"Now, this Demon Emperor was reborn, and kept returning to the beginning, but no matter what he did, he couldn't deal with our Human Emperor. So he came up with an idea that would shake heaven and earth."
"He turned into a woman and joined the ranks of the Human Emperor's confidantes. But unexpectedly, he fell for him himself." An old man was recounting this notorious bit of unofficial history with great relish.
A woman in the audience looked disdainful. "Old man, by your account, the Demon Emperor is that Immortal Demon Queen?"
"Shh, keep your voice down! If the Human Emperor's army hears you, this old man will be in deep trouble."
In a teahouse nearby, a peerlessly beautiful woman in a white-and-gold phoenix-patterned gown leaned against the shoulder of a valiant-looking man, gently caressing her belly.
"My dear, they're talking about you."
The woman shot him a glance and gave a coquettish pout. "Darling, you're so mean. You tease me with old stories every day, and you even made me the first of your sisters to get pregnant."
The valiant man gently gathered her into his arms, overwhelmed with emotion...
The woman in his arms, however, had far more complicated thoughts.
"I really must be crazy..."
