Chapter 12 Xuanfeng's Fiancée Feihua

In the Wanzu Garden, a fairy dressed in a pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and a light green short-sleeved shirt is watering the flowers in the garden with a small water ladle.

"Flying Flower Fairy!" A jade maiden rushed over.

"Haitang, how can you be so unruly? Why are you running around?" Feihua put down the small water ladle in her hand and looked up to say.

She had a pair of slender, long eyebrows that reached her temples, peach-blossom-like eyes that slowly opened, a smooth nose, petal-like lips, and a plum blossom-shaped hairpin adorning her high, flowing bun.

Haitang lowered her head and said, "Fairy of Flying Flowers, please atone for your sins."

Then she looked up and said urgently, "Fairy Baiyan has returned from the Heavenly Palace! She brought back some news! She said... she said..."

"Mother is back? What news did she bring?" Fei Hua lowered her head and smiled, thinking of her lover.

Xuanfeng and she were already of marriageable age, but Xuanfeng had been busy with matters within the Wuji Dao, so she hadn't pressured them to marry. Now, as they both grew older and the Wuji Dao had stabilized, Fairy Baiyan finally couldn't hold back any longer and went to the Mother Goddess to seek a marriage match. The outcome remains to be seen…

"Fairy! It is said that Lord Xuanfeng has relinquished control of the Wuji Dao! Empress Yimu wants Lord Zeyuan to take over! Preparations are underway for Lord Zeyuan's investiture ceremony!"

"What?!" Feihua was shocked. "What did Mother say?"

"The fairy said... since we're preparing for the investiture ceremony, we won't join in the fun with the wedding. Anyway, Lord Xuanfeng is traveling, so there's no need to rush..." Haitang replied cautiously.

Upon hearing this, Feihua became restless and hurried towards her mother's bedroom...

"Mother!" Feihua bowed deeply to Baiyan, "My marriage to Xuanfeng..."

"Don't mention marriage again!" Bai Yan, with her robust figure, straight eyebrows, and piercing eyes, shouted sternly.

"Mother! Even if Xuanfeng doesn't take control of the Wuji Dao, it won't hinder my marriage with him!" Feihua said, her voice trembling with tears.

"Feihua, I didn't agree to you being with Xuanfeng back then. He had no backing and wasn't favored. I only agreed because he controlled the Wuji Dao! Now that he's handed over his control, all he has left are a few immortal mountains and branches. What great future does he have left!"

Bai Yan slammed her hand on the table and said, "Did I go to all this trouble to raise you just so you could become a fairy wife for some ordinary person? You can only become the Mother of Limitless by marrying a righteous Heavenly Lord! Do you understand?! Ze Yuan's investiture ceremony is in a few days, you'll be there too, and dress up beautifully!"

"Mother! I only love Xuanfeng, I don't want to be the Mother of Wuji..."

"Slap!" A slap landed on Feihua's face.

"You better show some backbone!" Bai Yan snapped. "You have to walk the broad road that's been paved for you!"

Despite Fei Hua's tearful pleas, Bai Yan remained unmoved and could only cover her face as she left Bai Yan's palace. "Xuan Feng... where are you? When are you coming to marry me?!"

...

"Immortal Tea Lord, Tide Lord has arrived," Longjing reported softly.

Xianming didn't even lift her eyelids, but simply warmed a blue teacup and placed it opposite her, gently pouring a sip of tea.

As Chao Xi entered the Never-Night Lodge, she looked at the still elegant Xian Ming and asked with a smile, "Have you recovered?"

Xianming picked up the teacup and brought it to her lips, replying coldly, "Have you recovered yet?"

After speaking, he raised his eyelids and his gaze drifted from bottom to top, finally settling on that rugged, masculine face.

Tide smiled slightly, sat down cross-legged, and said, "I am of coral form, and only one branch was injured. However..." Tide's expression changed slightly, "After this incident, I no longer wish to compromise..."

Xianming's heart trembled violently. Finally... the wait had come!

He glanced at Chao Xi with disdain, "When have you ever felt wronged, and for what reason have you tried to please everyone? You have always been the most favored attendant immortal lord, and Ze Yuan is becoming increasingly promising, about to take over the Wuji Dao. At this time, what are you complaining about?"

