After having this thought, Qixue increasingly felt that his plan was entirely feasible.
Merely hugging and kissing Ji Yuheng had completely alleviated his physical discomfort. If he could consume a large amount of Ji Yuheng’s Primordial Yang, perhaps after ten months of pregnancy, his child could even develop an innate Dao body.
Qixue looked at Xuan Yang expectantly, awaiting his response. But Xuan Yang said nothing, his expression indifferent as he silently gazed at Qixue.
Qixue keenly sensed that Xuan Yang did not seem pleased. Moments ago, the Holy Monarch had clearly been smiling. Had he said something wrong to upset him?
“Holy Monarch…” Not wanting to displease Xuan Yang at all, he tugged at Xuan Yang’s sleeve and gently shook it a few times. “Why aren’t you speaking? Talk to A Xue.”
“…”
Xuan Yang sighed and softened his expression. He pulled Qixue into his arms. “A Xue, don’t you feel my intentions? Being rejected by you time and again hurts me too.”
Qixue’s heart suddenly trembled. He lifted his head in surprise from Xuan Yang’s embrace. Xuan Yang looked down at him and planted a tender kiss on his forehead. “Though I am a god, gods have emotions and desires just like mortals. It’s not strange that I am fond of you.”
“I-I…” Qixue was overwhelmed by the favor, his face instantly flushing red. He stammered, “I was too obtuse and didn’t realize the Holy Monarch had feelings for me. I truly feel honored… and very… very happy.”
All demons in the world had been born from the Cave Abyss and worshipped the Cave Abyss God Spirit as their deity since birth. Qixue was no exception.
He had worshipped the Cave Abyss God Spirit for over a hundred years. Whether “Lady Shanyin” or “Xuan Yang,” they were all incarnations of the Cave Abyss God Spirit, no different in essence. For his revered divinity to confess affection to him was profoundly moving—his excitement rivaled the moment of his reunion with Helan Ji.
His eyes glistened with moisture, brimming with Xuan Yang’s figure. Xuan Yang finally revealed a faint smile and lightly tapped his nose. “After everything is settled and you return to Dali Mountain, I wish to take you as my divine wife to share eternal life with me. Would you be willing?”
Divine wife? Did that mean becoming the Holy Monarch’s spouse?
Qixue was stunned. He gradually calmed from his excessive joy, a trace of hesitation appearing on his face.
There was no doubt that becoming the Holy Monarch’s wife was the highest honor. But being a god’s wife probably came with great responsibilities. Would he lose his freedom from then on? If so…
Qixue had long since looked past life and death and was willing to give his life for Xuan Yang. But freedom was the one thing he refused to lose. Without it, he would rather die than be confined to a narrow world for eternity.
“What’s wrong?”
Seeing that he did not immediately agree, Xuan Yang asked gently, “Do you have concerns?”
“I…” Qixue snapped back to reality and phrased it more tactfully. “Do I truly qualify to be the Holy Monarch’s wife? I have neither powerful demon power nor noble bloodline, nor the prestige to lead the demon clan. I’m afraid I’m not worthy of matching you…”
“My affection for you has nothing to do with those things. It’s simply because you are A Xue.”
Xuan Yang smiled. “Mermaids have powerful demon power, the Dragon Clan boasts noble bloodlines, and spirit foxes rule the demon clan. But when have you ever seen me favor them?”
“All demons under heaven are equal in my eyes. Only you, A Xue—only you are different. You are my one beloved little rabbit.”
“I know you may not be able to answer now. That’s fine. I respect your will and will give you plenty of time to think it over. Don’t worry about my status—treat me as an ordinary person and consider if I’m worth your affection.”
“If you are unwilling to be my wife, I won’t force you. You can continue living on Dali Mountain, and I’ll visit you often. Does that sound good?”
Xuan Yang stroked the top of Qixue’s head. Enveloped in his tolerance and affection, how could Qixue refuse? His face red, he nodded. “Thank you, Holy Monarch. I will consider it seriously.”
“Good.”
Xuan Yang smiled faintly. “Then, back to the matter at hand. Since I need to give you time to decide, I won’t invite you to dual cultivate with me again until you’ve made up your mind.”
“But I still hope you’ll come stay at Cloud Moon Temple for a while. Only then can I personally care for you and feel at ease—it’s also better for you and the fetus. What do you think?”
Qixue could not refuse Xuan Yang’s invitation again, especially since it was for his own good. “As long as the Holy Monarch doesn’t mind the trouble, of course I’m willing.”
“How could you ever be trouble to me?” Xuan Yang smiled and tapped his nose. “When do you plan to come over?”
Qixue said joyfully, “I’ll go find His Majesty right now and share this good news with him to see how he arranges things for me.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Xuan Yang pulled him to his feet, a helpless look in his eyes. “If only I’d foreseen that I’d fall for you, I never would have sent you to seduce Helan Ji and Wei Huai. Now I have to personally watch over you as you bear Helan Ji’s child.”
Qixue touched his abdomen, saying both proudly and shyly, “But I think it’s precisely because the Holy Monarch needed me that he paid attention to me so often and grew fond of me. Otherwise, I’d be just one among the masses, and the Holy Monarch wouldn’t have noticed me.”
Xuan Yang pondered for a moment before slowly nodding. “You’re right.”
They headed to Chang Le Palace together. On the way, Qixue remembered the question he had wanted to ask earlier. “Would Ji Yuheng’s and Xie Shu’s Primordial Yang be useful for nurturing the fetus?”
