The Empress Dowager pursed her lips, “I’ve just started eating, is everything alright?”

"Grandma, let me take a look. You're fine, so of course you can eat it. But you still shouldn't eat too much."

"Then let's see." The Empress swept her eyes over the delectable spread on the table. "Nothing much, just that my appetite has been quite good lately."

"Well, Grandmother is right. You can eat, but don't overindulge," Fu Jiujiu said after taking his pulse.

"You, you girl, have come up with such a novel dish to eat, and yet you won't let me have more? Isn't that deliberately trying to annoy me?" The Empress Dowager said this, but people like them wouldn't eat too much of what they liked, and even disliked things, they would eat a little less.

"Your Majesty, you shouldn't eat anymore. Let me take a look for you," Fu Jiujiu said naturally.

Emperor Chengde stroked his beard and laughed, "I'm fine. My mother has eaten it, so how can I not? Just eat a little less."

Fu Jiujiu wouldn't budge, "With such a grand display, we can't possibly fail to achieve our goal. Your Majesty, that simply won't do."

"Yes, even I've noticed it. This little girl is very astute. Otherwise, she wouldn't let you eat. Just take a look at her; there's nothing wrong."

The Emperor of Chengde sighed and glanced at Tang Xian, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Alright then, let's have Jiujiu take a look," he said.

Fu Jiujiu didn't dare to linger for too long, afraid that Emperor Chengde would notice something. But even in this short time, she knew that Emperor Chengde's body was indeed not well.

She kept her face impassive and said, "The Emperor has also eaten some, but not too much. This food hasn't been cooked, it's cold and might be harmful."

Emperor Chengde smiled, "Good, even though it's uncooked, the taste isn't bad either. It's tender and delicious."

This little girl is the best eater! Your Majesty, please let the Seventh Prince marry her quickly. Then even Ai Jia will have a taste of her cooking.

Emperor Chengde looked at Fu Jiujiu, "My son also wants to, but the Seventh Prince still needs to work harder."

Both of them were a little embarrassed.

It was night, and Fu Jiujiao and Tang Xian met alone, naturally to talk about Emperor Chengde.

"Father knows!" Tang Xian said first.

Fu Jiujiu let out a long sigh. "Looks like I wasted all that effort. I knew it wouldn't be easy to keep this from him. To feel his pulse, I'd have to knock him unconscious otherwise, there's no way he wouldn't know!"

"It's fine, how is he?"

Fu Jiu Jiu sighed, "It's indeed not good. His body is severely depleted. He has a chronic illness, and the medicine he takes is also harmful to his body, damaging all his organs."

"Can it be cured?" Tang Xian raised his head and looked at the night sky. Today's clouds were exceptionally numerous, even covering the moon.

"Tang Qi Gege, I'm not a god!"

Fu Chi-chiu said, "At that time, I also saw General Jin. It was hopeless. If it wasn't for me using the spirit water to help him hold on, I'm afraid he wouldn't have seen the Empress Dowager one last time."

Tang Xian understood Fu Jiujiu's meaning, "How long will it be?"

Fu Jiujiu shook her head. “I need to take a closer look. Since you say the emperor knows, I’ll give him a proper examination tomorrow.”

Tang Xian thought of his father's gaze, he must have known. Since he chose not to hide it, he was probably aware of his situation.

“I will meet him first tomorrow.”

Fu Jiujiu squeezed his hand, and Tang Xian knew she was comforting him. After all, at this time, there was nothing more comforting than sitting quietly with him.

Didn't you say there was one more thing?

After a moment, Tang Xian regained her composure and asked.

Fu Jiujiu nodded and told Tang Xian about what the bird had said that day.

"The Illusory Azure Nation?"

"Yes, have you heard?" Fu Jiujiu had also been looking through ancient books these days, but found nothing.

Tang Xian shook her head, “No, didn’t that bird lie to you?”

I don't know, but subconsciously I feel it's true, after all, it appeared several times without any intention of harming me. It even said that because I am from the Xuancang Kingdom, I am able to understand the language of flowers, birds, fish, and flying and ferocious beasts.

Tang Xian is now troubled on one hand by his father's illness, and on the other by Fu Jiu Jiu's matters. Ironically, he is powerless to do anything about both situations.

"Chirp chirp, we can't be apart anymore."

Fu啾啾 nodded. "I know."

Tang Xian finally let out a breath of relief, but he felt it was rather selfish.

"Or wait for the bird to return and ask what it needs you to do. If it's something easy, perhaps?"

Fu JiuJiu laughed, it was late at night and seeing his gloomy face, Fu JiuJiu took the initiative to lean in for a kiss, then she had a bold idea...

Fujujijiu didn't expect, she actually succeeded.

Originally, you need to concentrate your mind on each other, so that you can bring yourselves into the space.

"Tang Qi gege, open your eyes, look."

At the moment Tang Xi opened his eyes, he was stunned. "This...this is...your secret space?"

Fujujiao nodded. "Not bad, right?"

Tang Xian saw the Lingquan that Fu Jiujiao had mentioned. It wasn't very big; he thought it would be a large source of water that could be taken out constantly, but it was only this small.

And there was the land, with flowers and grasses, and plants he had never seen before. But the fruit that grew on them, he had eaten; they were all brought out to him by little girls.

Tang Xian exclaimed, "If you weren't by my side, I would have thought I was dreaming."

"So that's how you get in. I should have known..."

Fu Jiaojiao rolled her eyes at him. "I just thought about it, you probably have me on your mind all the time, and I have you on mine too. We're thinking alike, so that's how we can bring it in… What does kissing have to do with anything… Oh no!"

Tang Xian saw Fu Jiujiu and exclaimed, "What's wrong?"

Fujujiao held his hand and said, "We have to go out quickly. People are still kissing outside. If they see us...we'll be ashamed to see anyone."

Tang Xi nodded. He couldn't let the little girl be gossiped about.

However, when they came out, it was still a bit late.

Their eyes met for a moment, and then their lips parted. Anne was still clapping on the side.

Fu Jiujiu just felt movement outside, but she was shocked by Tang Xian's ability to enter the space.

The result ignored the sounds from outside.

"Ahem... Peace. How did you come to be here?"

"Well, why aren't the two of you kissing?"

That curious little expression seemed to be saying, "Come on, kiss already! Give it another one."

Fuju's face was flushed red, she wished she could find a place to hide.

"Peace, how did you come here all alone?"

An Ning blinked her big eyes and said, "I'm going to catch fireflies. Seeing the two of you kissing, I knew not to let others see, so I told them not to come closer."

She boasted, "I came alone!"

"Ahem, firefly, good evening. I'll catch some fireflies for you!" Fu Jiaojiao awkwardly quickly changed the subject.

First published on the Traditional Chinese Novels Network