Bibi Dong's Private Palace
Bibi Dong carried the sleeping Xue Li into her private palace.
His peaceful face softened her expression again, and she couldn't help but smile. After instructing a servant to prepare rice porridge for dinner, she brought Xue Li to her own chamber.
She gently laid him on her bed and sat beside him, watching his sleeping face.
Her eyes softened in a way that resembled a mother gazing at her beloved child.
After a short nap, Xue Li slowly opened his eyes and found Bibi Dong sitting next to him.
She greeted him with a gentle smile.
Xue Li: "Grrr…"
Bibi Dong: "Oh? Are you wondering who I am? Smile I will be your teacher from today."
Xue Li: "Grrr…"
Bibi Dong: "And perhaps you're curious where you are? Smile. Starting today, this will be your room."
Of course, Xue Li didn't understand a single word—he had never been taught human language.
Bibi Dong simply assumed his reactions, talking to him the same way a mother speaks to her baby.
Palace Kitchen
The kitchen was in chaos.
The maids who had returned from the market were chattering nonstop about the "little princess."
Some insisted she must be a princess from Star Luo or Heaven Dou.
But those who actually saw Xue Li argued that her beauty was far beyond anything human.
"She's a holy maiden descending from heaven!" one maid whispered dramatically.
Ye Lan: "Ahem! Enough gossip! It's time to prepare Her Majesty's dinner!"
Xiao Yi: "Head maid… Her Majesty only ordered rice porridge tonight."
Ye Lan: "Shock. Why?! Does Her Majesty dislike our cooking now?!"
Xiao Ke: "P-please calm down! That's not it!"
Xiao Yi: "I saw Her Majesty carrying a little girl when she summoned us. I think the porridge is for her!"
Xiao Ke: "Yes! I saw her too! Well… only her foot, but listen—"
Others: "What?! Just speak quickly!"
Xiao Ke: "Fufu! Even her foot was extremely white and smooth!"
Others: "…"
Ye Lan: "Xiao Ke! I will cut your wage this month!"
Xiao Ke: "Eh?! Why?!"
Back in the Chamber
Bibi Dong carefully examined Xue Li's body to check for injuries.
She found nothing wrong—except for one thing.
Bibi Dong (internal):
(Eh? What is this… strange thing? Do little girls have this? Maybe it disappears when they grow up…?)
Before she realized it, she had pinched the "strange thing," causing Xue Li to yelp in pain.
He slapped her hand and scrambled off the bed, hiding beneath it.
Bibi Dong: "Xue-er! P-please forgive your teacher! I didn't mean to hurt you!
(Ahh, foolish! That thing is her—no, his thing! Eh?!)
Xue-er… are you a boy?!"
Bibi Dong's cheeks flushed bright red at her blunder.
It wasn't that she couldn't recognize it—something inside her simply refused to believe it.
And now she swore she would make Yue Guan pay for this misunderstanding.
She tried calling, coaxing, apologizing… nothing worked.
Of course, Xue Li couldn't understand human language anyway.
Just when she was at a loss, Ye Lan knocked on the door.
Ye Lan: "Your Majesty, dinner is ready."
Bibi Dong allowed her in.
The moment the porridge was placed on the table, Xue Li sniffed the air and slowly crawled out from under the bed.
Bibi Dong: "Xue-er! Hugs him tightly. Please forgive your teacher. I promise I won't hurt you again!"
Ye Lan: "Your Majes—"
Ye Lan had caught a glimpse of Xue Li's beauty from the side.
His beauty was too overwhelming, and she lost her ability to talk.
Bibi Dong instantly kicked her out—if not for Ye Lan's cultivation, she would have collapsed.
After hurried apologies, Ye Lan cleaned the mess and fled the room.
Bibi Dong lifted Xue Li into her lap and fed him the porridge spoon by spoon.
Watching the little boy eat happily, she felt something warm blossom inside her—
—for the first time in her life, she tasted mother's happiness.
Six Months Later — Spirit Hall Academy
Spirit Hall Academy housed over a thousand students.
Among them, a select few were known as the "elite class," consisting of children aged seven to nine with extraordinary talent.
Some even called them the "golden generation."
Among these elites, Qian Renxue and Hu Liena stood out the most.
Xie Yue: "Ahem. My beautiful little sister, you look lovely again today! Is—"
Hu Liena: "Sigh. Shut up, brother. I'm not in the mood."
