Yu Yanli's eyes had gone very wide and round. "So your Highness is saying I'm going to become a god?"
"Not...necessarily..." said Xie Lian, with an awkward smile, as he let go of her hand.
She giggled, her voice higher than Shi Qingxuan was used to. "I know, I was just being silly. But it's so flattering to think that my cultivation was worthy of the attention of an actual God." She smiled shyly at Xie Lian. "Does your Highness wish for me to become an acolyte? I don't know much about collecting scrap, but I would be honoured to-"
"No," said Hua Cheng, before Xie Lian had to try and come up with a tactful answer. "He's here to make sure you don't go into Qi deviation and start a killing spree."
"What?" said Yu Yanli, her face falling. "Ol' Feng is that...you said I was doing well!"
"You are, you are!" said Shi Qingxuan. "Very well! That's why I called for his Highness- you need a proper teacher. Any powerful cultivator has to watch out for Qi deviation, and a good teacher will help them learn how to avoid it." They frowned at Hua Cheng. "There's no need for you to be concerned, Crimson Rain Sought Flower here is just tactless."
Shi Qingxuan contacted Xie Lian privately. "She isn't going to go into Qi deviation is she?"
"No, no," sent back Xie Lian. "She's remarkably centred, actually. She reminds me of rogue cultivators I've met in the past, I wouldn't be surprised if she was heading towards a spiritual breakthrough even without your intervention."
"Oh!" said Shi Qingxuan. "So I didn't do her any harm after all!'
Xie Lian's smile got a little thinner. "That doesn't make you teaching cultivation without proper training any less negligent," he sent, his polite tone never wavering. "If she had gone into deviation, her blood would have been on your hands."
"Um. Right," sent back Shi Qingxuan. "I won't be doing that again haha..."
"So you're here to teach me, Your Highness?" Yu Yanli smiled at Xie Lian, and moved closer. "I think I would like being taught by someone as wise and handsome as you." Was she flirting with him? Shi Qingxuan could dimly see how someone might find Xie Lian attractive, but if Yu Yanli didn't want to get turned into butterfly food she should probably tone it down in front of Hua Cheng.
"I'm here to help you decide what you want to do next," said Xie Lian. "And if you decide you want a teacher, to help you find one."
"Is there any reason I wouldn't want a teacher?" she said. "It sounds like I need one."
"A life of cultivation requires dedication and hard work," said Xie Lian, "If you decided not to pursue that path, there are other ways your spiritual power could be dealt with."
"I can do dedication and hard work," said Yu Yanli, with the faintest hint of bitterness in her tone.
"Well then," said Xie Lian. "What do you want to focus on: Martial arts? Divination? Talismans? There are many styles of cultivation, all with their own strengths and weaknesses."
"Hmm. Unfortunately I don't know much about cultivation...What style of cultivation do you follow, Your Highness?"
"Oh, you don't want that," said Shi Qingxuan. "It requires celibacy, haha."
"Really?" Yu Yanli gave Xie Lian a baffled look. Yeah, Shi Qingxuan couldn't imagine choosing that kind of path either, but it took all sorts.
"Uh..." said Xie Lian, blushing.
"Gege has been investigating other styles of cultivation," said Hua Cheng, with a smug smile.
Xie Lian coughed, his face going red.
"Oooh," said Yu Yanli. "Like that is it?"
"Yes," said Hua Cheng, putting his arm possessively around Xie Lian and giving Yu Yanli a significant look. She smiled back at him and moved a little further away from Xie Lian.
"When it comes to, uh, cultivation styles," said Xie Lian, cheeks still a little pink, "I've always placed a large focus on martial ability. I get the feeling that's not something you're especially interested in?"
"I wouldn't mind being better at defending myself," she said. "But you're right, Your Highness, that's not my top priority. I originally just wanted to be a more successful courtesan, but knowing I have the potential to develop real power...perhaps I was thinking too small." She frowned. "But all one ever hears of cultivators is how good they are at fighting and battles, as if that's the only thing that- oh!" She clapped her hand against her chest. "What style of cultivation does Jian Lan use?"
"You've heard of Jian Lan?" said Xie Lian in surprise.
"The ghostly courtesan who married a god?" said Yu Yanli. "Of course! All of us courtesans look up to her."
"Really?" said Xie Lian. "Oh, that's nice. I'll have to tell her if I see her again."
"You've met Jian Lan?" said Yu Yanli, far more excited than she had been at the idea of meeting Xie Lian and Hua Cheng. "What's she like?"
"Determined," said Xie Lian. "And a very loving mother."
Even though her son's a murderous little goblin, thought Shi Qingxuan, darkly. But maybe that just made her more admirable for standing by him. Shi Qingxuan had always found Jian Lan pretty grotesque, but it was love for her child that had turned her into a monster. Just like He Xuan's love for his family, and Shi Qingxuan's brother's love for Shi Qingxuan. It was a dangerous thing, love.
