Chapter One, Red Pearl (Part One)

In this place where female immortals are most abundant, some may not know the surname and given name of the Peony Fairy, but no one is unaware of the great name of the Narcissus.

The snake fruit juice is rich and the crisp sound is particularly striking

The peeled snake fruit is smooth and lovely, as she delicately pinches the peeled fruit with her four slender, white fingers, her small cherry-like mouth slightly open, casually placing it into her mouth

Everyone turned their gaze, as the Flower Goddess personally tended to the wounds of Hongzhu

The red beads of her eyes were glaring, and her nails were deeply embedded in her palms

The meticulously crafted dough of the pastry has a slight reddish hue

The red pearl has been bowing there for an hour.

The Flower Goddess before me spoke again: "Alright, let it be a show of authority. Find out who placed that ice spike just now, and let her remember it well"

Later, the young attendant in the Flower Pavilion slowly informed her that what was reflected in the mirror was an illusion from a thousand years ago. A thousand years ago, the Phoenix Lord held a position in the Heavenly Palace and was in the prime of his power, at a time when the great supporter had not yet fallen from grace

Liang Yu curiously held the mirror and looked for a while, suddenly exclaiming "Oh!" Is this not her great support, Feng Jun?

She suddenly felt a sinking sensation in her heart. The Flower Goddess acted erratically and indulgently, likely due to her youth. Such a ruler is often difficult to read, but it is precisely for this reason that she found herself with an opportunity to negotiate

Ordinary people hearing these words would surely take them as mere polite remarks and laugh them off, but Yu Lang, who has always been in charge of the celestial records and regulations, is a very rigid old deity who has indeed taken that rattan stick seriously and has been "disciplining" for several hundred years

In the past, being scolded like this by her father would have made her, so rigid, feel ashamed to the point of tears. However, in that moment, she conceived a dangerous thought that she had never had before: let him hit me, after all, I am now on the same side as His Highness

That was the longest time she had been angry, enduring a full month of cold words directed at her, which left her feeling quite melancholic. One night, while lighting a lamp for Liangyu, she inadvertently noticed the red marks on her fingers, realizing that in order to tie that pair of colorful strings, she, who had never engaged in needlework, had worn her fingers raw.

The ancient artifact, the Mirror of Inquiry, can trace the past and explore the future

Si Ju interrupted sternly: "Nonsense! This concerns the appointment and dismissal of the heavenly generals; how can personal feelings be involved?"

The red beads symbolize ancient customs, and her thoughts are stubborn to a terrifying degree. Being merely a fleeting couple is simply impossible for her—one life, one world, one pair of souls; she must plan for the future. The young man, being an ordinary person, is bound to marry and have children, eventually growing old. What will she do then?

Liang Yu smiled awkwardly: "I apologize for disturbing you today, but I have a serious matter to discuss." As she spoke, she had already stepped inside, her respectful demeanor lasting only a moment, "Your Excellency, considering all the sweets from the past, could you please let me in first?"

The people of the Heavenly Palace said, "Jinxing Tan has an affair with a female immortal." The Flower Goddess glanced at her and lowered her voice, "You know best who this female immortal is. Previously, I have already turned a blind eye to your matters. This palace does not wish for you to be fixated on this, lest it implicate yourself.

Only those insignificant individuals like them are the ants at the mercy of the heavenly rules of life and death

Click

Sijun misunderstood the meaning, appearing as if he wanted to speak but hesitated: "Your Highness is about to officially ascend the throne, it would be better to visit the Northern Star Lord less often..."

In fact, this little flower deity is exceptionally intelligent, yet her likes and dislikes are very pronounced, and she is quite stubborn. For the past two hundred years, she has overseen the realm of flowers, never making mistakes in the succession of blooms or in the records. However, she is slow to adhere to the elaborate rules and regulations, for which she has endured countless whippings.

Liang Yu did not respond, taking a step back and bowing respectfully: "Your Excellency."

The young child sighed, dropped the grasshopper in his hand, clapped his hands, and stood up: "You little flower spirit, you are not as interesting as usual!"

As Liang Yu's years increased and his cultivation deepened, he decided to enter seclusion. He chose to bring forth his most patient and steadfast fifth daughter to take his place, and this daughter was named Si Ju

The room was small, furnished only with a low bed and a black lacquered table. On the table sat a teapot and two white porcelain cups, along with a few faded small dough figurines. The child swiftly climbed onto the bed, picked up a figurine, and played with it, asking, "What is it that you wish to inquire about?"

