"Since I found you, you're mine."
Xi Youran smiled faintly, brushing her fingers over the soft fur of the little beast curled in her arms. Its golden eyes shimmered faintly with intelligence—and mischief.
She leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss on its head.
"Be good, alright? No biting servants this time."
The creature purred… in a suspiciously smug way.
She turned back toward the main house, her long hair swaying with every step. But the calm in her expression faltered as flashes from earlier returned—the eerie smile of Sheng, his whisper still lingering in her ear:
"I wonder what you will do, little phoenix…"
She shuddered slightly.I hate that man.
"Milady! You're back!"
A young maid, Mei'er, rushed toward her with panic on her face, nearly tripping over her own feet.
Youran raised a brow. "What happened? Did someone burn down the kitchen again?"
Mei'er shook her head so fast that her bun almost came undone. "N-No, milady! It's the prince—Prince Tian Zi is here to visit!"
Youran froze mid-step.The color drained from her face.
Prince Tian Zi… Here? Now?
Her mind spun. What if he's figured it out? What if he knows I'm a Returner too?
A cold sweat prickled down her back.
The beast in her arms tilted its tiny head curiously, then yawned as if unimpressed by her growing panic.
"Don't worry, girl. I already cloaked your aura."
The voice of the old man echoed in her mind.
"Wait—you can do that?""Hmph. Who do you think taught you Dou Qi, child? I was a great Sage, not some street exorcist."
Youran sighed in relief, patting her chest. At least I won't burst into divine flames in front of the prince.
Still, her pulse wouldn't calm.She forced a smile, gathering herself into the act of a cheerful, carefree young lady.
As she stepped into the courtyard, the world seemed to slow.
Prince Tian Zi stood beneath the flowering plum tree, sunlight filtering through the petals onto his shoulders. His robes were dark gold today—rich, understated, impossibly regal.
When he turned at the sound of her footsteps, her heart gave a painful thump.
Why… does it hurt when I look at him?
She smiled politely, masking her unease. "Your Highness, what brings you here so suddenly?"
His gaze softened slightly. "You disappeared from court before I could properly congratulate you after yesterday's… revelation."
Revelation? You mean my spontaneous combustion in front of the Emperor?
Youran laughed awkwardly. "Ah, yes, well, I needed to… calm my Qi. And feed my cat."
She raised the small white-furred creature in her arms as proof.
The prince blinked. "…That's a cat?"
The beast looked up at him, its fur puffing like a defensive hedgehog.
[Oh, my goddess, I'm so lucky. My new master has such nice—][Finish that thought and I'll neuter you,] Youran hissed mentally.
The beast immediately shut up, but nestled deeper into her chest, tail swishing smugly.
[Warm. Soft. Divine.]
Youran's smile twitched. "It's just… very clingy."
Tian Zi's gaze followed the motion. His eyes narrowed slightly—not in anger, but something else.
Jealousy?
He coughed lightly, adjusting his sleeve. "I see. You have quite the… devoted companion."
The beast met his eyes with a glare that no animal should have been capable of.
[You dare challenge me, two-legs? She's mine now.]
Tian Zi's lips curved faintly, though a vein throbbed near his temple. "That creature… seems oddly territorial."
[I am watching you, human male.]
[I sense jealousy,] the beast purred smugly into Youran's mind.
Oh great. My cat's picking a fight with a prince.
"W-Well," she said quickly, "he's harmless, I promise!"
The beast puffed its chest.
[Lies.]
Tian Zi took a step closer. The faint scent of sandalwood and royal incense wrapped around her, pulling her breath from her lungs.
"Lady Xi Youran," he said quietly, "are you well? You seem… distracted."
Her pulse jumped. She could feel his Qi brushing against hers again—searching, curious, dangerously close to recognition.
The old man's voice in her head snapped, Calm your flame!
Youran forced a bright, empty laugh. "Distracted? Oh no, just tired from—ah—feeding the cat."
[Yes, feed me more attention, goddess.]
Shut up, beast.
She clutched the creature tighter to her chest, hiding her face partly behind its fur.
Tian Zi's gaze lingered a moment longer, then softened.
"Then rest well. The Phoenix Rite continues tomorrow," he said, turning to leave. "I look forward to seeing what surprises you bring next."
His tone was calm, but the flicker in his eyes betrayed curiosity—and something deeper.
As he walked away, plum petals drifted in the wind, brushing against Youran's cheek.
When the doors closed behind him, Youran finally exhaled and let her knees give out. She sank onto the floor, still hugging the beast.
"Do you have to antagonize royalty?" she groaned.
The little furball yawned, eyes gleaming with mischief.
[He was staring too much. I was protecting your honor.]
"By burying your face in my chest?!"
[Exactly.]
Youran stared at him, speechless.
Then she sighed and poked his forehead. "You're hopeless."
[And proud of it.]
But as laughter slipped from her lips, she didn't notice the faint golden shimmer that flickered over her hands again—the dormant Dou Qi within her pulsing softly, resonating with the prince's departing presence.
In the distance, unseen, a pair of eyes watched from the shadows.Sheng smirked behind his fan, whispering to himself,
"The beast, the prince, and the phoenix. What a beautiful triangle of chaos."