Pregnant with the Empress’s Alpha Heir - Chapter 21.2

“This is just a temporary separation. Once I resolve matters here, I’ll come find you at Academia Star.”

Yu Zhitao relaxed slightly.

She had already assumed they would stay together. While Ah Jiu’s explanation made her uncomfortable, it wasn’t completely unacceptable.

After all, everyone had their own affairs to handle, and there were indeed many mysteries surrounding Ah Jiu.

Perhaps she needed to resolve her own issues now.

Yu Zhitao only regretted one thing,

During her most difficult times, Ah Jiu had been by her side.

But when it came to Ah Jiu’s troubles she couldn’t help at all. Even wanting to accompany her might just become a burden.

“Am I… not able to help at all?” she asked.

Ah Jiu replied gently, “No, you’ve already helped me solve my biggest problem.”

Yu Zhitao pouted. “Was I the ‘biggest problem’?”

Ah Jiu chuckled. “Why would you think that? Hmm…”

She rephrased: “You’re the only reason that drove me to make changes.”

Yu Zhitao’s heartbeat quickened dramatically.

This statement carried far more weight than any ordinary sweet talk!

She had to admit, she felt thoroughly comforted.

“Then, how long will it take to resolve?” Yu Zhitao asked cautiously.

Ah Jiu considered. “Not too long. Two years at most.”

In her plans, she needed Zhen Wuyou to bear the royal heir those people wanted, then she could abdicate. That should settle matters.

Accounting for arrangements and the child’s birth, two years would be sufficient.

“Two years,” Yu Zhitao murmured. “That’s not too bad.”

Her studies would take four years to complete. Ah Jiu would be away for two.

Both needed time to grow independently.

She asked another question: “Can I visit you during holidays?”

Ah Jiu paused.

“Soon enough, you’ll learn certain things,” she said. “When that happens, don’t be afraid. I’ll always respect your decisions.”

“Contact me anytime after you’ve thought it through.”

“I’ll come see you, or bring you back.”

She didn’t know how to explain her identity to Yu Zhitao, or the suffocating family circumstances behind her.

Fundamentally, she didn’t want Yu Zhitao entangled in the disgusting quagmire that repulsed her.

When news broke, all the filth would be appropriately whitewashed. Yu Zhitao would only see her most glamorous side.

Someone like Yu Zhitao deserved protection, deserved to live freely under the sun, unconstrained and carefree.

She needed to deal with those two women first, then start anew with Yu Zhitao.

Yu Zhitao stared at her blankly for a long moment before finally nodding.

“Alright.”

She didn’t know why Ah Jiu would say that, but she was willing to unconditionally trust the person before her.

The two stopped by a convenience store halfway to buy ample ingredients before heading home to prepare dinner.

Yu Zhitao wasn’t scheduled to work at the bar today. After a satisfying meal, she lounged lazily on the sofa, absentmindedly stroking Xiao Jiu’s fur with one hand while using the other to search the star network for preparations needed before enrolling at the Academic Star.

As she scrolled, her mind began to wander.

So when Ah Jiu returned after finishing the household chores, she found Yu Zhitao’s virtual screen boldly displaying the words: “How to Maintain a Long-Distance Relationship Across Stars.”

Yu Zhitao was engrossed in reading a user’s heartfelt account, detailing the ups and downs of their journey with their beloved.

Moved by the emotional parts, she burst into tears, clutching tissues and wiping her eyes, leaving Xiao Jiu—the little kitten—anxiously circling around her in distress.

Ah  Jiu walked over and gently patted her head.

“Don’t cry. We won’t be apart for too long.”

Yu Zhitao sniffled, “T-two years isn’t too long?

“And even if it were just a day, or even an hour, I’d still feel awful.”

Ah Jiu was both amused and touched, momentarily at a loss for words to comfort her.

Late into the quiet night, watching Yu Zhitao’s reddened eyes, she suddenly had an idea.

In the next moment, she effortlessly scooped Yu Zhitao up into her arms.

Caught off guard, Yu Zhitao yelped in surprise, her sobs momentarily forgotten.

