Flower, Yet Not a Flower (Part 7)

Life in Jiangxiao Palace was actually far from the grand and turbulent affair outsiders imagined it to be. For Chi Lian, at least, it was peaceful, comfortable, and stable. For over fifty years, he would unfailingly practice his swordplay for four or six hours every day, bicker and squabble chaotically with Gui Heng, clang and bang away with Yingling to create some beautiful but useless spiritual artifacts, take turns helping his senior brothers handle some non-urgent matters, or follow the Emperor to study spiritual arts and talismans—and doze off at any given moment whenever he lectured on formations.

Once his swordsmanship showed some accomplishment, the Emperor no longer kept him confined to the Ninth Heaven. He would sometimes take him down to the mortal realm for training, though still keeping him under his watchful eye. All the gods knew of this immortal's existence, but due to the Emperor's accumulated might, they would invariably be courteous and treat him with propriety upon meeting, not daring to test his depths.

Chi Lian officially began to make a name for himself in the Heavenly Court after he turned one hundred. He took on some of the duties of Jiangxiao Palace, frequently traveling between the Celestial Realm and the East Sea's Ying and Zangzhou Continents. During this time, it was inevitable that he would have to deal with all sorts of people. With his legendary experiences, handsome features, and outstanding swordsmanship, he quickly became famous among the immortals. However, all of this was ephemeral. After being sifted by the great waves of time, what was ultimately passed down by word of mouth was only—

“They say you’re a disciple of Jiangxiao Palace, a running dog that bites without barking.”

Emperor Cangze sat upright and proper, asking with a deadpan expression, “May I be so bold as to ask Immortal Lord Chi Lian, what exactly have you done to earn such a reputation out there?”

If one were to only look at his upper body, the scene could be described as solemn and proper, exuding a great sense of pressure.

Chi Lian was resting his head on the Emperor's lap, his eyes lazily half-closed. He pulled the Emperor's wide sleeve over his face and, upon hearing the question, replied indifferently, “Woof.”

The Emperor: “...”

“Is the problem that you don't know how to bark?” The Emperor was almost moved to laughter by his impervious attitude. He looked down and pinched the high bridge of Chi Lian's nose. “Is it pleasant to be called a dog?”

Chi Lian had just returned from the mortal realm to report on his mission. He had just finished dealing with a string of Spirit Race members who privately cultivated heretical paths and had listened to their trash talk the entire way. They had said all sorts of nasty things; calling him a dog was actually quite gentle by comparison. He paid it no mind. “Who's been running their mouth in front of the Emperor again? Let them say what they want.”

Those who gossiped behind his back wouldn't dare to come wag their tongues at the gates of Jiangxiao Palace, so it could only have been relayed by someone else. Chi Lian pulled the Emperor's hand down, catching it in his own to play with, and said nonchalantly, “I'll take care of it in the future. The Emperor need not worry about this.”

Once an immortal took form, aside from temporarily changing their appearance with spiritual arts, their actual features would not change over time. But compared to when he first entered Jiangxiao Palace, Chi Lian's temperament had undergone a world-shaking transformation. The light and delicate beauty that once inspired pity had settled, becoming a sharp and piercing aura. Even as he lay so lazily in the Emperor's arms, his eyes half-open, he was like a fierce beast clinging to a person, the kind that could draw its sword and spill blood within five paces at any moment. He was now a hundred thousand li away from the phrase 'delicate and dependent'.

Hearing his bandit-like tone, the Emperor also wondered where he had gone wrong, to have taught the 'little padded jacket' from back then, who knew how to cry and act spoiled, into the defiant and tyrannical iron weight he was today. From the Nine Skies above to the Nine Springs below, aside from the Emperor, there was no one in the world who could make him unconditionally bow his head.

In truth, he could roughly guess the reason. Chi Lian was someone who cared little for his own honor or disgrace. If he had a sore spot, it would only be Emperor Cangze and Jiangxiao Palace. And although the Emperor reigned supreme over the Nine Heavens, he was not the type of benevolent, graceful, and kind-hearted old immortal. The reverence the immortals of the Heavenly Court held for him far outweighed their affection, and the private complaints and criticisms against him were innumerable. As for the Ten Continents, that went without saying. The members of the Spirit Race who hated Taiwei Heavenly Emperor were beyond count; staging an assassination attempt every twenty years on average had practically become a traditional custom.

