《The Scheming National Teacher's Beloved Demon Wife.》
A Little Fox Falls from the Sky
Deep within White Spirit Mountain,
A cold spring, exuding a faint chill, lies still. Occasionally, a leaf floats over the surface of the spring, only to be instantly frozen and sink to the bottom.
On the opposite side of the spring, less than a foot away, is a blazing pit where red flames leap and sway with the wind. Getting too close would cause instant melting into nothingness.
By all rights, these two places¡ªextreme cold and extreme heat¡ªshould be barren and lifeless. However, there is, against all odds, a small and adorable fox lounging in the center of these two extremes.
The fox¡¯s body is pure silver, with soft fur, and it lies with its eyes closed in a relaxed posture, seemingly unaffected by the heat and cold on either side.
Suddenly, the fox twitches its ears, as though hearing something, and immediately opens its eyes. Her violet eyes, clear like the finest gems, hold a purity that seems to make the world¡¯s ugliness vanish before her.
¡°Stupid fox, where are you?¡± A shout echoes from the distance.
The fox lifts its head and turns toward the sound. A figure moves swiftly like the wind and appears before her in an instant.
The man is dressed in a white robe, loosely tied at the waist with a belt, revealing a tanned chest. His long hair flows down to his waist, tied only at the tips with a matching hairband. His sharp brows and obsidian-like eyes are now fixed on the fox.
His lips are pressed tightly together, clearly displeased that the fox hasn¡¯t responded to him.
The fox glances at him, then lies back down and closes her eyes again, resuming her feigned slumber.
She doesn¡¯t respond because she knows this man¡¯s temperament all too well!
About fifteen minutes later, the man gives up. ¡°Hey, stupid fox, why did you run back here again?¡±
The fox continues to feign sleep with her eyes closed.
The man, frustrated by her lack of reaction, stomps his foot. ¡°Damn fox, you¡¯re ignoring me again? I rushed over here, worried you''d be in danger, and now you won¡¯t even acknowledge me? Fine, I¡¯m leaving.¡±
His so-called threat is actually a plea for attention, but it doesn''t move the fox.
He takes a small step backward, then turns around. ¡°Am I really leaving?¡±
He takes another step, glaring at her. ¡°Damn fox, don¡¯t regret it when I¡¯m gone!¡±
The fox doesn¡¯t even spare him a glance.
¡°Fine, you win. I¡¯m not leaving,¡± the man says, giving up on the threat. He lifts his robe and sits down next to the fox.
The fox, sensing his presence, suddenly opens her eyes. ¡°When have you ever said you were leaving? When did I stop you?¡±
The man, dejected, lowers his head, clearly unhappy. ¡°Can¡¯t you at least comfort me?¡±
¡°Why should I comfort you? I¡¯m not your mother.¡± The fox pouts, thinking to herself that only your mother, who dotes on you like that, would do something like comforting you.
White Ting pouts. ¡°If you were my mother, you wouldn¡¯t ignore me.¡±
¡°White Ting, what are you here for?¡± The fox, tired of the pointless conversation, asks directly what he wants.
¡°Oh, I almost forgot,¡± White Ting slaps his forehead in frustration, clearly distressed. Seeing a big man make such a gesture, the fox can¡¯t help but find it... oddly cute.
The fox rolls her eyes. ¡°You dumb fawn, what would happen if you left the mountain? You¡¯d definitely be tricked and taken away.¡±
White Ting grins foolishly. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving the mountain. My mom says that people down there are bad. They¡¯re full of tricks, and if I leave, they¡¯ll catch me and slaughter me.¡±
¡°White Ting, you still haven¡¯t answered my question.¡±
¡°Uh, right.¡± White Ting sits up straight. ¡°Stupid fox, did you know someone entered the mountain?¡±
White Ting grins foolishly. "I''m not leaving the mountain. My mom says that people down there are all bad. They''re full of schemes, and if I go down, I''ll definitely get caught and slaughtered."
"White Ting, you didn¡¯t answer my question."
"Uh, right." White Ting sits up straight. "Stupid fox, do you know? Someone has entered the mountain."
"What? Someone entered the mountain?" The fox jumps up, landing on White Ting¡¯s shoulder, and swats him with a paw. "When did this happen? Why are you telling me now?"
White Ting is stunned. "It happened yesterday morning. I was going to come find you, but I got delayed on the way and forgot."
By the end, his voice is quieter and quieter, and his head lowers.
The fox slaps him on the back of the head and grits her teeth, growling, "You¡¯re driving me crazy."
After saying that, the fox jumps off White Ting¡¯s shoulder and disappears in a few leaps.
White Ting, finally realizing that he¡¯s been left behind, shouts toward the direction the fox disappeared. "Hey, stupid fox, wait for me!"
Oh no, without the fox blocking him, would he be swallowed by the cold spring and fiery pit?
The world¡¯s elements¡ªwater and fire¡ªare naturally incompatible. How could they exist together in this extreme environment?
But the fox seems to be the only one who can exist here unharmed.
"Stupid fox, I haven¡¯t told you where those people are yet! Come back and save me!"This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
White Ting¡¯s shout is so loud that a flock of birds flies away in a flurry.
The fox, having run quite a distance, suddenly remembers White Ting didn¡¯t mention where the intruders were. She lands on a tree, closes her eyes, and pricks up her ears, listening carefully to the sounds around White Spirit Mountain.
"There!" The fox opens her eyes and rushes southeast, praying she¡¯s not too late to save them!
White Spirit Mountain is a place shrouded in mystery, known by people as "The Mountain of Demons."
It is said that many monsters and half-beasts live there, but no one has ever seen them. A saying that circulates around White Spirit Mountain is:
"Enter White Spirit, and you are dead; from then on, you will be an immortal demon."
It¡¯s rumored that someone once ventured into the mountain to verify the truth of this saying, but they never returned, making the place even more feared by the people.
"Big Brother, is White Spirit Mountain really as powerful as the legends say?" The person asking is a burly man in blue clothing, carrying a bow and a large knife, with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular arms.
The one he calls Big Brother, on the other hand, is fair-skinned, holding a folding fan, looking like a refined young gentleman.
"Third Brother, why do you believe everything? If the legends about White Spirit Mountain were true, they wouldn¡¯t be called legends."
"Oh, I see." The burly man nods seriously, then remains silent.
The seven of them live in the town near White Spirit Mountain, and ever since they were children, they¡¯ve heard the elders speak of the mountain¡¯s legends. Growing up, they became very curious about it.
The elders spoke of White Spirit Mountain with great reverence, making it sound almost mystical. Now that they¡¯re adults, they¡¯ve been eager to explore the mountain and see for themselves. After drinking together a few days ago, they agreed to venture into White Spirit Mountain.
After wandering around the foot of the mountain for two days, they finally found a path up the mountain early the next morning.
They spent a whole day walking without feeling any discomfort or encountering danger, making them think that White Spirit Mountain wasn¡¯t as formidable as the legends had made it out to be.
"Big Brother, let¡¯s take a break. Seventh Brother is lagging behind."
Seventh Brother is the youngest among them, not yet of age. He has been walking for several days and is exhausted, while the others seem fine. He¡¯s been pushing through, but now, he can¡¯t keep going, so Third Brother speaks up since he and Big Brother are close.
Big Brother, clearly annoyed, rolls his eyes but agrees, "Fine, let¡¯s rest here for a bit, then we¡¯ll continue."
"Great, we can rest!"
"Let¡¯s make a fire and get something to eat."
"Alright."
Seventh Brother leans against a tree and takes out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat. "Big Brother, do you feel like it¡¯s getting hotter?"
"No."
"Really? Because I feel like it¡¯s getting hotter, like we¡¯re about to roast alive."
"Who do you think you are, whining like a girl just after walking a few steps?" Big Brother mocks Seventh Brother. He¡¯s the kind of man who looks down on anyone who complains about the heat or carries unnecessary things like a handkerchief.
"Big Brother, I feel it too," says the burly man, a bit embarrassed, afraid that Big Brother will think he''s being too delicate.
"Yeah, I feel it too."
"Right, right, I feel it too."
Everyone except Big Brother is feeling the increasing heat. This isn¡¯t just one person¡¯s problem, and Big Brother can¡¯t ignore it. His brows furrow. "Why does everyone feel hot?"
"Ah! What is that?" One man suddenly screams, pointing at something in the distance, trembling all over.
The others look in the direction he¡¯s pointing, and they¡¯re all stunned.
On the distant mountaintop, dark clouds are rapidly gathering, and within a few breaths, they cover a large portion of the sky.
With a loud crack, a bolt of lightning strikes a tree just a few steps from Big Brother. In the blink of an eye, the tree, which they could barely wrap their arms around, is reduced to charred ash.
"Gulp." Big Brother unconsciously swallows. He was just a few steps away from being struck by lightning!
The others are terrified by what they just saw. "Big¡ Big Brother¡ Let¡¯s go."
"Okay." This time, Big Brother doesn¡¯t hesitate. It¡¯s too terrifying¡ªtime to leave.
Just as the seven are about to turn to leave, another bolt of lightning strikes right in front of them, splitting the ground open with a massive crack. They can¡¯t leave now!
With a loud thud, one man is so frightened he drops to his knees, repeatedly bowing his head. "Sorry¡ sorry, it¡¯s our fault, we shouldn¡¯t have entered White Spirit Mountain. Please, spare us!"
The others follow suit, kneeling one after another, pleading for forgiveness.
The sky is filled with dark clouds, and the crackling lightning seems to be charging up, waiting for its final strike.
A quarter of an hour later, the lightning falls from the dark clouds, heading straight for them. Six of the seven men faint from fear, while the seventh, Seventh Brother, is too terrified to pass out.
But it¡¯s a good thing Seventh Brother didn¡¯t faint, because he witnesses what happens next.
As the lightning falls, a barrier appears in front of them, blocking the strike.
