Chapter 5 The Birds Don't Fly "Lin Feiran, do you know you live in a..."

Royal Palace, Golden Throne Hall.

The interior of the hall was magnificent. The ebony beams and pillars were carved with openwork, through which fine gold threads, as thin as hair, crisscrossed, wrapping around soft silver threads from the ceiling, as velvety and snowy as they were, exuding a warm fragrance.

Occasionally, a petal would fall, drifting towards a high position in the hall, where it would be caught by the man on the Qilin throne.

After looking down closely, he slowly stroked his face, as if remembering something. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his eye. Because of his handsome face and naturally smiling lips, the smile did not make him look old, but rather revealed a touch of affection in his refined demeanor.

This is Shen Tu Lu, the Emperor of Taiwu Kingdom.

He raised his hand and placed the petals into a small bowl beside him, then smiled and looked into the hall, seemingly unaware of the stagnant atmosphere.

Inside the hall was a three-zhang-long gold and jade table, covered with a whole surface of white jade peonies, lifelike and seemingly emitting a faint fragrance. Plates of delicacies were scattered on it, their porcelain-like surfaces pink, like buds waiting to bloom.

Ten people stood on each side of the long table, all looking solemn and no one was appreciating the new bud on the jade.

On the left are ten important ministers of the Taiwu Kingdom, some fat and big-eared, others slender and taciturn, most of them old, dressed in dark red official robes, their faces devoid of joy.

But the first old man was an exception. He was not wearing official robes, but only a Taoist robe with auspicious clouds, with a whisk on his arm, his hair tied in a high bun, and his beard and hair all white, as if he had left the world.

Ten people sat to the right of the golden jade table, all of them with excellent appearances and beautiful features. Their hair and eyes were not all obsidian black, but varied in color, including red, green and yellow, which was a unique style of the demon race, making the old man's eyes dazzled.

In contrast, the young man sitting at the head of the table was dressed in black, with his black hair hanging high behind his head. Half of his mouth and nose were covered by a silver mask, revealing only a pair of slightly drooping eyes. His temperament was indifferent, and he was much more pleasing to the eye than the other brightly colored people.

Seeing that everyone was still silent, the Emperor spoke up at the right time: "Envoy Xun, the alliance has been discussed for a long time. I have no objection to the conditions in the contract and can sign the alliance at any time. However, if you all want to consider it further, you can stay at the post station for a while."

The person covered by the silver mask was none other than Xun Feifei, the envoy of the demon race. He stood up and bowed, his voice clear and mellow.

"Your Majesty, the terms have been discussed for over a month, and there are naturally no further objections, except for the clause on marriage. The demon realm has never had such a custom, and since we have signed the contract, we will certainly not break our promise. Whether we are related by marriage or not will not affect the harmony between the two realms."

The Emperor raised an eyebrow: "Why not invite the Demon Lord to Luoyang in person, so I can discuss this with him personally?"

Xun Feifei cupped his hands in greeting: "The journey is long, and the demon realm cannot be without a master for even a day. I hope Your Majesty will understand. Regarding the marriage alliance, we will inform the Lord later..."

"As fellow rulers, I naturally understand." The Human Emperor sighed slightly, his face showing regret. "However, it is rare for the two realms to mend their old friendship. Wouldn't it be even better to strengthen ties through marriage? Princess Mingyue is the pearl of our human race, the treasure of Taiwu. The sincerity of the human race in forming an alliance is evident. Perhaps the envoy should reiterate this now?"

Xun Feifei readily agreed: "Then we will go to the side hall to inquire. Excuse me."

The Emperor raised his hand: "Please."

As the demons left, a loud, cold snort echoed through the hall. The Emperor looked down but was not angry. Instead, he asked with a smile, "Prime Minister Gu, why did you sigh?"

Gu Chengming rose from his seat. Even though his hair was mostly white, his eyes still shone brightly, and he was full of energy.

"Your Majesty! Princess Mingyue is kind and gentle, and she is not skilled in magic. She will surely be bullied if she goes to the demon realm. This old minister dares to reiterate my advice and asks Your Majesty to reconsider and withdraw the marriage proposal!"

