Chapter 35 Part 1

In the inner chamber of the sleeping palace, Luxiangqiu awoke from her dream to faint, intermittent sobs.

The crying was not loud, and Luxiangqiu could only hear it faintly. But she was startled awake because even in her sleep, she recognized it as Qixue’s crying. Anxiety surged in her heart, pulling her abruptly from her slumber.

Luxiangqiu and Qixue had been friends for nearly a hundred years, yet in her memory, she rarely saw Qixue shed tears.

He was an exceptionally unique little rabbit—appearing soft and fragile on the outside, but with a resilient and unyielding temperament, never one to admit defeat.

For instance, on the path of cultivation, little demons like them were born with meager talent. No matter how hard they trained, results were elusive, so most gave up on cultivation and lived out their lives happily. But Qixue was different. He did not want to live only a few fleeting decades before dying. For the sake of longevity, he endured a century of bitter cultivation and finally transformed into human form, gaining at least a thousand years of lifespan.

Influenced by him, Luxiangqiu had persisted in her cultivation over these hundred years as well, becoming a long-lived little parrot.

Though she was unsure if she would ever achieve true immortality, she was deeply grateful to Qixue from the bottom of her heart.

She still remembered when they first met—a bird and a rabbit exchanging names. Upon hearing Qixue’s name, she felt a bit puzzled, thinking it sounded like a mother rabbit’s name. The little Rabbit Tuan shook his head and explained enthusiastically.

“‘Qixue’ is the name I chose myself. ‘Qi’ is my surname, meaning lovely and beautiful, and ‘Xue’ represents that I’m a white rabbit. So the name means I’m a lovely and beautiful white rabbit. I thought about it for a long time before deciding. Isn’t it nice?”

The even smaller Rabbit Tuan back then bounced around joyfully, thrilled to finally have a chance to show off his name.

At that moment, Luxiangqiu thought Qixue was truly adorable. Not only that, he was exceptionally clever too. Becoming friends with him would surely be delightful.

From then on, Luxiangqiu often felt she was a clever parrot herself, and her smartest decision had been befriending Qixue.

The little parrot zoned out for a moment, then realized Qixue was still crying. She immediately bounced out of her nest and flew toward the outside.

Whatever could make A Xue cry so heartbrokenly must be something serious. Could it be that Xuan Yang had bullied him?! She knew that stinking Daoist was no good!

Luxiangqiu flew desperately forward, but her plump body caused her to sink downward while flying. Unable to fly any farther, she landed on the ground and scurried like a ground chicken to the door, poking her little head out.

But the person outside was not Xuan Yang. To her surprise, the one who had made Qixue cry was Helan Ji. How could that be? His Majesty doted on A Xue the most—how could he make A Xue cry?

Luxiangqiu instantly chickened out and slunk away to hide in a corner, eavesdropping stealthily. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to help A Xue, but marital matters were not for outsiders to meddle in. Without knowing the full story, if she rashly charged out and pecked Helan Ji’s head, A Xue might even feel sorry for His Majesty.

Better to watch and see.

But A Xue was crying so heartbreakingly…

Luxiangqiu ached for him while secretly observing the situation.

Qixue’s tears fell like a string of pearls, and his crying face was devastatingly beautiful, stirring an irresistible urge to cherish him. “I hate His Majesty…”

His sorrow and grievance turned into damp spring rain, drenching Helan Ji’s heart and making it hard for him to breathe. Hearing Qixue say he hated him felt like flesh being carved from his chest, blood gushing forth. “Yuan Yuan hates me… Why do you hate me?”

“I…”

Seeing Helan Ji’s composure crack, his face paling slightly, Qixue’s heart twinged with pain. He couldn’t help regretting his sharp words.

But thinking of how Helan Ji had been stringing him along, with no real intention of having children with him, Qixue’s bitterness nearly overflowed.

He didn’t doubt that His Majesty didn’t love him—it was just… perhaps not that deeply, or maybe because he was a rabbit demon, any child they had would have impure bloodline, unworthy of the throne.

Qixue’s thoughts spiraled wildly, but he wasn’t one to bottle up his grievances. No matter what, he had to get a clear answer from Helan Ji.

“Does His Majesty not want me to bear your child?”

Qixue wiped his tears, steadying his emotions so his voice wouldn’t tremble as much. “I’ve heard that Your Majesty has summoned the clan’s royal kin and vassal kings to the capital, intending to select a crown prince from among them. If you plan to have your own child, why adopt a collateral heir as crown prince?

“Moreover, Your Majesty has never requested a Baosui Pill from Cloud Moon Temple that enables pregnancy and childbirth. If you had the intention, Xuan Yang Immortal Master would have delivered the pill long ago. But you didn’t. From the beginning, you never planned to let me conceive.

“Why, Your Majesty? Do you think I’m unworthy of bearing your child? If you have any concerns, you could have told me directly instead of watching me hope so eagerly while keeping me in the dark, making me foolishly rejoice every day…”

Qixue grew more aggrieved as he spoke, his clear, beautiful eyes brimming with tears like a spring under moonlight. “I really hate this, and I don’t like a His Majesty who deceives me. I…”

Before he could finish, Helan Ji embraced him and kissed his lips.

