Qixue’s fingertips lightly traced over his chest. The pale pink silk of the bellyband was soaked through, faintly outlining the shape of rubies that burned into Ji Yuheng’s eyes, making his eyeballs ache slightly and sending waves of numbness down his spine.
Even a saint could not resist Qixue’s temptation, let alone Ji Yuheng, who was no longer the jade-like gentleman of old.
Without a second thought, he crawled to Qixue’s side, softly called out “Mother Concubine,” and lowered his head to kiss those petal-like lips.
Qixue immediately wrapped his arms around the back of his neck, passionately returning the kiss. “Yun Qi…”
They had never truly made love before, but Qixue already knew how delightful it was to be intimate with Ji Yuheng. Just one kiss left him trembling with pleasure all over. With a whimper, he pulled Ji Yuheng’s hand to his bellyband. “Quick, help Mother Concubine…”
As he kissed him, Ji Yuheng untied the strings of the bellyband. The lightweight silk, saturated with milk, felt much heavier in his hand, so much so that a simple squeeze would make milk drip from it.
More milk flowed down from the soft tips. Qixue endured the slight swelling pain and coquettishly clung to Ji Yuheng. “You… you should drink a few mouthfuls quickly. You’re practically my child now, so it’s only right for you to drink Mother Concubine’s milk…”
Ji Yuheng’s breathing grew heavy from his enticements. The Yang-Locking Ring constricted painfully where it bound him, offering no relief, and he felt the same torment. With a hoarse voice, he replied, “This son obeys.”
He lowered his head and did as Mother Concubine commanded.
In the quiet bedroom, the sounds of suckling became especially clear. The fragrance within the bed curtains grew even thicker, intoxicating their minds until they were both dazed, clinging tightly to each other.
“Yun Qi…”
Tears streamed from Qixue’s eyes as he desperately clutched Ji Yuheng’s black hair. “You… hurry up a bit.”
“Yes…”
Sweat beaded on Ji Yuheng’s forehead, trickling down his handsome face and into his eyes. He blinked them shut and lowly pleaded with Qixue, “Mother Concubine, can I take off the Yang-Locking Ring now?”
“Do I even need to say it? Take it off!”
Qixue was on the verge of breaking down. He gave him a light—not too heavy—swat. “You locked it on just to save it for me, didn’t you? Now feed me quickly—take it off!”
Ji Yuheng had been waiting for those exact words. With a clang, the ring was tossed out from the bed curtains and landed on the floor. A puff of warm fragrance wafted through the gap in the curtains, only to be concealed again as they closed.
…
Qixue felt that Ji Yuheng must have gone completely mad from holding back for so long.
Perhaps he shouldn’t have been so greedy, asking Ji Yuheng to save all his Primordial Yang for him. He clearly couldn’t handle it anymore, yet Ji Yuheng kept feeding it to him endlessly. It had been an entire afternoon, and there was still no sign of stopping.
Not only was he huge like a donkey spirit, but his stamina was like one too. He really would break if this continued—he couldn’t take anymore…
Sobbing, Qixue grabbed the bed curtain and dragged his sore, limp body toward the outside, only for Ji Yuheng to seize the back of his hand. “Mother Concubine, do you want to go out?”
“Yun Qi, Mother Concubine… Mother Concubine is really going to die.”
Qixue pleaded with Ji Yuheng, twisting his head to placatingly kiss his jaw. “The air in the room is too stuffy. I’m feeling panicked inside. Let me go, okay? I really need some fresh air…”
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault for neglecting Mother Concubine’s feelings.”
Ji Yuheng scooped Qixue up and carried him out from the bed curtains to the window, cracking it open just a narrow slit to let in fresh air from outside.
He helped Qixue lean over the table—the height just right for him to breathe in the outdoor air. “Is this okay? Mother Concubine shouldn’t feel stuffy now.”
“That’s not what I meant—”
Qixue panicked and tried to rise, but Ji Yuheng had already bent down, trapping him in the curve of his arm so he couldn’t escape.
Soon, Qixue tasted the freshest Primordial Yang. He collapsed weakly onto the tabletop, crying, while Ji Yuheng murmured sweet nothings in his ear. “I love you, Mother Concubine.”
His tone brimmed with undisguised deep affection, making Qixue’s legs go weak as a faint pink flush colored his snowy shoulder and neck. “Don’t say it. I know…”
Ji Yuheng lightly kissed his hair. “What does Mother Concubine feel for me?”
Qixue shyly closed his eyes. “Of course… of course I have feelings for you too.”
Ji Yuheng revealed a gentle, water-like smile. He turned Qixue’s body around properly and kissed him deeply. “I’ve finally gotten what my heart desired.”
…
That evening.
Qixue transformed back into Rabbit Tuan and dozed in Ji Yuheng’s arms. Ji Yuheng gently stroked the little rabbit’s soft fur, his downcast eyes full of tender affection as he gazed lovingly at the bunny in his embrace.
Rabbit Tuan slept for a long time. When he woke, his fur was soaked with milk again. Now he resembled a little rabbit made of a milk bun—even a gentle poke would make rabbit milk ooze out.
Rabbit Tuan fretfully patted his round bunny belly and had Ji Yuheng wipe it for him. Ji Yuheng patiently and meticulously expressed the milk, cleaned the fur with warm water, and dried it thoroughly. Rabbit Tuan nuzzled his palm with his little head in thanks.
After dealing with the rabbit milk, Rabbit Tuan felt refreshed and full of energy—more spirited than even before his pregnancy. It seemed the Holy Monarch was right; Ji Yuheng really was a great tonic pill. He should eat more of him in the future.
Ji Yuheng patted Rabbit Tuan’s head. “Is Mother Concubine hungry? Do you want something to eat?”