Seventh Brother blinks, and to his amazement, the barrier isn¡¯t some invisible force¡ªit¡¯s a massive silver-white creature blocking the lightning!
"My god, what is that? It can even block lightning?"
The silver-white creature turns its head toward him, and Seventh Brother sees it clearly for the first time: it¡¯s a huge fox!
This is the same fox that spoke with White Ting earlier.
"Why aren¡¯t you waking up your companions to get out of here?" the fox asks.
"Ah! The fox is speaking!" Seventh Brother screams. White Spirit Mountain is indeed a mysterious place¡ªthis fox can speak and block lightning!
The fox, hearing his words, can¡¯t help but wonder what¡¯s going through human minds. At a time like this, they¡¯re more concerned with the fox talking than escaping.
With a quiet sigh, the fox thinks, ¡°I should deal with the lightning first.¡±
The fox gathers its spiritual energy and tries to push the lightning back. The two forces are at an impasse, but just when the fox begins to gain the upper hand, something unexpected happens!
The power of the dark clouds suddenly intensifies, and the lightning¡¯s strength doubles. It strikes the fox, sending it flying to another mountaintop, creating a massive crater.
Perhaps seeing the fox get sent flying, the dark clouds quickly disperse, leaving the area above Seventh Brother and his group clear.
Seventh Brother, as if awakening from a trance, quickly calls out to the others. "Let¡¯s get down the mountain, quickly!"
Meanwhile, the fox, having been struck by lightning, crashes into another mountaintop. The pain feels like her insides have been rearranged.
"Ah! It hurts, but at least those people should have gotten away by now." Her goal was simple¡ªto make sure they didn¡¯t die on White Spirit Mountain!
"Crackle, crackle¡ª"
The fox''s ears twitch. She hears the sound of lightning again. Looking up, she sees the same dark clouds and lightning from before.
The fox''s mouth twitches. "Is it really going to keep chasing me? I only saved a few people. It¡¯s not like I broke any rules."
She initially thought the lightning was chasing her because she intervened in those people¡¯s lives, but upon closer inspection, she realizes that isn¡¯t the case.
The dark clouds are still swirling with purple energy!
"Could it be¡ the heavenly tribulation has come?" The fox''s lips twitch. She just suffered a wound, and her spiritual energy is already less than half. If the tribulation comes now, she¡¯s likely done for.
But running away isn¡¯t in her nature. Even if she dies, she wants to die gloriously!
Summoning all her spiritual energy, the fox¡¯s body begins to glow with silver light, growing brighter and larger. As the light fades, the fox reveals her true form.
Nine tails swirl around her¡ªan ancient demonic beast, the nine-tailed fox!
"Howl!" She roars at the dark clouds, taking the first strike. The clouds respond by sending three lightning bolts, striking the fox and forcing her to halt.
After a brief respite, the fox realizes her energy has been drained by about seventy percent!
The lightning doesn¡¯t stop. As her spiritual energy nears exhaustion, four bolts of lightning strike her simultaneously, sending the fox crashing to the ground, creating a massive crater. Her once-bright fur is now scorched.
"Is this how it ends for me?" The fox thinks bitterly. She¡¯s been training all this time to shed her demonic form. Now, when the heavenly tribulation arrives, she¡¯s going to die because of her depleted energy?
With the last of her strength, the fox clashes with the final thunderbolt, and the force of the collision distorts the space around her. The fox is sucked into theÁÑ·ì, and as she disappears, she almost hears someone calling her name.
Northern Yan¡ªDeep in Wuqie Mountain
"Chirp, chirp, chirp!" A small white figure falls from the sky.
"Chirp." Ugh, this is how I die.
Royal Siblings
The little fox was dizzy and disoriented from the fall. There were several scrapes on her body, and as she moved, a sharp pain shot through her injured leg. She reached out with her paw and pressed it against her wounded leg, but nothing changed. After a moment of silence, she quietly activated her spiritual power, attempting to transform into human form. However... nothing happened.
"Yip¡ª!" The little fox squeaked, and her large purple eyes quickly filled with tears.
She sighed deeply. "Heaven, how could you be so cruel to me? I¡¯ve spent so many years diligently cultivating to grow nine tails. I finally reached the punishment of heaven, and I thought maybe, because I saved people, the final strike would be gentler. Even if I couldn¡¯t survive, I thought I could at least be injured. But why did you strike me into this godforsaken place? I want to go back. White Ting, I miss you so much!"
If someone had been there at that moment, they would have seen a silver little fox, ears drooping, eyes full of tears, flailing about in frustration.
The little fox pouted for a while, but then something felt off. Why does everything sound like "yip, yip"?
She lifted her little head, looking around, and noticed a small pond in front of her. Slowly, dragging her injured leg, she made her way towards it. After nearly an incense''s time, she finally reached the pond.
Out of breath, the little fox felt more exhausted than she had in many years.
She stretched her little head toward the water, and the reflection stunned her.
What is that?
The water reflected the image of her appearance from many years ago.
The little fox stared in shock at the reflection. After a long while, she suddenly covered her eyes with both paws, rolling on the ground, squealing, "I was struck back to my infancy! Damn heavenly thunder, just wait! One day, I¡¯ll fight back against you."
The little fox felt a pang of sorrow. Everything had gone back to square one. She would have to start all over again.
What really worried her, however, was not the prospect of starting her cultivation from scratch. For a beast like her, cultivation was never difficult. What troubled her was how a wounded little fox like herself would survive in this desolate, uninhabited place.
She suddenly longed for her days on White Spirit Mountain, where, aside from cultivation, everything was handled by White Ting. She didn¡¯t have to worry about anything, and she had no troubles.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
But White Ting wasn¡¯t here, and she didn¡¯t even know if she¡¯d ever see him again.
Exhausted, the little fox knew she needed to find a quiet and safe place to heal.
Dragging her injured body, she finally found a cave before nightfall. Inside the cave was a neatly arranged bed of soft grass, and beside it were fruits and what appeared to be spiritual herbs.
The little fox felt dazed. It was as if everything she needed had been prepared for her.
Just as the little fox hesitated about whether to stay in the cave, there was a faint rustling sound at the entrance. It was a small deer.
The deer saw the little fox¡¯s injured leg and a knowing look crossed its eyes.
Instead of chasing the fox away, the deer would leave every day and return with food for her. The little fox was deeply grateful.
After more than ten days of rest and care from the deer, the little fox¡¯s leg had healed about 80%. She began to feel restless and wandered around the forest.
While walking, she came to a tree, looked up, and then climbed up using all four paws. She stood on a thick branch, looking in a particular direction.
Suddenly, there was movement in the bushes. She vaguely saw a small deer running for its life. The little fox fixed her eyes on it. It was the same deer that had been keeping her company for the past few days!
Without hesitation, the little fox jumped from the branch and ran after it.
Just as she was about to reach the deer, an arrow suddenly shot out and struck the deer in the neck. With a loud thud, the deer fell in front of the little fox.
The little fox cautiously stretched out a paw to touch it. "Yip, yip." But the deer didn¡¯t respond.
"Haha, Brother, it was my arrow that hit it! You can¡¯t deny it," a playful voice suddenly echoed.
The little fox was startled and quickly leaped into a nearby bush. In her rush, her injured leg slipped, and she ended up with a mouthful of dirt.
"Spit, spit, spit." As the little fox was trying to clear her mouth, she heard a man¡¯s voice, "Sister, you¡¯re cheating."
The little fox peeked through the grass and saw a man and a woman riding horses, stopping next to the dead deer.
The woman spoke with a hint of flirtation, "Brother, all¡¯s fair in war. Just give it to me."
The man, however, was reluctant. "You¡¯re a princess; you don¡¯t need to do it yourself. If you can convince me, I¡¯ll let you take it."
The woman bit her lip, her face flushed. "I¡¯ve already told you, Brother, you mustn¡¯t laugh."
"Mm."
The little fox, stretching her neck and perking her ears, waited for the woman¡¯s next words. What could make her so embarrassed?
"I want to use this deer to make a cloak and give it to the National Teacher," the woman said.
"What?" The man was surprised. "You want to¡ give it to the National Teacher?"
"Mm." The woman nodded shyly. "You already promised, no backing out."
The man sighed deeply, speaking earnestly. "Sister, you know the National Teacher¡¯s temperament. Everyone in the court knows it. You¡¯re a woman; if he¡ what will become of your dignity?"
Upon hearing this, the woman¡¯s face, which had been flushed with embarrassment, paled. She suddenly snapped at the man, "Jing Rui, why don¡¯t you think about whether the National Teacher would accept it from me?"
The man, Jing Rui, helplessly responded, "Sister, I¡¯m doing this for your own good."
The woman turned away, not looking at him. "No need to say more. Let¡¯s take the prey and go back."
The little fox was confused. The National Teacher? Is he really that important?
Suddenly, there was a sharp sound. Jing Rui and his sister immediately tensed, "Who¡¯s there?"
Crashing into His Arms
Jing Rui and his sister both turned toward the bushes. "Shh," Jing Rui silenced his sister and quietly reached behind him, pulling out an arrow. He nocked it and aimed at the white figure in the bushes.
"Yip." The little fox was startled by the wind of the arrow. She had narrowly escaped death again. Oh, this place was too dangerous.
"What a beautiful fox!" The woman gasped. "Brother, hurry, let''s catch it."
Jing Rui immediately agreed; he also thought the fox was beautiful.
The brother and sister both pulled out arrows and nocked their bows, shooting three arrows each, making six arrows in total, all aimed at the little fox.
Seeing the danger, the little fox immediately turned and ran. Jing Rui and his sister quickly mounted their horses and gave chase.
Though they all had four legs, the little fox''s legs were short. Even though she had the advantage of being able to weave around corners, the gap between her and the horses was closing rapidly.