Helan Ji’s hands were cold, his lips slightly cool, landing on Qixue’s like falling snowflakes. Only when warmed by Qixue’s temperature did they gradually heat up.

This time, Qixue did not push Helan Ji away. Instead, he hugged him tightly, tears flowing silently as he bit several small gashes into Helan Ji’s thin lips to vent his emotions.

Helan Ji let him vent, his arms tightening around Qixue as if to merge him into his own body.

Eventually, it was Qixue who first felt sorry for Helan Ji. He licked the small wounds on his lips, tasting blood. His heart trembled—this was the first time he had tasted blood, and it belonged to the man he loved most.

Once Qixue had vented enough, Helan Ji gently wiped the tears from his face and planted tender, pitying kisses on his cheeks. “I’m sorry, Yuan Yuan. Don’t be sad. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have hidden my thoughts from you.”

Qixue’s lashes fluttered. “So you really don’t want me to bear your child?”

“Yes, I don’t want Yuan Yuan to bear my child, but it’s absolutely not because I don’t love you or think you’re unworthy.”

Helan Ji lifted him up, seating him on his lap and holding him close. “The unworthy one is me. Bearing a child for ten months is already arduous enough for a mother. I’ve seen female beasts give birth—it’s excruciating, no different from torture. How could I watch Yuan Yuan endure such pain for me?

“Heirs mean nothing to me. If not for my brother’s early death, he would have been the one to inherit the throne, not me. I don’t care if my descendants sit on it—as long as they are capable, anyone can take the seat.

“Yuan Yuan, I cherish and treasure you. I don’t want you to suffer or be bound by children, losing your freedom.”

Helan Ji’s expression was usually aloof and stern, but whenever he looked at Qixue, it softened, his deep affection undisguised.

“As my brother said, you are a naturally free spirit. That you’re willing to stay with me while I live is enough for me. I don’t need you to make any sacrifices for me.”

“Your Majesty…”

Hearing this, Qixue’s eyes reddened with emotion, his heart a mix of bitterness and sweetness, making him want to cry even more.

His grievances and sorrow vanished like smoke. He hugged Helan Ji tightly in excitement, saying affectionately, “But I don’t see bearing your child as a sacrifice at all. You’re so good to me—I feel anything I do for you is worthwhile. That’s how much I love you…”

“It was thoughtless of me, not considering your feelings. I shouldn’t have kept it from you.”

Helan Ji kissed his damp eyelids. “But my health is poor; I likely have only a few years left. After I die, raising a young child alone would be hard on you. I’m afraid you’d suffer.”

“No way! Your Majesty will live to a ripe old age!”

With everything out in the open, Qixue saw no need to hide anymore. “Hasn’t Your Majesty noticed your body improving lately? I secretly consulted Xuan Yang Immortal Master about the Dual Cultivation Technique and have been practicing it with you recently. It’s greatly beneficial to Your Majesty’s health. If we keep at it, your body will surely recover fully—you won’t have a short life!”

Helan Ji was slightly stunned. “Is this true?”

“How could I joke about such a thing with Your Majesty?”

Qixue kissed Helan Ji’s lips, silently circulating the technique. After a moment, he pulled back slightly. “How about it, Your Majesty? Do your lips still hurt?”

Helan Ji touched his lips and found the bites fully healed. “Indeed miraculous.”

“That’s why I’ve been clinging to Your Majesty for intimacy every day… It’s for cultivation.”

Qixue hugged Helan Ji, kissing his straight nose one moment and his ear the next. With the misunderstanding cleared, he loved Helan Ji even more. His Majesty truly loved him so much—not wanting him to bear children was out of worry for his suffering.

He wasn’t afraid of hardship. As long as His Majesty was safe and sound, he would do anything. His own well-being didn’t matter.

Helan Ji held Qixue, returning his kisses, but he did not show excessive excitement about the technique.

It wasn’t disbelief in Qixue, but distrust in the method itself. Over the years, to cure his body, he had tried countless things, all ending in failure. Until it was thoroughly proven, he would hold some skepticism.

Qixue coquettishly pecked his face. “Come on, A’Man brother. There’s nothing to worry about. You’ll live to a hundred.”

“I just want to bear your child. I’m not afraid of hardship—only of you not loving me. Now I know you love me deeply, so I’m not afraid of anything. I want to raise a child with you.”

He was so sweet he could melt hearts. Helan Ji’s expression softened as he kissed him back. “Yuan Yuan, let’s make a promise. If I’m still alive in five years, we’ll discuss whether to have a child then. What do you think?”

“Alright, I’ll listen to you, brother.”

Qixue replied obediently, stroking his belly. But what he truly thought was entirely different.

Five years? Too long—he couldn’t wait that much. Anyway, he had already taken the Baosui Pill and could conceive anytime. If he had a child, would His Majesty really make him abort it? Surely not—he’d go along with it and let him give birth.