They had stopped by Fourth Brother's manor as planned but it seems like he really was chasing after a runaway Bi Fang. However, Second Brother was there. He dragged both of them in to inquire about his daughter, asking the two of them to look after Feng Jiu and make sure she was behaving. Second Brother has always been both scary and intimidating, so they only stayed as long as needed before heading back.
Bai Li let out a sigh of relief when the Fox Den appeared in her sight. This whole trip had been taxing and she just wanted to rest. Her body froze, however, when a little figure came running out of the Den followed by a frazzled Migu. "Mother!" A-Li ran up and grabbed on to the front of her dress. "Mother, you lied. You said yesterday that you were going to return to the Celestial Palace with us."
Both Bai Li's and Bai Qian's eyes looked up to Migu, the one responsible for protecting and guarding Qing Qiu. "I deserve to be punished." Migu bowed. "Aunt ordered me to defend Qing Qiu. But I really could not stop the Crown Prince from coming. Punish me as you will."
"Is the Crown Prince here?" Bai Li asked but it was the young prince who spoke first. "Father said you do not want to return with us. He's afraid you cannot adapt to living in the Celestial Palace. That isn't a problem. Father and I will just move here to live with you. As long as Mother is present, I can live anywhere."
Bai Li knelt down to look at the boy, her hands holding gently onto his shoulders. "You do know that I usually don't live here, right? This is Fifth Sister's place, not mine."
"Then where does Mother live?" A-Li tilted his head. He knew she had a room here, the funny tree spirit had retrieved several of his mother's favorite books from it. "I for the most part live in Ten-Miles of Peach Woods with Zhe Yan and Fourth Brother. I don't really have a house to call my own." She never felt the need to build a manor like her brothers, nor did she inherit one like Qian Qian. Technically, she had a room in the Fox Den, one at Fourth Brother's Manor and another at Zhe Yan's place. She also occasionally stayed in the small hut within Ten-Miles of Peach Tree Woods. In fact, she spent more time in Ten-Miles of Peach Tree Woods than anywhere else.
"But Aunt, the Fox Den is the ancestral home of the Bai family. As a member of the Bai family, the Fox Den is considered your primary home, at least until you have established your own. Prince Ye Hua has every right to stay at the family home of his future wife. It is precedent." Migu informed her.
"Precedent?" Both goddesses askes simultaneously, looking at the tree spirit.
Migu nodded. "It's said when Heavenly Lord was still a crown prince the former Heavenly Lord arranged for his cousin to be his crown princess. Heavenly Lord was displeased. The former Heavenly Lord issued a decree to have him confined in his aunt's residence. Who knew that after a month, affection would grow. They returned to the Celestial Palace and it became a wonderful story."
Bai Li rolled her eyes at that description of a happy romance. "If it was such a wonderful story, why does the Heavenly Lord have so many consorts?" She stood up and waved off Migu's attempt to reply. "Forget it. I think I will return to Ten-Miles of Peach Tree Woods."
"Mother, I am a little hungry." A-Li spoke up not wanting his mother to leave before his father had a chance to return.
Bai Li looked over to Migu, the official and only housekeeper for the Fox Den. "Do we have any food here?" However, he just shook his head and replied "No."
"Where is little fox? With her here, isn't there someone to cook?" Bai Qian asked. She knew that neither her, her sister, nor Migu could cook. Her niece was the primary cook when staying at the Fox Den.
Migu gave them a very guilty look. "After you left, she left as well to go to the mortal realm to repay a debt."
Bai Qian couldn't be angry with her niece despite explicitly telling her niece to say at the Fox Den before she left for the banquet. She knew what it felt like to want to repay a favor. "She's left to repay a debt again? Could it be Dong Hua Dijun?"
Bai Li sighed and grabbed the young prince's hand. "Let's just hope she doesn't cause trouble. We can just go to the Mushroom Market for food."
The Mushroom Market was one of the biggest markets in all of Qing Qiu, with its resident immortals all gathering there to sell their wares. It had a wide selection of fruit, vegetables and meats. It was rather lively today, many asking where Princess Feng Jiu was and if Bai Qian had also returned. Bai Li rolled her eyes at her sister's laziness. She opted to stay back at the Fox Den and drink wine. Part of her wasn't too shocked. Fifth Sister hardly ever went shopping for food, usually sending Feng Jiu or Migu.
A-Li seemed to be enjoying himself pulling them to different stalls, even picking out a special mushroom that a shopkeeper offered him. With another tug, Bai Li was dragged off to yet another stall. A-Li must have noticed that the shopkeeper looked depressed.
"Aunt." The shopkeeper stood up. "It seems to have been a good year. Why do you seem so down?" Bai Li asked her noticing the miserable look on the female's face. "It's because it's a big harvest that I'm unhappy. I'll have to sell at low prices now."
"You earned a lot last year with the small harvest." Bai Li looked at one of the fruits. Loquats were one of her sister's favorite fruits. She prefered dragon fruit herself. "Let's get a half basket for Fifth Sister." She told Migu before looking through the fruits for the best ones.
Her band brushed another's when she went to place a Loquat into the basket. Her eyes looked up to see Prince Ye Hua standing next to her. Part of her was a little unsettled by the fact that she hadn't noticed his approach. "Prince Ye Hua. You're just in time to join us for lunch. We are having fruit." She pointed to the basket Migu was carrying full of different fruits.
