The moonlight was like water, pouring down on the quiet courtyard. Jiaojiao was like a fluffy snowball, curled up comfortably in the arms of Emperor Donghua, and the ambergris in the arms lingered on the tip of her nose. The slender and well-defined fingers of the Emperor shuttled between Jiaojiao's soft and silky hair from time to time, and every time he stroked it, it seemed to carry the magic that could calm the soul.

Emperor Donghua lowered his head slightly, his eyes were gloomy, his thin lips slightly parted, and he was whispering about the mysterious past of the fox spirits in the Three Realms. As he was speaking, Jiaojiao, who had been squinting and dozing off, suddenly opened her round eyes wide, like two clear black gems, and her bright eyes were instantly filled with shock and confusion. A "squeak" sound suddenly rang out, and the shrill voice broke the silence of the night.

It struggled to twist its petite and agile body in Donghua's arms, its pink nose trembling rapidly, and its four claws scratching the emperor's clothes anxiously, trying to convey the turbulent waves in its heart in this way. Those "squeaks" seemed to be telepathic words, which went straight into Donghua's mind and clearly transformed into words: "Why is it a spirit fox now? Is there a nine-tailed spirit fox here?" Donghua Emperor's deep starry eyes suddenly froze, and his long eyelashes trembled violently like crow feathers. On his face, which had always been calm, a trace of surprise flashed for the first time. Then he quickly lowered his head and looked at Jiaojiao, who was very excited in his arms, with his sword-like eyebrows raised high, and there seemed to be a faint light flashing in his eyes. It was obvious that he was in deep thought.

"Okay, stop nagging like that, and put aside all your questions for now." Emperor Donghua frowned slightly, with a hint of impatience on his face. His cold and unquestionable voice was like a chilling fairy wind falling from the sky, abruptly cutting off Jiaojiao's urgent and endless "squeaking" sound like a gurgling stream. He thought to himself, why is this little fox so talkative? Let's deal with it after dinner. After he finished speaking, his slender and powerful arms seemed to be wrapped in the trajectory of the sun, moon and stars, gently and irresistibly embracing Jiaojiao's furry little body. As his sleeves fluttered in the wind, he walked leisurely towards the dining hall.

Stepping into the dining hall with carved beams and painted buildings and a fairy-like atmosphere, one sees a table of delicacies that are like stars shining and rare treasures, exuding an alluring luster and rich fragrance. Emperor Donghua has a cold and indifferent look, and his steps are steady, like lotus flowers blooming, and every step he takes exudes endless majesty and calmness. When he walks to the sandalwood table, he leans over slightly, his posture as elegant as pine and bamboo, and gently places Jiaojiao in his arms on the table that is as warm as jade and radiant.

Then, his eyes, which were as deep as an ancient pool and could see through everything in the world, seemed to have intelligence, and slowly swept across the table full of delicious food. The emperor secretly estimated that these dishes should satisfy the little fox. In a moment, in that stagnant time, his fingers, which were as white as jade and as distinct as finely carved works of art, lightly lifted up, and his chopsticks, like agile fairy feathers, lightly touched the delicacies, and accurately picked up a dish for Jiaojiao that was exquisitely presented and full of alluring fragrance. At the same time, the Emperor's lips, which were as thin as a cicada's wing and seemed to contain endless mysteries, opened slightly, and he spoke in a cold but gentle voice, "Try this. This is carefully cooked by the God of Food with all his strength and magic power. Its exquisiteness is quite suitable for your spiritual power and physique as a fox spirit. I believe it will suit your appetite. Don't let this painstaking effort go to waste."

The plate in front of Jiaojiao was soon filled with all kinds of delicacies by Donghua. The dishes were attractive in color and the aroma was rising, drilling straight into people's noses. Jiaojiao looked at the full plate of dishes and secretly complained in her heart: "Donghua, does he think I'm a glutton?" She sighed helplessly, but could only bury her head in the food. After all, the God of Cookery's cooking skills are unique. Every bite is like a beautiful flower blooming on the taste buds, making people unable to stop.

Donghua looked at Jiaojiao and thought to himself, "This little fox is lively by nature. Although the road to transformation is a challenge for her, it is also a necessary one. There are many uncertainties in the world now. Only by transforming can I better protect her. I just don't know when she will understand my painstaking efforts."

“Don’t be anxious, eat slowly. When you finish this meal, go find a quiet place to sit quietly and prepare for your transformation. You can’t live in the world as a fox forever.” Donghua said calmly and in an unhurried tone.

