156 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

"Yao Er," Tu Shan Xun softly called the Fox Empress by her nickname, "I realize my mistake now. Please don't be mad at me anymore." Upon hearing this, the Fox Empress found it amusing and glanced at the Fox Emperor, "Which eye of yours sees me being angry?" Tu Shan Xun was at a loss for words. "I've distanced myself from mundane affairs for too long, and both you and our son have grown quite bold, each having his own opinions." The Fox Empress picked up a leaf to fan herself. "Qingqiu has been peaceful for too long, and you've forgotten how you got to the throne. Do you truly think I'm an appendage of you two?" Tu Shan Xun thought the Fox Empress was still upset about their disagreement and tried to explain, "I was just worried about our daughter..." "Oh, only you worry? I don’t?" The Fox Empress interrupted him with a scoff, "When Zi Er was little, didn't I say that Yu Er shouldn't take her to the human realm? You didn't listen to me. Later, when those humans fled to Qingqiu, I advised against sheltering them. You still didn't heed my words." She gave Tu Shan Xun a sideways glance, "Looking at you, I can tell you've gotten yourself into more trouble, haven't you?" Tu Shan Xun didn't dare make a sound after being scolded. The Fox Empress swept her sleeve, and a memorial flew out from a pile of documents and landed on the Fox Emperor's face. "Take a look yourself." With the memorial in hand, the Fox Emperor glanced through it. Moments later, his expression changed dramatically. "Is this... true?" The Fox Empress picked up her wine cup, admiring its color in the sunlight. "In the current celestial realm, the Celestial Emperor is old and nearing the end of his days, so naturally, some can't sit still." "I heard from my great-grandmother that the Shen Yuan Guo comes from beyond our realm." "Perhaps there are hidden truths behind the great war between the Three Realms and the beyond tens of thousands of years ago. Once the Void Gate opens, the aura of the Shen Yuan Guo will leak, thus bringing calamities upon the Three Realms." At this point, the Fox Empress gave the Fox Emperor a sidelong glance, "Think with that wooden head of yours, why would the celestial experts entrust the sealing to the human realm?" The Fox Emperor furrowed his brow, "Wasn't it because the Xuanhuang Secret Realm is located in the human realm, making it inconvenient to send a celestial to seal it? That's why they entrusted Yan Yuanqing, the top swordsman of the human realm." "Do you believe everything they say? Qingqiu has been too peaceful. You wasted seven thousand years as the Fox Emperor." The Fox Empress sighed with frustration, "The kings vie for power, using the human realm as pawns. The turmoil of the world will soon break the peace." The Fox Emperor thought deeply, hesitating before he said, "I heard something else while in the human realm." The Fox Empress lifted an eyebrow at him, "What is it?" The Fox Emperor replied, "The Shen Yuan Guo was stolen from the celestial realm, and the Celestial Emperor insists Yan Yuanqing is the thief." "Yan Yuanqing..." the Fox Empress mused. "Typical underhanded celestial tactics, as dirty as ever!" "I'm sorry, Yao Er, but what do you mean?" the Fox Emperor inquired, puzzled. The Fox Empress casually tossed her wine cup at the Fox Emperor, hitting him on the forehead. "I mean there's probably more to the theft of the Shen Yuan Guo than meets the eye! Talking to you is exhausting—can't you think faster?" "..." With a bump forming on his forehead, the Fox Emperor didn't dare touch it. He was reduced from his usual charming demeanor to a state of trepidation, attempting to console her. "Yao Er, please calm down. Look what I brought for you." He produced the book "The Legend of Yan Yuanqing" from his robe, presenting it to the Fox Empress. The Fox Empress took it, raising an eyebrow at the title. "You actually bought this?" "It was Jin Er who bought it," the Fox Emperor confessed. "I'm just delivering it on her behalf." The Fox Empress laughed, shaking her head, "I knew it, Jin Er is more considerate." Taking a step forward, the Fox Emperor decided to take a leap of faith, "There's one more thing, but don't get too excited." "What