Chapter Twenty-Six: Father Deceived Me, Moving the Bed Over

Inside the dungeon, a plate of flower cakes sat quietly on the table, with a small, half-eaten pastry cast aside nearby.

Bai Yan bent down, his head aching as he looked at the sorrowful little dumpling of a girl. He offered words of comfort: "Since Lord Yama promised you, he will naturally keep his word and bring you out of prison."

"Really?" The little one seemed to find new life, her clear, pure purple eyes sparkling with infinite joy. "Will Father bring me out of prison?"

Seeing her so earnest and happy, the lie Bai Yan had been about to tell died in his throat. "I... I suppose he will."

If his intuition was correct, however, he probably wouldn't. The little Princess was so young, her cultivation so low; how could she leave prison without Lord Yama’s permission? The world beyond the underworld was filled with countless dangers and hidden threats; Lord Yama would likely never bring her out himself.

Even he hadn't expected the little Princess to sneak out to the Demon Realm to deliver the Blood Spirit Pearl Flower to him just the other day. It was fortunate—truly fortunate—that Han Mo had protected her from any harm. Otherwise, how could he be standing here alive now, eating flower cakes?

"Lady Menghui—"
"Lady Menghui—"

As they spoke, someone walked in. The little dumpling turned around in delight, looking toward the entrance of the cell. "Sister Menghui? It’s Sister Menghui!"

"Little Princess," Menghui said as she stepped inside. She was confused as to why the Princess was here, but with the disgraced Immortal Lord present, she held her tongue. She only asked, "Why has Lord Yama confined you with this disgraced immortal? Would you like me to find you a different cell?"

"No, no, no," the little girl waved her hands in refusal. "I can't. Father said I am not allowed to..." She pointed a small finger at the man beside her. "...and neither is he, to take a single step out of this cell."

"How could that be?" Menghui asked, her gaze shifting with curiosity toward the man. Had this disgraced immortal committed some new offense?

Bai Yan quickly raised his hands and shook his head vigorously. "It has nothing to do with me!" He didn't want another hundred lashes; his wounds from the last time hadn't even healed yet. Although, it did seem to be somewhat his fault...

The little dumpling hung her head pitifully and began to count her transgressions. "I begged Mother Meng to take me out of prison, but Father found out. I also went to the Demon Realm. Father was very angry, so he locked me in here."

"You went to the Demon Realm?" Menghui’s eyes widened as she looked her over. "Did anything happen to you? Are you hurt?"

"No, no," the little one quickly looked up at her. "I'm not hurt, Sister Menghui, don't worry."

"That’s a relief."

***

"But I can't get out now. Have you seen my Father, Sister Menghui? Did he say when I could leave?"

"Lord Yama?" Menghui paused, recalling what he had told her. "Lord Yama didn't say when you would be released. He only told me to look after you well."

"I see," the little dumpling sighed, pouting unhappily. "Oh, well..." If she couldn't go out, she couldn't. It wasn't that fun outside anyway, hmph.

Menghui added, "However, Lord Yama is not in the underworld at the moment. He has gone to the Dragon Realm to handle matters concerning the mortal race."

"What? Father left the underworld?" The little one looked indignant. "Didn't Father say he would take me out of the underworld with him? He lied to me!"

"Take you with him?" That was something Menghui hadn't heard from Lord Yama.

"It must be because the Dragon Realm is dangerous, so His Lordship didn't bring you," Menghui explained softly.

"Li-little Princess," Bai Yan said, looking at her with a flustered expression. It was all his fault for speaking out of turn; now the little dumpling was upset. "Lord Yama said he would take you out, but he didn't necessarily mean this time. Besides, he went to the Dragon Realm on official business; how could he take you along?"

Menghui nodded, siding with the disgraced immortal for once. "He has his reasons for not taking you. If there were a conflict with the Dragon Realm, he could handle the villains alone, but if you were with him, you might get hurt."

"Yes, that's right." Menghui nodded again. She hadn't expected this disgraced immortal to be so good at comforting others.

Bai Yan lifted his head with a smile and nodded at her. "Thank you for the compliment, Lady Menghui."

Menghui: "..." He was also quite good at being a nuisance.

The little dumpling hummed to herself, though she seemed less troubled now. "I know. Father has heavy responsibilities; I shouldn't keep bothering him."

"It is good that you think that way, Little Princess."

"I don't mind staying here, as long as Sister Menghui comes to visit me often."

Menghui smiled; she really was just a child. "Don't worry, Little Princess. I am at your service."

"Mm, Sister Menghui, please arrange another bed for him. He doesn't have one."

Bai Yan turned, glaring down at the little dumpling with annoyance. Who didn't have a bed? Could this little brat not speak properly? Telling the ghost official such things—where was he supposed to put his face?

Sure enough, Menghui looked at Bai Yan with a smirk, as if she had heard something ridiculous. "He has no bed?" This was the funniest thing she had heard in ten thousand years. A dignified Immortal Lord, even if disgraced, wouldn't be without a bed to sleep in, would he? And he needed her, a ghost official, to arrange one for him?

***

Bai Yan hung his head in embarrassment, silently cursing the little brat ten thousand times over. She was a wretched little demon for stealing his bed and forcing him to sleep on the floor.

"Hehe, Sister Menghui," the little dumpling giggled sheepishly, pointing at herself. "I... I took his bed. Could you arrange another one for me instead?"

Menghui nodded. So the Little Princess had taken his bed. She had known he couldn't have been without one; even as a disgraced immortal, he hadn't fallen that far. "Please wait a moment, Little Princess. I will have a bed brought in for you. I guarantee you will have a good night's sleep."

"Bring me one too!" Bai Yan looked up, urgent and shedding all pretense of pride. He hadn't slept well in a single night.

Menghui cast a sidelong glance at him, as if to say that having a bed at all was a luxury, so he shouldn't be picky.

Bai Yan: "..."

She turned and left to find a soft, high-quality bed. Since the Little Princess had graced her domain, she had to treat her well; she couldn't let the Princess suffer in the eighteenth level of hell.

Once she was gone, Bai Yan hummed softly, whispering, "Who cares?" As long as it wasn't the floor, he could sleep on any bed.

The little dumpling turned to him, her eyes dancing with mischief. "You seem to have a grudge against Sister Menghui, don't you?" How could they bicker after only a few words? She had never seen Sister Menghui show such strong emotions toward anyone else.

Bai Yan turned his back on her, not wanting to look at her. "Of course I have a grudge against her. Let her give you a hundred lashes and see if you don't have a grudge!"

"Even if she gave me a hundred lashes, I wouldn't have a grudge against her."

"Why is that?" He turned back, genuinely surprised.

The little dumpling reached out, looking at him as if he were a fool. "Because she is Sister Menghui. She is the one who follows Father. If she whipped me, it would be under Father's orders. Why would I hate her?"

"If she..." Seeing her earnest, disdainful expression, he couldn't help but tease her. "If she acted behind your father's back, without his orders, what would you do then?"

"She wouldn't!" The little dumpling was firm, her gaze warning him. "She wouldn't do that! And she would never betray Father. I won't let you say that about her!"

"Oh?" He leaned down, smiling at the little pink dumpling. "You truly are Lord Yama's daughter." She had exactly his temperament.

The little dumpling smiled proudly, lifting her chin. "Of course. Do I need you to tell me that?"

"Hahahaha..." Bai Yan couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Little Princess, you are truly adorable."

This was a far cry from when she was stealing his bed and calling him a little demon.