There is no substitute for the creative inspiration, knowledge, and stability that comes from knowing how to contact your core of inner silence. Speak only when you feel your words are better than silence.

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Morning time at the Western Lands Fox Residence...

Feng Jiu's mother was up early preparing breakfast as usual. After last evening quarrel with Bai Yi, she hoped for hassle-free day. She was thinking about sending an invitation to her daughter to come and visit her to provide another opportunity for her husband to works things out with her on a neutral setting. But then she realized that their guest might witness their tongue-in-cheek. She didn't want to Feng Jiu to get involved with an unnecessary situation. So, she changed her mind about the idea. She continued cooking and when she finished, she served breakfast at their dining room. She instructed her maid to notify Bai Yi and Weng Chan. The maid went to their chambers to inform them about mealtime, but they were already gone. She came back and reported Feng Jiu's mother about it.

"No message about their whereabouts?"

"No, your highness."

"Very well, then. Let me know when they return."

"Yes, your highness."

Feng Jiu's mother ate by herself. She was used to already. In fact, she welcomed separateness. It was her time to meditate, to read or labor on her workshop. She lives a very lonely life, she learned to accept her forlorn fate. The personnel were always pending her needs although she preferred to do stuff herself. It is the fox customs ingrained in their culture and nurture. She is an independent woman.

Bai Yi took Weng Chan on an early morning tour to the western lands. The environment was different from the eastern side. It was less inhabited, and more nature preserved. Their market was smaller than the east lands. The western lands were used mainly for crops. Their supply center was located in the midpoint of their grounds. They were responsible for the food distribution within their districts and regions. On the mountain range they have their silk production which is very well protected since Qing Qui is the main source of the finest silk around. Bai Yi was zealous about the production and exportation of it. Only royal members of the Bai Clan were allowed to the facility. Bai Yi took Weng Chan for him to see how things were handled there. He was one of the few outsider privileged ones to witness the precious production. They had to keep with their exclusive clients supplies demands which were mostly royal members of other clans including the Sky Kingdom.

"No wonder Qing Qui is a prosperous kingdom. I marvel at their labor task force. Everything is done at hand. There is little magic involved. How so?" Weng Chan interested asked.

"Our former monarchs before my father Bai Zhi were enthroned were practicing it, but it was my sister Heavenly Lady Bai Qian who passed it as law. Our current queen didn't change it, but she was able to enhance the practice and create labor stability within our people. No ruler before her had the interest to develop Qing Qui nature resources. Feng Jiu achieved equality extension of our export and import goods to other realms which meant more production and jobs that entailed tasks and processes to develop and implement growth opportunities within and between various in-home organizations. She created a subset of the fields of business, commerce, and organizational industries. Which resulted in long-term value for our organization from customers, markets, and relationships from other realms. We decided to implement these tactics in all of Qing Qui's districts. Including any activity by either a small or large organization, of every possible trade to serves the purpose of 'developing' prosperity to Qing Qui kingdom including arts and tourism. In addition, she personally oversees these activities with the aid of her Lordship husband Dong Hua Dijun. With his experience and her concepts and designs, we as a kingdom gained the sufficient and reputable knowledge to help facilitate future business development partnerships." Bai Yi answered.

"So, in other words, Queen Bai Feng Jiu is behind all of it? If so she's a business genius." Weng Chan asked.

"Yes, she worked with a team of consultants to achieve some of her goals before she got married. And now Dong Hua Dijun and Xiao Jiu have taken over the supervision of this aspect of business." Bai Yi replied.

"Interesting...May I ask why did you agree to this marriage? I mean no disrespect with my question, but hearing from you all the queen's accomplishments and abilities, have you ever thought that maybe Dijun was going after a stable ruling position thru a political alliance rather than a simple marriage? He is still the most well-regarded deity in all realms. But actually, he doesn't have a ruling position in any kingdom per se. Now he has. Not only that, but he has access to Qing Qui's wealth." Weng Chan expressed.

"Hmm, although Xiao Jiu assured us that their marriage was a love match, I don't overlook that possibility. However, Dijun assured my father that he's not looking to overrule Xiao Jiu's position here at Qing Qui. She is his Dihou at Nine Heavens. Is a rank lower than my sister but none less an important imperial position." Bai Yi went pensive.

"Maybe I'm thinking ahead of myself here, I shouldn't express it. Please forget my careless words and don't take heed at them." Weng Chan said.

