After Losing My Memory, I Became My Rival's Palm-Sized Chirper - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Deeply Rooted Affection

Occasionally, after finishing his official duties, the Heavenly Emperor would go to the courtyard to bathe.

Although it wasn’t necessary to soak every day, it seemed that if he didn’t enter the medicinal pool, the wounds on Yu Baixi’s body would not heal. The evidence lay in a scar on his arm that refused to fade, while another crack had already opened beside it.

Qi Jia had discovered this by accident while being lazy—clinging to the Emperor’s sleeve while playing on the desk.

He couldn’t see what was hidden beneath the Emperor’s tidy, pristine robes; he didn’t know if there were more wounds, or how many there might be.

Qi Jia lifted his own little wings, imagining how much it would hurt if there were wounds on them.

Though the Immortals, with lifespans stretching tens of thousands of years, might not care about such flesh wounds, the pain was still very real!

So, when things seemed quiet, the little chubby bird would proactively urge Yu Baixi to go bathe, and he tried his best not to cause trouble while the Emperor was in the pool.

Sometimes he took the opportunity to nap.

Sometimes he perched on the white magnolia tree by the medicinal pool to bask in the sun.

In comparison to the small bed in the Emperor’s bedroom within Hongmeng Palace, Qi Jia still preferred squatting on a tree branch.

It seemed that after staying by Yu Baixi’s side for so long, he had grown accustomed to the scent of herbs on the man’s body; even the smell of the medicinal pool no longer felt so hard to tolerate.

Especially when a breeze blew, filling the courtyard with the scent of white magnolias—it smelled wonderful.

The problem was: “Why are there so few trees in the Heaven Realm?”

Qi Jia asked Shuo Ling.

His thought was: if the entire courtyard were filled with magnolia trees, how fragrant would that be!

But Shuo Ling misunderstood his intent, thinking he was asking about the Heaven Realm as a whole. She replied, “Mountains, rivers, and trees exist to nourish the creatures of the mortal world. The Heaven Realm doesn’t need them, so they are rare.”

Only after she said this did Qi Jia realize that the entire Heaven Realm was indeed a vast expanse of white, lacking mountains and greenery. Occasionally, if one saw a tree, it was usually planted by some recently ascended immortal who still yearned for the landscapes of the mortal world.

Thus, Qi Jia became even more curious: “Then why is there a white magnolia tree in Hongmeng Palace? Who planted it?”

Shuo Ling couldn’t say; the tree was already there and in full bloom when she first started her post at Hongmeng Palace.

It was General Han, standing nearby, who spoke up: “To answer Your Lordship, that magnolia tree was planted by His Majesty.”

“Oh? Yu Baixi doesn’t look like a dragon who would like plants, let alone plant one himself?” Qi Jia asked.

“His Majesty planted it in his early years.”

Han Mo recalled the events of those years and couldn’t help but smile. “It was probably when His Majesty was only two thousand years old? He went to the mortal world for a journey, and when he returned, he planted a tree…”

“Haha, I remember this very clearly,” General Han said. “In all four realms, there is a saying that planting a tree means your heart belongs to someone, and planting a tree for a lover is an expression of love. Back then, when His Majesty suddenly planted a tree without a word, the late Emperor thought His Majesty was experiencing his first awakening of love and had suddenly decided to be romantic.”

“But dragons usually don’t go into heat until they are around three thousand years old. The late Emperor was worried His Majesty was too young to understand love and couldn’t handle it well. He asked him several times why he suddenly planted a magnolia tree, and every time, His Majesty would blush with annoyance and deny it.”

“Haha.” Qi Jia laughed along. “Really? He actually blushed?”

So Yu Baixi had a naive and cute side too!

“Truly,” General Han said. “But you must never mention this to His Majesty now! Or my life will be forfeit!”

“I understand. Don’t worry, I won’t mention it,” Qi Jia promised with a smile.

He asked further: “But was Yu Baixi really in love back then? Who was the object of his affection?”

He wasn’t trying to dig up old debts, but as the Empress and Yu Baixi’s mate, it was only right to know some of the past.

Of course, it was mostly “chirpy” curiosity—what kind of person would an impenetrable Heavenly Emperor like?

Han Mo waved his hands hurriedly. “No, no. The late Emperor questioned His Majesty many times and even sent people to investigate. It turned out His Majesty was just a ‘stone tree’ that refused to bloom for years.”

Qi Jia was amazed. “He even sent people to investigate? The late Emperor seems to have been quite strict…”

“Not exactly,” Han Mo said quickly. “The late Emperor wasn’t strict; in fact, he was very lenient with his subordinates. In my memory, the late Emperor was the most genial of men and loved his son deeply. He was always best to His Majesty… It’s just that the Dragon Clan is naturally… lustful. Historical records mention dragons who couldn’t restrain themselves and did ridiculous things before their heat period. The late Emperor was always worried he wouldn’t raise His Majesty well, so he took the matter very seriously.”

