Chapter 3: The Child Is Gone

Spring had arrived, the season when all living beings in the world are stirred by desire. Azure Mist of the Flower Valley was an ancient demon; it had long since forgotten the taste of desire. More often than not, it would coil itself atop the large green stone beside the stream, reminiscing about the days when it was a young snake. Whenever the ice melted and the flowers bloomed, it would emerge to seek mates—sometimes one male snake, sometimes several.

Yet, no matter how wild those times might have been, the sensations had faded beyond recall. After all, back then, it had not yet awakened its spirit, lacked any true memory. Like all other snakes, it simply obeyed the mechanical urges of the body, a puppet driven by the heavenly order, dutifully propagating the species to ensure the continuation of serpents.

Now, without the shelter of magic, confined within a sack of flesh, Azure Mist found itself overtaken by desire once more. It was surely the workings of the seasons, it thought with certainty.

Following the scent of a "man," it slithered from his feet to the side of his head, kneeling beside his face. By the light of the bedside lamp, it leaned in close, studying him intently. He had long, arched brows, thick and dark, slanting upwards, with eyes long, nose high, and lips red—truly a beautiful sight. It whispered softly, eyes alight with avidity, more infatuated than even a flower spirit.

Form is emptiness; emptiness is form.

Suddenly, the words of the Buddha exploded in its mind. Azure Mist furrowed its brow in vexation, a little resentful of the great monk who had once awakened its spirit.

Beauty and bones are but illusions; every blade of green bamboo is the body of the law; every yellow blossom is but wisdom.

For no reason at all, the scene of that monk expounding the Way to it resurfaced once more.

Such torment. Azure Mist clutched its belly and rolled wordlessly on the pillow.

Ji Ye remained awake throughout. He wanted to see what new tricks You Daidai might try, but as it turned out, the woman was as clumsy as ever, her wits desperately lacking. He lay there, letting her do as she pleased, yet she was at a loss.

At this thought, he couldn't help but sneer, calling her a fool in his heart, then closed his eyes—this time, truly intent on sleep. He was not like You Daidai, who could sleep whenever she pleased during the day. Once he fulfilled his duties at the hour of the tiger, he would have no rest for the entire day.

"It hurts." Azure Mist didn't know what was wrong; it only felt a deep pain. Pitifully, it pushed at the man before it, hoping he would help.

Oh, how pitiful—stripped of its power. How miserable it was.

"I'm tired. Sleep." Ji Ye no longer wanted to indulge her games; he truly was weary. He pulled the brocade cover over his head, intent on becoming a turtle hiding in its shell.

Azure Mist stuck out its tongue in protest, but unfortunately, even its tongue was no longer the same—short and seemingly stitched together.

Its misery deepened. Unable to bear it, it pushed at him again, soft and helpless. "It hurts so much. Please, help me."

"Be quiet."

The voice from beneath the covers was full of irritation, but Azure Mist could not hear it. In its distress, who could expect a demon to understand another's impatience, let alone retreat considerately?

Azure Mist was especially spoiled and entitled. Whatever it set its mind to, it would not deny itself. So far, all its desires had been fulfilled, and this time would be no exception.

"I'm sick." Azure Mist poked him with a finger.

He didn't believe her. Ever since You Daidai had conceived, she was "ill" every couple of days, wishing he would be at her side at every moment, soothing and indulging her.

How utterly laughable.

"Are you still alive?" Azure Mist strained to lift its head above his, asking.

Ji Ye was so exasperated he laughed. Throwing aside the covers, he sat up abruptly. Azure Mist, slow to react, was struck on the head and tumbled to the side, unable to rise.

Beads of sweat covered its brow and face, its complexion turned ashen, arms wrapped tight around its belly—it was clearly in pain.

Azure Mist thought it was dying—perhaps this sack of flesh was simply incompatible with its spirit.

"Woe is me! Save the snake!"

Ji Ye realized something was wrong. A thought flashed through his mind, his expression changed, and a hidden excitement flickered in his eyes. He scooped her into his arms, feigning concern. "Daidai, what's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

He didn't hear a word Azure Mist was saying, or even if he did, he chose to ignore it. For a woman he despised, her tears, her laughter, her pain—all were beyond the scope of his concern.

"My whole body hurts. Oh, I'm dying," Azure Mist moaned in his arms, her mind conjuring a scene: a vast desert of yellow sand and withered grass beneath endless sky, a dead snake hanging from a shriveled branch, fluttering in the wind, drying quickly—its name, Azure Mist.

Oh, how pitiful.

Azure Mist fancied itself the mummified snake from the tale of the little match girl.

It reached out a paw and clutched Ji Ye's collar, frowning and pouting. "I'm about to die. You mustn't forget to bury me with plenty of dried fish. Every snake must die, but even in death, I cannot go without my dried fish. Though our acquaintance is brief, you must let me die in peace."