"Nonsense, I value your opinion. You are thinking about the wellbeing of our beloved Qing Qui after all. Come let's continue our tour. Afterwards we can eat lunch and then visit my father." Bai Yi sternly replied.

"I would like that very much." Weng Chan smiled at Bai Yi.

They ended their tour around lunch time and returned to his manor. Lunch was already served at the dining room. Feng Jiu's mother was waiting on them to seat and eat. Bai Yi sat down ignoring his wife. Weng Chan noticed his manner towards her. They ate in utter silence. The tension at the dining room was palpable making Weng Chan uncomfortable.

"Remind me to congratulate your chef for a fantastic lunch. This was delicious." Weng Chan said to break the awkward silence.

"Thank you again for the compliment, Lord Weng Chan." Feng Jiu's mother expressed.

"You mean your highness is the chef that cook all of this?"

"I always do. I cook all the meals we eat home. The fox women, we always learn from a young age the gastronomic abilities. Most of the fox women excel in this feature. My daughter inherited my culinary skills, she even surpassed me."

"I'm not surprised. For what I keep hearing Queen Bai Feng Jiu is an exceptional young woman. Maybe one day I will be counted as one of the lucky ones to try her dishes." Weng Chan wishfully said.

"I seriously doubt it Lord Weng Chan. She only cooks for her husband now. When we have family reunions, he doesn't let her cook. Her culinary skills are well guarded by her Lordship husband." She replied.

"Lucky husband! Just like you, your highness." Weng Chan regarded Bai Yi, which he gave him a small smile.

"My mother was a good cook, but not as good as you, your highness. She used to tell me: 'You're not bulletproof, but if you're feeding yourself good food and making sure you're eating the right supplements, I think you will reduce the chances of getting any trivial injuries.'"

Bai Yi scoffed. He remembered this quote too.

"Patience is the secret to good food." Feng Jiu's mother said.

"If that is your secret then I'll drink to it your highness." Weng Chan filled his cup and lifted it up and drank in her honor. "Jiànkāng"

"Xièxiè Lord Weng Chan."

"Are you guys staying for the afternoon tea?" She regarded Bai Yi.

"We are on our way to my father's. We'll probably stay there for long and eat dinner with them, so don't wait up." Bai Yi answered.

"Then have safe travels."

"Thank you, your highness." Weng Chan said while bowing to her.

On their way to Bai Zhi, Weng Chan decided to make conversation with Bai Yi. "Her highness seems to be a wonderful person."

"She is."

"What I don't understand is why you treat her coldly. From her reaction when I told her my relation to you, she calmly responded to the reveal. She could had made a big fuss about it, but she didn't. Her response says a lot about who she is. But my guess is that you two don't have a marriageable relationship is more a pretense. Am I right?" Weng Chan asked.

"I'm a man of few words. I don't always express myself properly. My wife is an extremely sensitive woman with immense patience, wisdom, and tolerance among many other great qualities. Although we were forced to marry, we did it out of duty and not out of love, but as time passed, I grew to respect and admire her. I regret not being able to meet her expectations or respond to her feelings. My heart always belonged to your mother Weng Chan. I will never love another woman."

"I understand that part, but she deserves to be treated better. Your indifference is hurtful and unkind. It says a lot about you and your character. Being a fox she's empathic, she can sense other people's feelings and emotional states. Even I felt uncomfortable with the silent treatment that you two gave each other. Is it always like that?"

"We have our own agreement and have shared our misfortunes and have adapted to carry our burdens quite well so far. We don't invade each other's space and we have some type of freedom to roam as we please. She knows my ill traits well and have endured me for so long."

"How then you managed to have a daughter, if you two don't share any romantic feelings?"

"That was a mistake." Bai Yi sternly replied.

"A mistake? You mean a mistake like me?" Weng Chan smirked at Bai Yi.

Bai Yi nervously blinked "I didn't mean it like that Weng Chan. I loved your mother, if things were been different, I would have been in your life ever since you were born. My future was to be by your mother's side and hopefully by yours."

"Then you regret having a daughter with your wife?"

"Regret is a powerful word Weng Chan. It leaves us wishing we had made different choices and longing for a redo. It hoodwinks us into believing that if we ruminate on something long enough, we will be able to create an alternate universe where everything comes out perfectly. I respect my wife, and she respects me. Xiao Jiu was born unplanned. Our family have doted her the most, so she is well loved. There are things that are better left unsaid for the wellbeing of our family."