At this point, he knelt down and bowed his head, his slightly disheveled hair falling to the ground.

The Emperor immediately stood up, quickly stepped down from the platform, and helped him up. He smiled wryly and said, "Prime Minister, you are a learned and knowledgeable man. Do you not know what a marriage alliance is and why it is necessary? The two worlds have been at odds for too long. It is time to move forward. If we can form a lasting alliance, there will be no more chaos in the world. Wouldn't that be a great deed?"

"Your Majesty, this is not an ordinary marriage alliance; she is going to the Demon Realm!" Gu Chengming raised his head, pressed down on the Emperor's hand, and his eyes were filled with tears.

"Every demon possesses spiritual veins and knows magic. Even a common laborer could crush her like an ant, let alone the infamous Demon Lord! The demon realm is unwilling to form a marriage alliance, yet you insist on it. How can Mingyue possibly survive?!"

The Human Emperor turned to look at the white-haired Taoist and said, "Minister Ding is the head of our human race's Canxing Domain and the leader of the Gan Dao. Why don't you tell us about the Demon Lord so that everyone can be at ease?"

Ding Yi stood up, looked at Gu Chengming with a peaceful expression, and said in a calm voice, "Prime Minister, the Demon Lord is not a person who kills indiscriminately. Mingyue will be fine, so you can all rest assured."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor straightened up, gently patted Gu Chengming's shoulder, but ultimately did not help him up.

"With her beautiful face and gentle temperament, who wouldn't like her? Who knows, she might even become a good match for you."

Gu Chengming stared at him blankly, about to speak, but the Emperor took his hand, his usually smiling face now showing worry.

“Father-in-law, even animals have the instinct to love their young. How do you feel right now? I know you understand. But can everything in this world be perfect? ​​Mingyue is your granddaughter, so you plead for her. But what about the people of the world? Minister Gu, you have your own selfish motives, and so do I. But I am willing to try for the sake of the people, even if it means giving up my own daughter!”

The remaining ministers were in an uproar, looking at each other in bewilderment, unsure of what to say.

Gu Chengming collapsed to the ground, exhausted. The elderly man, now in his sixties, gave a listless smile, but the wrinkles on his face remained unmoved.

"What a wonderful idea to try for the benefit of all people..."

He slowly stood up, straightened his official robes, and bowed solemnly to him: "Your Majesty, I am nearing seventy and am powerless to attend to state affairs. I will write a letter in three days to request Your Majesty's permission for this old minister to retire!"

The emperor looked at him for a long time, then sighed, "If the old man wishes to live out his days in peace, I will naturally grant it."

Amidst the varied expressions of the crowd, the old man took off his official hat and held it in his arms. He looked up at the candlelight under the eaves, smiled bitterly, and slowly walked outside.

The room was completely silent.

*

Xun Feifei and the others had already entered the side hall to wait, but Shui Jing had not responded. Presumably, the Lord had not yet woken up, so everyone waited patiently, taking a break as a matter of course.

Before setting off, no one expected that they would be entangled in a marriage alliance for more than a month. The human realm was not a good place to stay, and the human race was not a good place to be. Everyone had long intended to return, but looking at the tall, silver-masked youth standing by the door, no one dared to urge them.

They were just there to make up the numbers; only Xun Feifei knew the contents of the contract, and he was the one in charge this time.

With a series of soft thuds, footsteps, one light and one heavy, suddenly came from outside the hall. Everyone turned to look and saw that the old chief minister, who had been arguing with them just a month ago, suddenly seemed to have lost all his energy. He was walking alone under the eaves, carrying his winged hat, his steps were labored and his figure was desolate.

Xun Feifei observed silently for a moment, then stepped forward and asked, "The Golden Palace is too high to climb. Shall I escort you down? We can fly down directly without going up the stairs."

"Thank you, Envoy Xun, but there's no need." Gu Chengming's eyes were dim. He waved his hand, took two steps, and then turned back. "I have lived for many years but have never met the Demon Lord. I dare to ask you, Envoy, if Mingyue marries into that family, will her life be in danger?"

He asked directly, and fortunately, the demons didn't like beating around the bush. Xun Feifei replied, "The Lord has not yet agreed to the marriage alliance..."

