"Fifth Sister, are you going to come back with me today?" Bai Li asked as they walked towards Mo Yuan's cave. For the last 300 years she had been staying within Ten Mile Peach Tree Woods. The only times she left was when she went to visit Qian Qian, usually in Yanhua Cave. "I saved us some of Zhe Yan's best peach wine." Drinking wine on birthdays was a tradition, at least for the younger of the three Bai children. "Don't I always." Bai Qian playfully bumped her shoulder against her sisters.
The two high goddesses were surprised to find Migu and Feng Jiu in the cave. "What are you guys doing?" Bai Qian asked as they slowly approached the two. Migu and Feng Jiu jumped up in surprise. Feng Jiu had hoped that her aunt's wouldn't visit Mo Yuan for at least another day or two. "What trouble are you two up to?" Bai Li asked, eyeing her niece more so than the tree spirit. Feng Jiu was much like Bai Qian when she was younger, prone to causing havoc. "I..I borrowed a lamp from the celestial palace. I wanted to help you restore Mo Yuan's soul."
Bai Qian looked over at the lamp. "What is it?" Feng Jiu didn't look at her aunts when she replied. "Soul-gathering Lamp." Bai Li's eyes snapped to the flickering lamp on the table. "That's the Celestial Tribe's sacred item. How did you get it? And do not say you just borrowed it." Bai Li spoke sternly to her cowering niece. "I took on Consort Su Jin's appearance and stole it from Zichen Palace." Feng Jiu said honestly. Her aunts could be very terrifying when mad. "Stole it?" Bai Qian exclaimed, her tone a mix of shock, disappointment and anger. "What were you thinking?" Bai Li spoke next, her eyes narrowed on her niece. "Aunts, I heard that the Celestial Palace had a lamp that saved the crown prince when he was unconscious. So I brought it here so you could save Mo Yuan."
"Kneel now." Bai Li demanded watching as the two troublemakers did as she asked. "You are part of Qing Qiu's Royal family. Your behavior reflects on all of Qing Qiu." Bai Qian stepped up beside her sister, her expression was not quite as harsh. "Haven't I taught you? If your father finds out, how could I explain this to him?" Feng Jiu looked down in shame. "Aunts, I was wrong." She apologized. "Since you know you were wrong, what are you going to do?" Bai Li asked her kneeling niece. "I'll offer a humble apology. I'll take responsibility for my wrongdoing." Feng Jiu looked up to watch her aunts. Finally, Bai Li sighed. "Then go and apologize." Bai Li turned to walk over to a small rock formation that she could easily sit on. "You're scared?" Bai Qian asked, seeing her niece's hesitation. "I'm not scared. It's just that it wasn't easy for me to get the lamp. Aunt, shouldn't we give it a try?"
"It wouldn't help. You need a piece of his soul in order for the lamp to bring the other parts together." Bai Li said staring at Mo Yuan, her eyes only moving when she saw her sister knelt by his body. Bai Qian too knew about the lamp and that it wouldn't help. "For the past 70,000 years, although Master's body is here we don't know where his soul is. So the lamp is useless."
"You really don't want to give it a try?" Feng Jiu asked again. Bai Li noticed how her sister continued to stare at Mo Yuan. The glimmer of hope that she had three hundred years ago was slowly fading. "Go and return it." Migu packed up the lamp and gave it to Feng Jiu. Bai Li waited until they both left before speaking. "He will return Qian Qian." Bai Qian ran a finger down Mo Yuan's face. "How can you be so sure?" Bai Li sighed and moved over to her sister. "Because he said he would. Mo Yuan doesn't lie, remember." Bai Qian smiled remembering when Master gave her the Jade Purity Fan of Kunlun. She nodded her head and made a small sound in affirmation while wiping the tears from her eyes.
There was a moment of silence for a bit before Bai Qian finally spoke. "Don't you think you were a little harsh? This is why our Little Fox likes me more than you." Bai Li let out a disbelieving laugh. "No, she likes you more because you spoil her. Besides, I already have a troublesome sister. I can't deal with a troublesome niece." Bai Li laughed when her sister playfully hit her. Although she didn't say it, her sister had become less troublesome. If only she would take on some of the duties she was supposed to do as a Queen of Qing Qiu instead of passing them off to her.
Sure enough, Bai Li spent most of the evening going over the paperwork her sister neglected. "Is there any way I can avoid going to the banquet at the Eastern Sea?" she overheard her sister ask Migu from the other side of the room. "You can't. A debt must be repaid. A favor must of course be returned with a favor. No matter how capable you are, the debt still needs to be repaid." Migu had a pouty and exasperated tone when he spoke.
"You're acting weird today. Who has provoked you?" Bai Qian asked the tree spirit. Bai Li walked over to the two, having finally finished the paperwork. "Maybe it has to do with having a mistress who makes him tend to things she should be doing." She decided just to stand by her sister rather than sit since she had been sitting for the last few hours. Bai Qian just waved her sister off before turning her attention back to the tree spirit. "Where is my luminous pearl?"
Migu was apparently more frazzled that Bai Li had initially thought if his behavior was any indication. "You should change. We will be leaving shortly." Bai Qian spoke up pulling Bai Li from her thoughts. "We?" Bai Li looked at her sister in confusion. "To the banquet. If I have to go, then you have to go and keep me company." Qian Qian continued to sip her tea, ignoring the look her sister was giving her. "Why do I have to go?" Bai Li hated social events even more so than her sister. "To keep me from getting bored." It was a well-known fact that when Fifth Sister got bored she tended to get mischievous and cause trouble. Bai Li sighed in defeat. Her sister seemed to be in a very forceful mood today. "Fine. You win."
