Chapter 739

Little Fragrant Snow Sea.

After Xi Yao cleaned up, he changed into a set of long robes with a black base, embroidered with countless silver star dots, wore an extremely ancient style one chi six cun bronze high crown, matched with twelve ancient jade ornaments; his dignified bearing made him, for a moment, seem like the prince whom the entire Fuxi Divine Kingdom had once placed high hopes upon, returning again.

Even now, he is still a prince.

His talent remains outstanding.

But he made a grave mistake, and within the Fuxi Divine Kingdom there is already someone who can replace him.

His bloodline and status remain unchanged, but his future seems somewhat dim and gloomy. Thus Xi Yao looks as graceful as a jade tree in the wind, like a jade pillar standing beside Wa Ting, yet his brows and eyes inevitably carry a hint of gloom that cannot be dispelled.

Xi Wu Yue……

Although Xi Yao has never met him in person, he has already regarded Xi Wu Yue as his greatest enemy in life.

Wa Ting had no time to attend to Xi Yao's petty thoughts; she was thinking more, thinking farther. She dismissed all the palace maids beside her, brought Xi Yao to a secluded corner of the Little Fragrant Snow Sea, where she took out a palm-sized, three-legged bronze censer, stuffed a few qian of specially prepared incense powder into it.

Using an exquisite mold, she pressed the incense powder into the shape of a woman with a human body and a serpent's tail; Wa Ting pointed a finger, and a spark ignited the incense powder serpent's tail.

A wisp of azure smoke, no thicker than a hair, shot straight out of the censer, soaring tens of zhang high without dispersing in the slightest.

The incense smoke rose thread by thread until it reached a height of over a hundred zhang, when a crisp 'pah' sounded; several specks of fire the size of mung beans burst within the fine smoke, a rich cold fragrance flashed in the air, and the tendrils of smoke plunged into the void and vanished.

Xi Yao narrowed his eyes, watching his mother's actions.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Xi Yao asked softly, 'Mother Empress, what is this incense?'

Wa Ting snorted coldly: 'You don't know, and it's only natural; this is my Wa clan's specially prepared signal incense...'

She suddenly turned around and slapped him hard across the face, the blow sinking into his visage, forcing his nasal bridge to cave in, and two streams of blood spurted from his nostrils with a 'puff'.

'Mother Empress!' Xi Yao roared furiously.

We've already hit and scolded; isn't it all over?

Now we should be mother and son united, jointly dealing with Wu Tie; why, out of the blue, give him another slap?

Having mingled in the mundane world for so many years, having enjoyed all riches and suffered all hardships, Xi Yao is well-informed and has also witnessed many indescribable shady dealings within the palace.

His mother's extreme fickleness immediately reminded him of the mad women who were banished to the cold palace in the ancient Jin imperial court.

Tsk, his mother Empress is actually a madwoman!

Just thinking about it makes one's blood run cold.

Of course, this cannot be spoken aloud; absolutely not, or else Xi Yao suspects he would be beaten to death by his own mother.

Really… he got slapped for no reason.

Wa Ting looked at Xi Yao with cold eyes and spoke in a cold voice: 'This specially prepared signal incense has endless uses… it was originally a Wa clan secret passed only to daughters, not sons. Originally, it would have been a good thing: you ascend the throne, your sister inherits my Wa clan's esoteric learning, and she could assist you…'

Wa Ting said coldly: 'Given yours and her talents, if you could work together in unity, mastering this Fuxi Divine Kingdom completely would not be impossible… but you, you, how can you be so foolish?'

Xi Yao lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Incense, this signal incense, has stirred up the fire in Wa Ting's heart again.

Xi Yao could only wait in silence; what else could he say?

But is this signal incense really that miraculous?

After about a quarter of an hour, a faint cool breeze blew in from the conch‑shaped passage outside the Little Fragrant Snow Sea, silently sweeping over the vast ancient plum grove; translucent white as snow plum blossoms fluttered down with the wind, each plum on the treetops trembled, causing several palace maids to chuckle lightly.

The cool breeze blew through the plum grove, past the small lake, and leisurely arrived at the secluded corner where Wa Ting and Xi Yao were.

As the wind's shadow faded, a tall, sturdy red‑faced man with a dignified appearance and an imposing, vigorous aura stepped out of the breeze, smiling as he gave Wa Ting a deep bow.

Xi Yao gave the red‑faced man a deep look.

Strangely enough, for such a mighty and burly man, Xi Yao always felt he was a bit fidgety, his words and deeds somewhat maiden‑like, and beneath his red complexion there was clearly a trace of deficient vital energy, a faint yin softness.

A strange fellow.

"Zhao Mei..." the red‑faced man, after a deep bow, gazed at Wa Ting with warm affection and called out sweetly.

Xi Yao shivered violently, feeling goosebumps rise all over his body.

That red‑faced man, he was certain he had never seen him before in this life.

What is the origin of that red‑faced man, daring to address Wa Ting in such a way?

"Zhao Mei!"

Xi Yao felt a breath of cool air blow from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, his whole body turning slightly chilly.

Heh, who would actually use such an endearing term for Wa Ting?

Wa Ting had her hands tucked in her sleeves, her expression deep as she looked at the red‑faced man and said, 'You, how have you been these years?'

The red‑faced man smiled at Wa Ting: 'I'm fine. Just, not being able to see you, I really miss you. But I know, your man is a petty, jealous sort; although he's whatever damned Fuxi Divine Emperor, he's really just a small‑minded little man.'

Gazing tenderly at Wa Ting, the red‑faced man said softly: 'So, for you to live peacefully and comfortably, these years I have endured, not coming to see you.'

Xi Yao shivered violently again.

This red‑faced man, he is actually… so devoted?

Can one use that word on a certain friend of one's mother Empress?

As for his assessment of the current Fuxi Divine Emperor, Xi Yao pretended not to have heard.

"This is my child, Xi Yao… you know." Wa Ting didn't bother chatting with the red‑faced man, she simply pointed at Xi Yao, whose nasal bone was still slowly returning to normal, and said: 'He has been bullied. As his mother, I must get justice for him.'

The red‑faced man's expression changed, and he roared with killing intent: 'Who, who dares to bully Zhao Mei's child? Is this Xi Yao? Although he is not my flesh and blood, in my heart I cherish him as if he were my own kin… Zhao Mei, tell me, who is that person?'

Wa Ting gave a cold smile: 'Don't worry about that; gather your people and follow me.'

She let out a light sigh, and Wa Ting said softly: 'I know, for you this is too easy… it's like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken. But you know my temper.'

The red‑faced man looked at Wa Ting with ever‑greater warmth and affection.

"'I know, how could I not know?'"

"'You've had a fiery temper since childhood… I certainly know that!'"

Xi Yao shivered violently once again.