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The maidservants held back their tears, lifting their skirts and following Xiong Yu to the high platform with trepidation. Upon seeing The Wanderer sitting there unharmed, they instantly transformed their worry into joy, letting out a sigh of relief as if they had survived a disaster. In unison, they exclaimed, "It truly is the Empress here! We were so frightened just now!"
Xiong Yu's heart finally settled back into place, his tense body relaxed, and a hint of a relieved smile appeared on his face. With a wave of his hand, he joyfully commanded, "You maidservants, quickly tidy up Flower Rain Pavilion, prepare the banquet meticulously—both to soothe the Empress's fright and to celebrate my victory over the demons!" The maidservants below responded in unison, "As you command!" and like a swarm of colorful butterflies, they busily flitted about.
The maidservants in the loft surrounded The Wanderer, asking after her well-being. Some rubbed her chest and patted her back, while others brought her tea and water with utmost care. One maidservant asked with concern, "Empress, are you still afraid after the fright?" The Wanderer gently patted her chest and feigned weakness as she replied, "I am still a bit scared." Another maidservant inquired, "Did you hurt yourself?" The Wanderer shook her head and answered, "Not at all, just a little short of breath." Xiong Yu chimed in with concern, "Shortness of breath is nothing serious; just sit comfortably." He gazed at The Wanderer with eyes as gentle as water, as if trying to make up for all the grievances of recent days.
Just as they were speaking, two maidservants approached gracefully and bowed deeply. They said, "Your Majesty and Empress, please come to the banquet." The Wanderer thought to herself, "I haven't planned to be completely obedient to him yet!" She pretended to be possessed by Sun Wu Kong's spirit and stared blankly at Xiong Yu while shouting, "Quickly return my head!"
This sudden outburst struck Xiong Yu like a heavy blow. He was immediately taken aback; his smile froze on his face as he called out in panic, "Beauty! Beauty!" His voice was filled with fear and helplessness. However, The Wanderer paid no heed; she continued rolling her eyes and muttering incantations as if bewitched.
Seeing this, Xiong Yu's doubts vanished entirely. He was convinced and declared, "No need for more words! This must be the lingering spirit of that Sun Wu Kong possessing the beauty! Quickly summon Huang Yi Daoist to perform an exorcism; once we dispel the demonic energy, everything will be fine!" He reassured himself while anxiously instructing the maidservants in hopes of saving his Yu Ji once more.
Two attendants stumbled onto the Pavilion; one tripped over the threshold and nearly fell flat on his face, causing nearby maidservants to stifle their laughter. The attendant hurriedly got up without brushing off the dust from his clothes and scrambled over to Xiong Yu's side, stammering, "Your Majesty, the... the Daoist has been summoned!" Xiong Yu waved his hand impatiently; the attendant felt as if he had been granted amnesty and quickly scurried away to a corner.
Another attendant led a trembling Huang Yi Daoist forward. This Daoist appeared celestial in aura, holding a whisk that gave him an air of an otherworldly sage. Yet at that moment, his expression was no better than that of the attendant; his eyes darted around as if searching for an escape route.
"Why aren't you going to see what has happened to the beauty?" Xiong Yu urged impatiently. Only then did the Daoist snap back to reality and bow in response, saying, "Yes, yes." With that said, he steeled himself and approached The Wanderer.
He circled around The Wanderer several times while muttering incantations under his breath. Occasionally he spat out some ritual water; it was unclear whether he was performing an exorcism or merely trying to bolster his courage. However, when that ritual water splashed onto The Wanderer’s body, it sank without a trace like a cow into the sea.
"I say, Dao Brother, are you chanting scripture or singing?" The Wanderer suddenly asked in an odd tone laced with sarcasm. The Daoist jumped in shock and nearly fell to the ground. Regaining his composure, he realized that this “Yu Ji” before him was no longer what she once was; those originally clear and enchanting eyes were now filled with malevolence as if they could see through all worldly disguises.
"Empress, what has happened to you..." The Daoist's voice trembled as he sensed that things were not simple. The Wanderer sneered coldly and said, "Since you are a Daoist, you should know who I am."
The Daoist quickly knelt down in fear and stammered, "Empress Thousand Years Old! Thousand Years Old! A thousand Thousand Years Old!" He intended to refer to her as “Great Sage,” but remembering that Xiong Yu was right beside him made him hesitant; he could only ambiguously address The Wanderer as “Empress.”
The Wanderer could hear the insincerity in his words but chose not to expose it. Instead, he continued, "Daoist, Daoist, do not think you can drive me away! I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong! Today, I shall rid the world of evil, uphold justice, and marry Yu Ji! You shall act as the matchmaker, and I promise you wealth and prosperity beyond measure!" With that, he let out a burst of meaningless laughter, sharp and piercing, sending chills down the spines of those present.
The Daoist turned pale with fear, cold sweat pouring down his face. He had never encountered such a scene before and was utterly terrified, his mind in disarray. He steeled himself and waved his peach wood sword, lightly brushing it twice before spitting out a mouthful of talisman water while muttering under his breath, "The Grand Supreme Elderly Lord commands..."
However, the word "command" felt like a stone lodged in his throat; he could not utter it.