"In order to glean the gift embedded in regret, we need to recognize how eddying around and around both stalls us out and causes us to make reactive decisions. We can't have a redo. However, we don't have to be mired in regret, losing valuable time and energy in the process. If we slow ourselves down, regret, much like anger, can help us grow, if we learn from it. Forgive yourself and others more quickly, even if they did not ask for forgiveness and to not give regret so much power in your life. Regret can have damaging effects on mind and body when it turns into fruitless rumination and self-blame that keeps people from re-engaging with life. This pattern of repetitive, negative, self-focused ruminative and may be a cause of this mental health problem as well. My mother no longer lives, and your wife although cannot replace my mother in your heart, she has greatly contributed to your life in many aspects. She has paid her dues. May I ask how is your relationship with your daughter?"

Bai Yi inattentively stared at the landscape, avoiding answering. He knew Weng Chan hit the spot.

"I see. I don't think my mother would been happy to see you turned this... remorseful. We can accept our fate with dignity or adapt to our circumstances and be grateful for what we have in front of us. For what my eyes have seen so far, you are immensely blessed and yet you seem so unhappy."

"Things are not what they seem to be Weng Chan." Bai Yi said.

"How to do you cope with it?" Weng Chan asked him. Bai Yi couldn't answer.

"Consider the circumstances that may have made it more difficult to make good choices in that particular case, or the fact that you had limited knowledge at the time. Perhaps you had to make a quick decision under time pressure or had multiple stresses going on. To make sure you are not taking too much blame. My mother used to remind me that life as a journey. Everybody makes mistakes but they can be opportunities for us to learn important lessons about ourselves including our values, vulnerabilities, and triggers as well as about other people. You can also use past regrets to decide how to take better care of yourself in the future."

"Your mother was a wise woman." Bai Yi replied.

"Indeed, she was, but so is your wife for what I've seen. Learn to value her companionship and strive to heal your fragmented relationship with your daughter. If you don't you will regret it at the end. Who would have taught that my sister is the most capable queen? Weng Chan scoffed at his own realization.

Your sister....

Isn't she? Weng Chan furrowed his brows at Bai Yi.

They finally arrived at Bai Zhi residence. The servants took them to garden terrace, they were drinking tea.

"Bai Yi son, what a pleasant surprise. Lord Weng Chan, welcome to our home." Bai Zhi said while hugging them.

"Bai Zhi Dijun" Weng Chan bowed to him.

"Enough of formalities. You are in our home, and we strive to be carefree when we're not conducting official business. So be at ease here." Bai Zhi said. "This is my wife, Fox Empress Bai Rui. The Lady of the house and Ruler of my heart." Bai Zhi took her hand and passionately kissed it.

"Bai Zhi please, you will scare our guest away." Bai Rui flushed.

"Look at those lovely cheeks, all the blood went to them!!!" Bai Zhi laughed.

"Father, mother please, we have a guest." Bai Yi protested.

"Oh, Bai Yi live a little son! I'm pretty sure our guest doesn't mind." Bai Zhi said.

"Not at all your highness." Weng Chan smiled at them surprised to see them acting so casual.

"Your mother is still the most beautiful woman on all realms. After all of these years my love for her is as the first time I saw her. Blooming like a beautiful flower. I knew she was going to be my wife for all lifetimes."

Weng Chan was enjoying the Bai's exchange of pleasantries.

"Oh, but where are my manners; please Lord Weng Chan have a seat with us and enjoy a cup of tea." Bai Rui said.

"Thank you, your highness." Weng Chan sat a sip his tea. "Mmmm delicious Bai Mudan tea. Is sometimes preferred by white tea drinkers for its fuller flavor and greater potency than the other major type of white tea, Bai Hao Yinzhen. The latter is made purely with leaf shoots, and so it is comparatively softer and more subtle."

"You know your tea. As you can see the brew is a very pale green or golden color. The flavor is fruity; stronger than Silver Needle, yet not as strong as Shou Mei. The finest quality has a shimmering clear infusion with a delicate lingering fragrance and a fresh, mellow, sweet taste devoid of astringency, and grassy flavors." Bai Rui said.

"I know a thing or two your highness. This one is of the finest quality that I have ever taste. Where did you get it if I may boldly ask?"

"It was a gift sent to us by our dear friend Su Moye, the second prince of the West Sea. One of his specialties is making tea. Perhaps you know him." Bai Zhi said.

