In the early spring, the northern climate remained chilly. The day Ji Yuheng arrived in Shangjing happened to be overcast, with no sign of sunlight. By afternoon, a steady drizzle began to fall, filling the air with cold, damp mist.
Imperial Palace.
Xuan Yang held an oil-paper umbrella as he walked beneath the vermilion palace walls.
He wore a pristine white Daoist robe, its wide sleeves billowing in the wind like pale drifting clouds. He arrived gracefully at the entrance to Chenglu Palace.
The inner servants and palace maids bowed respectfully to him. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment, needing no guide, and made his way familiarly to the bedchamber. Before he even entered, he heard Qixue’s gentle voice coming from inside the room.
“Xiangxiang, hold on tight, don’t fall. Fly a bit further… You did it! You’re amazing! Keep going like this, and you’ll soon recover your former glory!”
Qixue’s tone brimmed with delight. Xuan Yang’s expression softened further at the sound of his joyful laughter. He handed the oil-paper umbrella to the servant at the door and waited for them to announce his arrival to Qixue.
“Noble Consort, Immortal Master Xuan Yang has arrived.”
Dong Yuan lowered his eyes deferentially and reported to Qixue’s side. Qixue had been massaging the sore wings of Luxiangqiu. Upon hearing this, he immediately stood up and hurried joyfully to the door to greet him. “Greetings, Immortal Master Xuan Yang.”
“Noble Consort, no need for such formalities.”
Xuan Yang returned the Daoist salute and followed Qixue inside. Qixue instructed the palace servants in the room, “All of you, leave. Do not enter without my summons.”
“Yes, Noble Consort.”
Dong Yuan led all the palace servants out and gently closed the door. Luxiangqiu, who had been dozing in her nest, was carried by Qixue to the inner chamber.
Ever since entering the palace, Luxiangqiu had enjoyed a constant supply of delicacies. In just a few days, she had grown plump into a round bird ball, too heavy to fly.
Determined after much reflection, she resolved to lose weight and regain her former feminine vigor. Today marked the first day of her diet, with Qixue accompanying her in exercise. As for the results, it remained to be seen.
Luxiangqiu nestled in Qixue’s palm, her downy feathers slightly fluffed up, clearly wary of Xuan Yang outside.
Unaware of Xuan Yang’s true identity, she felt it was too dangerous for Qixue to associate so closely with a Daoist—their natural enemy. She worriedly asked, “Is it really okay to be alone with him? He’s a Daoist, our sworn foe!”
“Even if he’s polite to you now, if he discovers your true form, he might slay you as a demonic pest. Then you’d be in real trouble…”
The little parrot chattered on relentlessly, even though she was too exhausted to move, determined to warn Qixue. Qixue’s heart warmed, and he soothingly stroked her wings.
“Don’t worry. He would never harm me. I trust him completely, just like I trust Lady Shanyin.”
It was inconvenient to reveal Xuan Yang’s identity, so Qixue kept it from Luxiangqiu, feeling a twinge of guilt. Still, he hinted at it obliquely—trusting Xuan Yang as he did Lady Shanyin, because both were incarnations of the Cave Abyss God Spirit.
Whether Luxiangqiu understood depended on her own insight.
For now, at least, the little parrot didn’t get it. She tilted her small head, her face showing confusion at Qixue’s blind faith in Xuan Yang.
But her trust in Qixue was equally blind. Since Qixue believed in Xuan Yang, she wouldn’t question it either.
She said, “Alright then, I won’t pry. Just let me know if you need anything. I’ll nap now, and tonight, no more melon seeds for me—I want more leafy greens.”
“Good.”
Qixue’s eyes curved in a smile as he returned Luxiangqiu to her nest in the inner chamber. She fell asleep the moment she settled in.
After settling Luxiangqiu, Qixue returned to the outer room and personally served tea to Xuan Yang. “Holy Monarch, please have some tea.”
“Good.”
Xuan Yang smiled, took the cup, and sipped a few mouthfuls. As always, he inquired about Qixue’s recent well-being. “How have you been lately?”
Qixue bit his lip, looking embarrassed as he touched his abdomen. “Everything else is fine, but yesterday the imperial physician took my pulse. I still haven’t conceived His Majesty’s child. Holy Monarch, could it be that I have a constitution that’s hard to impregnate?”
Xuan Yang shook his head. “You’ve only taken the Baosui Pill for a short time. Failing to conceive is perfectly normal. No need to worry.”
“But I’m still concerned…” Qixue said softly. “I want to know if I’m the fertile type. Holy Monarch, is there a way for you to check for me?”
Xuan Yang set down his teacup and looked at Qixue for a moment before speaking. “Yes, but you’ll need to return to your original form.”
Qixue’s eyes lit up. He knew the Holy Monarch could do anything. “Thank you, Holy Monarch!”
He transformed into Rabbit Tuan and hopped onto the table, waiting for Xuan Yang’s examination. Xuan Yang gently cradled the small, soft Rabbit Tuan, flipping him over so his four paws faced up, exposing his soft belly—the most vulnerable part of his body, offered up like a sacrifice.
Xuan Yang lowered his gaze, watching Rabbit Tuan intently. His fingertip pressed onto the rabbit’s belly, sinking into the warm, fluffy fur as he gently kneaded.
The snow-white little rabbit offered no resistance. His black grape-like eyes shone bright and moist, gazing at Xuan Yang with utter dependence, filled with complete trust and affection.
“…”
Xuan Yang stroked the soft belly for a long time, then pressed his fingertip to Rabbit Tuan’s three-lobed mouth. “Open your mouth.”
