Choices and Consequences

Bai Qian

The Peach Tree Grove is bathed in the soft glow of early morning light.  The soft, featherlike petals danced in their own rhythm as they fall and land in the petals laden ground.  A tranquil and soothing atmosphere permeates the grove, wrapping itself around the people sitting in the small table by the jade lake.  Bai Zhi, Bai Zhen and the fox empress Bai Meili are visiting. 

Zhe Yan is busy with breakfast.  It has been a while since his brother Bai Zhi and Meili have last been to the grove.  Nearly four months to be exact.  "Is food ready? Bai Zhen asked. "I'm starving."  Zhe Yan smirked.  "You're always starving". "Come help me with these." Pointing at the small table laden with fruits, congee, jianbing, zongzi and Yam Cha.  With hands full, they made their way down to where Bai Zhi and Meili are waiting.  Setting themselves around the table, the group started helping themselves to breakfast.  "Hmmm...these are delicious Zhe Yan.  You've outdone yourself" Meili said.  "When did you learn to cook Zongzi?" Bai Zhi asked in wonder.  "This taste exactly like Xiao Wu's". 

Silence fell in the group.  Their minds have gone to the event four months before.  The day Bai Qian, the youngest and only daughter of the imperial fox family disappeared right in front of their eyes. They all know that at 110,000 years old with the ascension energy pulsing around her aura, she was due for her high goddess trial.  Only they didn't expect it to hit the way it did. 

Nearly 4 months ago...

"Xiao Wu, your mother and I agreed that it's about time you start thinking about marriage." Bai Zhi said, focusing his attention to his only daughter who has not shown any interest in the marriage alliances that they brought to her attention.  She is too immersed in her duties as crown princess of Qing Qiu, visiting the mortal realm to listen and watch her favourite mortal plays and raiding Zhe Yan's cellar for the new batch of wine that takes her fancy.  His daughter is a perplexing combination of mischievousness, heightened sense of responsibility, loyalty, kindness and fearlessness.  Combined with her out worldly beauty and fierce intelligence, she should be a highly sought after marriage alliance prospect but she chose to live in seclusion.  Shunning the numerous invitations to banquets and gatherings, she was eventually taken off the list and left alone which suits her well. 

Bai Qian cannot stand the frivolity and artifice of those gatherings.  The first and last time she attended an event in the celestial palace, she ended up in the lotus pond, wet, angry and humiliated after the teenage Crown Prince Ye Hua knocked her down to the pond whilst trying to chase down his twin brother Mo Yuan.  The young celestials laughed and made quacking noises at the odd looking fox princess who looked like a drowned mandarin duck in her multicoloured dress. 

Bai Qian fixed her father with her steely gaze.  "How many times have I told you father that marriage is not in my future? I am happy as I am so please stop this nonsense."  "I know, Xiao Wu but I had a missive from the celestial palace asking for an official meeting with you and the Crown Prince Ye Hua.  Please, at least think about it?.  "It's only a meeting after all".  Bai Qian sighed.  "I'll consider it." 

"Okay, okay, stop that discussion.  Breakfast is ready" Zhe Yan called out from the little hut.  He along with Bai Zhen placed the food in the table.  Bai Zhen teased Bai Qian about the meeting with Ye Hua.  "I heard, he is quite a catch Xiao Wu.  Handsome, intelligent and powerful.  He's very popular with the ladies. I think you should meet him.  Just make sure you don't throw yourself in the lotus pond like the last time!"  Bai Qian took the jug of water and poured it on her brother's head before stalking off. "Now you look like a drowned fox"

Right at that moment, a tornado like wind rushed through the grove and an almighty crack, followed by a streak of lightning that struck Bai Qian.  Lifting her in the air like a twig before she completely disappeared.  Leaving only the smell of ozone and then calm once again descended into the Peach Tree Grove.