"Bai Rui, what a surprise!" Zhe Yan questionably expressed. He knew well that the fox empress what about to stir something up.

"Húlí Huáng Mǔ, to what we have the honor of your presence here?" Zhang Yu asked her.

"I was in the neighborhood and decided to pay you a visit. I haven't seen you guys since the wedding. I hope that things are well with you two. After all we fox women look out for each other." Bai Rui replied to Zhang Yu.

"Thank you for your concern Zhe Yan and I are adapting well."

"I see that. Your interaction with each other shows how strong your bond is. Bai Zhi Dijun will be pleased to know this."

"Surely you didn't come here to spy on me Bai Rui? As you can see, I'm a good husband to Zhang Yu, you don't need to worry about that." Zhe Yan teasingly said.

"Oh Zhe Yan I see that your noxious tongue hasn't been tamed yet." Bai Rui said.

Zhe Yan laughed at her comment. "Old habits die hard your highness. We are brewing our latest's peach wine, but is not ready yet. So you can settle for tea."

"Tea will be fine."

"I will go and prepare a fresh pot for us to enjoy. I'll be right back." Zhang Yu left them alone.

"You took your time to come to see me Bai Rui" Zhe Yan said.

"I don't know what are you talking about Zhe Yan."

"Haaaa!!! You hardly separate from your other half unless he's on an important official business. You came here by yourself so cut the pretense; I can smell your cunningness all over. You can't fool me. I've been around your family long enough to discern your crafty ways. What? Your spy network is not getting the intel that you need?"

"All right Zhe Yan since we know each other for so long, then I want to know a couple of things."

"Suspicion can be a virtue as long as its object is the public good, and as long as it stays within proper bounds. What type of things you want to know?" Zhe Yan untrustworthily asked her.

"Distrust has become the top concern on my list. A climate of suspicion or denunciation is taking hold, gradually destroying the strings of sociability. In the aftermath, every singular person must find out how to reweave the ties of trust and confidence in their relationships tissue. I want to know what is your relation with Xiao Jiu and her children."

"Xiao Jiu is my daughter and her children are my grandchildren as simple as that." Zhe Yan answered.

"Obviously thru your marriage with Zhang Yu. But there is more that meet the eye. You were present in both of Xiao Jiu childbirth. These kittlings are special."

"Of course, they're special, they are Dong Hua's offspring. They are not the typical immortal children. Besides the apparent, what is exactly is your concern about them?"

"Their anomalies are unknown to our family. However, we witnessed a spiritual red flamed phoenix manifested after Qingyan Feng birth. Why a phoenix? I'm curious to know if you have something to do with her lineage." Bai Rui said.

"Rare spiritual manifestations after the birth of powerful immortals are common. Did it ever occurred to you that may be Qingyan father manipulated this to cover up her true primordial spirit? We all know how Dijun personality as a crafty trickster."

"I considered that possibility knowing Dijun overprotective character toward his children. However ..." Bai Rui knew that Zhe Yan will not betray his bond with Dong Hua.

"However what Bai Rui?"

"Never mind old phoenix. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself."

"Listen carefully Bai Rui. I will advise you not to shake Dong Hua's tree leaves. You perfectly know that he is not someone to mess around with. He may be a member of the Bai family thru marriage, but it will be best if you stay out of this. Those are his children with Xiao Jiu and we should respect their family private life. We all have witnessed when he's raging mad. Do you want to risk the peace of all realms because of your distrust? Phoenix, fox, dragon or rock, does it matter to you that much? What is your point to rummage about something that is out of your control? Why did you come to me instead of going to directly to Dijun? If he knew about your intentions, I don't want to even know what he will do to you or Bai Zhi. Is he in with you on this?"

"There is no reason to involve Bai Zhi on my inquiries. Or for you to misuse your glib tongue about this either." Bai Rui responded offended.

"Then stop being curious about it. Do you have a problem with your great grandchildren?"

"Of course not! We love them no matter what."

"Then drop it Bai Rui. Heed my warning and let it go!! Conflict grows out of ignorance and suspicion. Enjoy your great grandchildren while you can and do not create a rift within the family you will regret it at the end." Zhe Yan admonished her.

