Imperial Weight Chapter 35
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 35
Little Phoenix gave him three feathers.
Xingyi accepted them and pinned them behind his forehead. Little Phoenix looked at this pitch-black little round ball with three elegant, upturned tail feathers on top of its head, and hesitated before speaking, "Well, if you want feathers as decorations, I have a golden-winged bird friend who can get crimson-gold feathers. I could make you a feathered wreath."
The little coal ball looked at him solemnly. "Really, you can make wreaths?"
Little Phoenix said, "My hands are very dexterous. I can make anything."
As he spoke, he lifted his little claw to show him. Then, realizing something was wrong, he transformed into human form with a poof, crouching in the snowy ground, extending his hand for him to see.
Little Phoenix's hands were fair and slender, with a masculine bone structure but somewhat delicate. The arc of the back of his hand and the subtle shadows cast by his knuckles were just right. When he turned his hand over, his palm and fingertips had a bit of softness to them—not harsh like some people's hands, but soft when held.
By the fire, the young man crouched like this, extending his hand before a pitch-black little round ball, earnestly praising himself. "If you want anything else, I can make it all for you. I can make anything."
Xingyi thought seriously for a moment. "Plucking tail feathers really doesn't hurt, right?"
Little Phoenix said, "It doesn't hurt."
Xingyi still remembered that one time Little Phoenix plucked his tail feathers and lied about it not hurting, then pretended to be pitiful and begged for his mercy. He immediately decided. "Then make me a feathered wreath. I don't want crimson-gold. I like white little birds, just like you."
Little Phoenix was flattered. "Really? I thought phoenixes all disliked white feathers."
Xingyi pushed a crisp persimmon in front of him with his claw. "That's because they have no discernment. Eat quickly."
Little Phoenix nimbly peeled it and picked up the persimmon, munching away with crunching sounds. After finishing one, he picked up a second and took a few bites before noticing that Xingyi hadn't moved, just crouching beside him watching.
Little Phoenix handed him the persimmon in his hand, encouraging him to take a few bites too. Xingyi had always converted the essence of heaven and earth into spiritual energy and didn't eat much, especially disliking sweet things. His pitch-black little bean eyes turned, showing a bit of disdain.
Seeing he wouldn't eat, Little Phoenix continued to take a bite, biting off a piece of crisp, sweet persimmon, catching it with his hand and passing it over. "Crisp persimmons are a bit hard and not convenient for pecking. I'll bite them into pieces for you—that's better."
His movements were very natural. This manner actually had the air of youth about it, with a young person's casual insouciance and informality, along with that particular lack of restraint characteristic of children who came from the common markets—so candid that one couldn't look away.
It was like flowers blooming in summer—flowers need not be timid or shrinking. They naturally display themselves, and without reminding, others can see the vitality and confident bearing.
So Xingyi didn't care that it still had Little Phoenix's saliva on it and ate it with smacking sounds.
One person and one bird ate the entire persimmon like this, one bite at a time. After eating, the fire had also died down. Little Phoenix used a long dead branch to poke at the charcoal, collecting the persimmon peels to roast for fun. Suddenly he thought of a question. "Little Coal Ball, didn't you say you could transform that day? Why not transform to eat the persimmon?"
He reached out to stroke the black ball's belly fur, then tentatively spread his five fingers and, like Xingyi usually held him, lifted this heavy little fat bird with one hand, placing it in his palm to keep warm.
Xingyi rested peacefully in his palm, comfortably stretching his claws, and began to make up a story. "We phoenixes have particular customs about transformation. The first time transforming in front of others, it must be shown to one's sweetheart. If someone sees your first transformation, then you must marry that person, so I can't transform casually."
Little Phoenix was startled and quickly confirmed. "Really?"
Xingyi said, "Really. Think carefully about when your first transformation was."
Little Phoenix looked distressed. "What should I do? I remember now—my first transformation was in Weijian's great hall. He had just finished court, and my little brother and Brother Tanlang were also present. Do I have to marry them too?"
He actually didn't know that his first transformation was that night at dawn, when Xingyi couldn't sleep in the middle of the night and got up to find his little bird. Just as he was walking back with the small bird tucked away, the little bundle in his arms suddenly turned into a completely naked young man.
It caused Xingyi not to sleep well all night.
Xingyi didn't plan to tell Little Phoenix about this. He looked at Little Phoenix's worried face and guided him step by step. "Ah, that makes it a bit difficult. Think carefully—who saw your face first that day?"
This time Little Phoenix didn't even think. "Only Weijian saw it, and he wrapped me in his outer robe, so even my little brother didn't recognize me."