As the little fox ran for her life, she whimpered. Was she really going to die in this unknown place? She had just healed from her leg injury and only came out for a walk. Now, a familiar animal had been killed, and now they were hunting her too. Could this really be "heaven¡¯s jealousy of the beautiful beast"?
The little fox darted this way and that, turning left and right, while Jing Rui and his sister stayed behind, maintaining a steady distance.
As she ran, the little fox realized she had already left the deep mountains, though she hadn''t noticed yet.
Ahead, she saw a camp, with a flag clearly displaying the characters "Bei Yan." Seeing the camp, the little fox immediately knew this was bad. No wonder those two had only been chasing her¡ªthey hadn¡¯t taken action yet.
The woman shouted to the soldiers stationed at the camp, "Come here, capture the fox ahead!"
"Yes, Your Highness."If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Hearing this, the little fox''s heart sank. She was a princess? Oh no, she had heard that human princesses weren¡¯t normal. If she got caught, would she even survive?
The little fox dashed into the camp, slightly slowing down. Her big eyes scanned the tents, and she rushed toward one of the larger tents.
Inside the central tent, the man, hearing the commotion outside, was about to open the tent flap to see what was going on. As he lifted the flap, a white figure collided into his arms.
Immediately, the entire camp went silent.
Jing Rui and his sister stopped calling for her to be captured, and the soldiers stopped trying to surround her.
The little fox felt sure that she had collided with someone important, or else everyone wouldn¡¯t have stopped and stared at her. If she was lucky, the person she bumped into might save her.
Cautiously, she lifted her little head and froze. Her fox eyes locked onto the man¡¯s face, unable to look away.
What kind of person was this?
The man appeared to be about twenty years old, with porcelain-like skin and breathtaking beauty. His black hair was tied high and fixed with a jade crown. His sharp brows, narrow eyes, elegant nose, and cherry-red lips all indicated that he was currently displeased.
He was stunning, the first thought that crossed the little fox¡¯s mind.
Maybe she was saved, was her second thought.
While the little fox stared at the man, he was also observing the little creature in his arms.
The little thing was small and soft, like a white puffball, with pointy ears drooping to the sides, looking slightly dejected. Her eyes were a rare purple, and she was staring intently at his face, with a glistening shine at the corner of her mouth¡ªlikely from drool.
The man was bewildered. How could he see such a look in the eyes of a little creature? It seemed like she was admiring his beauty.
He found it amusing. Was he really seeing this? Could a fox have such an expression? Was he imagining things?
But the next moment, the man stopped laughing. He noticed black paw prints on his chest, where the little fox¡¯s paws had left marks. And not just one print¡ªthere were four paw prints all over it.
The man was wearing his favorite garment, a royal robe made of silk from the Weaving Bureau, newly crafted with heavenly silk. The base was white, embroidered with blue and gold threads forming cloud patterns.
To show his respect for the royal hunt, he had specifically worn it. But now, on his pristine white robe, there were paw prints. Instantly, the man felt like strangling the little fox in his arms to make up for his displeasure.
The little fox wasn¡¯t stupid. While beauty was tempting, ahem, tempting for a fox, she could still sense the coldness in the man¡¯s eyes.
She struggled to escape his grasp. When the man saw the little fox scratching and wriggling in his arms, he smiled. Trying to run? He was now sure that this little fox had spiritual intelligence. She could tell from his expression that he was angry and that she was in danger, so she was trying to escape.
But his arms weren¡¯t a place where she could come and go as she pleased.
Please, Save Me
The man extended his hand and grabbed the back of the little fox¡¯s neck with two fingers, lifting her up and bringing her face to his.
The little fox struggled, her four paws flailing in the air. She thought to herself, "This is bad, I¡¯ve encountered a villain. I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have run straight into this man¡¯s arms. How could humans be so kind? Those with high status are always calculating; why would they let a fox like me voluntarily jump into their trap and not catch me?"
She tried to break free from the man¡¯s grip on her neck, kicking her paws harder. But the man tightened his grip, making her feel more trapped.
"This is my fault," she thought in despair.
After a moment, the little fox grew tired. She couldn¡¯t kick any longer. She really didn¡¯t understand what this man was trying to do. Was he trying to watch her kick her legs?
The little fox stared at him, her eyes filled with confusion. What do you want from me?
The man noticed that she had stopped struggling and saw that her eyes were fixed on his face. It was clear she wanted to say something, and he seemed to understand her gaze.
"Your paws have dirtied my clothes," he said.
What? The little fox widened her eyes in disbelief. He understood me? How is that possible?
Then she looked down and saw that her paw prints were clearly visible on his snowy white robe. The man was wearing a long robe made from heavenly silk, with intricate blue and gold cloud patterns embroidered on it. The robe was freshly made by the royal palace''s Weaving Bureau, and it was one of his favorites. Now, it was stained with her paw prints. The little fox realized she was in serious trouble.
As the little fox tried to think of how to explain that it wasn¡¯t intentional, Jing Rui and his sister approached.
"National Teacher," Jing Rui and his sister both respectfully bowed to the man.
"No need for such formalities, Prince Wu, Princess Seven," the man replied, though he didn¡¯t stop them from bowing.
Hearing the man speak, Princess Seven, Lian Jingya, was thrilled. Her face turned bright red, and in a sweet voice, she said, "How could this be considered too much formalities? The National Teacher is respected by everyone in Bei Yan, so it¡¯s only right that we show our respect. Please, National Teacher, don¡¯t be so polite."This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
National Teacher? The little fox thought to herself, So this man is the one they were talking about.
"Your Highness," Jing Rui said, feeling that his sister had gone too far. It was obvious to anyone that the National Teacher had just been polite to give face to the two of them. Yet, his sister, who was now blushing and acting shy, really seemed to hold the National Teacher in high regard.
"National Teacher," Jing Rui continued, thinking it was time to tone down his sister¡¯s admiration. "Why aren¡¯t you joining the hunt? It¡¯s a grand event that only happens once every three years. You should showcase your skills."
Jing Rui¡¯s words were meant to remind his sister that the National Teacher wasn¡¯t perfect. See, he wasn¡¯t even participating in the hunt.
Unfortunately, Lian Jingya, absorbed in her admiration for the National Teacher¡¯s beauty, didn¡¯t catch his meaning.
"Brother, the National Teacher is Bei Yan¡¯s backbone! How could he take part in something as crude as hunting? What if he gets hurt?" Lian Jingya said with firm conviction.
Jing Rui sighed. He realized there was no way to stop his sister from daydreaming. He was helpless at this point.
What crude activity? This was a royal hunt that happened only once every three years. If that¡¯s crude, what does that make all the civilized activities? It¡¯s as though Lian Jingya had already started thinking about the National Teacher even before marrying him.
The little fox, still in the National Teacher¡¯s arms, blinked. Has he already forgotten about me? Can I escape now?
She glanced up at the National Teacher. His attention was on Jing Rui and his sister, and his grip on her neck seemed to have loosened a little. This is my chance!
Just as she made a move to escape during a brief lull in the conversation, she felt his grip tighten instantly, causing her to yelp in pain.
Damn it, he was squeezing her so hard!
The little fox stretched out one of her little paws to scratch at his hand, but it was just out of reach.
"National Teacher, this little fox was caught by my sister and me. My sister really likes it. Would you be willing to give it to her?" Jing Rui didn¡¯t forget their purpose.
"Yes, I... I really like this little fox, but if the National Teacher likes it, then please keep it. Your wishes should come first," Lian Jingya added quickly.
The little fox thought that if she ended up in Princess Seven¡¯s hands, she might be able to escape later, but if she stayed with this man, there would be no chance of survival.
The National Teacher heard their words, and he lifted the little fox up, bringing her close to his ear. He whispered, "If you end up in Princess Seven¡¯s hands, you might not escape being skinned alive."
What? Skinned alive? She didn¡¯t want that!
As expected, when the little fox heard the words "skinned alive," her eyes filled with fear. The National Teacher added, "If you beg me, I might consider sparing your life."
The little fox¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. She brought her two little paws together in front of her chest, blinking her big eyes, giving him a "please save me" look. She had no other choice¡ªher spiritual power was exhausted, and she couldn¡¯t even protect herself. What was pride to her now?
Scratching Fifth Princes Face
Staring at the little fox with her shining eyes, the National Teacher nodded in satisfaction and said to Lian Jingya, "Since that¡¯s the case, I will keep this little fox, so it doesn¡¯t hurt the Seventh Princess with its wild nature."
Upon hearing the National Teacher¡¯s concern for her, Lian Jingya felt elated, her heart fluttering. Even when Lian Jingrui nudged her a few times, she didn¡¯t come out of her daze.
The little fox in the National Teacher''s arms couldn¡¯t help but mutter inwardly, He¡¯s clearly threatening me to choose him! And now he¡¯s saying I¡¯m wild and untamed? What a cunning man.
Despite her grievances, the little fox knew she had no choice but to soften for the moment. Who knew whether this man would change his mind and give her to Princess Seven? She had already lost her spiritual power after being struck by lightning, so if she was skinned alive, she would have nothing left. Forget about shedding her fox form¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t even have her life.
Her little paws tightly gripped the National Teacher¡¯s robe, refusing to let go. She didn¡¯t care if she dirtied his clothes¡ªthis was her lifeline, and she couldn¡¯t afford to let go.
Lian Jingya, seeing this, chuckled. "It looks like this little fox likes the National Teacher, see how tightly it¡¯s holding onto his clothes."
"Indeed, it seems this creature has a special bond with the National Teacher," Lian Jingrui added.
Lian Jingrui¡¯s words were meant to compliment the National Teacher¡¯s charm, but he used the word "creature" in reference to the little fox. Who was the little fox, after all? Though she was a nine-tailed fox, she still carried the aura of the ancient beasts. If it weren¡¯t for the accident, she would have been a divine beast by now.
Hmph, even a fox has dignity.
