What happens after Fengjiu wakes up? This is the sweet, funny life of Donghua, Fengjiu and Gungun as they live happily ever after. Many appearances from old friends. I try to follow the show the most (because I love it to pieces), then the novel...
Author's Note: In Portuguese, saudade is a word for a sad state of intense longing for someone or something that is absent. A somewhat sad chapter with sweet little appearances from old friends. Next one will be extra spicy! ********************************************
It had been a bittersweet day returning to Qingqiu. Zheyan had guided them, something Donghua had requested to ensure their safety. Her whole family gathered at Bai Yi's fox den to welcome Fengjiu and Gungun.
The Bai family had first met Gungun when Fengjiu was still in a coma. Donghua had summoned them to Bihai Cangling, knowing that they deserved to be informed about Gungun and to see Fengjiu. Bai Yi, who was still angry with Donghua for deserting Fengjiu and allowing his daughter to be seriously injured again, had demanded to take both Fengjiu and Gungun back to Qingqiu.
Donghua had looked at him with chilling eyes. "The Bai family is welcome to stay and visit Bihai Cangling as long and as often as you like. But Bihai Cangling has deep healing properties, so my wife and son will stay here until she wakes up. Then we will go wherever she chooses."
Bai Yi had wanted to argue but there was no mercy in Donghua's eyes, making Bai Yi remember the days he had fought enemies under Donghua's ruthless command during the War of Gods and Demons. Zheyan had interrupted before irreparable harm could occur and confirmed that Bihai Cangling would be the best place for Fengjiu's recuperation. Bai Yi had merely grunted and left angrily back to Qingqiu. Bai Zhi, Ning Chang,* Hong Li*, Bai Zhen, Bai Qian, Yehua and A-Li had stayed and doted on Gungun for another two weeks before heading back to their homes. Their hearts also softened towards Donghua, who vigilantly watched over Fengjiu and only took breaks to spend time with Gungun (which involved building an array of mortal toys).
When Fengjiu had finally awakened, her family rushed to see her. Fengjiu had explained to them that Donghua had not deserted her, had been unable to attend the wedding banquet due to dealing with the Miaoyi Chasm and had been feeding her his precious blood daily to help her recover. Seeing how happy she was with Donghua, how Gungun adored his father, and how doting Donghua was to the both of them, even Bai Yi eventually forgave his formidable son-in-law. Various members of the Bai family would visit them over the next nine months in Bihai Cangling or at Taichen Palace, where the family of three moved a couple of months before Donghua's seclusion.
But finally, the Bai family was able to have Fengjiu and Gungun in their beloved realm. They held a raucous feast. Zheyan had brought a potent batch of peach blossom wine. By the end of the night, every adult Bai was drunk, except Fengjiu, who drank sparingly since she needed to tend to Gungun.
Gungun ate so many salty cakes and sweets, and being so excited by the festivities and family, he forgot about how sad he was not to see Father Lord for an entire day since meeting him. It was only when his mother tucked the little fairy boy into bed that he started crying. This was when Father Lord would tuck him to sleep.
"Oh Gungun," Fengjiu sighed, holding her baby in her arms. "I miss him, too."
"Mother, Gungun apologizes for crying," he sniffed, wiping tears from his eyes. Gungun had wanted to be strong because he knew Mother was sad too.
"Gungun, there is nothing to be sorry about. Men can cry too, and there is no need to be embarrassed. Your father also cries and don't you think he's awesome?" Fengjiu patted Gungun's little head.
Gungun nodded vigorously. "Of course. He's the most awesome God in the Four Seas and Six Directions!"
Fengjiu laughed. "What about me?"
Gungun tilted his head. "But Mother, you are not yet a God. Aren't you an immortal with no cultivation...?"
Fengjiu tsked and smiled. "It is true that I am just an immortal with no cultivation, but your father obeys my every command sooooo....don't you think I'm more awesome?"
Gungun thought about it. It is true that Father Lord does do everything Mother wanted, even saying he would give her more cakes than Gungun. But Gungun felt disloyal to Father Lord, so he ended diplomatically, "You're very awesome, Mother."
Fengjiu laughed and hugged Gungun again. Feeling better, Gungun yawned and promptly fell asleep when his mother tucked the blanket under his chin and kissed his head.
So the days passed with both Gungun and Fengjiu attending classes (Fengqiu's duties as Queen were currently being overseen by her father and mother while she went back to her studies, which she had paused quite a bit, going to the mortal world for Donghua's mortal tribulation, being stuck in Fanyin Valley, getting married, having a child, running away to the mortal world, saving the world, and so on). While not studying, Fengjiu took Gungun to explore the five territories of Qingqiu and Ten Miles of Peach Blossom (the only other place Donghua had felt would be safe for both of them to visit while he was in seclusion). Gungun tasted his first sip of peach blossom wine with Great Uncle Zheyan and Great Fourth Uncle and fell asleep for just two days (mother and son made a pinky pact not to tell Donghua). Fengjiu made Gungun a lot of salty cakes, and Gungun proudly showed off to other children his flying kite and spinning top that he had made with his father.
Fengjiu caught up with her friend, Jielu, queen of the Biyi Niao Clan, who had met, fell in love with, and married Jingwei, Bai Zhen's bird steed. Gungun loved visiting Jielu and Jingwei, since they took turns flying him high above Qingqiu. Chengyu and Siming, accompanied by A-li, would also visit them often, bringing gossip from the Nine Heavens. Xiao Yan would also come and teach Gungun how to make different types of traps, and in turn, Gungun would teach his uncle more refined poetry and idioms he had learned in class. Fengjiu, Jielu and Xiao Yan shared laughter and tears over fond memories of Meng Xiao and their simple days in Fanyin Valley.
Yet every day and everything made Fengjiu miss Donghua. When she got a headache from analyzing some complicated Buddhist theory, she thought about how her husband with his weird** affinity towards this subject would patiently explain it to her even if her eyes were to glaze over in despair. She knew he would listen to her childhood stories and look adoringly and proudly at how stubborn and naughty she had been. She missed looking out the window while making sweets to see him cradle Gungun against a tree for a father and son afternoon nap.
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And every night after tucking in Gungun, she put on his purple robe and walked around the lovely house that Migu had built based on the drawing she had shown Donghua so many years ago. The house was warm and cozy, but it felt so empty without his presence. She went to a rocking chair on the porch that overlooked the expansive green hills, majestic and beautiful beneath the blanket of stars. Fengjiu realized that though she was glad to see her beloved homeland again after so many years away, Qingqiu didn't feel like home anymore...because he was not here.
Sighing, she wrapped his robe tight against herself and breathed in his comforting sandalwood scent. She hoped he was recovering well. The world needed him to regain his full powers, and she just needed to be back in his arms.
________________________________ *I found Fengjiu's grandmother's name in Back to Chaos. Fengjiu's mother was never given a name so I just named her Hong Li.
** Ep. 26, Fengjiu calls Donghua weird for reading Buddhist theories for fun. So funny!
***How cute is that drawing (not by me)?? Credit to the Chinese name next to the heart in the drawing (sorry my Chinese isn't good enough to read it).
