Dong Hua and Feng Jiu woke up upon hearing little Gun Gun baby talk. "Good morning son." Little Gun Gun sweetly smiled at his parents. "He's such a happy baby. He has your smile Dong Hua" Feng Jiu sweetly said. "Come Gun Gun is time for you feeding and then your father will give you a bath."

Feng Jiu and Dong Hua took care of little Gun Gun like they always do. After his bath, Dong Hua placed him back to his crib and placed a strong protective shield over him. "Be a good baby and rest for a while, we'll be back later on for play time." Dong Hua told his son, little Gun Gun cooed back to his father as his response. Dong Hua chuckled to hear him talking to him this way. "Yes, son don't worry we won't take long" Dong Hua tenderly replied.

Feng Jiu was mentally preparing for their departure with Yan Chiwu. Dong Hua was quiet during their travel. Yan Chiwu didn't dare to say a word either. The three of them traveled in absolute silence. Once they arrived to the secluded location where Ji Heng was held, Yan Chiwu opened the security shield for them to enter. Lord Xu Fang greeted them. "Dijun, Dihou" they just nodded back to him. "Take us to her" Dong Hua finally said.

"Right this way." Yan Chiwu proceeded to guide them.

Lord Xu Fang stopped them at the courtyard entrance. "Dijun, may you please remember her father's plea with your Lordship." Dong Hua said nothing; he gave Xu Fang a deadly cold stare. Xu Fang understood and moved out of the way.

Ji Heng upon seeing Dong Hua entering her room got to her knees immediately. Feng Jiu swiftly followed behind him. Ji Heng was annoyed to see Feng Jiu accompanying Dong Hua. "Ji Heng formally greets his Lordship Dong Hua Dijun, and his Dihou her Highness Queen Bai Feng Jiu" Ji Heng nervously said.

Yan Chiwu stood there blankly watching her. Feng Jiu noticed that Ji Heng didn't regarded Xiao Yan presence. "Aren't you going to greet your lord husband princess Ji Heng? After all that is proper protocol." Feng Jiu ironically asked.

"Of course, lord husband welcome back." Ji Heng simply said without lifting her head, she remained kneeling down. There was a lump on her throat. She was nervous and already aggravated.

Feng Jiu sensed her displeasure. "Princess Ji Heng, we meet again." Feng Jiu said. "The last time we saw each other I clearly remember that you were strictly forbidden to step out of your territory. You disappeared from the demon lands for a long time. A search was commissioned to find your whereabouts. It was a decree that it was passed as a preventative measure from waging a war with your kingdom since we are now allying thru a peace treaty. Unfortunately, my words were not respected and your defiant actions contributed to the latest war on my domain. Were my words simply passed wind to your ears?" Feng Jiu carefully stated.

"Oh, no...your highness...I mean... Dihou. Of course not." Ji Heng stuttered trying to contain her irritation.

"Then why you disobeyed my imperial decree?" Feng Jiu unsympathetically questioned her.

"I.... was... misled by Lord Nie Chuyin to bond with Miao Lou... I never thought that it was going to be threat to others. Then after that I was hold as her prisoner on a cave. I wasn't aware of what happened afterwards." Ji Heng answered defending herself.

Lord Xu Fang spoke this time. "I can attest to this your highnesses since I lead her rescue and was able to break her bond from Miao Lou."

Feng Jiu ignored Xu Fang statement. "Misled you say? If that was the case, being a princess, you should have used a better judgement before you decided to allied yourself with a dangerous individual like Miao Lou. What were your real motives to form such bond?" Feng Jiu continued with her interrogation.

Ji Heng was hesitating to answer. She cautiously gazed at Dong Hua direction.

"Hmmm I see... your fixation with lord husband Dong Hua Dijun. With the opinions of others, exterior influences, and personal insecurities, it's easy to simply give in and pursue something unattainable. A suitable marriage was provided to you to benefit the inner conflicts of your clans. Was Demon Lord Yan Chiwu not enough for you?"

