Ten Miles Of Peach Blossoms

Chapter 4

The Eastern Sea Emperor walked ahead leading the way, Little Sticky-Rice Dumpling tottered along in the middle, and Ye Hua and I brought up the rear, my hand still tightly encased in his.

I had told only one small lie, which had been to protect his little son, really. He could have just turned a blind eye, but instead he decided to make things difficult for me.

I lost patience, and no longer caring about maintaining my goddess dignity, I cast a magic spell to break away from him. Ye Hua gave a gentle smile and blocked my spell with one of his own.

We battled on like this the whole way, Ye Hua gaining the upper hand because he did not care who saw, while I was trying not to rouse the attention of the Eastern Sea Emperor. Eventually I was forced to admit defeat.

Recently Fourth Brother had dismayed me by telling me how much things had deteriorated since the good old days of the ancient gods.

This current generation of immortals was so laid-back and lazy, apparently, and their magic was ailing and their Taoist practice weak. I had believed him.

But the spells that Prince Ye Hua was casting in front of me right now were so sophisticated and skillful that it made his grandfather's magic look ailing and his grandmother's Taoist practice look weak.

The Eastern Sea Emperor turned and gave me a weak smile. With his eyes fixed on our joined hands, he said, "Prince. Immortal envoy. We have arrived at the great hall."

Little Sticky-Rice Dumpling gave a yelp of joy and scampered over to grab my free hand. He adopted a solemn and dignified expression, befitting his position as the Sky Clan's great-grandson.

If it had been Ye Hua's head concubine walking in with him, such ostentation would have been all good and proper.

But instead, here I was, racking my poor brains to try and make sense of it all. Yes, I was connected to Ye Hua, but not yet in any formal way, and I did not understand what he was thinking dragging me into the banquet with him like this.

The palace door was before us with its gold engravings and jade inlay. I started to feel a dull ache in my head.

All the immortals inside the great hall had been waiting impatiently for the banquet to start, and as soon as Ye Hua appeared, they knelt down in two lines, forming an aisle that led straight to the host's table.

As soon as the three of us were seated, they gave praise and sat down in their places. The banquet had begun.

The immortal sitting nearest us came over to give a toast. He raised his glass to Ye Hua before turning to me. "How lucky I am to have the honor of meeting Empress Su Jin," he said with deference. "What good fortune, what good fortune indeed . . ."

Ye Hua stood to the side with his wine cup in his hand, watching impassively as I was forced to deal with this awkward situation.

The Eastern Sea Emperor turned pale and was winking desperately in the direction of the immortal lavishing us with praise.

I could no longer bear to watch. I gave a simpering smile and said, "I am actually Ye Hua's long-lost little sister. I am here today as Zhe Yan's envoy."

Ye Hua stopped drinking, and a few drops of wine splashed from his glass. The Eastern Sea Emperor turned and looked at me in bewilderment. The immortal holding out his glass to toast me looked completely mortified.

He was not in the position to continue with his toast, nor lower his glass. "I am so sorry," he stuttered, following an awkward silence. "My eyesight is terrible. I will drink this down in penance." I smiled kindly, unoffended, and drank a glass along with him.