A Crown for a Tail

Epilogue 1

It was three months since the wedding, and Ye Hua and Bai Qian were visiting the Peach Tree Grove, having managed to find a spare day off and not wanting to remain at the Palace least he be called upon to address the many issues that required his attention, and not being able to escape to Mount Jun Ji in case he was needed urgently, they decided the Peach Tree Woods would be ideal.  It was always a place of refuge and being a beautiful day, Ye Hua had packed a picnic lunch and wine from the Celestial Heavens that Di Jun brewed himself.

Now sitting beside the colorful waterfall feature where he had first seen her, he told her of that day.  "I think that was the day, I fell in love with you." he said softly down at her.

Nestled against his body, with his arms wrapped lightly about her waist, she smiled.  "I remember that day.  I thought I felt an unfamiliar essence." she said as the memory came back to her.

And as they talked, their wedding day was still fresh in their minds.  Going over the pranks that had been pulled and the hilarious questions, Ye Hua learned that all but two answers were switched on him.

"You mean to say, you actually did win a Grand Cook Off?" he asked astonished against her laughter.

"Yes I did.  I cooked a tray of peacan nut biscuits." she stated proudly to even more laughter as he shook his head at her.  Biscuit baking was hardly cooking, but he said nothing since she was so proud of her one cooking accomplishment.

Breaking the laughter, she suddenly looked back at him with a small smile, one he had never seen before.  Her brows were lightly furrowed and her cheeks were flushed but the smile was one of pure happiness.  Shifting her body so she was sitting up and facing him, she took his hand gently and placed it against her tummy.  "I plan on learning to cook, because soon there will be one more mouth to feed." she said softly as his eyes began to widen and his lips tremble.

Nodding her head at his face that was staring straight down at her belly, two tears fell down each cheek as the realization that he was to become a father hit him.

"Qian Qian....." he whispered softly before dragging her back into his arms.  It was the one thing he had been hoping to hear since their wedding day, and now his one dream had come true.  "Thank you." was all he could manage as the tears of joy rolled down both of their faces.

And being only the second one to know, the Medicine King being the first, Ye Hua and Bai Qian decided that they would immediately begin notifying their families. "Let's visit Mo Yuan first, we can notify him at the same time as the Disciples." she suggested and he would also be asked to bless the pregnancy before they told the others.

"Perfect!" he said as they both rose.  "But I want to notify Di Jun and Lord Pua first." he said as he helped her to her feet.  Lord Pua because he was responsible for all Celestial births and marriages and Di Jun because he, along with Mo Yuan would check the child for a second and third opinion.

So returning to the Celestial Heavens, Lord Pua was notified before Di Jun, who gave them both one of his rare smiles.  After almost an hour of quiet consultation, he was ready to leave with them.

Though seeing her looking  a little pale, Ye Hua suggested she stay behind and rest for a while.  "We will go and talk with Lord Pua first, then we'll return to see if you are up to joining us." he said softly to still the sudden attempt to object,  before kissing the top of her head.  Then calling a maid, he had her escorted back to Xiwu Palace.

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Kunlun Mountain

Mo Yuan had just sat down at his teaching platform when Zhi Lan entered the Grand Hall to inform him of that a visitor had just arrived.