is it?" she asked absentmindedly. "Has Zi Er returned with you?" She hadn't forgotten the real purpose of Tu Shan Xun's journey to the human realm. Tu Shan Xun choked back his words, realizing he could only manage a simple, "Yes." The Fox Empress paused abruptly in her reading. The Fox Emperor quickly added, "But she doesn’t wish to acknowledge us yet, so I promised not to reveal her identity. Yu Er has arranged a place for her..." Before he finished, the Fox Empress vanished from sight. Smack— "The Legend of Yan Yuanqing" swept through the air and hit his face. Her voice came from a distance, "All those words, yet nothing meaningful. If it were me, I would’ve just said this one thing!" From Qing Shuang Residence to the Palace, the Fox Empress arrived in the blink of an eye, startling all the palace guards. As she landed, the pride and sharpness dissipated, her steps into the palace restoring her dignified and gentle demeanor. "Fox Empress," the guards bowed in unison. Without meeting their gaze, she asked, "Where is the young woman who came from the human realm with Yu Er?" "In the Moon Court Hall." The Moon Court Hall was once the residence of Princess Zi. The Fox Empress snorted; the place had long been uninhabited, yet Tu Shan Yu had placed someone there. Wasn't this almost as if announcing Zi Er's identity to the outside world? Since Zi Er was unwilling to acknowledge them for now, Tu Shan Yu's actions went against her wishes. Stubborn and obstinate, just like his father Tu Shan Xun had taught him! Chapter 170 Tu Shan Yu had directed the palace guards to settle the Elder from the Medicine Sect in a side hall, while personally leading Ren Qing Yue to the Moon Court Hall. "Little sister, this place is regularly cleaned, spotless," Tu Shan Yu explained, his tone warm when no outsiders were present. "You can stay here without disturbance." Bai Jin cheerfully hopped around, "Cousin, you're finally back! With you here, the Moon Court Hall feels so vibrant again!" Ren Qing Yue remained silent, taking in the familiar sights along the way. Though she had little memory of Qingqiu, an inexplicable sense of familiarity had been haunting her ever since stepping through the palace gates. Upon seeing the Moon Court Hall, a blurry image flashed through her mind. In the image, a woman teased her with a sword tassel. Her perspective was low; her form barely larger than a palm, with tiny paws and a tail only the size of a fist. Rushing forward, she tripped over her curious limbs, provoking the woman's warm laughter. Ren Qing Yue pulled her thoughts back and gazed at the stone post beside the palace, engraved with "Moon Court Hall." She pondered deeply. Unsure whether to request a different accommodation, she hesitated, torn between the irresistible familiar pull and the unspoken offense by Tu Shan Yu's intentions—whether deliberate or not. Lingering in her uncertainty, footsteps suddenly echoed from the shaded path behind them. Both Tu Shan Yu and Bai Jin turned their heads simultaneously. Seeing who approached, Tu Shan Yu's expression shifted slightly, "Mother!" The Fox Empress had returned hastily, undoubtedly informed by the Fox Emperor about his sister. However, he was unsure if the Fox Emperor had mentioned her reluctance to acknowledge them... Bai Jin, less concerned with such complexities, greeted the Fox Empress with delight, waving from afar, "Auntie! Look who's here!" The Fox Empress had already spotted the young woman standing with Tu Shan Yu. The girl appeared gallant and spirited, though her demeanor was reserved and her gaze reflected decorum. Upon closer inspection, there were traces in her features that resembled both the Fox Empress and the Fox Emperor. Ren Qing Yue had also turned to face her, meeting the Fox Empress's eyes from afar. In that moment, everything seemed to shine with a gentle light. The approaching figure aligned with her faint memories, echoing a tender call in her mind: "Zi Er." Zi Er. Having been separated from her family in childhood, lost in the human world, she was initially taken in by farmers, not knowing how to speak. She only recalled a woman calling her Zi Er, hence knowing only those words. As for writing the character "Zi," she had no idea. Thus, the