Liang Yu heard it in her ears, too lazy to explain, waved her hand and said: "I understand, let's go quickly"

Is this ... ... the end?

She sensed countless gazes upon her, some timid, some hesitant to speak. After a moment of hesitation, she moved the fruit aside and looked down at the red beads on the ground: "Get up."

Therefore, even though she knows in her heart that the romantic affairs of her young children cannot be controlled, she still has to remind them every day with a forced resolve.

Wherever there are many women, there are always many disputes. Since Liangyu entered the Qingzhang Hall, she has risen early at five in the morning every day to read and cultivate. After five hundred years, she ascended to become a celestial being, barely managing to suppress the restless little celestial beings below her.

The old man has discovered a pattern after being beaten multiple times: this little girl is quite opinionated. For significant matters, a beating will certainly prevent her from repeating the mistake. However, when it comes to trivial matters, especially those she does not agree with, no matter how many times she is punished, she remains uncorrected, which shows her strong personality

Hongzhu trembled, her face pale, yet she remained unwilling to give up: "All the mistakes, every single one, are Hongzhu's fault... But Tánláng, Tánláng has been sincerely cultivating his path, Your Highness, I implore you to show mercy and spare him..."

Upon seeing this, Liang Yu immediately broke into a beaming smile

Hong Zhu felt a bit anxious, disregarding the warning glance from Si Ju, and looked at the person seated with great anticipation, urging, "Your Highness..." Her voice carried a hint of tremor.

She even felt a bit sorry for Liang Yu

She remembers the day she was rescued by the Crimson Spirit Lord, when the young deity rode on a white tiger and smiled at her, who was trembling with fear, saying: "My Starry Pavilion is the closest to here, so Liang Yu asked me to come and save you." The exalted deity treated her with such gentleness, patting her shoulder, "Don't be so afraid, I am merely doing a favor for that girl Liang Yu."

But ...? ... At that time, her mind was filled with question marks: Feng Jun was a man of indulgence and decadence, spending his days in revelry and the company of beautiful women, always wearing a hint of lazy amusement. Even when he tried to put on a serious face, he did not look the part. How could he have such a moment of coldness and authority?

The repercussions of this matter are not yet over, as at the birthday banquet of the Antarctic Immortal, Liang Yu once again captivated the heart and soul of Ji Beichen, the only son of the esteemed Su Min Zhenren

If he does not speak, then she can wait a moment

The air was permeated with the metallic scent of blood. The female attendant, Si Ju, who stood beside the Flower Goddess, finally rose from the pear wood chair, furrowing her brows as she approached the main seat, a hint of worry evident in her expression

Liang Yu had long known her temperament and laughed in anger: "Why don't you usually insist on dressing me like this? Do you think I don't know? Today, you specifically came to assert your authority, didn't you?"

However, her head was almost overwhelmed with tears, yet the Flower Goddess did not respond in the slightest, which made her somewhat flustered, causing a thin layer of sweat to form on her back

The Flower Goddess rose, shook the wide sleeves of her brocade robe, while two maidservants behind her lifted the hem of her gown from the ground and gently held it in their arms. She turned her head slightly and said: "Creating trouble out of nothing, as per the rules, you are confined for three days"

The youthful goddess of flowers sat upright, lifted her eyelids to glance, sighed silently, and began to focus intently on peeling a snake apple

Liang Yu smiled lightly, feeling somewhat irritated as she rubbed her brow: "It is indeed laughable to be self-righteous, but it is even more detestable to add insult to injury"

It is not to blame Si Ju for being verbose; rather, Liang Yu is truly unconventional, and the things she has done are increasingly astonishing.

A sudden surge of determination arose in my heart, I clenched my teeth tightly, closed my eyes, and resolutely struck forward.

The beautiful face of Hongzhu was somewhat distorted as she raised her eyes to glare at the graceful figure leaving her behind

She raised her head and looked around at everyone: "I am not speaking, as I wish to encourage you to retreat in the face of difficulty, but you..." Her eyes were fixed on the bright red snake fruit in the plate, seemingly hesitating whether to continue eating, her voice soft yet steady: "The heavenly realm has its own rules, and the floral realm has its own principles. As a mere flower deity, what right do I have to interfere in the matters of the heavenly realm?"

She smiled and said to her, "I have seen Fengjun's past." Upon hearing this, Wenyu let out an "Oh," and she couldn't tell if it was her imagination, but she felt that Wenyu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Si Ju certainly did not dare to hit her with a rattan stick like his father did, and could only closely follow her side, monotonously nagging her several times.

