Work Text:
“I said, that man, the father of the fetus spirit,” Lan Chang took a deep breath, “IS YOU!” she shouted, pointing at Xie Lian.
“ME?” Xie Lian felt a wave of shock course through him at the accusation. His cultivation aside, the thought that he would be irresponsible enough to impregnate someone, and not know about it, almost stunned him to the ground. His shock was reflected on those in attendance and, suddenly, the room fell impossibly silent.
And in his moment of weakness and discomposure, the words Xie Lian so often spoke, so well-worn and used, slipped from his lips without a second thought like a smooth rock into a shallow pond:
“I can’t get erect.”
At first, the silence continued; then, an uproarious whirlwind of whispers and gasps began to fill the hall.
“Did – did His Highness say he? He can’t get erect?”
“So, the Crown Prince was this kind of man, but to speak of it so openly! How shameless!”
Xie Lian saw Feng Xin’s mouth open slightly and Mu Qing’s eyes widen impossibly as if his eyes couldn’t believe his ears, both of them shocked stupid.
Jun Wu, who’s head had slipped from his hand during Lan Chang’s initial accusation, looked as though Xie Lian had been banished again, then ascended for a fourth time. His surprise carved into every line of his face.
Even Lan Chang, in all her years of hardship and survival had never met a man so open and shameless as to utter those words in Heavenly Court, was speechless and ceased any further accusations. She merely opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, unsure of what to do next.
Shi Qingxuan was waving his fan madly.
Around him, the whispers continued to flow ceaselessly.
“Even if this was an attempt to dodge responsibility, it’s going too far!”
“Too bold! To speak of something like that in such a public manner! How is there this type of person?”
“Perhaps he should pray at the Temple of Ju Yang--,”
At the sound of his former title, Feng Xin couldn’t keep silent anymore and shouted, “SHUT UP! SHUT THE FUCK UP! You! Stop talking shit! Who cares if His Highness can’t get it up!” His face wore an expression of particular anguish, conflicted as to how he found himself uttering those words in the first place.
Hearing Feng Xin’s outburst, Mu Qing immediately followed with his own opinion: “Truly, Your Highness continues to be an inspiration for all those who follow his path. It’s only through rigorous cultivation that he…can’t get erect,” despite his decorous statement, Mu Qing too, still looked rattled as his eyes were too wide for a picture of complete composure.
“No no, I-I-I misspoke,” Xie Lian stuttered, holding his hands up and backing away. How embarrassing! If only he could fall on the ground and die! In all his years as a banished God of Misfortune, at least he never had to endure this kind of humiliation!
Next to him, Shi Qingxuan, still fluttering his fan, laughed shakily, “Hahaha! His Highness must have been making a joke! He’s joking! He could tell the tension was getting a little high, so he made a joke. Everyone please forget about it!”
This was truly humiliating. The defense that he had wielded for so long had become a weapon against him. Even someone as thick skinned as him, couldn’t take this.
Was ascension even worth it?