Chapter 25
Fenghuang Tangyue closed his eyes against the sight of Nua's misery. She had lost weight since he had seen her last. Her face was gaunt. She had definitely been ill. This was not artifice from the Grandmother.
"Did I do that to her?" he wondered internally. He felt a sense of guilt weighing him down, pushing him back into his chair.
He wanted more than anything to be by her side. He would nurse her, if she was sick. But her Grandmother was there, always. He couldn't say anything about what he felt. Her sharp eyes would notice the slightest misstep. He was afraid to even make eye contact with Nua when the Grandmother was around. Surely she would be able to read his thoughts in his face?
Tangyue pounded his leg with his fist in frustration. He really did not know what to do. With Nua being ill like this, she was being watched like a hawk. There was no way to get her alone. There was also no way her parents would entertain a marriage proposal at this time. He was stuck for ideas.
He heard his Father's voice coming from inside the palace, and his ears perked up.
"How soon can we do this?" Father asked.
"I know you are anxious to return home" laughed the Emperor. "I have an official audience set for this afternoon. Would you like to do it then?" he asked.
"Yes, that would be good" Father replied.
"Here's the man in question!" The Emperor said as he walked outside the door.
Tangyue looked around, but he was the only person here. The Emperor sat down in the chair that Nua had vacated earlier.
"Your Father tells me that he is tired of his duties as Fire Immortal. He wants to unburden himself of this title, and lay the mantle on someone he trusts" the Emperor said to Tangyue with raised eyebrows.
Tangyue looked up at his Father in confusion.
"You mean... me?" he asked hesitantly.
Father put his hand on Tangyue's shoulder.
"I do mean you" Father admitted.
The Emperor smiled at the both of them.
"I'm happy to do this for you, Xu Feng" said the Emperor, "but I'm also concerned that I may never see you again. I won't have any excuse to summon you to the Heavenly Realm" he complained.
"Get my son to do it" Father replied. "I would fall under his jurisdiction when he becomes Fire Immortal."
The Emperor laughed and nodded. Then he looked at Tangyue with a kindly expression.
"Meet me in the audience hall of the Empyrean Cloud Palace this afternoon. You might want to wear something formal. This is a big day for you, Nephew! I'm proud of you" the Emperor told him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty" Tangyue replied, still reeling.
He got up from his chair and left the palace in a daze. So this is why Father wanted to come back with him. He hadn't expected that at all. He nursed a slight hope that this could help his chances of getting a marriage proposal through.