With that, the little fox released her hold on the National Teacher¡¯s robe and leaped out of his arms. She swiftly ran to Lian Jingrui¡¯s feet, climbing up his thigh.
"Fifth Brother, it seems this little fox also likes..." Lian Jingya had just begun to speak, but was interrupted by a sudden scream from Lian Jingrui.
Lian Jingrui cried out as the little fox, having jumped off the National Teacher¡¯s shoulder, had scratched his lips with her claws.
The little fox jumped back to the National Teacher¡¯s feet, then turned around to face Lian Jingrui, screeching at him. Dare to call me a creature? I¡¯ll scratch you to death!If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"Aah!" Lian Jingrui, in pain from the scratch on his lips, wanted to shout, but when he opened his mouth, the injury made it worse. He could only cover his mouth, muttering, "Little creature, how dare you scratch me?"
The little fox¡¯s fur bristled with anger. Even the tamest fox would find this intolerable.
Just as she was about to rush at Lian Jingrui to bite him, the fur on her neck was suddenly grabbed.
The National Teacher had anticipated that the little fox would try to go for Lian Jingrui, since he could tell she was no ordinary fox. He had let her scratch Lian Jingrui once, but the second time was unacceptable¡ªespecially since Lian Jingrui was a prince.
Holding the little fox in his arms, the National Teacher gently ran his hand over her fur, attempting to calm her down.
The little fox felt soothed by the National Teacher¡¯s gentle strokes, her bristling fur slowly softening. Her eyes narrowed as she relaxed, enjoying the touch.
Seeing the little fox calm down, the National Teacher smiled inwardly. This little creature knows how to climb up the ladder.
"Fifth Prince," the National Teacher spoke with a smile. "Although the little fox shouldn¡¯t have scratched you, it was you who first called it a creature. While the little fox may not be human, it is still a life and deserves respect. Since you¡¯ve called it a creature twice, the scratch should make it even. Let¡¯s not dwell on it anymore, shall we?"
Though the National Teacher¡¯s tone seemed to be suggesting a compromise, it was laced with sarcasm. You got scratched by the little fox because of your own words!
Lian Jingrui was furious. He¡¯s injured, and yet he can¡¯t even hold the little fox accountable? But since the National Teacher had spoken, Lian Jingrui couldn¡¯t openly challenge him.
He reluctantly nodded. "For the National Teacher¡¯s sake, I won¡¯t pursue it further. But if this little creature scratches someone else, it won¡¯t be so easy to let go."
"Don¡¯t worry, Fifth Prince," the National Teacher replied with a smile. "I¡¯ll make sure the little fox understands that not everyone deserves her claws."
With that, the National Teacher turned and walked back to his tent with the little fox in his arms.
Lian Jingrui, unable to hold back his frustration, could only watch as the National Teacher, whose position in Bei Yan was unshakable, left him to stew in his anger. This was a loss he would have to swallow.
The National Teacher didn¡¯t care about Lian Jingrui¡¯s feelings. At this moment, he was focused on having a conversation with his little fox.
He walked to the table, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and laid it on the table. He placed the little fox on top of it.
The little fox tried to move, but the National Teacher gently tapped her on the head. "Stay on the handkerchief. You¡¯re so dirty¡ªwhere do you think you¡¯re going?"
As he spoke, the National Teacher went behind the screen to bring a basin of water and set it on a nearby stool. He wrung out the handkerchief and gently wiped the little fox¡¯s paws, talking to her as he did.
"Little thing, you really have guts. You dared to scratch the emperor¡¯s brother," the National Teacher said with a smile, though his tone wasn¡¯t harsh. "What would you have done if I hadn¡¯t stepped in to save you?"
Tricked and Eaten
Yip-yip." The little fox¡¯s eyes were full of confusion. What¡¯s wrong with the emperor¡¯s younger brother?
The National Teacher understood her meaning and lightly tapped her forehead. "You know, if you hadn¡¯t met me today, Fifth Prince would have caught you and skinned you alive."
The little fox, hurt by the tap on her forehead, rubbed it with her little paw. She glared at the National Teacher, Don¡¯t touch my head.
The National Teacher chuckled and gently rubbed the spot where he tapped her, amused. "You¡¯re quite fierce, little one. I just like to tap your head, don¡¯t you like it?"
The little fox bared her teeth at him, expressing her discontent.
Just as the National Teacher was about to tease her more, the little fox¡¯s stomach made a loud "grumbling" sound.
If the little fox¡¯s fur hadn¡¯t been in the way, her red face would have been clearly visible from embarrassment. She was mortified.
"Ha ha!" The National Teacher laughed heartily, thoroughly entertained by the little fox¡¯s situation.
The little fox, feeling embarrassed by his laughter, buried her face in her paws, unwilling to come out, making squeaking sounds.
Seeing the little fox curl up in embarrassment, the National Teacher patted her paw. "What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll have someone bring it to you."
"Yip-yip!" Food?
Hearing the promise of food, the little fox immediately lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with excitement. It seemed this was one little fox who loved to eat.
The National Teacher, in turn, was delighted by the shining eyes of the little fox. "Wait here and don¡¯t move. I¡¯ll have someone prepare something for you. Got it?"
Before the National Teacher finished speaking, the little fox eagerly nodded. As long as there was food, she wouldn¡¯t mind staying still. After running and fleeing, she had become so dizzy from hunger that she couldn¡¯t even think straight anymore.
Seeing that she was obedient, the National Teacher left the tent and instructed the palace maids to prepare the food. Not knowing exactly what the little fox liked, he decided to have a bit of everything made, then see which one she liked the best.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
About a tea time later, the National Teacher returned. He found the little fox sitting exactly where he left her, not having moved an inch. She had grown stiff from holding the same position for so long.
"Did I tell you not to move? I didn¡¯t say you had to freeze in that position!"
The little fox, hearing this, finally relaxed and stretched her limbs. I knew it! Why did he make me hold that pose? My legs were cramping. I¡¯m going to eat a lot now to make up for that injury to my pride.
Soon, the palace maids brought in the food. The table was piled with various dishes, leaving only a small spot for the little fox to lie in.
Dizzy from the sight of so much food, the little fox didn¡¯t know where to start. She grabbed the nearest pastry and popped it into her mouth. It melted instantly, and it tasted so good.
Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she continued munching. The National Teacher, watching the little fox enjoy her food, felt a warmth in his heart, something soft stirred inside him. With a gentler tone than usual, he asked, "Do you like these things?"
"Yip-yip." Without hesitation, the little fox nodded eagerly. It¡¯s so delicious!
"Then... if you stay by my side, you can always have good food whenever you want. Would you like to stay?"
"Yip-yip." Sure!
A smile appeared on the National Teacher''s face. He had never thought that one day he would use food as a little trick to keep a fox by his side.
The little fox, munching happily, suddenly froze. She looked up sharply at the man with a smug grin.
What just happened? What did I just agree to? Did I just sell myself out for a bite of food?
The little fox was confused, and the pastry she was holding fell from her paws without her noticing.
After coming to her senses, the little fox pointed accusingly at the National Teacher, her eyes full of blame. You big liar...
The National Teacher, seeing the accusing look in her eyes, couldn¡¯t help but feel a softness in his heart. This little creature was so amusing. Trying not to laugh, he cleared his throat. "Cough. Don¡¯t look at me like that. Wouldn¡¯t being with me be better than living alone in a deep mountain?"
What¡¯s so good about it? I¡¯ve lost my freedom.
"I will always keep you by my side. You¡¯ll get the same treatment I do¡ªthe living, the comforts, especially the food. Could you get such delicious pastries in the mountains?"
The National Teacher emphasized the word "food," his tone full of temptation. As soon as the little fox heard about the food, she was already interested. When the National Teacher used food to tempt her, it worked even better.
She was naturally a lazy fox. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have lived as a little fox in White Spirit Mountain, lounging around with Bai Ting, resting on his body all the time.
Thinking of Bai Ting made the little fox¡¯s mood sour. She wondered if she would ever see him again. Though Bai Ting was a little silly, he had always treated her kindly. She had just disappeared without telling him anything.
The little fox, feeling a bit wronged, lay on the table, tears welling up in her eyes. Yet, her paw still reached for another piece of pastry, taking a bite. She was sad for a moment, then chewed on the pastry.
The National Teacher, feeling a little neglected by the little fox, noticed her change in mood. He picked her up and tried to distract her, wanting her to focus on him.
"Little one, what¡¯s your name? I can¡¯t keep calling you ''little fox'' forever, can I?"
Exchanging Names with the National Teacher
The National Teacher pulled the little fox out of her sad mood. Well, wherever she was, she was living alone. This man might have a bad side, but he could understand her thoughts. Since he was willing to take care of her, she might as well stay with him for a while until she regained her strength.
After thinking it over, the little fox tugged at the National Teacher¡¯s sleeve, asking him to loosen his grip on her a bit. She then extended her little paw, taking nine pieces of cake from the table and neatly arranging them.
¡°Nine? Nine?¡± The National Teacher guessed.
The little fox shook her head, signaling he was wrong. After thinking for a moment, she picked up a piece of cake, took a few bites, and placed it back on the table.
The National Teacher looked at the piece of cake she had bitten and smiled. "Nine pieces of cake plus the one you bit, are you called Little Nine?"
The little fox¡¯s eyes squinted in a smile, nodding her head. Yes, I¡¯m Little Nine. Why else would I have nine tails?
The National Teacher gently rubbed her head, messing up her fur playfully. "Alright, Little Nine."
Little Nine was completely charmed by the National Teacher''s smile, almost drooling in admiration. She squeaked twice, still not knowing what his name was.
"Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, my name," the National Teacher said with a smile.
"Yip?" Little Nine was astonished. He can read my mind and even explain things to me. How amazing! Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±? His name sounds so nice.
"Yip-yip," she responded enthusiastically.