"Is Fourth Brother in the North? I thought we would visit him." Bai Qing asked looking up from her tea. If anyone would know the whereabouts of Fourth Brother it would be Bai Li. The two of them were very close. "Yes. Zhe Yan made him mad. He is using his usual excuse that Bi Fang ran away." Bai Li told her before turning to retreat to the small room that was designated as hers. "I am going to change."
Bai Li didn't have many clothes in the Fox Den. She didn't feel the need to have a wardrobe full of fancy clothes. She pulled out one of her favorites, a beautiful dark blue dress. She packed it up and went over to her jewelry box and grabbed a beautiful silver hair piece that had several blue and purple jews dangling from it. It was one of the only hair pieces she owned, prefering to let her keep her hair loose with only a few braided parts of her hair pulled back to keep the strands from falling into her face. Normally it was held up by a regular silver hair piece, but on special occasions she had a few more decorative ones she used.
She proceeded to change out of the plain clothes she usually wore when helping Zhe Yan pick peaches and into something nicer. Bai Li hoped that they would stop by Ten Mile Peach Blossom Forest before heading to the banquet. She wanted to grab her old bamboo flute that was there. She didn't want to risk anyone recognizing her Jade Dragon Flute should she wish to play while attending the banquet.
—
The Ten Mile Peach Blossom Forest was just as beautiful at night as it was during the day. Bai Li had been relieved to hear that they would be resting in the forest for a night before heading out. The first thing she did was find the old childhood flute she had stashed away in the small hut. Her sister was already talking to Zhe Yan when she emerged from the building. She heard enough of their conversation to know that the Second Prince, Sang Ji had stopped by to get peaches his wife was craving. The sly old phoenix secretly gave them contraceptive peaches. It seems that the little snake her sister had taken in was really fertile and carrying her fourth child.
Bai Qian looked uncomfortable speaking about her ex-fiance and maid. "Actually, whether they have a fifth baby has nothing to do with me." Zhe Yan scoffed in dismay, clearly not believing the woman. "Then what are you still so bothered about them for?" Bai Li wondered if she was still upset about the humiliating rumors that circulated after word spread of Prince Sang Ji choosing a maid over her sister. However, the sad look her sister gave her made her doubt that was the case. "What I'm bothered by is if Sang Ji hadn't canceled the engagement, Li Li's consequent troublesome engagement wouldn't have happened. Now it has been 300 years. It's becoming increasingly awkward."
Zhe Yan paused to take in what Fifth Sister said. He hummed in agreement before standing up and placing his arms behind his back. "Yes, the Heavenly Lord's family loves to say vain words. They haven't even come to see me and your father to discuss Little Six's wedding date." He paused with a light sigh. "Ye Hua has now married Consort Su Jin who is greatly favored by Heavenly Lord and also has a son. He has even less intention of attending to this engagement. Continuing to delay like this isn't a good option. With Heavenly Lord having put this engagement to the side even if someone in this world would like to marry Wei Wei he wouldn't dare commit an offense against the Celestial Tribe."
The old phoenix's words were of little comfort to Bai Qian. She hoped her sister would be able to find someone she loved. Her sister had already sacrificed a lot for her and Mo Yuan and deserved happiness. "Good thing that I am in no rush to get married" Bai Li finally spoke up having heard enough talk about her engagement. "You can't say that. It has been delayed for so long. Perhaps you might become the laughingstock of the world like Little Five was years ago." Zhe Yan turned away, his mind thinking about it. "This won't do. I'll have to discuss this with your parents one day." That was the last thing Bai Li wanted him to do. "He is thousands of years my junior, wouldn't it be unfair to force this engagement onto him?"
Zhe Yan waved his hand at her, brushing the topic aside. "Forget it. Let's not talk about this shameful mess with the Celestial Tribe." The slight rigidness that Zhe Yan's body had when he usually talked about more serious topics dissipated and his relaxed posture returned. "The Eastern Seas' banquet starts tomorrow. Sleep here tonight before leaving for the sea tomorrow." Zhe Yan gestured to the small hut behind them.
"We were planning to." Bai Li informed, while tossing a glance at the small hut she usually slept in. Her attention was drawn back to the older male when he made a noise of remembrance. "Your Fourth Brother had me make two special jars of wine for him. They're buried under the tree by Jade Lake. Dig them out before you leave and deliver them to your Fourth Brother. Remember, you two, do not spill them and do not drink them on the sly." he warned them. However, the idea that there was wine she couldn't drink peaked Bai Qian's attention. "What wine it is that I am not allowed to drink? How stingy. The little wine you have here isn't enough to fill up my small jade flask."
Bai Li wondered if Zhe Yan was trying to goad Qian Qian into drinking the wine. He knew how strong Bai Qian's curiosity was and that telling her she shouldn't do something was going to make her want to do it. "You really can't drink that wine. If you want to drink some, you can go to my Chunyang Cave tomorrow and take as much as you can." The idea of being able to take all that wine was enough for Bai Qian to agree.
It was infuriating for Bai Li when she couldn't decipher people's actions and Zhe Yan was one person she really had trouble reading. Despite being practically raised by him and studying under him for so long, she still was no closer to understanding him than millenia prior. She knew him better than most, save for her brother, and could see things many would not. She almost always could see behind his act of ignorance or confusion. However, that didn't mean she knew what he was hiding.
