Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 157 : A Miraculous Hatchling

Chapter 157: Chapter 157 : A Miraculous Hatchling

When night came, Zhang Fengxi took his pearl to bed.

And then, because he was worried that he might crush the pearl to pieces while rolling around in his sleep, he placed it on a small table next to his bed.

Barely a few minutes later, he remembered that he was supposed to keep the pearl close to him, so he groaned and decided to not sleep for the night.

Leaning against a bedpost, the alpha held the pearl in both hands. His head lolled to the side many times, and then the pearl slipped from his fingers and fell unto the bedsheet.

By then, Zhang Fengxi was too sleepy to notice anything. A small, barely visible crack appeared on the pearl’s smooth surface. The crack slowly widened, and then a furry claw reached out from the crevice. The pearl broke into halves in one quick motion, revealing a small furry creature with a pair of big eyes.

It looked around and blinked at the new world it had just been born in. When it saw Zhang Fengxi sleeping nearby, it walked toward him on shaky feet, and then nestled comfortably at Zhang Fengxi’s chest.

Morning came, and Zhang Fengxi’s eyes fluttered open. The first thing he saw was the cracked pearl. Frantically, he bent forward to pick up the broken pieces. At that time, the furry creature at his chest fell down with a small shriek.

"Squeee!"

Zhang Fengxi stared at the creature that lay curling up on his bed.

It was a small bird with long, colorful, and iridescent feathers. It wore a crown of keratin on its head, and there was a heart-shaped mark on its chest.

"Squeee!!!"

Zhang Fengxi received a vicious slap on his fingers when he rolled the bird around to take a good look.

"... Hi."

"Squeee!!!"

Zhang Fengxi stared at his new pet. He never kept any animals around before, except for maybe Xiao Huang who he did not raise himself.

The bird gave Zhang Fengxi a pitiful look with its beady eyes.

"Squeee!!! Squeee!!!"

"Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"

"Squeee!!!"

The poor bird was very unlucky to fall into the hands of a dumb owner.

Zhang Fengxi’s first thought was to go back to Qingyuan Palace to ask for some pointers, but by then the Qingyuan Palace already went back to the bottom of the sea.

His second thought was to seek his mother’s advice. Lady Song hailed from Qifeng Palace, the Phoenix clan. She had to know how to feed birds, right?

"Oh, God, what a cutie bird!!!"

"Squeee!!!"

The small bird flapped its tiny wings in excitement at meeting another bird in a different form, but it was not able to fly yet.

"Mother, it is hungry. What can we feed it with?"

Lady Song hummed as she tapped on her cheek.

"Seeds?"

A variety of seeds and nuts that were available in Longjing Palace was laid before the small bird. And yet, it turned its head away haughtily in rejection.

"Fengxi, where did you get this bird from?" Lady Song frowned. "It does not like typical bird food. Chengsu! Bring us some fruits, cut them into small pieces first!"

Chengsu brought a tray full of cut-up fruits. Again, the bird refused to eat.

"This is a bird that hatched from the pearl I got from Qingyuan Palace," Zhang Fengxi explained. "It is not a normal bird."

"Hmmm... Your mother is not knowledgeable about other mystical birds than phoenixes. Tell you what, why don’t you consult your uncle about this bird?"

Song Weiyang, the Qifeng Palace Master, was literally the King of All Birds.

"Alright. Thanks, Mother."

Zhang Fengxi scooped the little bird into his hands and headed directly to the Qifeng Palace with the little bird safely tucked in his chest.

They barely arrived when the bird cried out for no reason at all and fluttered away with its still shaky wings.

"Squeeee!!!"

"Hey, wait! BIRD!"

Zhang Fengxi hopped down from Xiao Huang’s back and chased after the little bird.

It flew past the palace gate and landed on a certain person’s shoulder.

"Oho," Song Weiyang commented. "Crown Prince, someone has taken a liking to you."

Xie Jianyu extended a hand to the bird, who then hopped on his finger and chirped happily.

"Hi," Xie Jianyu greeted the tiny bird in a soft voice. "Where did you come from?"

Zhang Fengxi came up behind them in a hurry.

"Sorry," he said. "That bird is mine. I..."

Xie Jianyu turned around and stared at Zhang Fengxi.

Zhang Fengxi was momentarily dazzled when he looked at Xie Jianyu. For some reason, although Xie Jianyu was still wearing his usual alpha clothes, he looked so different today.

The curves of his almond eyes were reminiscent of the sharp and eloquent strokes in the famous paintings that the Goddess of Art and Music herself created.

The luscious lips were as red as the freshest cherries at the peak of the spring season.

And the porcelain skin...

"Ahem."

Zhang Fengxi snapped back from his trance. Song Weiyang gave him a knowing smile.

"Fengxi, fancy seeing you at Qifeng Palace. How are your parents doing?"

Before Zhang Fengxi answered, Xie Jianyu turned to Song Weiyang and cupped his hands.

"Palace Master Song, I do not want to intrude further. I shall excuse myself now."

"Alright, Your Majesty, take care."

Xie Jianyu passed the little bird to Zhang Fengxi wordlessly before he turned to leave. The Crown Prince had barely taken three steps away when the bird began to screech frantically.

It left Zhang Fengxi’s hand and fluttered toward Xie Jianyu.

Blinking in confusion, Xie Jianyu caught it with both hands. The bird squealed happily and burrowed itself into Xie Jianyu’s palms.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Did Zhou Guiying not say that the bird was supposed to be his most loyal companion, his most trustable ally?

Why was it sticking to Xie Jianyu like that?

-------------------

Author’s note :

Mini theater :

If only the bird can talk...

Zhang Fengxi : Hey, bird, do you not recognize your master?

Bird : Squee!!! Squeee!!! I want to stay with my Mommy!

Xie Jianyu : ?