“A-Ah  Jiu! What are you doing?!”

Ah Jiu carried her toward the bedroom, replying calmly, “If you’re going to cry anyway, you might as well do it in bed.”

Yu Zhitao froze for a long moment before finally processing the implication.

She began flailing in protest. “No! I was crying over that user’s beautiful love story, not just randomly!”

“Crying in bed doesn’t count as random,” Ah  Jiu continued walking without pause.

Soon, Yu Zhitaoo was gently deposited onto the soft bedding.

Ah Jiu studied her. “Done crying?”

Yu Zhitao shook her head. “Done.”

Ah Jiu smirked, restraining herself as she ruffled Yu Zhitao’s hair.

Yu Zhitao, noticing her lack of further action, grew puzzled. “Uh,  if I stop crying, you’re not going to make me cry again?”

Ah Jiu arched a brow. “I thought you didn’t want to.”

Yu Zhitao decisively wrapped her arms around Ah  Jiu’s neck.

“We’re about to be apart. Every time counts—how could I not want to?”

Her voice was muffled, laying bare her longing.

To Ah Jiu, every tremor in that voice carried warmth, more potent than any aphrodisiac.

She slowly leaned down, pressing Yu Zhitao back into the bed.

After wiping away the lingering tear tracks, she placed a soft kiss on Yu Zhitao’s eyelids.

“As you wish.”

The consequence of their wild night was Yu Zhitao finding herself in another dream.

This time, she awoke in a quaint, childlike room. Hazily, she recalled that at the end of her last dream, she had gone to the study to search for clues, only to be caught just as she was about to take the diary and leave.

The person who had opened the study door back then was right on cue, the bedroom door swung open, revealing Xiao Wu, now dressed in a black-and-white princess gown.

Now aware of the dream’s true nature, Yu Zhitao no longer felt the same overwhelming joy upon seeing Xiao Wu.

But after the anger faded, she was left with deep confusion.

“Big sister, you’re awake?” Xiao Wu approached, carrying a teapot.

Yu Zhitao stared blankly at her, silent.

Xiao Wu tilted her head. “What are you looking at?”

Snapping out of it, Yu Zhitao shook her head.

She got out of bed. “Xiao Wu, I’m sorry.  I need to leave.”

Though it felt bizarre, Yu Zhitao was certain this dream actually belonged to Ah Jiu.

It might be a reflection of Ah Jiu’s childhood experiences or inner world.

What she couldn’t figure out now was,

Could Xiao Wu and the demon girl both actually be Ah Jiu?

After all, in reality, Ah Jiu had personally told her she had no siblings.

So who was Xiao Wu?

If not a sister, Yu Zhitao guessed Xiao Wu might be a manifestation of Ah Jiu’s thoughts or perhaps another personality.

Based on this assumption, she couldn’t bring herself to vent her anger at Xiao Wu.

But since the diary recorded the truth of this dream world, she also couldn’t continue treating Xiao Wu the same way as before.

Xiao Wu stared at her intently. “You’re going to look for her?”

Yu Zhitao didn’t deny it. “Yes.”

“Sister, you’ve been bewitched by that demon,” Xiao Wu suddenly said, her eyes filled with sorrow.

Yu Zhitao took a frightened step back.

After reading the diary, she found this version of Xiao Wu somewhat terrifying.

“I have my own judgment,” Yu Zhitao said stiffly.

A mist had already formed over Xiao Wu’s eyes.

“What you saw was the truth written by Father.

“Father was also bewitched by that demon, which is why his diary was biased in her favor. But have you ever considered how Mother and I felt?

“If you had read the truth written by my mother, you’d understand the agony she endured, watching that demon steal my life day after day!”

“Don’t call her a demon,” Yu Zhitao snapped. “Ah Jiu is her child too.”

Taking a deep breath, she gathered her thoughts and continued, “I’m not sure. Maybe the doctor was right, Ah Jiu’s Alpha genes were simply too dominant, absorbing too many nutrients in the womb, depriving her twin of the chance to become an Alpha and leaving them with a frail body.

