Ye Hua
He felt her accusatory glare, and her silent screams echoed in his mind.
“You’re the one, I know it! Deceiving me and pretending to be your brother is unacceptable! I’ll expose you as a fraud to everyone. My family is going to whoop your dragon behinds!”
They stood in the Crown Prince’s outer courtyard — white jade balustrades veined like ice, a moon gate cut from milky stone, magnolia blossoms drifting down like pale snow. Cloud-steps curled to a pavilion where cranes dozed with heads tucked; foxfire lanterns glimmered faintly in the shade like trapped stars. The air smelled of ink, pine resin, and the faint sweetness of Heaven’s lotus ponds.
Ye Hua didn’t mean to be impolite to his guest by not bowing when she arrived. He instead offered a distant, unassuming nod, his anxiety preventing him from getting closer. Dragon-qi tightened across his spine like a too-stiff breastplate.
Legs move! His commands to his inflexible body went unheeded.
Though he wasn’t a coward, he was distant with her because of his deception. His timidity prevented him from approaching, but it proved unnecessary when she ran to him, closing the distance rapidly. Her arm and open palm shot up suddenly. He closed one eye and braced himself, anticipating a well-deserved slap that never happened.
She cheerfully greeted: “Princess Bai Qian greets Crown Prince Ye Hua.”
With a radiant smile, she beamed at Ye Hua. Wonder and curiosity shone in her bright eyes. She intensely examined him, then gasped, breathy and excited, “Like twins… You and your brother, High God Mo Yuan, look so much alike except you have a red birthmark on your forehead that resembles a hand.”
Instinctively he stroked the sore spot on his forehead, wondering what birthmark she was referring to, and Ye Hua’s brisk bordering-on-rude tone of voice made her blush. “Princess Bai Qian, not like twins, but we are twins. Identical twins.”
“Of course you are, silly me.” Bai Qian’s smooth cheeks reddened like two bloomed posies. Suddenly, she appeared shy as she demurely lowered her gaze while her body was bold, standing on her very tiptoes to get a closer look at Ye Hua’s face.
While she stretched up to him, he likewise stood on his tiptoes to create more space and distance between them to get away from her. The nearer her keenly examining face moved toward his, the more Ye Hua stretched up and soon even his neckline was fully elongated, causing him to stare down the center of his nose at her. They stayed in this awkward stance until she lost her balance, toppled to her side after growing tired of standing on her tiptoes. Her sleeves flared like wings, and a fox-tail shadow — just a trick of light — flickered on the flagstones.
At this moment, she rhythmically shifted her weight from foot to foot, staring at Ye Hua, as if his breathtakingly handsome face was among the greatest wonders of the world. Which it was, and he was used to women constantly staring at him like that. Overhead, a gust set the wind chimes singing in silver scales as if to underscore the point.
Sometimes being too fetching was burdensome.
She was an antsy one who couldn’t stand still. Bai Qian stood with her hands held behind her back, puffed out her chest while swaying to and fro. She said, “Crown Prince Ye Hua, this is unusual and awkward for me. I’ll get right down to the chase. I like your older brother immensely. I met him once, and it was love at first sight, but he has refused my affections. I know I should get over it and I’ve tried to forget him. I truly have, but I can’t seem to forget him..”
Ye Hua let out a sigh of relief. She wasn’t here because she recognized him or learned of what he and Mo Yuan had done to her. All he needed to do was get rid of her — respectfully, of course.
“Princess, what does my older brother Mo Yuan’s love life have to do with me?” It wasn’t his intention to speak as harshly as he did, but Ye Hua’s words came out sounding callous, aloof, and detached. His voice echoed faintly beneath the eaves; even the cranes blinked in reproach.
His cold shoulder should have shut her down, but to his surprise, Bai Qian wasn’t the slightest deterred by his unfriendliness.
She kept chatting with excitement and enthusiasm, “Yes, it has nothing to do with you and I WISH that I was a part of his love life, but alas, I’m not.”