The National Teacher heard her and took it as confirmation that she had remembered his name. However, what he didn¡¯t know was that when Little Nine made the last "yip-yip," she was actually calling him "M¨´ M¨´."
One day, when Little Nine¡¯s tail had returned to its second form and she could speak human language, she would start calling him "M¨´ M¨´." By then, the National Teacher would realize that, from the very beginning, Little Nine had given him a special name. But by then, it would be too late to change how she called him.
When the Emperor, Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬, returned from the hunt and heard that the National Teacher had taken in a little fox, he hurried over without even changing his clothes.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
He opened the tent flap and saw the National Teacher, smiling warmly, holding a white ball in his arms. He was feeding the fox a grape with his right hand.
"... M¨´xi¨±, did I come to the wrong tent?" Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬, though he had seen the National Teacher smile before, had never seen him smile so gently.
"Your Majesty, you should not refer to yourself as ''I,''" the National Teacher said without even lifting his head.
"I''ve been your brother for so many years. Calling myself ''I'' would sound too distant," Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ waved his hand nonchalantly as he walked over to sit at the table.
"Your Majesty, this isn¡¯t appropriate. If the Censor hears you, he might report you to the Taifu," the National Teacher cautioned.
"Who cares? Whether I¡¯m the Emperor or he¡¯s the Emperor, just show me the fox," Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ said, eager to see.
Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ and Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± had grown up together. Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± had been found by Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ when they snuck out of the palace together. He had no memory of his past, but because Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ liked playing with him, the Emperor had given him the surname Li¨¢n and named him M¨´xi¨±. Since then, Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± had always stayed by Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬¡¯s side.
They had grown up as close as brothers, never apart, and when Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ became Emperor, Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± naturally became the National Teacher.
Little Nine, content in Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±¡¯s arms and enjoying the food, suddenly saw a hand reaching toward her.
She bared her teeth at Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬, clutching Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±¡¯s sleeve tightly, refusing to let go. What¡¯s this? Just because I have no spiritual power doesn¡¯t mean anyone can grab me!
Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬, seeing the little fox baring her teeth at him, understood she didn¡¯t want him to touch her. He muttered to Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, "M¨´xi¨±, has your fox turned into a spirit? I haven¡¯t even touched her, and she¡¯s already showing her teeth. Will she bite me?"
"Heh." The National Teacher stroked Little Nine¡¯s fur and fed her another grape. "Little Nine is indeed special. Your Majesty should not make sudden moves. If she bites you, don¡¯t blame me for not warning you."
"Ugh, fine," Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ sighed, "But this little fox has such an unusual reaction to you from the very first time. You two really have a bond," he added with an unspoken hint of jealousy.
Little Nine, sensing Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬¡¯s subtle resentment, looked at him with her big eyes, then glanced at Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±. What¡¯s going on here?
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, amused, tapped Little Nine¡¯s head. "What are you thinking? If you like something, eat more."
Little Nine shook her head, signaling she didn¡¯t want to eat anymore.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± gently wiped her mouth and poured her a cup of water, taking special care of the little creature in his arms. After all, there was no other being in the world who was cared for so meticulously by the National Teacher.
Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ watched the scene between the National Teacher and the little fox, feeling a complicated mix of emotions. He and Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± had grown up as brothers, and although they had always been close, something about Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± had changed after he became the National Teacher. Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ couldn¡¯t pinpoint the exact change, but it was there.
Just as they were sitting in the tent, a loud noise from outside interrupted the peaceful moment.
"Who dares to make such a racket outside my tent?" Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬¡¯s voice was sharp.
The Imposing Empress Dowager
Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬, already frustrated, now found someone who provided him with an outlet for his anger.
However, it seemed he had forgotten that this was the National Teacher¡¯s tent, not his own, but no one would dare to contradict Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ at this moment.
Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ stood up and walked toward the tent entrance, with Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± following closely behind, still holding Little Nine.
Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ threw open the tent door, shouting at the person causing the commotion outside, "Who is the fool making such noise outside my tent? Do you want to die? I can make that happen!"
The woman outside seemed not to have expected the Emperor to be here. She ground her teeth in frustration. Which damned fool lied to me?
However, no matter how many reasons she had, disturbing the Emperor was a serious offense.
The woman immediately knelt, kowtowing to Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬. "This concubine is afraid, I did not know the Emperor was here. I apologize for disturbing Your Majesty, please punish me."
Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ looked coldly at the woman. "What? My presence is an interruption? Would it have been fine if I weren¡¯t here and you could shout freely at the National Teacher¡¯s place? Empress Dowager, are you telling me you didn¡¯t know this was the National Teacher¡¯s resting place?"
"Your Majesty, forgive me, I... I...," the Empress Dowager realized she had made a mistake in her words and now feared the consequences.
She raised her head, her eyes full of tears, looking pitiful, "Your Majesty, I understand my mistake, I just, just wanted to see you so badly. I... I truly didn¡¯t mean to cause a disturbance."
The Empress Dowager¡¯s words turned her disturbance into a desperate desire to see the Emperor, trying to make it sound like an act of longing for him rather than a disruption.
Little Nine, still in Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±¡¯s arms, silently rolled her eyes at the Empress Dowager¡¯s excuse. Only a fool would believe her, and at that moment, Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± caught her glance.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± playfully pinched Little Nine¡¯s ear. "Even you can see through the Empress Dowager¡¯s act, let alone the Emperor?"
Little Nine pushed his hand away, clearly annoyed. What¡¯s with this guy? Always pinching my ears and messing with my fur! Doesn¡¯t he know about personal boundaries?Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
In truth, Little Nine was overthinking it¡ªLi¨¢n M¨´xi¨± just found her fur soft and pleasant to touch and didn¡¯t consider the gender of the little fox in his arms.
While they were having this internal battle, Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬, after venting his anger, realized he might have overreacted. But now that the words were out, he couldn¡¯t take them back. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager had provided a perfect opportunity for him to back down, so he took it.
"Since you¡¯ve admitted your mistake, I¡¯ll impose a small punishment. When we return to the palace, you¡¯ll be confined to your chambers for a month," Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ declared.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I accept your punishment. Thank you for your mercy," the Empress Dowager replied, relieved.
Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ feigned a cough, then reached out to help the Empress Dowager up. "Get up, and don¡¯t be so reckless next time."
"Yes, Your Majesty." As the Empress Dowager was helped up, she leaned into Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬¡¯s arms and winced. "Your Majesty, my leg hurts. It must be from kneeling. Could I rest against you for a moment?"
Her request was clearly an excuse, but would Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ refuse? Despite his strong inner resistance, he couldn¡¯t exactly say no.
Little Nine, hearing the Empress Dowager¡¯s voice, shuddered in disgust. She could tell Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ was reluctant to let her lean on him, and for some reason, she suddenly felt a bit sorry for him. He clearly didn¡¯t like her but couldn¡¯t refuse her. Little Nine thought, Seeing as Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ and Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± are friends, I¡¯ll help him out.
With that thought, Little Nine quietly slipped out of Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±¡¯s arms and padded over to the Empress Dowager, who was resting in the Emperor¡¯s embrace.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± saw Little Nine sneak up on the Empress Dowager, then extend her claws and, with precision, jabbed her nails into the Empress Dowager¡¯s calf.
The Empress Dowager felt a sharp pain in her leg and instinctively kicked out. Although Little Nine quickly dodged, she still got a light brush on her head, collecting some dust.
Seeing that the culprit was a little fox, the Empress Dowager was furious. How dare that little thing ruin her moment with the Emperor?
"Imperial Guards! Are you all dead? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯ve been scratched? Why aren¡¯t you capturing this little thing and skinning it alive?"
The guards, however, did not respond. While the Empress Dowager couldn¡¯t see the fox, they knew this was the fox from the National Teacher¡¯s arms, and no one dared to make a move.
The Empress Dowager, realizing that no one was responding to her commands, turned to Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬. "Your Majesty?"
"Such great authority, Empress Dowager," came a calm voice.
The Empress Dowager froze and turned to see who had spoken. "National Teacher?"
"Empress Dowager, you honor me," Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± said with a slight bow. "How could I ever deserve such respect from you?"
"Your Majesty," the Empress Dowager turned back to Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬.
Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬¡¯s face darkened once again. This Empress Dowager dares to be so arrogant in front of me. What about when I¡¯m not around? How had he never noticed the Empress Dowager¡¯s true nature before?
The Empress Dowager, intimidated by Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬¡¯s expression, forgot what she was going to say next. She looked helplessly at Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±. "National Teacher?"
The Highly Pampered Little Fox
"Empress Dowager, I am at fault, and I do not deserve your respectful title of National Teacher," Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± said humbly.
The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows. "Why do you say that, National Teacher?"
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± responded indifferently, "The little creature who scratched the Empress Dowager..."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand dismissively. "National Teacher, you are always so kind. I understand your intention. Do not plead for that damn creature. I will handle its fate myself."
Coldness flashed in Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±¡¯s eyes. "Empress Dowager, what I meant to say is that the little creature who scratched you is one that I raised."
The Empress Dowager was stunned. Since when had the National Teacher started raising foxes? This wasn¡¯t good. Everyone in the North Yan Kingdom knew that while the National Teacher appeared kind-hearted with a smile always on his face, in truth, he was a very aloof and noble person who rarely showed his true feelings. People like him typically protected their own, especially when it came to things they cared about.
"Well... Since it¡¯s raised by the National Teacher, I will not pursue the matter further," the Empress Dowager said, her eyes narrowing as she felt the ominous aura in Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±¡¯s smile. It was best to act cautiously.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± opened his arms. "Little Nine, come here."
Little Nine, eager to please, immediately ran over.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± picked her up and, taking out a handkerchief, began wiping her face and paws. Little Nine thought to herself, How does M¨´xi¨± always have so many handkerchiefs on him?
"Your Majesty, I believe the Empress Dowager is no longer suited for the title ''Empress.'' Her behavior and actions do not befit the dignity of a noble concubine. If this continues, it may damage our country''s reputation, especially with the upcoming diplomatic mission by Prince N¨¢ny¨² to North Yan," Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± said.
