Choices

10 - Laying Claims

A/N: Siming gets dissed, Fengjiu reminisces about the love trial that never came to be, and two goddesses discuss debt repayment over drinks.

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Star Lord Siming, master of mortal destinies, stood with shaking knees before the former ruler of all realms and waited for judgment on his fate. On a seat alongside, His Third Highness Liansong sat on a cushion sipping tea, a bemused smile on his face as he watched the spectacle.

Before them, Donghua Dijun reclined on a chaise in that regal manner of his, poring through the fate scroll that Siming presented for his perusal. A suffocating silence hung over the air, punctuated by the tapping of Dijun's fingers on the table as he read.

"In essence," Dijun remarked, so suddenly that Siming nearly jumped off in fright, "Xiaobai descended to the mortal realm intending to repay me by creating a love trial, and in the process owed a life debt to the mortal general Ye Qingti?"

Siming inclined his head in respect. "It is as you said, Dijun."

Dijun rolled the scroll close with slow, elegant movements and placed it on the table with a quiet clunk. He took a sip of tea, each motion fluid and unhurried, and sat in deep thought for several long moments, unmindful of the terrified state of the Star Lord standing before him.

"And, after that, she disguised herself as a fairy maid to enter my palace, with your assistance?"

Siming swallowed hard and bent at the waist. He knew this day was bound to come, ever since Her Highness Bai Fengjiu came to him and begged for information on Dijun's mortal trial, and later when the repayment failed, for help to enter Dijun's domain as a fairy maid. What need is there for explanations?

"It was my oversight, Your Majesty. I have not been prudent as I should have been. Please, punish me."

If anything, the coldness in Dijun's eyes intensified even more. "You are willing to shoulder the entire blame in her stead. Why?"

Why indeed? Siming's instincts told him that that his answer to that question will determine whether he lives or dies today. "Keeping in mind Her Highness' wishes, as well as the prestige of Qingqiu, I can do nothing else, Your Majesty."

"So you did this at Xiaobai's behest, and kept your silence to protect her." Dijun's words should have been reassuring, but somehow they were not. "Again, why?"

What is Siming supposed to say? "I value Her Highness' regard of me as a friend, Your Majesty. I have known her family for a long time, and they had treated me very well."

Dijun pierced him with a stare so petrifying that Siming forgot to breathe for several long minutes. At last those blank eyes flicked away, and he was able to take a few gasps of air. "Camaraderie. I can accept that. But, in the future, if Xiaobai ever comes to you for these kinds of things, you have to clear everything with me first."

Siming didn't dare ask why, or how. It was pretty evident, anyway, that Donghua Dijun is laying claim on Her Highness Bai Fengjiu, most probably for all eternity. The Star Lord's bagua heart skipped a beat at this delicious piece of development, and the uproar that was sure to ripple across the realms once information comes out. "This servant understands and obeys, Dijun."