Chapter 99 - Aren’t I pitiful? (1/2)

When the heavenly empress, Bai Fen, came to visit her son's palace the next morning, she found two dragons guarding the door next to the heavenly guards her husband had arranged. She smiled at the two.

”His Majesty Longjun is inside?”

Yi Zan and Xiang Yong both nodded. The heavenly guards grimaced at this reaction. One of them stepped out of the line and knelt before the heavenly empress, cupping his fists.

”This servant greets Her Majesty, the heavenly empress.”

”Rise. Do tell.”

”Longjun came by yesterday evening and entered the crown prince's palace.” He hesitated a bit but finally stayed silent. Who knew how far the others had investigated? If even the heavenly emperor didn't know about that assassination attempt until now, he certainly couldn't inform the heavenly empress. Moreover, they certainly couldn't trust the dragons. What if they had made up a story to deter them from stopping that brazen Longjun?

”Oh. So it's like that.” Bai Fen smiled. No wonder the heavenly guards were looking like that. They had the same dislike for her future son-in-law as her husband. They all felt like he was trying to take advantage of their beloved crown prince.

She nodded at the guards and the two dragons and entered herself. Of course, what she found was Qiu Ling who had climbed into her son's bed and still hugged him to his chest.

Bai Fen sat down at the bedside and sighed. ”Haish, this child … What if my husband had found them like this? He might even start a war with the dragons. Shouldn't you be a bit more responsible?”

She patted his shoulder but Qiu Ling only sighed in his sleep and started to smile. Who knew what he was dreaming of right now?

”Jing He …” He rubbed his beloved's back and his hand glided into Jing He's hair as if of its own accord.

Bai Fen looked at him and sighed. ”Longjun, it's not your lover, it's your mother-in-law who's trying to wake you up.”

”Mn …” Qiu Ling smiled even brighter and buried his head in Jing He's hair.

Bai Fen leaned forward and put her hands next to her mouth. ”Qiu Ling, oh no! It's my father!”

”What?” Qiu Ling's eyes flew open and he leaped up, his gaze locking onto the folding-screen in front of the door at once. He couldn't see anyone and finally, he noticed the woman next to them. ”Uh … Mother-in-law?”

”Mhm.”

”Mn … I … didn't know you were coming over.”

”I didn't tell anyone.”

”Then … the heavenly emperor …?”

”Is probably in his own palace?”

”Oh.” Qiu Ling sat back down and glanced at Jing He. After hugging him for a whole night his hair was spread out on the whole bed and his robes were crinkled. Qiu Ling conscientiously rubbed at them a few times and tried to arrange Jing He's hair. Bai Fen caught his wrist, though, before he could touch even one of the silky strands.

”Longjun, I know you good enough. Don't even start with that.”

Qiu Ling took his hand back. She was right. He'd probably not be able to hold back after he started arranging Jing He's hair. Mn, who could fault him? The feeling was just too exhilarating.

Bai Fen sighed, seeing her future son-in-law absentminded again. ”So, what did you run over here for yesterday? Weren't you accompanying him in the mortal world?”

Qiu Ling pressed his lips together, threw himself to the ground in front of Bai Fen and buried his head in her lap. ”Mother-in-law! It's terrible!”

Bai Fen's brows twitched. ”Longjun, have a bit of self-awareness. What if anybody saw you like this?”

”What about it? I don't care for my image.”

”Well, but I care for mine! What if people said I was cheating on my husband with you?”

Qiu Ling tilted his head and looked up at her grumpily. ”But I'm your son-in-law.”

”You … You're not. Not officially anyway.”

Qiu Ling's lips quivered and he hugged her. ”Indeed! Mother-in-law, I feel wronged! Do you know what your son did in the mortal realm? How are you going to compensate me?!”

Bai Fen sighed and patted his head. ”So something happened. Come on then, child, tell mother-in-law how her son bullied you.” She glanced at her own son's face. I wonder if you would have fallen in love with him had you known this side of him. What will happen when you find out in the future?

”He kissed another man!”. Qiu Ling looked at her accusingly.

Bai Fen's brows lifted. ”Why are you looking at me like this? I'm only kissing my husband. Even if I was kissing someone else, it would be none of your business.”

”It's your son we're talking about here! Do something!” Qiu Ling looked wronged but Bai Fen didn't relent.