"Aww, how sweet," said Yu Yanli, who'd clearly never met the foetus spirit in person. "It's a difficult life for women in my profession who choose to keep their children. And to do it for centuries...I've heard her son is still a baby after all this time, will he ever grow up?"
"If he wants to," said Xie Lian. "But I think he likes being looked after. And she likes looking after him, so...I guess they're both happy, in a way."
"I suppose..." said Yu Yanli.
"As for what cultivation style would suit you...Shi Qingxuan says you're a dancer? There's actually a cultivation school in the capital which focusses on music and spiritual movement, and they have a lot of female disciples."
"Most of whom are pampered noblewomen with no talent," said Hua Cheng.
"Um...yes," said Xie Lian. "But the teachers know what they're doing. It might be as good place to start, at least, while you consider your options, and learn the basics of spiritual control."
"I can pass as a pampered noblewoman," said Yu Yanli. "It's like being a courtesan, except your husband is your only client."
"Probably don't say that to them..." said Xie Lian.
"If you insist, Your Highness," she said with a laugh. "But yes, that sounds perfect. Thank you. And perhaps some will be the wives or daughters of politicians...has Shi Qingxuan told you about our petition to the Bureau of Granaries to get free rice for the hungry?"
"But we don't need help with that, it was approved!" said Shi Qingxuan. "Well, approved to be discussed to be shortlisted."
"You know, kid," said Yu Yanli, "For someone so old, you can be awfully naive. They just said that to shut you up."
"Hey!" said Shi Qingxuan. "That's not..."
"Mmm," said Xie Lian. "Sorry, Shi Qingxuan. I've been meaning to talk to you about it."
What?
"I don't like to interfere with politics directly," he continued, "but I asked San Lang to investigate, and he said the higher ups blocked your proposal. I was hoping the situation might yield to gentle persuasion but so far we haven't had any luck."
"Oh," said Shi Qingxuan, sadly. "Thanks for trying."
"I can offer no excuse for my failure, gege," said Hua Cheng.
"You tried your best," said Xie Lian. "That's all anyone can ask for. It's not like my attempts to help the common people have generally gone any better..." He sighed. "But we have to keep trying anyway. I appreciate your efforts, Shi Qingxuan and Yu Yanli, and am sorry I couldn't do more."
"Thank you, Your Highness," said Yu Yanli. "But um..." She looked down shyly. "No, never mind."
"Go ahead," said Xie Lian, gently.
"I don't mean to speak out of turn," she said, "But couldn't your Highness simply kill these higher ups?"
Shi Qingxuan coughed.
"I did offer," said Hua Cheng. "But gege said I shouldn't."
"Why are you all jumping to murder?" said Shi Qingxuan. "Haven't you people heard of bribes?"
"Not every problem can be solved with bloodshed," said Xie Lian, shaking his head ruefully. "Nor with money."
"Money solves most problems," said Shi Qingxuan. "If you have enough of it."
"The same can be said of bloodshed," said Hua Cheng, cheerfully. "But there are always exceptions. And gege is right that this is one of them. My subordinate did try bribes, naturally, but that only got him so far."
"Yes," said Xie Lian. "It isn't a simple matter of removing a single road-block. There are many people in the capital who would prefer to keep the poor hungry- not just penny-pinching government clerks, but rice merchants afraid of a weaker market, those who hate the poor on principle, even charities who see it as competition." He shrugged sadly. "Even if we forced the policy through, if it's too unpopular, it'll never stick."
"It wouldn't be unpopular with the people getting rice," muttered Yu Yanli. "But nobody with power cares about what we think." She took a deep breath, and put a smile on her face. "Except your Highness and Crimson Rain Sought Flower, of course! I know it's not much, but I will make sure to offer incense to both of your shrines whenever I am able."
"Considering all the favours he's been doing for you," said Hue Cheng, "You beggars should build a full shrine to gege. There's room in that temple of yours."
"Oh," said Yu Yanli. "Isn't a lone statue bad luck? We should have one to you as well. And, um, we can't really afford to build them so..."
"Fine," said Hua Cheng. "I'll have them installed. But you have to keep them nice."
"What," said Shi Qingxuan, feeling a little dizzy at how quickly the conversation had shifted. "In my temple? The temple to me?" And to their brother, but whether due to loyalty to He Xuan or personal preference, Hua Cheng had always seemed to hate Shi Wudu even more than he did the other gods.
"You're not a god any more," said Hua Cheng. "What's the problem?"
"Well neither are you!"
"San Lang, stop teasing Shi Qingxuan," said Xie Lian, laughing.
"Put statues to us outside, then," said Hua Cheng, undaunted, and not acting like he was joking at all. "It's my money feeding you all, I think a little respect for my god isn't too much to ask."
"It's He Xuan's money," said Shi Qingxuan. "Mostly."
