Imperial Weight Chapter 7
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 7
Ever since Xingyi had sought out Little Phoenix that one time, the waters of Fuli Spring had never cooled down again. It remained the hot springs he had magically transformed it into that night. Heat rose from the source, and all the flowing waters and waterfalls throughout Fuli Mountain, from its peak to Linglong Gate, became warm waters as well. Flowers along the way bloomed brilliantly overnight.
The people of Northern Heaven only discovered the next day that this frozen land had changed its appearance. At the same time, news also spread that Xingyi had suspended court for the second consecutive day.
The people of this place in Northern Heaven regarded Xingyi as their lord. Everyone knew that for tens of thousands of years, the Master of the Star Disc had always been the same way—along with Fuli Palace and Fuli Mountain, always bearing that same appearance, covered in ice and snow year-round, like a person who never smiled, exactly like Xingyi himself. The sudden alternation between cold and heat overnight was no less than a monumental change in the heavens.
Everyone had long lacked gossip, so when they occasionally learned that a flower spirit out for a night stroll had glimpsed Emperor Xingyi emerging late at night to receive a little sparrow, and had even frightened a perfectly fine golden-winged bird into fainting, everyone became excited at once and discussed among themselves. "Earlier we heard Qisha Xing Lord say that His Majesty had taken a sparrow spirit into Fuli Palace. Last time someone also asked if we were about to have an Empress. It looks like it's true. Although His Majesty has a leisurely temperament, when has he ever suspended court for two consecutive days?"
The more the group talked, the more convinced they became. There were also scattered immortals who had secretly admired Xingyi who became dejected and heartbroken, wiping away tears and saying through gritted teeth, "Not even Empress yet, and already got our Emperor wrapped around the finger like this! Disrupting court affairs, shaking the Star Disc—that must be a thoroughly wicked bird!"
Others imagined endlessly. "Tell me, how did these spring waters all turn hot overnight? Could it be..."
As for how many legends they fabricated about passion running deep and spring waters rippling, Xingyi himself didn't know. Little Phoenix, keeping him company shut away in the palace, naturally didn't know either. When others eventually learned that this seductive demon from the gossip couldn't transform into human form yet, they would probably be greatly shocked.
Speaking of this little bird being wicked, Xingyi later thought, he really should have known from the very first day this little bird sought him out. Clearly knowing he didn't keep pets, the bird still pestered him relentlessly and followed him. When he himself didn't express his position, the bird truly and happily considered itself the second master of Fuli Palace, clinging to him and refusing to leave.
He had been quite well-behaved the first few days, then started making a fuss.
The first few days, Xingyi found excuses to slack off, saying this little fat bird was restless every day and prevented him from sleeping well, so he skipped morning court several more times. After Little Phoenix learned of this, he firmly refused to take the blame. Thereafter, he would wake up early every day and perch on Xingyi's head to sing, his tone rising from low to high, then from high to low, singing very happily. Xingyi could only open his eyes and get out of bed amid his noisy chirping. When he really didn't want to get up, he would swat at his head to catch Little Phoenix, but Little Phoenix would twist about and scurry everywhere. After Xingyi spent a long time trying to catch him without success, he ultimately had to wake up fully.
The immortal servant remarked curiously, "In the past when we called Your Majesty to wake up, you never responded. This little fat bird is quite clever."
Xingyi sat before the mirror with the low pressure of early rising, looking expressionlessly at himself in the mirror. The immortal servant, frightened into silence, fled faster than a rabbit after arranging his hair, rushing off to bring Xingyi his breakfast.
Taking advantage of this brief moment, Xingyi raised his hand to his forehead and closed his eyes to rest. Just after a moment of quiet, he felt a fluffy little creature climb onto the top of his head, nuzzling about. Then something hard mixed into his hair, combing through it for him.
"Little bad bird," he murmured softly. "Colluding with outsiders—as a pet, don't you know your master wants to sleep well?"
Little Phoenix chirped away again.
"Can't understand you," Xingyi opened his eyes and plucked Little Phoenix from the top of his head. "But I suppose this little bad bird can't say anything good anyway. You might as well sing for me instead."
Little Phoenix raised his voice and chirped even more happily.
Moments later, the immortal servant brought breakfast—as usual, a bowl of spring water and some fruits. Xingyi picked up a fruit and chewed it slowly, his expression indifferent and leisurely. Little Phoenix, however, crouched to one side, the entire bird nearly toppling into the fruit plate.
Xingyi asked him, "Want to eat?"
Little Phoenix hesitated for a moment, then resolutely shook his head.
"Really don't want to eat?" Xingyi glanced at him and picked up a grape, placing it in front of Little Phoenix.
Little Phoenix turned in a circle and twisted to face away. Xingyi poked him. Little Phoenix disdainfully used his little wing to swat his finger away, then walked a few more steps outward, crouched down, with an air of "out of sight, out of mind."
Xingyi placed another grape before his eyes.