farmers sought the help of the village teacher to give her a name: Ren Qing Yue. Eventually, calamities struck, war broke out, and the family faced starvation. Desperate, they sent her to a mountain temple, exchanging her fate for some silver. Had it not been for Yan Yuanqing's chance encounter, who saw her pitiable state and recognized her potential for cultivation, taking her to Fuyun Sect and introducing her into the celestial path, she might have continued wandering in the mortal realm. Return to Qingqiu might have been but a distant possibility. As Ren Qing Yue held her gaze with the Fox Empress from afar, numerous emotions stirred within her. This dignified and elegant woman was her mother. Seeing the Fox Empress touched her more profoundly than the Fox Emperor did, perhaps because her mother's embrace left stronger impressions in her heart from those early years. Still, she kept her feelings beneath the surface, maintaining a calm demeanor as she subtly averted her eyes, unable to continue her gaze. Approaching Ren Qing Yue, the Fox Empress wore a gentle smile, "You seem very kind. What is your name?" Ren Qing Yue pressed her lips together, answering plainly, "Ren Qing Yue." The Fox Empress was moved, silently marveling at the tricks of fate. With a slight choke in her voice, she asked, "Then, may I call you Zi Er?" Ren Qing Yue couldn't refuse. "Yes," she replied. Her obedient and compliant response took Tu Shan Yu by surprise; never before had Ren Qing Yue shown him such a pleasant demeanor. The Fox Empress glanced at the large stone in front of the Moon Court Hall and suggested to Ren Qing Yue, "I feel a connection with you. Since it’s still early, would you care to accompany me on a walk?" Ren Qing Yue nodded, "As the host wishes." Tu Shan Yu seemed about to protest, but the Fox Empress shot him a cold glance, "I'll take care of Zi Er. You go attend to your own tasks." "…" Tu Shan Yu was left with a lump in his throat. Was it his imagination, or had his mother's temperament changed since his return? It seemed to him she now regarded him with less affection. Perhaps her overwhelming concern for her daughter left no room for him, Tu Shan Yu mused with a pang of disappointment. At that moment, Bai Jin sidled up to the Fox Empress and said, "Jin Er wants to keep Auntie company!" The Fox Empress pondered briefly, noting the sparkle in Bai Jin's eyes, understanding her desire for attention wasn't purely for company. If she went alone, she feared Zi Er might feel anxious or uneasy; having Bai Jin around could lighten the mood. With this thought, the Fox Empress was about to agree, but Ren Qing Yue interjected, "Since I'll be a third wheel with Miss Bai accompanying you, I'll refrain from joining." Bai Jin was taken aback, and the Fox Empress was momentarily stunned. Quickly understanding Ren Qing Yue's intent, the Fox Empress said to Bai Jin, "Jin Er, why don't you inform Yu Er to send some fresh fruits to my palace?" Reluctant and a bit crestfallen, Bai Jin stole glances at Ren Qing Yue, hoping for some sign of warmth. But Ren Qing Yue offered none in return. The Fox Empress patted Bai Jin's head gently, "Go along now." Bai Jin had no choice but to leave. "Zi Er, Jin Er has been spoiled by her cousin, leading to a bit of a willful demeanor. She might have bothered you a lot in the human realm, and for that, I apologize on her behalf." After Bai Jin left, the Fox Empress spoke kindly to Ren Qing Yue. Alone with the Fox Empress, Ren Qing Yue felt a strange nervousness creeping over her, maintaining a taut expression as she replied, "No problem." As they strolled through the garden along a gravel path, the Fox Empress casually remarked, "It's been many years since I visited the human realm. I'm curious what it’s like now." Ren Qing Yue replied, "Perhaps not much has changed." During her thousand-plus years in the human realm, aside from the rise and fall of dynasties and the shifting tides of fortune, the lives of common folk continued beneath the sun and moon, and cultivators remained as they were since ancient times. Avoiding any past-related topics, the Fox Empress shifted the conversation, "You appear quite extraordinary, and your cultivation level isn't low. To which sect do you belong?"