Appeared Outside the Window

Grace said, feeling a bit troubled, "Your father is in the Drake Abyss. I can't go there!"

"Just bite this!" Ray, ever clever, flicked out the Heartscale with his tail and took a big bite.

Grace had just wanted to stop him when Evan Xiao suddenly appeared outside the window.

Judging by his outfit, he looked extremely formal—probably his court robes or something like that.

He really was busy with official business...

Grace awkwardly pulled the Heartscale out of Ray's mouth and said, "Um... Ray's just being naughty, sorry about that..."

Evan Xiao looked over at Ray.

The little guy called out sweetly, "Father, why haven't you come to see us in so long?"

"Father's been busy these days," Evan Xiao replied.

"Are you really that busy?"

Yes.

What are you busy with? Ray asked.

Some very important matters—children wouldn’t understand," Evan Xiao said. "Don’t be so mischievous in the future."

He'd been in a meeting with all the ministers, but left them behind and came here himself.

I wasn't being mischievous!" Ray said. "Mom said she missed you, so I bit the Heartscale to call you here."

I..." Grace looked at little Ray, feeling even more embarrassed. "Your Highness, don't listen to him! That's not true! Go and take care of your work! I promise I won't let Ray be naughty and bite the Heartscale again."

Evan Xiao nodded, his figure gradually fading away.

On New Year's night, there will be fireworks in the city. Can you come to see them?" Grace blurted out.

But Evan Xiao seemed not to hear—he had already vanished...

Grace sighed softly.

Mom.

Hmm?

Don't be sad, Mom. If Father doesn't come, you still have Ray! Ray will always be with you!

Grace smiled and ruffled his hair. "Little one, when will you be able to take human form?"

Mom, do you not like how Ray looks now?

No matter what you look like, Mom will always love you," Grace said. "I just want to see what you look like, to see if it's the same as your previous life...

Oh... you might have to wait a while," Ray said. "Maybe I need to cultivate for another hundred years!

That long? By then, Mom won't even be here anymore!

How could that be?" Ray said. "Mom will definitely become an immortal!

Haha! Alright! Just to see Ray in human form, I'll cultivate until I become a Spirit Master!

...

New Year's was approaching, and Grace received a letter from Tuoba Hong saying he would come to the Eastern Alliance's Royal Palace for the Grand Court Assembly.

Grace was delighted—they hadn't seen each other in ages, and now they could finally catch up.

She carefully prepared more than a dozen magical medicines for Tuoba Hong.

There were medicines for cultivation, antidotes, poisons, and even beauty ointment—everything was included.

Then she thought, it wasn’t quite right to send medicines as a New Year’s gift.

So she packed all the magical medicines into a big Holiday Gift Hamper, making it look much more presentable.

However, Tuoba Hong ran into a thunderstorm on his way, unable to fly for two days. He arrived in Sigil City on the 29th day of the lunar month.

After arriving, his schedule was packed and he never found time to meet with her.

On New Year’s Eve, there was a banquet at the palace that he had to attend.

On New Year’s Day, he also had to attend the Grand Court Assembly at the palace.

Later, he sent another letter saying they would meet at the Celestial Lounge on New Year’s night.

Grace took her carefully prepared Holiday Gift Hamper and went to the meeting.

Tuoba Hong looked her up and down: "You haven’t changed at all! Just your hair’s a bit longer."