The Amnesiac, Sickly Beauty Is Pregnant With My Dragon Cub - Chapter 53.2

Cang Lan stood in front of the Strawberry Demon to seek justice for Huang Liu. “Your ability to take human form is thanks to this King. Why be so petty? Can’t my subordinate pick a few fruits?”

The Strawberry Demon pouted, looking like she was about to cry. She complained piteously, “Great King, please be the judge! If she picked a few a day, it would be fine, but this smelly weasel waited until I was asleep and picked every single red fruit off my body!”

Cang Lan thought of the fist-sized strawberry she had just eaten. She stole a glance at the guilty-looking Huang Liu. Finally, having no choice, she took out a treasured cookie from behind her and handed it to the Strawberry Demon. “Here. This is a cookie my Lady made. This King apologizes to you. Take this cookie and eat it.”

The Strawberry Demon had never seen such a thing. She took it curiously and smelled a rich, sweet aroma. She immediately began hopping around happily, thanking her: “Thank you, Great King!”

After the Strawberry Demon left, Cang Lan looked down at Huang Liu with a cold, expressionless face. “You are forbidden from eating strawberries for a week!”

Cang Lan dragged the misbehaving Huang Liu back, only to turn around and meet Yu Xuanji’s calm, steady gaze. Her legs involuntarily moved toward her. “Lady, why did you come out? I remember setting a barrier.”

Yu Xuanji said casually, “I don’t know why; I just walked and came out.”

Cang Lan placed Huang Liu gently on the ground and patted her head, saying softly, “Alright, go play.”

Huang Liu’s eyes widened in disbelief. She was terrified by the Dragon King’s sudden gentleness and scrambled away as fast as she could.

Cang Lan said with a smile, “Is this King some kind of flood or savage beast?”

Yu Xuanji teased, “Not a flood, but ‘savage beast’ is somewhat fitting. I saw that you didn’t use force to drive away that little demon and even gave her the cookie I made to turn conflict into harmony. You did very well.”

Being praised like this, Cang Lan’s face lit up with joy. She laughed, “Lady always taught me that peace is precious. Today I’ve learned some of the essence. You are always so gentle with others and have a great reputation among the demons; I naturally can’t lose face for you.”

Yu Xuanji took out a small box. “A-Lan, come with me to give these cookies to Ming Huang and Tu Shan.”

Cang Lan wasn’t happy about it, but Yu Xuanji was her Lady. She had to listen to her Lady’s words and couldn’t complain—though Cang Lan rarely managed that last part.

The two first went to Tushan Bai’s home. The two there were drinking tea in the courtyard with a fruit plate filled with wild berries Tushan Bai had picked.

The moment Tushan Bai saw Cang Lan, her legs first began to shake, and then she instinctively grabbed Shen Xiu’s hand to flee. “Xiuxiu, the Living Yama is here.”

Cang Lan frowned unhappily. “What nonsense are you talking? How dare you slander this King in front of my Lady? Do you want to eat another bowl of the Hibiscus Jade Dew Porridge I personally made?”

Tushan Bai stiffened her neck, her butt seemingly glued to the chair. At Cang Lan’s words, she swallowed hard. “You evil dragon, I think you intentionally poisoned that porridge to try and kill me.”

Cang Lan said, “This King would never do such a sinister thing. You clearly just choked because you drank too fast.”

Tushan Bai looked at Yu Xuanji and accused, “Then ask your Lady—is the porridge she makes even meant for humans?”

Cang Lan turned her head and blinked her large, watery eyes at Yu Xuanji, saying in a soft voice, “Lady, tell her. You liked the porridge I made, didn’t you?”

Yu Xuanji nodded without hesitation. “Yes, the taste of A-Lan’s porridge is actually quite good. I think the reason it felt wrong to you was probably because it wasn’t cooked through.”

Tushan Bai never thought she’d hear such words that ignored right and wrong from Yu Xuanji’s mouth. Her jaw nearly dropped, and she stammered, “But… but…”

Shen Xiu picked up a fruit and stuffed it into Tushan Bai’s mouth, saying with a smile, “Sister Xuanji, what brings you to our home?”

Cang Lan placed the exquisite box on the table. “My Lady made some cookies today and sent them for you to eat.”

Before leaving, Cang Lan flashed a middle finger at Tushan Bai, who stubbornly rolled her eyes back—until Shen Xiu gave her a look, forcing her to put both hands obediently on her lap.

Leaving Tushan Bai’s house, the two arrived at Ming Huang’s door.