Look at that! The National Teacher, just talking about a concubine throwing a tantrum, escalated the matter to removing her title and even made it a diplomatic issue, forcing Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ to take action against the Empress Dowager.
Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ thought for a moment. "Since the Empress Dowager¡¯s actions are unbecoming, I decree that she be stripped of her title and demoted to the rank of Zhaoyi. She shall remain there until she learns the proper etiquette. When she has improved, we shall discuss it again."If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
"Zhaoyi, accept the imperial decree," the Emperor commanded.
The demotion of the Empress Dowager to Zhaoyi was puzzling. She had merely offended the Emperor by being confined for a month, but now, because of a little fox¡¯s scratch, not only was she denied sympathy, but she had been demoted as well. How could this happen when it was her who was injured?
"Zhaoyi, are you defying the Emperor¡¯s decree?" Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±¡¯s voice rang out, and the Empress Dowager quickly regained her composure.
"Your Majesty, I know my fault. I will reflect on it," she said, lowering her head.
"Very well, leave now," Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ said. The Empress Dowager quickly acknowledged the command and departed, having truly lost both face and status.
Before leaving, the Empress Dowager cast one last hateful glare at Little Nine, her eyes filled with resentment. That damned little fox! One day, I¡¯ll skin you alive!
Little Nine, confused by the Empress Dowager¡¯s gaze, thought to herself, Wasn¡¯t it the Emperor who punished her? Why is she glaring at me?
The intensity of her glare made Little Nine shudder, as if she wanted to devour her whole.
Little Nine rested her head on Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±¡¯s arm, feeling perplexed by the complexities of human emotions.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, seeing her confused expression, couldn¡¯t help but laugh.
What was supposed to be a fun autumn hunt had turned into a situation where the Empress Dowager was demoted to Zhaoyi because of a scratch from a fox. Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬, who had been enthusiastic about the hunt, now found his excitement dampened.
That evening, after everyone returned from the hunt, Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ ordered a eunuch to deliver a decree announcing that they would leave for the palace the next day.
As the decree spread, people began whispering among themselves. Why are they heading back to the palace so soon?
This was supposed to be a hunting event held once every three years.
"What''s going on with the Emperor? Wasn¡¯t he fine just this afternoon? Why the sudden return order?"
"Doesn''t Lord Yuan know?"
"Shouldn''t I know anything about it?"
"Did you not hear about the Empress Dowager being demoted to Zhaoyi?"
"What? Demoted?"
"Yes, I heard it¡¯s because of a fox from the National Teacher."
Another official, having overheard the conversation, joined in. So, who says men don¡¯t gossip? Men can gossip just as much as women.
"A fox?"
"Yes. Apparently, the National Teacher¡¯s fox scratched the Empress Dowager. When the Empress Dowager ordered it to be skinned alive, the National Teacher overheard and reported her behavior to the Emperor. That¡¯s why she was demoted to Zhaoyi and lost several ranks."
"Wow, the National Teacher really dotes on that fox. We better watch out for it. Don¡¯t get ourselves into trouble."
"Absolutely."
After the discussion, the officials dispersed.
Later, from the shadows, a tall figure emerged¡ªit was the Seventh Princess, Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¤.
Having just returned and learned of the decree to return to the palace, Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¤ had been on her way to ask Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¬ about it but ran into the gossiping officials along the way.
Her face twisted with fury, starkly contrasting with the gentle demeanor she had shown in front of Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± earlier. Through gritted teeth, she muttered, "You little bastard. You¡¯re already so important in his heart. I¡¯ll skin you alive one day."
The Fox Who Thinks Too Much
"Choo, choo." Little Nine, who had nearly been bitten to pieces by Li¨¢n J¨«ngy¨¤ earlier, sneezed twice inside Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±''s tent. Her eyes, watery and bleary, looked up at him.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, hearing her sneezes, asked with a hint of hesitation, "Little Nine, are you... catching a cold?" He was puzzled¡ªhow could a little fox, with fur, catch a cold like a human?
Little Nine turned her head to the side, clearly uninterested in replying to the man who was always teasing her at every opportunity.
Noticing her sulking, Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± murmured to himself, "I was going to ask if Little Nine wants to sleep on the bed tonight, but since she¡¯s upset, I suppose I shouldn''t bother her."
Little Nine, hearing his words, found herself in a mental dilemma. If she kept her pride as a fox, she shouldn¡¯t sleep on the soft bed, but if she took the bed, she feared that her future would be filled with the constant teasing of this man. What should she do?
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± suddenly continued, "Ah, I was hoping to sleep early, but since I have to return to the palace tomorrow and have much to take care of..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a flash of white shot onto the bed. Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, grinning internally, knew that this lazy fox would choose the soft bed.
Having already sprawled out on the bed, Little Nine tapped her own head with her little paw. Upon hearing Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± mention sleep, her body had already chosen the soft, plush bed before her mind could react. She felt so embarrassed¡ªno, she felt embarrassed for her fox pride.
Flustered, Little Nine refused to open her eyes, pretending to have already fallen asleep.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± removed his outer robe and, in his inner garments, gently placed Little Nine into the blanket, covering her up as he slowly settled down to sleep.
Little Nine, feeling the man beside her fall asleep, cracked her eyes open just a tiny bit. Seeing that Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± had already fallen asleep, she felt that maybe he wasn¡¯t so bad after all.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, noticing she had opened her eyes only to close them again, smiled and looked at her. "This little fox," he thought, then drifted back to sleep.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
The next day, just as dawn broke, Little Nine was awakened by the sounds outside.
Opening her eyes, she found that Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± had already left.
As she was about to climb out of bed to find him, the tent flap was suddenly lifted, and Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± stepped inside.
"You''re awake?"
Although it was early, Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± looked completely refreshed, with no sign of fatigue. His gaze, filled with warmth, rested on Little Nine.
"Choo?" Little Nine wondered. Why is it so early?
She had barely slept at all. Since being struck by that thunderbolt, she had been constantly fearful, and whenever she slept, she was too anxious to fall into a deep sleep. But last night, with Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± by her side, she had finally gotten a good night¡¯s rest. Now she was woken up again.
"His Majesty ordered a return to the palace last night. Our tent is the last to be packed, so once I take you out, they¡¯ll be packing it up."
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± had deliberately kept his tent for last so Little Nine could sleep a little longer.
Upon hearing the words return to the palace, Little Nine immediately woke up, her eyes bright.
"Choo choo choo." She had heard so much about the grandeur of human palaces, but had never seen one with her own eyes. Finally, she would get to see the palace for herself. How exciting!
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, noticing that Little Nine had fully awakened, lightly tapped her little head and rubbed it, smiling as he said, "You¡¯re so excited."
Little Nine nodded eagerly, hopping into Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±''s arms and curling up in a comfortable position. She pointed toward the door, eager to leave.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± laughed and said, "You really know how to enjoy yourself."
Carrying Little Nine, Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± left the tent and boarded the carriage, blocking all curious gazes from the outside.
Inside the carriage, Little Nine looked around, observing how comfortable it was. Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± had specially prepared a small nest for her inside, making sure she would be comfortable.
As the carriage started moving, the eunuch outside announced, "The Emperor is leaving."
Little Nine, thinking about visiting the fabled royal palace, could hardly sleep from excitement.
However, after just a quarter of an hour, Little Nine began to feel dizzy.
She didn¡¯t know how other foxes might handle traveling by carriage, but she could only focus on her own swirling head. It felt like her brain was a mess of porridge.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± hadn¡¯t expected Little Nine to get motion sickness. Not knowing how to help her feel better, he simply held her in his arms and gently stroked her fur, hoping it would soothe her.
Little Nine, eyes closed, nestled into Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±¡¯s chest. As she inhaled the pleasant minty scent on him, she slowly started feeling better. But her mind began to wander again.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± was so handsome, and he smelled so nice. He was also so considerate and appeared to hold a high status. Would he have a wife? Would his wife be jealous of the way he treated her? What if his wife didn¡¯t allow him to keep her around? Would she be abandoned?
Her heart sank. She had just found a safe place to sleep, but now it seemed like she might lose it all.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± noticed Little Nine¡¯s expression shift from joy to sorrow. What was going on with her?
Little Nine¡¯s thoughts were truly hard to guess!
The Palace That Dazzled the Foxs Eyes
Little Nine felt a deep sadness in her heart. After spending a day in comfort, the thought of returning to Wuque Mountain made her feel unwilling¡ªboth physically and emotionally.
However, she was powerless now, with no spiritual energy, and all she could express was ¡°ch¨© ch¨© ch¨©.¡± How could she make Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± understand her thoughts?
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, watching her from the side, always felt that although he wasn''t a genius, he could usually understand others'' thoughts after just a glance. But with this little fox, he could never understand her. He wanted to tell her not to overthink, but at the same time, he wondered if she would even understand what he meant. After all, although Little Nine had gained intelligence, she was still so small.
Little Nine sensed the change in Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±''s emotions. She patted him gently, and Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, realizing that his mood had affected her, smiled warmly, "Feeling better now? Still dizzy?"
Hearing this, Little Nine realized that she no longer felt dizzy. A sense of happiness filled her heart. Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± really is a good remedy for long car rides.
She clung to his sleeve with both paws, silently expressing her affection for him.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± chuckled, rubbing her little head. She was adorable.
Suddenly, Little Nine wriggled out of his arms, her eyes now serious.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± was taken aback. What was going on now?
Little Nine struggled to stand on her hind legs. She positioned her two front paws as if to pinch something, moving one paw up and down in the air, while looking at Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± and blinking her eyes.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± watched for a while, confused. What is she trying to express?
After thinking for a moment, Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± ventured a guess. "Are you asking¡ if I have a woman?"
When Little Nine heard his words, she almost cried out in joy. She immediately nodded her head enthusiastically. That was exactly what she meant!