"I have not had the pleasure yet your highness. Maybe in the future I will love to exchange recipes with him. He surely knows his tea. Excellent quality! Is simply delicious." Weng Chan exclaimed.

"I will introduce him to you Lord Weng Chan. Anyone who can identify which type of tea they're drinking from only a sip is worthy of his acquaintance." Bai Rui said.

"Thank you, your highness you flatter me too much."

"Is my pleasure Lord Weng Chan. It is rare to find among your generation a passionate tea connoisseur like yourself." Bai Rui said

"Bai Yi you are too quiet. What brings you here son? It's a rare sight for my eyes to see you here." Bai Zhi teasingly said.

"Father, Lord Weng Chan wanted to spend time with me and I thought that it will be a great opportunity to get to know him too. I hope you don't take offense of me bringing him here unannounced."

"No offense taken Bai Yi. Gosh you need to relax a little more son, you're too tense." Bai Zhi noticed.

"I want to take the opportunity to thank you Bai Zhi Dijun and Dihou for the great effort and coordination with Tianjun Ye Hua for the supplies provided to our Shīzi region. I'm indebted to Qing Qui and Sky Kingdom for your generosity and kindness. So please receive this bow on behalf of our people."

"You're welcome Lord Weng Chan, please get up. It is our duty to provide the provision of those who are in need. We are a blessed kingdom and our ancestors established Qing Qui to be a separate kingdom ruled by justice and righteousness. We can't close our eyes when we see that an intervention is needed. We just hoped that the supplies were plenty and stocked your food bank."

"Thankfully, our region is prospering again, all thanks to your aid. Our people are getting comfortable once more because of the protection Qing Qui is providing to our borders."

"Our troops will remain there until everything comes back to normal again. We have received no reports of any more disappearances."

"Yes, that is correct. The mercenaries seem to be disappeared out of the sudden. Which is good for our economy."

"Indeed, it is."

"I'm also here to extend an invitation as my special guests to visit our region any time you want. You will always be welcomed at Shīzi."

"Thank you, Lord Weng Chan, we will gladly accept your invitation. We will go and visit you." Bai Zhi said.

"Are you staying for dinner Bai Yi?"

"I will not miss it mother."

"Is good to see you here son. But why you left your wife behind? She hasn't visit us in a while."

"I wanted to bring Lord Weng Chan this time father."

"You know I bore five children and raise them well. You only had given us a granddaughter. And Bai Qian gave us Ali. We need to expand our Bai family. I want to see our palace with so many great grandkids running around. When are you going to surprise us Bai Yi?" Bai Rui teasingly asked him.

Bai Yi's face got red. "Mother please!! You know how hard was for my wife to give birth to Xiao Jiu, she almost died. We don't want to go thru that experience again."

"I know I'm just bugging you son. Perhaps Xiao Jiu and Dong Hua Dijun will give us a great grandchild soon."

"Can you imagine that old fart being a father now? I can't imagine him changing dirty diapers!!" Bai Zhi was laughing out loud.

"Remember when he held Xiao Jiu the first time? He hogged her all to himself that day. I believe he will be a great father Bai Zhi." Bai Rui said.

"He held your granddaughter?" Weng Chan curiously asked.

"He was enchanted by our Xiao Jiu at her presentation banquet. I believe it was then when he fell for her. But then again, we all fell for our Xiao Jiu; she was a lovely hairy kittling. Isn't that right Bai Yi?" Bai Rui asked.

"Yes, she was."

"Still is. We greatly love her. We are so happy to see her achieve her happiness." Bai Zhi added.

"Have you met our granddaughter Lord Weng Chan?"

"I have the pleasure to greet her twice. I keep hearing her accomplishments and how treasured she is to you and Qing Qui."

"She is our pride and joy Lord Weng Chan. We've been blessed to have her in our family. Speaking about family, how is your family?

"Father don't you remember that his parents are no longer alive? He did mention it on our meeting with Ye Hua." Bai Yi hurriedly replied.

Weng Chan was quiet, he simply stared Bai Yi.

"That's right!!! I remember now. Ruling at a young age must have been hard for you right?" Bai Zhi asked Weng Chan.

"It was, but thankfully my mother was a great example to follow. She made sure to raise me to become a good ruler." Weng Chan answered.

"Who was your mother Lord Weng Chan?" Bai Rui asked him.

