Chapter 71: A Fairy Descends from the Heavens

“Father, Brother, he’s so pitiful! Please don’t torment him anymore. Just let him go, won’t you?” At this moment, Quan Pearl finally saw the wretched state of the servant Sun Ze and was moved to compassion, unable to help but plead on his behalf.

“Alright.” His precious darling had spoken; Lu Hu could not bear to go against her wishes.

Quan Dounan was so angry he nearly slapped the foolish girl.

But when the Divine speaks, his words are as good as gold—once declared, nothing can be changed.

“Oh, merciful goddess, you are my reborn mother, my savior, my benefactress! I will never forget your kindness, not in this life nor the next!” Overwhelmed with relief at his life being spared, the servant Sun Ze wept tears of gratitude, unable to stop thanking Quan Pearl.

This beautiful girl was so kind-hearted; he truly was a wretch for ever having thought to harm her. After all the suffering he’d endured, he felt he deserved every bit.

Lu Hu wrinkled his nose in disgust. “Yakeshi, have his head and foot stocks removed, but put heavy shackles on his feet.”

“Troublemaker.”

“Let him stay here and clean the Eagle Tent every day.” Lu Hu didn’t even bother to speak directly to Sun Ze.

Turning to the White-Headed Eagle King, he said, “Brother, let this villain be a toy for the children. Keep him alive—I may have use for him later. Don’t let him die or escape.”

“As you wish, Divine One, rest assured!” the Eagle King replied.

Bidding farewell to the Eagle King, Lu Hu sent everyone back to their tents to rest.

“I want to sleep with my brother,” Quan Pearl said, hugging Little White and leaning against Lu Hu, pouting at her parents as they were about to return to their tent. She didn’t want to leave her beloved brother for even a moment.

This child was too willful and did as she pleased.

It was one thing to play together, but when it came to the royal marriage of a daughter, it was unthinkable not to hold a grand ceremony. Both custom and feeling demanded it.

Quan Dounan was so angry his head felt ready to explode.

“Your Divine Brother is very busy—don’t trouble him. Go sleep with your sister,” Little Guanyin tried to persuade her daughter, not wanting to marry her off silently and without ceremony.

“No, I want Sister to sleep with Brother too.” Deeply attached to her sister, Quan Pearl was never one to keep happiness to herself; she wanted to share it with her sibling.

“You—” Quan Dounan almost spat blood.

At this point, Little Guanyin could not say more. Their whole family’s lives were owed to this man; even her daughters’ chastity had been preserved by him.

If not for the Divine’s intervention, who knows what might have become of her two budding daughters at the hands of that old beast.

That lecherous old brute was ruthless; he might even have set his sights on her as well…

To make a fuss now would be ungrateful. It wasn’t worth offending the Divine over such trifles.

She looked at Lu Hu, her meaning clear: Let the Divine decide.

Lu Hu scratched his head, at a bit of a loss.

A heavenly beauty had fallen into his arms, asking him to take her away—what man could refuse such a blessing?

But these two sisters were still young, not yet of age by the standards of his previous life—especially Quan Pearl, who had likely not even finished developing.

Since he was seen by all as a Divine being, he had to maintain his reputation and image. To behave like the servant Sun Ze, harming innocent girls, would be beneath him.

Her father was full of reluctance, her mother’s face clouded with worry and sympathy for her daughter.

Quan Meiyu kept her head bowed, stealing glances at him when she thought no one noticed.

So, she was the shy, reserved type!

He needed a solution that would please everyone and harm none. “Yakeshi, bring my two beloved sisters’ beds into my tent and place them in the center. I’ll sleep on my own bed, with a screen drawn between us.”

“Troublemaker!” Yakeshi waved his hand and led several guards to carry out the order.

Quan Dounan and Little Guanyin both breathed a sigh of relief.

And to put them further at ease: “Kexi, move Mali Hong and Zhu Xiaoying’s beds into the tent as well, place them by the entrance, and draw a screen between their beds and my sisters’ beds.”

“Troublemaker!” Yakeshi responded as he bustled out with the others.

Smiles broke out on the faces of Quan Dounan and Little Guanyin.

They were familiar with the inside of Lu Hu’s tent; his tiger-skin bed took up only a small space at the back. His two precious daughters would sleep in the middle, the serving girls at the front, who would also help care for the sisters.

Although everyone slept in the same tent, they weren’t sharing a bed. If something unspeakable happened, that was the Divine’s business. Outwardly, it was proper; as for what happened inside, that was beyond their control.

A perfect solution—thoughtful in every way!

The couple happily bid farewell and left.

Quan Pearl was delighted, already plotting in her heart.

Quan Meiyu was filled with happiness at being able to stay so close to the one she loved.

Inside the grand tent—

Lu Hu’s bed was already made, while Mali Hong and Zhu Xiaoying were adding water to the bath. Seeing the three come in so intimately, they couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

But what use was envy? No matter how outstanding they were, the Divine would never choose them. Alas, such is the fate of the humble-born; they could never compare to the highborn.

Without betraying their feelings, they continued their chores.

Yakeshi directed the guards to bring in the beds and screens, arranging everything as ordered.

Now Mali Hong and Zhu Xiaoying were overjoyed: finally, they could sleep in the grand tent with the Divine, thanks to the Quan sisters! They shouldn’t have wasted time being jealous before.

They resolved to serve the two leading ladies with extra care. If the mistress was happy, the Divine would be happy too—who knew, perhaps one day their own status might rise.

To be the Divine’s favored concubine—what could be sweeter?

Each indulged in her own daydreams as they quickly laid out bedding for the Quan sisters.

Lu Hu sat on his bed, Quan Pearl lounging lazily in his arms, playing with Little White, who was scampering across the covers.

Quan Meiyu, her face flushed with shyness, knelt on the ground feeding Hua Hua grass.

Lu Hu occasionally sneaked glances at her slender waist and perfectly rounded hips.

Utterly enchanting…

“Divine Master, it’s time for your bath.” Mali Hong and Zhu Xiaoying, having finished making the beds, came to offer a pre-bedtime bath.

“Oh, by the way, Hong, do we have another bath basin? Set one up for my two sisters as well,” Lu Hu said, worried that Quan Pearl might ask to bathe with him.

If she did, he would have a hard time refusing. And if they did bathe together, he doubted he could restrain himself.

He had little faith in his own self-control these days.

“Yes, there’s a spare large tub in the storeroom,” Zhu Xiaoying replied, eager to serve the Divine but not keen to bathe the sisters together with him.

“Go fetch it for my sisters, fill it with hot water, and let them have a bath too.”

“Troublemaker!” Mali Hong and Zhu Xiaoying hurried off at a run.

“Brother, who will Little White sleep with tonight?” Quan Pearl didn’t press for more; after all, a little girl has her own sense of shyness.

She just wanted to be close to her brother—that was enough. As for anything else, such thoughts had never even crossed her innocent mind…