After Losing My Memory, I Became My Rival's Palm-Sized Chirper - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Perhaps a Plan

“The Cleansing Charm! What he taught me was actually the Cleansing Charm!”

Qi Jia flew ahead while Shuoling Immortal walked half a step behind the pale yellow bird to accompany him on his stroll. General Han, responsible for the Sovereign’s protection, trailed far behind, not daring to step forward and intrude.

Qi Jia complained as he “floated” along: “Is he mocking this Sovereign??”

“Uh, it’s definitely not mocking.” Shuoling Immortal felt that as a single immortal, she truly didn’t know how to answer the Sovereign’s question. She could only say tentatively: “Perhaps His Majesty wants you to calm down and not think about Dual Cultivation all the time…”

“So why is he so unwilling to practice Dual Cultivation with me?”

Shuoling said, “His Majesty is probably afraid of hurting your body. You are in the early stages and aren’t showing yet; everything is unknown. It wouldn’t be good if you were accidentally injured…”

“?” This made Qi Jia even more confused. “Doesn’t Dual Cultivation promote the growth of spiritual power? How could it be harmful to me?”

Shuoling, who had never practiced Dual Cultivation herself, replied: “…It increases spiritual power, but it might be physically taxing. Besides, His Majesty is a dragon; in terms of stamina, he must certainly be…”

Shuoling couldn’t finish the sentence as she pictured the scene. Mainly, in her eyes, the palm-sized Sovereign was simply too delicate.

Believing that His Majesty surely didn’t want to hurt the Sovereign, Shuoling continued to say with conviction: “In any case, I believe His Majesty will weigh the pros and cons and consider everything wholeheartedly for your sake.”

“…” Qi Jia remarked, “It seems you have a very high opinion of your Emperor.”

“No,” Shuoling gave a bashful smile. “It’s just that it’s the first time I’ve seen His Majesty be so patient and gentle with someone. I assume he must cherish you as a rare treasure. Look, Sovereign, these were all prepared specifically on His Majesty’s orders.”

Shuoling wanted Qi Jia to see the brand-new look of the Weiyang Palace.

While the Weiyang Palace had been magnificent yesterday, it had been vacant for ten thousand years and lacked a “lived-in” feel.

Yet, after only a day, it was filled with countless items and decorations—many of them precious magical artifacts. With its bells, drums, fine jade, and ornate carvings, it was palatial and opulent.

There were also over a dozen carefully selected immortal attendants responsible for cleaning and serving. At this moment, the Weiyang Palace was far more bustling and magnificent than the Emperor’s Hongmeng Palace.

Taking all this in, Qi Jia couldn’t help but sigh. His voice lowered as he floated, propping his chin with a small wing. “Shuoling, what kind of person is Yu Baixi, really?”

“To be honest, I don’t truly know what kind of person His Majesty is either.”

Since the Empress asked seriously, Shuoling answered solemnly: “The outside world says His Majesty’s character is solitary, eccentric, and unpredictable in mood. We attendants know that His Majesty indeed dislikes having people close to him and never requires anyone to serve him.”

“Sovereign, you might not even be able to imagine it. Usually, let alone something intimate like helping His Majesty change his clothes, even common tasks like serving tea or water are handled by our all-powerful Heavenly Emperor himself… I’ve been by His Majesty’s side for nearly a thousand years, yet I’ve actually only seen his face a handful of times!”

As Shuoling spoke, even she found it absurd.

“…Then your Emperor is quite the introvert,” Qi Jia could only comment.

“You are the first person to describe His Majesty that way.” Shuoling Immortal was amused. “When others discuss him, they only say his temper is strange and unfathomable. Even the Grand Empress Dowager…”

Surveying the towering and solemn halls of the Weiyang Palace, Shuoling said whatever came to mind. Since the Sovereign was now the new master of this palace, this counted as reporting her work rather than gossiping: “After His Majesty ascended the throne, the Grand Empress Dowager immediately returned the Empress’s Treasure Mirror and moved out. She is currently living alone in the Penglai Immortal Realm.”

“Penglai Immortal Realm? Is it far from here?”

“Not very far, but the Grand Empress Dowager hasn’t left there in ten thousand years. It seems His Majesty hasn’t visited either.”

Qi Jia: “…Oh.”

So, he wouldn’t be living with his mother-in-law.

That was good news. Based on the storybooks Qi Jia had read, the relationship between a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law was extremely difficult to handle. If handled poorly, it would lead to an unhappy married life.

It seemed he didn’t have to deal with that for now?

Unexpectedly, Shuoling sighed. “I’ve heard since I was young that although the Grand Empress Dowager is His Majesty’s biological mother and he is her only child, she does not like him.”

“His Majesty is also very cold toward her. When she left Yujing back then, she was in a great hurry. It’s said they didn’t even see each other one last time.”

“…Why is that?” Qi Jia asked. “What happened?”

“Who knows? Many say His Majesty is destined to be alone, and even more say he simply disregards all kin. After all…”

As she spoke, Shuoling stopped abruptly, not daring to continue.

