“Hee hee, a gossip lover has a gossip soul, and a gossip lover is a cut above the rest!”
The Little Ginseng Sprite, Luo Ranran, bounced in her true form, cheerfully arriving before Lord Lao and shaking the small, bright red fruit on her head.
“Master, there’s huge gossip in the Heavenly Realm today! It’s shocked everyone, and it’s about Lianjin Xianzun. Do you want to hear it?”
Her milky, childish voice was full of dramatic flair, brimming with the suspenseful tone befitting a true gossip lover.
Lord Lao rubbed his furrowed brow, looked down at Luo Ranran, and spoke with a helpless air.
“Ranran, Lianjin Xianzun’s power is supreme. Even the Jade Emperor must show him deference. Matters concerning him are not something you gossipmongers can casually indulge in!”
The Little Ginseng Sprite immediately pouted, planting her two ginseng rootlets defiantly on her little hips and tilting her head to glare at Lord Lao.
“Master, just one word. Tell me straight, do you want to hear the gossip about Lianjin Xianzun or not?”
Lord Lao: … (ω )
“Er… I do!”
Luo Ranran wore an “I knew it” expression, then giggled as she shook the red fruit on her head.
“Master, we’re both gossipmongers. We don’t just like the gossip; we like to devour every last bit of it. We’re all about being thorough.”
Lord Lao’s face reddened. …Little disciple, why must you speak such blatant truths!
Luo Ranran continued, “So, Master, don’t always pretend to be so old and serious in front of me. I know exactly what you’re thinking. Hee hee, don’t forget, I have the ultimate gossip tool—the Gua Gua System.”
The system, Guagua, having been called out, immediately raised its sycophantic paws and shouted a slogan.
【Ranran is great! Ranran is fierce! Ranran the gossip lover is a cut above the rest! Guagua is crazy for Ranran! Wild for Ranran! Will smash its head against a wall for Ranran!】
Luo Ranran placed her ginseng rootlets behind her back, standing with the air of a worldly master, and gave a reserved nod of her little head.
“Guagua, the dazzling world can be blinding. If you don’t have the strength, don’t show your face!”
Guagua chimed in with a giggle, 【Understood, Ranran.】
Lord Lao: … ( )
Composed and low-key?
He certainly didn’t see any of that!
“Ahem, Ranran, your master is very busy and time is tight. You should hurry up and share the big gossip you got today.”
The meaning was clear: he couldn’t wait to hear the gossip.
Luo Ranran understood. She spread her rootlets in a shrug and said, “Master, it’s strange. I’ve lived in the Heavenly Realm for five hundred years and have never gotten any gossip on Lianjin Xianzun. Hee hee, this is the very first time.”
Lord Lao was filled with emotion.
Wasn’t it the same for him?
Lianjin Xianzun was blessed by fortune, the very embodiment of an immortal’s grace. At only two thousand years old, his cultivation had already broken through to the Heavenly God Realm, making him the most powerful being in the entire Heavenly Realm.
If he so desired, the Jade Emperor’s throne could be his for the taking.
Fortunately, Lianjin Xianzun was aloof and arrogant, with no taste for power or desire. He was solely dedicated to the Dao, single-minded and a loner.
Thus, the Heavenly Realm was spared a power struggle. Although the Jade Emperor and the other immortals were wary of him, they respected him even more.
Admiring the strong—whether in the Heavenly Realm or the mortal world, no one could escape this rule.
Including himself!
At this thought, Lord Lao’s eyes twinkled. He stroked his white beard and urged Luo Ranran on.
“Ranran, stop keeping me in suspense. Keep going, don’t stop!”
Gossip about Lianjin Xianzun was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity, a rare and precious find. How could he possibly miss it?
As a fellow gossipmonger, Luo Ranran understood the heart-scratching curiosity of her audience and immediately told him straight.
“Master, Lianjin Xianzun has descended to the mortal realm to undergo a tribulation.”
“What?” Lord Lao was utterly shocked. “He was perfectly fine. Why would he go to the mortal realm for a tribulation?”
Could it be that pigs were about to fly and iron trees were about to bloom?
Luo Ranran gave a mysterious smile. “Master, I heard from the fairy sisters that Lianjin Xianzun was feeling empty, lonely, and cold, so he specifically went down to the mortal realm to find someone who could cure his loneliness.”
Her tone shifted, and Luo Ranran looked very confused. “Master, what does ’empty, lonely, and cold’ mean?”
The corner of Lord Lao’s mouth twitched, his mind racing.