Bai Li continued to think absently playing a song. She didn't know how she knew the song, nor had she ever heard it before. It was like the song was ingrained in her muscles. Her hands instinctively knew what notes to play. Suddenly a jar of wine was held in front of her face. "Want to drink?" Bai Qian lightly shook the jar in front of her face. "This wouldn't happen to be the wine that Zhe Yan told us not to drink would it?" Bai Li asked her knowingly. Her sister just huffed and plopped down next to her. "Have you ever heard Zhe Yan forbid us from drinking wine? He practically was telling us to try it."
It appears that Bai Li's curiosity was almost as bad as her sister's and soon both women were sitting in the branches of the peach trees sipping on the forbidden wine. It was different from the wine they usually had and her sister apparently noticed it as well. It caused her mind to fog over in a way that was different than typical drunkenness. Her body also felt hot.
In her daze, Bai Li made out the faint shape of a young man dressed in black. She wondered what such a handsome man was doing in the forest, hardly anyone other than the Bai family ever came here. She shifted to get a better look but ended up losing her balance. Instead of the sharp impact she expected, however, strong arms wrapped around her. She looked up with eyes struggling to stay open to see the man's face close to her own. He must have seen her slip and caught her before she hit the ground.
"Su Su." The man whispered as he stared into her face. Ye Hua couldn't believe his eyes. There in his arms was his deceased wife, his beloved Su Su. The only thing different about her was her immortal aura. He felt her hot hands reach up to trace his face, as if trying to see him with her fingers rather than her eyes. He closed his eyes in bliss before opening them to stare at the face he thought he would never see again.
Bai Li was having a hard time staying focused. Her mind barely registered that the man's face was getting closer to hers. If it wasn't for her ears picking up her sister's faint giggle, she probably never would have snapped out of the stupor she was in. She still couldn't see clearly or think straight, but she knew that she needed to find her sister, return to the hut and get some rest before either of them did something stupid. She quickly cloud jumped to her giggling sister's location, hoping that she still had enough sense to convince her sister to call it a night.
Ye Hua's heart dropped the moment Su Su vanished from his arms. He rushed around calling out her name. Briefly he heard feminine laughter before that too vanished. He slowly managed to get his emotions back in check and deduced that he must have fallen victim to one of Zhe Yan's enchantment traps. Neither Bai Li nor Ye Hua noticed the perceptive gaze of the old phoenix.
The following morning Zhe Yan had returned to the small hut carrying several bottles of wine. The old phoenix didn't seem too surprised or upset that they drank the wine he had explicitly told them not to drink. Before they left, however, he asked them to tell the Fourth Brother to come visit him. Neither goddess felt inclined or were willing to step in to save the high god from their brother's anger.
It was not long before the two sister's reached the Eastern Sea. However, before they could make their way to the path Bai Qian summoned, a proud little princess had called out to them. She was wearing an intricate fancy dress and holding a leaf shaped fan. She was pretty and seemed well-behaved. The princess apparently didn't know the way to the banquet and asked them if they could show her the way. Bai Qian and Bai Li allowed them to enter the palace grounds first before trailing behind the princess and her maids.
The princess and her maids must have forgotten that they were behind them for they started talking about more personal matters. It seems that the princess had taken a liking to Crown Prince Ye Hua and was upset that he was already engaged. "How can Prince Ye Hua possibly fall for an Old Lady of Qing Qiu?" one of the maids spoke which almost caused Bai Qian to let out a loud laugh. "Old lady?" she teased with a big grin on her face before it turned into a wince when Bai Li pinched her side in retaliation. "Don't forget that I am younger than you." Bai Li looked around suddenly feeling less inclined to attend a banquet with condescending immortals. "Why don't we check out the garden instead?"
At some point in their walk around the garden, Bai Li lost sight of her sister. "Where did she run off too?" she wondered aloud. Suddenly a strong gust of wind blew about the garden grounds. Bai Li instantly recognized the power of her sister's Cloud Clearing Fan. She winced thinking about the trouble her sister might have caused.
"You aren't the only one in trouble." Bai Li said after hearing the young boy's question of whether he was now in trouble. Her sister had apparently let the boy use her fan and it caused quite a lot of damage. It blew all the seaweed off the lights causing her protective eye sash to appear across her face. "My sister is as well. Honestly, what were you thinking sister?" The boy turned around to look at the new women and once he saw her his eyes went big. "Mother!" He shouted a few times as he ran up and gripped her leg. "You didn't tell me you were a mother." Bai Qian smirked watching the young boy hugged her sister.
Bai Li rolled her eyes at her sister's question. "When would I have the time? I am always looking after you."
The boy, however, ignored their conversation and kept pulling on her arms. "Mother! Mother! Why did you leave A-Li and Father?" Bai Li finally turned her attention to the child attached to her legs. "Young child, you must have the wrong person."
"Su Su." A males voice took Bai Li's attention off the boy. She looked up to see a handsome young man dressed in black clothing standing at the entrance to the small garden section they were in. She faintly heard the young boy address the man as father, her attention was on the man walking towards her. He had such a pained expression on his face, but a light of hope flickered in his dark eyes. She almost had mistaken him for Mo Yuan, but once she removed her eye covering she could see the difference, even if their faces were eerily similar.
Ye Hua could not believe his eyes. For a second time in the last two days, he was staring into the face of his beloved Su Su. He slowly brought a hand up to touch her face, to ensure that this was not a dream or an illusion. His heart praying for it to be real. He was not anticipating her to jerk back as if burned.
"Don't touch me!" Bai Li said with narrowed eyes staring at the hand that had been about to touch her. The man's head and hand lowered lowered as tears filled his eyes. "I've mistaken the wrong person." She almost felt bad when she heard the sorrow in his voice. "She wouldn't have been as forceful. My apologies." She returned his bow, accepting his apology though part of her wondered if he inadvertently insulted her with the first part. "It was a misunderstanding."
Bai Li felt the young boy pull on her arm once more."Is mother upset?" Before she could respond the boys father called his name. "A-Li. Let's go." The boy looked to her and once again called her mother. "A-Li" the man said more firmly, holding out his hand to the boy. Bai Li felt the boy place her sister's fan into her hand. She watched as the father and son made their way out of the garden, her eyes going wide at the boys mention of Xiwu Palace. That man was Crown Prince Ye Hua? She prayed that he didn't know who she is or she would be so embarrassed.
Deciding to put all of this behind her, Bai Li tossed the fan at her sister, taking a little enjoyment from the fact that it hit her in the head. "Here. Next time be careful who you give this to. It is a weapon in case you forgot. Let's go before someone comes snooping." Bai Qian rubbed her head while giving her sister a teasing smile. "Don't you mean before your fiance decides to return?" Narrowed her eyes, in anger before becoming more serious. "Did you notice who he looked like?" She asked her sister. Bai Qian nodded. "Yeah, I almost mistook him for master. How can they look so alike?" Li Li shook her head. She had a feeling there was a connection between the two, but had no idea what it was. Sighing she turned and started making her way towards the direction the Crown Prince walked in. "Let go in the same direction. Hopefully they know a way out of this labyrinth of a garden." Bai Li let out a silent prayer, hoping that they wouldn't bump into the dark dressed man while they made their way out.
Fortunately for Bai Li, it was Bai Qian's turn to deal with the next person they encountered. They had managed to find a nice sitting area when Shao Xin, Bai Qian's ex-maid appeared before them. Bai Li only listened intermittently during their discussion. Bai Li rolled her eyes when Shao Xin said that she didn't understand why Qian Qian didn't want to speak with her. The woman took her sister's fiance, thus making her a laughingstock. The snake spirit was lucky her sister was even offering to give her a wedding present. The conversation was starting to irritate her. Bai Li began tapping her fingers on her bottom lip, silently hoping the conversation would end. She didn't notice the two figures standing by one of the coral wall structures.
Ye Hua had been walking through the gardens trying to calm A-Li down, while he processed the most recent events. The woman looked just like his Su Su. However, the woman was obviously an immortal and her personality was more confident. "But why won't you give me a chance?" He heard a familiar female's voice say up ahead. He quickly had to stop A-Li from running and interrupting the conversation.
The more he watched and listened the more his heart raced. The familiar sight of the black haired woman tapping her lip with one hand made him wonder if the woman in front of him was his Su Su. The odds of finding someone that looked so similar was practically impossible, especially one that shared the same mannerisms.
"Moreover, you can find someone even better than Sang Ji." Shao Xi said. "But if I lose Sang Ji, I will truly be left with nothing." Bai Li nodded slightly in agreement before turning her attention to her flute. She felt the need to play it, something she did when bored or nervous, but decided to twirl it around since her sister was still conversing. The new actions her hand took did not go unnoticed by Ye Hua who recognized yet another mannerism. But it was what the action revealed that caused him to let out a shaky breath. There, on the inside of her left wrists, was the scar caused by crimson fire. The same scars his beloved Su Su. Tears of joy filled his eyes and slowly crept down his cheek. He had found his Su Su.
Bai Li sighed how could the snake spirit not see what she did. "Fifth Sister does not care who you chose to marry. However, by marrying Prince Sang Ji, you made her a laughingstock. Do you think that is easily forgiven? My sister and I are not as virtuous as you make us out to be, we do not forgive easily." The two girls did not take kindly to betrayal and were well known for their vengeful fury, especially the youngest daughter. Bai Li had a protective nature to her particularly towards her family.
"Mother!" A-Li ran over to Bai Li and grabbed her arm. "Why do you say you're not virtuous? Mother is the most virtuous immortal of heaven and earth." Bai Li blinked a few times in surprise at the boy. "Where did you come from?" The boy just looked at her with innocent eyes. "I came here with Father to find you Mother."
Trying to ignore her instincts to flee, Bai Li stood to address the Crown Prince. "I, Ye Hua, did not realize that you're the High Goddess Bai Li of Qing Qiu." Bai Qian stood to look over the handsome young man staring at her sister. "Sixth Sister may not care much for formal etiquette, but shouldn't you call her aunt out of respect. She is 60,000 years older than you."
Ye Hua briefly glanced at the famous High Goddess Bai Qian of Qing Qiu before turning his soul focus to the woman in front of him. "A-Li calls her mother, but I should call her aunt? Qian Qian, what's the reasoning for this?"
Bai Qian did not like how easily he dismissed her and quickly narrowed her eyes in anger. "Speaking of reasoning, while I was talking with this lady, you two eavesdropped on our whole conversation. What's the reasoning for this?"
A-Li spoke up to defend his father. "Father and I weren't intentionally eavesdropping. Father said that Mother was chasing us. So that's why we turned around and came back. When we got near, we saw this lady talking with you and all we could do was step back." A-Li turned away from his aunt to face his mother. "Is Mother chasing us because she couldn't bear to part with A-Li and wants to return to the Celestial Palace with us?"
Bai Li was impressed by how well behaved and articulate the boy was, he obviously cared for and missed his mother. However, before she could respond to his statement, her sister spoke up. "We just got lost and were trying to find a way out of the garden." Bai Qian told them while tapping her fan against her hand in boredom.
"What A-Li said is right." Ye Hua took a step closer to Bai Li. "Your mother can't bear to part with us." A-Li was happy upon hearing his father's statement and beamed up at his mother. "Mother is the best. Mother, when do we return to the Celestial Palace?"
Bai Li's face paled, her mind going blank at the sudden forwardness of the Crown Prince. "Return?"
