Chapter 91 [VIP]
Chapter Summary: A Petition for the Emperor.
Yu Jing hesitated for a moment, and just as she was standing there, Xie Xuan had already started walking forward. Yu Jing followed Xie Xuan's steps, but her heart was pounding with anxiety. To serve at the hot springs... wouldn't that mean...?
Just then, she bumped into something, and the pain brought tears to Yu Jing's eyes. Xie Xuan turned around, bowed slightly, and looked at her earnestly: "Did it hurt?"
"I'm fine," Yu Jing replied, touching her forehead. Looking up, her eyes were met with that incomparably handsome face, his breath mingling with hers. Yu Jing's eyelashes trembled slightly, concealing the emotion in her eyes.
"Let's go then." Just then, Xie Xuan raised his hand and patted Yu Jing's head. This sudden intimacy left Yu Jing somewhat at a loss.
The water in the hot spring was always warm, with wisps of steam rising from it. Yu Jing followed Xie Xuan past the screen and into the room. Xie Xuan stopped by the shelf, not calling out to Yu Jing, but slowly and methodically undressing himself.
"What does Fairy Yu Jing think of me?"
Yu Jing pondered for a moment, then looked at Xie Xuan and asked, "What does Your Majesty mean?"
"What does Fairy Yu Jing think it is? Just say it." Xie Xuan threw the question back to Yu Jing.
"Your Majesty, you are handsome and humble. Now that you have ascended to the rank of High God and hold the position of Heavenly Lord, you are naturally impeccable." Yu Jing thought for a moment and said the most foolproof thing to say. And indeed, it was the truth.
Xie Xuan had already taken off his outer robe, and although his light blue inner garment was plain, it somehow exuded an air of nobility.
"Isn't Fairy Yu Jing going to take it off?" Xie Xuan asked, looking at Yu Jing through the hazy mist.
"Huh?" Yu Jing looked at Xie Xuan with surprise, and stammered, "Little Immortal, weren't you here to serve?"
With a wave of his hand, Xie Xuan divided the hot spring into two, with a landscape screen placed between them. Yu Jing glanced at it, then turned to Xie Xuan and squinted, saying, "Your Majesty is too kind. This humble immortal need not."
"Does that fairy want to watch me soak? I don't mind." Xie Xuan looked at Yu Jing with a smile in his eyes.
"Then... Little Fairy, why don't you go for a soak too?" Yu Jing agreed, feeling that Xie Xuan was acting a bit strange. He was much more unrestrained than when he had Su.
Yu Jing turned and went behind the screen. Before taking off her clothes, she took a closer look at the screen. To be fair, the hot spring in Yuqing Palace was indeed more comfortable than that in Zhelan Palace; Yu Jing felt warm and soft all over after soaking in it. However, her current mood was quite complicated. Although there was a screen separating them, the sound of the water on the other side was undeniable. Thinking about what she had been thinking about during the day, Yu Jing's face flushed bright red.
The sound of water gradually grew louder, followed by the sound of footsteps on the wet floor.
"The clean clothes are already on the stage. I'll head out now," Xie Xuan's voice drifted in through the screen. The person opposite seemed to be standing there, waiting for his reply.
"Oh, okay," Yu Jing replied, waiting for the door to close before standing up. Through the hazy mist, she glanced at the clothes on the table. The clothes on the table looked like the gilded light cloud satin she had seen during the day—saurus woven by the Weaver Girl, highly sought after in Heaven. Yu Jing hadn't chosen this during the day because she felt the satin was too precious. But the Water Flower Vermilion she had just changed out of was wet, so she had no choice but to wear this now.
The fabric of this outfit was even softer than Shuihua Zhu's. Yu Jing's hair was still a little damp, but thinking that she would be set up soon anyway, she didn't put her hair up in a bun and let it fall loose behind her. After leaving the hot spring, a night breeze blew by, and Yu Jing felt very comfortable, so she slowly walked towards her bedchamber.
When she returned to her bedchamber, Mu Qing was waiting at the door. Seeing that Yu Jing had changed her clothes and her hair was loose, she quickly bowed her head and called out, "Fairy Yu Jing."
Actually, when Xie Xuan treated Yu Jing differently, Mu Qing had a rough idea that Xie Xuan still harbored feelings for Yu Jing. After all, he had seen how the Heavenly Emperor looked when he returned. He just couldn't understand why, even though the Heavenly Emperor had drunk the immortal water, he…
However, none of that matters now. What matters is that, given the current situation, Yu Jing is very likely to become the Heavenly Consort.
"Is His Majesty inside?" Yu Jing asked Mu Qing in a low voice.
"Yes." Mu Qing said, opening the door for Yu Jing. "Please come in, Fairy Yu Jing."
Yu Jing slowly walked in and saw Xie Xuan sitting at his desk. His hair was not tied up, and he was wearing a dark, gold-embroidered satin dress, which seemed to be the same as hers, only the color was different. Perhaps he heard the noise, Xie Xuan looked up at her, and when he saw her appearance, he was clearly taken aback.
This outfit suits her perfectly. It makes her look innocent, radiant, gentle, and with a touch of elegance and nobility.
"What's wrong?" Yu Jing saw Xie Xuan pause for a moment, then looked her up and down suspiciously.
"You look beautiful in this outfit," Xie Xuan said to her without any attempt to hide his admiration.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Yu Jing replied hesitantly, somewhat embarrassed.
"Just now, I actually had some questions left to ask." Xie Xuan said, standing up from his seat and walking to Yu Jing.
Seeing Xie Xuan's serious expression, Yu Jing also became nervous: "Your Majesty, what do you want to ask?"
"Since Fairy Yu Jing finds me impeccable, does the fairy like me?"