"To be honest, Envoy Xun, Mingyue is my granddaughter. My daughter entered the palace at a young age and passed away not long after giving birth to Mingyue. I... I simply couldn't bear it..."

His brow was furrowed, his back slightly hunched, and his eyes were filled with sincere worry. He didn't look like a high-ranking official who had been in power for many years, but rather like an old man who had nowhere else to turn.

Xun Feifei paused slightly, and a calm, even voice came from behind the mask: "The Lord is not a man of indiscriminate killing. As long as you do not bother him, your life will be safe... When we arrive in the Demon Realm, I will give you some pointers when the time is right."

Gu Chengming suddenly opened his eyes and looked at him, his eyes glistening with tears: "Really? I knew it. The envoy is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Mingyue is obedient and sensible. With your guidance, she certainly won't act rashly! This old man, this old man..."

After speaking, Gu Chengming lifted his robe to bow, but Xun Feifei immediately stopped him: "There's no need for that. It's just a few words of advice. If she doesn't listen, I won't force her."

"The envoy's kindness is enough; thank you!" He bowed twice, then murmured as he slowly descended the stairs, his back growing increasingly hunched. "The state of affairs and worldly matters are beyond the control of a mere mortal like myself. My poor son, my lamentable son..."

Xun Feifei watched his retreating figure in silence for a moment.

Who is that?

With a tick, a slightly languid voice came from the water mirror. Xun Feifei immediately turned around and bowed, without looking up.

"Your Majesty, that person just now was Gu Chengming, the Prime Minister of the Human Realm."

"I thought that the human race's prime minister had long since become Ding Yi."

As soon as he finished speaking, ripples spread across the water mirror, revealing a black jade screen that gleamed with a chilling light.

On the screen, a white peacock is carved from white jade, standing atop a paulownia tree. Its head is held high, its neck is long, and its tail feathers are gilded and filigree, hanging down to the bottom of the tree. There are also bright red marks on the feathers, shaped like compound eyes, making it lifelike.

"How is it?"

The person in the mirror sat on a high seat, wearing a long white and gold robe that trailed on the ground. His waist-length snow-white hair was casually spread out, and a lotus-shaped gold bracelet on his wrist jingled as it touched the armrest.

His fingertips, resting on the armrest, tapped lightly, one tap after another, as if he were knocking on everyone's heads.

Xun Feifei replied, "The Emperor is still determined to form a marriage alliance."

"Truly cunning and treacherous, a scoundrel with many schemes." The voice was like pearls falling onto a plate, pleasant to hear, yet carrying a natural chill.

Xun Feifei frowned slightly: "The Emperor is in such a hurry, he must have something on his mind, but we still need to mediate..."

"No need. The marriage alliance is unimportant, and besides, the time is approaching. I have no time to waste on idle chatter with him."

The person in the mirror leaned back slightly, casually crossing their legs. The hem of their robe slipped down, revealing a patch of bare jade-like skin beneath, as white as solidified cream. From their ankles upwards, their muscles were all slender and beautiful.

"What trouble can the moon of Taiwu Kingdom cause? Once she arrives, we can just find a side hall to put her down. Whether she stays or leaves is up to her."

Someone spoke up: "But what if she also harbors ambitions..."

The person in the mirror turned to look at him, raising her chin slightly: "In this world, many things are decided by the capable. I have always admired those with ambition. If she can succeed, then it is because she is capable, and it is because you are incompetent, or because I am not as skilled as you. So why worry?"

Everyone bowed and said, "Yes."

Upon hearing this, Xun Feifei couldn't help but think of Gu Chengming, and felt a slight sense of relief. If this princess was truly as he said, able to keep things in mind, then her life should be safe.

He then asked, "And what about the subsequent etiquette..."

"It doesn't matter." The person in the mirror raised his hand. "Sign the alliance today and come back soon. There are more important things for you to do next."

"yes."

As the night drew to a close, the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon, and the clouds were tinged with gold. The person in the mirror slightly narrowed his eyes and said softly, "It's been a long time. The sunrise in the human world is still so pale and tasteless."

After taking their leave, the group returned to the Golden Palace and sat down.