The young child opened his mouth in a smile, revealing two gaps in his teeth. He turned and entered the pavilion, where one entire wall of the study was made up of ebony drawers, densely packed together. Each drawer bore ancient script, glimmering with golden lacquer. A few of the drawers were slightly pulled open, and within, one could vaguely see sheets of paper or rolled bamboo slips.

Si Ju gave a slight bow and said, "Yes."

Her cultivation was insufficient, yet when she carelessly manipulated it, a scene unexpectedly appeared on it

It is unknown which ignorant and overbearing little fairy, having grown weary of waiting, secretly resorted to mischief, causing two small, sharp icicles to silently emerge from the ground. Hongzhu, with her keen eyes, spotted them at once, unable to suppress a cold sweat, followed by a surge of anger.

The red blood-like agate, perfectly round, shattered with a plop in the pool of blood, as drops of blood fell one by one. The female immortals could not help but stretch their necks to look, gasping in shock, creating a moment of clamor. The red bead lay on the ground, trembling at the shoulders, uncertain whether from pain or fear

* * * *

Blood was just seen in the main hall, and at this moment, the Flower God is still eating fruit, causing a sense of unease among the crowd

The five-colored celestial silk is a divine object, as tough as steel wire. While others use Tissot to deal with it, no one reminded her, and she was unaware, surprisingly tying it up with her hands.

The silence has finally been broken

* * * *

The youth's eyes were slightly raised at the corners, and his appearance could be described with the two words "magnificent". His expression was solemn and proud, with a sword held in his right hand. With a single stroke in the air, the ethereal image of the azure phoenix, resembling a dragon soaring through the sky, flew past in a cascade of brilliant light and color, surrounded by layers of shimmering shadows.

Liang Yu only met this young man in the Hall of Reception. Upon returning, she privately seized power, moving Ji Beichen's residence next to her Qingzhang Hall, entangling with him daily, disregarding the rising rumors. Before Yu Lang left, he was anxious and specifically instructed Si Ju: "Take good care of your Highness, do not let her embarrass herself outside every day"

The young child blinked and said again, "Do you really not want to take a look at your fate in love?"

Next to Liang Yu, the neatly coiffed Si Ju followed closely. She walked at the front, adjusting the heavy star crown on her head, and murmured as she walked, "A Ju, this outfit is truly bothersome"

Little Flower God, I remind you, it can only be seen once every one hundred years

The red hairpin is disheveled, her eyes swollen like peaches, her forehead a patch of redness and swelling, crying like a weeping pear blossom, yet still unable to conceal the striking beauty that captivates all who behold her.

When Yu Lang went to fetch someone, they were all blocked outside the door by Liang Yu

Unfortunately, this joy lasted only three days

The master Liang Yu treats her very well, so well that there is no pretense, which is both amusing and exasperating. Despite her refusals, he insists on calling her "A Ju" and gifts her a pile of exquisite clothes and plush coats—naturally, all in styles that she likes, which Si Ju does not dare to wear.

The silent atmosphere was exceptionally difficult to endure. Someone stole a glance at the main seat and saw the young flower deity with lowered eyes, remaining silent, not even a flutter of her eyelashes. They could only click their tongue and shift their gaze away

Even though she is merely a lowly daffodil, overshadowed by peonies and tree peonies, and even though she spends her days in the small daffodil palace in a rather indifferent manner—she is still different in the end; at the very least, when she makes a request, the Flower Goddess comes personally at the first opportunity.

Si Ju's brows were furrowed with deeper concern, and with a light cough, he exchanged a glance with Hong Zhu. Hong Zhu, coming back to her senses from the shock, felt a surge of joy in her heart: "Thank you, Your Highness"

Sijv's expression was serious as he remarked, "Given Your Highness's rank, your daily attire should indeed be like this." He then continued to praise, "Your Highness has done exceptionally well today, beyond reproach."

Over a hundred years ago, the ghostly lord Fusang passed through the flower realm, and upon just one glance, he was astonished by her beauty, becoming infatuated. Ignoring the heavenly rules, he abducted her back to his cave. Later, it was the Red Spirit God of the heavenly realm who personally rescued her. Since then, this woman has gained a reputation that has spread far and wide.

Although Liang Yu has a "backer" behind her, who is said to be entrusted by Liang Yu's mother to take care of her, this backer only provides her with food and drink, leads her into trouble, and helps her cover up her misdeeds, never caring about her getting punished. Everyone knows that Yu Lang and this "backer" do not get along, and the two of them would rather never see each other again. Liang Yu, caught in the middle, often suffers from the tension between them.

