After Dao Qing left, Qixue obediently stayed in Xuan Yang’s room, not going anywhere, simply because he did not want to encounter another weirdo like Dao Qing.
He had originally planned to wait for Xuan Yang’s return and ask him about Dao Qing, but before Xuan Yang came back, the imperial procession had already entered Cloud Moon Temple.
Hearing the commotion of the large group outside the courtyard, Qixue thought for a moment, left a note for Xuan Yang saying he was heading back first, and then went out to return to Helan Ji’s side.
That night, Qixue did not have a chance to go find Xuan Yang again, because Helan Ji’s headache flared up. Seeing his pale complexion, how could Qixue bear to leave him? Naturally, he stayed by his side to care for him.
Worried that Qixue might not be comfortable in Cloud Moon Temple’s guest rooms, Helan Ji specially decreed that furniture from Chenglu Palace be transported up the mountain. The guest room was arranged to look brand new, almost indistinguishable from the palace except for its smaller size. The bed they were using now was the one Qixue often slept on in the palace.
Qixue leaned against the headboard, letting Helan Ji pillow his head on his thigh, and gently massaged the acupoints on Helan Ji’s head.
His soft fingers brushed over Helan Ji’s furrowed brow, and with a face full of heartache, he said, “Why has Your Majesty’s headache acted up again? Could it be that Xie Shu’s talisman has lost its effect, and the spell array is eroding Your Majesty once more?”
Helan Ji opened his phoenix eyes and gazed up at Qixue. “Yuan Yuan need not worry about me. I’m fine; it’s just an old ailment flaring up.”
He explained the cause of his headache to Qixue: Qixue’s love for him could suppress the backlash of the witchcraft, but after arriving at Cloud Moon Temple, the Nightmare Demon inside Qixue had vanished. He could no longer sense Qixue’s love, so those filthy things embedded deep in his flesh and bones began to erode him again, causing the old ailment to flare up.
Qixue had never imagined that his love meant so much to Helan Ji. For a moment, his heart felt sour and tender. He caressed Helan Ji’s face with pity.
“Your Majesty, let’s go back down the mountain to the palace right now. I can nurture the baby in the palace too. I don’t want you to endure the pain of the backlash.”
Helan Ji grasped his fingers and kissed them at his lips. “Yuan Yuan feels sorry for me, and I feel the same for Yuan Yuan. Since Cloud Moon Temple is better for your health, stay here. Don’t worry about me.
“As your husband and the father of your child, it is only right that I share your suffering with you. You are willing to bear the pains of childbirth for me—why shouldn’t I bear the backlash of the witchcraft for you?”
“Your Majesty…”
Qixue’s expression softened with emotion, his heart melting into a pool of spring water. No matter how long he spent with Helan Ji, he was always moved by his sincere love. “I am more than willing to bear a child for Your Majesty. As long as you are by my side, I don’t find it the least bit hard.”
Helan Ji sat up and embraced him, planting light kisses between his brows.
He whispered to Qixue, “When I first learned of your pregnancy, I was both expectant and fearful. Every day, I asked myself: Should this child really be born? Am I worthy of you making such sacrifices for me?
“I didn’t want Yuan Yuan to suffer the pains of childbirth, so I didn’t want you to force yourself to bear my child. But seeing how much you look forward to this baby—how you rejoice for him, worry for him—I suddenly understood something.
“Whether to bear a child should be your decision, not mine. I shouldn’t deprive you of the chance to give birth just because I feel sorry for you.
“The child is both suffering and joy—only you know if he is your suffering or your joy.”
Helan Ji’s voice was soft, yet filled with pity and love for Qixue. Qixue’s eyes grew a little wet. He raised both arms and hugged Helan Ji tightly in return.
He said softly, “It’s joy, Your Majesty. Our child brings me joy and happiness. I think Your Majesty must feel the same, eagerly awaiting the birth.”
Helan Ji kissed his forehead and gently stroked his belly. “It’s time to give him a nickname.”
Qixue laughed. “Your Majesty is so impatient. It’s only been a few days—it’s still early before the baby is born.”
“It’s about time,” Helan Ji said.