General Han sighed more as he spoke. “It’s a pity the late Emperor worried about His Majesty’s precocity. Who would have thought the old gentleman was purely overthinking? Ten thousand years have passed…”

Suddenly realizing who he was talking to, Han Mo abruptly cut himself off and brought the topic back. “In short, I can guarantee to Your Lordship that His Majesty has definitely never fallen for anyone!”

Qi Jia was amused by his reaction this time. “Why are you so nervous? I’m not going to hold him accountable for things from his youth.”

General Han kept his head buried deep, forcing himself to stop talking nonsense.

Qi Jia didn’t dwell on the story and forgot it shortly after.

However, the next time the Emperor was bathing, the “chirpy” one—who was napping on a branch and almost flipped off the magnolia tree because he fell too deep into sleep—suddenly remembered. He asked Yu Baixi, “Your Majesty, why did you plant this magnolia tree in the first place?”

At that moment, the wind passed through the treetops, the magnolias on the branches swayed, and a faint fragrance drifted out.

Yu Baixi stood under the tree in his robes, still carrying the damp mist from the water. He looked down at the “chirpy” bird in his palm, whom he had caught as it fell.

He didn’t answer but asked Qi Jia in return, “Why do you ask?”

“Just curious. I really like the smell of this flower too,” Qi Jia said.

Yu Baixi remained noncommittal.

Seeing his silence, the chubby bird flapped its little wings and rolled its round eyes. “I just wonder if you could plant two more?”

Meeting Yu Baixi’s indifferent pupils, the chubby bird explained casually: “There’s only one tree like this here. I change branches every day to squat, and I’ve almost squatted on all of them. Otherwise, how would I have fallen! Besides, if there are more trees, it will be even more fragrant here.”

“That is not difficult.”

The Heavenly Emperor understood his meaning. He raised his free hand, and a sapling instantly appeared in his palm.

Immediately after, the sapling flew to a nearby empty patch of land. A white magnolia tree suddenly took root, broke through the soil, and rose from the ground. In an instant, branches spread out—it was just short of blooming.

Although Yu Baixi was a Water Dragon, his innate spiritual root belonged to Wood. Planting a tree with spiritual magic was not a difficult task for him.

Qi Jia knew this, yet he was still dazed by the sight.

Knowing something and actually witnessing it being done “as easily as turning over a hand” were two very different things!

Qi Jia instinctively wanted to mimic the other’s tree-planting. “Are there more saplings? Give me one too!”

“Planting trees is best with Earth, Water, and Wood elements. You are of the Fire attribute,” Yu Baixi looked at him deeply.

The round bird was fearless. He squinted with a smile and puffed out his little chest. “Don’t I still have the Dragon’s Breath?”

Heavenly Emperor: “…You must not recklessly use your spiritual power.”

But in the end, Qi Jia still got a small sapling.

These days, he had been taking Spirit-Nurturing Pills daily. His energy and magic were much more vigorous than before, but he still couldn’t remember a single bit of his combat techniques.

He couldn’t practice techniques just by reading books, so whenever he saw others casting spells, he couldn’t help but want to follow suit.

Furthermore, it was just planting a tree; the spiritual power consumed wasn’t large.

However, after trying with the sapling for a long time—forgetting growing into a towering tree—he barely managed to even make it take root. The subsequent stage of stimulating growth had no progress at all…

Once, because he used too much force, he almost burned the little sapling!

Qi Jia: ?!!

“To each his own specialty,” Yu Baixi comforted him from the side. “It’s normal that you aren’t good at this.”

The chubby bird squatting on the Emperor’s shoulder expressed its unwillingness: “But theoretically it should be possible… It’s just planting a tree. Am I really that weak?!”

Pressing down the jumping round bird for fear he would flip himself off again, Yu Baixi’s lips curled slightly. “It just requires practice in the finer details. You have amnesia and don’t remember the tricks. Take it slow, don’t worry.”

Qi Jia: “…”

Usually, although the Emperor spoke slowly, he was always very serious, without a mocking tone, and his voice was gentle.

Qi Jia was actually pacified and immediately settled his mind to try again.

After a cup of tea’s time…

A voice came from the courtyard of Qi Jia refusing to believe in “bad luck”: “Hah!!”

The tired little chubby bird flapped its wings in the air for a few rounds and finally flew back to the two lush magnolia trees to squat. He closed his eyes peacefully. “To each his own specialty. You’re right. I shouldn’t force it.”

He refused to cast another glance at the little sapling on the ground that had been uprooted and knocked to the side by him.

Yu Baixi: “…”

In the end, Qi Jia replanted the little sapling anyway.

He used his little wings to dig a hole in the ground, personally stood the sapling inside, and then filled it with soil to cover the roots…

A tree planted with the crudest method was still a planted tree!

He intended to come back and practice the tree-growth technique whenever he was bored.

But before that…

“Could Your Majesty give it some water first?” Qi Jia tilted his head toward the Emperor.