The Emperor didn't care, so someone else naturally cared on his behalf; just as Chi Lian ran rampant without restraint, the Emperor had to worry for him that 'what is too rigid is easily broken.'

“Accumulated slander can destroy a person, and the words of many can melt metal. You are traveling outside on your own and are still young, so you should be more careful.” The Emperor looked down at him. “You know enough to run home when it's cloudy and about to rain. I don't need to teach you that, do I?”

“I know.” Chi Lian yawned and turned over to face his embrace. “Everyone knows how to tattle.”

At first, the Emperor felt that being compared to a dog was an insult, but now he felt that Chi Lian's current behavior was indeed very puppy-like. He even had to put a hand out to keep him from falling off, saying helplessly, “Either sit up and talk properly, or go back and sleep soundly. What are you bothering me for, rolling around here?”

At this point, Chi Lian had long since tossed the word 'aloof' to the other side of the Nine Skies. In front of the Emperor, he naturally acted as pitifully as possible, whimpering, “Didn't I just come back from a bitter, cold place? Zangzhou Continent is so cold, I'm still frozen and haven't recovered yet.”

Immortals were impervious to heat and cold, but that didn't mean they couldn't feel temperature. The Emperor touched his hand and found it was indeed very cool. Such a trivial matter was enough to soften his heart. With a wave of his hand, he set up a ward around the study, then retrieved an outer robe hanging nearby with his power and draped it over him. “Don't you find it uncomfortable to lie like that? Is this better now? Sleep peacefully, no one will come to disturb you.”

As time went on, the outside gossip and rumors gradually died down. It wasn't that Chi Lian's reputation had improved, but simply that no one dared to speak of it openly anymore. Besides, any discerning immortal could see that for someone of Chi Lian's background to have such a forceful style of conduct, it wasn't just because he was naturally more headstrong than others, but because the one he defended gave him enough confidence to look down upon all criticism.

Immortal Lord Danchen of Jade Purity Palace had always been on good terms with Jiangxiao Palace, and he and Immortal Lord Xianzhen were kindred spirits when it came to drinking. He had even delivered medicine to Chi Lian back then, making him one of the few immortals who knew Chi Lian's identity from the beginning. On this day, he met with Immortal Lord Xianzhen for drinks again in Wanghan Tower beyond the Third Heaven. Bringing up the recent rumors in the White Jade Capital, he told Xianzhen as a joke, “Although Chi Lian's reputation isn't good, a few venerable gods have said in private that if they had such a disciple by their side, even if he were a bit defiant, he would at least be loyal and protective. That's much better than those Immortal Lords who only know how to loaf around and waste their days.”

Immortal Lord Xianzhen held his cup and scoffed at the words. “If you had seen what he's like in front of the Emperor, you wouldn't be saying such things. Defiant... his temper is only a little tougher than a ball of dough.”

Danchen said, “Isn't a gentle temperament even better? If others knew, I'm afraid even more immortals would be interested.”

Xianzhen said, “Easier said than done. How could he be someone just anyone can raise? Our Emperor raised him in the palm of his hand like the apple of his eye. He never left his side before he was a hundred. Needless to say, the effort he put in... heavenly materials and earthly treasures are easy to come by, but what's rare is such painstaking care. Who wouldn't like someone so affectionate and loyal? But one must also see if they can match what the Emperor has done.”

Danchen teased, “You're also the Emperor's disciple. He alone receives this special treatment. You're not jealous?”

“I was almost three thousand years old when Chi Lian joined. How could I be jealous?” Xianzhen nearly choked on his wine. “Besides, an immortal official under the Emperor and a disciple are two different things. I have no intention of acknowledging the Emperor as my father. The cloying way those two are, ordinary people can't stand it. Even Gui Heng and his father might not be that picture of a 'benevolent father and filial son'.”

Danchen laughed so hard he almost fell off his stool. He grabbed the nearby railing to steady himself, then suddenly let out a sound of surprise, looking into the distance. “Is that Chi Lian?”

Xianzhen followed his gaze and indeed saw a familiar figure in white, following an immortal official toward a side gate of Bitai Palace. Wanghan Tower was not far from Bitai Palace. Although the main gate of the immortal palace couldn't be seen, looking down from a high place offered an unobstructed view of the path leading to the side gate.

Xianzhen wondered aloud, “What is he going to Bitai Palace for?”

“Does that even need asking? He must be following the Emperor's decree,” Danchen replied casually. “Isn't Immortal Venerable Qingyang on very good terms with you all? I heard the Emperor knew him before his ascension. The fact that he smoothly took the position of Immortal Venerable was largely thanks to the Emperor's patronage. Many immortals look up to him because of that.”

Xianzhen looked thoughtful and put down his wine cup. “I haven't heard the Emperor mention this matter, but I am very clear on one point: the Emperor never has Chi Lian get involved in the affairs of Bitai Palace.”

Danchen's ears perked up. He asked curiously, “Why?”

“What else could it be for?” Xianzhen said as if it were obvious. “Chi Lian came from the background of an Immortal Attendant, and Immortal Venerable Qingyang manages all the Immortal Attendants in Xuanjian Pavilion. He's afraid Chi Lian would be bullied by those snobs who look down on people.”

“...”

Danchen swallowed a mouthful of wine with difficulty. “It's not my place to say... but your Emperor is spoiling him too much...”

Xianzhen gave him an 'I told you so' look. “In any case, the Emperor would absolutely never ask Chi Lian to go see Immortal Venerable Qingyang alone. Does that mean Immortal Venerable Qingyang summoned Chi Lian on his own initiative?”

“Immortal Venerable Qingyang? Why would he do that?”

In Liuxian Palace of Bitai Palace, Chi Lian was asking the same question.

Immortal Venerable Qingyang hadn't changed much from their first meeting a hundred years ago, save for a hint of a smile. He was reasonably courteous toward Chi Lian, ordering someone to offer him a seat and tea before dismissing all the attendants. He was the first to speak, “I have rashly invited you here today because of an old matter. Although it is not urgent, I have thought it over and feel that I should not hide it from you. Perhaps the sooner you know, the less likely it is that irreparable consequences will arise in the future.”

Chi Lian knew as soon as he heard this that it couldn't be anything good. He said faintly, “Immortal Venerable, if you have something to say, please be direct.”

There was an indistinct trace of pity and ridicule in Immortal Venerable Qingyang's eyes, but the smile on his face seemed painted on. No matter what he said, his tone was gentle and mild. “The day you took form with the Emperor's help and came to Bitai Palace to pay your respects, I bestowed upon you the name 'Chi Lian'. This was my oversight. I just didn't expect that you would later come to attend the Emperor, and that he would not change your name.”

Chi Lian remembered that when the Emperor had brought him back to Jiangxiao Palace, he had indeed asked once about the origin of his name. He now posed the same question to Immortal Venerable Qingyang, “Is there something wrong with this name?”

At that time, the Emperor's answer had been, “There is nothing wrong with it.”

But Immortal Venerable Qingyang said, “There is indeed something wrong.”

“Because the Emperor and I share a common acquaintance from the past named 'Chi Lian'—the 'chi' meaning 'to hold'. It is a homophone of your name. Too much time has passed, and things were too rushed back then. I actually forgot to avoid the taboo.”

“That Young Master Chi Lian, for both the Emperor and myself, is an unforgettable person. You bear this name, and your personality happens to be so similar to his. I only fear that the Emperor, in loving the house, has come to love the crow on it as well—transferring his attachment and regret for him onto you.”

Chi Lian asked abruptly, “What are you afraid of?”

Immortal Venerable Qingyang didn't hear clearly. “What?”

Chi Lian let out a soft laugh. His sharp, bright eyes stared at him, but his tone was very calm. “Nothing. Immortal Venerable has specifically summoned me today, so this matter must be very important. Please, Immortal Venerable, tell me just how unforgettable this Young Master 'Chi Lian' is.”