Fresh Embers of Love

Chapter 56

The Flower Immortal Guihua sat at her desk in the Flower Palace, reading a report of what work had been done in the Flower Realm while she had been gone. It was late at night, she had been working for hours. She couldn't sleep anyway. Might as well keep working.

She honestly couldn't remember the last time that she had slept properly. While she had been waiting at Zifangyun Palace, the time had ticked by slowly, and every time she closed her eyes, her imagination had tortured her with visions of Nuwa. Nuwa in pain, Nuwa in danger, Nuwa lost and alone and afraid.

Since she had been freed of that place, which no longer felt like home without Runyu, she had been in a manic state. She had flown Fuzangloong to Dongting Lake, leaving the explanations to the people there. They probably knew more than she did. She allowed herself a glimpse of Nuwa, to fill up her soul, and then she had set off for Kunlun.

Runyu's people met her at the gate, before she even entered. He must have told them to expect her. They briefed her on the subject of her Flower Fairy. They didn't have a name, just a description. Unfortunately it was rather vague. She would want to inspect every fairy in her Realm, just to be clear, before she started any questioning.

Also, since she was at Kunlun, she would be expected to go inside and pay her respects. Someone as publicly well known as she, could not just come and go without it being noticed.

She had sat through the pleasantries, paid the respects that were due, and stayed overnight, fretting internally the entire time. She had left Kunlun as soon as the sun rose, and headed straight for the Flower Realm.

She had many fairies here, too many to inspect at once. She would have to make her way through the Realm, inspecting the fairies of each region as she traveled through it.

Even then, she was afraid that she would miss the telltale signs that she was looking for. These reports might help her narrow her search. She would see if any of her fairies had been slacking off in their work, perhaps due to unauthorized absences?

"Flower Immortal, why are you still up?" the sleepy voice asked her from the doorway.

She looked up from the report to see one of her attendants, wearing sleeping robes, standing there rubbing her eyes.

"Shi Liu, go back to bed" Guihua ordered the Pomegranate Spirit. "You need your sleep."

"So do you, Flower Immortal" Shi Liu replied.

Guihua laughed ruefully. "I can't sleep right now, and I don't want to spend all night staring at the ceiling!"

"Can I at least make you some tea?" Shi Liu asked, yawning.

"Yes, that sounds good" Guihua responded. Shi Liu would just keep pestering her if she didn't allow it.

She turned back to her report, making notes on what work was lacking, and the fairies who were responsible for that work. Shi Liu came in with the tea, and Guihua sent her back to bed.

After Guihua had finished this scroll, she sat back in her chair, taking a brief rest. The teapot attracted her notice. She poured herself a cup of the now lukewarm liquid, and drank it quickly, reaching to pour another cup right after.

What was this bitter aftertaste? She sniffed the cup of tea in her hand, detecting the faint odor of alcohol. She frowned. What had Shi Liu put in her tea? She couldn't think of any reason to add alcohol to tea.

The cup seemed to distort in her hand, the room moving outwards away from her, leaving her behind.

"Poppy" she whispered, before her head hit the desk.