Time flies like a white horse passing through a narrow gap; she has accompanied Liang Yu for as long as two hundred years

The floor tiles are adorned with wisteria patterns, winding and twisting, while the white gauze curtains in the room are embroidered with dense vines using gold thread. This red bead is too much in keeping with ancient customs, and the decorations in the room are so solemn that they become tiresome.

Ah! A piercing and terrified scream, the entire Narcissus Palace trembled

She is still too young, at an age where she needs to be cherished and pampered in someone's hands, yet she has to embody the goddess of the floral world, commanding respect without anger, spinning daily amidst a multitude of trivial matters and rules

The flower goddess had extremely dark hair, styled in a small bun atop her head, adorned with a silver crown that featured dangling gray pearls. The rest of her black hair flowed down her back, smooth as the finest satin, accentuating her face's radiant whiteness. She extended her hand, and a nearby maid, with a lowered gaze and obedient demeanor, promptly took the half-eaten fruit from her hand and swiftly presented a handkerchief.

When Liang Yu first arrived, she wore a pair of white fur-lined deer skin boots, with the cuffs tightly bound with silver brocade ribbons. In her hands, she held a delicate little bow. Upon seeing the flower fairies of the floral realm, her eyes sparkled with joy as she sweetly called out "sister" repeatedly, embracing them left and right, which was hardly befitting of a flower goddess. Yu Lang, infuriated, tugged at her collar and pulled her out from the crowd of beauties, dragging her into the Qingzhang Hall where he gave her a good beating, until the little flower goddess was in tears, promising to change her attire, no longer speaking lightly, nor revealing a smile, nor showing anger, but exuding an air of authority.

A secret message was delivered to the Lanxing Palace, stating that her beloved was able to ascend through unorthodox means. Consequently, he was removed from the roster that very day and confined in the dungeon awaiting his fate, while she was also placed under house arrest and closely guarded

In any case, he will belong to him sooner or later

Sijulue pondered for a moment and hesitantly said: "Your Highness, that red pearl was indeed seen, but I fear it may be a ploy to evoke your sympathy through a feigned act of suffering"

The young man in white stood atop the Lotus Pagoda, with three thousand disciples kneeling neatly at his feet. Clouds billowed around him, and the wind stirred his garments. The wide sleeves he wore were densely embroidered with brilliant golden phoenix patterns, and his dark hair was crowned, adorned with a sparkling diamond-shaped celestial seal on his forehead

Some people could not help but laugh out loud

Fate of marriage? What is there to appreciate about it? Liang Yu thought to herself, as a clear figure flashed through her mind, causing her to involuntarily blush slightly

Liang Yu turned around and said: "A Ju and the others should return first, I will wander around alone."

Upon hearing this, Si Ju let out a sigh of relief

Yet, one could see a hint of compassion hidden within the dark pupils of the young child

At the age of four hundred, she found an injured young girl on the Floating Life Bridge and, resolutely ignoring all advice, brought her back to the Qingzhang Hall to care for her. This girl was named Wen Yu, possessing a snow-white complexion and flower-like beauty, yet her body was frail, and she could not remember what had happened in the past, pleading to settle here. Liang Yu arranged a separate chamber for the beauty in her Qingzhang Hall, assigned a maid to her, and they lived together harmoniously as if they were one.

She slowly wiped her hands before looking at Hongzhu. Hongzhu obediently straightened up and knelt before her in a posture of reverence. The Flower Goddess slowly raised her hand and suddenly pressed her cool little hand against Hongzhu's bleeding forehead. Hongzhu felt a warmth surge through her head, a warm current spreading throughout her body, and her heart began to race.

When everyone had dispersed, she took a deep breath, turned around, and quickly crossed the Floating Life Bridge, entering the door of the Inquiry Flower Pavilion. At the entrance sat a young boy with his legs crossed, fiddling with a bamboo grasshopper, clearly enjoying himself. Upon seeing someone approach, he did not lift his head and said, "Your Highness, there is no message today"

The young child stared at her face for a long time before finally smiling slightly: "Do you want to see your fate in love?" Liang Yu was taken aback, her eyes flickering for a moment, somewhat puzzled: "No."

Although the powerful Ghost Lord was once infatuated with her, he forced her to submit. Tan Lang is different; although he is a mortal, he is the one she truly loves

She sighed inwardly as he tied the colorful string around his hand in front of her, never to remove it again

The Narcissus Hall is a small hall, and all four pear wood chairs in the hall are occupied. Behind them stand numerous colorful female immortals, densely surrounding the red pearl, each with a different expression.