"It was Lady Xibu Zu from the White Lion tribe your highness. She was beautiful, kind, courageous, bold, humble, prideful, and brave. She dedicated most of her youth taking care of others. That was the legacy she passed onto me. Shīzi captures her spirit in every corner of our territory. She was a kind and just leader. And I'm proud to follow her footsteps."

"I'm sure she is proud of you. And your father?"

Weng Chan hesitated his reply. "My father... didn't knew of my existence. He married another out of duty. So, I never knew him."

"Who abandons a child!!! That is ludicrous and shameful." Bai Zhi exclaimed.

"Maybe the circumstances were not ideal at the time. However, I grew up not hating him." Weng Chan politely said.

"Such a good heart and character. We have strong principles in our family Lord Weng Chan. Our men take responsibilities for their actions. We strive to raise our generation to be family oriented. We greatly respect and uphold family values. When we see orphan children, we immediately take care of them as if they are own. We build children institutes and offer them the best education for them to grow up with a sense of purpose and determination. The fox women we all chip in for their care. That is why many of our esteem citizens will call us mother or aunt. Because we strengthen their core with family love and guidance." Bai Rui said.

"Whoever abandons a child in our clan, it brings shame to our household. That member is exiled from Qing Qui forever." Bai Zhi added.

"Isn't that a bit rash your highness?" Weng Chan asked.

"It might seem rash to outsiders, but for us foxes, is not." Bai Zhi said.

"Do you consider the circumstances first before exiling someone?" Weng Chan asked.

"We do Lord Weng Chan. It is written in our law code that child abandonment is classified under a subsection of child abuse statutes and is a punishable crime. Following conviction, one or both guardians forfeit their parental rights, terminating their relationship with the child. Perpetrators can also be charged with reckless abandonment if victims die as a result of their actions or neglect. We consider all causes before we reach a verdict. Our interest is to preserve the child life in a healthy environment." Bai Zhi replied.

"I understand. Let's just say in my case my father didn't knew that my mother was pregnant with me. How will you rule that case in your court your highness?"

"A full investigation will be needed to determine the reasons of separation first. We would have interviewed your mother to obtain evidence that the father contacted her prior the child delivery. If it was intentional from her part, then a signed testimony will be needed to avoid a strong sentence. Regardless of the reasons, a penalty will be ordered to the guilty party. The child is the innocent victim in all cases. Consensual relationships bring forth life, and we can't ignore that fact. If you mess around, you have to think of these possibilities. The issue that we ingrained in the irresponsible adult is unplanned pregnancies that can result in child abandonment. That is how we view these types of cases in our region Lord Weng Chan."

"Hmmm it seems fair enough. How about if the mother, again in my case, my mother destroyed all evidence of contact, then how will you proceed?"

"We will need eyewitnesses that can testify on the father's behalf. If contact was made prior the child delivery and the mother denied contact with the estranged mate, then we will go for a lesser penalty. Although we live a carefree life that doesn't mean that you get rid of your responsibilities. Carefree and recklessness are not the same. Not in our books."

"Would you receive a bastard child into your kingdom?"

"Of course, we will, we have built safe heaven institutions for any child to strive and grow to their full potential."

"One last question your highness, and please forgive my boldness."

"Not at all, please go ahead."

"How about if the perpetrator is a member of the royal family how would you proceed then?" Bai Yi heartbeat began to accelerate. He intently stared Weng Chan.

"Our laws apply to all of us regardless of our status, relationship or position. No exceptions are made. We need to take responsibilities for our actions. How can we rule a nation if don't hold our homes with the outmost respect?"

"Thank you for your honest answers your highness. Truly your justice system is exemplary."

"Not to sweat Lord Weng Chan. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. A man that is not afraid of his origins is truly a man. I admire that!" Bai Zhi said.

"Oh, please let's change the subject, our son Bai Yi looks like he's going to have a heart attack. What is wrong with you son?" Bai Rui patted his shoulder.

"Father...mother...." Bai Yi tried to say.

"He's probably tired your highnesses. We have traveled all day today. He is been giving me a tour of the western lands." Weng Chan interjected.

"Oh?... In that case please stay the night and rest Bai Yi then tomorrow you can continue with your tour." Bai Rui said.

"That will be great mother, thank you." Bai Yi sighed relieved.

"I will check on dinner." Bai Rui left the room staring at the men behind. "If I knew better, it seems that Bai Yi is hiding something from us." She mentally said.