“The nickname can wait. Your Majesty, why don’t you nourish this child’s mother a bit more instead? I want to eat Your Majesty’s…”
Qixue straddled Helan Ji’s lap, gently pushing him down. He undid his sash, and an enchanting milky fragrance instantly filled the air.
After the passion in the carriage, Qixue no longer felt shy about his milk in front of Helan Ji. He even proactively brought the soft tip to Helan Ji’s lips. “A’Man brother, come drink some milk too.”
…
Their figures intertwined intimately. The bed curtains were not drawn, and beyond the window’s gap, a pair of pale vertical pupils quietly watched the scene until, after a long while, the shadow turned and left.
The next day.
Helan Ji discussed state affairs with the accompanying ministers, while Qixue accompanied the imperial consorts to the Divine Hall. He knelt on a prayer mat, quietly praying blessings for the people of Great Yong.
Though Qixue’s main purpose in coming to Cloud Moon Temple was to nurture his pregnancy, he still needed to pray for blessings. Even if he did not hand-copy scriptures like the consorts, he at least had to show his face in the Divine Hall and put on a show.
It was not that he had no heart for praying for the common people—his faith was in the Cave Abyss God Spirit, and the deities enshrined at Cloud Moon Temple were not his true gods. He could not sincerely worship them.
Qixue pretended to bow his head in prayer, but in his heart, he silently invoked Xuan Yang and Lady Shanyin. Fortunately, someone was even more impatient than him. Xu Taifei soon grew bored and clamored to leave. “This is so boring. I want to go play.”
“Then let Xinxiu go play,” one consort laughed. “It’s a bit boring for her.”
“Xinxiu” was Xu Taifei’s boudoir name. Named Xu Xinxiu for her spirit and wisdom, she had been driven mad by Rong Consort’s torment and now had the mind of a child. The consorts all pitied her plight and usually took good care of her in the palace, treating her like a little sister.
Learning she did not have to stay in the stuffy Divine Hall, Xu Taifei happily tugged at Qixue’s sleeve. “A Xue, let’s go play together.”
Qixue also found it dull and immediately agreed. “Alright, Mother Concubine. I’ll go walk around with you.”
He and Xu Taifei slipped away like smoke. The consorts smiled and continued focusing on praying for the people. Having spent too long in the palace, their tempers had long been worn smooth—they could endure boredom well.
Behind the main hall was a large lotus pond. The water was not deep, and it was not yet the season for lotuses to bloom, so only verdant lotus leaves floated on the surface. The clear pool water revealed small fish and turtles swimming among the leaves.
Some small turtles had green algae on their backs—the so-called “green-haired turtles.” As they swam, the long green algae swayed with the ripples, catching Xu Taifei’s eye. She sat curiously by the pool’s edge, staring at the turtles, seemingly debating whether to catch one to play with.
The accompanying inner servants, of course, would not let Xu Taifei wade in herself. They watched her closely to prevent her from suddenly jumping into the water. Qixue also squatted by the pool, talking to the little fish.
Some fish had absorbed incense and gained sentience, allowing them to converse with Qixue. They spoke in the demon tongue, so it looked like Qixue was muttering to himself, saying things that made no sense to others.
Yet Qixue was so breathtakingly beautiful that anything he did was pleasing to the eye. Anyone looking at him would be captivated by his otherworldly beauty and not notice his slightly odd behavior.
Qixue: “So there’s no disciple named ‘Dao Qing’ in the temple?”
Little fish: “No, we’ve never heard that name.”
Qixue still wasn’t convinced. “What about a demon clan member with the same name?”
Little fish: “None… The temple sees people coming and going every day, too many to count. Maybe we didn’t notice. Really, we’ve never heard of Dao Qing.”
Qixue muttered unhappily, “Could he have given me a fake name?”
“It’s my real name.”
A cool voice came from behind Qixue. He turned and met the silver-haired youth’s gaze.
Dao Qing said, “I didn’t lie to you.”
Qixue bristled the moment he saw him and stood up. “You still dare to appear before me?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I said I’d come see you again.” Dao Qing said, “You’re the ‘Qi Guifei’ from the palace?”
“That’s right, this palace it is.”