Were it not for the gravity of the moment, Ji Ye would have burst out laughing. How had he never realized before that You Daidai could be so unpredictably amusing?

"Attend me!"

Li Fuquan, who waited outside the door, was ever vigilant. Thus, in the stillness of the night, he was the first to respond to the Emperor's call.

One must have exceptional endurance and a masterful eye for others' moods to rise to the top among eunuchs. Only by enduring the bitterest hardship can one become a person above others.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied, stepping inside and waiting silently by the screen.

The night was clear and moonlit, as calm as any other.

"Go summon Yang Tiandong," Ji Ye ordered, looking down at the woman writhing in pain in his arms. A pang of guilt rose in his heart—his conscience pricked for the first time. After all, You Daidai was barely eighteen, a delicate young woman.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Li Fuquan was instantly alert. His eyes flickered, his posture deferential, and he slipped away as nimbly as a mouse.

The young crown prince might be allowed an accident, but Empress You Daidai could not afford even the slightest mishap—not a single strand of hair lost in her coiffure.

Though the Grand General of Cavalry had publicly severed ties with his daughter, the arrangements made in the palace for You Daidai lacked not the slightest detail.

The current Empress, the only girl of the You clan in three generations, had always been cherished like a precious gem. In other families, "cherished in the palm" might only mean the child was favored, but in the You family, it was literal—feared to fall if held, feared to dissolve if placed in the mouth.

What were royal princesses compared to her? Those born of lowly mothers had only flattery for You Daidai. It was said that when she was born, the clan elder gave her the accumulated dowry of three generations. Even as an infant, she was the richest girl in the Yan Kingdom. Whoever married You Daidai truly gained a mountain of gold.

Yet, what made her most coveted was not the wealth, but the power that came with being the You clan's son-in-law.

For women, there was the saying: "rise to become a phoenix upon the branch." For men, it was now said among the common folk: "He who wins Daidai can become a dragon in water."

At this thought, Li Fuquan shivered as he hurried down the palace corridors, quickening his pace.

Within Ganquan Palace, the lights blazed anew. In the inner chambers, the curtains were drawn, and on the marble floor knelt a crowd of palace maids. The four head attendants—Chunmo, Xiaji, Qiuyun, and Dongcang—were pale as ghosts, silent.

Within the vast and splendid bedchamber, the sound of delicate weeping echoed again and again. On the ivory bed, You Daidai was finally, as she had wished, held tightly in the arms of her beloved emperor—though within, she had already been replaced by a demon.

That demon was pale, knowing nothing of the complex yet simple emotions of humans.

It was also a demon, spoiled and willful.

"Did you remember?" Even in the throes of pain, it clung to thoughts of its burial.

It had lived a thousand years in mediocrity, spending its days eating, sleeping, and playing, yet still not having its fill. It was still attached to its den, to the peony-scented Flower Valley through the four seasons.

Of the ten measures of earthly luxury, it possessed but a wisp—yet it clung to it, unwilling to part or forget.

"Stop this nonsense. Even if I died, you could live as wildly as you please. Those so-called burial goods—better to enjoy them while alive," Ji Ye replied, half laughing from exasperation, his cheeks twitching with suppressed frustration.

"It's not nonsense. I'm really dying, truly. This place and I are incompatible. I should go back to my den. I know—once in a thousand or ten thousand years, a stone monkey dares to defy the heavens. But what am I? Just a lazy snake from the mountains. I've never dreamt of flooding the Golden Mountain, never thought of eating nine hundred and ninety-nine human hearts to become human, nor had the will to defy heaven and become immortal. I'm the most obedient snake—truly. You must believe me. I only want to eat well, sleep well, and play well, and all is perfect."

Oh, see how obedient it was—it was moved by its own words.

Ji Ye looked into her tearful, misty eyes, and against his will, his heart softened a little. He patted her back gently, softening his tone. "Don't talk nonsense. I will stay with you—you will be safe."

"Don't lie to the snake," Azure Mist said, clutching her belly and biting her lip. "I... cough, cough..."

Before she could finish, a taste of blood clogged her throat. A violent cough brought up a few mouthfuls of blood, staining her white nightgown.

Red plum blossoms in the snow—such an elegant scene. But what was this? Always bullying the snake. Humans loved cleanliness, and so did snakes. Why was the blood always so dark and foul?

"Daidai!" Ji Ye cried in alarm.

"My lady!" the four attendants exclaimed, horrified.

"Imperial physicians! Where are the physicians?!" Ji Ye's heart clenched, his fists tightening, his face suddenly shrouded in murderous intent.

"Daidai, do not fear. I am here. You will be safe." He tried to withdraw his hand from her embrace, but was stunned by the thick blood on his palm.

"Blood—my lady is bleeding!" Xiaji shouted.

"It's gone..." Ji Ye whispered. This was what he had wished for over three months, but now that his wish had come true, he was filled with regret and anguish, his heart wrung with pain.

This, too, was his own flesh and blood.