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, amused, shook his head. "You¡¯re thinking so hard, and all that comes to your mind is whether I have a woman?"
Little Nine fixed her big eyes on him, staring seriously.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, feeling something strange in his heart as he looked into her eyes, suddenly had a thought flash through his mind: What if I spend my life with this little fox?
"Little thing, are you really that curious?" Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Little Nine, eager for an answer, nodded eagerly. This was crucial for her future comfort!
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± sighed dramatically, "Well... this might disappoint you..."
The moment Little Nine heard this, she drooped, her spirits deflating. He has a wife, doesn''t he?
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± smirked and said, "I¡¯ve never had a woman."
Little Nine, eyes wide, raised her head in surprise. What?
With a flash, she saw the mischievous smile on Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±¡¯s face. He was just teasing me?
Annoyed, Little Nine climbed back into her temporary little bed, closed her eyes, and decided to ignore the mischievous man.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, seeing that she was angry and ignoring him, couldn¡¯t help but laugh. What a moody little fox.
The journey back to the palace was spent with Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± and Little Nine in their usual exchanges, and by the time they arrived at the palace, they had reconciled.
They had departed in the early morning, and by the time they arrived at the palace, it was already midday, with the sun high in the sky.
As Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± carried Little Nine out of the carriage, she was immediately struck by a wave of heat. Oh no, I hate the heat! I didn¡¯t notice it in the carriage...
Wanting to escape the heat, Little Nine was about to find shelter when she saw the palace ahead and her eyes widened in awe.
What an impressive palace!
Before her stood layer upon layer of magnificent halls made of Qin bricks and Han tiles. They had entered through the palace gates and could now see the palace covered with golden glazed tiles and green trimmed edges, which shimmered under the sunlight, making the whole structure appear magnificent.
The palace columns were round, with entire flying dragons carved into them¡ªdragon heads extending outward, dragon tails curling inside the halls. The golden sheen of the tiles contrasted with the dragons, giving the place an air of solemn grandeur.
Little Nine was so dazzled by the brilliant gold that her eyes almost couldn¡¯t move. So this is the imperial palace.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨±, thinking that Little Nine was simply adjusting to a new and unfamiliar place, didn¡¯t realize that it wasn¡¯t unfamiliarity that had her captivated.
"Have you had enough looking?" Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± asked with a smile.
Little Nine, instinctively shaking her head, replied in her own way. She was too mesmerized by the sight of this golden place to even respond.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± gently turned her head toward him and said, ¡°If you keep staring, I won¡¯t bring you in next time."
Little Nine¡¯s heart sank. How could he be so cruel? She hadn¡¯t even had a chance to explore properly!
With a pitiful look, Little Nine looked up at Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± and clung to his sleeve, silently begging him not to be so harsh.
Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± smiled and gently tapped her little head. "You little rascal."
As they entered the palace, Little Nine''s excitement was palpable, while Li¨¢n M¨´xi¨± couldn''t help but be amused by her simple joy. But there was something deeper in his heart as well¡ªa connection forming with the little fox who was quickly becoming more than just a companion.
The Food of the Mortal Realm
Little Nine was completely melted by the affectionate smile from Lian Muxiu. She liked his smile more than she liked the palace, more than food, even more than Bai Ting, who had grown up with her.
While Little Nine was lost in Lian Muxiu''s smile, unable to pull herself away, Lian Jingyi had already issued an imperial edict.
¡°By the Emperor¡¯s command: Due to the efforts in the autumn hunt, all ministers are excused from tomorrow¡¯s morning court. They may take a rest for the day. Thus, decreed.¡±
¡°Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live, long live!¡±
The officials immediately knelt, offering their thanks.
Little Nine curiously looked at Lian Muxiu, wondering why he didn''t kneel like everyone else.
Lian Muxiu seemed to notice her confusion and proudly explained, ¡°I am the pillar of the nation, the most respected person in Beiyan. The Emperor has long exempted me from kneeling.¡±
¡°Oh~¡± Little Nine silently thought, so the National Master is a privileged figure. But isn¡¯t it a bit self-loving for him to call himself the pillar of the nation?
Just as she was about to roll her eyes, Lian Jingyi walked over.
Lian Muxiu immediately stopped smiling. Though his face remained gentle with a smile, Little Nine could sense it wasn¡¯t a genuine smile, but one that was somewhat fake. He slightly bowed, ¡°Your Majesty.¡±
¡°Muxiu, I¡¯ve told you that you don¡¯t need to bow to me. Why do you insist on doing it every time?¡± Lian Jingyi¡¯s tone carried some displeasure.
¡°Your Majesty, rituals cannot be abandoned. The ruler is the ruler, and the subject is the subject. Even though I have accompanied Your Majesty since childhood, I must still follow the proper rituals,¡± Lian Muxiu said with a calm and respectful tone, without leaving any room for criticism.
Lian Jingyi found it hard to argue against Lian Muxiu¡¯s words, but the more he heard it, the more he felt a growing distance between himself and Lian Muxiu.
Lian Muxiu sighed. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m tired. National Master should also take rest early.¡±
¡°Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave.¡±
Lian Muxiu turned and led Little Nine away. Lian Jingyi called out, ¡°National Master, it¡¯s been calculated that in a few days, the Crown Prince of Nanyu will arrive in Beiyan. What are your thoughts on this?¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
Lian Muxiu turned around. ¡°Your Majesty, this is a national matter, it should be discussed at tomorrow¡¯s morning court with all the ministers. My opinion is not important. I take my leave.¡±
Lian Jingyi opened his mouth, but then closed it, as if contemplating something. Finally, he sighed.
Little Nine watched Lian Muxiu with a calm expression and chirped a few times. What just happened? Why did it turn out like this?
Lian Muxiu gently rubbed Little Nine¡¯s head. ¡°Little thing, don¡¯t overthink, just be happy. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you to eat something delicious.¡±
¡°Chirp, chirp!¡± Little Nine responded happily. Muxiu is the best!
Lian Muxiu smiled at her, secretly thinking that this little fox was really easy to please.
Little Nine had grown up on White Spirit Mountain, and the few times she had tasted food from the human world were brought back by other animals who had gone down the mountain for training. Even with these few occasions, the taste had left a deep impression on her. There was a time when Little Nine didn¡¯t want to cultivate or eat, all she could think about was leaving White Spirit Mountain and going to the human world.
But back then, she was too young.
Now, whenever food appeared, her paws, body, eyes, and mouth would lose all control. So, if someone wanted to take Little Nine away, all they had to do was give her enough food, and it would be incredibly easy.
Lian Muxiu had come to realize that Little Nine¡¯s attachment to food had to be corrected, or at least redirected. Otherwise, one day, if someone tricked her with food, how would he find her?
However, Lian Muxiu couldn¡¯t help but feel a little helpless because whenever food was mentioned, Little Nine¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement.
But many things needed to take time, didn¡¯t they?
Beiyan had decided to make Tan City its capital since its founding, and the city is located at the highest point in Beiyan, facing the capital of Nanyu, Yan City, separated only by a mountain range.
The layout of Tan City is well-organized, with various industries separated into different streets.
The ¡°delicious food¡± Lian Muxiu mentioned was a famous delicacy throughout Beiyan.
Since morning, Little Nine had been unusually excited, barely touching the breakfast Lian Muxiu had prepared for her.
Lian Muxiu ate his breakfast slowly, while Little Nine anxiously tugged at his sleeve, trying to hurry him along. She was already getting impatient.
¡°Little Nine, you need to eat at least half of your breakfast first.¡±
Little Nine puffed out her cheeks and gave Lian Muxiu a pleading look. Could she skip it? She wanted to eat more of the other food later.
Lian Muxiu remained unyielding. ¡°No, eat your breakfast.¡±
Little Nine pouted and lowered her head, her eyes full of reluctance as she reluctantly began eating.
Lian Muxiu caught a glimpse of her expression and couldn¡¯t help but feel amused, though he didn¡¯t show it.
¡°Cough, if you finish your breakfast, I¡¯ll buy you extra portions of your favorite food and bring it back later.¡±
What? Little Nine immediately widened her eyes and stared at Lian Muxiu. Was it true?
Lian Muxiu nodded. ¡°Yes, as long as you finish your breakfast.¡±
Little Nine¡¯s disappointment immediately turned to joy. The sudden shift in emotion was exhilarating. She had almost given up, but now she could get something even better. Lian Muxiu is the best!
The National Masters Emotional Outburst
One cannot help but say, the National Master is indeed the National Master. With just a few words, he can make Little Nine feel so deeply grateful.
Lian Muxiu¡¯s original plan was to take Little Nine out to eat, to observe her preferences, so that living together would be more convenient in the future. For Little Nine, Lian Muxiu put in quite a bit of thought. After all, the National Master was only interested in Little Nine now.
After finishing her breakfast happily, Little Nine immediately leaped into Lian Muxiu''s arms, bouncing around, urging him to set off quickly.
Lian Muxiu held Little Nine, stroking her fox fur, while instructing the butler to prepare the carriage and telling the secret guards to be extra vigilant, in case anything unexpected happened. Little Nine, confused, wondered why so many precautions were necessary just to go out for some food.
Noticing Little Nine¡¯s puzzled expression, Lian Muxiu explained in a calm voice, ¡°Although I am the National Master, there are still people who might want to target me. The Emperor¡¯s success in rising to the throne among many princes was not without the advice of this National Master. Although many princes lost their lives in that battle for the throne, some surrendered to survive. After all, ¡®as long as the green mountains remain, there¡¯s no fear of firewood,¡¯ don¡¯t you think?¡±
By the end of his sentence, Lian Muxiu¡¯s aura suddenly grew cold, a killing intent rising that directly affected Little Nine.
¡°Chirp~¡± Little Nine yelped. She had no spiritual power at the moment, just a fox slightly stronger than an ordinary one. Lian Muxiu¡¯s sudden surge of killing intent made her fur stand on end.
