The Amnesiac, Sickly Beauty Is Pregnant With My Dragon Cub - Chapter 44.1

Before the words could even fully leave her mouth, Yu Xuanji reached out and covered Cang Lan’s lips. Her expression seemed slightly troubled.

Cang Lan thought she was feeling unwell again. Pressing her palm against the girl’s forehead, she asked in confusion, “What’s wrong? Do you have a fever again?”

Yu Xuanji shook her head and pulled her hand back, only for Cang Lan to catch it firmly and press it against her own chest. Yu Xuanji lowered her gaze and said, “You are a Divine Dragon… you won’t die, right?”

Cang Lan laughed. “That’s right. But why do you ask?”

Yu Xuanji replied, “My mother taught me from a young age that one must never speak of ill omens. One must be careful lest a stray word becomes a prophecy. That is why I never speak of things like life and death.”

Seeing how solemnly Yu Xuanji explained herself, Cang Lan smiled. “Rest assured, there is no one in this world who can even get close to me.”

As she spoke, she noticed Yu Xuanji pointing toward the heart-protecting scale on her chest. The girl looked up and said, “Look at you talking… didn’t I get close?”

Cang Lan gripped Yu Xuanji’s wrist and teased, “Indeed. Other than you, any who touch it shall die.”

Yu Xuanji swallowed hard. Hearing those words, she lowered her eyes again and tried to move away from Cang Lan. While quietly scooting backward, she whispered, “Even so, you aren’t allowed to talk nonsense. What if one day you meet someone better—”

Before she could finish, Cang Lan reached out, hooked her arm around Yu Xuanji’s waist, and pulled her forcefully against her chest. Resting her chin on the girl’s forehead, she laughed. “Do not worry. In all of heaven and earth, this world could never produce anyone better than you.”

Yu Xuanji was dizzy with embarrassment. She originally wanted to struggle out of Cang Lan’s embrace, but her legs felt like limp noodles; no matter how she tried to prop herself up, she couldn’t, and her knees kept thudding back down onto Cang Lan’s lap.

Cang Lan leaned against the headboard, the corners of her lips curling upward as she watched Yu Xuanji struggle to get up, offering no help at all. Finally, Yu Xuanji couldn’t take it anymore. Seeing the other woman just sitting there watching the show, she couldn’t help but say aggrievedly, “My legs are numb, yet you won’t even help me. You just sit there laughing at me.”

Seeing this, Cang Lan laughed. “Wife, you truly wrong me.”

With that, Cang Lan grabbed Yu Xuanji by the waist with both hands and quickly laid her down flat. She pulled the quilt over her, tucking her in tightly. Then, grabbing her own clothes and throwing them on, she rose from the bed.

Curled up in the warm bedding, Yu Xuanji watched Cang Lan dress and asked, “Where are you going?”

Cang Lan smiled. “I heard your stomach growling just now. I’m going out to buy you something delicious. Tell me, what do you want to eat?”

Yu Xuanji thought for a moment and said, “I want to eat Qingtuan (sweet green rice balls).”

Cang Lan shook her head. “Rice balls are hard to digest. You’ve just recovered from a serious illness; you shouldn’t eat them yet.”

Yu Xuanji tried again. “Then I want Char Siu (barbecued pork).”

Cang Lan shook her head again. “Char Siu is too greasy. Not good.”

Yu Xuanji continued, “What about a lamb Huoshao (baked bun)?”

Cang Lan smiled and shook her head. “Not allowed.”

Yu Xuanji listed several things she wanted to eat, only to be rejected one by one. She said gloomily, “I’m not allowed to eat this or that. I’m not some delicate little child, why can’t I eat anything?”

Cang Lan sat by the bed, stroking Yu Xuanji’s hair, and explained with a smile, “Everything you mentioned is difficult to digest and will give you a stomach ache. Until you are fully recovered, you can only eat light foods. Once you are well, I’ll take you out to eat whatever you want. How does that sound?”

Though still a bit sulky, Yu Xuanji nodded. “Fine. If that’s the case, I’ll listen to you.”

Cang Lan stepped out of the house, leaving the Denglin Forest to enter the outside world.

It was the same street she was familiar with; the air was filled with the clamor of people and the drifting scents of food.