"A-Li is growing right now. This is all you're feeding him?" Ye Hua asked, making her look down at the little boy helping to place Loquats in the basket. "I don't usually buy food, so I only really know how to pick out fruit." Now that he pointed out that A-Li was still a growing boy, she felt a bit ashamed for not thinking about what food he should be eating.
Ye Hua grabbed her hand and pulled her further into the market. She was starting to wonder if pulling her in directions was a genetic trait since both father and son loved to do it. "Where can we find meat and produce?" Ye Hua asked her.
"Do you still want the loquats?" Migu yelled watching her get pulled away. "Yes!" She hollered back before pointing a head to a different part of the market. "You can find meat there and just left of that is where most of the produce should be. I think…."
By the time they left the market, they had enough fish, meat and produce to last them for a while. Bai Qian was extremely pleased to see the loquats they bought when she joined them for tea. "Go cook." After a few minutes of drinking tea, Ye Hua spoke.
Bai Li noticed her sister turn towards Migu who instantly became flustered. "Aunt, you clearly know...you clearly know I can't cook." Her sister didn't seem fazed by the panicking housekeeper. "There's a first time for everything. You could even survive a trial of lightning bolts. I believe in you." Her sister's encouraged, not wanting to deal with it herself.
"Mother, I'm hungry." A-Li's little voice spoke up causing Bai Qian to look at Migu in expectation.
Migu turned to look at her. "Aunt, please spare me."
Bai Li sighed and stood up. It seems she would be the one cooking, or at least attempting to. "Migu, grab the baskets." She made her way into the kitchen and just stood there staring at it. She briefly wondered where to start. Fire. She needed to start the fire.
She managed to get the fire going and had started heating the water. She must have put too much water in because soon water was boiling over. She quickly tried to grab the bowl to take it off the heat. The sudden movement sending scalding water splashing onto the bown and right onto her hand. "Ah." came her soft cry as the bowl came crashing to the ground, causing hot water to spill everywhere. Luckily, she managed to avoid the rest of the hot water.
Ye Hua came rushing in followed by Bai Qian. He waved his hand to cool the water with magic before heading straight to her side. "Where are you hurt?" He asked in a worried tone while looking me over for injuries. "It's nothing, just a burn." Bai Li blew on her burnt hand.
Ye Hua gently took the hand she was blowing on and inspected it. "If you didn't know how to cook, why didn't you say anything."
"First thing you need to know about my sister is that she never asks for help, even though she readily supplies it." Bai Qian told him as she inspected the damage done to the kitchen. "Looks like we'll have to forget about this meal."
Bai Li shook her head. "A-Li needs to eat."
Bai Qian thought for a moment before turning to look at Migu. "Migu, hurry to the mortal realm and drag Feng Jiu back here. Say that something big has happened at Qing Qiu."
"But I can't find her, Aunt." Migu told her. He came to Qing Qiu at a very young age and never stepped foot outside its borders since.
"Then post a notice at the entrance of the Fox Den and say that we need a cook right now." It was probably one of the most sensible suggestions Bai Qian had made.
The tree spirit seemed to agree because he rushed to do just that. "That's settled then." Bai Qian moved to leave when Ye Hua stood up and grabbed her arm. "You can at least make a fire and burn some firewood." He then swept her off her feet.
"Hey! I can walk. It was my hands that were burned, not my legs." Bai Li softly cried out. Ye Hua simply carried her over to the chair and set her down. He then grabbed a bowl and filled it with cool water. "Soak your hands in this." He instructed before making his way to the stove to cook.
Bai Li sat there completely bored as the two of them worked together, Ye Hua cooking and her sister tending to the fire. "Did your first wife teach you how to cook?" she asked. When Ye Hua didn't answer she was worried that she brought up a painful memory. His wife might have been dead for 300 years, but that didn't mean he was necessarily over it.
"She was like you." Ye Hua finally spoke. "I often had her tend the fire and burn wood while I cooked. I don't know how she survived on Mount Junji before she met me."
It was not hard to hear the pain in his voice as he remembered his deceased wife. "I'm sorry I brought up such a painful subject." Bai Li lowered her eyes in guilt. "Su Su." He whispered while looking at her seated form alongside the wall behind her sister.
"Do you often call people who remind you of your wife by her name?" She asked after hearing the name.
Ye Hua just smiled before his gaze to the cooking food. "Have you been to the Far East?"
Bai Li cast a brief glance at her sister who suddenly felt the need to cough. She personally had never been there, but she knew of her sister's adventure there when she was still a disciple at Kunlun. She didn't think he was suspecting her sister of being Si Yin, but it did remind her that they would need to be cautious with the Crown Prince living in the Fox Den. "No, but I hear that it is beautiful."
"You're cooking smells great." She said, hoping to change the subject. "I can't wait to taste it." Ye Hua seemed happy at the compliment and let their conversation go.
The food might have smelled nice, but it tasted amazing. Bai Li was beginning to wonder if marrying the crown prince was really such a bad idea. He was handsome and could cook. She also couldn't help but notice that he was an exceptional father as well. Between taking bites, he would feed some food to A-Li. Unfortunately, the young prince was not amused. "If you keep feeding me, I'll turn into a ball."
"How nice would that be? I wouldn't need to carry you as I leaped across the clouds back to the Celestial Palace. I'll just need to roll you up and roll you back to your Qingyun Hall." Ye Hua teased his son.