Xingyi said, "Then isn't that settled? It seems this person called Weijian is your marriage partner, but this is very unfair to him—your first transformation should have been shown only to him, but in the end others still saw. Shouldn't you make it up to him?"
Little Phoenix was confused. "How do I make it up?"
Xingyi jumped down from his hand. This black little round ball began rolling around on his knee, as if also seriously helping to think. After a long while, he said, "That depends on what your husband likes most."
Little Phoenix was even more confused. "What my husband likes... he seems to not like anything."
As he spoke, Little Phoenix pinched Xingyi's belly, somewhat dejected. "My husband has no heart. I don't know what he likes either. It seems like whatever I do, he doesn't particularly like it."
Xingyi quickly patted his hand with his wing. "Have more confidence in yourself. Since he's your husband, he must like you. Besides, maybe he likes everything you do? For example, if he likes sleeping, then let him sleep a few more days. If he loves watching you dance, then dance more for him. What's so difficult about that?"
After speaking, this black round ball's eyes were full of anticipation, bright and spirited.
Little Phoenix was stunned for a moment by his eager gaze, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Then I'll dance for him. To tell you the truth, my husband is always drowsy and really does like sleeping just like you said, but sleeping too much is bad for his health—I can't compromise on that point."
Xingyi had suppressed the Star Disc for years without ever making a mistake. That day when Little Phoenix accompanied the golden-winged bird to heat foot-washing water for Phoenix Ming Zun, he happened to hear Ming Zun say: "The Emperor's excessive drowsiness is actually not a good sign. Controlling the Star Disc consumes too much energy. Sleeping more means his spirit is fatigued more often. Appropriate sleep helps him convert qi to replenish his essence, but sleeping too much causes the Star Disc's power to surge, requiring him to expend even more energy when he wakes—a vicious cycle. Actually, sleep is a very inefficient method of nourishing essence. I recommend my jujube and wolfberry with spider lily tea—sweet and delicious, very nourishing."
Little Phoenix felt awkward. "But Ming Zun, Weijian doesn't like sweet things."
Phoenix Ming Zun elegantly rolled his eyes and told him, "Then there's only one path left—dual cultivation. You, I remember you're only at Mahayana, right? After you pass the first level of tribulation and get through the Tribulation Golden Core stage, you can dual cultivate with the Emperor. Don't look at me—what can I do about it? If you don't work hard yourself, then work hard properly."
Little Phoenix came back from Phoenix Ming Zun's place determined to work hard.
He added to Xingyi, "Anyway... I won't let him sleep in. Even after we're married, it won't be allowed. I also want to reduce his quota from seven times per month to three times per month. Weijian is very bad—every time he adjusts the Star Disc's operating time, turning one month into seven days. I think if I change the count to three days, or simply don't allow him to stay in bed at all, he'll have no choice."
The more Little Phoenix thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. He happily asked his Little Coal Ball. "What do you think? Does what I'm saying make sense?"
After speaking, he suddenly noticed the black little round ball on his knee had slumped down dejectedly, with despair showing in its pitch-black little eyes. Little Phoenix quickly asked, "What's wrong, Little Coal Ball?"
Xingyi said, "Nothing."
He mimicked Little Phoenix's previous posture, spreading his wings and claws, exposing a plump bird bottom that looked like it would feel very nice to touch.
Little Phoenix looked down for a long time, and as if possessed, remembered what the fairy maiden had asked him during the day, so he tentatively reached out his hand... and poked it.
Xingyi's whole body shuddered from being poked. He immediately flew up, standing in front of him, looking at him warily, with a fierce expression on his face.
Little Phoenix quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take liberties with you. I couldn't help myself for a moment."
Xingyi glared at him. "Can someone who has a husband just casually touch other people's bottoms?"
Little Phoenix patted his little head. "But you're a little bird right now. What's wrong with that?" As he spoke, he picked up Xingyi, happily kneading him for quite a while, then tucked him into his arms, whispering, "Little Coal Ball, it's so wonderful to have you."
This day they played until near dawn again.
Little Phoenix usually transformed at most once a day, but this time he was having too much fun and had already transformed midway. He hadn't written a leave note for Xingyi today and was afraid of being exposed when he returned, so he asked the old persimmon tree spirit to help cast a spell on him, transforming back into a round little bird form.
Little Phoenix and Xingyi entered Fuli Palace one after the other, bidding each other a reluctant farewell in the back garden, rubbing their plump bellies together as a friendly gesture. Little Phoenix waddled toward the window, still planning to return through the large hole in the window. Behind him, the little black ball, after leaving reservedly, changed direction, rushed back through the main entrance at high speed, then quickly transformed back into human form, completing a series of actions—lying down, covering himself with the quilt, closing his eyes to pretend to sleep—all in the time it took Little Phoenix to squeeze in and out.