Ye Hua flawlessly mimicked a rock; emotionless, cold, and hard.
She should have been intimidated by him. Or be tearing up since he had burst her bubble, but she wasn’t flustered. Nor did she show signs of defeated embarrassment by Ye Hua’s visible lack of interest. Rather, she kept babbling on, passion spewing from her mouth.
“We barely know each other, but will you help me charm High God Mo Yuan by acting as my lover?” She asked without a hint of shame.
“What!? Me be your what?!” Ye Hua exclaimed, utterly bewildered. His shock was evident, a rare expression breaking through his composure. His dragon aura hiccuped; a lantern flickered.
Her words, like swiftly soaring arrows, flew from her lips because Bai Qian sensed Ye Hua’s intent to leave, given the absurdity of her request. She rambled on, saying her father had initially rejected her mother’s love but then fought Zhe Yan, his best friend, to win her over because of jealousy.
“Perhaps making High God Mo Yuan jealous might convince him to accept my feelings.”
Bai Qian spoke rapidly without pausing for breath. “You must want to know why I chose you. It’s because Mo Yuan is far superior to other men, so his love rival must be of the same caliber. Who would be a more suitable love rival than his twin? You would be perfect for the job! What do you think?”
With vigorous nods of her head, she urged Ye Hua to agree. Somewhere behind the moon gate, a pair of young cloud spirits whispered, scandalized and thrilled in equal measure.
The rock was astonished. Ye Hua’s stunned expression was authentic. He glared, his brows drawn together, and refused to entertain Bai Qian’s proposal.
“I regret having to refuse, as my official commitments prevent me from engaging in games with you.”
As Ye Hua bowed in farewell, starting to leave, she shouted so loud it echoed in the courtyard, “Hépíng Weishi (Peacekeeper), I’ll give this to you to show my gratitude!”
Hépíng Weishi sword!!!
She quickly grabbed Ye Hua’s waning attention, causing him to stop abruptly. Hépíng Weishi was a legendary sword — a pale, thunder-veined blade forged when the Four Seas first learned to breathe. A unique, irreplaceable treasure passed down through the Qingqiu emperors… It’s appealing, but he refused nevertheless.
With his back to Bai Qian, Ye Hua shook his head in refusal to her shouted proposal.
“Three months maximum. Two times a week… That’s only 24 fake dates! We are immortals and in the scheme of things three months is a drop in the ocean! I’ve already spoken to your grandfather, Skylord, and he’s agreed to release you from all your usual duties for the next three months!”
Three entire months with no Celestial responsibility?!
Just how did Bai Qian manage to win over the Heavenly Grandfather? That was quite an accomplishment; swaying his stern grandfather wasn’t easy, which intrigued Ye Hua.
Only a pro could have made this happen.
A wide smile greeted Ye Hua as he spun around slowly. Bai Qian beamed the same ear-to-ear grin as before and blurted, “Flattery!”
“My father praised your celestial skills, but voiced worries about my ascension next year. Your grandfather was told how blessed he was to have you, and how envious he was — BOOM! The next thing you know, your grandfather volunteered your services for the next three months.”
“I’m to spend the next three months in Qingqiu with your family, readying you for your coronation?” he asked. A newfound excitement, despite his bored tone, bubbled up in Ye Hua. The butterflies in his stomach were going wild, yet he maintained a grumpy expression. A koi leapt in the lotus pond; even karma seemed amused.
She and he were complete opposites. While he acted unfettered; she couldn’t hide her enthusiasm. Euphorically, Bai Qian gushed with happiness, “No, of course not! We will make all the arrangements for your accommodations that will offer total privacy and freedom. There won’t be any training. You merely need to meet me for our fake dates two times a week, and the rest of the time is all yours to do as you please.”
“Please consider every possibility, Crown Prince. You’ll get three glorious months of absolute liberation, and complete independence from your family, commitment, chores, responsibilities and of course, the renowned sword Hépíng Weishi in exchange for 24 brief encounters with me?”