"Why will I settle for less of what I deserve?" Ji Heng irately answered.

"Settle for less you say? So, according to your statement what do you deserve then Princess Ji Heng?" Feng Jiu glared at her not backing down.

"I deserve to be at Dijun's side." Ji Heng finally said. Earning a disapproval glare from her adoptive brother and Yan Chiwu. "" Yan Chiwu shouted.

"My father made Dijun promised that he will look after me. I spent many years serving him, gaining his trust and affection. With the hope that one day he was going to marry me. Instead, you came along and seduced him with your fox charms and worked your way to his bed." Ji Heng seethed.

"Presumptuous!!! Ji Heng mind your manners. Don't forget who are you talking to!" Xu Feng furiously admonished her.

"Lord Xu Feng let her finish." Feng Jiu serenely said. Dong Hua was silently listening in disgust.

"Nobody knows Dijun like I do. I know how he likes his tea plus we share mutual interests. I made it my mission to learn every of his favorite topics to maintain an intellectual conversation with him. We spend many nights together sharing our precious time. I got very familiar with his daily routine and assisted him in his palace duties. When you were merely a maid in his palace you didn't fooled me. I knew that you wanted to be with him. You were a laughing stock with your insolence, impertinence and clumsiness. Using 'kindness' as an excuse to get closer to him. You are only a novelty to him, a hobby. He'll get bored of you and will threw you aside and move on. You think you have the qualities to be his Dihou? I'm better than you Bai Feng Jiu!!!" Ji Heng explosively said to Feng Jiu.

"Ji Heng!!! How you have the audacity to compare yourself to her highness?" Yan Chiwu came to his sister defense. "It's sad for me to admit this, but you fall too short, you don't even come close to reach her ankles. Contrary to her you didn't cared about your status, your brother efforts to save you or our people. We worked hard to resolve all of the inner conflicts within our clans to finally have some type of working accord. While you were unreasoning with your fascination fell deeper into a trap that endangered the lives of our people and others not fulfilling your role as princess of our demon clan. Her highness worked hard to avoid a war and when the war was in full force, she was willing to sacrifice her own life to end the same war that you contributed. You are selfish, you only think of yourself. Her highness is a true empress and queen, placing the lives of her subjects first, for the safety of universal peace! Where is your honor? Do you any?

Ji Heng, you uncaringly and wittingly rejected and trampled over my feelings and good intentions; causing innocent people to die over your egotistical desire to obtain something that never belonged to you. I value honest and authentic relationships. And you endangered an important one to me. Your beauty, good appearance and manners are just an illusion that only hides the root of your evil heart. I loved you Ji Heng, but you failed to see it because you're blind with your malicious intents. For a demon I even find that revolting." Yan Chiwu interjected.

"Ji Heng, we gave ample time to reflect on your wrongdoings and this is how you repay our efforts to keep you alive? Your father will be extremely disappointed at you." Xu Fang indignantly said.

"At least I'm true to myself. I only wanted Dijun's love and if I have to pay with my life, so be it." Ji Heng answered.

"It saddens me very much to see how you do not value your husband efforts. You have wasted your time in your disgust against me that you cannot see the good qualities that he has. Lord Yan Chiwu, humiliated himself for you, interceding on your behalf risking his life, his honor and his aptitude for someone who does not deserve it.

One can distinguish two types of faults: the first one is simply the fact that one is guilty of doing something, and the second type refers to seeing or projecting one's mistakes, while not knowing what to do about them or refusing to correct them. Repentance is the clear recognition of our unskillful actions done intentionally or unmindfully through our body, speech and mind, which are the results of our lack of compassion and wisdom, originating from our attachment, aversion and delusion. You refuse to repent from your evil actions Ji Heng. As Qing Qui Queen I have the right to exert justice on behalf of my subjects. Many of them lost their lives before the war began by the hand of unscrupulous individuals who saw them as profit instead of sentient beings. You purposely alienated with the mastermind behind this carnage, because of your insolent obsessions. Innocent blood was shed without regards thanks to you, their blood cry out for justice. Soon your trial will be held and you will receive your sentence. There is nothing I can do for you Ji Heng." Feng Jiu concluded.

"I don't need nothing from you Bai Feng Jiu!!!!" Ji Heng shouted back.

Dong Hua was mad at this point seeing her bearing. "Some trees are large and some are small. Some trees have fruit that is obvious, tasty, and large; and some do not. Some trees are just in the form of seeds and have barely moved beyond germination—but they are still trees. The point is, there needs to be, at some level, even at the most basic level, some remorse for the malicious actions that you committed. That remorse will be at different levels for different persons and for different sins, but it must be there for everyone. You are full of hatred and your fruit is rotten. I deeply regret taking you under my wing. If I invested my time in you Ji Heng was to comply with the promise I gave to your father. Nothing more." Dong Hua spoke.

Ji Heng produced her father dragon scale. "Honor him Dijun, please fulfill my father's promise!!! In honor of my father's name and memory, I beg you to divorce your wife and marry me instead." Ji Heng supplicated to him.

"You can't tell me what to do or how I fulfill his promise, Ji Heng. Your father will be awfully disappointed to see his daughter act this rudely. He was truly an honorable man. I never gave you any hope that you will ever be my Dihou. I provided the means for you to grow decently, not to become bitter and vicious. I despise people who cling to me and seek for me to grant their wishes as if I were a fairy godmother. May I remind you who I am!!!" Dong Hua glared at her furious.

"Dijun please don't be so coldheartedly. I did all of this out of my love for you. Take me as your side consort, I won't disappoint you. Can you reconsider?" Ji Heng continued with her melodrama.

"Your insolence has no bounds. Don't speak to me about love when all you did was hurting others out mere choice. Your words and actions lack humility and sincerity. You have gravely shamed your father's name. You have proved to be unworthy of a lesser penance with your obstinacy and stubbornness. You haven't reflected on the responsibility for everything that you did showing your ignorance and self-centeredness. You haven't reflected on the real motivation of your actions harming other people, ripening negative karma within yourself. You refuse to change and accept your wrongdoings. You need to do a reality check and see if everything that you did was lawful. Instead, you are entombing yourself for eternal damnation.

As for my Dihou, the only woman that I will share my life with. The only one worthy to be my empress. She is the love of my life, my partner, my equal, my shield and lifeline. When she speaks, her words are reinforced by me, so when her words are disregarded, I'm unheeded as well. Her authority as queen is supported by me. You have tainted her image, employed ways to kill her, interfered in her mortal trial and disrespected her in front of me just now inferring that she's not treasured in my eyes. You think so high of yourself, but you are not worthy to be a princess or even a demon!" Dong Hua heatedly said.

"Ji Heng, try to transform the lack of self-confidence, ignorance and mental "paralysis" with repentance, purification, equanimity, sincerity, reality check with others and wisdom." Yan Chiwu suggested.

"Are we done here?" Dong Hua frustratingly asked.

"We are husband, let's leave." Feng Jiu placed her hand on his shoulder to calm his mood.

"NO, please, wait." Ji Heng shouted. "I know I deserve death as capital punishment for everything I've done. I cannot justify myself more. I only ask that you to consider that I was a victim, and was manipulated to commit these atrocities. Although I have truthfully expressed everything that I feel, I know that I'm reaping what I sowed and for that I am willing to accept my condemnation, but do not vent your anger against our people or clans."

Feng Jiu turned around and looked at Ji Heng pitifully. "Finally, some words of reasoning! We will pass your message to the confederation. Don't worry I will not act unjustly towards the demon clans. We are allies and not enemies. is the only thing I can guarantee you." Feng Jiu turned around and left her room.

"Was she worth it Xiao Yan?" Feng Jiu asked him. Yan Chiwu lowered his head in defeat, he sighed hard. Feng Jiu sensed her brother's pain. "We've tried for you Xiao Yan" She padded his shoulder to comfort him.

