Peach Orchard Dreams 💔

Ch 9 - 礼物 - The Gift

Mandarin Title Translation: 礼物 Lǐwù (HSK - 3)

Bihai Cangling, Day 2, Approximately 12:15 PM (Post-Cleansing Ceremony)

"Your majesty, you must wake up your majesty."

Dong Hua had been cultivating in his room in his small palace in Bihai Cangling.

He opened one eye and took one look at the panic on Zhong Lin's face that he was forced to open both eyes. He looked at his steward with mild irritation. Zhong Lin held an elixir for him. He explained that Zhe Yan had made a powerful numbing concoction for the former co-lord that only needed to be consumed every 6 months. Zhong Lin was tasked with making sure he would take the herbal drink. He smelled the bitter brew, knowing the Old Phoenix had intentionally added sweet carrots which Dong Hua detested. He preferred the pills, but knew that they took too much cultivation from the old bird.

After resignedly swallowing the liquid, he looked at his nervous former general. "Speak."

Zhong Lin wrung his hands then bowed, "Dijun, the Foxes of Qing Qiu are very upset with your gift."

Dong Hua showed his irritation in the tiniest of crinkling at the corner of his eyes and a slight wobble of his adam's apple. He had expected it. What he did not expect were the next words.

"Your presence has been requested at the Fox Den."

"Very well."

Noon that day, Fox Den, everyone is surrounding Dijun's scroll which is set to open magically at that time.

Wisp hovered over the gift of Dong Hua Dijun. It was gently spinning in the air near the seal of Dong Hua Dijun when the scroll suddenly opened. If the little flower could scream it would have. Instead it let out a harsh spray of pollen and hid itself in Cheng Yu's sleeve. The Fox family and friends chuckled. "Headstrong flower," Bai Zhi Dijun said this with an admiring gleam in his eyes.

The flower darted out again, proudly shaking its petals. It slowly danced its way towards the Fox Emperor, only to be caught by Bai Yi who held the flower as one would a small woodland creature like their foxy selves. Bai Yi and his wife were convinced Feng Jiu was inside the flower. They had not told anyone of their theory, but nearly everyone in the room could sense something beyond Feng Jiu's tears in Wisp.

Wisp was indeed a unique entity because it was made from the mana of Feng Jiu it would always have a similar energy signature; however, its personality was seemingly split. Since Wisp had awakened, it had realized that its inner space was occupied by another. The other energy was that of Wisp's creator. The last image of the fox princess flowed through Wisp's communication channel towards its creator who was now once again asleep. The spiritual fragments of Wisp's creator had only been able to remain conscious for short instances and when awake would indicate to Wisp what to do. The spirit had guided Wisp to tap its petaled foot onto Feng Jiu's parents hands. They spoke to each other in pictures and Wisp felt there was no need to ask the other spirit for identification. It was clearly Wisp's creator occupying the inner confines of Wisp's tiny aura. There were certain sensory triggers that woke the spirit. Usually the spirt awakened to smell of food or a certain white sandalwood which seemed to be in many items in the Fox Den, especially the scroll the family was opening. The spirit made Wisp practically drink in the musky scent and was happily welcoming the the tendril of sandalwood it had spent most of its waking moments distilling from the scent signature on the scroll in order to place into its center.

Wisp hoped the spirt would leave soon as the smell was bombarding its space. Wisp sent a picture of a skunk god to the essence in its aura and got a shut door in return. There would be no fighting this decision it seemed. Wisp clung to Cheng Yu and took a bit of the calming lotus scent the fairy always carried, petulantly filling the flower's demarcated space with the delicate fragrance. The two floral signatures somehow complemented each other and peace was restored. Their brief respite was interrupted by the sound of Emperor Bai Zhi yelling expletives. What was going on?