Little Phoenix turned another circle, avoiding the grape. Xingyi repeated the action, plucking another grape and placing it in front of him. Little Phoenix turned another small circle, only to discover that after turning he was facing Xingyi's fruit plate directly, so he turned another small circle.
Like playing chess, Xingyi picked up the last grape between his index and middle fingers, blocking Little Phoenix's circular escape route.
Little Phoenix crouched down dejectedly, burying his head under his wing.
Xingyi criticized him. "Stupid."
Xingyi leisurely peeled the grape, ate half himself, then held out the remaining half with a commanding tone. "Eat."
Little Phoenix took it in his beak and ate it, then flew happily to perch on his head.
After breakfast, Xingyi walked out the door. Little Phoenix stood on his shoulder with no intention of leaving.
Xingyi reached up to touch him. "Are you going to follow me to court?"
Little Phoenix nodded.
"Then behave yourself. When we get there, don't fly or move around randomly. Just stay by my side, understand?" Xingyi instructed.
Little Phoenix crouched obediently and rubbed against his shoulder ingratiatingly. Xingyi's bit of morning grumpiness couldn't rise anymore. He strolled leisurely to the snow bamboo grove behind the great hall, reached out to pick some lian fruits to feed him, and Little Phoenix ate them all one by one.
When they went to court, Little Phoenix truly behaved himself and stayed by Xingyi's hand, motionless as he listened to Xingyi go through the process of hearing and discussing memorials one by one. The great hall was solemn and silent. After listening for quite a while, Little Phoenix felt somewhat bored. So he moved a few steps and turned his head to focus on studying the flowers inserted in the vase on the seat. Each bloom was fragrant and bright, probably the most vibrant colors in this place.
Little Phoenix didn't like cold colors. Throughout his life, whether in the mortal realm or in the Heavenly Court, he loved bright colors—he loved everything vivid and passionate. Although he had white feathers, his nature in this respect was inherited from the Phoenix clan bloodline. From the fierceness of fighting to the degree of loving beauty and showing off, he exceeded them all. Little Phoenix tilted his head to glance at Xingyi, seeing his husband also wore a solemn black robe with silver trim depicting the vast Milky Way and stars. It was beautiful, yes, but indeed quite dull.
In the mortal realm, he loved wearing red in the royal mansion. Xingyi indulged him, and ended up being pulled along to start wearing red as well. Little Phoenix stated righteously: "Red is the color of great joy, but a day of great joy is only one day—once it passes, it's gone. Tell me, isn't that such a shame? I have no father or mother, and no pursuits in life. I just want to reminisce about the happiness of our wedding day from time to time, so I absolutely must wear it."
Then he looked at him full of expectation: "Will you wear it, husband?"
Xingyi: "...Wear."
All these past events seemed like yesterday. Thinking of these things, Little Phoenix felt very happy. So he stretched his neck to pluck a red flower from the vase, forgetting that he had promised Xingyi to behave. He fluttered his wings and flew to the top of Xingyi's head, tucking the flower into Xingyi's hair. Looking left and right—perfect.
Xingyi's hand holding the memorial paused.
The immortal official reporting matters below saw a little fat bird and flower suddenly appear on top of their Emperor's head and also stumbled over his words for a moment.
Xingyi waved his hand, signaling those below to continue. Little Phoenix didn't move again. He nestled in Xingyi's hair, feeling very comfortable. He hung onto the top of his head like this and looked down, his pair of small beady eyes darting around everywhere.
With this look, he actually spotted an old acquaintance—Phoenix Ming Zun from Fan Tian, who had always disliked him.
In terms of cultivation, none of the Ming Kings or Ming Zuns could compare to Xingyi. However, since Xingyi had been dragged out from behind the scenes by the immortals, he now followed the Heavenly Court's unified organization, and his rank was equal to theirs.
Most likely he had come to complain about him.
Little Phoenix quickly shrank back.
He nestled steadily like this on top of Xingyi's head, along with that flower—one red, one white, very eye-catching. The crowd below held back their laughter while desperately enduring and not daring to laugh. This truly was a scene only immortals could witness—Xingyi's expression remained normal, as if unaware that a little fat bird was crouched on top of his head with a bright red flower inserted there.
The court session gradually came to an end. The people below finally couldn't hold back and excitedly discussed. "It's over, it's over. We really are going to have an Empress. For tens of thousands of years, have any of you seen anyone dare to touch the top of His Majesty's head?"
Someone also asked, "Then why doesn't our future Empress transform into human form to come out and meet us?"
"Would His Majesty be so absurd! His Majesty is such a person who emphasizes propriety and decorum—how could he bring someone to court to be lovey-dovey? You're so dense. It must be that the sparrow spirit pestered him desperately to come, so His Majesty reluctantly allowed him to come in bird form."
Phoenix Ming Zun, listening from the side, silently rolled his eyes.
Although opinions varied, watching Xingyi's calm-as-water expression and the smug, round little fat bird on top of his head, everyone quickly reached consensus on one aspect: although Xingyi wasn't quite absurd yet, he probably wasn't far from it.
The rumors were indeed correct—this little fat bird was the demon disrupting court affairs.