"Which is my money," said Hua Cheng, "Or should be." He smirked. "Anyway, if you want to build a statue to him too, go ahead."
Shi Qingxuan could only imagine He Xuan's reaction to that.
"Hmm," said Yu Yanli. "So we'll need one for Black Water Sinking Ships, one for General Pei Ming..."
"What," said Shi Qingxuan. Over their dead body!
"...not to mention Xuan Zhen and Nan Yang," she continued. "We have so many generous benefactors to offer thanks to! Our courtyard will become quite crowded!"
Hua Cheng stared at her for a moment and then let out a short laugh. "Yes, crowded indeed."
"I think a prayer at one of our existing shrines would be more than enough," said Xie Lian. "Don't you agree, San Lang?"
"Gege is right, as always," he said.
"I can't believe you wanted to install a statue to Pei Ming," pouted Shi Qingxuan. "Haven't I ranted to you about how much he sucks?"
They grumpily dug their fingers into the pomelo they were peeling, and were rewarded with a squirt of juice in the face. Xie Lian had brought a box from Hua Cheng's new orchard, and they were very juicy. For a moment Shi Qingxuan wondered if He Xuan had done some sort of weird ghost magic on them...but it was probably a bit late at this point to worry about eating mysterious food procured by Ghost Kings.
"Yes," said Yu Yanli. "And you also mentioned that Crimson Rain Sought Flower despises him as much as you do. Just like he does Xuan Zhen and Nan Yang."
"...well, yes," said Shi Qingxuan, wiping their face. "I mean, he hates a lot of people. But he does hate them especially."
"So much he'd sacrifice having a shrine to his beloved Xie Lian if it meant spiting the two of them, hmm?"
"I supp- Oh. You did that on purpose?!"
She winked. Shi Qingxuan was used to all the other beggars ignoring their rants about the gods, they hadn't realised anyone was actually paying attention.
"Wow. That's pretty sneaky."
"Getting men to do what I want is kind of my job," she said. "Never done it with a Ghost King or a God before, but turns out they're the same as everyone else."
"Ha ha," said Shi Qingxuan. "I guess so. Though those two particular men might be more of a challenge than most..." They took a bite of fruit. It didn't taste obviously ghostly. But He Xuan would never be obvious about that sort of thing. "That reminds me," they said. "I get the feeling you took a shine to his Highness, but... you should know that he and Crimson Rain Sought Flower are married."
"Yeah," said Yu Yanli. "I'd heard rumours, and there was no doubt once I saw them together. But it was worth a shot. I don't meet a God every day."
"Hey!" said Shi Qingxuan. Not that they wanted her to flirt with them, but it was the principle of the thing.
Yu Yanli rolled her eyes. "You're an ex-god. Which is better than nothing, but really not the same. And Xie Lian might be married to a man, but you're a fruitier cut-sleeve than the guys I know who suck cock for a living."
"I beg your pardon?" said Shi Qingxuan. Not that they were offended, exactly, but it was hardly an accurate description.
"Come on," she said. "Even asides from your whole..." she waved her hand over Shi Qingxuan, "...vibe, I've seen you turn down every girl who's made a pass. And there's been a few! Meanwhile, you're sleeping with Sha Lizhong, and making eyes at that 'ghost lady' who's actually a guy."
"What," said Shi Qingxuan, now genuinely horrified. They looked at He Xuan with nothing but platonic friendliness, and occasionally annoyance! And they slept next to him for entirely practical reasons! And also he'd killed Shi Qingxuan's brother, so the idea of being interested in him that way was obscene. "I...I generally prefer women, actually! If you must know! I prefer women so much I like being one sometimes!" Which was true, if not the actual reason why the thought of being interested in He Xuan made Shi Qingxuan's stomach hurt, even beyond the painful reminder of their lost friendship with Ming Yi.
"Huh," said Yu Yanli. "So you like women, huh? Me too." She gave them a flirtatious wink, and they were mostly sure she was teasing but just...no.
"Women my own age," they said, firmly.
"Twenty or two hundred?" Shi Qingxuan would guess Yu Yanli to be around a decade older than the thirty-something she claimed to be. Luckily she didn't seem too upset at the rejection.
"Two hundred, ew." They weren't Pei Ming. "Maybe as low as a hundred and fifty, if they're especially mature for their age."
"Guess that makes sense," she said. "But you're not gonna meet a lot of ladies that mature down here with us mortals."
"Tell me about it," said Shi Qingxuan, with a dry laugh. "But I never bothered much with that sort of thing anyway."
She nodded. "Yeah, I-"
"Wait," interrupted Shi Qingxuan, as their brain finished processing what she'd said before. "Did you just call me twenty? Do I look that old?!" They pulled at their face in horror.
Yu Yanli frowned at them for a moment, and then snickered. "Don't worry kid. No-one's gonna mistake you for being too mature."