“Yes,” Xuan Yang replied. “Their destiny is exceptionally profound, and both are virgins. Since you’ve cultivated the Dual Cultivation Technique, their Primordial Yang would be a great tonic for you.”
Qixue thought, That’s excellent.
It seemed he needed to consume more of Ji Yuheng—or perhaps find a way to bring him to Cloud Moon Temple.
As for Xie Shu, consume him if possible, then kill him. Keeping that man around was a disaster waiting to happen.
Unlike Ji Yuheng, Xie Shu was a born killer god. If Ji Yuheng’s attempt to shoot His Majesty had some cause, Xie Shu’s slaughter of the demon clan—including those of Dali Mountain—had been utterly baseless, done solely to follow the so-called Heavenly Dao and exterminate the demon clan entirely.
Qixue arrived at the study in Chang Le Palace. As soon as he entered, he heard Helan Ji’s clear, low voice. Listening closely, Helan Ji was quizzing Ji Yuheng on political matters reported in the memorials, asking how he planned to handle them.
Ji Yuheng pondered for a moment, about to respond, when light, cheerful footsteps interrupted his thoughts.
“Your Majesty!”
Qixue happily ran toward Helan Ji and threw himself into his open arms. “I’ve come to see you!”
Helan Ji tightened his hold, securely supporting Qixue. He had known Qixue was approaching the study because his slight headache had suddenly vanished. Only Qixue could make his body feel so light and comfortable.
Xuan Yang followed behind Qixue into the study. Ji Yuheng lowered his gaze and saluted. “Yun Qi pays respects to Mother Concubine and Xuan Yang Daoist.”
“Greetings, Crown Prince.”
Xuan Yang smiled faintly in return.
Helan Ji caressed Qixue’s cheek. “You’re not feeling well—why didn’t you rest properly? If you wanted to see me, you just needed to tell the palace servants, and I would have come to you.”
“Because I couldn’t wait! I have tremendous good news to tell Your Majesty.”
The moment Qixue saw Helan Ji, he forgot everything else, heedless of whether the other two men might grow jealous. He hugged Helan Ji sweetly. “Your Majesty, why don’t you guess what the good news is?”
Helan Ji looked at Qixue, then glanced at Xuan Yang. He suddenly frowned. “Did Xuan Yang Daoist say you have cultivation aptitude and plan to take you as a disciple?”
His expression serious, Qixue laughed heartily for a while before poking his shoulder. “No, Your Majesty, don’t worry. How could I bear to leave you for cultivation? Actually…”
He took Helan Ji’s hand and placed it on his abdomen, whispering sweetly and softly into his ear, “There’s something I’ve been hiding from Your Majesty: I once asked Xuan Yang Daoist for a Baosui Pill. Just now, Xuan Yang Daoist examined me and found that I’m pregnant with Your Majesty’s child…”
“We have a child, Your Majesty. I’m so happy—are you happy too, Your Majesty?”
Qixue had not kept his voice low, loud enough for Ji Yuheng to hear clearly. This left both Helan Ji and Ji Yuheng stunned.
A faint light appeared in Helan Ji’s dark phoenix eyes as he looked toward Qixue’s abdomen. “Yuan Yuan, you’re saying you’re… carrying my child?”
“I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly either…”
Qixue placed his hand over the back of Helan Ji’s. His hand was small and pale, barely covering Helan Ji’s long one—it was two sizes smaller. Together, they caressed his abdomen. “Right here… Your Majesty, you’re going to be a father.”
He nestled gently in Helan Ji’s arms. Intense joy, sweetness, and happiness flowed into Helan Ji’s heart like honeydew. Helan Ji’s stern expression began to melt, his fingertips trembling slightly as he softly repeated Qixue’s words. “I’m going to be a father?”
“That’s right. You’re A’Man Daddy, I’m Yuan Yuan Mommy, and our child will be Little Yuanyuan.”
Seeing Helan Ji still somewhat dazed, Qixue found his stunned look adorable. His heart filled with happiness and fulfillment. Grinning, he planted a kiss on him. “Your Majesty, you look so silly right now… Did you get too excited?”
“Of course I’m happy…”
Helan Ji carefully stroked Qixue’s abdomen. He looked up at Ji Yuheng. “Yun Qi, return to Mingguang Palace for now. I’ll summon you later— Yun Qi?”
He frowned at the pale, motionless Ji Yuheng, his expression gradually cooling. “What’s this? You’ve just ascended to the Crown Prince position, and you’re already eager to defy my decree?”
“…”
Ji Yuheng stood there in a daze, unable to hear Helan Ji’s voice. To outsiders, it seemed he feared losing the Crown Prince throne he had finally obtained, now that the Noble Consort was pregnant with the Emperor’s own child. As an adopted son, he might be replaced.
But Qixue knew exactly what grieved Ji Yuheng. Seeing his pained expression, Qixue felt pity and whispered to His Majesty, “Your Majesty, I’d like to speak with the Crown Prince alone.”
Helan Ji disagreed. “Look at him—how can I trust you two alone in a room?”
“It’s fine, Your Majesty. The Crown Prince won’t harm me.”
Qixue said softly, “He’s the heir you carefully selected. Don’t you trust his character? I trust him completely. He’ll make a good big brother; he just needs time to prepare. I’ll talk to him.”
“Very well.”
Helan Ji ultimately trusted Qixue. “If he dares any untoward action, call for the Nightmare Demons at once. They’ll protect you—and our child.” He caressed Qixue’s abdomen, his tone even gentler.
Qixue kissed him and stepped out of his arms. He walked to Ji Yuheng. “Crown Prince, please come with me. Let’s talk alone.”
