Ming Xi turned his head and saw a bowl of medicine indeed steaming on the table. He walked over, sat on the soft couch, picked up the medicine, and drank it while stealing glances at the person in the yard with starry eyes.
Is this a celestial realm?
He remembered it was winter now, so how could there be peach blossoms in the yard? The bean sprouts in the room were also growing extremely lush.
Could I have stumbled into a demon's lair?
No wonder the person in the yard is so beautiful, just like a thousand-year-old fox spirit from the storybooks.
In the yard, Ling Cang's scissors paused among the flower branches. First, his brows furrowed slightly, then the corners of his mouth lifted. He cut a sprig of peach blossoms, turned, and entered the house.
Seeing the thousand-year-old fox coming in, Ming Xi immediately stood up alertly, clutching the bowl, a dark ring of medicine residue around his mouth, his eyes wide and fixed on the newcomer.
He's coming in. Is he... is he going to eat me?
Ming Xi swallowed hard and took a step back.
"M-Mister Fox, p-please don't eat me. I'm all grown up; my meat is tough and wouldn't taste good."
The smile on Ling Cang's lips deepened. He stepped closer to Ming Xi. Just as Ming Xi thought he was about to open his bloody maw to devour him, a hand gently touched his lips, wiping away the dark medicine stain.
Ling Cang took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and meticulously wiped his hand, saying with a straight face, "I'll fatten you up first, then eat you."
Ming Xi was stunned. "Huh?"
Ling Cang had already turned away, a smile playing on his lips as he arranged the freshly picked peach blossoms in a patterned porcelain vase.
Good thing the denizens of the heavenly realm aren't here, he mused inwardly.
They'd surely think they were seeing things, or that the Divine Emperor had been struck by lightning. Otherwise, why would he be smiling? And even using his venerable, precious hands to wipe a mortal's mouth?
Ming Xi looked outside at the icy, snowy world, then back inside at the overflowing fragrance of flowers, becoming even more convinced this man was a thousand-year-old fox. He hurried after him. "Y-you mustn't eat me. I can help you with work."
Ling Cang fiddled with the flower branch in his hand, not even looking up. "I can do the work myself." He stepped over to pick up a watering can.
Ming Xifollowed. "I... I can cook for you."
Ling Cang stopped and turned around. Ming Xi, not noticing the person in front had stopped, bumped *thump* into Ling Cang's solid chest. He covered his nose and looked up.
"You know how?"
Ling Cang said. He had already seen the child's memories. Born into a noble family, he was waited on hand and foot and had never once cooked.
Ming Xi covered his nose, his eyes evasive. "I... I can learn."
Ling Cang turned away. Ming Xi grew anxious and grabbed his sleeve.
"I can warm your bed!!"
When his father made his dad angry, just offering to warm the bed would immediately make him smile. This person seemed angry; he wondered if it would work?
Ling Cang turned sideways, looking down at him from his height. The child's ink-black hair reached his waist, the tip of his nose slightly red, his lips red and teeth white, his face like beautiful jade, eyebrows like distant mountains, his gaze shifting with a touch of tenderness, his eyes utterly captivating.
"Very well," a cool voice came from above.
[Capital of the Qing Kingdom.]
"What? He's missing?" Mingli shot up from the dragon throne.
"Your Majesty, it is this subordinate's incompetence," Ye Xiao and Xuan Yue knelt on the ground, covered in wounds. They didn't dare tell Cao Jun and Shu Ge'er directly, fearing they couldn't bear it, and could only report to the Emperor first.
Since the Regent had stepped down, he had handed them over to the Emperor, so their master now was the Emperor.
The Emperor threw a memorial at Ye Xiao and scolded,
"Useless! What were my orders? Even if you died, Ming Xi was not to come to harm! How am I supposed to explain this to Father and Dad?"
"Your Majesty, it was the work of the Rong Di. Prince Huai and his master disguised themselves as human traffickers selling people. The young master bought them. They struck at the cliff near Yunxi Village, forcing the young master to jump," Xuan Yue reported, cupping his hands.
"The Rong Di. Good, very good. I originally intended to leave them a path to survival. It seems it's unnecessary. Send word to the General. No need to hold back," Mingli said, tightly gripping the memorial in his hand.
"As for Father and Dad... don't tell them for now." He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I will find an opportunity to tell them."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xuan Yue and Ye Xiao withdrew.
Night at the West Mountain slope, Yunxi Village.
The stars were exceptionally bright. Ming Xi, wrapped in his white mink cloak, stood outside the bedroom door, hesitating, unable to decide whether to enter or not.
With a *creak*, the door opened from the inside. Ling Cang, dressed in white brocade robes, his hair loosely flowing, glanced at the person at the door and turned back into the room.
Ming Xi pursed his lips, stepped inside, and closed the door behind him.
Tonight, I'm warming the fox spirit's bed.
The room was also filled with potted vegetables. A thick, plush rug was spread on the soft couch, looking very comfortable to sleep on.
Maybe I can sleep on the soft couch after warming the bed, Ming Xi thought.
But before he could turn around, Ling Cang glanced at him, went over, rolled up the thick plush rug from the soft couch, and tossed it into a corner. Then, he lifted the quilt and got into the bed. He casually bent his right knee, resting his right arm loosely on it with his chin propped in his hand. His left hand patted the bed lightly. A smirk tugged at his lips, the image the very picture of a millennia-old fox spirit being seductive.
Ming Xistared, dumbfounded. He glanced at the rug in the corner and asked angrily,
"Why... why did you throw it away?"
Ling Cang's lips curved into a smile.
"My things. I can throw them away if I want. Why so many questions?"
He patted the bed again, gesturing for Ming Xi to come up.
Ming Xi pressed his lips together.
Right.
His things. He can throw them away if he wants.
What right do I have to question him?
Fuming, he stomped over, lifted the quilt, and burrowed into the bed. After lying down, he realized he was still wearing the cloak. He rustled around sitting up, took off the cloak, folded it neatly, placed it on the bedside cabinet, and lay back down with his back to Ling Cang, as if in a huff.
After lying down, his eyes lit up.
The bed is so warm!
Even warmer than his bed in the capital stuffed with warming braziers.
Thinking of the capital made him sad. He reached out and picked at the pattern on the bedspread in front of him. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of peach blossom scent and remembered this man wasn't human.
He slowly turned over, only a pair of round eyes visible, peeking at Ling Cang, who was reading a storybook.
Ling Cang looked over. "Something wrong?"
Ming Xi hemmed and hawed.
"You... you're a fox, right? You must have incredible powers. Can you... can you let my family know I'm still alive?"
Ling Cang *snapped* the storybook in his hand shut. He looked at Ming Xi, then suddenly grinned. "What will you exchange for it?"
Ming Xiwas delighted. He really can send a message!
But then he remembered he had nothing to his name now.
"My... my family is rich. My father can give you lots and lots of money."
Ling Cang smiled and shook his head.
"My brother is the Emperor, a Great General. He can make you a very high official."
Ling Cang continued to smile and shake his head.
Ming Xi pouted, looked at him, his eyes turning red, then quietly turned over, burying himself under the quilt and weeping silently.
Deep in the night, Ling Cang got up and turned the figure over. He looked down at Ming Xi's swollen, red eyes and sighed softly. Gently, he passed his hand over them. A golden light flashed, and the swelling instantly disappeared. His face was pale again, only the tip of his nose remained slightly red, with fine beads of sweat.
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