Hearing Little Nine¡¯s cry, Lian Muxiu snapped back from his thoughts. Noticing her wary eyes, he quickly realized how easily he had let his emotions spill out and how it had affected Little Nine. This wasn¡¯t a good sign.
He gently stroked her head, lifting Little Nine up to eye level, and softly comforted her, ¡°Sorry, it was my fault. I let my emotions get the better of me just now.¡±
¡°Chirp, chirp.¡± Was it because we need to spend money to go eat?
Lian Muxiu laughed softly. ¡°So you thought I was upset because I need to spend money for food? No, that¡¯s not it. I really like you. Why would I get angry over money? Don¡¯t worry, I can take care of two or three more of you.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
¡°Chirp chirp chirp~¡± Little Nine was in a panic. What? You want to take in two or three more like me? She had just arrived at Lian Muxiu¡¯s home, enjoying the luxury of being cared for. Now, did he want more? This couldn¡¯t be right!
Panicked, Little Nine flailed her paws, nearly scratching Lian Muxiu¡¯s face. Lian Muxiu quickly pulled her back into his arms. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you suddenly angry?¡±
Little Nine lifted her head, gazing at Lian Muxiu with watery eyes, feeling somewhat wronged.
Lian Muxiu reflected on his words and realized what had happened. What¡¯s been going on in that little head of yours?
He gently squeezed Little Nine¡¯s ears, as if punishing her. The pressure made Little Nine cry out in discomfort. ¡°Little Nine, what I said was just a figure of speech. I wasn¡¯t actually planning to take in two or three more foxes. I promise, I will only keep you. Is that okay?¡±
If someone had told Lian Muxiu before he met Little Nine that he would be speaking softly to a fox, explaining his thoughts patiently to it, Lian Muxiu would have had that person dragged away and executed. He would have scoffed at such an impossible thing.
Yet, after spending just a few days with Little Nine, Lian Muxiu¡¯s protective patience for her knew no bounds. He treated her as an equal, cheered her up, apologized to her, and even teased her a little.
¡°Chirp, chirp.¡± Fine, I forgive you, since you¡¯re so sincere.
Little Nine¡¯s eyes truly spoke volumes. Her earlier watery eyes made Lian Muxiu realize where he had gone wrong and caused her to flare up. Now, her bright eyes were signaling to him that she had forgiven him.
Lian Muxiu stroked her soft fur, just as the butler entered and reported that the carriage was ready and they could depart. Lian Muxiu gently lifted Little Nine. ¡°Let¡¯s go, my little fox. I¡¯ll take you for a stroll.¡±
¡°Chirp!¡± How wonderful! Little Nine instantly forgot about her previous upset with Lian Muxiu.
After they left the gates and boarded the carriage, Little Nine finally realized that Lian Muxiu¡¯s life was truly magnificent. This time, the carriage was smaller than the one from the trip back from Wuqie Mountain. It seemed to be for regular outings.
Inside the carriage, everything, from the cup for drinking water to the quilt for resting, was exquisite, befitting the status of the National Master.
Little Nine touched this and looked at that, wanting to move around but afraid of breaking anything and making Lian Muxiu angry.
¡°You can look at anything you like, don¡¯t worry, even if you break something, I won¡¯t be angry.¡±
Lian Muxiu¡¯s voice came from above Little Nine¡¯s head. Looking up, she saw Lian Muxiu leaning casually to one side, reading a book, his eyes carrying a faint smile.
Extra Notes
Once Little Nine transforms into human form, one day, she suddenly remembers Lian Muxiu. She rushes over to him, grabs his sleeve and pouts, ¡°You¡¯re so annoying. You bullied me.¡±
Lian Muxiu is dumbfounded. ¡°When did that happen?¡±
Little Nine wrinkles her nose. ¡°When we first met!¡±
Lian Muxiu: ¡°¡¡±
The National Master Making Tea for Little Nine
With Lian Muxiu¡¯s permission, Little Nine lost interest in the exquisite trinkets around her. She lay languidly on the mat that Lian Muxiu had specially prepared for her.
Noticing Little Nine¡¯s sudden change in mood, Lian Muxiu set down his book. "What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling dizzy? If you¡¯re not feeling well, we can wait a bit longer. The place for one of the best meals is not far from here. We¡¯ll get there in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."
Upon hearing Lian Muxiu''s words, Little Nine realized they were almost there, and she felt a little better.
Lian Muxiu thought for a moment and then asked, "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Chirp?" Little Nine immediately perked up and nodded enthusiastically. She had never tasted tea before, and now she was excited to try it. She thought to herself, she must be the first fox to drink tea.
Lian Muxiu took the tea set from a hidden compartment, retrieved the tea leaves from another compartment, and instructed the hidden guards to bring in the warmed water.
The hidden guards were curious when they received the order. It had been a long time since the National Master had shown an interest in tea. Why was he suddenly interested? And on the carriage no less? But orders were orders, and they obeyed without question.
Once the water was brought in, Lian Muxiu first rinsed the cup, heating it briefly before adding the tea leaves. He then poured in the hot water, waited for a moment, and then discarded the water. Little Nine watched, puzzled by his actions.
Though Little Nine was confused, she couldn¡¯t stop watching Lian Muxiu¡¯s every move. When he poured water into the cup for the third time, a faint fragrance wafted up from the tea. The entire carriage filled with a sweet aroma.
"Chirp chirp." Little Nine''s eyes widened as she inhaled the fragrance. It smelled so good! She couldn¡¯t wait to taste it.
Little Nine stretched her neck, trying to see the tea in the cup. The way she was drooling made Lian Muxiu¡¯s heart soften. His little Nine was such a simple, easy-to-please fox.
Lian Muxiu chuckled, "Hold on a second, look at you, so greedy."
"Chirp chirp chirp." Little Nine, impatient, was nearly pulling at her ears in frustration.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Lian Muxiu, seeing her impatience, gently placed Little Nine on the table next to the tea cup. "Be careful, don¡¯t burn yourself. If you get burned, you won¡¯t be able to eat later."
At those words, Little Nine finally calmed down a little, controlling her excitement.
She lowered her head and sniffed the cup again. The fragrance was mild and not overpowering, but when she lifted her nose, she could still smell it. Little Nine rubbed her nose with her paw, moving it lightly. Hm? The scent was still there, how curious!
Lian Muxiu, watching Little Nine¡¯s antics, was genuinely fascinated. He had never seen a fox taste tea before. "What can you smell?"
Little Nine looked up at Lian Muxiu. She had gotten so close to the tea cup that the warmth from the steam had dampened some of her fur, causing it to stick to her face.
Lian Muxiu took a handkerchief and gently wiped her face, leaving Little Nine¡¯s fur in a messy state.
Little Nine pushed his hand away and used her paw to fix the messy fur. She felt better now.
"Chirp chirp." That naughty Muxiu, taking the opportunity to mess up her fur.
She bared her teeth at him, giving him a warning, "Don¡¯t mess with my fur again."
Lian Muxiu pinched her paw. "Ungrateful little thing. I make you tea, and you still dare to show me your teeth?"
Little Nine paused. Well, maybe I was a bit too harsh. He was just being kind.
She placed her paw on Lian Muxiu¡¯s hand, lowered her head, and gently nudged his hand with her nose. She licked him in an attempt to make up for her earlier reaction. Lian Muxiu, feeling the warmth of her breath, stiffened. He looked at her, and Little Nine met his gaze with her large purple eyes, filled with a pleading expression.
He patted her head. "I¡¯m not angry. Now, go on and drink your tea, or it¡¯ll get cold."
Little Nine didn¡¯t move immediately. She continued to gaze at Lian Muxiu, waiting until he prompted her again. Only then did she turn back to the tea cup. By this time, the tea was no longer hot but had cooled to a perfect temperature for her to drink.
Cautiously, she extended her tongue and took a sip. A bitter taste immediately spread across her mouth, causing her facial features to contort. She turned her head to the side, spitting out a few mouthfuls. It tasted worse than the sour fruit she used to eat on Wuling Mountain.
Lian Muxiu watched Little Nine, who was now lying on the table, sticking out her tongue and frowning. "Is it really that bad?"
Without hesitation, Little Nine nodded. It¡¯s too bitter.
"Could it be that my skill in making tea is rusty?" Lian Muxiu sighed. "Forget it. If it tastes bad, don¡¯t drink it. I wouldn¡¯t want you to get a stomach ache."
Lian Muxiu¡¯s tone was calm, but Little Nine wondered if her reaction had hurt his pride. She thought she might have overreacted.
Straightening up, Little Nine leaped from the table and jumped into Lian Muxiu¡¯s arms. Her paw was meant to rest on his shoulder, but it was too short, so she put it on his face instead.
She patted his face with her paw, "Chirp chirp."
Muxiu, have confidence. Just practice more, and next time, I won¡¯t react so strongly. I¡¯ll be sure to give you face.
"Little Nine," Lian Muxiu said with mock sadness, "It seems you¡¯re not satisfied with my skills. Sigh, I¡¯m so heartbroken."
"Chirp?" Are you really upset?
The Wronged Little Nine
Little Nine¡¯s large purple eyes instantly widened. Did Muxiu really get angry?
She cautiously tried pulling at Lian Muxiu¡¯s collar, but he only sighed.
She gently patted Lian Muxiu¡¯s face, but he took her paw away and sighed again.
"Chirp, chirp chirp, chirp chirp chirp." Little Nine cried out anxiously, her fur standing on end. At this moment, Little Nine wished her spiritual powers had recovered even a little, just so she could speak. That way, she wouldn¡¯t be running around in circles trying to express her feelings.
Seeing how distressed Little Nine was, Lian Muxiu immediately scooped her up, holding her soft body in his left arm while using his right hand to gently smooth her fur, calming her down with every stroke. ¡°Little Nine, it¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have teased you. