Chapter 48 – Ancient Era: A Dance to Enchant the City—The Emperor’s Celestial Fairy (18)
Eunuch Li waved his uninjured left hand to dismiss the palace attendants before stepping out himself, carefully closing the door behind him.
As long as the misunderstanding between the emperor and the consort was resolved, everything would be fine.
Eunuch Li gazed up at the star-filled night sky, sighing in relief.
“This kind of thing happening once is enough. If it happens again, this old servant’s heart won’t be able to take it!”
Meanwhile, the system—having witnessed the entire ordeal and now understanding the truth—felt like strangling itself.
It turned out it was the one that had pushed Tang Tang into jumping into the river!
“Tang Tang, I’m so sorry… this was my fault…”
The system lowered its head in shame, too guilty to meet Bai Tang’s eyes.
“It’s not Qiu’er’s fault. I was the one who overthought things.”
Jiang Liangwu treated Bai Tang like a precious treasure he had just regained—every movement cautious and tender.
“Qiu’er, the male lead already knows I’m a squirrel spirit. Can I tell him the truth?”
Bai Tang didn’t like seeing Jiang Liangwu like this. He preferred the confident and strategic Jiang Liangwu—the one who cherished him yet would correct him when he made mistakes. Not this anxious, overly careful version of him.
“Y-you can, I guess… but you absolutely cannot reveal our mission.”
Bai Tang hesitated before carefully choosing his words.
“Well… I’m indeed not human. I’m a squirrel spirit…”
“Enough, Tang Tang, it doesn’t matter. You’re tired, you need to rest. Let’s go to sleep, okay?”
Jiang Liangwu interrupted him, gently taking off Bai Tang’s shoes and socks before tucking him under the blankets.
“No! You heard what I said!”
Bai Tang had been brushed off once or twice already, and now his stubbornness flared up.
He grabbed Jiang Liangwu’s face with both hands, forcing him to look directly into his eyes.
“I’m a squirrel spirit. My name is also Bai Tang.”
At first, Bai Tang’s voice was steady and firm. But as he continued, his tone softened.
“Will… will you still want me?”
“Of course.”
Jiang Liangwu’s response was immediate. He cupped Bai Tang’s small face in his hands.
“I will never abandon you. Never.”
“Jiang Liangwu…”
Bai Tang threw himself into Jiang Liangwu’s embrace, his sobs barely audible.
“I thought… I thought you’d hate me… I thought you’d burn me alive…”
“How could I ever hate you? If anything, I fear that you will hate me.”
Jiang Liangwu’s voice was filled with vulnerability.
“You are a squirrel spirit, but I’m just an ordinary mortal. When I grow old, you’ll remain as young as ever. When I die, you’ll still be the same… unchanged…”
He was simply speaking the truth. According to the lifespan of an average human, Bai Tang would remain the same even after several lifetimes had passed.
Just the thought of Bai Tang forgetting him after he was gone—of him meeting someone new, falling for another, and seeking comfort in someone else’s arms—filled Jiang Liangwu with deep resentment.
Why was he so weak? Why was he nothing more than a mere mortal…?
“No, that’s not true… it’s not true…” Bai Tang shook his head, his words interrupted by a series of yawns.
“Achoo… Achoo…”
Before Jiang Liangwu could even give an order, Eunuch Li had already prepared everything. The hot water and ginger tea were ready.
Can spirits fall ill?
The answer was yes—otherwise, why would Bai Tang be sneezing?
Worried that Bai Tang might catch a cold, Jiang Liangwu brought him over to the bath barrel. But the moment Bai Tang realized where they were headed, he clutched his collar tightly and shook his head frantically.
“No! I don’t want to take a bath!”
After nearly drowning, Bai Tang had developed a fear of water—even if it was just a bathtub.
“Jiang Liangwu… can I not…?” His soft voice quivered, on the verge of tears.
“No, you must take a bath, and you must drink the ginger tea.”
Jiang Liangwu was relentless, insisting that proper precautions were necessary. A warm bath and hot tea were the best way to prevent illness.
Bai Tang’s expression immediately changed. His delicate features scrunched up in distress.
“You’ve changed… you don’t love me anymore… Y-you’re even forcing me to drink ginger tea…!”
Eunuch Li, ever so considerate, had instructed the kitchen to make the ginger tea extra potent to ensure its effectiveness.
Even from halfway across the room, Bai Tang could already smell the overwhelming spiciness of the ginger.
If I drink that, my taste buds will never recover!
Seeing Bai Tang cry like this, Jiang Liangwu nearly caved. But he held firm and coaxed gently,
“You have to drink the ginger tea. Otherwise, if you get sick… you won’t be able to eat pine nuts.”
This was his trump card.
Bai Tang froze.
Then, in a soft, pouty voice, he bargained,
“Then… I want three pine nuts every day. No—four!”
He raised four fingers for emphasis.
“Alright, four.”
Author’s Note:
These past few chapters shouldn’t count as angst, right? 😆
Also, a little heads-up: the Empress Dowager’s big flag moment is coming tomorrow! Stay tuned! ╰(°▽°)╯