Happiness of eternity

42) Mother has free rein

Until their hosts calmed down, the heavenly royals and other officials casually chatted among themselves while spoiling the young crown prince from time to time; seemingly forgetting their purpose of visitation. Even Xie Lian and Hua Cheng seemed happy and relaxed as if they were there for a picnic and not an execution.

Seeing that, Lady Siming sighed in relief and praised herself for her smart move of calling Hua Ying in a haste. With that assurance, she silently left the room, trusting her new found nephew to handle the situation without triggering the wraith of Tiāndao. The moment she left however, the said nephew's lovely and calm facade morphed into something vicious and playful as he looked down at the crowd below.

"Well... Shall we begin then?" Hua Ying asked in a sweet tone.

Feeling the sudden shift of the atmosphere, the crowd fell into a pin drop silence, cold sweat dripping down their spines. There is no one that lived under the rule of the Cang Qiong Mountain sect that didn't know who and what the young Luo Ying was capable of doing. The additional knowledge of her true heritage worked wonders spiking their fear. Also the fact that the only people who had the power to rein her being the main culprits only worsened their situation more. Thus, they all stood silent with their heads lowered and mouths shut, dreading for what is yet to come.

"Tài Zǐ Diànxià..." Seeing how the situation is reverting back to the starting point, Shi Qingxuan raised her voice carefully, quickly glancing at her fellow heavenly officials for support. Though Pei Ming and the bickering duo, Feng Xin and Mu Qing didn't meet her glance, Ling Wen's head firmly went up and down in reassurance as the Rain Master calmly eyed her.

"Hmm?" Hua Ying hummed questioningly.

"Ahem... It's just that Lady Siming warned that-"

"Don't worry, Qingxuan āyí. I assure you that this won't anger Tiāndao." With a reassuring smile, Hua Ying promised firmly before continuing; "Besides, I know very well that the heavenly emperor is even more restricted by laws than any of you but... the laws don't state anything about how a mother should behave in this kind of a situation. Does it?"

The heavenly officials' jaws dropped open and the ghosts chuckled amusedly when they realized the implication of Hua Ying's words as Hua Cheng and Lady Wei burst out in laughter. Even Xie Lian's face brightened up with a prideful smile at his baby's wit and the ability to find loopholes in any law. Lan Wangji just shook his head fondly, remembering all the times his beloved broke his clan rules in the past.

"Now, since we are clear..." Hua Ying murmured predatoriously before blinking cutely at his mother; "A-niang... A-Ying doesn't know what to do. You can do whatever you want as long as you don't kill anyone. But don't use your titles. Okay?"

"Mn. I won't." Kissing his baby's forehead, Xie Lian promised seriously.

"Oh, before I forget... Yǎngmǔ hates how he has to suffer by being a good wife and a mother. But yǎngfù loves breeding him." As if it's nothing embarrassing, Hua Ying innocently informed his mother in a hushed tone before hiding himself in Xie Lian's royal robes. Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry when the boy shamelessly declared such a thing. Still he managed to compose himself to continue his execution.

"San Lang, Can you...?" Taking a seat with his cuddling baby on his lap, Xie Lian asked, to which Hua Cheng replied with a wicked grin and all too eager, "Of course, gege."

With that, all hell broke upon the once beautiful immortal mountain. But it took some time for its residents to realize what they got themselves into.

"Your- your lordships! It's- it's-" The panicked servant who rudely barged into the hall stopped then and there when he noticed the oppressive atmosphere inside. Though the news he brought got itself revealed when a heavy wind blew inside through the open door, carrying dry but chilly wind inside along with crimson snowflakes.