"Squeak." Jiaojiao responded without raising her head, with food in her mouth. But she kept muttering in her heart: "It's not that easy to transform. I can transform. Besides, if you hadn't turned me into this, how could I be like this? You are really... You are really an unreasonable, hard-hearted old stone who doesn't care about my feelings at all."

"Qingqiu Bai Qian's playmate was thrown back to Qingqiu by Zheyan because she did not distinguish between superiors and subordinates. Little fox, you must not be like her." Emperor Donghua frowned his handsome sword-like eyebrows slightly, with a serious warning in his deep eyes. He gently stroked Jiaojiao's head with his slender and bony hands and said earnestly.

Her bright and lively eyes rolled around, her cheeks puffed up slightly, she secretly complained in her heart, but she resisted the urge to say anything. "Humph, you are really an old immortal, who can decide life and death with just one word. Well, now I am no longer Qingqiu Baiqian's playmate, but the pet of Emperor Donghua, which is not necessarily any better."

Emperor Donghua had a faint smile on his lips, and that smile was like thin ice melting in spring, revealing a hint of playfulness. He used his mind reading ability to see through Jiaojiao's thoughts, but he did not point it out. However, a trace of imperceptible pampering and helplessness flashed across his starry eyes, just like a fleeting shooting star in the night sky, fleeting but real.

Emperor Donghua gently pinched Jiaojiao's little paw, his voice was low but gentle: "You little fox, don't be ungrateful. You are safe and sound by my side, and your cultivation is smooth. How many creatures wish for this." Jiaojiao finally couldn't help but speak, her voice was clear and a little stubborn: "But I don't want to just rely on the Emperor's protection. I also want to have my own abilities and be able to gain a foothold in the world." Emperor Donghua was slightly startled, then smiled and said: "It's good to have such ambition, but you are still young and have a long way to go. Just focus on your training by my side first."

"Isn't it able to speak now? It was still squeaking a few days ago?" Emperor Donghua raised his eyebrows slightly, with a hint of teasing on his face. There seemed to be stars twinkling in his deep eyes, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, staring straight at the little fox in front of him.

The little fox's ears suddenly stood up, as if it was under a spell, and its furry body froze instantly. Then, as if it realized that some big secret was about to be revealed, it quickly covered its mouth with its two small front paws. Its eyes were as big as copper bells, and its pupils were full of panic and helplessness, as if saying: "How is this possible? How can I suddenly speak?" The small body also trembled slightly, and the fluffy tail swayed behind it unconsciously.

"Can I speak now?" Jiaojiao's eyes widened, and his paws moved a little from his mouth, and his voice was filled with a hint of disbelief. He tilted his head slightly, and his ears swayed gently. His eyes were like twinkling stars in the night sky, showing both surprise and fear. His nose kept moving, as if he was sniffing the wonderful changes that had suddenly occurred.

"Why not? I haven't deprived you of your ability to speak." Emperor Donghua folded his arms and looked at Jiaojiao's series of reactions, finding it very funny. A faint curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. The smile was as gentle as the spring breeze, but with a hint of imperceptible doting.

"You old gods are like this, saying this is good or that is good, but you actually don't know what I want." Jiaojiao put down his paw and snorted softly, his words full of dissatisfaction and complaints. His head turned to one side proudly, his ears turned back, his tail swayed gently behind him, as if venting his inner resentment, and every hair seemed to tell of his stubbornness and unwillingness.

"Oh? What do you want?" Emperor Donghua leaned forward gracefully, and the inquiry in his narrow and deep eyes floated like a shadow, locking onto Jiaojiao. At this moment, the breeze gently blew over the flowers outside the palace, and the petals fell like snow. In the quiet courtyard, only the sound of the wind seemed to be whispering. The emperor thought, this little pet is usually well-behaved, but today it seems to have a lot of thoughts hidden. Where did he neglect it? His eyes were as deep as an ancient pond, and there was endless mystery in the silence. He wanted to see through Jiaojiao's heart, but he was also a little worried about hearing an answer he didn't want to face. After all, he had been together for a long time and had developed a different feeling for her. In this seemingly peaceful Taichen Palace, a silent wave is quietly surging.

"I want freedom, you know, freedom." Jiaojiao raised her head fearlessly, looked directly into the eyes of Emperor Donghua, and spoke in a clear and firm voice. In her heart, freedom is a bright star that is out of reach but longed for. She knows that the Emperor is powerful, and as a pet, she can only rely on him, but this controlled life makes her suffocate. Every time she serves the Emperor, she suppresses her desire for freedom. Now it is unbearable, even if it means angering the Emperor. She looks at the birds flying freely under the blue sky outside the palace, and the desire in her heart becomes stronger, as if that is her true home, and this palace with carved beams and painted rafters, at this moment, seems like an exquisite but oppressive cage.