A-Li pouted and ran over to Bai Li. "Father is mean!"
Ye Hua laughed as his fussing son shook his mother's arm for her attention. "Now you have someone to run to." Bai Li gently stroked the boys cheeks. "Don't fuss. Your father is teasing."
"Li Li, here. You need more nourishment." Ye Hua said, placing a bowl of fish soup down in front of her. Out of all the dishes he cooked, the fish soup was her least favorite. She didn't like fish soup as a child and that preference really hasn't changed. "Here. A-Li you need to eat more to help you grow." She passed the bowl of soup to the seated boy next to her.
A-Li for a few seconds he just looked between the bowl and his mother. He then took the bowl and turned to his aunt. "Aunt Qian Qian. You need more nourishment."
With the same message, just a different name, the bowl was passed to Migu who had no choice but to accept it. "Li Li, clear out a study for me to handle official documents." Bai Li glanced over at Ye Hua. It seems he really did intend to stay here if he was having official documents brought in. The Fox Den didn't have a formal space to work, most of the time she had to deal with official documents regarding Qing Qiu she did so in her room.
"Could we use Fourth Brother's old room?" Bai Li asked her sister. Fourth Brother's room was one of the best rooms in the Fox Den and unlike the others it had a small desk. Bai Qian nodded her head. "Migu, go tidy up Fourth Brother's old room."
The rest of dinner was quiet and soon Ye Hua excused himself and A-Li from the table. It seemed the young prince had a strict bedtime. "Qian Qian." Bai Li spoke up after they left. "We need to be careful. Ye Hua was at one point in time looking into Si Yin and Mo Yuan's disappearance." She was grateful that she didn't have to worry about feeding Mo Yuan blood from her heart anymore. It would have been difficult to explain a fresh wound above her heart.
"I was thinking the same thing." Bai Qian replied. "We will need to hide our Kunlun magic weapons as well." The weapons were famous and highly recognizable. If need be they could always retrieve them.
Quietly, the two sisters made their way out of the Den and towards Yanhua Cave. With a wave of her hand, Bai Li cast an enchantment to conceal the cave entrance. She had the more powerful magic, so they thought it best she cast it.
It was time to hide their weapons. Bai Li watched as her sister cast a protection spell around her fan before dropping it in the middle of the lake. She didn't feel right without her flute, so she opted to cast a concealment illusion along with suppression magic to make her flute look and feel like a normal bamboo one.
Happy that neither Mo Yuan nor their past identities would be discovered, the two headed back to the Fox Den.
"Li Li." Bai Li turned to face the Crown Prince who was emerging from Fourth Brother's room. "Ye Hua, do you need something." She was a little surprised to see him up. She had thought he had gone to sleep with his son.
Ye Hua, who had been making his way in her direction, stopped just a few feet from her. "A-Li has gone to sleep, so I've come to find you for a game of chess." That caused Bai Li's eyebrow to raise and a slight smirk to appear on her face. "A game of chess? You are brave to want to play against me." She only had a few people actually pose a challenge in chess, Mo Yuan and Zhe Yan being the main two. Occasionally, Fourth Brother would play a game that actually challenged her.
Ye Hua smiled happy to see her a little more relaxed with him. "I heard that you often play against High God Zhe Yan." He gestured for her to follow him to his quarters where he had already set up the board.
Bai Li was pleasantly surprised, Ye Hua proved to be quite the strategic player. They had played for nearly an hour before she had drifted off. All the running around after a small child was exhausting for someone not used to it.
She awoke to the faint sounds of footsteps approaching. She had managed to straighten herself up by the time Migu escorted two immortals from the Heavenly Realm into the room. "Migu, they are?" she asked the tree spirit.
Migu gestured over to the more formally dressed man next to him. "Aunt, this is Crown Prince's civil officer, Star Lord Jia Yun." He then moved his hand to the soldier next to him. "This is Crown Prince's military officer, Star Lord Tian Shu."
Both men greeted her and assured her that she wouldn't see them much. She was a little concerned about Tian Shu, since he would be stealthily watching over Ye Hua and A-Li, which probably extended to her as well. She would have to keep a close watch over his immortal aura, so that she didn't say or do anything to reveal their secrets.
She let out a yawn as she made her way out of the room. "Aunt. You look tired." Migu said after noticing that she seemed even more quiet than usual. He had just shown their guests out and returned carrying a few papers. "I stayed up late last night playing chess with Ye Hua. Where is Qian Qian?" She grabbed one of the documents and glanced over it. They were official documents for the ruler of Qing Qiu. "She is resting still. Perhaps you should also rest, Aunt?"
Bai Li shook her head. "I have too much to do. Bring these documents to my room. I will deal with them as well as the ones that came in during my absence." She knew there was no way her sister would deal with this.
For the most part, Qing Qiu tended to itself. However, there were still things that needed approval from the ruler. When Bai Qian started ruling, Migu had been delivering the documents to her. She will never forget the day when a frantic Migu came running out of the Fox Den upon hearing her arrival. He begged her to convince Qian Qian to tend to her duties as ruler. Unfortunately, her sister was both stubborn and lazy. In the end, she handled all the paperwork and has ever since.
After working on the documents for a while, she decided to go down by the water. She had hoped the daylight would rejuvenate her energy. She gently sat down underneath the small pavilion that overlooked the lake and pulled out her concealed dragon flute. She didn't get to enjoy the peace long before a whiny and obnoxious voice reached her ears.