Xun Feifei bowed and said, "Your Majesty's words are deeply moving, and your sincerity is as clear as the sun and moon. Your Majesty has thought it over and over again and feels deeply ashamed. In order to consolidate the harmony between the two realms, you have agreed to the marriage alliance. Today, I am willing to sign the contract with Your Majesty and make this a great event together."

His calm voice betrayed a hint of weariness, yet he delivered these repetitive remarks with surprising fluency.

The Emperor was not surprised. He simply raised his hand to signal to the attendant and said with a smile, "Your Majesty is very righteous. The royal seal has been affixed to the contract. Please have the envoy take a look. I hope that the two worlds will be on good terms for generations to come."

Xun Feifei took it and examined it. After confirming that it was correct, he also engraved the gold seal, thus establishing the agreement.

The grand wedding drama finally came to an end. The ministers left with varying expressions. Ding Yi did not speak, but merely glanced at Xun Feifei, raised his hand in a Taoist salute, and slowly left the hall.

Xun Feifei didn't want to stay any longer. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he left with his entourage, leaving only the Emperor and his palace attendants in the hall.

The chief eunuch leaned close to the emperor's ear and whispered, "Your Majesty, the princess is still on a hunger strike. What if she suffers a serious injury from starvation..."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor was slightly puzzled and stunned. Then, he lowered his eyes and said helplessly, "If she won't eat, then force-feed her. After all these years in the palace, doesn't the Grand Eunuch even know this?"

The chief eunuch immediately replied that he agreed, without daring to hesitate for a moment.

The Emperor rubbed his temples, looking somewhat troubled: "Mingyue is no longer a child, yet she becomes more and more ignorant as she grows older, unlike Xiaoqi."

The chief eunuch dared not comment further, and only cautiously asked, "Does Your Majesty wish to go see her?"

The Emperor turned to look at him, his eyes gentle and his expression refined: "She doesn't want to see me. The wedding is imminent, let her eat something, don't be stubborn. Isn't the status of the ruler of a realm more noble than that of a prince?"

The chief eunuch bowed and said, "Yes."

As if remembering something, the Emperor said again, "Don't let Mingyue see her anymore. Getting married isn't a big deal. If she cries every day, she'll be bothered and worried."

The chief eunuch bowed even lower: "Your Majesty, rest assured, we have done our best to keep an eye on things these past two months and have not allowed Your Highness to bother the Holy Palace Consort again."

The Emperor nodded: "That's good, bring the powder."

The palace servants immediately presented him with a makeup box. Some tidied his hair, while others skillfully and carefully applied makeup to his face. The porcelain powder concealed the fine lines around his eyes, and he still looked refined and affectionate.

He gazed at the incense powder in the box and asked the chief eunuch beside him, "Pengshan, you were there three years ago when he came to the palace to treat patients. Tell me, how do I compare to him?"

This "he" naturally refers to the demon lord who appeared like a god descending upon the palace that day.

The Emperor smiled and said, "Pengshan, you always know what I really want to hear."

The palace maid carefully put away the lip rouge, making sure there were no major flaws before daring to look in the mirror.

"Your Majesty, shall we go see the Holy Empress now?"

Shen Tu Lu glanced at the bronze mirror, and his reflection curved his lips into a smile: "Of course."

*

The snow piled up on the eaves, melting little by little into clear water that dripped onto the paving stones in the yard with a crackling sound.

Lin Feiran stepped across the floor tiles, raised his hand and knocked on the door. Qiu Tong's voice came from inside.

"They're here! They're here!"

The door opened almost instantly after she spoke, and Qiu Tong pulled her inside, peeking out to look around and make sure no one was there before closing the door.

Lin Feiran glanced at her, then turned to look around the inner room.

Layers of gauze curtains hung all around, the bed was soft, and several brightly colored dresses hung in a half-open wooden cabinet. Incense burned in the corner, creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere.

After Qiu Tong placed the protective barrier on the room, she walked up to her. Their eyes met, and she smiled, "Why are you here?"

Lin Feiran looked at her: "Didn't you ask me to come?"

When Tong Wei was leaving, she said that she had something important to tell her when she came to her house at 3:00 AM.

