The Tale of the Lotus Heart

I found myself by his bed, taking care of him without a break, but he was still unconscious and he had been for a week now. Even though I'd successfully ascended to Goddess, I was too busy being worried to celebrate. Peony finished the elixir before I quickly fed it to him. I had to wait a few more days before I began passing a little of my energy to him every day. I slept uncomfortably by his side every night, my hand only left his to spoon him soup or pass him energy. He barely stirred.

"You're going to make yourself sick if you wait for him like this," Peomy warned as I held his hand up to my mouth, waiting for him to open his eyes.

"I can't leave," I answered hoarsely.

"My child!" A dreaded but familiar voice said before I was pushed out of the way and onto the floor.

"Aivi!" Peony said in alarm before a set of familiar hands helped me up. I looked to see Tase. I almost broke down in tears all over again. I buried my head in Tase's chest as the fat tears rolled down my cheeks. Tase pet my head gently before he shushed me.

"There, there..." he muttered to me.

"Great-goddaughter, can you tell me exactly what happened?" The Emperor's voice reached my ears. I sniffled and let go of Tase to drop to my knees in front of Emperor.

"It's all my fault. I was about to go through my trial to goddess. The Crown Prince freaked out and broke through the barrier before taking the strikes for me. He's been this way ever since. Floral Goddess Peony fed him the spirit core remedy and I've been slowly feeding him my internal energy to wake him," I explained. The Emperor helped my to my feet as he sighed.

"Nonsense! Why would my son take the trial for you?" The Empress asked from Yong's bed with tears in her eyes. My hand went to my stomach on reflex. Even though the lightweight dress I was wearing was loose fitting around my stomach, with my hand there, it wasn't hard to tell what was going on.

"Because I'm carrying his child," I answered timidly. "No matter how much I tried to push him off, he wouldn't let go until it was over," I tried to defend myself.

asked with wide eyes. She looked like she would faint at any moment. While the Empress and Emperor tried to process the news, Yong stirred on the bed. He groaned as his eyes scrunched together. He moved slightly

Are you awake?" The

glare at me. She stood face to face with me before her hand began to glow a

Member," she seethed as she raised her glowing hand to me.

mumbled more clearly, causing the Empress to

it, you don't know the whole story yet and you're not in a position to dish out the punishments; that's my job. Act on your own again and I'll be having a different talk with you, Wife," the Emperor said sternly to the Empress. When Yong called me again, I sat back down next to his bedside and rubbed gentle circles in his chest while passing as much Lotus Heart energy as I could as well. He squeezed my

us. He reached his hand up to dry a tear that

told you I wouldn't let anything happen to you," he continued when I didn't

before attempting to sit up. I helped him get to a sitting position before the Emperor held a hand

Father... Mother," Yong greeting them as I stood beside him and

with my child. I wasn't going to risk their lives. And it's not her fault either. I initiated this relationship. The trial was nothing, but I injured myself breaking through the Floral Island barrier beforehand,

well, but I already had plans to marry you to the Fox Clan's Princess Enya," the Empress said. Yong straight out

Empress. I can't stand Enya. Just like you, she's obsessed with the title of Crown Princess and Empress. I can't even have a conversation with her because she's so scared

still remains that Princess Aivi is pregnant out of wedlock. She must still be punished," the

instead then. I pursued Aivi first. In fact, she's been trying to stop me, but I refuse to let Aivi go. I wanted her to have my child. Aivi

The Empress snapped at Yong.