"Jiu'er let's go, Gun Gun is waiting for us." Dong Hua interrupted their moment.

"We'll see you soon Xiao Yan, take care. Lord Xu Fang, please bring your sister to Kun Lun Mountain next week."

"We'll do Dihou. Have a safe trip." Lord Xu Fang escorted them out.

Dong Hua and Feng Jiu arrived at Tai Chen safely. "I'll check on Gun Gun." Dong Hua said.

"Are you hungry? I can fix something quick for you?"

"Not hungry, I just want to spend time with Gun Gun."

"All right. I will read the reports that are piling up from last week."

"Don't strain too much. I'll get you when is time for the baby's feeding."

"Okay." Feng Jiu went to the study and decided to read the reports in the garden. Her feline companion noticed her distressed state. He carefully approached her. "Lier, am I interrupting you?"

"Oh, hi. I'm just catching up with Qing Qui's reports. Since Gun Gun's birth I've been busy."

"I understand how it is; I won't interrupt you then. If you don't want to talk that is okay. Please don't mind my company."

"I don't mind it at all."

He stayed near by admiring her beauty and her multi-satirical capabilities. Feng Jiu opened a portal to communicate with Migu and get updated information about Qin Qui's development. Carefully planning her work agenda. Time passed it was already midafternoon when Dong Hua came to get her. He too was admiring how capable his little fox has managed to schedule her work around her mother responsibilities. She was a hard-working young queen.

"Migu don't forget to let me now the crops progress. It's important that everything is counted for. Did you send the shipments to the remote villages? If so, I need to know if they safely arrived. Also, we need to appoint someone to look after our silk production. This takes priority. I will ask grandfather to see if he already has someone in mind. Furthermore, we need to plan another trip to our region to oversee Qing Qui's advance. I will let Dijun know so we can discuss this with grandfather and coordinate the trip. Ah Migu, don't forget to send someone to father's shrine and clean it regularly. Send some fresh offerings there please. Thank you Migu that will be all for now." Feng Jiu closed her meeting portal with Migu and began adding those tasks to her agenda.

"Little fox, looks like you need a break." Dong Hua regarded her.

"There is so much work that needs to be done Dong Hua. We need to take time to discuss these things." Dong Hua waved his hand and all of her paperwork disappeared from the table. "Ah Dong Hua?" Feng Jiu furrowed her brows confused.

"I fed the baby with the milk that you previously pumped out and gave him a bath. After reading a bedtime story, he's peacefully resting in his room."

"Thank you, husband. I was waiting on you to get me, I guess I didn't notice his feeding time."

"You look like you're going to pass out. Even your feline companion is asleep. You need to rest from all this Jiu'er. You're not eating as you should and not getting enough sleep. Do I need to confine you so you can rest?" Dong Hua raised his brow to her and gazed her sternly.

"Husband please don't be mad at me. I have a lot in plate lately." Feng Jiu cutely pouted.

"I understand little fox. But is my job to make sure that my wife is taken care of. I'm here for you too."

"We are still adjusting to parenthood Dong Hua. We knew it was going to be challenging. So far, I think we are doing fine. Gun Gun demands too much time from us, he's still a baby. I appreciate you helping me."

"He's my son too. But I can't deny the fact that you've been stressed lately. You are a responsible queen, a devoted wife and mother. I admire your disposition of continuing fulfilling your royal duties while taking care of our son, but you need to pay more attention to taking care of yourself too Jiu'er to evade a meltdown. I need my little fox content and steady."

Feng Jiu sensed his unmet need. "I know Dong Hua. I'm grateful to have such a doting husband, please forgive me if I neglected your needs too." Feng Jiu got up and hugged him.

Dong Hua smiled at her. Her worry to displease him always baffled him "I understand your predicament little fox, do not worry. It will take some time for us to transition to our previous routine. We have Gun Gun now and is natural and expected that he takes priority in our relationship as he's dependent of us. How about if we spend some alone time to watch the sunset, would you like that?"