The Daoist's face was ashen, sweat streaming down him as he struggled to hold onto the peach wood sword. He had never seen such a spectacle and felt that this Yu Ji radiated an intimidating demonic aura, devoid of any trace of her usual gentleness. Trembling, he attempted to spray another mouthful of talisman water for courage but found that he could not even open his mouth.
Seeing the Daoist's cowardice, a sense of melancholy suddenly welled up within The Wanderer. Once the Great Sage who caused chaos in the Heavenly Palace, facing a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals who could do nothing against him, now he was trapped in this frail body and had to amuse himself by tormenting a mortal Daoist—how absurd it all was. He reined in his ferocity, a hint of loneliness flickering in his eyes as he softly asked, "My dear husband, where are you?"
Xiong Yu had been nervously watching The Wanderer’s antics and felt relieved when The Wanderer returned to normal. He hurried over to help the collapsed Daoist up from the ground and pulled out a silver ingot from his pocket, placing it in the Daoist's hand with a smile. "Thank you for your hard work today; please do not speak of this matter."
The Daoist accepted the silver as if granted amnesty and scrambled away from Flower Rain Pavilion.
Xiong Yu turned back to The Wanderer with concern. "My beauty, what happened? Why were you so frightening?"
Feigning calmness, The Wanderer smiled and replied, "I do not know what occurred; I only remember that monkey coming to my bedside. I felt dizzy and confused. Then that Daoist sprayed some talisman water, causing the monkey to lose its balance and flee in panic. Now I am fine; let us continue drinking!"
Xiong Yu nodded in relief and took The Wanderer's hand as they descended from the high pavilion back into Flower Rain Pavilion. The atmosphere inside remained lively with music and dance as if nothing had happened.
After several rounds of drinks, The Wanderer feigned fatigue and expressed a desire to rest. Xiong Yu naturally did not refuse; he promptly instructed a maid to light the way and personally escorted The Wanderer into the bridal chamber.
The flickering red candles cast enchanting shadows throughout the room. The Wanderer sat at the edge of the bed watching Xiong Yu undress. Yet her heart was tumultuous like raging waves. This alluring body and lavish chamber served as constant reminders of her awkward predicament. She was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the Stone Monkey who stirred chaos in the Heavenly Palace; now she was trapped in this delicate shell while pretending to engage with this mortal overlord. She could have left at any moment, but this journey westward and her entangled fate compelled her to stay in search of that legendary answer capable of changing everything.
As I pondered my situation, I realized that if I left without gathering any information about Qin Shi Huang, it would be a wasted opportunity. If I were to share a bed with him, should he make any move, would I comply or resist? A thought flashed through my mind, and a sly smile appeared on my face. My eyes sparkled with mischief as I spoke, feigning a mix of reproach and longing: "My King, there is something I have long wished to say to you, but with the daily affairs keeping me busy, I often forget whenever I see you."
Xiong Yu paused in his actions of undressing and turned to look at me by the bedside, his gaze filled with tenderness. "My beauty, what is it? Speak freely."
"Since following you, my King, I have yearned to bear you a son or daughter, to leave a legacy for you after your passing," I said, my voice tinged with sorrow. "Yet years have passed without fulfillment. You are so deeply devoted to me that you refuse to take more consorts..."
At this point, I deliberately paused, letting a hint of melancholy show in my expression. Xiong Yu's heart ached at my words; he stepped closer and embraced me gently, whispering soothingly, "Do not worry, my beauty. Matters of offspring will come in their own time."
I gently pushed him away and sighed softly. "My King, your hair is turning white and you seem frail. Though I may be foolish, I fear that you might live out your days in solitude and become a ghost without heirs after your passing..."
"My beauty..." Xiong Yu began to respond but was interrupted by me.
"My King, if I may be so bold as to recommend someone," I said with a glint of cunning in my eyes. "Ping Xiang is a girl of remarkable beauty; her enchanting eyes can captivate anyone's heart. I have tested her feelings several times and found her quite intriguing. Why not let her serve you tonight?"
As soon as the words left my lips, Xiong Yu's expression changed dramatically; the tenderness vanished and was replaced by fury. "My beauty, it seems you were frightened by the events of the day. Why would you utter such disloyal words? You usually regard me as your sole affection and do not allow anyone else near; why would you now offer me up so easily?"
I had anticipated his reaction and remained unperturbed, smiling as I replied, "My King, my insistence on keeping others away from you was for your own well-being. Today, my willingness to allow someone close is for the sake of our future descendants. My heart remains impartial; all I ask is that you remain steadfast in your affections."
Though my words seemed reasonable on the surface, each one challenged Xiong Yu's limits. He took a deep breath to suppress his anger and replied earnestly, "My beauty, even if you speak until you're hoarse, I will not touch Ping Xiang. Have you forgotten the vow we made five years ago on the night of the Lantern Festival? We swore to live and die together! Now you wish to mock me with this?"
Seeing his firm stance on the matter made it clear that convincing him would be difficult. So I smiled again and said, "My King, how could I ever abandon you? My concern lies solely in fearing that you might cast me aside one day. However, there is still one more matter that requires your attention."
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