“But…”

She looked at Xiao Wu. “She couldn’t control that!

“Ah Jiu is so kind. I believe if she had a choice, she wouldn’t have let this happen.

“Why do you and your mother resent her for something so absurd?”

“Is a mistake no longer a mistake if it wasn’t a choice?” Xiao Wu retorted. “If someone kills while drunk, should they not be held accountable?”

Yu Zhitao laughed bitterly in anger. “It’s not the same! Can’t you see Ah Jiu’s remorse and efforts?”

She took another deep breath and poured out her thoughts. “She doesn’t live in this grand palace but sleeps in a broken shed outside. Do you two really think you drove her out? If she didn’t want to leave, could you have forced her?

“And who fought off the beasts outside? Who repaired the defense mechanisms? Was she afraid of the beast tides? That night when they attacked, she stood atop the tower, and not a single monster dared to approach her.

“Why would she risk her life to fix those defenses?”

At this point, she grabbed Xiao Wu’s shoulders, forcing her to meet her gaze. “Because she still cares about you two, despite your blindness.”

Xiao Wu coldly pushed her away.

“That’s the least she could do—her way of atoning. But it’s nowhere near enough.”

She countered, “I’m older than her. If not for that accident, I should have inherited this palace.”

“All I want now is for her to disappear, so this palace can rightfully return to my name. Am I wrong for that?”

Yu Zhitao was speechless.

She stepped past Xiao Wu and headed straight for the door. “You’re too selfish. There’s no way I can communicate with you.”

Xiao Wu turned around. “You can’t leave!”

Yu Zhitao covered her ears and sprinted down the hallway.

A chase ensued.

Despite looking like a stubby-limbed five-year-old girl, Xiao Wu ran as if she had cheats enabled.

Yu Zhitao was being pursued so frantically that the scene was even more perilous than when she had first entered the dream and was shot at by the demon girl.

“Don’t panic, don’t panic—I’m dreaming, I’m dreaming! Nothing can hurt me!” Yu Zhitao tried to reassure herself.

But the next moment, a vase thrown by Xiao Wu struck the back of her head.

“Ow? Wait, why does it hurt so much?” Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

This dream was getting more and more absurd, and it seemed to be devolving into a full-blown nightmare.

The more she ran, the more disoriented Yu Zhitao became, until she completely lost her sense of direction.

In desperation, she began shouting, “Ah Jiu? Ah Jiu? Ah Jiu, save me!”

She had only called out about seven or eight times when a dark figure rushed toward her.

The figure brushed past Yu Zhitao and pinned the rabid Xiao Wu to the ground.

Yu Zhitao froze in place.

“Ah Jiu.” she murmured, addressing the girl.

Ah Jiu was too preoccupied to respond.

Xiao Wu, gripping the hand that was choking her, still wore an expression of smug innocence. “Do you really have the guts to hurt me?”

Ah Jiu replied coldly, “You harmed my guest.”

“So what?” Xiao Wu sneered, fearless. “Not only will I hurt your guest, but I’ll also kill you.

“You wretched thing, you deserve to die horribly. Next time, I’ll definitely—ugh—”

SMACK!

Yu Zhitao rubbed her sore wrist, she had just slapped Xiao Wu across the face with all her might.

If Ah Jiu wouldn’t act, then she would.

“Say another word!” Yu Zhitao challenged.

Xiao Wu had been confident that Ah Jiu wouldn’t lay a hand on her, but Yu Zhitao’s ferocity made her think twice.

Finally, she fell silent, glaring at them both with pure hatred.

“Go on, say more, you spineless coward! What do you think you’re relying on? Just Ah Jiu’s lingering affection for you?” Yu Zhitao’s face flushed with anger. “Well, I have no such feelings for you!

“One more vile word out of your mouth, and I’ll beat you into submission!”

Ah Jiu stared at her, visibly stunned.

Fortunately, she didn’t interfere.

After a long silence, Xiao Wu muttered, “I’ll tell Mother.”

“Oh, running to tattle? That’s all a useless waste like you is good for.” Yu Zhitao rolled up her sleeves. “Let her come. See if I’m scared.”