Cang Lan turned her head and saw a stall selling lamb Huoshao. The aroma was rich and incredibly tempting—no wonder Yu Xuanji was so upset about not being able to eat it.

After standing before the stall for a moment, Cang Lan suppressed the cravings in her own stomach. She would wait until Yu Xuanji’s health was perfect before bringing her here. A grand Dragon God like herself couldn’t bring herself to eat delicious food alone.

It was currently the first quarter of the hour of the Rooster (approx. 5:15 PM). There was less than an hour left before the curfew, yet the streets were still brightly lit and crowded.

Cang Lan went to the largest restaurant in Qingyang County, the Wangyue Tower. She instructed the waiter to prepare some light dishes and pack them in a food box to go.

Cang Lan had been doing this for several days, always ordering light meals. The waiter had begun to suspect she was a nun who practiced vegetarianism, and having memorized her face, he would occasionally recommend other light vegetarian options.

Qingyang County was near the Divine Capital and was a prosperous area with honest folk. As Cang Lan took the food box from the waiter, she opened it to find an extra small bowl of steamed egg custard.

The proprietress of Wangyue Tower, draped in a light crimson veil, walked slowly down the stairs with elegant steps. Seeing Cang Lan waiting at a table while drinking tea, she approached with a smile. “Miss Cang, buying dinner again today? Why don’t you ever bring a servant? Rumor has it that there are fox demons causing trouble in Luozhou lately. You are so beautiful; what if a fox demon sets its sights on you?”

Cang Lan laughed. “You are even more beautiful and graceful, proprietress. If you aren’t afraid, what have I to fear?”

The proprietress couldn’t stop laughing. She took the food basket and opened it, asking curiously, “Miss Cang, you visit so often but always order light dishes. Our Wangyue Tower has many delicacies from all over, even from the Western Regions. Don’t you want to try some?”

Cang Lan smiled. “No need, thank you. My wife has been unwell lately and cannot touch greasy or heavy foods.”

The words didn’t seem odd at first, but after Cang Lan left, the proprietress suddenly realized something. She asked in confusion, “Did I just hear Miss Cang say she was bringing food for her wife? Did I mishear?”

The waiter also felt something was off. “That’s truly strange. Could it be that Miss Cang is actually a man in women’s clothing?”

The proprietress shot him a look. “Shoo! Who says a woman can’t take a wife? Women marrying each other isn’t unheard of. Look at you, so unrefined.”

Cang Lan stepped out of Wangyue Tower and saw the bustling streets gradually becoming deserted. She came across a candied hawthorn (tanghulu) stall. Looking at the bright, translucent red fruit, she thought Yu Xuanji would like it. She fumbled in her purse for some silver and said, “Vendor, I’ll take a stick of candied hawthorns.”

At the same time, a hand slowly reached out and took the stick. “Vendor, I’ll take this one.”

With the curfew approaching, the vendor didn’t even have time to collect the money; he pushed his cart and hurried away. Cang Lan looked up to see the straw stand was empty, and the last stick of candied hawthorns was in the hand of another woman.

The woman was dressed in white with her hair loose. She looked at Cang Lan with a smile, twirling the hawthorns. “My apologies, this stick is mine.”

Seeing this, Cang Lan pulled out a silver ingot. “Here are fifty taels. I’ll buy your candied hawthorns.”

The woman waved the stick and laughed. “Not for a thousand pieces of gold.”

The curfew began. Every now and then, imperial guards could be seen patrolling. The two women stood conspicuously on the empty street and were spotted by a squad. The leading officer shouted sternly, “Who goes there? It is past curfew! Men, seize them!”

From the corner of her eye, Cang Lan saw the guards. She suddenly snatched the candied hawthorns from the woman, threw the silver ingot at her, and in the blink of an eye, flew up onto the roof.

The white-clad woman followed suit, her white clothes fluttering like a ghost, appearing and disappearing without a trace.

The guards raised their spears, trembling and not daring to move forward. A lieutenant reported, “General, those two just flew onto the roof in a blink. They’re like ghosts… could they be the fox demons that come out at night in Luozhou?”

The general, sitting on his horse, shouted, “What fox demons? It’s just itinerant martial artists playing tricks! Soldiers, listen up! Capture these two suspects tonight. There will be a heavy reward for their capture!”

