On the day of Fucang’s five-thousandth birthday, Taiyi Dijun sent a cartload of Celestial Glory Apricot saplings as a birthday gift.

Looking at his handsome young grandson with his immortal bearing and jade-like qualities, Taiyi Dijun’s heart was full of affection and expectation as he told him: “Plant these saplings with your own hands, and when you meet your future wife, they will bloom.”

Celestial Glory Apricots bloomed in gorgeous profusion, their flowers as large as plates—they were considered the finest among apricot blossoms. Their only unpleasant quality was their unpredictable flowering period. They might bloom at any moment, or they might not bloom even once in tens of thousands of years.

So in truth, Taiyi Dijun’s words were just teasing his grandson for fun. However, young Fucang Shenjun, who was only five thousand years old at the time, took it seriously. Every day after meals, he would make a trip to the garden, afraid that these apricot trees he had planted with his own hands might suddenly burst into bloom with a crackling sound.

Perhaps for this naturally aloof half-grown child, the existence of something called a “wife” was still not quite acceptable.

With this constant worry, the Celestial Glory Apricots obligingly never bloomed. Fucang gradually grew up in the Azure Emperor’s palace, and by the time he reached thirty thousand years old, he had completely forgotten about this matter.

On a clear spring day, the Heavenly Emperor suddenly found himself with nothing to do and remembered that Fucang Shenjun of the Huaxu Clan was now thirty thousand years old. Furthermore, due to his sword dance at the Imperial Daughter’s wedding banquet last time, his reputation had greatly increased, and there would likely be an endless stream of romantic prospects in the future. This stirred in him a slight urge to play matchmaker.

But deciding whom to match him with became a problem. The Huaxu Clan had always been well-regarded, so naturally everyone in the Upper Realm would want to marry their daughter to them. Whoever he chose would make the others resentful. As it happened, the Princess of the Zhuyin Clan had just reached nine thousand seven hundred years old, graceful and poised with her beauty fully formed. If he chose her, no one would dare hold a grudge.

Thus, at lunch, Fucang received this message: “Tomorrow at Flower Emperor’s Immortal Island, meet with Princess of the Zhuyin Clan and admire the flowers together.”

He turned to look at his father, who appeared completely unruffled and said with a smile: “Yes, His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor means well. You’re not young anymore, so go and give it a try.”

Who in the Upper Realm didn’t know the illustrious name of the Zhuyin Clan? A princess from such a distinguished tribal family would probably be similar to the divine clans he usually associated with.

He hoped she would be proper and generous—that way both sides could report back satisfactorily. With these thoughts, Fucang spent the last day of the quiet life of his divine existence without a ripple of emotion.

The news of the Heavenly Emperor’s matchmaking spread through the entire Upper Realm almost instantly. When Gu Ting heard that they would meet at his own immortal island, he enthusiastically arranged to open the inner courtyard gates, saying: “The whirling peonies have just bloomed—it would be perfect to go see them with that Princess of the Zhuyin Clan.”

In Gu Ting’s simple heart, he probably also thought that the Princess of the Zhuyin Clan must be a noble and gentle type. She should match well with Fucang, he thought.

Early that morning, Fucang changed into his usual snow-white cloud-patterned long robe. For some inexplicable flash of inspiration, before leaving he made a special trip to the garden. The Celestial Glory Apricots were bare as always, not even a single bud had emerged.

He left the Azure Emperor’s palace with peace of mind.

In the pear blossom grove of Flower Emperor’s Immortal Island, where blossoms piled up like clouds and accumulated snow, he met Princess Xuan Yi of the Zhuyin Clan.

She… was indeed quite noble. She brought over a hundred attendants—so noble it bordered on arrogant and overbearing.

She was also indeed quite gentle. Her speech was flowery and ornate, her tone soft and weak, and she walked in a soft and weak manner too, as if she had no bones in her body.

She was furthermore quite proper. She spoke malicious and mocking words in a pitiful and touching manner—he had never seen anyone so skilled at talking.

She was also quite generous. With no sense of guest and host propriety, upon meeting she dropped a handkerchief into the Cloud Pool, and then brazenly wanted to pick the whirling peonies. Gu Ting was nearly frightened to tears by her.

In short, this matchmaking attempt gave Fucang countless reasons for annoyance out of nowhere. Even a mountain of earth would be angered into a volcano by her.

Fucang Shenjun returned to the Azure Emperor’s palace with a face as black as charcoal, only to be greeted head-on by a group of excited divine officials, which dealt him another blow: “Shenjun! The Celestial Glory Apricots in the garden have bloomed!”

In that instant, he truly had the feeling of a mouthful of blood caught in his throat about to spray out in frustration.

Yet they really had bloomed—clusters and bunches piled on branches that had been completely bare just that morning, displaying their delicate and gorgeous splendor in the radiant evening glow.

Fucang stared blankly at the Celestial Glory Apricots blooming throughout half the garden for a good while.

When the Azure Emperor came looking for him, he was still lost in thought.

“How was that Princess of the Zhuyin Clan?” The Azure Emperor deliberately poked at his sore spot.

Fucang turned to bow in greeting. When he raised his head, the displeasure and annoyance had already vanished. He only said flatly: “Father, if His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor has any similar matchmaking attempts in the future, please decline them on my behalf.”

The Azure Emperor couldn’t help but laugh aloud: “Oh? Was she not good-looking? Or were her words and actions crude?”

No, her appearance…

Fucang had thought that due to his annoyance, he had already forgotten what that dragon princess looked like. But suddenly, that translucent jade-porcelain-like face appeared in his mind. Not only that, but also that head of fluffy long hair, those flashing golden earrings, those serene yet distant eyes and brows—she looked completely out of place with everything around her.

He stopped looking at those bizarrely blooming Celestial Glory Apricots and cupped his hands in farewell: “I have no interest in such matters at present. Father need not trouble himself with this either.”

The sky darkened. Along the lakeside path where ethereal lights flickered, Fucang walked while unable to help constantly thinking of that elegant and beautiful figure. Very beautiful, but utterly detestable with nothing lovable about her. What was most detestable was not those affected and pretentious attitudes, but rather the way she treated others like fools to toy with. Knowing full well that such deliberate behavior would let him see through her, she still did as she pleased.

The Celestial Glory Apricots had bloomed—but of course it wasn’t because of her.

Fucang forcibly cast aside the lingering graceful and alluring image. He decided to forget all the absurd things that had happened today.