"Let's leave tomorrow." Ye Hua took another step closer, now standing only an arms distance from Bai Li. "This is wonderful! Mother is coming home! You have been gone for so long. Aren't you excited?" A-Li's happiness with the idea of his mother returning home was clear to everyone. "Excited is not the right word." Bai Li murmured. "Mother, since you guys are done talking, let's leave." Bai Li didn't know what was more intimidating, the boys persistence or Ye Hua's staring.
"I cannot leave my sister." Bai Li wanted to sneer at her sister when she saw that she was not even trying to hide her amused smile. "Dear Little Six, it is not appropriate for me to keep you from bonding with your fiancé." Bai Li smiled a forced angry smile. "Are you sure? I thought you wanted me to keep you company and out of trouble. Unless you are planning to head back early to deal with all the paperwork back in the den." Bai Li's tone sounded like a simple reminder, but both goddesses knew it was a threat. Bai Qian's eyes grew big at the memory of the scrolls still on top of her desk. "Just a minute, dear brother-in-law. You cannot take her away just yet." Bai Qian grabbed the Cloud Clearing Fan off the table and kneeled down next to the pregnant woman who had yet to stand from her bow. "Go back and think about what you want to ask me. When you've made a decision, come find me in Qing Qiu."
Bai Li watched as her sister gave the fan to the woman. A slight pull on her hand forced her attention to the young boy standing next to her. "I want one to." he told her. She gently shook the hand that grabbed hers. "Silly boy, what would you need a dangerous weapon for?" "Mother!" A-Li pouted. Unfortunately for him Bai Li was immune to pouts, having received enough from her sister and niece. "Pouting doesn't work on me. Now be good." she chided softly before looking up to his father to see if he was upset with her disciplining the boys behavior. She was not expecting the slight smile she saw.
"I shall take my leave then." Shao Xin made her way to her feet and bowed to the three older immortals. They all watched as she left to go back to the banquet hall. Bai Li could still feel Ye Hua's eyes on her and tried her best not to let him see her nervousness. "We should probably head back. There is a lot of paperwork needing to be finished, don't you agree sister?." Before she could take a full step, Ye Hua blocked her path slightly. "Li Li, could it be that you're afraid of attracting gossip by entering the palace with my son and me?" He asked her. "I don't care about gossip." Bai Li never cared what people said about her before and she wasn't about to start.
Bai Li jumped when she felt Ye Hua's hands grab hers. "So you do know that we have a marriage arrangement? There's nothing to be concerned about." Ye Hua said while gripping her hands in a loving manner. "The marriage arrangement. I am afraid I did not hear of the news until much recently. I still have not had time to get used to the idea. If that is all…" Bai Li turned to leave and out of the corner of her eye saw Ye Hua move to stop her. "Miss." a voice caused her to stop and look back.
The King of the Eastern Sea approached the small group, bowing to the Crown Prince and Young Prince of whom he recognized. He then turned his attention to Bai Qian. "Fellow immortal, may I ask how I may have offended you thus as far as taking your anger out on my garden during my festive day?" It was Bai Qian's turn to get flustered and pale. "Water King, you may have been mistaken?" Bai Qian had thought that she had avoided trouble since no one knew what happened. "Don't think of denying it. The Coral Spirit in my garden saw it with its own eyes. The strong winds just now were done by an immortal dressed in turquoise. How can you deny it?"
It seemed that it would not be easy for Bai Qian to out of the mess she caused. "Water God. May I ask you to forgive my sister. This is her first time out of Ten-Miles of Peach Tree Woods." Bai Li had noticed her sister look at the boy and didn't want her to implicate him, so she decided to step in. "Please punish me instead. I was supposed to keep an eye on her so that she did not bring shame to our high god." This was a trick her, her sister and Fourth Brother used to use in order to get out of trouble. They had learned early on that the mention of Zhe Yan's name made people far more forgiving. "Ten-Miles of Peach Tree Woods? You're from the Ten-Miles of Peach Tree Woods?" Bai Li smiled and nodded, happy that her plan was working. "Isn't the high god of Ten-Miles of Peach Tree Woods…" the king trailed off. "High God Zhe Yan, correct. We were given the great fortune of seeing the Crystal Palace at the request of High Goddess Bai Qian of Qing Qiu." Bai Li informed him.
"High Goddess Bai Qian? Did Aunt come with you, then?" She was not surprised to hear interest in his voice. Many people there were eager to see the reclusive beauty that was her sister. "Unfortunately on her way here, Aunt fell ill and couldn't leave Ten-Miles of Peach Tree Woods. She did ask us to deliver her gifts, as did High God Zhe Yan. Sister?" Bai Qian stepped over to the small table and magically summoned the gifts, the luminescent pearl and bottles of wine.
"This is a gift from my high goddess Bai Qian, a radiant pearl." Bai Qian pointed to the large glowing pearl. "On the other side is my Lord's self brewed peach wine. I came to deliver these gifts. However, I never expected to cause trouble. Please punish me as you like, Water King." Bai Qian bowed to the regal man in front of her. "You've had a long journey. It's my fault to have failed to welcome you. Please, neither of you, don't feel guilty any longer. Please follow me to the front of the hall for foods and wines." The king said returning their bows.
"That is unnecessary. We only came to deliver the gifts and do not want to attract any more attention." Bai Li was happy that her plan worked but did not want to stick around lest some other chaos starts. Thankfully, the king did not seem to mind their desire to leave. "We shall take our leave." Bai Li bowed before quickly grabbing her sister's hand and turning to leave.
Unfortunately, they didn't make it far before Bai Li's other hand was grabbed by Ye Hua. "It's just a drink of wine. There's no need to be so polite." Ye Hua smiled at her before pulling her struggling form behind him.
The banquet hall was filled with immortals, including the proud princess from before. She had been forced to sit next to the Crown Prince and the young prince. Thankfully, her sister was seated just behind them. The food was good, but Zhe Yan's wine was far superior than the one being offered. The dancing would have been entertaining had it not been for the blatant flirting the lead dancer did towards Ye Hua. According to A-Li, the woman was a princess named Miao Qiang, that had rescued him once and had taken a liking to the Crown Prince. However, from what she saw, he wasn't interested.
"Crown Prince, may I be so bold and seek a meeting on behalf of my little sister?" The Water King said bowing to Ye Hua. "I knew it." Bai Li mumbled. "You look after A-Li. I'll be back soon." Ye Hua stood and left in the direction the Water King had pointed to. Bai Li sat there with A-Li for a few minutes, letting him play with her flute. She wondered if Ye Hua was serious about bringing her to the heavenly realm. A familiar aura washed over her. It was Senior and Sixteenth. They were approaching the banquet hall.
"Mother, where are you going?" A-Li asked when Bai Li tried to stand. "I am going to bring you back to your father." She didn't want to risk running having her or Qian Qian's past identities exposed. "Oh. Mother doesn't trust Father? Are you afraid of him having an affair with a beautiful lady so you're using me as an excuse?" Bai Li looked at the book with a shocked yet amused face. Where in the world did he imagine that? "You have quite the imagination don't you." She ruffled the boys had. "Your father appears to be very honorable. I just don't want to listen to all this gossip."
Bai Li stood, helping the young prince in the process, before turning to her sister. "Let's get out of here." She nodded her head in the direction of the open main door where you could faintly make out the two men she was trying to avoid. Bai Qian quickly stood and soon the three of them were making their way out of the room.
They successfully managed to avoid running into Senior and Sixteenth, but Bai Li knew they should leave as soon as possible to avoid any encounters. "We should leave soon." She said to her sister, momentarily forgetting the young prince still holding her hand. That is until he spoke up. "Then, let's go find Father." Bai Li knelt down to the boys level. She would need to return him to his father, but the idea of intruding on a conversation was less than appealing. It might give the Crown Prince the wrong impression of her. "Perhaps it is best if we do not interrupt."
"If mother doesn't go break them up, father will be taken by Princess Miao Qiang." Bai Li wasn't sure if the boy was really concerned about his father falling for the princess or if he was trying to get her and the Crown Prince to spend more time together.
"Your father is a healthy young man and Miao Qing is a lady in blooming. It's natural for a man and woman to desire each other. Since they're already together. Why would you want to separate them? Ruining others' relationship isn't a good thing. What do you have against Miao Qing that you need to ruin her happiness?" Bai Qian asked the young boy. She thought that if the Crown Prince took a liking to the young princess, he would break off his engagement to her sister and she then could marry someone she loves.
"Mother. Aunt is lecturing me." A-Li hugged his mother's legs while looking at his aunt. His dad had told him a little about her. His mother and her were very close. A-Li turned back towards his mother hoping that she didn't feel the same way. "She once saved me. I have already properly thanked her. But now she thinks she is different in Father's eyes and has refused to leave Mount Junji. She foolishly stayed by Father. She's super annoying."
Bai Li guided the two of them to the small table nearby so they could sit down. "How can a simple thank you be enough for saving one's life? That is a big debt." she asked him. Both her and Bai Qian felt that once a debt is accrued, it must be paid back in full.
"She doesn't know her position! She clearly knows Father has a wife. Yet she approaches Father. She lived in Mother's house, used Mother's cooking ware and is trying to steal Mother's husband." A-Li didn't like the fact that the princess was trying to take his mother's place.
"I didn't know that Mount Junji of the Far East belonged to Consort Su Jin." Bai Li tilted her head as she processed the information.
"No, No! It doesn't belong to Su Jin. It belongs to Mother, it's yours." A-Li had stood up and grabbed her hand while he spoke. "Father said you were a mortal back then and met him on Mount Junji of the Far East."
"You're mother was a mortal and not Su Jin?" Bai Qian said sitting down next to Bai Li. She was a little more concerned now about her sister's potential marriage to Ye Hua. If the man had two women already in his heart, would he even be able to take care of her sister?
"No!" A-Li gave his aunt a mean look before turning back to his mother. "Mother gave birth to me."
Bai Li softly patted the boy's head to calm him down. "But we have never met before. Why would you say I am your mother?" The young prince seemed undeterred from identifying her as his mother. "Father drew two painting and hung one in his chambers and one in mather's hut. "Both show a woman is a purple dress with a sash across her eyes. You looked like her back there in the gardens." So she looked like the drawing of the boys mother. It was no wonder A-Li thought she was his mother. "I see." She felt sorry for the little guy. He seemed so desperate for a mother.
A-Li looked down, sadness written all over his face, and moved back to his seat. "Later, Father said Mother jumped into the Zhuxian Terrace after giving birth to A-Li. He also said Mother left to the mortal realm and will one day return."
"How can a mortal return after jumping off Zhuxian Terrace?" Bai Qian asked in an aloof tone. The slight kick to her leg from under the table was a clear warning from her sister that what she said was not called for. Bai Li looked at the poor boy. He honestly believed his mother would return and his Father didn't seem to be deterring the notion.
"Mother, you seem like you don't even care at the very least! Is it because you already love another and no longer want A-Li and Father?" A-Li yelled, jumping to his feet.
