Blood of the Fox

Chapter 16

The announcement that the Third Prince had bested the Nightmare Beast and retrieved the Dream Peach was spread far and wide in the Heavenly Realm.

So when the portal finally lit up and the intersecting rings began to whirl, there was quite a large crowd gathered waiting. Immortal courtiers, all waiting to curry favor with whom they predicted would soon become the Jade Emperor's new favorite son.

"That he can defeat the Nightmare Beast as his age... even the Lotus Crown Prince was his twice his age before accomplishing the same task!"

"You know what they say, that the Third Prince is the incarnation of the Elder Emperor!"

"With this, the Jade Emperor can't keep overlooking his achievements. He's sure to be made Crown Prince."

"I wouldn't be so sure if I was you. Don't forget his mother is still locked up in the Cold Palace, and how she betrayed the Jade Emperor for Yunyang. His lineage is nowhere near as noble as that of the Elder Prince and the Second Prince."

"Well, the mother of the Lotus Crown Prince was only a human, or don't you remember?"

"And look what happened to him! If the Lotus Prince was so fortunate, why did the Jade Prince become the current Emperor?"

"Shhh.. shhh! Someone is coming!"

When the Third Prince Yuezhen stepped out onto the platform, holding his sword, bright lights filed with heavens and there was the raucous sound of clapping and kneeling.

"Your Highness, welcome home!" The immortals said, almost in unison. But one among them did not have such polite manners but ran forward as though she wanted to leap into his arms, only for Yuezhen to swiftly sidestep her embrace, leaving her hanging awkwardly.

"Yuezhen-gege! Why didn't you tell me you were going to do something so dangerous... are you hurt? Is that blood?!"

Yuting's loud and frantic cry of dismay drew everyone's attention.

"I am fine, Princess." Yuezhen said, folding the stained mark on his sleeve away. "It is only your screaming which is hurting my ears."

This sent ripples of quickly muffled laughter through the crowd and Princess Yuting went red with embarrassment. But before she could retaliate, another figure stepped out the portal and came to a stop quietly behind the Prince.

This really made the courtiers gape. They looked at each other in confusion, with the same question in their eyes.

"Who is that girl?"

"Why is she standing with the Prince?"

"Is that the Peach she's holding in her hand?!"

The more discerning among them were able to see her uncultivated form. "A fox... she's a fox!"

"Haven't the foxes being all wiped out...!?"

There was movement through the crowd as Rongling forced his way through the people. When he saw Ruyi he broke out in a wide smile which he hastily tried to cover by stroking his gold whiskers. "So you have returned... and with the Third Prince. I see your endeavours have been fruitful..." He couldn't help himself and began to laugh at his own pun.

Yuting had been shocked to silence but finally managed to recover her wits. "What... what is she doing here, Yuezhen-gege! Why aren't you dead, you demon girl!"

She advanced on Ruyi once more but her path was blocked by Yuezhen. Shocked, she looked up into his serene, smiling face.

"Please be more polite Princess," He told her. "That's my savior you're speaking too."

That was really too much for the crowd who very nearly exploded.