Cang Lan didn’t bother greeting them; she familiarly pushed the door open and entered the courtyard. It was quiet, with no one in sight. According to her years of knowing the Old Phoenix, she should be in the courtyard drinking tea and admiring flowers.

The white plum blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, and petals were falling under the tree. Given Ming Huang’s personality, she would usually collect the petals and bury them in the dirt, much like Lin Daiyu burying flowers.

However, the fallen flowers under the plum tree had piled up layer upon layer, and Cang Lan didn’t see Ming Huang cleaning them. She felt something was wrong.

Cang Lan shouted toward the house, “Old Phoenix, are you home?”

Just as she spoke, Lu Xuan walked out of the bedroom, staring at the two expressionlessly. She leaned against a pillar with her arms crossed. “What brings you two here?”

Cang Lan held the box. “Lady made some cookies to give you a taste.”

Then, Cang Lan saw Lu Xuan curl her lips into a smile as she took the wooden box. She laughed, “Thank you. My Master will certainly like them.”

Yu Xuanji asked casually, “A-Xuan, has Senior Ming Huang been feeling unwell these past few days? Why haven’t we seen her?”

Lu Xuan inadvertently revealed fresh red tooth marks and bite wounds on her wrist before pulling her sleeve down. “Master has been very tired lately and it is inconvenient to see guests. Thank you for the cookies. Stay and have a cup of tea.”

Yu Xuanji frowned. She knew Lu Xuan was just being polite, but Cang Lan said, “Sure, we won’t be formal then. I want to drink that plum tea you used to brew for the Old Phoenix.”

Lu Xuan put the cookie box down and smiled. “Alright, wait a moment.”

Lu Xuan turned to leave, but Cang Lan called out from behind her, “I have important business with the Old Phoenix. Call her out.”

“I told you, Master is unwell and it’s inconvenient. Please wait here, and after you finish your tea, please leave on your own.”

Cang Lan rested her chin on her hand and smiled. “Fine. I also want to eat those rose shortbread cookies you’re best at. Go make them.”

The smile on Lu Xuan’s lips stiffened slightly. She nodded and prepared to leave.

Cang Lan continued relentlessly, “Also, that jar of plum wine the Old Phoenix buried under the plum tree decades ago—she said she’d give it to me the other day. Don’t forget it.”

Lu Xuan still answered with a smile, “Alright.”

A gust of wind blew, causing Lu Xuan to squint. In the blink of an eye, she saw Cang Lan sitting in the chair in front of her, legs crossed, her eyes filled with coldness: “You aren’t A-Xuan. Who are you?”

Lu Xuan smiled. “If I’m not A-Xuan, who else could I be?”

Cang Lan sneered. “You don’t know how to make rose shortbread, and you definitely wouldn’t make it for this King. And the Old Phoenix never buried any plum wine under that tree. Oh wait—she did once, a hundred years ago. This King secretly dug it up and drank it. A-Xuan chased me for three days and three nights, and this King almost had her dragon tendons pulled out to be made into a belt. Since then, she never dared bury wine under that tree again.”

Lu Xuan’s expression changed instantly. One hand clenched into a fist inside her sleeve.

In a flash of golden light, Cang Lan first blocked Yu Xuanji behind her, surrounding her with a powerful spiritual shield. She pulled out her hairpin, which transformed into a chilling black iron spear, her gaze coldly sweeping over the fake Lu Xuan.

Cang Lan swung the spear, pointing it at the fake Lu Xuan, and shouted sternly, “Where have you put Lu Xuan and the Phoenix?”

Lu Xuan raised half an eyebrow and said with a smile, “How do you want this Seat to answer your question? I really am Lu Xuan.”

Cang Lan’s gaze froze. She used her True Sight to investigate and was stunned.

Lu Xuan actually had two souls in one body. There was another, even more malevolent soul hidden within her, sharing the physical form.

Cang Lan knit her brows. “Even if you really are Lu Xuan, you aren’t the A-Xuan I know. I suggest you be sensible and get out of her body right now!”

A battle was about to break out. Yu Xuanji asked in confusion, “A-Lan, how did you know she wasn’t A-Xuan?”

Cang Lan laughed. “In the past, when I made the first request, A-Xuan would have already transformed into her demonic beast form to bite me. This fake one actually patiently listened to my whole sentence and responded so politely. She’s definitely an impostor!”

“…”

Yu Xuanji gave a dry laugh. “That’s… good then.”