A maid from the Celestial Palace was speaking with Migu, who seemed to be in a good mood. She slowly approached them, her long white dress being blown behind her. The maid was apparently sent by Consort Su Jin to remind her that she was not yet married to Ye Hua and that their behavior was inappropriate. Her eyes narrowed at the maid's presumptuous behavior.
"This is Qing Qiu." She finally addressed the uninvited guest. "Our laws are different here. If I were to go to the Celestial Palace, I will be sure to keep the laws in mind. However, you would do well to remember that you are just a maid from another realm, while I am both a princess and a high goddess."
Bai Li stopped just in front of the maid. "Also, do not presume you know me well enough to know what I am and am not doing."
"Are you bullying Qing Qiu because we have no guards?" Migu spoke, his behavior now mimicking the maids lofty attitude.
A group of immortals that had been tending to the field overheard the conversation and too decided that they didn't like the way the Celestial Palace maid was treating their beloved princess and Qing Qiu. As the people started to surround the now trembling maid, Bai Li turned to return to the Fox Den.
"Little Six, what were they clamoring about?" Bai Qian asked from the pavilion. She had just woken from her nap and heard her sister playing the flute. By the time she reached the pavilion, however, her sister was not there and a group of Qing Qiu immortals were upset about something.
Bai Li shook her head in irritation. "Some pretentious Celestial Palace maid and her mistress, Consort Su Jin, thought it fit to remind me that Ye Hua and I were not married. They had the gaul to presume that I was behaving inappropriately. The people of Qing Qiu drove her away before I unleashed myself upon her."
Bai Qian silently took in her sister's angered posture. She wondered if Sixth Sister was upset at what was being said or the reminder of his consort. "Su Jin? Ye Hua's consort?"
"Yes." Bai Li pondered for a bit. "I get the feeling she will be troublesome in the future." The maid seemed to be trying to provoke them with her words. She wondered what Su Jin had hoped to gain from this show.
She sighed and lightly shook her head, trying to shake away the thoughts. "Forget it. I am going to check on our guest."
Ye Hua was painting in his room having finished with the official documents delivered earlier that day. "You paint really well." She commented upon seeing the beautiful landscape he was painting. She vaguely remembered A-Li mentioned that his father had painted portraits of his mother.
For some reason, seeing the beautiful painting calmed her irritated nerves. "Your consort is concerned about you and is eager for your return. She believes that we are acting in an inappropriate manner for a pair not wed."
"I wanted to live here, so I came to live here." Ye Hua paused to look up at her. "All in all, you are my wife. How is it any other people's business?"
The mention of the word wife caused Bai Li's heart to quicken. "It is not, but I don't like the thought of people looking down on Qing Qiu or my sister due to a false perception of me." She knew her family was not very formal for being rulers and thus faced a lot of scrutiny. She didn't care if people disagreed with their lifestyle, but she didn't like them looking down on them because of a false perception.
"Bai Qian is a well respected high goddess and no one would dare look down on Qing Qiu." Ye Hua reminded her. He then waved his hand by the bed next to the desk he was working on. "Li Li, come sit."
Bai Li moved to sit on the bedding, watching as he put away his painting. "You should lie down." Her heart leapt hearing his comment. She shook her head to clear her mind before doing as he asked. There was no way he was going to do anything inappropriate. "Choose a comfortable position. Raise your hand and face me. Have a smile on your face."
She moved into a more comfortable position. "Are you going to paint me?" Ye Hua nodded his head while dipping his brush in the ink. "Very good." He had a slight smile on his face when he noticed her position.
"I heard that you brought Princess Miao Qing into the Celestial Palace." She didn't care for the silence and it was one of the things on her mind since the palace maid had come to cause trouble.
Ye Hua didn't look up from painting, but he did reply. "Miao Qing was insistent on not marrying the second prince of the West Sea. She had saved A-Li's life. I allowed her to go to the Celestial Palace to be a maid." He finally looked over at her. "When she has thought things through, she will eventually leave on her own."
Bai Li wanted to roll her eyes. The young princess was enamoured by him, so long as he fed her hope she will continue to stay. "I think you underestimate her determination. Besides, I don't believe her story about the second prince. He is not that kind of person." The moment she said those words she instantly regretted it.
Ye Hua had stopped his painting to look over at her. "You know him?" She had warned Bai Qian to be careful about what she said and it turns out that she was one to say something. "No, but Fourth Brother has met him and I know he was the Senior Disciple at Kunlun. I find it very hard to believe someone like that could be hedonistic."
It was quiet after that. Eventually, the lack of sleep she had caught up to her and she fell asleep on Ye Hua's bed. She vaguely remembers him placing his outer coat on her before complete darkness set in.
She awoke to the sound of rain. It seemed like one of the Water Gods decided that it was time for rain. She made her way out of Ye Hua's room and into the main area. The Fox Den was quiet. Bai Qian had left earlier to go visit Zhe Yan, hoping to get some of the wine he brews. She was about to call out Mi Gu's name when Ye Hua and A-Li came in.
"Prince Ye Hua. It seems our walk will have to be postponed. Perhaps I can entertain you with some music indoors." She suggested.
A-Li came running over to her and grabbed the front of her dress. He seemed to be excited. "Father says he's taking us to play in the mortal realm today." Bai Li looked up at Ye Hua who was approaching the two. "Fortunately, it's not raining in the mortal realm today."
