled up, and she hugged him tightly, stroking his hair. “Good… good. Mother Concubine will protect you well. She definitely will…”

Her tears soaked Qixue’s collar. He was surprised and felt a twinge of inexplicable guilt. He gently patted her back. “Mother Concubine, don’t cry. A Xue will feel heartbroken.”

“Alright, Mother Concubine won’t cry. Mother Concubine must be strong to protect A Xue.”

Xu Taifei broke into a smile through her tears and led Qixue out. A crowd of eunuchs and maids immediately surrounded them—some draping cloaks, others offering hand warmers—all beaming with fawning smiles.

“Your Ladyship gave us quite the fright searching for you. Are you cold? Hungry? The kitchen just made hibiscus cakes—they’re still hot. Please head back and eat them while warm.”

But Xu Taifei ignored them, holding Qixue’s hand proudly. “Look, I found my daughter.”

“You found your daughter.”

She declared, “My daughter A Xue—you should all call her ‘Princess Your Highness.’ Bow to her…”

The palace staff paused, then smiled and bowed to Qixue. “This servant pays respects to Your Highness the Princess. May Your Highness be blessed with fortune and peace.”

Of course, they said this only to humor Xu Taifei and didn’t take it seriously. Seeing their attitudes weren’t solemn enough, Xu Taifei emphasized, “A Xue really is my daughter.”

“We understand, Your Ladyship. We all understand.” They coaxed her. “Please return to your rooms—the outside is too cold.”

Xu Taifei allowed them to escort her forward but refused to let go of Qixue’s hand. Coincidentally, Supervisor Cui approached with a few young eunuchs. Seeing Xu Taifei, he bowed and asked curiously, “What is this, Your Ladyship?”

Xu Taifei trusted Supervisor Cui the most and loved sharing good news with him. She pushed Qixue forward like a prized treasure. “My daughter.”

“Then that must be Her Highness the Princess. This old servant pays respects to Your Highness.”

Supervisor Cui smiled warmly, acting as if he’d never seen Qixue before. He bowed deeply and properly, stunning everyone else.

After the bow, Supervisor Cui feigned confusion and asked Xu Taifei, “This old servant is just puzzled—why is Her Highness dressed as a eunuch? Isn’t that too harsh a treatment?”

“Ah… you’re right.” Xu Taifei realized suddenly. “I need to get A Xue changed. Quickly… fetch all the jewelry and clothes. I want to dress A Xue up beautifully.”

Qixue, dazed, was dragged away by Xu Taifei. He barely reacted the whole time. As he passed Supervisor Cui, the man whispered with a smile, “Congratulations, Young Master Sang. Your good fortune has arrived.”

Then Supervisor Cui raised his voice. “What are you all standing around for? Do as Her Ladyship commands!”

“This servant understands!”

Seeing they meant business, the palace staff hurried off to fetch things. Xu Taifei pulled Qixue up to her favorite Warm Pavilion.

The Warm Pavilion was as warm as spring, luxuriously furnished with thick woolen carpets on the floor. The walls were infused with aromatics, filling the air with a faint fragrance. Xu Taifei reclined against soft pillows and pulled Qixue to lean beside her.

With the consort’s order, the entire Cuiwei Palace buzzed. Everyone dropped their tasks and raided the storerooms.

The palace staff lined up downstairs like a dragon, trays in hand bearing jewelry and clothes. They ascended to the second floor of the Warm Pavilion one by one for Xu Taifei and Qixue to select.

Xu Taifei had no patience for her own primping, wearing only simple pearl flowers. But she was extremely patient dressing Qixue, inspecting each item carefully and tossing aside what she didn’t like. Soon, piles of jewels and silks lay at their feet.

Qixue shed his outer eunuch robes and donned a peach-pink lingering immortal skirt. The wide skirt was layers of gossamer gauze, each dyed in varying shades of depth, like a blooming multi-petaled flower—gorgeous yet ethereal and lively.

Xu Taifei dipped her fingertip into a rouge box and dotted the vibrant color on Qixue’s lips.

His ink-black hair, snow-white skin, and now crimson lips created stark, intensely vivid contrasts, making him as beautiful as a fairy from a painting—yet also like a soul-stealing mountain ghost.

Xu Taifei stared blankly for a long while before turning to the palace servant beside her. “Go… go fetch all the bolts of fabric. I still need to make new clothes for A Xue.”

She repeated herself twice before the servant snapped out of it and hurried off.

One bolt of precious fabric after another was brought to the Warm Pavilion. Xu Taifei felt that none of these textiles were worthy of Qixue, so she threw a tantrum in dissatisfaction, kicking the fabrics away haphazardly. One bolt happened to roll down the stairs, unrolling circle by circle like a carpet that covered the entire staircase.

“Ah, how fun.”

Xu Taifei discovered a new use for the fabrics and gleefully unrolled them all, pushing them down one after another. Soon, the staircase turned into a colorful waterfall, layered with bolts of cloth. She tugged at Qixue’s sleeve and asked, “A Xue, doesn’t this look fun?”

Qixue smiled and went along with her. “It does.”