As he spoke, he threw his usual handkerchief at Chaoxi's face, frowning and scolding, "Don't drag me into this!"

Xianming has always eaten tea instead of food and has never eaten any other food. Her breath, body odor, and sweat all have a faint tea smell.

His handkerchief gently slid down Chaoxi's face, but the aroma of tea lingered in Chaoxi's nostrils.

Chao Xi reached out and took the handkerchief, held it to her nose, sniffed it gently, and looked up at Xian Ming's proud yet delicate face, saying, "Within this Heavenly Palace, who is truly devoted to her?"

"Aren't you one?" Xianming said with a slight smile.

“Me?” Tide took a deep breath of the tea scent emanating from her handkerchief. “I used to be…”

"In the past?" Xianming sneered. "And now?"

“Now…” Chao Xi tucked the towel into her bosom, stood up and walked behind Xian Ming, gently stroking his shoulder and sniffing his neck, “Xian Ming…you…please do it with me one more time!”

Xianming curled the corners of his lips slightly, a smug look flashing in his eyes. He turned his head, his lips meeting Chaoxi's nose. "Chaoxi, get out of here! I don't want anything that Yi's mother used!"

As Chao Xi inhaled the fragrant aroma of tea emanating from Xian Ming's face and her alluring gaze, a slow smile crept onto her lips. She pulled Xian Ming into her arms and whispered, "What Mother Yi used, I naturally won't give you. I'll give you something new!"

"Wait a minute," Xianming said softly, touching Chaoxi's nose with her finger, "Let me check first to see if it's new!"

The coral was indeed robust. Xianming tasted it with the tip of his tongue; being from the sea, it did have a slightly fishy smell. But he didn't mind and continued to savor it carefully…

Xianming, who was almost full, slowly raised her head, tears welling in her eyes, a hint of sadness on her lips, as she gazed at the tide.

"Swallow it." Tide's voice brushed past Xianming's ears.

Xianming swallowed hard and said, "Bastard..."

Tide pressed Xianming tightly beneath him, grinning wickedly as he said, "It's my turn now..."

"Huh?!" Xianming frowned, looking at Chaoxi in confusion. "How could you still do that?"

"Xianming, why do you think your mother dotes on me the most?"

"What if Mother Yi finds out?" Xianming reached her cold hand into the jade clasp of the tide.

The tidal surge intensified, "Xianming, you're even more dangerous than Mother Yi..."

Xianming smiled charmingly, wrapped her arms around Chaoxi's neck, and said softly, "When you're tired in the future, come to my place..."

Looking at Xianming's flushed face beneath him, Chaoxi exerted even more force.

...

Early in the morning, Xuanfeng and Qimen had already packed up and were ready to head to Lvshuang Peak.

"Xuanfeng, you'd better keep your word and don't forget to come pick me up!" Su Yuyao said, her hair tied up in a bun, adorned with colorful hairpins she had bought, wearing a fur coat, her little belly protruding, and pouting.

Xuanfeng nodded in agreement, "Don't worry, little girl, we'll come pick you up as soon as we're done. You'll be staying here for the next few days, so you have to follow the rules. If you disobey or cause trouble, you'll be punished!"

"Okay, I understand." Su Yuyao nodded.

Watching Xuanfeng and Qimen walk away, her reluctance was quickly replaced by unrestrained joy.

Finally, no one can control me anymore!

"White Ear! Let's go play on the snow slope!"

"Miss Yao'er, the snow slope is very dangerous! It would be terrible if you fell off the cliff!"

"White Ear! Let's skip the snow slope and go play on the mountaintop instead!"

"Miss Yao'er, the mountaintop is a restricted area! You can't just go there casually!"

"What are all those houses on the mountain for? Show me around!"

"Miss Yao'er, those are meditation rooms, where we learn and practice meditation!"

"Then forget it! How about we go take a stroll around Huangshang City? My carriage is downstairs, we can ride there!"

"Miss Yao'er! You're not allowed to go down the mountain without permission!"

Su Yuyao sat at the entrance of the courtyard and asked, "So what do you usually do?"

“We have to do the work! We do all the work in the entire Binglun Palace! We clean, take care of the vegetable garden, and most importantly, we have to go to the Jade Plate Hall on the mountaintop every day to polish the jade plate!”