Qiu Tong chuckled, put her hands behind her back, and looked Lin Feiran up and down: "I thought you wouldn't come. You should hate me."

Lin Feiran looked at her: "What should I hate about you?"

Lin Feiran didn't respond to the roundabout question, but simply asked, "What exactly is the matter?"

Qiu Tong looked at her, then suddenly smiled, her eyes filled with a strange light: "Your birthday is coming soon, I'm going to give you a big gift."

After saying this, she suddenly rushed in front of Lin Feiran, her hair turning from black to red, her eyes becoming alluring, and a strange fragrance wafted over. In an instant, the image of a white fox appeared behind her, its outline clear and its presence imposing.

Qiu Tong looked at her excitedly, her dark red eyes wide: "How is it?"

Lin Feiran's eyes widened slightly at the sight of her transformation; she was indeed somewhat surprised.

The setting of "Qing Qing Zhi Wo Yi" is quite unique. The demon race is not a kind of fairy who cultivated from wild beasts into human form. They are a different kind of "human".

The demon race and the human race have similar origins, but their essence is quite different.

The difference between the fox clan and foxes is like that between humans and monkeys. Foxes can never become foxes, and foxes can never transform into foxes, because they are fundamentally different.

Compared to humans, the demon race is divided into tribes based on bloodline, can manifest their true forms, and cannot have offspring between different tribes.

Most importantly, all members of the demon race are born with spiritual veins and can cultivate the Dao, but none of them have accompanying spiritual bones, and their appearances are mostly beautiful.

Only after the gate between the human and demon realms, the Endless Sea, was accidentally opened did the two sides become aware of each other's existence.

At that time, the two races were constantly at war and harassed each other. After suffering many deaths and injuries, they gradually calmed down after closing the Endless Sea.

Even today, many sects in the human realm still hold prejudices against the demon race.

In the original novel, the reason why Qiu Tong and Wei Changzai's love story was so bumpy was also due to the discord between the two clans.

Qiu Tong's actions today clearly indicate that she is preparing to confront Lin Feiran.

She circled Lin Feiran, crossed her arms, smiled, and said with considerable pride, "Senior Sister must be quite surprised to see me like this. That's right, I'm a demon, and the most clever and cunning fox at that. King Qingping is my father, are you scared yet!"

Lin Feiran fell silent again.

Is this what a birthday surprise is like? It's neither surprising nor delightful.

I originally came here to see what she was up to, but now I'm left with nothing but endless questions.

After a long silence, Lin Feiran had to speak. She said dryly, "Ah, so you're a demon."

Now it was Qiu Tong's turn to fall silent; she felt a sense of frustration, like punching cotton.

I remember in my previous life, when Lin Feiran learned that she was a fox, she was first surprised, then overjoyed, and then she spread the word and revealed her identity as a demon to everyone.

But Lin Feiran did not expect that everyone would accept her, and even Wei Changzai was willing to let her stay in Daohe Palace to cultivate.

She couldn't help but punch the air a few times, dispelling the image of the fox licking its fur. After venting her anger, she slowly approached, her eyes filled with an inexplicable sense of pleasure.

"Not only has everything gone smoothly, but the annulment of the engagement was also done so easily and without any pain. Lin Feiran, you have lived a very comfortable first half of your life, which is truly enviable."

Born the beloved daughter of an ever-victorious general, favored by the emperor from a young age, and cared for by all officials, she went to the mountains to cultivate. Taihui Qingyu loves and protects her, her fellow disciples fear and tolerate her, and she has a blessed marriage. She doesn't need to strive in cultivation; what others desire, she can obtain effortlessly.

Lin Feiran looked at her, but did not argue. Her clear eyes gleamed faintly in the night, and she simply said, "It sounds like you know me better than Consort Wei."

As if her sore spot had been touched, Qiu Tong raised her head and shouted, "Don't mention him!"

"Lin Feiran, do you know what kind of world you live in?"

"This birthday gift took me a lot of effort to prepare, so please accept it carefully."

A note from the author:

The male lead has appeared, but not fully; this is called a brief appearance.

P.S.: This story is more of an ensemble piece; other characters will gradually appear later. Pick your favorite! (X)

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