She had only been to the mortal realm once when she was young. Fifth Sister brought her there to watch an opera at the tea house. It was the first time she ever heard a flute. "I am not familiar with the mortal realm."
"Mother, I'd like you to come." Bai Li couldn't resist A-Li's big pleading eyes. "If that's the case, then I better change into something more simple." In her head she quickly went over the various articles of clothing that made up her wardrobe. Most of them were clothing fit for a princess of Qing Qiu. She had a few plain clothes from her time as Si Lan. She debated about whether it was even safe to wear them, but reminded herself that 70,000 years had passed and no one would remember what she or Si Lan wore back then.
The dress was a simple blueish grey coloring with a light pattern to it. She took out her braids, instead opting to tie the top part of her hair back into a simple loose bun with a white ribbon. Before leaving, she made sure she had her concealed dragon flute. She felt uncomfortable when it wasn't by her side.
Bai Li smiled as she watched A-Li run towards the different stalls, trying out the various foods. "Mother, I want this one." A-Li pointed to some nuts. "Alright." She smiled before turning to the shopkeeper. "We will take a bag."
As the shopkeeper moved to pack up a bag of the chosen nuts, Bai Li turned to look at Ye Hua. "How come you wanted to come here today? Didn't you have a pile of important documents delivered earlier?" She remembered seeing Jai Yun's face when he came to deliver the newest documents and pick up the finished ones.
Ye Hua moved to whisper in her ear. "Today is A-Li's birthday." She gently hit him on the arm as they left the stand. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have had a gift prepared."
"What gift are you going to give him? A luminous pearl?" Ye Hua turned and asked her.
Bai Li rolled her eyes. "Of course not. Fifth Sister is the one who always gives those as gifts." She tapped her flute against her lip in thought as they continued to walk. What would she give the young prince? An idea suddenly popped into her head. "How about a small flute? I can teach him a few songs. I still remember the ones I used to play as…."
"Watch out!" Ye Hua quickly pushed her out of the way of an oncoming cart. Immediately her eyes snapped over to A-Li who was helping a little girl up. She made her way over to him. "A-Li are you alright? Are you injured?" She checked his little body for any signs of injuries, sighing in relief when she didn't see any.
Bai Li slowly stood up as a scene flashed her mind. It was her mother. She was sitting beside the bed stroking her hair. She was asking where she had been and how they could so injured after being gone for a few years. The only time she ever returned home injured was after the fights with Qing Cang and she hadn't been gone from Qing Qiu long when that happened. The longest she had ever been away was when she was younger and living with Fourth Brother.
"What's the matter?" Ye Hua's voice broke through her thoughts. "Nothing, just a little shocked." She quietly replied. However, she couldn't help but wonder. It didn't feel like a dream instead it felt more like a memory, which was even more confusing.
She was thankful for the break when Ye Hua suggested they get something to eat. Chasing after A-Li was exhausting. Who knew the rice ball would have some much energy. "This young master is quite adorable." the server said, looking at A-Li. The comment made Bai Li smile "He is but I wonder what he will look like as an adult." She couldn't help but wonder if he would look more like Ye Hua or his mother.
"Mother, do you not like me now?" A-Li asked her after the waiter left. "I just wonder who you will look like when you get older." She patted his head reassuringly.
Ye Hua has a smile on his face as he watched the two of them interact. He couldn't help but notice how caring Li Li was towards his son. "Daughters resemble their fathers and sons resemble their mothers. In my opinion, A-Li won't look anywhere near as bad when he is grown up."
Upon hearing his father's statement, a big smile appeared on A-Li's face as he stared at his mother. "Mother is beautiful. Naturally, I won't be anywhere ugly enough to bring Mother shame." It reminded Bai Li of the fact that she looked similar to A-Li's mother. "There is no doubt in my mind that you will grow up to be very handsome. Just remember that you need to be just as smart." She pinched his little cheeks playfully. "But no matter how you turn out, I will be there to protect you from any bullying."
"You are so good to me." the young prince beamed up at her.
Their loving family moment was interrupted briefly by the waiter dropping off some warm wine. She had just started pouring her and Ye Hua a glass when another helping of food was set in her bowl. "You like to eat this. Have more." Ye Hua reached over and grabbed another piece of food. "You hate eating this, but it's healthy. You are so skinny. Even if it doesn't pain you to see yourself like this, it pains me."
His concern made her slightly flustered. He must have noticed it because he reached over and set his hand on top of hers. "Li Li, if you can't bear to listen to these endearing words what will you do from now on?"
"I am just not used to people being concerned for me. Usually, I am the one caring for other people." She might have been the youngest child, but out of the younger three Bai siblings she was the most nurturing. Her Fourth Brother was the only person who usually worried about her since he was the one that raised her.
Thankfully the embarrassing subject was dropped when Jia Yun entered the small restaurant. "My Lord, Aunt." Jia Yun bowed to them. "Deities from all around the world have arrived for Heavenly Lord's birthday feast. Second Price Die Feng of West Sea arrived at the Celestial Palace and came to Zichen Hall soon after saying he has urgent matters to discuss in person. I dared not delay, and came in search of Your Highness."
Ye Hua turned to her. "Keep A-Li company. I have to return to the Celestial Palace. I'll come back to look for you two tonight." Bai Li could sense the seriousness and knew that Ye Hua wouldn't leave A-Li on his birthday unless it was important. "Very Well."
