Chapter 86

Not only did Wei Huai lose his smile, but the expression on Qixue’s face also shifted from joy to astonishment. He could hardly believe that Xie Shu would get intimate with him right under Wei Huai’s nose.

Was this jealousy?

Qixue wasn’t entirely sure. When he met Xie Shu’s gaze, he saw that Xie Shu’s expression was calm, making it impossible for Qixue to fathom his thoughts. But no matter how he looked at it, it seemed like Xie Shu was the one who was jealous. Otherwise, why would he have used a spell to shove Wei Huai aside?

Xie Shu applied a bit more pressure, leaving a vivid red kiss mark on Qixue’s knuckle. Only then did he lift his head and say, “Go on. Don’t forget your promise.”

He released Qixue’s hand, signaling that he could get out of the carriage. But while things were settled on his end, Wei Huai was far from done. With a dark expression, he positioned himself in front of Qixue and coldly demanded of Xie Shu, “What do you mean by that?”

Xie Shu lowered the white veil of the curtain, concealing his face. Seeing that he wasn’t going to answer, Wei Huai suddenly grabbed his arm. “What promise were you talking about? What exactly did A Xue promise you?”

“It’s none of your business,” Xie Shu replied as he shook off his hand.

“You’re wrong. Everything about A Xue concerns me,” Wei Huai insisted, unwilling to let it go. “I still need to ask you—what did you do to him while keeping A Xue by your side these past few days and refusing to let anyone see him?”

Xie Shu replied coldly, “Since you’re so insistent on knowing, I can tell you.”

“I share a Heavenly Destined Marriage with Qixue. These past few days, we’ve been consummating our union as husband and wife. He promised me that as long as I saved Helan Ji’s life, once Helan Ji recovered, Qixue would divorce him and marry me as my wife.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Wei Huai swung a furious fist straight at Xie Shu’s face.

In an instant, the curtain veil flew off, revealing Xie Shu’s true appearance. He rarely showed his face to outsiders, as it made it easier for him to move about in his demon clan form. This was the first time Wei Huai had seen what Xie Shu really looked like.

He was currently in human form, with black hair and black eyes, appearing no different from an ordinary person. His jaw was reddened from Wei Huai’s punch.

Wei Huai seized him by the collar and warned angrily, “Don’t you dare use His Majesty to threaten A Xue.”

Xie Shu pointed with two fingers, unleashing the same spell he had used earlier to send Wei Huai flying. But this time, Wei Huai was prepared. He dodged with lightning speed and landed another heavy punch on Xie Shu’s face in retaliation.

Boom!

The spell slammed into the jade carriage, causing it to shake violently. Wei Huai steadied himself and fiercely knocked Xie Shu to the ground. Having spent years fighting on battlefields amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood, Wei Huai was no match for Xie Shu in such close quarters.

The old grudge between Wei Huai and Xie Shu ran deep. The last time, Xie Shu had imprisoned him in a water dungeon, subjecting him to endless torment. With new and old hatreds combined, Wei Huai’s killing intent surged in an instant. His five fingers transformed into sharp claws, reaching straight for Xie Shu’s heart.

In Qixue’s blurred vision, he saw Wei Huai’s hand turn into a strange, slender claw covered in peculiar scales. But it wasn’t like the claws of the dragon clan—Wei Huai wasn’t of Xie Shu’s kind. He seemed to be some even stranger type of demon.

At the same time, Xie Shu gathered a spell at his fingertips, a faint glow flickering as he aimed it at Wei Huai’s chest.

How could Qixue just sit by and watch them injure each other? He immediately lunged forward. “Stop! Don’t fight!”

He grabbed Wei Huai’s arm and pressed his back against Xie Shu’s fingertips. Of course, neither of them would harm Qixue. They stopped in unison. Still wary of Xie Shu, Wei Huai quickly switched positions with Qixue, shielding him with his own body. “Don’t hurt him.”

From behind him, Qixue said softly, “It’s okay. Xie Shu won’t hurt me. Please stop fighting—I’d be heartbroken.”

His voice was very soft, filled with genuine worry. Xie Shu’s stern expression softened, and he gently replied, “Alright.”

Seeing the change in his expression, Wei Huai frowned. He turned back to Qixue, his demeanor instantly becoming much gentler as he stroked Qixue’s cheek. “Sorry, did I scare you?”

Qixue nuzzled into his palm. “Let’s get out of the carriage. I want to give the spiritual medicine to His Majesty as soon as possible.”

“Alright, I’ll take you down right now.”

Wei Huai agreed and ignored Xie Shu completely as he carried Qixue out of the carriage.

Xie Shu silently picked up the curtain veil and placed it back on his head. He lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at Qixue outside for a moment before instructing the young Daoist boy driving the carriage, “Return to the Dao Field.”

Wei Huai carried Qixue horizontally in his arms, ascending the jade steps one by one. The guards and palace servants on either side knelt in salute, bowing their heads deeply without daring to greet the pair.

What kind of impropriety was this, with the Noble Consort and the Great General embracing so intimately? Where did this leave His Majesty’s dignity?

The rumors were true after all. There must be something between those two—perhaps there had been for a long time…

Wei Huai wasn’t blind to the strange looks from the others, nor had he missed the palace gossip. But he didn’t care at all.

He even hoped the rumors would spread further. After all, he was A Xue’s lover—the gossip was nothing but praise for him.