"Truth is, I'll never know all there is to know about it just as you will never know all there is to know about my real intentions. You think you know our kind well, but we as fox immortals are by nature too complicated to be fully understood. So, we can choose either to approach our fellow beings with suspicion or to approach them with an open mind, a dash of optimism and a great deal of candor. Perhaps today is not a good time to have this type conversation. Please excuse me with Zhang Yu, maybe another day we can comfortably sit and enjoy tea. I shall take my leave."

"As you wish your highness." Zhe Yan sarcastically said. Minutes later Zhang Yu came with a tea tray and some cakes. "Where did Huáng Mǔ go?"

"She left. Maybe another time we can sit and enjoy tea together."

"Cunning grows in deceit at seeing itself discovered, and tries to deceive with truth itself. Are you going to alert Dijun and Xiao Jiu about her motives?"

"I'm not sure yet. It's not my decision to disclose what we have fought so hard to keep at such. Is up to Xiao Jiu if she wants to do the big reveal to the rest of the Bai family. However, I will keep a close watch on her moves just to be aware of it. Let's not waste your cakes and tea, come let's take a break and then we'll continue with the wine batch. Is the tea spiked?"

"All right Zhe Yan. No, is regular tea." Zhang Yu laughed.

Back at Tai Chen Palace

Feng Jiu was laying on top of Dong Hua enjoying the coolness of his body post climax. They were both naked on the floor breathless trying to calm down after their ardent rendezvous. Dong Hua was caressing Feng Jiu's back as he always does. "You unman me little fox. Every time we are together it feels brand new to me."

Feng Jiu giggled. "The same goes for me too. I missed you so much Dong Hua. You know how I get when we haven't been intimate for a while."

"Your prowling seductress side attack my senses and submit them to your will. You are the only being in the universe who can exert this type of control over me."

"Oh but you like it when I'm naughty." Feng Jiu smiled caressing his chest.

"No little fox, I love it. I adore your naughty side. Are you taking contraceptives?"

"Yes I am. Is too soon for me to get pregnant again."

"You don't want more kittlings?"

"I think for now we have our hands full with Gun Gun and Qingyan."

"But you look gorgeous when you are pregnant. Not to mention that you're more.. sensual than normal and even taste better. This pregnancy was different from the first one."

"Don't you like me now being unpregnant?"

Dong Hua lifted her chin. "Your body changed; you are curvier and your breasts are larger than before. You gained more muscle after losing the baby weight. I adore your body little fox it has womanly matured. And every inch of it is mine. You are the pure image of perfection. I want to enjoy it more and more now." Dong Hua seductively told her.

"I'm glad to know that my husband is pleased with me."

"Jiu'er, I love you no matter how you look. You can never be ugly; you are extremely beautiful."

"And you say that you don't know how to say fancy words." Feng Jiu lowered down and rewarded Dong Hua with a mind-blowing treatment. Dong Hua loud moans were music to her ears.

Hours later...

Dong Hua and Feng Jiu were satiated after another love play session of theirs, it was time to pick up their mess, take a bath and check on the children. He took the stronghold down, when they exited the study little Gun Gun and Qingyan Feng were waiting outside with their little arms crossed over looking mad at them. "How come you guys stayed for so long behind closed doors?" Gun Gun asked.

Feng Jiu's cheeks flushed deep red of embarrassment. "Your father and I were busy taking care of things that we forgot about time." Feng Jiu replied.

Little Qingyan pulled Dong Hua robe for him to pick her up. "Qingyan missed di die so much."

Dong Hua picked his precious daughter up. "Is my little princess being good?"

"She's been throwing another one of her tantrums again. Zhong Lin tried to calm her down with no avail, he finally told her that you were in the study with mother for her to be quiet. But when we got here, we couldn't get in. So we decided to wait for you to show up." Gun Gun said.

"Hmm my little princess needs to behave better to not disappoint me. Look at me Qingyan." Dong Hua pulled her little face up to meet his intense black stone eyes.

"But I missed you di die." Qingyan looked at Dong Hua with her brown puppy eyes.