Xie Yue: "R-right… is it because of 'Teacher'?"
Hu Liena: "Hmph! I'm not mad! But every time I visit Teacher, she tells me to write a daily report then sends me off to Elder Gui Mei for training!
And when I ask questions, she tells me to write them down and says she'll answer tomorrow!
She doesn't treat me like her disciple anymore… sad."
Xie Yue: "Of course she does!"
Hu Liena: "Then explain!"
Xie Yue: "That's… uh…"
Qian Renxue: "Your teacher found herself a new toy.
If she doesn't need you anymore, just find a new teacher, little fox."
Hu Liena: "Turns around, furious. Q-i-a-n R-e-n-x-u-e!!"
Xie Yue: "Sigh. (Here we go again…)"
Palace Garden
Meanwhile, Xue Li was relaxing with Bibi Dong in the palace garden.
Over the past six months, he had learned to speak, read, and write—all taught by Bibi Dong herself.
She had practically become a mother to him, delegating Spirit Hall duties to Gui Mei and Yue Guan so she could focus entirely on Xue Li.
Even when she took him outside for walks, she hid her aura and used an artifact to suppress his beauty—
—but even then, rumors spread.
Some spoke of a goddess wandering the city, others of a hidden princess.
And the shops she visited? Their profits quintupled.
Xue Li: "Teacher, I want the sweet ball."
Bibi Dong: "Ah, you mean an orange? Wait, I'll peel it for you."
To the maids, Xue Li had already become their true princess; Bibi Dong was "second place" in their hearts.
Yue Guan Returns
Yue Guan arrived with arms full of sweets and frilly dresses.
Bibi Dong always scolded him for bringing girl clothes.
But Yue Guan insisted boy clothes were too plain.
And truthfully… she agreed Xue Li looked adorable in them, even if it worried her for the future.
Yue Guan: "Your Majesty, there is an important meeting today regarding the Heaven Dou Empire. We hope you can attend."
Bibi Dong: "Let the elders handle it."
Yue Guan: "Your Majesty… the elders are starting to suspect the 'princess' rumor. They may come to the palace—"
Bibi Dong: "Hmph! Let me see who dares lay a finger on Xue'er."
Yue Guan: "Your Majesty please calm down! No one dares touch Xue'er. They only want confirmation. Please attend, and leave the princess to me.
I swear on my life, no one will harm her!"
Bibi Dong: "Fine. But if anything happens to Xue'er, you'll regret being born."
Yue Guan: "Yes, Your Majesty! (Hehe! Alone time with my little princess!)"
Bibi Dong: "Xue-er, wait here. Teacher will be back before dinner."
Xue Li: "Um. Come back quickly."
Little did she know—she had fallen neatly into Yue Guan's scheme.
He was the one who spread the rumors, and by the time she discover it… it was far too late.
Because his precious disciple had already surpassed even the "Witch Queen."
Yue Guan's Storytime
After Bibi Dong left, Yue Guan happily pulled out one of his favorite storybooks and placed Xue Li on his lap.
Xue Li, still learning to read, stared curiously at the illustrations.
He soon showed interest in the main antagonist.
Yue Guan nearly squealed in delight.
Yue Guan: "Xue'er, do you like Grandpa's story?"
Xue Li: "Un. Why does everyone listen to everything she says?"
Yue Guan (inner fire awakening):
(Yes! It begins! Time to polish my sweet princess!)
"Because everyone loves her!"
Xue Li: "Love?"
Yue Guan: "Love is a mystical thing that dwells in the soul!
It makes people follow you, protect you, hug you, pat you, and never hurt you!
And yes, it's sweeter than your 'sweet ball'!"
Maids (internal panic): (Is that really how you explain 'love'?! We must save our prince!)
Xue Li: "I want love! Guan-ye, give me love! You all too!"
Maids:"Stabbed in the heart. We swear loyalty and love to Princess Xue Li alone!!"
Yue Guan: "Grandpa loved you from the moment we met! I'll love you until death! Hug."
Xue Li: "Good! (I'll ask Teacher for love later!)"
Yue Guan: "But it's not enough!
My princess is destined to be loved by everyone—above and below heaven!"
Xue Li: "Then let's go ask everyone for love!"
Yue Guan: "Please wait! Xue'er can't go to everyone one by one—it's tiring!"
"Grandpa has an easier way…"