Bai Li was really starting to wonder if A-Li was part fox. The boy was constantly running off and causing trouble with his curiosity. She even had to whisk him away when he suddenly ran into the brothel they passed after hearing that it was a flower house. She wondered if she gave Fourth Brother as hard of a time when she was little.
She looked around hoping to find something she could do to entertain the boy until his father returned. "Why don't we go look at the lanterns?" She pointed over just past the bridge covered in lit lanterns where some shops were. When A-Li eagerly nodded his head she grabbed his hand to lead him over there.
Before they could cross the bridge a man in white jumped into their path. "Miss, you are truly a beautiful looking woman. I very much admire you."
"Thank you." Bai Li smiled uncomfortably and tried to move passed him but the man did not seem inclined to let her go, trying to grab her hand. "Your hand is fair and delicate as well! I have fallen in love with you at first sight. Would you.." The male tried to reach out to touch her face when a hand suddenly grabbed the offending limb.
Bai Li felt Ye Hua place his hand on her back as he moved closer towards her. "You seem to be having a merry time taking liberties with my wife." Ye Hua said looking at the man cradling his injured hand.
She wondered if she would get in trouble for whisking the obnoxious mortal man away to a dark hole somewhere. "I was wondering when you would return."
"You are a man of talent to have managed to annoy my father. Goodbye now. Take care!" A-Li bowed to the man knowing that his father would punish him for accosting his mother. Unfortunately, the man was not very bright. "How dare you? Do you know who I am?" Suddenly the man finished as Ye Hua wisped him away somewhere.
Bai Li couldn't help but smirk at the fate of the man. "Please tell me you sent him somewhere dark."
"I don't know." She let out a laugh at his response and silently hoped it was somewhere far away. "I was about to send him to the haunted forest nearby." She mused.
Ye Hua turned to look at her with an upset expression. "Why didn't you try to avoid him when he was taking advantage of you?" She blinked at him not quite understanding what the big deal was. "It was just a touch."
She was shocked when he suddenly pulled her into his arms. The people around them started staring until Ye Hua froze everything. He pulled her even closer to his body. She heard A-Li giggle before a pair of warm lips descended on hers. The kiss was light, but it left her stunned. "That was just a kiss."
With a wave of his hand everything resumed again. Ye Hua noticed that she was still dazed from the sudden kiss and took her hand. "Why not buy a lantern?" A shopkeeper called out to them causing A-Li to run over to look at them.
The shopkeeper handed her a lantern. They didn't really lit lanterns in the immortal realm, since usually it was done in prayer to a god. She wondered what gods, or in her case goddesses, prayed for. "What do we pray for?"
"It's just about making a memory. Do you really believe releasing a lantern can make everything in life go well?" Ye Hua said paying for the lanterns.
It was a beautiful sight, watching the lanterns float away. A-Li seemed to really enjoy it and didn't want to return to the Celestial Realm. He wanted to spend the night in the mortal realm and see what mortal beds felt like.
The innkeeper must have thought that Ye Hua and her were a married couple because the room they were given only had a large single bed. She was a little nervous about sharing the room and decided to do something relaxing.
"Do you think I will wake him if I play?" Bai Li asked watching as Ye Hua summoned some of the documents he needed to read. "No. A-Li is a sound sleeper."
She made her way over to the window and started playing a tune. It was one she couldn't seem to stop playing. She never played it prior to Qing Cang but it seemed to be the only song she played since she woke up.
Ye Hua stopped reading his documents as the familiar tune and looked over at Bai Li. The song she was playing was the song Su Su wrote. "Where did you learn that song?" He asked after the song ended.
"I don't know. I can't remember, but it seems to be all I play now." Bai Li set down her flute and made her way into the bed, scooting the slumbering A-Li over to make room. Sometime in the night she swears she felt fingers against her cheek and heard Ye Hua saying "I've always known how you are with promises, but I didn't realize how resolved you are. You have forgotten all about the past. I hope you will remember and at the same time, I hope that you will never remember."
She decided that she must have dreamed it when she saw Ye Hua in the same position as when she fell asleep. He had food sitting on the table for them. "Did you make this?" She asked having tasted the food. None of the food they had ordered in the mortal world could compare to Ye Hua's cooking and she found herself not eating as much because of it.
"The food here is hard to stomach. I borrowed their kitchen to make this half pot of porridge." He replied. "When we were at Mount Junji, I was also unaccustomed to the cooking of the princess of the Eastern Sea. However, Father didn't cook any food just for me." A-Li pouted, a little jealous of the fact his father gave his mother special attention.
Instead of addressing his biased behavior, Ye Hua moved to talk about something more serious. "I have business to attend to later back at the Celestial Palace."
"Father, you're leaving?" A-Li asked disappointedly. "Cheng Yu said absence makes the heart grow fonder. You and Mother were already separated for 300 years. How can you bear to part now?"
Ye Hua looked closely at his son. "Have you forgotten what day it is?"
"What day is it? Let me think about what day it is in Heaven." A-Li pondered a little bit. "Oh! It's the Heavenly Lord's birthday." He exclaimed suddenly remembering.
Ye Hua nodded. "That's correct."
"Are you taking me and Mother to celebrate the Heavenly Lord's birthday?" A-Li seemed excited to celebrate with his mother and father. Bai Li however felt herself wince at the idea of attending another banquet. The last one caused her enough headaches.
