Chapter 3 — Ten Lifetimes of a Fox

I know that you have suffered immensely over these past few years because of the multi-tailed fox curse, giving birth to nine consecutive single-tailed pups. Anyone in your position would find this unbearable. I do not blame you. Please, return the child to me, and we can pretend none of this ever happened. I will continue to serve you faithfully as I always have. Won't you please consider this?

Her words sounded honeyed, yet beneath her exterior lay a triumphant glimmer in her eyes. The surrounding courtiers and attendants immediately began to chime in, chorusing their agreement.

Indeed, Your Highness, you must cease this madness and return the child to its rightful mother.

This is the child of the black fox crown prince and Orchid. What justification could you possibly have for seizing it?

We can understand the agony of missing one's own children, but that gives you no right to steal from others.

Amidst the growing uproar, the Fox Emperor himself stepped forward, extending his hands to demand the infant from my mother.

Be sensible, little one. Hand the child over to your grandfather. One day, you shall be the rightful master of Green Hill. Do not partake in such disgraceful actions that ruin your own reputation.

Under the suffocating pressure of the Emperor's advance, my mother's face drained entirely of color. This was undeniably her own child, yet everyone here was demanding she surrender it. Even her own father, who had always cherished her above all others, refused to stand by her side. Just as she was about to collapse under the weight of their accusations, my grandfather—who had remained silent until now—suddenly stepped out. He shielded my mother behind him, raising his voice so that everyone in the grand hall, including the Fox Emperor himself, could hear him clearly.

Your Majesty, I know a way to prove once and for all whose child this truly is.

My grandfather cupped his hands respectfully toward the Emperor.

Your Majesty, my tribe of the fire foxes possesses a sacred heirloom known as the blood-binding stone. By placing a drop of blood from each of the two parties onto the stone, we can instantly determine whether a blood relation exists between them.

A sudden hush fell over the hall. The Fox Emperor looked skeptical. Such a relic truly exists?

It does, my grandfather affirmed with a nod. This artifact has been passed down through generations of the fire fox clan and has never once erred. Please grant me a brief moment, Your Majesty, and I shall immediately have someone retrieve it from our lands.

Less than half an hour later, a member of the fire fox clan arrived breathless with the blood-binding stone. According to my grandfather, when drops of blood from two individuals were placed upon the stone, it would glow with a crimson light if they shared a blood tie. My mother held me tightly against her chest, letting out a long-overdue sigh of relief as she raised her hand and prepared to pierce her fingertip.

Wait a moment.

At that precise instant, Orchid stepped forward, a mask of deep concern plastered across her face as she addressed my mother.

Your Highness, you have only just given birth, and your constitution remains fragile. While the blood test is a minor affair, it nevertheless drains a person's vital essence. I truly cannot bear the thought of Your Highness suffering even the slightest harm.

She turned then to the Fox Emperor, her expression earnest and pleading.

Your Majesty, if this child were indeed born of me, it would naturally share my bloodline. Why not allow me to perform the test with the infant instead? If the stone proves that there is no blood relation between us, it will naturally confirm that the child belongs solely to the Imperial Princess. Would that not be a satisfactory solution for everyone?

The Fox Emperor had always favored my mother deeply. Upon hearing this suggestion, he immediately commanded her to lower her hand and let Orchid take her place. Orchid walked up to the blood-binding stone, bit down on her fingertip, and let a single droplet of blood fall onto the smooth surface. The crimson droplet vanished almost instantly, causing the dark red stone to emit a soft, pulsing glow. The Emperor then gestured for my mother to provide my drop of blood. My mother bit her lip, trembling with unmistakable reluctance, before gently squeezing my tiny paw and using her spiritual energy to draw a single droplet of blood, placing it onto the stone. The two trails of blood slowly moved across the surface, creeping closer and closer until they collided, bursting into a brilliant flare of crimson light.

It is truly Orchid's child! Orchid is brilliant, she has actually given birth to a nine-tailed fox!

The Princess must have genuinely lost her mind over this obsession with nine-tailed foxes. She has thrown away every shred of her dignity.

Giving birth to nine single-tailed earth foxes in succession has broken her. She refuses to acknowledge her own children right before her eyes, and instead insists on stealing from others. She has truly fallen into madness.

Seeing the undeniable proof of blood relation between me and Orchid, the onlookers abandoned all remaining pretense of courtly etiquette, hurling cruel jests and mockery at my mother. Inside my mind, a violent explosion echoed. It is impossible! Absolutely impossible! I cannot possibly share a bloodline with Orchid! This blood-binding stone must have been tampered with by her! But my mother stood frozen as if struck by lightning, utterly incapable of uttering a single word in response. Orchid glided over to stand directly before her, the triumph in her eyes no longer even concealed.

Your Highness, you have seen the truth with your own eyes. This child is indeed my own flesh and blood. Please, return it to me.

The crown prince also stepped forward, letting out a cold, cutting scoff.

Bai Yi, the verdict of the blood-binding stone lies plainly before us. If you continue to cling to this child and refuse to let go, it will no longer be dismissed as mere grief-stricken delusion—it will be blatant theft.

My mother slowly turned her head to look at my grandfather, her eyes holding one final, desperate shred of hope.

Qingshan, the blood-binding stone must be wrong. Can we not test it just once more?

My grandfather merely shook his head, looking down at her with a heavy sigh.

A Yi, the blood-binding stone never makes mistakes.

My mother's lower lip quivered. Overwhelmed by a sudden, aching sorrow, grandfather quickly grasped her hand, murmuring in a desperate, soothing tone.

I know how desperately you have always longed for a multi-tailed fox, but all ten of our children turned out to be single-tailed. It is simply our destiny.