Then she pointed at Poppy’s stomach and yelled at full volume, “Oh, my gods, I figured it out. She’s pregnant!”
The hall exploded.
Minghua screamed so loudly half the foxfire lanterns flickered. Mingjun choked on nothing. Xu Yunlian clapped both hands over her mouth.Elder Qiao dropped his staff. A shrine maiden fainted. Mingzhao seemed to forget how to stand and sat back down abruptly.
Poppy stared at Lysandra, pale as moonlight. “What?”
Mingxi made a noise between a gasp and a dying kettle. “Poppy—”
“I… what!”
Lysandra beamed. “I mean, yeah! It’s tiny! Like a spark! A bean spark! But ohhhh, it is bright.”
Poppy’s hands flew to her abdomen.
Mingxi’s ears flattened. His tails fanned in pure, trembling shock. “Yueguang…” he whispered, voice breaking, “Are you?”
“I didn’t know!” she squeaked.
Yunlian hurried forward, gently taking Poppy’s wrist. Her fingers pressed to Poppy’s pulse.
Xu Yunlian gasped. “Oh.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Poppy. Yes. There is a second light. Very small. Very new. But absolutely there.”
Mingxi staggered a step backward, hand over his mouth. “Oh, gods,” he whispered. “Oh, gods.”
Poppy grabbed his sleeve. “Mingxi—”
He pulled her into his arms so suddenly she squeaked, hugging her desperately, knowing he might fall apart if he let go.
“You’re carrying—” His voice cracked entirely. “Our…”
She buried her face in his chest. “Mingxi, I didn’t know.”
He kissed the top of her head, shaking. “It’s not your fault. It’s not… I just… I never thought.”
Lysandra clapped excitedly as she shrieked, “The timing is terrible, but the vibe is excellent.”
Mingxi whipped around, still holding Poppy protectively. “Lysandra,” he hissed, “if you speak at full volumeone more—”
“Hey! I’m thrilled for you!” She leaned in and whispered loudly, “And Poppy’s already glowing. Like literally. Her qi halo is doing a little sparkle thing—”
Mingjun elbowed Lysandra, who responded with a quick and high-pitched, “Ow!”
Mingzhao finally stood, regaining some composure.
“Enough,” he said firmly, voice steadying the room. “There is time for celebration later.” He looked at Poppy with the stern, protective softness only a clan leader could carry. “For now… this changes everything.”
Xu Yunlian wiped her eyes, pulling herself together as well.
“The fragment is not just reacting to moonwell magic anymore,” she said quietly. “It is reacting to the new life inside her.”
Poppy’s breath hitched audibly.
“No,” Mingxi said instantly.
No!The word thundered through him. He stepped in front of Poppy, shielding her with all seven tails.
“You will not touch her. You will not come near her. No fragment, no shard, no entity…nothingwill lay a hand on them.”
