Eternal Love of Dream: The Aftermath

What If? Part 3

"Donghua, there is gossip in the Nine Heavens that you were holding hands with a beautiful woman in the market yesterday."  The Third Prince fanned himself as he sat on the dais overlooking the court of ice stakes.  Giving up a little bit of his cultivation to enter the closed off Fanyin Valley again was worth it to confirm the gossip.  "They say she had a plume birthmark on her forehead. That sounds like the little fox princess to me."

"She wanted to buy honey to make me sweets.  Naturally, I had to accompany her."  Donghua said, looking warmly at the glass box he was holding his hand.  Yesterday, after Fengjiu had begged that she couldn't take anymore of his attention in bed, they had eaten a late lunch and then went to the market. The gossipers were right—he indeed had held her hand, and though Fengjiu blushed profusely, she smiled as they walked. 

She had taken him to different stalls and bought snacks and little gifts for him, before entering a little shop.  He had stood obediently outside, eating the snacks and playing with the toys she had given him, as she bought some ingredients from inside.  When they returned to their quarters, she had asked him to go away for an hour so she could make him the sweets.  He had read scrolls while he waited, and an hour later, she had given him a container of ten fox shaped honeyed sweets. 

He tried one and she had shyly asked if he had liked them.  Because she had made them especially for him, he had taken her into his arms and told her he especially liked them. Since he had been a child with no parents to make him sweets, he had always been a little envious seeing others enjoy sweets made by a loved one. He had kissed her and then proceeded to give her his undivided attention multiple times throughout the night.

Liansong choked on his tea at Donghua's indirect confirmation.  He really needed to remember not to drink tea around Donghua when gossiping. "You and she are really together?"

Donghua just looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Did you really come here to see the competition or to gossip?" 

Liansong coughed. "Yes, yes. But the battle hasn't started yet.  What are you holding in your hand?"

"Xiaobai gave me some fox sweets to enjoy during the competition. She's so thoughtful." Donghua sighed, at Fengjiu, who gave him a little nod and smile as she was standing in the group of students ready to jump onto the ice stakes.  

This morning before they headed to the competition, she had given him more fox treats, explaining that she had made more because she figured he would've eaten all of the ten she had given him yesterday.  He had, indeed, eaten all of them. 

Liansong snapped his fan close.  "This is just unfair you're this far along with the fox princess despite being so inexperienced for 400,000 years."

"It's an innate skill.  You wouldn't know." Donghua said with a smirk.  Liansong gave him a glare before turning to see that the students had jumped onto the ice stakes and started battling one another, with the goal of being the last one standing.  Fengjiu easily sent one of her classmates falling to the ground before fighting another.

"The swordsmanship of the Biyi Niao Clan is not as good as that of Fengjiu who has 30,000 years of experience. But Yan Chiwu is older than her so I hope your training will give her a slight advantage." Liansong turned to look at Donghua eating the fox candy.  "I can't believe you're eating sweets made by your woman in front of everyone to see.  It's very embarrassing."

Donghua gave Liansong a smug look.  "Xiaobai said there is nothing embarrassing about a man enjoying sweets." 

Liansong looked at Donghua in complete disgust.  All the students had fallen to the ground except for Yan Chiwu, Princess Jie Lu, Prince Meng and Fengjiu. Yan Chiwu then sent Princess Jie Lu to the ground and Fengjiu had done similarly to Prince Meng. 

Yan Chiwu shouted to his friend, "If I win, I'll give you half of the fruit!"

"The results haven't been decided," Fengjiu responded, jumping and attacking Yan Chiwu, who leapt to another ice stake.  All of a sudden, Yan Chiwu yelled in anger at Fengjiu and jumped down from the sky. Fengjiu barely jumped out of the way before Yan Chiwu smashed the ice stake that Fengjiu had been standing on. His eyes glowed red magic. 

"Xiaoyan, are you crazy?"  Fengjiu screamed, jumping in time to deflect the attack.

Donghua looked to the side of the court, and saw Ji Heng emanating red magic from her hands.  He sent a pulse of his own magic which immediately disabled her and made her fall to the ground.

"Liansong, Ji Heng just fainted.  Can you tend to her?" Donghua asked as a command, not taking his eyes from Fengjiu in case she needed his protection.  The Third Prince walked to retrieve Ji Heng as Fengjiu deflected Yan Chiwu's sword. 

Then she struck at Yan Chiwu, giving him a critical hit that sent him to the ground.  The crowd cheered and Fengjiu was declared the winner. She looked in Donghua's direction and smiled brightly.

He raised his glass box of candy treats as a salute.  "You did a wonderful job," he mouthed and she blushed. It was a good thing Liansong was busy carrying an unconscious Ji Heng away; otherwise the Third Prince would've thrown up his morning tofu at the open display of affection.
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Fengjiu gets the fruit she deserves! Hope you enjoy and thanks for your comments and votes. ❤️