She looked despairingly at that innocent face

It is well known that the Flower Goddess is protective, especially towards the female immortals. She wants to make every effort to take a chance, just in case... what if the Flower Goddess shows mercy?

At the age of three hundred, Liang Yu took charge of the realm of flowers. Due to her young age, her mother, Lady Chonghua, personally entrusted her to Yu Lang, who oversees the celestial records, and presented him with an unbreakable rattan made from Xuan Yuan cypress, stating that Liang Yu had been raised by her side since childhood and had become spoiled. She insisted that he must discipline her when necessary.

The red bead spirit trembled, lifting her head, and inadvertently met her gaze. The girl's eyes were dark and bright, resembling the Milky Way shimmering with stars in the quiet night. Their pure blackness even carried a hint of innocence, as if she were somewhat naive to the ways of the world

While she was still lost in thought, Wen Yu entered the room. Liang Yu looked at her stunningly beautiful face, which always bore a calm and serene expression, and for once revealed a hint of fervor: "Liang Yu, did you see the past or the future?"

It was as if she had fallen from the clouds to the depths of the valley, feeling dazed for several days. Finally, unable to endure this torment any longer, she would never allow herself to watch her beautiful dreams slip away.

In the past, when coming to deliver a letter, one would also remember to bring him some candy to eat

Because the red pearl is the most beautiful one in the world of flowers

Later, Yu Lang emerged from seclusion and saw her being intimate with Liang Yu like partners, which filled him with rage. He beat her up as well, exclaiming: "Unfilial child! You do not understand the distinction between ruler and subject!"

Ji Beichen is fresh and elegant, with extraordinary appearance and demeanor. Unfortunately, his father, the esteemed Master Su Min, has proven to be unworthy, having indulged in the pleasures of women for many years and repeatedly breaking his vows. The father's mistakes have resulted in divine punishment falling upon the son, who has only attained the status of an Earth Immortal after years of cultivation, unable to ascend to the heavens. Others speak of him with a mix of sympathy and awkwardness, merely referring to him as "Lord Beichen"

One year during the Dragon Boat Festival, she even personally braided a pair of exquisite multicolored strings using five-colored silk threads for her

Thus, she, with a sense of hope, pretended to inadvertently reveal a bit of the heavenly secrets to assist the young man in his pursuit of immortality and enlightenment

She knew in her heart that the Flower Goddess was right—if it were not for His Highness's deliberate protection of her, the crime of revealing heavenly secrets and interfering with mortal lives would not merely result in confinement. At this moment, she should feign deafness and silence, waiting for the situation to calm down

As usual, she declined, and the young girl immediately turned hostile

Unexpectedly, her beloved is a talented individual, barely twenty-five years old, and there are rumors that the newly appointed star lord of the twenty-eight constellations happens to be her beloved...! ... She was simply overjoyed to the point of madness

Si Ju felt that, in fact, Liang Yu was not as incompetent as her father had described.

Liang Yu slightly bowed and said: "May I ask to borrow the Heavenly Mirror"

I have heard that Your Highness has a close relationship with the Red Spirit Deity. Could you share some details about this affection

However, Your Highness, your power is so great that you can turn a blind eye to protect her; protecting another mortal should not be that difficult, right

The youthful flower deity nodded slightly, no longer speaking

She had long known that in this heavenly realm, only the esteemed ones could be joyful all day long, casually encountering a mortal who caught their eye, and easily taking them on as a small disciple, without ever considering the heavenly rules

The woman's suppressed and restrained sobs are faint and elusive

The atmosphere was tense. The female immortals looked at the Flower Goddess, who remained motionless. The crowd then turned their gaze to Hongzhu, who bowed repeatedly, and this cycle continued endlessly.

The Flower God paused for a moment before finally speaking: "I heard everything you just said."

There was not a breath of wind in the hall, and the hanging gauze curtains remained completely still

When Liang Yu had just taken over the flower world and had not yet realized the identity of the young child, he had borrowed this Tianjing mirror, thinking of it as a beautiful mirror, to play with for a few days

Given the level of familiarity, extending a favor with just a few words, turning a blind eye to let someone off the hook, shouldn't be that difficult, right

Moreover, the Lord of the Heavenly Palace, the Crimson Spirit Monarch, is clearly a close friend of His Highness

Moreover, the figure of Feng Jun in the mirror is surprisingly holding a sword with her right hand