At the mention of “Mother,” Ah Jiu finally reacted.

She released Xiao Wu and took Yu Zhitao’s hand.

“Let’s leave.”

But Yu Zhitao wasn’t ready to back down.

“Why should we leave? This palace is yours. If anyone should go, it’s those two.”

Ah Jiu opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words.

Yu Zhitao pressed on, “It’s time those two women, who’ve been living under your protection, learn their true place!

“Without you, they’re nothing.”

Ah Jiu remained silent for a long moment before sighing.

“Let’s go outside first.”

Yu Zhitao’s anger had mostly dissipated by now, and she reluctantly followed Ah Jiu out of the palace.

Walking side by side, they returned to the now completely transformed flower shed.

Yu Zhitao sighed.

“I’m sorry.”

The young girl Ah Jiu turned back: “What’s wrong?”

Yu Zhitao said, “As an outsider, I probably shouldn’t have interfered in your family matters.”

Pouting, she added, “But I just couldn’t help it—those two were simply too much!”

Surprisingly, Ah Jiu smiled.

She replied, “You can interfere.

“The fact that you can appear here and move freely for so long means you have the right to be involved in this matter.”

“Ah?” Yu Zhitao was confused.

She tentatively asked, “Ah Jiu, what exactly is this place?”

Ah Jiu began removing pieces of her armor one by one, placing them on the table.

“I’m not sure how to explain it. Well, it’s probably similar to what you’re imagining—a projection of that person’s mental world.”

Yu Zhitao was astonished: “You know everything?”

Ah Jiu countered, “Is that strange?

“In a way, I am her.”

Yu Zhitao rested her chin on her hand: “But those two in the palace seemed completely unaware.

“Aren’t they,  also part of your, um, mental constructs?”

Ah Jiu shook her head.

She explained, “In this world  apart from me no, wait, and you as a visitor everything else was created from her subconscious.

“The palace, including ‘mother’ and Xiao Wu, are all illusions, merely components that form this mental world.”

“Oh!” Yu Zhitao nodded in understanding.

She said, “Is it like being trapped in a certain memory or event because of an obsession that’s too deep?”

Ah Jiu nodded: “You could say that.”

Curious, Yu Zhitao asked, “Then how did I get here?”

Ah Jiu gave her a profound look.

“To be honest, I don’t know how you entered.

“Before you came, there were indeed strange phenomena here. That was when her medical team was attempting treatment, but back then, day and night were reversed, and the sky was constantly flashing with serpent-like lightning—completely ineffective.

“You’re the first person to appear here.

“Do you remember how you first arrived?”

“Huh?”

Yu Zhitao thought for a moment, then suddenly blushed.

She coughed awkwardly. “Well at that time, I had just been temporarily marked by Ah Jiu.”

The young girl continued staring at her.

Yu Zhitao felt embarrassed under her gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing.” The girl averted her eyes but shook her head with a smile. “So the grown-up me chose to be with you?

“It seems my taste is as good as my archery skills.”

Yu Zhitao’s face turned red.

Young Ah Jiu was still quite young, and Yu Zhitao couldn’t help feeling like she was corrupting the child.

“Ahem! Anyway, that’s how I got here, but that’s not important now.” Yu Zhitao tried to steer the conversation back on track and asked seriously, “So I want to know, are the things happening here all real situations from Ah Jiu’s actual life?”

Hearing this question, young Ah Jiu lowered her head.

After a moment, she shook her head. “I’m not sure.

“But what’s certain is that this place is a reflection of reality.

“However, deviations always occur during the reflection process. Like how in reality, you’d never see various flying dragons and beasts attacking the palace under cover of darkness.”

Yu Zhitao looked troubled. “I see.”

She didn’t know much about Ah Jiu’s affairs, and what happened before she fell asleep made her realize that Ah Jiu didn’t want her to know too much for now.

Otherwise, Ah Jiu wouldn’t have said things like “you’ll find out later.”

Unfortunately, Yu Zhitao could do nothing about it.

She could only set the matter aside and instead asked, “Then what will you do next?