“?”
Rabbit Tuan twitched his ears in surprise but obediently opened his mouth. Xuan Yang’s fingertip swept over his oral cavity, emerging glistening with saliva. “Lick it again.”
Rabbit Tuan extended his pink little tongue and licked Xuan Yang’s finger—not just once, but continually until told to stop.
“That’s enough.”
After a long while, Xuan Yang withdrew his finger and said mildly to Rabbit Tuan, “Change back.”
Rabbit Tuan reverted to human form. Qixue blinked and asked expectantly, “How is it?”
“You’re very compatible with the Baosui Pill,” Xuan Yang replied without looking up, staring at his own finger. “Yours is a highly fertile constitution.”
“That’s wonderful!”
Qixue’s face flushed with excitement. “I’ll tell His Majesty the good news right away!”
His Majesty would surely be thrilled, and a good mood would improve his health too!
Lately, with the spring chill lingering, Helan Ji had fallen ill. Though it was minor and didn’t hinder his state affairs, it still broke Qixue’s heart.
He had tended to Helan Ji almost around the clock, preparing varied delicacies for him and even stroking his forehead and singing lullabies to help him sleep.
Qixue had learned this song from the Late Empress. She had sung it to soothe the young Helan Ji and the little rabbit to sleep. Hearing it often, Qixue had memorized it, and now he sang it to Helan Ji.
As he sang, Helan Ji gripped his hand tightly, even in sleep, his eyes faintly damp at the corners. Qixue wondered if they were tears.
Perhaps His Majesty missed his mother.
Qixue lay down and gently embraced Helan Ji.
He himself hadn’t thought of his own mother in ages. In fact, his parents had been ordinary white rabbits without spiritual intelligence. Born as a spiritual demon, his growth had been slow. By the time he matured, his parents had already passed away.
His siblings hadn’t cried, casually grazing as if they didn’t recognize their parents.
With such thin familial bonds and little experience of a mother’s love, Qixue had first felt it from the Late Empress. He wanted to repay her, but she was long gone.
He and His Majesty had no family left.
That was why he yearned even more to bear His Majesty’s child, so that after he left, His Majesty would have kin to keep him from loneliness.
Unable to contain himself, Qixue planned to surprise Helan Ji that evening. But Xuan Yang stopped him. “Does Helan Ji know you’ve already taken the Baosui Pill?”
“His Majesty doesn’t know yet.”
Qixue said softly, “I worried I might be infertile and didn’t want to disappoint him. But now it’s fine—I can finally tell him.”
“Since Helan Ji is unaware,” Xuan Yang said, “don’t tell him.”
Qixue blinked in stunned silence. “Why?”
Xuan Yang spoke flatly. “Have you considered that Helan Ji never intended for you to bear his child?”
“That…”
Qixue truly hadn’t. He had assumed Helan Ji wanted a child as much as he did. In their intimate moments, he often whispered endearments, begging Helan Ji to impregnate him. Helan Ji never objected, filling and satisfying him completely.
So he found it unlikely. “His Majesty must want us to have a child.”
“If he wanted you to bear his heir, he would have sought a Baosui Pill from Cloud Moon Temple long ago. But he didn’t.”
Xuan Yang continued, “Baosui Pills are priceless, but as the Son of Heaven of Great Yong, with Xie Shu’s protection and counsel, obtaining one would be trivial for him. Yet he never requested even one from Cloud Moon Temple.”
“Moreover, after issuing the decree for your ennoblement as Noble Consort, he issued another summoning the kingdom’s royal kin and vassal kings to the capital. Even today, Ji Yuheng has arrived in the Capital City and will soon enter the palace to pay respects.”
“Since Helan Ji is marrying you, why establish another heir? Clearly, he forbids you from bearing his offspring.”
“If he learns you’ve taken the Baosui Pill, what do you think the consequences will be? Will he shun you forever, or even gift you to another to bear their child?”
Qixue’s face gradually paled. His initial joy turned to confusion and helplessness, tears welling in his eyes. “So His Majesty doesn’t want me to bear his child?”
Xuan Yang caressed his cheek gently. “Don’t invest too deeply in Helan Ji. The more you love him, the more he’ll hurt you.”
“A Xue, I don’t need you sacrificing your body to bear Helan Ji’s child. It’s not worth it.”
“There are plenty of ways to prevent Ji Yuheng from becoming Crown Prince. Even if he does, we can find another path.”
Qixue hung his head, silent. He felt ugly and presumptuous—perhaps His Majesty had long deemed him unworthy of bearing his child.
Xuan Yang sighed softly. “The world is full of heartless people. That’s why I won’t let you be soft-hearted. You treat them well, and they betray you.”
Qixue said nothing, holding back the sting in his eyes until Xuan Yang departed. Only then did he break down in quiet sobs, so soft they didn’t wake the sleeping Luxiangqiu.
Until the door opened, and he was pulled into a solid embrace. “Yuan Yuan.”
Helan Ji hugged Qixue from behind, pressing a gentle kiss to his temple hair. He never expected Qixue to suddenly push him away and break free from his arms.
Turning around, Qixue’s eyes brimmed with tears, his cheeks streaked with them. He cried so beautifully, yet so heartbreakingly.
In an instant, Helan Ji’s heart clenched. “Yuan Yuan, why are you crying? What happened?”
“I hate you…”
Qixue wiped at his tears, but they only flowed more. His sobs grew louder until they became full-throated wails.
“I hate you, Your Majesty. I hate you!”
