Author's Note: I want to thank every reader, commenter and voter to this story. You are the ones who are keeping this fanfic running.  You guys are amazing.  This is a short chapter but an important one, it will serve as the platform to unravel more twists and turns in this story. Bare with me as we continue on a discovery journey of our most beloved couple.  Stay stunned for more. 

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Plant a seed of doubt in someone's mind to cause someone to have doubts, worries, or concerns about something; to introduce someone to a doubtful or worrisome idea. Plant enough seeds of doubt in a person's mind to question and undermine someone else's character. If succeeded in closing that person's heart away from truth. Some of the seeds are questions that cannot be answered before we reach an insight, but many of them can. The remedy for doubt is by testing the challenges themselves. Look at both sides of the challenge and then make a decision. Only after looking at both sides of an issue can we truly be informed enough to make a decision.

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"Son what had gotten into you? You are not yourself today. Your mother has served us a great meal and you haven't even touched your plate!!! What's eating you up?" Bai Zhi annoyedly said.

"I apologize father, mother if I offended you, I will eat now." Bai Yi replied.

"No need to apologize to me son. We are just worry about you. Care to share what is the cause of your worries? Perhaps problems at home?" Bai Rui asked.

Bai Yi nervously smiled. "Be at ease mother, there is nothing going on."

Bai Zhi slapped the table hard with his hand, getting everyone attention. "Bai Yi, you are clearly hiding something from us. I smelled it from the moment you stepped into the terrace earlier on. Spit it out now!!!" Bai Zhi angrily pointed out.

Weng Chan felt uncomfortable at the table. He sensed an argument brewing. "What a turn of events", he thought. "This is a family matter. Perhaps I should retire for the evening and let you discuss it freely."

"Now hold up a minute Lord Weng Chan, if Bai Yi brought you here to our home, is because the matter is known to you. He just doesn't have the guts to say what he needs to say. He's like a mad dog that barks out loud but doesn't bite a bit. I'm not the Fox Emperor for nothing son. I'm not a chump to trifle with."

"Bai Zhi please..."

"No Bai Rui, this has to stop. Bai Yi always plays us like if we're his puppets. This has to stop. Either he tells us or I will force it out of him. Well son what would it be? I'm waiting..."

Bai Yi breathed out hard and found the courage to tell his parents what is bothering him. "Father, have ever considered that we have given Dong Hua Dijun too much access to Qing Qui's affluence?"

"WHAATTTTT????" Bai Zhi shouted. "You are still questioning Dijun's loyalty?"

"I'm not questioning his loyalty; I'm questioning his motives. He's now Qing Qui's Prince Consort. He was always been indifferent to worldly affairs and long ago resigned from all ruling positions. Why now out of the sudden he entrenched himself to worldly matters again? And why Qing Qui out of all realms? He could have chosen another monarch to form an allegiance, why did he pursued our Xiao Jiu after I asked him to marry her many years ago and he refused to do so? Why the sudden change of mind? Have you ever considered that he wants to overrule her power to regain control? We are a prosperous empire and although we are not under the Sky Kingdom jurisdiction, we are united thru marriage to them. Our families have gained great prestige and strong political alliances thru out the years. Everyone knows us. Everyone wants to make business with us. No other dominion enjoys the wealth that we have. And now a retired powerful deity such as Dong Hua Dijun steps into the scene and conveniently positions himself into a strategic place in our turf. What are his motives to do so? Have you thought of that father?"

"Bai Yi..." Bai Rui managed to say when she got interrupted.

"His highness does have a point Bai Zhi Dijun." Weng Chan said. "It is a well-known fact that no one will dare refute his Lordship authority without meeting their demise. Your granddaughter Queen Bai Feng Jiu reputation is well established thru out all the realms. There is no better candidate than her to make a strong and reliable allegiance. I'm sure that you received many marriage proposals from all lands competing to be her husband. The fact is that no one can contend with his Lordship. All he needed to do was to use his charms to make your beloved Queen fall for him, becoming part of your family. He had nothing to lose but he gained a lot. He is still the most well-regarded deity in all realms with a new ruling position in your kingdom. With his renowned prestige, he has a say now in your administration. Influencing Qing Qui's Queen to his will and control. It will not end well if something happens to Qing Qui's Queen and all power end up in his hands. It is my perspective of things being an outsider, Bai Zhi Dijun." Weng Chan serenely said.

"Father we have given Dijun too much control of Qing Qui's administration. All I'm suggesting is to hold back the reins a bit. To show him who is really Qing Qui's Ruler. Test his motives to find out if he really is what he promised us." Bai Yi told Bai Zhi which it angered him further.

"You can't be serious Bai Yi!!! We have served his Lordship Dong Dijun long before you and your siblings were ever born. He has never given us any motives to doubt his kinship to our family. He proved himself to us that he is not interested in overpowering Xiao Jiu's ruling. All he has done so far from the backside is to assist Xiao Jiu in her queenly duties. He has structured her aptitudes so she can thrive as great Queen that she is. Just like we did with you Bai Yi. You haven't been present at court lately. Xiao Jiu has single handled all court proceedings without his assistance which says much about her own abilities to rule. Not to mention that she is also his Dihou at Nine Heavens. She has greatly matured ever since she married Dijun which has reflected in her obligations. I don't need to test Dijun's motives when I clearly see that is your own stubbornness fueling this boloney." Bai Zhi replied to Bai Yi.