"You said I was your pet, so I am your pet, just like I was once the playmate of Bai Qian in Qingqiu. It was just a thought of the superior." Jiaojiao frowned slightly, with resentment and unwillingness in her words. She remembered that when she was with Bai Qian in Qingqiu, although she was happy, the sense of belonging to her identity was always lingering. Coming to Emperor Donghua, she thought it would be different, but her identity was still defined arbitrarily, which made her feel like a rootless duckweed, without any autonomy. This feeling of powerlessness made her full of resentment. At that time, a few crane calls came from a distance, and the sound echoed in the empty sky, as if mocking her helplessness, and calling her to break through the invisible shackles.

"This is different. As my pet, you have greater rights." Emperor Donghua looked calm, but he was a little unhappy. He felt that what he gave to Jiaojiao was very good. Others would love to have it, but she was so unsatisfied. But he couldn't help but reflect on whether he really understood what Jiaojiao wanted, and whether his favor was just a disguised form of imprisonment. The candlelight in the hall flickered, and the light and shadows swayed on the wall, just like his troubled mood at the moment. Could it be that this seemingly high and mighty Taichen Palace was such an unbearable place of bondage in Jiaojiao's eyes?

"But what's the difference between this and them?" Jiaojiao bit her lower lip stubbornly, with a gleam of unwillingness in her eyes. She thought that the emperor didn't understand the meaning of freedom at all, and those so-called rights were worthless in front of freedom. She longed to fly in the sky like a bird, instead of being trapped in a gorgeous cage, even if it was inlaid with gold and jade. The sky outside the palace gradually darkened, and dark clouds began to gather, as if they were also depressed by her current predicament. In this depressing atmosphere, she became more determined to fight for freedom.

"If you think so, then so be it." Emperor Donghua's eyes darkened slightly, a touch of loss and helplessness quietly surged, and then was instantly restrained by self-control. He sighed secretly, perhaps because he was too strong, and finally there was a gap between him and Jiaojiao. But as an emperor, his dignity made him unable to bow his head, so he could only pretend to be indifferent, maintaining the surface calm, but his heart was entangled and contemplative. As his words fell, a gust of wind suddenly blew, rustling the branches outside the palace, as if sighing helplessly for the two people who were stuck in a deadlock. The tranquility and peace of Taichen Palace in the past was now completely broken by this surging undercurrent.

"I..." Jiaojiao opened her lips slightly, but it seemed as if there was a heavy weight, stopping the unfinished words. In her eyes, complex emotions surged like a tide, and the entanglement and struggle were clearly visible. On the one hand, the desire for freedom was like a prairie fire, burning in her heart. It was the strongest demand in the depths of her soul and could not be easily given up; on the other hand, the long-term protection and pampering of Emperor Donghua was like a fine spider silk, entangling her layer by layer. She knew that her words had touched the bottom line of the emperor, but her inner persistence drove her unwilling to remain silent. In this dilemma, she could only let the unspoken words dissipate in the slightly trembling air.

"Forget it, you should practice well. As my pet, you are the little prince of Taichen Palace. Go and practice after dinner." Emperor Donghua had a handsome face and a stern expression. His deep eyes were calm and indifferent, as if floating down from the distant clouds, without any worldly air. After saying that, he turned around, his sleeves fluttering in the wind, like a god who was isolated from the world, striding towards his bedroom. The back was straight and lonely, and every step seemed to step on the strings of time, giving off a low and sobbing echo, faintly revealing a trace of loneliness and helplessness, just like the brightest star in the night sky, shining brightly, but flickering alone, out of tune with the vast universe around it.

"Xiao Yu, am I a little too much?" Jiao Jiao's eyes were dull, and she followed the direction of Dong Hua's departure until the figure disappeared behind the palaces. Her voice was soft and trembling, like a drifting autumn leaf, whispering in the breeze, full of inner confusion and regret. At this moment, the breeze suddenly blew, gently brushing her face, and a few strands of hair slid down from both sides of her cheeks, dancing in the wind, just like her troubled and chaotic mind at the moment, unable to find a direction to return to.

"Sister, I don't think you're being too much." Xiaoyu responded crisply in Jiaojiao's sea of ​​consciousness. Her voice was like a gurgling stream in the mountains, cheerful and bright, with the innocence and purity of someone who had never experienced the world. That voice was like a ray of light, trying to penetrate the heavy haze that enveloped Jiaojiao's heart, trying to bring a touch of warmth and comfort to her cold and gloomy inner world.

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