Bai Li, a little taken aback by the outburst, gently laid her hand on the boy's shoulders. "It's not about not caring. I might be engaged to your father, but I don't know him well enough to get involved with his affairs." She tried explaining to the boy who was now crying.
"Excuses! Father will marry a step mother and Mother will marry a stepfather! A-Li surely lives up to his name! I don't deserve to have a complete happy family! I deserve to be all alone! No one wants A-Li! I will just be by myself!" A-Li started sobbing causing both women to panic slightly.
Bai Li pulled the young prince into her arms. "Don't cry. It's alright." She pulled back after a few more comforting words and took out a napkin from her sleeve to wipe some of his tears away. "Why would I leave you? I am your mother, right? So there is no need to cry."
The tears finally stopped as her words of comfort seemed to be helping. "But you don't want Father. If you don't want Father, he will marry Miao Qing. After Father marries Miao Qing, he will have another baby and he won't want me anymore."
Bai Li was once again shocked at the boy's imagination. She stole a glance at her sister and then let out a defeated sign. She was about to give her sister a lifetime's worth of ammunition to tease her with. "Why would I not want your father? I…" She forced herself not to flinch. "care deeply for him. He is my beloved."
"Really?" Bai Li smiled weakly at the now happy boy. "Don't you trust me?" A-Li nodded and then grabbed her arm. "Then come follow me."
The boy had a good sense of direction. He led her right to her father, who was still with the princess. The princess had changed out of her yellow dancing dress and into more formal attire. It seems like she also touched up her makeup. Bai Li had tried to convince her sister to head back to the Fox Den, but she was way too amused with her sister's dilemma.
"Mother, it's time for you to make your appearance." A-Li said once again tugging on his mother's arm. Bai Li looked over at the couple off in the distance still wondering if this was a good idea and why she was allowing herself to be pulled around by the child. "Perhaps we should wait." Her answer was another tug of her hand, pulling her in behind the boy as he approached his father.
A-Li ran up and bowed to his father. "Greetings, Father." Realizing that they now noticed her presence, Bai Li followed up behind the boy and helped him up the small ledge to stand in front of his father. The princess seemed disappointed with their arrival. No doubt hoping for some alone time with Ye Hua. "Sister, you are…" the princess trailed off not knowing who she was.
She put her hands on A-Li's shoulders. "I'm apparently his mother." she paused taking note of the smile that appeared on Ye Hua's face when she said that. "He was worried about his father having an affair."
The young princess dropped to her knees finally realizing that she was the Crown Prince's fiance. "Please do not be angry with me, High Goddess! I did not know you were coming. I would never dare to do anything against you." The princess sat up from her bow. "I only have respect for His Highness. I do not ask that His Highness promise me anything. My brother is marrying me off to the West Sea. The Second Prince of the West Sea is a hedonistic man."
Both Bai Li and Bai Qian froze at the mention of Senior Disciple. "I truly had no other choice but to dance to request a meeting with His Highness. I only wish to follow His Highness for all eternity and serve him as a maid. I wish for nothing more. Please grant me my wish, High Goddess!" The princess begged not realizing that the woman she was begging didn't believe her tale.
"Isn't Die Feng the Second Prince of the West Sea?" Bai Qian narrowed her eyes watching as the bowing princess once again sat up.
"He is." The princess's reply was quiet and she had to strain her ears to her.
"How is he hedonistic? Tell me." She demanded. She wouldn't let anyone badmouth a fellow Kunlun disciple.
"He…" the princess hesitated. "When he was at Kunlun Mountain, he was indeed a man of honor. But ever since High God Mo Yuan passed away he returned to the West Sea and has been low in spirits. He spends his days drinking and taking pleasure in women."
Bai Li knew that the princess was lying. Her brother must have told her to say this in order to gain the Crown Prince's sympathy. "Really?" she asked nonchilantly. "Every word I speak is the truth." The princess bowed once again.
The princess must really like the prince in order for her to lie to her face, Bai Li thought. She also didn't want to see Senior marry a princess like this one. He deserved better, especially after everything her sister and her put him through.
"It seems she is dead set on following your Father." Bai Li said to the little boy. "I don't think I can break such a devoted heart. We should be going." She stood up but the boy's grip on her arm prevented her from going very far. "Don't leave. You said that Father is your beloved and that you deeply cared for him. Someone has come to steal Father and you're just going to let her? Your words are lies!"
In that moment, Bai Li wished for the ground to swallow her up. Those words were only meant for the young prince, not for his father to ever hear! Slowly she turned to face the Crown Prince, dreading his reaction to those embarrassing words. She jumped back when he approached her.
"You said….that I was your beloved?" Ye Hua said, taking a step forward. "Who you care for deeply?" Another step forward. With every step he took forward, she took one back. Before her back could reach the stone railing, he made a sudden move and wrapped his arms around her waist causing her to fumbled back and grab the closest thing to her, Ye Hua's shoulders. He pulled her in closer while helping her steady herself from his action.
Bai Li's heart practically leapt through her chest when the prince moved as if to kiss her. She quickly turned her head and felt his stop just seconds before his head reached hers. After a few moments he pulled away slightly and she mustered up the courage to look at him. He was still staring at her, but without the same intensity as before. He looked more subdued, like he was contemplating something. "Su Su." He whispered to her. "Are you pretending to be ignorant or have you truly forgotten about me?"
Bai Li pushed him back slightly, trying to put more space between them. She wondered if the Crown Prince was unwell since he mistook her for his wife. An idea suddenly came into her head. Perhaps if she could surprise him, she could make a quick get away. Deciding that she already humiliated herself passed the point of no return, there was no reason to stop. "Why must you make me say it? You already know how I feel." She replied coyly. The moment she caught his shock, she moved out of his arms and proceeded to briskly walk off before he returned to his senses. She was in such a hurry to escape, she didn't even notice she had dropped her eye sash.