Yu Jing's mind was completely blank at this moment, and she stared blankly at Xie Xuan: "Why...why would Your Majesty ask such a question?"
"Because I am captivated by the fairy." Xie Xuan smiled and looked at Yu Jing. Perhaps it was because the luminous pearl behind him was too bright, but Xie Xuan's gaze was intense, just like when he was the young general Xie in the mortal world.
Before Yu Jing could process what was happening, Xie Xuan's voice rang in her ears: "My love for you has nothing to do with whether you are married or not, nor with whether you hold a high position. But because of our status, even though I love you, I cannot marry you with the traditional rites and grand ceremony."
"I can do it now. Three letters and six rites, a grand sedan chair carried by eight men, a proper marriage."
Her throat felt as if something was choking her; her nose stung, and a strange sense of grievance welled up from the depths of her heart. All her previous doubts were now answered. But her feelings were indescribable.
Xie Xuanyuan wanted to say something, but when he saw Yu Jing's eyes turn red instantly, he panicked.
Yu Jing's eyes were red and filled with tears, but her expression was one of relief.
Xie Xuan also felt his throat tighten, but in the end he still gently called out to Yu Jing: "Yu Jing".
"Liar." Yu Jing walked up to Xie Xuan and punched him in the chest. "You clearly remember everything, why did you lie to me?"
"I'm afraid you like Xie Xuan, not me," Xie Xuan explained, somewhat helplessly and excitedly.
"Aren't you Xie Xuan?" Yu Jing asked, stunned. If Xie Xuan had drunk the immortal water of Laozi, Yu Jing would have felt that Xie Xuan and the Lord were different. But Xie Xuan hadn't drunk it, and he clearly remembered all their past. Just like her. She wasn't Sheng Hua, but she had truly experienced it all; those loves, guilt, and longings were real.
"It was my fault, but I understand now," Xie Xuan said apologetically.
Looking at Xie Xuan, Yu Jing felt a surge of guilt, longing, and love that had been suppressed within her.
When her hot, soft lips pressed against Xie Xuan's, he looked down in surprise. Yu Jing's eyes were closed, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, trembling slightly. Xie Xuan reached out and embraced Yu Jing, pressing the back of her head to deepen the kiss.
Confined by morality, etiquette, and human relationships in the mortal world, unable to love passionately, at this moment, the suppressed pain and love in Xie Xuan's heart were also stirred up by Yu Jing's kiss.
When Laozi handed over the immortal water, Xie Xuan hesitated. If he chose to remember her, he would have to endure some pain: the pain of separation from loved ones, unrequited love, and the loss of family. Although those things were in the past, they still caused him excruciating pain whenever he thought of them. But he hesitated for only a moment before making up his mind. He would take advantage of their inattention and switch Laozi's immortal water with hers.
Their kiss was not just an intertwining of desire, but also carried pain, longing, and the joy of a long-awaited reunion.
The atmosphere inside the hall gradually became enchanting. When Xie Xuan picked Yu Jing up, she felt a sudden emptiness beneath her. Xie Xuan carried Yu Jing to the couch, where her jet-black hair spread out on the snow-white, cloud-patterned soft couch. The stark contrast of black and white stimulated the senses.
Just as Xie Xuan was about to kiss Yu Jing again, Mu Qing's voice came from outside the door.
"Your Majesty, the Goddess Zelan requests an audience."
Xie Xuan glanced at the doorway, about to ignore it, but then he thought that Yu Jing was a member of the Zhelan Palace. If he wanted to marry Yu Jing, according to etiquette, he would have to ask Zhelan's opinion first.
Upon hearing Zhelan's name, Yu Jing instantly snapped out of her daze. Seeing Xie Xuan leaning closer, her face flushed crimson. Xie Xuan turned around and saw Yu Jing covering her face.
Finding it adorable, she couldn't help but tease, "You and I have done everything in the mortal realm, why are you still so shy?"
Yu Jing looked at Xie Xuan's reddened ear tips, reached out and touched them; they were burning hot.
Xie Xuan lowered his eyes and couldn't help but go over and kiss her.
"Your Majesty," Mu Qing's voice rang out again.
Xie Xuan and Yu Jing got up and straightened their clothes. Although it seemed that she and Xie Xuan hadn't done anything, the scene really made it look like Zhe Lan had come to catch them in the act. Xie Xuan pushed open the door and went out. Zhe Lan was standing outside the palace gate. Seeing Yu Jing following behind Xie Xuan, she spoke without any politeness: "Your Majesty."
“I only spent a few days traveling in the East Sea, and upon my return, I heard that Yu Jing had been summoned by the Emperor to the Taiwei Yuqing Palace to serve as an attendant. I came to inquire about the reason, for the people of my Ze Lan Palace are not to be ordered around by just anyone.” Ze Lan’s words were sharp, yet he spoke slowly, each word deliberate. Yu Jing, standing behind Xie Xuan, knew from Ze Lan’s expression that he was truly angry. Ze Lan was usually easygoing; from childhood to adulthood, Yu Jing could count on one hand the number of times she had seen him become agitated.
Just as Yu Jing was about to speak up to explain, she heard Xie Xuan's voice from the side.
"Your Majesty, I wish to ask for the hand in marriage with Fairy Yu Jing."
Upon hearing this, not only Zhelan, but even Mu Qing standing beside her looked at Xie Xuan in surprise. He knew Xie Xuan liked Yu Jing, but to make her Empress was something he never expected.
[Author's Note]
There should be one or two more chapters until the end. Next will be the side stories about Qi Jin and Xie Ying. Thank you all for your collections, subscriptions, comments, nutrient solutions, and thunderbolts!!! Thank you so much!!!
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