In all honesty, there wasn’t much to consider, and it didn’t take long for him to decide. Ye Hua chose to go to Qingqiu, and his decision wasn’t based on her incredible beauty, or the desire to become better acquainted with the Fox Princess.
He longed for the taste of sweet freedom, and wasn’t this wish made by him?
If only I could be free without being tied down to find myself. I don’t even know what I like or dislike.
This was something he had wished for himself almost daily for the past 10,000 years.
Three months away from his monotonous life was impossible and foolish to pass up, especially considering talks of his impending marriage to a mysterious goddess was all grandfather spoke of these days.
As a young man, he was ravenous for something different, something unknown and wanted life experiences to shape his identity and future.
Therefore, he accepted her offer and for the next three months. With a handshake with the Fox Princess to seal their deal, Crown Prince Ye Hua became Bai Qian’s pretended boyfriend, Ye Hua. A ripple of wind lifted the magnolia petals — as though Heaven itself signed the contract.
Words of wisdom and invaluable advice from the renowned womanizer, His Highness, Third Prince Lian Song
(Third Uncle; playboy of the Nine Heavens; direct quotations from Ye Hua’s third uncle, the self-proclaimed aficionado on Qingqiu customs and etiquette)
Lian Song arrived as only Lian Song could: silk fan snapping open with a percussive pa!; hair pinned with a moon-jade clasp; rings winking on elegant fingers; a robe the color of midnight wine with a phoenix-feather weave that caught every stray beam of light. Rumor said he kept a list of conquests longer than the Celestial registry; rumor also said he wrote poetry on lovers’ wrists with pear-blossom ink and never spent two nights in the same cloud-chamber.
He draped himself across Ye Hua’s daybed like a lounging tiger and announced, “Instruction!”
Lian Song (very serious): The Fox Clan in Qingqiu show affection by hugging and kissing instead of bowing. They greet each other with kisses, sometimes using tongue if they like you.
Lian Song (graver still): Nine-Tailed Vixens are passionate creatures who dance provocatively under the stars on full moons and have all-female orgies until dawn.
Lian Song (confidential whisper): They can bewitch men with a Fox enchantment spell to prolong erections and make love until the men pass out.
Lian Song (hand to heart): Celestials are more reserved and only hold hands innocently after years of courtship; it’s said that you can engage in heavy petting on the first date with Nine-Tailed Foxes.
Lian Song (fanning wildly): The women of the Fox Clan practice nudism, and love to frolic around naked like playful, coy fish spirits. They shun all undergarments and always go nude underneath their flowing goddess gowns.
“Ye Hua, my handsome, innocent nephew, kiss your virginity goodbye!” Lian Song declared with great excitement, fan fluttering like the wings of a startled crane.
When Ye Hua asked Uncle Lian Song why he would need such knowledge, his uncle claimed this information was crucial for him during his time in Qingqiu, so he understood local customs and wouldn’t make any faux pas. He produced a lacquered “Qingqiu Etiquette” booklet written in his own elegant hand, complete with diagrams (unhelpful) and arrows (very unhelpful).
When asked about the origin of the information, Prince Lian Song clarified that the intel was absolutely credible and not gossip!
He heard it from a very good friend’s first cousin, who overheard it from a camel spirit in the Southern desert, who heard it from a silk-weaving fairy who eavesdropped on a traveling opera troupe of monkeys, who heard it from a deer spirit who sold loquat in Qingqiu.
“Ye Hua, trust me! This is all true!” Uncle Lian Song exclaimed, giggling mischievously as he fanned himself wildly.
Ye Hua pinched the bridge of his nose. Three months in Qingqiu, twenty-four fake dates, one legendary sword — and now a playbook authored by the Nine Heavens’ merriest rake. He wasn’t sure if he had bargained for freedom or chaos.
Either way, the magnolia petals kept falling, as if counting down.