"The Crown Prince seems taken with you." Bai Qian teased as they finally found the exit. "He couldn't take his eyes off you." She found it absolutely entertaining to watch her usually well put together sister get flustered. She was going to have to tell Fourth Brother about this.
"If you don't want me to tell anyone how you destroyed the Water King's garden then you won't tell a soul what happened here." Bai Li threatened while glaring at her grinning sister.
All she wanted was to return to Ten-Mile Peach Tree Woods. However, luck did not seem to be on her side tonight. The moment they finally made it shore they realized that they went the wrong way. Instead of going east, they went north. Bai Li sighed she was not about to turn around and return to the palace now that she finally escaped. "Let's camp out here tonight. We can return to the Fox Den in the morning."
Both goddesses turned into their fox form and made their way into the woods to find a nice place to take shelter. The forest wasn't as nice as Zhe Yan's but it would do. A loud crack followed by a thud caused Bai Li to turn. Bai Qian had fallen through a small hole in the ceiling of an underground cave. Quickly she turned back into her human form and jumped in to see if her sister was injured. "Are you alright?" She asked while looking over her sister. During the fall, Bai Qian too had returned to her human form.
"Yeah…." Something behind her caught Bai Qian's attention causing her to stop mid sentence. She spun around to see a figure she had hoped never to see again, Ghost Lord Li Jing. He must have just noticed their presence because he jumped off the woman he was kissing to approach them.
"A-Yin, where have you been all these years?" Li Jing's use of her sister's pet name made her narrow her eyes. Before he could move closer she cast a shield around him, separating him from them.
Bai Li decided not to say anything and just watch their interaction. She was there to protect her sister should he try anything. "So it is Ghost Lord Li Jing." Bai Qian finally addressed the man who betrayed her all those years ago. "A-Yin, don't speak to me like that." Li Jing sounded very despondent. But her sister didn't seem to care. "I have long ago broken all ties with you. I don't deserve to be called A-Yin. Please call me by my proper name."
Bai Li summoned her Jade Flute and pointed it at Li Jing when he broke her sister's barrier and grabbed her hands. "Let her go." She warned him.
Li Jing looked over to see Si Lan, the threat very clear. He did as she asked but wasn't finished trying to speak to Si Yin. "You've been avoiding me for 70,000 years. Are you going to keep hiding from me? I have been searching for you all these years. I was wrong. It was all my fault, A-Yin."
Bai Qian looked at her fingers, flicking out imaginary dirt from beneath them. Had her sister not made her aware of her love for Master, she may have had a harder time facing her past crush. "I searched the entire Kunlun Mountain and all corners of the Celestial Realm." She heard him pause. "I know you blame me. You said Grand Ziming Palace was your sworn enemy. Do you know I…"
"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Ghost Lord." Bai Qian interrupted. "The things I said back then were only in the heat of the moment. The Celestial Tribe and Ghost Tribe get along well now. I did not live so long without learning anything. I do understand some principles. Naturally, I will not make trouble out of nothing and come to your Grand Ziming Palace to cause trouble."
"What do you mean by that? You won't even bother to blame me anymore?" It seemed like the Ghost Lord was finally understanding the situation. "There is no love, so naturally there is no blame. From now on, we should both mind our own business." Bai Qian turned prepared to leave, but Li Jing ran around to face her, grabbing her hands in the process. "No, A-Yin. You must not say that without listening to me first. I betrayed you back then. Just because you were part of the Celestial Tribe, I …"
Bai Li interrupted him. "Who said we were from the Celestial Tribe?" She had a feeling that it was Xuan Nu, but it didn't matter. Li Jing still promised to love her sister no matter what and then broke it.
Li Jing looked over to her confused. "What?" His eyes looked back to Bai Qian when she removed his hands from her arms. "Open your eyes and take a clear look. I am Bai Qian of Qing Qiu."
"You are Bai Qian of Qing Qiu?" Li Jing asked as if he didn't believe her. "Then...Back then, you…"
"Back then, only for the purpose of studying at Kunlun Mountain did I hide my identity as part of the Nine-tailed Fox Clan. Since you have mentioned the past to me, let's talk about it. Back then, you abandoned me and chose Xuan Nu. She was carried by four qilin beasts and officially wed with nine days of celebration. Is that not the truth?" Bai Qian briefly wondered if Xuan Nu knew what her husband was up to.
"Don't mention her. Did you not feel sad back then? Why didn't you tell me you were part of the Fox Clan?" Li Jing asked. The poor man looked ready to cry.
Bai Qian paused before informing him. "Generally speaking, I was sad for a period of time. But in time I came to understand my emotions better and came to realize that my feelings for you were nothing more than a brief infatuation. No more, no less. I no longer hold any resentment for you. there is nothing worth mentioning."
"A-Yin. I know you blame me. You blame me for not giving the Soul Jade to you back in Grand Ziming Palace. But, I regret it, A-Yin. I later went to Kunlun Mountain seeking you but they said that you already...You and Si Lan had already left with Mo Yuan's body." Li Jing had known why they wanted the Soul Jade, but he didn't know what it nearly cost them when he lied about not knowing its location. Bai Li had nearly lost her life.
Thankfully the depressing atmosphere was broken at the appearance of Li Jing's mount. The young boy had not aged at all. The two goddesses used the boy's arrival as a means to bid the Ghost Lord farewell. However, Bai Lil knew that this would not be the last they saw of him. He seemed determined to win back her sister's affections.