“Not really.”
Rabbit Tuan patted his plump round belly. “Just eating your Primordial Yang has filled me up.”
“I… this son…”
Ji Yuheng flushed bright red all the way to his neck. His shy demeanor was worlds apart from before, as if the one who had endlessly demanded from Qixue wasn’t him at all.
Rabbit Tuan huffed. “Finally shed your virgin status, huh? Bet it felt amazing for you.”
Ji Yuheng’s face stayed red. He offered no defense—there was none to make. “Yes…”
“For a virgin, you did pretty well.”
Rabbit Tuan kicked his short, stubby bunny feet, pretending to be an expert critic. In truth, he couldn’t handle Ji Yuheng at all, but he insisted on acting nonchalant, determined to stay on top.
Ji Yuheng humbly replied, “Thank you for the praise, Mother Concubine. This son will study and refine my skills to better serve you and fulfill my filial duty. I won’t lose to His Majesty or the Great General.”
Rabbit Tuan choked and coughed in fright. “No need for that!”
He’d kill this rabbit!
He patted Ji Yuheng’s arm with his paw, trying to divert his attention. “I’m hungry now. Take me out to eat. Let’s head to the kitchen.”
Ji Yuheng obediently carried Rabbit Tuan out of the room. Dong Yuan had delivered dinner earlier, but Rabbit Tuan had been asleep, so Ji Yuheng had him take it back to keep warm in the kitchen for whenever they wanted it.
But Rabbit Tuan still wasn’t that hungry. He just nibbled a few bites in the kitchen, and Ji Yuheng ate a little too. The rest of the food was given to the palace servants, most of whom hadn’t eaten dinner yet.
After the meal, Ji Yuheng carried Rabbit Tuan for a stroll around the Daoist temple. Rabbit Tuan lifted his little head to gaze at the night sky, where thick clouds blanketed overhead. No wonder the air felt damp—rain was probably coming soon.
He was just about to ask Ji Yuheng to take him back when he noticed they were passing the Ancestral Master Hall. He immediately changed his mind. “Let’s go inside and take a look.”
Ji Yuheng entered the hall as instructed. Rabbit Tuan hopped to the ground, shifted back to human form, and pointed at Xie Shu’s statue. “Do you know who that statue is of?”
Ji Yuheng glanced at it, pondered for a moment, and said, “I’ve never visited Cloud Moon Temple before, but I read a layman’s notes that mentioned State Preceptor Xie’s statue was unique, always covered over the eyes with silk cloth. I suppose this one is of the State Preceptor.”
“That’s right. It’s Xie Shu’s statue.”
Qixue gazed up at Xie Shu’s statue alongside him, then suddenly said to Ji Yuheng, “Yun Qi, go lift that silk cloth off.”
Ji Yuheng’s eyes flashed with surprise. “Mother Concubine, what is this?”
Qixue replied, “Don’t ask why. If you like me, then lift the silk cloth. I want you to swear an oath right in front of Xie Shu.”
In the original story, Ji Yuheng and Xie Shu were a fated pair. Though the plot had changed now—Ji Yuheng had fallen for him and didn’t even know Xie Shu yet—Qixue still felt uneasy. He had to eliminate any possibility of Ji Yuheng falling for Xie Shu.
With those words, Ji Yuheng naturally asked no more. He quickly fetched a bamboo pole from outside the hall and deftly lifted the silk cloth, revealing the statue’s eyes.
Qixue gently caressed Ji Yuheng’s face and commanded, “Kneel.”
Ji Yuheng knelt at his feet, gazing up at him with deep affection. Qixue cupped his face, leaning down to meet his eyes. “Yun Qi, do you dare swear it in front of Xie Shu? In this life and the next, you love only me. If you break this oath, may you die without a burial place.”
This wasn’t the first time Qixue had made Ji Yuheng swear an oath. The previous one was to never harm Helan Ji.
He had no real way to bind Ji Yuheng, only this method to shackle him with vows, giving him pause before acting.
But for Ji Yuheng, swearing eternal fidelity to Qixue was nothing. He had only ever loved Qixue alone.
His expression softened greatly. He grasped Qixue’s hand and swore without hesitation, “I swear that in this life and the next, my only love is you—only Qixue. If I break this vow, may I die without a burial place, my soul unresting.”
Boom—
The moment Ji Yuheng finished speaking, a peal of thunder crashed in the sky. Qixue jumped in fright, instinctively thinking the Heavenly Dao was sending down lightning to strike him. He immediately turned back into Rabbit Tuan and leaped into Ji Yuheng’s arms.
Rabbit Tuan buried his head into Ji Yuheng’s collar, leaving only his bunny rear sticking up, his tail tip quivering slightly.
Ji Yuheng assumed Rabbit Tuan was scared of the thunder and immediately held him close to soothe him. “Don’t be afraid, Mother Concubine. It’s just about to rain. I’m here with you—nothing will happen.”
Rabbit Tuan still feared divine punishment and kept burrowing deeper into Ji Yuheng’s embrace. Seeing him tremble, Ji Yuheng felt heartbroken yet found him utterly adorable. He kept coaxing him softly and didn’t even notice the footsteps approaching from outside the hall.
Splash…
Torrential rain poured down. Amid the noisy downpour, footsteps reached the hall’s entrance, and the doors creaked open.
Dao Qing carried no umbrella, yet his snow-white Daoist robes showed no signs of wetting—only his silver hair bore a few raindrops.
His cold face seemed etched with frost, his gaze sharp as lightning as he coldly stared at the Rabbit Tuan in Ji Yuheng’s arms.
“Just how many husbands do you have?” he said icily. “Why not bring them all here? It’ll make it easier for me to kill them together.”