“Ah Jiu, are you really going to let those two wicked women continue lording it over the palace?”

Young Ah Jiu looked toward the palace.

She said softly, “Back then, those two were the only ones by my side.

“So I thought, since I didn’t care about the palace, letting them have it wouldn’t matter.”

Yu Zhitao suddenly felt sad for her. “Why can’t you think about yourself for once?”

The young girl shrugged. “I don’t know.”

She looked around. “There’s nothing else I want to do. Before, I desperately wanted to repair the barrier outside the palace, but that was probably just out of habit.

“Now that it’s really done, I feel like all my energy has suddenly drained away.”

Yu Zhitao murmured, “How can this be?”

“Don’t worry, it’s fine now that you’re here,” young Ah Jiu said, looking at her. “For me, working together with you to find materials and restore the garden is another thing worth being happy about.”

Looking at the completely transformed greenhouse, Yu Zhitao couldn’t help laughing. “You mean how I followed you around every day before, making trouble for you?”

The young girl shook her head. “You didn’t make trouble.”

After thinking for a moment, she added, “Having you here is very important to me.”

While delighted, Yu Zhitao also felt somewhat deflated.

“But my being here isn’t enough.” She reached out and pinched young Ah Jiu’s cheek.

This time, the girl didn’t dodge.

Feeling the smooth skin under her fingertips, Yu Zhitao said, “You need to break through your inner demons and properly deal with those two women!”

Young Ah Jiu nodded. “Okay.”

Yu Zhitao’s fighting spirit flared up again.

“Great! Then let’s charge back to the palace right now and settle things with them!”

Young Ah Jiu quickly stopped her. “Don’t be in such a hurry.”

She smiled. “Aren’t you tired after running around so much just now?

“I’m afraid you might fall asleep again before we even get back to the palace.”

Yu Zhitao paused, then listlessly found a spot to sit down beside Ah Jiu. “You’re right.”

Suddenly, she remembered something important and let out a surprised “Ah!”

“What’s wrong?” asked the young girl Ah Jiu.

Yu Zhitao frowned: “I might be gone for a long time after this.”

Every time she entered this dream, it was after sharing a bed with Ah Jiu . But now, with school starting soon, they would have to part.

Young Ah Jiu furrowed her brows: “Is she leaving you?”

“No, no, no.” Yu Zhitao hugged her knees. “It’s because we both have very important things to do.”

“But don’t worry, the separation is only temporary. We’ll be reunited soon.”

Only then did young Ah Jiu nod in satisfaction.

Yu Zhitao felt a bit worried.

“If I don’t come for a long time, will you feel lonely all by yourself? Will you be deceived by the people in the palace again?”

Young Ah Jiu replied gently: “I won’t.”

Yu Zhitao pouted.

“You know, you’re just like your grown-up self—always comforting me.”

Young Ah Jiu rarely smiled.

She moved past Yu Zhitao to the corner of the flower shed, pushed aside some clutter, and retrieved a flowerpot.

Then, holding the flowerpot, she returned to Yu Zhitao’s side.

Looking at the small bud in the center of the pot, Yu Zhitao was surprised.

Only then did she realize that in this dream, while the palace’s back garden was lush with plants, there were no flowers at all.

The tender plant in young Ah Jiu’s arms was the only flower seedling in this entire dream.

Yu Zhitao felt happy: “Where did you find this flower?”

The girl gave her a strange answer.

“I didn’t find it. You left it behind.”

“Eh?” Yu Zhitao was confused. “I left it?”

Young Ah Jiu gazed tenderly at the seedling and nodded.

“When we were repairing the flower shed, you used to sleep for long hours every day.

“One day, I found it by chance where you slept. So, I got a pot and planted it.”

“Pfft.” Yu Zhitao couldn’t help laughing. “I didn’t know I had this ability.”

She leaned closer to the seedling and instinctively touched its leaves with the gentlest touch.

Young Ah Jiu continued: “From now on, I’ll handle palace affairs while taking care of this flower.

“When you return, we’ll watch it bloom together.”

Yu Zhitao nodded emphatically: “Deal!”