Holding Qixue in his arms, he marveled at how incredibly light his body felt, making him want to hold him tighter, longer. The ecstatic joy of having lost and found him again left him feeling light as a feather, as if floating in clouds and mist. It was simply the most wonderful sensation in the world.

But thinking of Xie Shu’s intimacy with Qixue cast a shadow over Wei Huai’s heart. He had seen the tenderness in Xie Shu’s expression earlier and could tell that Xie Shu’s feelings for Qixue weren’t mere lust—he genuinely cared for him.

Had Xie Shu fallen for A Xue in just those five short days?

Or had he fallen for A Xue at first sight, which was why he agreed to help refine the life-saving spiritual medicine for Helan Ji?

Wei Huai lowered his head and asked Qixue, “Did Xie Shu force you? If you have any grievances, I’ll kill him for you.”

“…”

Qixue wore an embarrassed expression. After hesitating for a long time, he decided to tell Wei Huai the truth. “I told you not to get angry.”

Hearing this, Wei Huai already knew the answer. It probably wasn’t force—Qixue and Xie Shu had been willing participants.

A surge of jealousy welled up from the depths of his heart. Wei Huai gritted his teeth in resentment, regretting that he hadn’t hit Xie Shu harder earlier. He should have just killed him outright.

Suppressing his jealous rage, he coaxed Qixue gently, “Tell me. I promise I won’t get angry.”

Qixue bit his lip, a bit guilty as he said, “Asking for the medicine was my choice. Xie Shu is also my lover. But these five days, we really were refining the medicine. How could I disregard His Majesty’s life?”

He left out the details of the refining process. The last two or three days had indeed involved Xie Shu forcing him, constantly feeding him spiritual medicine and spiritual energy to keep him going—otherwise, he would have been worked to death.

Wei Huai’s arms tightened instantly around him. How could he not be angry? But he had no right to explode in fury. In the end, he was just one of Qixue’s lovers. The only one qualified to rage was the principal wife, who lay unconscious in bed, waiting for them, his concubines, to save his life.

No matter how much resentment he harbored, he would never vent it on Qixue. A Xue’s only fault was being too kind-hearted, which allowed Xie Shu to take advantage and deceive him.

There were far too many shameless people in this world. Xie Shu, Ji Yuheng, and Xuan Yang all fell into that category. They appeared ascetic and otherworldly, but their minds were filled with base, lewd thoughts about A Xue. One day, he would kill them all.

Wei Huai suppressed his anger and carried Qixue into Chang Le Palace. In a low voice, he asked, “I’m not mad at you. But is your promise to Xie Shu real? Will you really divorce His Majesty?”

“No.”

Qixue shook his head. “I won’t divorce His Majesty for Xie Shu’s sake.”

But eventually, he still had to leave His Majesty… He would marry the Holy Monarch and become his wife.

“I thought as much.”

Wei Huai’s heart was a tumult of emotions. He knew it—A Xue’s favorite was still Helan Ji. Even if they all banded together, they probably couldn’t match Helan Ji’s place in A Xue’s heart. It made him both sour and eager to mock Xie Shu’s pipe dream.

Noticing Wei Huai’s displeased expression, Qixue knew he was jealous. He coquettishly nuzzled against his chest and said sweetly, “Come on, we’ve finally reunited. Can’t you say some sweet words to coax me? It’s been over a month since I last saw you. I missed you so much.”

He was too good at coaxing. All of Wei Huai’s sourness vanished in an instant. He lowered his head, pressing his forehead to Qixue’s, and said warmly, “I missed you more.”

Qixue gave him a sidelong glance. “How much?”

“I couldn’t eat or sleep.”

Wei Huai smiled bitterly. “But ‘missing’ isn’t quite right. I was worried about you. Xuan Yang said you’d been drawn into the Ancient Mirror and vanished, but he refused to hand it over. I couldn’t even confirm if he was telling the truth. On one hand, I hated my own incompetence; on the other, I worried if you were okay, terrified you’d met with some misfortune. I only wished it had been me who disappeared…”

Qixue’s heart ached. He gently touched Wei Huai’s cheek. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I did fall into the Ancient Mirror, but I wasn’t alone. I was pulled in with a silver dragon, and he took good care of me the whole time.”

He didn’t reveal Xie Shu’s true identity. Since no one knew Xie Shu was of the dragon clan, he should keep that secret for him.

Wei Huai paused. “Was it a male dragon or a female one?”

“?” Qixue answered honestly, “Male dragon.”

“What, was he not handsome enough for you to take him as a lover?” Wei Huai asked sourly.

Qixue’s gaze darted away. “I… I’m not some philanderer.”

Wei Huai laughed in exasperation. “Right, you’re not a philanderer—you’re a little rabbit, dividing your heart into eight pieces and giving one to whoever catches your eye.”

Qixue protested, “I’m not that indiscriminate!”

Just like Sang Chi—he was good-looking too, but Qixue would never like that detestable red-furred fox. Even if everyone and every demon in the world died, he still wouldn’t like Sang Chi.

Wei Huai carried him deep into Chang Le Palace, arriving at the entrance to the bedchamber. A thick medicinal scent hit them, mingled with a faint bloody tang, making Qixue’s heart clench.

Wei Huai fell silent as well and gently set Qixue down. “Go on in.”

“His Majesty has been waiting for you.”