Cang Lan’s toes touched down lightly as she landed on a parasol tree, watching the patrolling soldiers pass beneath her.

Suddenly, the candied hawthorns in her hand vanished, replaced by a silver ingot in her arms. Cang Lan turned to see the white-clad woman sitting on the roof, saying with a smile, “Taking without asking is stealing. I can see your skills are extraordinary; you are clearly no mortal. Yet, I cannot see through to your true form.”

Cang Lan blinked gently. A flash of golden light passed through her eyes, and behind the white-clad woman, a giant nine-tailed white fox appeared. Recalling what the proprietress of the restaurant had said, Cang Lan smiled. “So, you are the fox demon that has everyone terrified.”

The white-clad woman laughed. “Though I am a fox, I have never harmed anyone or stolen anything. The talk of fox demons hurting people is just a cover for those corrupt officials to do their dirty work. It’s truly troublesome; my reputation as Tushan Bai is being ruined by these mortals.”

Hearing the name “Tushan Bai,” Cang Lan asked in confusion, “You are of the Tu Shan clan from Qingqiu?”

Tushan Bai’s eyes lit up. “Correct. I am Tushan Bai of Qingqiu. May I ask your name, miss?”

Cang Lan thought for a moment before saying, “Cang Lan, from the Penglai Immortal Isles of the East Sea.”

Tushan Bai gasped. “You are from Penglai? I often hear people say that Penglai is a realm of longevity with an herb of immortality. Is it true?”

Cang Lan asked, “Are you not already immortal? Why look for the herb? It’s just a legend. I lived in Penglai for a thousand years and never saw such a thing.”

Tushan Bai sighed. “It is because I fell in love with a mortal woman but cannot stay with her forever. I had the delusion of defying heaven to craft a body of longevity for her.”

Cang Lan frowned. “You come from the immortal realm of Qingqiu; you must know that altering a mortal’s fate is a transgression against heaven. One would face heavenly tribulations—nine out of ten die, with no exceptions.”

Tushan Bai clutched the candied hawthorns and let out a deep sigh. “Forget it, forget it. The candied hawthorns are yours. I’m leaving.”

Cang Lan looked at the candied hawthorns in her hand, holding them carefully. Carrying the food box, she arrived at the woods outside Qingyang County in a flash.

Pushing through a shimmering, transparent door, she returned to Denglin. She saw the open door of the house and Yu Xuanji sitting under a peach tree, waiting for her return.

Cang Lan placed the food box on the stone table under the tree. Seeing Yu Xuanji holding a small wooden stick and poking at a group of ants, moving little pebbles out of their way, she smiled. “Wife, you must be tired of playing. Wash your hands; it’s time for dinner.”

Yu Xuanji snapped out of it and put down the stick. “If only I were an ant. They are always in groups; they never have to be lonely.”

Cang Lan knelt before Yu Xuanji and teased, “Wife, you have me by your side. Why envy ants?”

Yu Xuanji stared into Cang Lan’s eyes. “But you always leave me home alone. I have no friends; I can only play with these little bugs to pass the time. But they can’t talk. They don’t know my joys or sorrows.”

Cang Lan gazed back seriously. “Wife, once your body is well, I will definitely take you out. I will not break my word.”

Yu Xuanji curled her lips into a smile. “Good. Then when I’m well, you take me out to play. I want to see the mountains and rivers, and I want to eat delicious things.”

Watching Cang Lan open the food box, Yu Xuanji rested her chin on her hands and sighed. “In these past ten-plus years, I’ve hardly ever left the house. I’ve never seen the outside world. The only time I left home for a long journey was to marry the Dragon God.”

Hearing this, Cang Lan asked, “Does my wife miss home?”

Yu Xuanji nodded. “It’s been a long time; I really do miss it. I just don’t know what identity I should use to see my parents and my sister. Would they think that after I married the Dragon God, I became an immortal and would never return?”

Cang Lan kept piling food into Yu Xuanji’s bowl. “If you want to go back, I will take you. If you miss home, just say so; I’ll bring you back.”

Yu Xuanji took a bite of the tender greens and asked, “I feel like you aren’t happy. Is something on your mind?”