Chapter 2 — Ten Lifetimes of a Fox

Xuan Liet, whatever she says, you believe. She is a mongrel fox, and you are a black fox—how could the two of you ever give birth to a nine-tailed white fox?

Xuan Liet was left entirely speechless by the question. It was true. He was a black fox, and Orchid was a mongrel. Neither of their bloodlines possessed any particular purity, and coupled with their mediocre cultivation realms, the patriarch of the black fox clan had only begrudgingly permitted their union. Otherwise, given his esteemed status as the young master of the black fox clan, how could he have ever lowered himself to marrying a mere mixed-breed fox? His mother’s words stung with humiliation. Just as he opened his mouth to offer a retort, Orchid stepped forward, her expression resolute.

Imperial Princess, what exactly do you mean by those words? Are you implying that only you are permitted to give birth to a nine-tailed white fox, while low-born members of the fox lineage like us are entirely unworthy?

With that, she turned to face Xuan Liet, tears shimmering in her eyes. Young master, someone has seized our child, and yet you stand by in silence while she heaps insults upon us? Let us go before His Majesty the Fox Emperor to seek justice. We shall let him arbitrate this matter and see if there is any righteousness left in this Green Hill.

Xuan Liet looked at Orchid, whose face was drenched in tears, and the lingering shred of doubt in his heart was finally crushed into nothingness. He asked no further questions, instantly raising a hand to crush a jade communication talisman. Scarcely a moment later, a wave of commotion erupted from outside the palace. The Fox Emperor had arrived. Moreover, he had not come alone. Because it happened to be the day of the imperial princess’s confinement, a large gathering of clan elders and relatives had already assembled outside the main hall awaiting news. The disturbance Orchid had created was by no means small, and the clansmen, with their sharp ears perked up, had long since caught the scent of drama. Seeing the young master of the black fox clan summon the Emperor himself, they could no longer restrain their curiosity and surged into the hall in a chaotic wave. In the blink of an eye, the spacious bedchamber was packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could leak through. Xuan Liet and Orchid knelt side by side before the Fox Emperor. Once again, Orchid poured out her grievances, recounting the entire fabricated tale before finally raising a finger to point directly at me, nestled securely within the imperial princess’s embrace. Her voice choked with sobs as she wailed, Your Majesty, this child is the flesh and blood of this lowly servant and the young master. Yet the Imperial Princess, relying solely on her lofty status, has forcibly snatched him away! Not only that, but she has falsely accused this servant of switching her child and now seeks to silence me by murder! I beg Your Majesty to render justice for this servant!

Every gaze in the hall instantly converged upon me, and a cacophony of murmurs broke out on all sides. Cradled safely within my mother’s arms, I was so furious I felt as though I might burst. [This wretched woman is far too skilled at weaving lies! Mother, you must believe me, I am truly your flesh and blood!] Stepping forward, my mother addressed the Fox Emperor directly.

Royal Father, this child is unequivocally mine.

With that, she gently parted the fur on my forehead to reveal the distinct birthmark of the white fox lineage, alongside my infant tails, presenting them to the Emperor as undeniable proof of her truthfulness. The Fox Emperor furrowed his brow deeply upon inspecting them, but before he could utter a word, Orchid chimed in once more.

Does the mere presence of a white fox birthmark automatically signify that the child was birthed by the Imperial Princess? By that logic, would every single white fox bearing a mark in this entire realm be considered the offspring of Her Highness?

Kneeling prostrate upon the cold stone floor, Orchid pleaded with the Fox Emperor: Your Majesty is well aware that this servant’s mother was also a white fox. Does that not mean the blood of the white foxes flows through my veins as well? What is so extraordinary about giving birth to a white fox child?

On the contrary, look at the Imperial Princess. She has consecutively given birth to nine single-tailed earth foxes, living day in and day out enveloped in sorrow, harboring an obsessive yearning for a nine-tailed fox of her own. Now, failing to conceive one herself, the moment she laid eyes on my child, she attempted to pillage him. Where on earth is such tyranny tolerated? Your Majesty, I beg you to uphold justice for me!

The furrow between the Fox Emperor’s brows deepened further. He shifted his gaze toward my mother and said, Ah Yi, what Lan Chi says does possess a degree of logic. Do you possess any other evidence to substantiate that this infant is truly yours?

My mother opened her mouth, but words failed her; she was instantly rendered speechless. The birthmark was undeniably mine, and the tails were likewise mine, yet Orchid had managed to muddy the waters and completely invalidate this evidence with merely a few poisoned phrases. Inside my mother’s embrace, I was so enraged that I kicked my tiny legs repeatedly. [This malicious woman is entirely too adept at fabrication! Mother, what on earth must I do to prove that I am truly your child?] [Where in the heavens is the Heavenly Dao? Show yourself! Did you not promise to assist me? Is this your idea of helping?] Yet the Heavenly Dao had long since departed, and no matter how hoarsely I screamed inside, no other corroborating proof materialized. At that precise juncture, as if having arrived at a grim resolution, my mother bit down hard on her lower lip.

Royal Father, I can actually hear this child speaking. He says he is unequivocally my infant son.

The grand hall fell into an absolute, stunned silence for a single heartbeat, before erupting into a wave of booming, mocking laughter.

It would seem the Imperial Princess has suffered severe trauma during childbirth; her wits are clearly no longer intact.

A newborn fox kit, whose eyes have not even opened yet, is somehow capable of speech? Imperial Princess, if you are going to invent an excuse, you ought to at least fabricate one that possesses a shred of plausibility.

My mother had been born the darling of the heavens, possessing a proud and unyielding temperament that inevitably offended quite a few people within Green Hill. In the past, whenever they lacked a legitimate reason, they would deliberately manufacture pretexts to sneer at her; now, they seized upon this opportunity with unbridled glee, openly mocking her for losing her mind entirely after giving birth. Orchid, however, did not laugh. She slowly rose to her feet, walked toward my mother, and assumed an expression of profound, feigned concern. Imperial Princess, are you quite well?