Little Phoenix squeezed in, saw the person on the bed was still sleeping, so he hopped to the pillow's edge with little pattering sounds, rubbing Xingyi's face with his belly that still carried the cold air from outside.
Xingyi didn't move.
Little Phoenix patted him with his wing. "Weijian, you should wake up. I'm going to sing."
The familiar chirping sounds rang in his ears again. Xingyi cooperatively opened his eyes, sleepy-eyed, grabbed him, then pinched. "Why is your body so cold? Where did you run off to again?"
Little Phoenix had planned to act a bit longer but didn't expect to be exposed so quickly, so he had to honestly admit. "I went out to play with my little friend. We ate persimmons together."
Xingyi analyzed this and concluded that this little fat bird hadn't lied to him for now, proving that Little Phoenix hadn't yet looked favorably upon any "wildflower." So he felt relieved, tossed Little Phoenix onto the bed, and buried him properly with quilts and pillows. "Fine, go to sleep."
But Little Phoenix wouldn't sleep. He excitedly burrowed out from the pillow, asking somewhat bashfully, "Weijian, I've used up my transformation quota for today. Can you help me transform into human form?"
Xingyi got dressed, rubbing his temples and asking, "What for?"
Little Phoenix blinked. "I promised my little brother I'd help him weave a feathered wreath. I can't complete it with just my claws. I want to give it to him quickly."
Xingyi didn't mind. Recently Little Phoenix's internal breath had been stable, and occasionally having him intervene with transformations no longer had as great an impact on his cultivation as it did initially. He waved his hand and let him transform back into human form.
Little Phoenix gave a small cheer, immediately got dressed, and went barefoot to find the head fairy maiden to ask for fresh flowers.
Xingyi watched from behind for a while, suddenly realizing a problem: First, Little Phoenix had specifically asked the persimmon tree spirit to help transform him back into bird form before returning, and only after he asked "where did you run off to" did he admit he'd gone out—this showed that Little Phoenix hadn't planned to honestly tell him what he'd been doing from the start.
Second, when Little Phoenix angered him before, he only gave one tail feather, but when Xingyi transformed into a little black bird to ask for them today, Little Phoenix readily gave three.
Third, "It's so wonderful to have you"—what exactly did that mean?
Xingyi was now very sensitive to the word "run off." The reason he'd asked Little Phoenix that way was partly to test him.
He kept his promise and, after washing up, was about to go to court, but his mind kept thinking about this matter. Walking while distracted, he nearly got knocked over by the head fairy maiden who came rushing around the corner.
The head fairy maiden had helped Little Phoenix get over a dozen baskets of fresh flowers and was now carrying a plate of lianshi fruit, planning to place Little Phoenix's daily snacks in his usual exercise spot as always. When bumped by Xingyi, she was fine, but the lianshi fruit rolled all over the ground.
The head fairy maiden quickly crouched down to pick them up. After picking up a few, she inadvertently looked up and was startled—
Why did their Emperor look so gloomy?
And he seemed to be lost in thought, not appearing displeased because of her clumsiness, as if there was something else on his mind.
Xingyi had always been lenient with the palace servants. His standard was "I'm idle, so you must be equally idle like me. Don't be too diligent—if you're always bustling about before my eyes, I find it annoying." He wouldn't get angry over such small matters.
The head fairy maiden gathered her courage and asked, "Your Majesty? Your... Majesty, are you going to court?"
Xingyi came back to his senses. "Yes."
With that, he lifted his foot to leave, but after a few steps suddenly came back, eyeing the plate of lianshi fruit in her hand. "Is this Little Phoenix's snack?"
The fairy maiden quickly replied. "Yes, it's Yuan Yuan's snack, fifteen per day. You said so yourself—can't give more or Little Yuan Yuan will get indigestion."
Xingyi reached out and directly took the silver plate from her hand. "I happen to be passing by the garden. I'll just place it there for him. You go about your business."
The head fairy maiden was bewildered but still followed orders and withdrew.
Xingyi carried the silver plate to the garden, to the stone where Little Phoenix usually did his weight-loss exercises, and set down the silver plate.
Then he leisurely drew a talisman, transforming himself into a black little round ball, perching by the silver plate and eating them one by one. He finished all fifteen in less than a quarter hour. After eating all of his own little bird's snacks, Xingyi transformed back into human form, casually pointed, conjured paper and brush, and seriously wrote a note to press under the silver plate:
"A phoenix who doesn't eat lianshi fruit is not a good phoenix."
"A phoenix who eats persimmons is a bad phoenix."
Conclusion: "Little Phoenix is a bad phoenix."