Qixue gave him a cold glare and put on the airs of a Noble Consort. “You’ve got some nerve. Now that you know who I am, aren’t you afraid I’ll punish you?”
Dao Qing: “What crime have I committed?”
Qixue’s gaze swept over the surrounding palace servants. “With so many people here, do you really want me to say it out loud? Have you no shame?”
Dao Qing’s fingers moved slightly, casting a barrier that isolated their voices from the others. He repeated, “What crime?”
“You…”
Qixue was shocked by his profound cultivation and suddenly felt a bit afraid, his tone softening considerably. “You peeped at me expressing milk… Isn’t that your fault?”
“You mean yesterday?” Dao Qing pondered for a moment. “Not peeping.”
Qixue grew angry again. “If it’s not peeping, then what? Did I give you permission?”
“Watching you can’t be called ‘stealing’ a glance.” Dao Qing said, “Because I’m yours,” he paused, “so it’s not.”
Qixue: “?”
Did he even hear what he himself had said?
Containing his temper, Qixue asked, “Yours what?”
Dao Qing said nothing.
Qixue could no longer hold back. He grabbed Dao Qing’s wrist. No matter how deep Dao Qing’s demon power was, under broad daylight, he didn’t believe Dao Qing would dare kill him. “Since you’re so stubborn, come with me to see Xuan Yang Daoist. Let him punish you.”
Dao Qing looked at the hand gripping his own, then raised his other hand to cover the back of Qixue’s, holding his hand.
Qixue yanked his hand back in shock. “What are you doing?”
Dao Qing’s expression was blank. “You grabbed my hand first. Why do you ask what I’m doing?”
Qixue: “I was afraid you’d run away again! I need to punish you!”
His striking face was full of anger. Dao Qing looked at him for a moment and asked, “How do you want to punish me?”
Qixue snorted coldly. “You tell me—in Cloud Moon Temple, what’s the crime for defiling a good family’s chastity?”
“Death.” Dao Qing said.
Qixue was stunned, realizing the punishment he’d named was too severe. Even though he was angry, he only wanted to give Dao Qing a light reprimand, not take his life.
He thought of another charge. “Disturbing a guest’s peace, then?”
Dao Qing answered every question. “Seven days confinement, copy ten scriptures, or three strokes of the disciplinary whip. Choose one.”
Qixue blinked. Cloud Moon Temple’s rules were quite strict. Then he’d have Dao Qing copy ten scriptures.
He was about to speak when Dao Qing pulled a Seven-Section Whip from his sleeve and handed it to Qixue. “You do it.”
His sleeve was clearly enchanted with the Sleeve Universe Technique; otherwise, such a long whip couldn’t fit.
The disciplinary whip was forged from fine iron, divided into seven sections. Gleaming menacingly in the sunlight, even one lash would surely split skin and flesh. Qixue didn’t dare imagine how painful it would be.
Qixue did want to punish Dao Qing, but he had no desire to hurt him. He pushed the whip back. “I won’t hit you. I want you to copy ten scriptures. If you finish before I go down the mountain, I’ll forgive you.”
Dao Qing asked, “When will you go down?”
Qixue: “About three months.”
“Got it,” Dao Qing said. “I’ll give them to you tonight.”
So fast?
Qixue was suddenly regretful upon hearing he could finish in one day. He had thought ten scriptures would be a lot of work. Were they all thin? How else could Dao Qing complete them so quickly?
Dao Qing dispelled the barrier. Knowing he was about to leave, Qixue hurriedly blocked him. “You’re leaving already? No, your word alone isn’t proof. Come with me to see Xuan Yang Daoist, so you don’t trick me.”
“I won’t trick you.”
Dao Qing said, “Meet me at the Ancestral Master Hall tonight. I’ll give you the scriptures.”
His tone was flat, yet inexplicably convincing. Qixue hesitated but did not stop him again. After all, Dao Qing’s cultivation far surpassed his own; there was no need for him to deceive him.
“Also.”
Dao Qing paused and turned back to Qixue. The bright red cinnabar mark between his brows was strikingly vivid. “Divorce Helan Ji. You’re not a match for him. He’s not your true fate.”
With that, he vanished before Qixue’s eyes.