Xu Taifei broke into a happy smile. “These fabrics aren’t good enough for you. I’ll have A’Man find better ones. You know A’Man, right? He’s not my birth son, but he’s very good to me, just like my own son. From now on, he’ll be your brother too.”

“You have to call him brother, got it?”

At the mention of Helan Ji, Qixue’s heart beat lightly with excitement. His eyes shimmered with anticipation as he asked, “When can I… see brother?”

“It should be soon. He comes every few days—maybe even in a bit.”

Xu Taifei pushed away the last few bolts of fabric, having exhausted her energy. She leaned drowsily against the soft pillows. “Good child, Mother Concubine is a bit sleepy. Don’t go—stay here and keep Mother Concubine company, alright?”

Qixue said softly, “Alright, I won’t go anywhere. I’ll just sit here with Mother Concubine.”

Xu Taifei held onto the hem of Qixue’s skirt and soon fell into a deep sleep. Her smiling face was as innocent as a child’s, a testament to the torments she had once endured.

Qixue sat quietly for a while and grew very drowsy himself. He hadn’t slept well the night before dealing with those eunuchs, so since the Imperial Consort was sleeping, he could rest too…

Qixue pushed the scattered jewels and jades aside to clear a small space, keeping some distance from Xu Taifei. He leaned against the layers of silk and brocade and fell asleep.

Outside Cuiwei Palace, a jet-black Jade Chariot approached slowly.

Four massive White Demon Beasts pulled it from the front, followed by a dozen slender black shadows. Golden bells hung from the four corners of the chariot’s roof, tinkling faintly. All the palace servants who heard the sound knelt in obeisance, not daring to glimpse the heavenly visage.

The Jade Chariot stopped at the gates of Cuiwei Palace. A Nightmare Demon floated forward and lifted the curtain, revealing the figure inside—Helan Ji.

Helan Ji stepped down from the Jade Chariot. He wasn’t wearing his formal imperial robes today, just a thin ink-black casual outfit with a heavy cloud-gray cloak draped over his shoulders.

His brows and eyes were young and strikingly handsome, sculpted like cold jade and shrouded in mountain mist—cool and devoid of warmth.

The Nightmare Demons escorted him into Cuiwei Palace, where there were few servants to be seen. Someone sharp-eyed on the upper floor of the Warm Pavilion spotted Helan Ji’s arrival, and a group of people rushed down in a clamor, bowing flusteredly. “This servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”

“Rise.” Helan Ji’s tone was indifferent. “Where is the Imperial Consort?”

“In response to Your Majesty, Her Ladyship is sleeping soundly in the Warm Pavilion. Would you like to go up and see her?” Supervisor Cui bowed his head and reported.

Helan Ji nodded slightly, leaving the Nightmare Demons in the courtyard as he entered the Warm Pavilion alone.

The Warm Pavilion had two floors. As soon as he stepped inside, Helan Ji’s eyes fell upon the floor covered in silks and satins. Countless bolts of fabric spilled down the stairs like intertwining rivers, winding all the way to his feet in a chaotic array of colors.

One Nightmare Demon emerged from a crack in the floorboards, removed Helan Ji’s boots, and vanished just as quickly.

Helan Ji ascended the stairs, his footsteps muffled by the thick layers of silk as he quietly entered the room.

Xu Taifei had already woken and sat with her back to Helan Ji. His cloak still carried the winter chill, brushing against her thin garments and alerting her to his presence.

She turned around and smiled at Helan Ji. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, she made a hushing gesture, pressing a finger to her lips. “A’Man, don’t speak. He hasn’t woken up yet.”

Helan Ji followed her gaze, his eyes landing on Qixue—and then freezing.

Layers of gorgeous brocade and soft silk piled high, embroidered with golden birds, flowers, and cloud patterns that shimmered brilliantly. Exquisite gems and jade scattered everywhere, emitting a magnificent soft glow.

The beauty slumbered at the center of the countless treasures, the room’s jewel-like radiance accentuating his exquisite, alluring brows and eyes.

His beauty was so radiant and ravishing that it overshadowed all the rare gems and jewels in an instant, reducing them to dull backdrops. Only he shone brilliantly—the most precious treasure in the world.

Helan Ji gazed at Qixue, his phoenix eyes dark and profound. “Who is he?”

Xu Taifei said tenderly and lovingly, “He’s your little sister.”

“Little sister?”

Helan Ji stepped over the scattered jewels and approached Qixue. He bent down and gripped the slender, fragile throat, his fingertip rubbing the delicate Adam’s apple. “He’s a man.”

“You’re his brother, and he’s your little sister.” Xu Taifei turned a deaf ear. “His name is A Xue.”

Helan Ji fell silent, lowering his eyes to study Qixue’s face. He released his grip on the throat, leaving faint red marks on the snowy neck.

He hadn’t applied much force, but Qixue’s skin was too delicate; even slight pressure left imprints.

As he moved to stand, the sleeping Qixue caught the familiar scent on him and nuzzled into his palm, murmuring softly, “Your Majesty…”

Helan Ji’s movements paused. Qixue quickly awoke, his eyes brimming with mist like a clear pool reflecting hazy moonlight, mirroring Helan Ji’s figure.

Their eyes met.