The next second, he reached out and pinched the Little Ginseng Sprite’s plump, white body, his smile exceptionally benevolent.
“Be good, Ranran. You’re still a child. When you grow up, you’ll know what ’empty, lonely, and cold’ means.”
Luo Ranran pouted, aggrieved. “But, but I’m already five hundred years old.”
How was she small?
A glint flashed in Lord Lao’s eyes. He deftly pulled out a Mustard Seed Space and handed it to Luo Ranran. “Ranran, inside this Dimension is a gift from your master. Keep it safe and don’t lose it.”
Luo Ranran tilted her head, her ginseng face a picture of pure, simple confusion. “Master, why are you suddenly giving me a gift?”
⊙ω⊙!!!
She was confused. Something felt strange, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it!
Lord Lao laughed heartily, his tone gentle and kind. “Ranran, do you want to cultivate a human form?”
Luo Ranran’s eyes lit up. “I do! I dream of cultivating a human form! Master, could it be that you have a way to help me?”
Lord Lao nodded, his smile profound. “Yes, but this method will require you to endure some hardship. Are you willing?”
“For realz or not for realz?”
“For realz!”
“I’m willing, I’m willing! Ranran is willing!”
Thump!
The moment she finished speaking, Luo Ranran was kicked into the mortal realm by a pained (but swift) Lord Lao. Her ginseng face was filled with disbelief!
Lord Lao’s instructions echoed from the void.
“Ranran, enjoy your life in the mortal realm. Remember, do no evil, and perform all good deeds! When you return from the mortal world, your wish will come true!”
Luo Ranran sobbed, cursing just before she lost consciousness, “You rotten old man, you’re so wicked!”
Lord Lao: …
My dear disciple, your master just wants some peace and quiet. You’ve been chattering in my ear for five hundred years. I’ve truly had enough.
Be good and go pester someone else!
Besides, your red thread of fate has appeared!
Tianqi Kingdom.
Imperial City, Qingyang Princess Manor.
“Your Highness, the Princess Consort knows you enjoy citrus fruits and specially ordered a cartload from the south. As soon as they arrived, he had this servant carefully select a basket of the largest and sweetest ones for you to taste.”
Qingyang Princess was dressed in a pale blue brocade dress. Her hair was like ink, her skin fairer than snow, and her demeanor was serene and elegant.
At this moment, she was lounging lazily on a recliner, flipping through a book with one hand while her other hand periodically stroked her protruding belly.
Her beautiful eyes glanced at the citrus fruits in the basket, and she replied faintly, “Mm, just put it on the table.”
Li Momo hurriedly bowed, placing the basket of citrus on the table with a beaming smile.
“Your Highness, the Princess Consort said that if you find these fruits not to your liking, he will immediately have someone buy new ones.”
Qingyang Princess’s expression was placid, showing neither joy nor sorrow. “You may leave! This Princess is tired!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Li Momo’s face was all smiles, but inwardly she was seething with jealousy, wishing she could curse out Qingyang Princess.
Hmph, what’s so great about her? She’s just a princess. What’s the use of acting so high and mighty? She’s just a short-lived ghost anyway.
Soon. The Young Master said that within a month, he’ll make sure this woman ends up as one corpse with two lives. Then, I’ll be the one who rendered great service.
At that time, seeing my hard work and great contribution, the Young Master will surely dote on me.
Heh heh, we’ll have to battle for three hundred rounds then.
After Li Momo left, Qingyang Princess’s confidante, Rong Momo, quickly shut the door, blocking out the cold air from outside.
It was currently the dead of winter, the twelfth lunar month. The world outside was a vast expanse of white, blanketed in snow. She couldn’t let her princess catch a chill.
Fortunately, the room had underfloor heating.
Rong Momo looked at the citrus in the basket and grinned. “Your Highness, the Princess Consort is very thoughtful. These fruits are so large and red; one can tell he went to great lengths to acquire them.”
Qingyang Princess smiled faintly. “Mm, this Princess happens to be thirsty. Momo, peel one for me. You and Meilan and the others can share the rest.”
Meilan, Furong, Mudan, Yulan, and Rong Momo.
These five were Qingyang Princess’s confidantes, loyal to the core and the people she trusted most.
All five were in the room now. Besides Rong Momo, the other four trusted maids were sewing clothes for the baby.
【Don’t eat it! The citrus is poisoned!】
Just then, an anxious, soft, and milky little voice entered Qingyang Princess’s ears, clear as day.