She quickly corrected herself: “Ah, but now he has you, Sovereign! And the future Crown Prince! His Majesty values you both so much; surely he isn’t…”

“Wait, I just thought of a problem.” The bird in the air flapped its wings, eyes wide. “You said Yu Baixi’s mother used to live here, and his relationship with her was very bad?”

Shuoling: “…Y-yes.”

“Then he must really dislike this place.” Qi Jia narrowed his eyes, analyzing calmly. “…He let me live here; doesn’t that mean he’s sending me to the ‘Cold Palace’ (the palace for neglected concubines)?”

“How could that be possible?” Shuoling Immortal laughed. “The Weiyang Palace has always been the residence for every Heavenly Empress; it is a symbol of power! His Majesty letting you live here is the greatest sign of respect. Otherwise, people outside would gossip. Besides, Sovereign, look how beautiful it is!”

It was indeed beautiful.

It seemed he had overthought things.

In truth, Qi Jia couldn’t imagine the relationship between Yu Baixi and his mother, as he didn’t even remember his own mother.

Yet, mysteriously, he could deeply understand the pain of mutual dislike between a child and their biological parent.

As soon as Shuoling finished speaking, he had projected himself into that situation, assuming Yu Baixi hated everything associated with this place.

Realizing he was being overly sensitive, Qi Jia felt a bit embarrassed.

Being a reasonable bird, he didn’t intend to judge a noble heart with a petty mind. He immediately stated: “Then I have wronged your Emperor.”

The round bird flapped its wings again, candidly admitting his fault before saying: “Hearing you say it like that, it’s possible Yu Baixi simply dislikes physical intimacy, which is why he won’t Dual Cultivate with me?”

Shuoling shook her head. “His Majesty dislikes seeing us, but you are different from us attendants…”

Remembering the scene of the Sovereign standing on His Majesty’s shoulder or roaring at him, Shuoling was convinced: “Sovereign, you are special!”

“Then what exactly is going on?” Qi Jia became more bewildered, scratching his head. “Dual Cultivation is clearly a good thing for him too…”

“Actually, Sovereign, if you want His Majesty to Dual Cultivate with you, I might have a plan,” Shuoling said suddenly.

Qi Jia: “Oh? What plan? Tell me.”

“You always appear in the form of a pale yellow parrot. His Majesty likely… even if he had the heart, he couldn’t bring himself to do it?” Shuoling thought for a moment and added: “In this form, you look too delicate, and it doesn’t lead one’s thoughts in ‘that’ direction.”

Qi Jia: Which direction is “that” direction? …Wait.

“You’re right!”

Last night, Qi Jia had re-studied that book Dual Cultivation. After much thought, he had finally analyzed that the path to reaching the “state of self-forgetfulness” mentioned in the book was actually referring to mating. That was why Yu Baixi disagreed—because he was currently unwilling to mate with him.

Although Qi Jia still didn’t understand why mating—which was just lying down and sleeping together—attained that state, or why Yu Baixi refused.

But according to Qi Shaoxu’s analysis, the jerk dragon must have mated with him before because he coveted his beauty.

In other words: wanting Dual Cultivation equals needing to mate, which equals making the jerk dragon lose his self-control!!!

Everything suddenly clicked!

Qi Jia: “Shuoling, you are so clever!”

Shuoling hadn’t expected the Sovereign to approve of her small suggestion so much. She felt a bit bashful and was about to say some modest polite words when, to her surprise, the pale yellow bird half a step in front of her suddenly transformed. In an instant, he became an… incomparably handsome man, like a banished immortal!!!

Shuoling: “Ah!”

The immortal in mid-air smiled slightly. His face, of the “strikingly vivid” type, wore no makeup, yet he possessed a natural, peerless beauty that could outshine flowers.

Qi Jia’s clear voice was the same as ever, his posture warm: “Thank you, Shuoling Immortal.”

Shuoling: “…”

Shuoling remained silent.

To be precise, Shuoling was starstruck.

Shuoling wasn’t the only one. The attendants cleaning the floors and pillars, the maids carrying and placing decorations… at that moment, everyone who saw the handsome man with red robes and black hair in mid-air either gasped or froze on the spot. Those with stronger reactions had already started running to tell others.

The surroundings became chaotic in an instant.

A moment later, Shuoling stammered: “S-Sovereign, if you go find His Majesty like this, it will definitely work!”

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Han Mo, who had to step closer to maintain order, had a bright red face and didn’t dare look up at the Sovereign.

Having only caught a distant glimpse of the Sovereign’s true face before through His Majesty’s favor, Han Mo never expected that in his lifetime, he would be able to gaze at the Sovereign so closely and directly!

Fearing the Sovereign would notice his abnormality, and truly too embarrassed to look directly, Han Mo could only keep his head bowed.

But thinking of the true relationship between His Majesty and the Sovereign, as well as His Majesty’s stubbornness, General Han offered a cryptic reminder: “…What if it doesn’t work?”

“If it doesn’t work, then His Majesty might truly be ‘unworkable’ (impotent),” Shuoling whispered in a very low voice.