Yu Baixi: “…”

For a Water Dragon, watering a tree was also as easy as turning a hand.

Qi Jia was logical, propping up his round cheeks with his wings as he analyzed: “Don’t let it die. Even if I can’t grow it eventually, with slow watering, it will grow as tall as the two next to it in a few years, right?”

In the Immortal Realm, lifespans were very long. Growing to full size a few years late versus being forced to grow instantly with magic made no real difference.

Yu Baixi: “…Mhm.”

Thus, the Heavenly Emperor invisibly gained a new task—

Every few days, he had to personally water the magnolia sapling in the courtyard.

But Qi Jia didn’t get off scot-free either.

The soil in the Heaven Realm wasn’t actually suitable for trees, so while Yu Baixi watered, Qi Jia was responsible for fertilizing it.

Fertilizing was by no means as simple as casually scattering fertilizer; he had to judge the type and amount of fertilizer every day based on the sapling’s growth and soil changes.

Qi Jia: …

Wasn’t I just making extra work for myself!

But words spoken are like water poured out, especially for the dignified Empress.

Since the tree was planted, it had to be kept alive. Besides trying to stimulate the branches daily, Qi Jia could only grit his teeth and observe it every day.

Fortunately, he was naturally restless and hated being idle; occasionally taking care of a tree was a way to pass the time.

The breeze blew, and the shadows of the two tall magnolia trees in the courtyard swayed, emitting bursts of fragrance.

The little sapling at their feet also thrived under the care of both the Emperor and Empress. Within two days, a bright green little bud emerged.

That day, Han Mo went to the Emperor to report as usual.

Since the Empress was with the Emperor, General Han didn’t need to follow as a guard. These past few days, the Emperor and Empress were often inseparable, so Han Mo hadn’t entered the courtyard of Hongmeng Palace.

Thus, when passing the courtyard, Han Mo noticed the extra tree in the originally empty garden and asked in surprise, “Was that new tree planted by His Majesty for Your Lordship?”

His Majesty, sitting at the desk, did not speak.

Han Mo smiled. “A few days ago, Your Lordship asked about the relationship between His Majesty and that tree. It seems Your Lordship likes that tree very much, so His Majesty planted another one for him. Truly romantic, so romantic!”

Hearing this, Yu Baixi finally raised his head slowly. His gray-blue pupils held no emotion, yet they were as cold as frost and snow when he looked at someone. “Who said I planted it for him?”

“Huh?” Han Mo was dumbfounded. “If it wasn’t for Your Lordship, then… Your Lordship is with His Majesty every day; could it be that someone else came during this time?!”

Yu Baixi waved his hand, stopping the baseless speculation. “He asked me to plant it.”

“Ah? What’s the difference between the two?”

“He asked me to plant it, so I planted it,” the Emperor explained seriously. “It wasn’t voluntary…”

“Oh, if the Lord asked for it and His Majesty planted it, isn’t that still His Majesty planting it for the Lord?”

General Han gave a simple smile, clearly seeing no difference at all.

The Emperor fell silent.

His gray-blue eyes flickered to the side. As the Heavenly Emperor, he rarely showed uncertainty, but it was only because he hadn’t thought of such a deep entanglement before—

Planting a tree equals “deeply rooted affection.” Planting a tree for someone belongs to a secret transmission of feelings. All four realms shared this folk custom.

.He had been in a high position alone for too long and had overlooked this. It was only upon seeing Han Mo’s excitement just now that he suddenly remembered.

But that wasn’t the point.

The point was: Does Qi Jia remember or know about these things?…

Seeing that the Emperor’s reaction was off, Han Mo tried to ease the atmosphere with a laugh. “But what is that little sapling underneath? Such a good seedling with only one bud—it looks quite pitiful. Is it unable to grow? Haha!”

General Han knew well that His Majesty was of the Wood element and didn’t believe there was a time the Emperor couldn’t grow a tree. Therefore, he found it bizarre and laughed.

He didn’t realize that mentioning the little sapling was the worst move. As soon as it was mentioned, the Emperor stood straight up from his seat!

“…That was planted by your Lordship.” Yu Baixi’s gaze was obscure, and his expression was profoundly mysterious.

Han Mo: “…No wonder! I observe that this tree is well-defined, sturdy, powerful, and full of vitality. It must be accumulating strength for a grand reveal; it will surely grow into a towering tree in the future!”

Since the Empress planted the tree, General Han had to blow the “rainbow farts” (extravagant flattery) immediately.

A moment later, he froze again, his eyes widening like copper bells as he belatedly realized—

So His Majesty and His Lordship, at a time he didn’t know about, had already reached the stage of planting trees for each other??

Regrettably, after dropping those words, the Heavenly Emperor walked to the window alone.

The window was bright and clean, the candle shadows swayed, and the Emperor stood tall and elegant.

Looking out from the window, one could see the two large trees and one small tree standing together.

The Heavenly Emperor watched them for a long time.