Thankfully, Ye Hua knew her well enough to reject the idea. "Your mother doesn't like to go to these sorts of banquets. I will just go by myself."
"All right." A-Li was happy he wouldn't be leaving his mother anytime soon, but he hoped his father would return quickly.
Bai Li smiled and rubbed the young boy's head. "It looks like it is just me and you today. Why don't I teach you how to play the flute?" She silently wondered how she was going to be able to cook for the boy while his father was away.
She wasn't able to cook, but she did decide that they would eat a mix of raw vegetables, nuts and fruit. It might not be the most nutritious meal, but it would have to do until Ye Hua returns. She was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get the young prince down to sleep. For such a high energy boy, he fell asleep pretty well.
"So did I miss anything while I was gone?" Bai Qian asked, leaning on the stone opening of the room. "Ye Hua is attending the Heavenly Lord's birthday in the Celestial Realm. I will be watching A-Li while he is gone." Bai Li motioned for her sister to follow her back to the main room.
She noticed the wine jugs her sister brought back from Ten-Mile of Peach Tree Woods. She sat down and grabbed a jug, noticing her sister's amused look. "You seem to enjoy playing the role of mother." Bai Qian teased.
Bai Li thought for a moment. She too had wondered why she seemed to have the need to take on the role of mother to her future stepson. Whenever she looked at A-Li she felt this overwhelming urge to care for him. "He is a good kid. I feel a little sorry for him." She rationalized. "Besides you helped to prepare me for the role of a mother."
"Ha ha ha. Very funny. I also noticed you seemed to be enjoying the role of wife." Bai Qian remarked as she glanced at her little sister. Bai Li looked down at the cup she was drinking. It was strange. The idea of marrying Ye Hua was not as disagreeable as it had once been. "I find myself not as opposed to the idea as I had been prior to meeting the Crown Prince."
The two goddesses stayed up a little while longer and talked about the latest gossip Zhe Yan had told Bai Qian. He had warned them that sixteenth had returned to Kunlun, so the two of them would not be able to return there. They finished one bottle of wine before heading off to bed.
Bai Li spent most of the next day teaching A-Li the flute. She had snuck out to the market while Bai Qian entertained A-Li and bought a flute for his birthday. It was a pretty black one made from wood from a peach tree. It wasn't as long as hers, but it was the perfect size for his small hands.
"Mother, when is Father coming back?" A-Li asked as they munched on some fruit. "I want to eat steamed mushrooms, and cabbage and radish soup." The boy was missing his father's cooking about as much as she was. "Soon hopefully."
The boy suddenly jumped up. "Father is back!"
Ye Hua knelt down to see what was in his son's hands. "Didn't I tell you A-Li is growing right now? He can't just eat these the entire day."
"I know. That's why I tried to add in some vegetables and nuts. I figured that would be the most nutritious, at least until you returned to cook actual meals. I was hoping you would return soon." She didn't realize the full meaning of what she said until Ye Hua took her hand in his. "You've really been hoping for my return?"
A-Li noticed the red coloring that spread across Bai Li's face. "Father, Mother is blushing."
Her eyes darted around hoping for some sort of interruption. Her eyes finally caught sight of the flute lying on the table. "You should have A-Li play for you. I have something to attend to." She quickly darted out of the room, trying hard to calm her rapid heart rate. What was it about the Crown Prince that made her so flustered.
It seemed that Bai Li and A-Li were not the only ones missing Ye Hua's food. Bai Qian had ordered Migu to find someone to study under Ye Hua, so that when he left Qing Qiu she would still have someone to cook at the Fox Den.
"What is going on?" Ye Hua asked when he noticed the long line of people waiting to speak with Bai Qian. Bai Li sighed, shaking her head slightly at her sister's logic. "My sister has decided to choose a disciple for you. She has grown attached to your cooking. I should talk to her about dropping this foolish notion."
They both made their way to the small pavilion where the interviews were taking place. Migu was gathering information, while Bai Qian sat sipping on tea. "Fifth Sister, tell them all to leave. You didn't even ask Ye Hua if he would teach anyone."
"None of them look like they have the talent." Ye Hua said sitting next to Bai Li. "However, you look like you'd do well." He smiled at Bai Qian's slight terrified look. He knew that she would never step foot in the kitchen.
"Migu." She called over to the tree spirit. "Aunt, which one has the Crown Prince chosen?" Migu asked bending down to hear Bai Qian's answer. "He doesn't like any of them. Tell them to disperse." She wondered briefly if she could convince her future brother-in-law if he would teach Migu, but decided to drop the subject.
The poor tree spirit was disappointed that they wouldn't have a cook at the Fox Den. "Migu, why don't you take A-Li on a boat ride." Bai Li suggested. The boy had been helping Migu with the interviews and now had nothing to do.
"Li Li." Ye Hua called to get the goddess' attention. "Come take a walk with me."
Bai Li could tell that the Crown Prince wanted to say something to her in private, so she nodded her head in agreement. "Qian Qian, keep an eye on them will you." She gestured over to Migu and A-Li who were getting on the only boat in the pond. Her sister merely waved them off and continued to drink her tea.
"I am surprised. With Bai Qian's level of laziness even this pond's flowers were left to survive on their own. Yet, they still ended up looking like natural decorations. They're not inferior to those in the Celestial Palace's lotus pond. How rare." Ye Hua said taking in the beautiful scenery.
