Venerated Venomous Consort

“She searched everywhere, from heaven all the way to earth. Whoever she met, whether she knew them or not, she would ask if he or she remembered you. She visited the royal administrative centers and looked into every archive to find a record of you, but no one remembered you. Everything about you had mysteriously disappeared. I still vividly remember the look of utter despair on her face, she looked like she had just been abandoned by the entire world.”

Di Fuyi clenched his fists. Gu Xijiu had never mentioned anything about these painful encounters to him. Even when she did, she would only brush lightly over the subject. He never knew that it took her so long to forget about him.

He could clearly picture her in a frantic search. The despair she must have suffered evoked a sense of pain in his heart as well.

Mu Feng continued, “None of us understood her. All of us thought that she had gone hysterical, or was perhaps possessed by something evil. We wanted to help her, but she was always busy looking for you. One time, she went out to the sea and returned without any memory of you. However, she did not get any better. She was like a woman without a soul. Nothing could spark joy in her anymore. She was just like a lifeless jade statue. As a Lord, her mood was able to affect the weather of the entire continent. So, for a while, the Starry Crescent Land was covered in ice and snow all year round. The people were deprived of their means of survival because of the unnatural chance. Eventually, she found a way to go to the Upper Bound and stayed there for six months. She looked better after that.”

“Master, Lord Gu cares for you way too much. After the painful loss, it is only natural that she becomes so paranoid about losing you again. Master, what she suffers from is the anxiety within her mind. One must seek her salve where she gets her sore. Give her time; maybe, she will become stronger.”

Di Fuyi agreed with a nod.

When Gu Xijiu woke up, Di Fuyi was quietly reading by her side. The warm rays of sunlight went through the window and brightened up the room with a cozy late afternoon vibe.

There were peace and solace all around her. It was always a peaceful time whenever he was around.

She was slightly caught in a state of bewilderment when she woke up, which Di Fuyi noticed. As soon as she opened her eyes, he instantly looked away from his book and said, “Baby, are you awake?”

Gu Xijiu sat right up and said, “I slept for a little too long.”

“You must have been very tired. I am happy that you could get some sleep.” Di Fuyi then closed his book and asked, “Are you hungry? I can make you whatever you want to eat.”

Gu Xijiu was astonished. “When did you learn to cook?”

With a slight pause, Di Fuyi smiled at her. “There is nothing difficult about cooking. As long as I am willing to do it, what can possibly stop me? This is the time for you to have a completely new appraisal for me. Would you like to try my cooking?”

“Yes!” Gu Xijiu exclaimed. She no longer needed food, but she would love to have some comfort food, especially when she was pregnant.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Fish!”

Di Fuyi nodded. “All right, let’s go and get some fish.”

…

The glorious red sun descended in the west. Orange tints suffused the blue horizons, creating a picturesque contrast of colors.

Baffled, Gu Xijiu was sitting on a roll of clouds that Di Fuyi had cast to transport them away. All she wanted was to eat some fish, but he certainly did not have to go all the way to the sea to get it.

Somehow, the place looked somewhat familiar.

“Xijiu, do you remember this place?”

“Yes, the crystal palace is right under the water,” Gu Xijiu answered swiftly. However, her face turned a little pale at the sight of the blue water – the ghosts of her past had come back to hit her again. Naturally, she started pulling his sleeve.