"How is it that I know nothing of this? When did you go to Taichen Palace to ask, hmm?"
Yaoguang was rarely seen in crimson. Though her disposition was quiet and refined, it suited the vibrant red attire exceptionally well, as if the garment had been born just for her.
Even the most dazzling, brilliant red took on a noble tranquility upon her, radiating a subtle, mesmerizing allure that left one entirely entranced. Baize could only feel that her beauty was almost aggressively overwhelming.
"Yaoguang... you're so gorgeous. I love you, and I want to have babies with you!"
"Is it really that pretty?"
As if unable to believe it, Yaoguang reached out a finger to hook Baize's chin, gazing into his hazy eyes.
She tried to find an answer within them.
"Pretty!" Baize said firmly.
Looking at Yaoguang's rosy lips, he swallowed slightly.
Under Yaoguang's half-smiling gaze, he slowly leaned in.
And kissed her gently.
A sigh escaped both of them at the same time,
as if their very souls were locking together.
After a long moment,
the air was saturated with the scent of romance, and a single silver thread of saliva parted them.
"A Ze, tell me honestly, are you truly Baize? Could some fox spirit from goodness-knows-where have stolen this flesh and blood, making me cherish you... oh, so dearly?"
She felt as though her years of waiting had finally borne fruit.
Yaoguang affectionately showered kisses upon Baize's brightly flushed temples, as if she could never get enough of him.
"I am Baize, not a fox spirit!"
He whispered a soft protest, his consciousness still remembering how that fox named Siyin had displeased Yaoguang.
"Alright, alright, A Ze is no fox spirit."
Perhaps the atmosphere was simply too intoxicating; Yaoguang reached for the wine on the table and took a sip.
Then she leaned in and kissed him once more.
The spicy wine, passed between them in this manner, turned sweet and delicious.
The candlelight was extinguished by some unseen force, and the room was instantly plunged into darkness.
Immediately, a rustling sound followed.
The night was too pitch-black to tell who had made the first move.
One could only hear garments being tossed onto the floor, piece by piece.
The ordinarily clear sky suddenly rumbled with a few muffled claps of thunder, and flowers on the verge of blooming shyly folded themselves back up.
They turned once more into tight buds, waiting only for tomorrow's sun to rise before smiling open again.
"Tell me, am I better, or is Moyuan better?"
"My darling, what nonsense are you spouting? Naturally, my own A Ze is the best. Hush now, this is hardly the hour for idle chatter—don't waste such a spring night~"
The moon hid itself behind dark clouds.
Only the stars flickered faintly in the sky, like peeping toms spying on the passionate romance within the room.
***
Daylight broke bright and clear.
Baize felt utterly refreshed, a faint blush still lingering on his cheeks.
His brows and eyes were brimmed with deep satisfaction.
Last night, he had finally united with Yaoguang, and soon they would have a little baby of their own.
Who knows what daydreams were running through his mind; one moment he was frowning, and the next he was chuckling aloud.
Proppping her head up, Yaoguang lay on her side upon the couch, watching him with amused interest.
"What are you thinking about? So happy."
Realizing Yaoguang was awake, Baize eagerly pounced onto her, planting several kisses across her face.
"I was wondering if you might have a baby in your tummy already, and whether it'll be a boy or a girl if you do."
"It's far too early for that. The higher one's cultivation, the harder it is to conceive."
Yaoguang pulled Baize over, pressing him into her embrace.
"However, if A Ze works a little harder, who knows when a tiny new life might just appear right here."
No one would dare disturb them in these chambers for the next few days.
The two of them could finally enjoy some quiet conversation.
"Then there's no time like the present!"
This struck right at the heart of Baize's desires, and he instantly wrapped his arms around Yaoguang.
Before long, the room once more swelled with the sounds of evenly matched, joyous rapture.
Yulan and several maidservants had intended to come over and ask if they wanted something to eat.
Hearing those sounds erupt so suddenly, every last one of them fled in blushing panic.
"Yulan-jiejie, High God Zheyan is looking for you!"
Early this morning, Zheyan had hurried over from the Ten-Mile Peach Blossom Grove.
The maidservants of Yaoguang Palace saw him approaching and assumed he had come regarding some grave matter.
Instead, Zheyan announced he was looking for Yulan.
"I'm coming right now!"
Yulan figured High God Zheyan must have come to deliver her compensation.
So she bounded over with eager excitement.
Alas, poor Yulan was promptly carried off into the big bad wolf's den.
First, she was tricked into the Ten-Mile Peach Blossom Grove, where not only did she have several magical artifacts handed to her, but she was also made to drink peach blossom wine.
That single cup of wine left her sound asleep for days.
When she finally woke up, she was greeted by horrifying news: High God Zheyan had asked High God Yaoguang for her hand in marriage.
Yet Yulan clearly remembered that Zheyan's affections lay with that High God Baizhi from Qingqiu—wait, Baizhen!
"High God Zheyan, I may just be a lowly little immortal, but I have my principles! If you're only using me to make High God Baizhen jealous, that is going much too far for Yulan!"
Zheyan touched his split lip, offering a helpless, bitter chuckle.
That business with Baizhen really had become a black mark on his history.
Clearly, this little lass had taken advantage of her drunkenness to ambush him with a fierce kiss.
"This deity has always preferred women; whatever Baizhen said that day was utter nonsense."
"I don't believe you!"
"Why ever not?"
Tens of thousands of years ago, Zheyan had held some romantic interest in Ningshang, but Ningshang had ended up with Baizhi.
Yulan was only the second maiden he had ever truly fancied in his vast, long life.
In the past, fairy maidens had flocked to him like ducks, so he never expected this little girl to keep him at arm's length.
Could it be that after all these years, he had simply grown old?
And lost his looks?
To the point where he couldn't even win a young girl's heart?
For the very first time, Zheyan doubted his own handsome appearance.
"I've heard all about it, Yulan has! Back then, you even descended to the mortal realm to help High God Baizhen through his heavenly tribulation, taking the place of his beloved to live out a mortal lifetime with him. How can you say that isn't love?"
That was sheer, preposterous slander!
Zheyan was so furious he slapped his own thigh. He had merely assumed the mortal's appearance to help Baizhen survive a fatal tribulation, while it was that actual mortal who had lived out a lifetime with Baizhen.
How on earth had he become the one "taking that mortal's place"?
Absurd! So this was how his reputation had been dragged through the mud.
"Don't let me find out who was behind spreading those lies!"
Seeing this, Yulan's conviction wavered slightly. Could she genuinely have been mistaken?
Catching the young maid's doubtful gaze, a frustrated Zheyan reached out and yanked her toward him.
Pulling her into his arms, he crushed his lips to hers in a deep, fierce kiss.
"Oh dear, oh dear, in broad daylight, beneath the bright sun..."
Before Baize could finish his sentence, Yaoguang clapped her hands over his eyes.
"Children shouldn't watch such things—you'll get styes in your eyes!"
They had merely come out in search of some wine, never expecting to witness an old phoenix robbing the cradle.
Holding a young girl in his arms and kissing her for all he was worth!
"I am of age! I can look!"
"No, you cannot!"
Just as he pried Yaoguang's hands away from his face, they were clamped back over his eyes.
"Yaoguang won't let me watch, could it be you want to sneak a peek yourself? I want to see too!"
Finally breaking free of her restraints, Baize blinked his large eyes rapidly.
Prepared to watch to his heart's content.
Unfortunately, their blatant spectatorship completely ruined the mood.
Yulan flushed crimson and buried her face firmly in Zheyan's chest.