"Boloney you said. And who can guarantee us that he's not bending her to his will huh? Yes, she has grown as a ruler, but he is her husband and she has to submit to his will as his wife. He is a master manipulator, trickster and a strategist at his best. Can you vouch that his hand is blameless when it comes to helping Xiao Jiu?" Bai Yi refuted.

"Bai Yi why are you so obstinate in ruining Dijun's character? Why can't you see that Qing Qui is flourishing thanks to his impact too? We have peace and security thanks to his tactician mind not to belittle our Xiao Jiu keenness. Rulers who can interlace their talents without affecting their relationship are successful matches. Dijun and Xiao Jiu work well together because they trust each other. We don't pay attention to rumors that continue to boom. I personally don't care what other people think about our Xiao Jiu's marriage to Dijun. They truly love each other. Why can't you accept that she is happy with him?" Bai Rui said.

"You need to stop with your personal vendetta Bai Yi. I will not tolerate your continuous bantering and ruin what Xiao Jiu and Dijun have worked hard to help Qing Qui strive. I will not contest my loyalty to Dijun no matter what you say to me. Your motives are telling me that there is something darker brewing within your mind and soul. We didn't raise you to be like this son, the path that you are choosing will only bring you more loneliness and pain. If Dong Hua or Xiao Jiu know about these claims of yours, even I nor the whole Bai Clan can't save you from their wrath. And as for you Lord Weng Chan it will be best to abandon your motives to join forces with Bai Yi to damage Dong Hua and Xiao Jiu characters and reputation. It is obvious that your intentions by coming here are not at all respectable. I don't want to gain another adversary based on rumors, wariness or jealousy. As Qing Qui Fox Emperor I will draw the line if you dare continue with your obnoxious stories to curve my son to act against our good name and violate our laws. Is this how you feel about Qing Qui Prince Consort, then you have no honor as a ruler. You should tell your 'opinion' to his face, if you dare, rather to come here and plant a seed of doubt in our minds. Such much for good appearances!" Bai Zhi angrily hmphed.

"Please appease your anger Bai Zhi Dijun, I didn't mean to cause enmity with my words. By no means is my intention to ruin nobody's reputation with my observation." Weng Chan kowtowed before Bai Zhi.

"An observation that was not asked to be given." Bai Zhi irritably replied.

"Point well-made your highness." Weng Chan responded not meeting his gaze.

"Listen son, you are not familiar with our law system nor are acquainted with his Lordship Dong Hua Dijun. So, I will not hold this against you. A word of advice to you Lord Weng Chan; do not ever, ever irritate Dijun if you value your life and the lives of your subjects. He's a well-respected almighty deity but he's also well known to be merciless to whoever deceives him. I'm an eyewitness to his dominant behaviors. He might not be the Heavenly Emperor, a position that he freely gave up long time ago, but his influence is well received thru out all empires. Trust me when I say this, NO ONE possess the power to bring him down. Even if all of us combine our powers, it will not be enough. He is fearless. It is best to have him as your ally than as your enemy. The whole universe will suffer from one of his unbalanced outbursts, and I'm not exaggerating, we all had witnessed this. Our beloved Xiao Jiu has managed to soft him up a little, but that doesn't mean he has changed his apathetic ways. He's the coldest, iciest, stoniest, blood thirsty badass powerful son of a rock that had ever existed. Qing Qui is fortunate to have him as our son-in-law. On top of that he's my brother in arms and I will never betray him. So, heed my advice and stay away from any plots that you might be forecasting. Dong Hua Dijun is not to mess around with. His enemies will be my enemies as well. This is a warning!" Bai Zhi sternly advised Weng Chan.

"As for you Bai Yi, if you keep up this nonsense of yours is going to hit you hard. You will end up with nothing, not to mention that you will bring shame to our family legacy and bring down a dynasty with your hate and resentment. Get it into that thick head of yours once and for all!!! If I have to resort to the worst, I will dishonor you from our family, strip your title and exile you. Don't push me to act upon it." Bai Zhi eyes were full of anger.

"Father..." Bai Yi widen his eyes upon hearing his harsh words.

"Bai Zhi calm down dear. Every time that you two bump heads is impossible to breathe!" Bai Rui admonished him.

"Father you are choosing him instead of your own flesh and blood?" Bai Yi incredibly wondered.

"Bai Yi that is enough!!! Stop fueling your father's rage. We all need to calm down." Bai Rui pleaded.

"Wait, that is not all that you have to say; isn't it son?" Bai Zhi asked.

"Bai Zhi husband, you need to calm down." Bai Rui padded his back.

"No Bai Rui, let him finish. He's hiding something else. Now that you're on a defiant roll, why you don't speak of what really is bugging you Bai Yi? Don't lie to me cause I can sense it." Bai Zhi glared his son.

"Father... you are right." Bai Yi lowered his head.

"Out of all your siblings I can read you like an open book. I will calm down and listen to you as long as is not about Dong Hua Dijun again." Bai Zhi harshly said.

"Please forgive your unfilial son father." Bai Yi bowed.

"And what do I have to forgive you from this time Bai Yi?"

Bai Yi was hesitant to speak. He couldn't bring any words from his mouth knowing that will create another dramatic scene. Weng Chan saw his emotional struggle and decided to step in. "I am Bai Yi's son your highnesses!" Weng Chan confessed.

"Nǐ shuō shénme?" Both Bai Zhi & Bai Rui surprisingly shouted.

A white owl witnessed the dramatic scene from a distant tree branch, thru their dining room window. He flew a great distance until it reached his master's hand.

"Oh my...." A voice said.

AN: Who do you think it is? Leave your answers in the comments section. Happy guessing you all 🤗