Qingfu, who barely survived Jiuxiang’s tirade, resumed her domestic duties under Tianhan’s gaze and went to fill his bathwater. When she put down a steaming pan of water in front of him, his expression changed as he looked at her oddly.
Qingfu swallowed with difficulty.
What did she do now?
She bowed. “Please enjoy.”
“You . . .” Tianhan seemed to consider his words as he continued. “You’re really here to be my mount?”
. . . No, I’m here to be your bride.
She couldn’t say that without having thick skin like Wuzui and Jiuxiang, so she could only say it in her mind, and then nodded. “Of course I am.”
“Then why are you doing the things a maid does?”
Did he not appreciate her work? Was he mocking her? Qingfu felt like he was, and her stone heart squeezed as her face paled. She lowered her face without replying.
Tianhan looked as if he realized how rude he seemed. He coughed and said, “I don’t need bathwater. It is not a habit of mine.”
What?
Qingfu opened her eyes wide.
Tianhan didn’t seem to understand how odd his statement sounded. He still had the same serene expression.
Qingfu quirked her nose and tried to smell anything.
The wind outside the window flirted with the gauze curtains, and she could smell a scent of peach blossoms from him. He didn’t seem like someone who didn’t bathe . . .
Qingfu felt as if she needed to clarify or she would be sick obsessing over it. “I have something I need to ask your majesty . . .”
Seeing her cautious face, Tianhan raised his brow. “Go ahead.”
“Your majesty, how is it that you do not bathe and still smell this good?”
“. . .”
He always considered himself to be patient and having a good personality, but he wasn’t okay with how often his mood was controlled by Qingfu today. His face darkened as he coughed and tried to control his temper. He said, “I just said it’s not a habit of mine; I didn’t say I don’t bathe at all.”
Before Qingfu could say anything, he continued. “If there’s nothing else, you’re dismissed. I need to rest.”
“Oh . . .” Qingfu nodded. As she was about to turn, she saw the wash pan. “I have something else . . .”
Tianhan’s temple was pulsing. “Speak.”
“If you don’t need this bathwater, may I take it?”
Her embarra.s.sment was obvious and it annoyed Tianhan, who sighed. “You can go.”
Qingfu was overjoyed that she didn’t need to fetch more bathwater. She cheered as she carried the water back to her room.
Tianhan felt that her constant switching of moods, with sadness one minute and elation the next, was very puzzling.
She constantly bothered him, yet never gave up despite repeated rejections. She really was tough.
Group training for the fairies was the next day, and would mostly be about increasing communication between the realms and making relationships harmonious, etc. Qingfu napped through it all, and woke up when Lotus Flower Fairy was giving closing remarks. She was about to get up and go when it was announced, “There’s more news.”
Qingfu sat back down.
“There’re sixty apprentice fairies but only thirty-one major fairies. Due to the demand, the Heavenly Emperor and various majesties decided to hold a screening in three months, where we will eliminate twenty-nine apprentice fairies, while the remaining thirty-one apprentice fairies can sign the contract with the major fairies and become their mounts.”
After the announcement, there was anxiety and happiness among the group. The anxious ones included Qingfu, who was among the ones who could be eliminated.
JIuxiang patted her. “There’s a long way to go. I can’t help you either; it’s all up to you now. You can do it!”
Qingfu looked despondent. “Why do we need this screening?”
Jiuxiang sighed and was about to say something else when she noticed someone behind her. She quickly fled. Qingfu turned around and saw Tianhan next to her. She stood up and called, “Fairy Lord Tianhan . . .”
He nodded. “You heard the news. I have thought of some specialized training to prevent you from embarra.s.sing me. You have to start training now, and don’t be lazy.”
“. . .” Qingfu sighed. “I know.”