It Seems a Little Ambiguous
The man glanced at the sword in Tang Fei’s hand. His eyes were cold, and he curled his lips into a faint smile before answering at an unhurried pace. “I’m Bai Jianzhi, the richest man in Luzhou.”
Tang Fei breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever else, at least the man was human.
He pulled over a chair and sat down in front of him, crossing one leg over the other. “If you’re Bai Jianzhi, then why did you become my crown princess consort, Bai Qianzhi?” he demanded haughtily.
Bai Jianzhi packed the remains he had just picked up into a bag glowing with white light, then replied calmly, “There’s never been anyone named Bai Qianzhi in the Bai family. Marrying you to bring you good fortune was just an excuse to get into the palace and catch the spirit.”
“You’re so powerful. Why not just fly in and catch the woman? Why go to all the trouble of arranging a wedding to bring me good fortune?” Tang Fei said, impatiently tugging at his red wedding robe.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been carried in here wearing women’s clothes.
Bai Jianzhi didn’t answer. He glanced casually out the window at a side hall not far away. “There’s a vicious dog in there. It bites people like us, people with spiritual power.”
“And it won’t bite you if you come in on a wedding palanquin?”
“It probably wouldn’t dare bite the crown princess consort.” Bai Jianzhi rose slowly and put away the bag in his hand. Every movement of his long, slender fingers was as graceful as a handsome young nobleman’s.
Tang Fei was at a loss for words. “Then why not just send one of your men to deal with the dog?”
“They’re afraid of it too,” Bai Jianzhi replied evenly.
Tang Fei lowered his head, pressed his fingers to his temples, and waved a hand. “Forget it. Let’s drop it. I just want to know one thing: if you came to catch a spirit, how did you end up switching our souls?”
With his back to Tang Fei, Bai Jianzhi replied slowly, “It was an accident.”
“An accident? What kind of accident?” Tang Fei sat up straight and slapped the armrest. “No, no. You have to explain everything to me tonight!”
Bai Jianzhi’s hand paused. Lowering his eyes, he said slowly, “That spirit nearly killed you yesterday. I used a little magic to save you, but someone broke the formation halfway through.”
“Who broke it?” Tang Fei asked at once.
A strange flicker crossed Bai Jianzhi’s eyes, but he kept his composure. “You don’t need to concern yourself with that.”
He certainly wasn’t going to tell Tang Fei that yesterday, while opening his heavenly eye and casting a spell to save him, he had caught sight of Tang Fei clutching at his clothes in agony, one shoulder bared, and lost his focus.
“Fine, fine. I won’t concern myself with it. But, Bai Jianzhi, when are you going to switch us back?” Tang Fei folded his arms and raised an eyebrow at him.
At that, Bai Jianzhi walked slowly over and bent down, bringing his face close.
Warm breath brushed Tang Fei’s face. His earlier bravado vanished in an instant, and he stared up at Bai Jianzhi with wide eyes. “You insolent bastard! What are you trying to do to this prince?”
Bai Jianzhi moved closer and closer, until the tips of their noses were almost touching.
Tang Fei’s heart pounded. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He didn’t like this, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to pull away. “Bai Jianzhi, isn’t this a little too intimate…”
Bai Jianzhi’s expression softened. In a gentle, unhurried voice, he said, “If you want to switch back, then don’t speak.”
“O-okay…” Tang Fei stared at him, wide-eyed, suddenly flustered.
Bai Jianzhi raised his long, cool fingers to cup Tang Fei’s cheeks, then gently pressed his forehead to Tang Fei’s.
The moment their foreheads touched, a dazzling blue light flashed. Tang Fei slowly closed his eyes, then jolted. He, the dignified crown prince, seemed to have just been toyed with.
When he opened his eyes again, it was broad daylight.
Tang Fei hurried to his feet and strode to the mirror. Seeing his own handsome face reflected there, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
They were back in their own bodies at last.
Just then, a group of palace maids entered with water and towels and bowed to him. “Your Highness, you’re awake.”
Tang Fei waved a hand. “Where’s the crown princess consort?”
The maid bowed and replied, “Your Highness, you haven’t taken a consort yet.”
Tang Fei glared at her. “What nonsense. I just got married last night.”
The maid crouched down, trembling. “Your Highness, you weren’t married last night.”
Tang Fei was completely baffled. He hurried outside.
The old emperor was delighted to see his son up and about. “My child, you’re really all better! Father Emperor is so happy!”
Tang Fei hurried over with a smile. “Father Emperor, didn’t I have a wedding yesterday to bring me good fortune, with the daughter of the Bai family, the richest family in the land?”
The old emperor smiled. “Silly child, are you confused? The Bai family doesn’t have a daughter, only a son. And now that you’ve been cured, what do you need a wedding for?”
Tang Fei was utterly bewildered. What in the world was going on?
Had it all just been a dream?
He thought for a moment, then quickly asked, “Is the Bai family’s son named Bai Jianzhi?”
The old emperor considered it. “That’s right. I believe that’s his name.”
Tang Fei slowly collected himself. If so, then last night definitely hadn’t been a dream, because he’d never even heard of Bai Jianzhi before.
So there was only one possibility: when Bai Jianzhi had switched their souls back, he had somehow turned back the clock and erased everyone’s memories.
If that was the case, it all made sense.
Just then, the empress hurried over from nearby. “My child, you’ve been talking about a wedding to bring you good fortune all morning. Does that mean you want to take a consort?”
Before Tang Fei could object, the old emperor nodded along. “That’s right, that’s right. Do you want to take a consort, my child?”
Tang Fei was about to refuse. “I…”
The old emperor cut him off. “How about your Mother Empress and I choose a crown princess consort for you?”
“No…” Tang Fei really did want to protest.
The empress cut in too. “Exactly. You’re not a child anymore. It’s time you had someone by your side.”
“Father…” Tang Fei lowered his eyes, propped his head on one hand, and crouched down in exasperation.
The old emperor and empress grew more and more enthusiastic as they talked, and soon made up their minds. “All right, it’s settled.”
Tang Fei crouched off to one side in despair, watching helplessly as Father Emperor and Mother Empress settled the matter of choosing his consort.
He slowly stood up.
Fine. Those two old codgers wouldn’t be able to stir up too much trouble anyway.
Tang Fei was about to head back to his residence when he suddenly remembered the vicious dog Bai Jianzhi had mentioned. He made his way to the side hall Bai Jianzhi had pointed out the day before.
He stopped outside the side hall and knocked.
There was no answer for a long while.
He knocked several more times. When he couldn’t wait any longer, he kicked the door open. Inside, the hall was pitch-dark, and a chill wind swept through it.
Still shaken by what had happened the night before, Tang Fei had no desire to go in. He quickly turned to leave.
But just then, he heard a dog bark.
Tang Fei spun around. There was no dog in sight. He cautiously searched the area, but still couldn’t find one.
The dog barked again. “Woof!”
Tang Fei pinpointed where the sound was coming from and quickly looked down at his feet.
A tiny white dog was rubbing against his legs, its little tail wagging.
The little white dog was only about as big as his two fists. It probably hadn’t even been weaned yet.
So this was the vicious dog?
To hell with that vicious dog!
Tang Fei crouched down, scooped the little white dog into his arms, and swaggered away. The corner of his mouth lifted as he muttered, “What’s there to be afraid of, ‘vicious dog’? Turns out it just wanted to be my crown princess consort!”
The little white dog lolled its tongue, looking soft and adorable.