"Do not cry Qingyan. Missing me does not give you an excuse to throw tantrums and disrupt others from their chores. Are you still a baby or have you grown up to be a little girl?" Dong Hua softly but firmly asked her.

"Qingyan is not a baby anymore, I'm a big girl now di die." She responded wiping her tear away.

"Since this is the case then big girls don't throw tantrums anymore, only babies do. Since you are big girl, from now on, you will know that I will be watching you closely to see if my big girl is honoring her word. You don't want to shame your mother and I, do you?"

"No shame is allowed on Tai Chen Palace."

"Because?"

"Because you are Dong Hua Dijun our lord father and master of the universe." Qingyan wittily answered.

"And?"

"Because shame is ugly and I'm your precious princess."

"That's my beautiful big girl. Now go run along with your brother and ask the chef for our dinner, we'll be ready in an hour. Can you do that for us?"

"Yes lord father."

"Now go." Dong Hua told her. Little Qingyan ran with Gun Gun to follow his orders.

"Wow, I'm speechless Dong Hua. When did you had this type of conversations with her?" Feng Jiu asked.

"Every time she spends time with me. I don't waste time with our children Jiu'er; I teach them life lessons even at their tender age. Later on, they will remember what they learned from us. Qingyan Feng is smart and clever, she is like a sponge. Trust me, she asks all type of questions to me and I answer them in a way for her to understand without diluting the importance of what I try to convey to her. She knows what shame is and the consequences of it. She tries to use her charms to manipulate everyone at her will."

"And I wonder where she gets it from?"

"Obviously from you. We still have an hour little fox, come let's take a bath." Dong Hua picked her up and disappeared on his azure mist to their bath chambers.

After all of them ate dinner, Dong Hua put the kids to bed. He read a story to Gun Gun and Feng Jiu spend some girl time with Qingyan.

"Mama, can I ask you something?"

"Yes Qingyan?"

"Can I marry di die when I'm older like you?"

"Qingyan your father is already married to me. You are his precious daughter who he loves so much. I'm his beloved wife and your mother who loves you so much too. When you grow to be like me, you will meet a special someone who would be like your father that you can share your life with, then you can get married to that special person." Feng Jiu explained to her.

Little Qingyan cutely pouted but understood her mother words. "So, in that case, I can't sleep with father anymore?"

"You are a big girl now Qingyan, and big girls sleep in their own room" Feng Jiu replied.

"I promised di die that I will behave, but is going to be hard mama. I will miss di die chest and scent"

"I know Qingyan, but remember your lord father lesson, okay? It will help you curve your urges of misbehaving all right?"

"I'll try mama."

"Let's do this. Here is an incense warmer with your father scent, it will help you sleep better. Little Qingyan deeply inhaled the white sandalwood scent. "Ahhh that is much better mama."

"And here is one of your father favorite robes, but shhhhh keep it a secret between us."

"Wow mama you're the best." Qingyan Feng wrapped herself up with Dong Hua's robe forming a cocoon.

"Now be a good girl and go to sleep." Feng Jiu kissed her little cheek. "I love you sweetheart."

"I love you too mama"

Little Gun Gun fell asleep on Dong Hua's arms like when he was a baby. Dong Hua sensed that his son wanted to be babied too. He sighed admiring his son handsome face remembering the times they had when he was a baby. He waved his hand to seal his primordial spirit. "You be good too Gun Gun. I love you son."

After he placed Gun Gun on his bed, he went to check on Qingyan Feng. He saw her cradled on one of his favorite robes, and saw the incense warmer that he gave his little fox when she asked him for his white sandalwood scent. So many similarities they share. Dong Hua sat on her bed and uncovered her sweet little face. She was puckering her lips and dreaming about sweets and being carried away on his shoulders on fluffy clouds. She cutely smiled feeling content in her dream.

"My sweet little princess, you have such a vivid imagination just like your mother. One day I will make this dream of yours come true. Do not worry, you will always be my princess." Dong Hua sweetly smiled at her and kissed her little forehead. A little blue spark entered her mind to seal her primordial spirit.

Morning time came and Bai Zhi and Bai Rui were at Tai Chen Palace to pick up Gun Gun and Qingyan Feng. Zhong Lin went to the garden terrace to inform Dijun. The family was having breakfast together.

"Dijun, Bai Zhi Dijun and Bai Rui Dihou are here."

"Send them in." Dong Hua said. Qingyan was sitting on Dong Hua's lap eating her porridge. While Gun Gun was being fed by Feng Jiu.

"Such a heartwarming scene!" Bai Zhi said.

Little Gun Gun was happy to see his great grandparents. "Gun Gun greets Bai Zhi Dijun huángjiā zǔfù and Bai Rui Dihou huángjiā zǔmǔ." Little Qingyan Feng seeing his brother greeting their great grandparents followed her brother suit. "Qingyan Feng greets Bai Zhi Dijun huángjiā zǔfù and Bai Rui Dihou huángjiā ."

"Rise. Such great children you both are." Bai Zhi said patting their little heads.

"Dijun, Xiao Jiu. We are here to pick up the kittlings." Bai Rui said.

"Children come here." Feng Jiu called them. "You will be spending a couple of days at Qing Qui with your great grandparents, I want both of you to behave and take care of each other."

"Do not worry mother, I will watch over xiǎo mèimei." Gun Gun said.

"Qingyan you must behave just like you promised us. Okay?" Qingyan eyes were filled with unshed tears looking at her father. Dong Hua heart was aching to see her like this, but he knew it will best if he refrained himself of getting her the attention, she was seeking from him. He cleared his throat, "Remember our conversation precious one, you are representing Tai Chen Palace."

"Yes lord father." Qingyan sobbed not wanting to cry. Dong Hua continued drinking his tea not paying attention to his daughter. He was hurting inside giving her this cold treatment. Feng Jiu was waiting to see how long will he hold on like this.

"Can I get a hug from my lord father before I go?" Little Qingyan Feng asked with a trembling voice. She walked over Dong Hua side and looked at him pitifully extending her little arms for him to hug her. Dong Hua's heart melted upon seeing her emotionally struggling. "Come here my princess." Dong Hua carried her in his strong arms. Feng Jiu smiled seeing him caving in to their daughter charms.

"Look at me Qingyan. I know is going to be hard for you to be away from us for a couple of days, is going to be hard for me too, but we must be brave and endure our little separation. I promise you that when you return, we'll do something special just the two of us. But in order for me to do that you must behave as the big girl that you are." Dong Hua consoled her.

"Pinky promise di die?"

"Pinky promise my princess" Dong Hua wiped her tears away as they sealed their pinky promise. She gave him a soft kiss on his cheek and bravely walked away from him holding Gun Gun hand. Feng Jiu kissed them goodbye as they walked away from Tai Chen Palace with Bai Zhi and Bai Rui. Dong Hua kept staring them.

"Where are we going zǔfù?" Gun Gun asked Bai Zhi.

"We are picking up your cousins Ah Li and Shǎn Liàng." Bai Zhi replied.

Gun Gun widely smiled. "We are going to have so much fun xiǎo mèimei don't you worry. Little Gun Gun comforted his sister.

Once all them were at Qing Qui the children began to play together. Little Qingyan Feng mood progressively changed when her cousin Ah Li started to play with her. She forgot her anxiety and began to mingle with the others, laughing and giggling around. Bai Zhi was having a blast playing with the kids hide and seek. While Bai Rui made them snacks and refreshments. "All right you all is time to take a break come out wherever you are and come have a seat."

"Aww zǔmǔ we were having so much fun." Ah Li complained.

"Don't worry Ah Li you guys have plenty of time to continue playing. When we finish with our break, how about we play another game?" Bai Rui suggested.

"What type of game zǔmǔ?" Ah Li asked.

"Eat first and then we play afterwards. But please clean your hands." Bai Rui told the kids.

"Okay." The kids replied.

After their break was over the children were excited to know what type of game they will be playing now.

"Zǔmǔ please tell us how to play this new game." Shǎn Liàng said.

"I want to see which one of you is the smartest fox. So in order to do that I have hidden several treats around the garden. You will use your fox senses to find them. That means that you have to turn into your fox form in order to play."

"Fox form?" Gun Gun asked.