Bai Li too looked at the beauty that was her home. She always loved Qing Qiu. "There is something special about natural things. They tend to be more beautiful than most people realize." She paused to look over at the lotuses in the pond. "But I don't really know how it compares to the Celestial Palace's lotus pond."
Ye Hua stopped and turned around to face her. "Do you want to see it?" She wondered if he was trying to ask if she wanted to go to the Celestial Palace with him. His question seemed to have an underlying meaning. "See the lotus pond? Perhaps some day."
"According to what you said, you've never been to the Celestial Palace. Aren't you curious?" She knew he was trying to appeal to the famous curiosity that foxes were known to have. However, she was smart enough to know what types of curiosities could lead to troublesome things. Right now she did not want to deal with all the rules in heaven. "Wouldn't it be tiring if I became curious of every place I have never been to."
She heard the sound of someone cloud jumping and turned to see A-Li alone in the boat. "Someone must be at the Fox Den." With a wave of her hand she brought A-Li to the shore. "Shall we go see what guest has arrived?"
Bai Li was surprised to see Migu escorting a heavily pregnant Shao Xin to the pavilion where Bai Qian was still sitting sipping on tea. "Migu, why don't you finish taking A-Li on that boat ride." Bai Li said sitting down on one of the chairs surrounding the table. Ye Hua took a seat next to her and poured them both a cup of tea.
"Since you have come to see me, you must have decided what to ask of me." Bai Qian addressed the now kneeling Shao Xin. They all noticed the snake spirits eyes flickering to Ye Hua. "Lord Ye Hua is not a stranger. Go ahead and speak." Bai Qian didn't have the patience to deal with the woman's timidness.
"Aunt." Shao Xin said softly. "Can you save my child, Yuan Zhen?" Bai Qian's tone softened slightly. "Save your child?"
Once again Shao Xin's eyes flickered to Ye Hua. "It was the Heavenly Lord's birthday banquet a few days ago. My Lord had brought Yuan Zhen and a gift to the Nine Heavens to celebrate the Heavenly Lord's birthday. Who could have known that Yuan Zhen would cause trouble in Xiwu Palace that night and nearly…" her eyes flicked over to the darkly dressed male again. "he nearly molested Consort Su Jin of Xiwu Palace."
"Molested Su Jin?" Both Bai Li and Bai Qian's eyes turned to Ye Hua who was still calmly sipping his tea. Now they understood why the little snake was so scared to speak with him present.
Shao Xin's soft spoken tone suddenly became slightly more rushed with her next few words. "Yuan Zhen stopped at the last moment, but the Heavenly Lord was alerted. The Heavenly Lord was exceptionally furious and had Yuan Zhen immediately bound by an Immortal Seal and then issued a decree to have Yuan Zhen undergo a trial in the Mortal Realm for 60 years. After 60 years, he can return to the ranks of the immortals."
"This punishment does sound a bit severe for attempted harassment." Bai Qian said after a brief pause. Her words echoing what Bai Li had thought.
"Yuan Zhen is a good and kind hearted child. He doesn't even have the heart to step on an ant in the road. I earnestly ask that you save his life, Aunt." Shao Xin pleaded.
Bai Qian looked a little uncomfortable and tossed a glance at Ye Hua. "But... he harassed Lord Ye Hua's side consort." Ye Hua finally decided to speak up. "No need to defer to me. I also think Yuan Zhen was punished too severely."
His response took both Bai Li and Bai Qian by surprise. "But it was your side consort." Bai Li stated while staring at him like he grew a second head. "I don't have side consort." His response was short and made her wonder if the rumors that Su Jin was favored by Ye Hua were completely untrue.
Ye Hua's reaction to everything must have given Shao Xin some hope. "Since Your Highness thinks the punishment is too severe as well..please go to the Mortal Realm and save him, Aunt!"
"His life isn't in danger. It is a Mortal Trial that will end in 60 years, is it not?" Bai Li was curious as to why the woman was treating this like a life sentence.
"Because I have made inquiries and learned that Yuan Zhen will encounter a major ordeal when he is 18 years old. This ordeal will ruin his life. I cannot bear to see him subjected to such torture so I ask you to please change his predestined fate so he can make it through this lifetime safely." Shao Xin once again pleaded.
Bai Qian played with the Cloud Clearing Fan, the one she gave to Shao Xin to keep until she thought of what favor she wished from her. "So you came to see me to help your son pass this trial?"
Shao Xin lowered her head slightly. "Yes. I do not dare to beg you to ask for a favor to pardon him from punishment." She paused before continuing. "I only ask that you secretly help him."
"You were quite clever to ask me to help you with this. It seems the little snake thought things through. You know that even if I change Yuan Zhen's fate the Heavenly Lord won't pursue this matter with me, right?" Bai Qian's eyes finally left the fan to look towards the pregnant woman.
"I know that in this world only you are able to do this." Shao Xin raised her eyes to look at Bai Qian. Bai Li knew she was not the only one. She could also interfere without consequence.
"Alright, I promise you. I will do this for you. But after it is done, our relationship as mistress and servant will be over. You will have no more ties to Qing Qiu." This was the last favor Bai Qian would ever do for the little snake spirit she befriended all those years ago.
Tears welled up in Shao Xin's eyes as she realized that after this all her ties with Qing Qiu and Bai Qian would be severed. "I thank you for granting me this wish." She said with a shaky voice and bowed deeply to her previous mistress.