Why polish the jade plate?

"That jade plate reflects the moon in the Wuji Dao, so there can be no mistakes. It must be kept bright and clean! Otherwise, it will cause disaster!"

"What exactly is the Dao of Limitless?" Su Yuyao asked, puzzled. "Xuanfeng is very disappointed that he no longer has the Dao of Limitless..."

"The Wuji Dao contains all the origins of the world! Each origin of the world is a world! And the Daoist Heavenly Lord is responsible for the normal operation of these worlds! This jade plate is responsible for the tidal changes of these worlds."

"The Heavenly Lord of the Way? Shiyuan? I don't quite understand... but it sounds like the Heavenly Lord of the Way has a lot of power!"

"Of course! The Mother of Limitless and the Heavenly Lord of the Way, one Yin and one Yang, govern all the origins of the world! However..." White Ear said embarrassedly, "I don't know the specifics. I fell asleep during class..."

"Hahahaha," Su Yuyao laughed, "I didn't expect that someone as well-behaved as you would fall asleep in class?!"

"Miss Yao'er!" An old nanny slowly approached.

Upon seeing this, Bai'er immediately stood up straight, curtsied, and greeted, "Greetings, Granny Su'e!"

"Granny Su'e?" Su Yuyao looked up at the stern-faced old woman. "Who is she?"

Bai Er hurriedly pulled Su Yuyao up and said softly, "Miss Yao'er, this is Su'e, the head instructor of Binglun Palace. Please greet her!"

Su Yuyao was swaying as Bai Er pulled her up. Just as she was about to greet her, Su'e said, "Miss Yao'er, Her Majesty has ordered that this old servant lead you there for quiet meditation. Please follow this old servant..."

"What?!" Su Yuyao shook her head repeatedly and said, "Xuanfeng didn't tell me to go into seclusion when he left! I'm not going!"

Upon hearing this, Granny Su'e's eyes widened slightly. "Miss Yao'er, if you do not wish to participate in the Her Highness's meditation retreat, please explain this to Her Highness in person."

"Ah?!" Su Yuyao's carefree joy just now turned into reluctance to part with Xuanfeng. At least, Xuanfeng did not force her to meditate.

She hesitated and staggered, reluctantly following Granny Su'e into a simple and elegant palace gate. She looked up at the plaque above the main hall: Wujiu Hall.

"Your Majesty," Su'e announced softly as she stood before the palace gate, "Miss Yao'er has arrived."

"Come in."

Su Yuyao pouted and followed behind Granny Su'e into the Wujiu Palace.

In the very center of the main hall is a portrait of Fuxi, the ancient creator god, flanked by the Bagua diagram.

Qingyue sat cross-legged in the center of the main hall with her eyes closed, and said softly, "Yao'er, sit down."

Su Yuyao sat down cross-legged, mimicking Qingyue's posture, "Your Majesty... I..."

"Don't speak, close your eyes, and empty your mind."

"Oh..." Su Yuyao didn't dare to resist, so she closed her eyes.

"Yao'er, adjust your breathing, breathe deeply and gently, focus your energy in your dantian, introspect and reflect on yourself..."

Su Yuyao closed her eyes, listening to Qingyue's flat voice, "Breathing...inside..."

Thump!

Qingyue opened her eyes in confusion and looked behind her, only to see Su Yuyao lying on the ground, fast asleep.

"That girl!" Qingyue frowned.

Su'e quickly stepped forward to help Su Yuyao up, "Miss Yao'er! Why are you asleep here?"

Su Yuyao rubbed her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, I'm really not suited for meditation..."

"Yao'er, if you want to be of help, you must learn a lot. Although Xuanfeng doesn't need you right now, you still need to be fully prepared," Qingyue said softly.

“But… he didn’t say… that I should study…” Su Yuyao said cautiously, glancing at Qingyue’s expression.

"So he told you to disregard etiquette?"

"Not really..."

"Then why do you behave so unruly?"

"I……"

"These next few days, you should stay here and meditate, first and foremost, calm your mind!"

"Ah?! Your Majesty... please spare me..."

Hey... Xuanfeng! Come pick me up quickly!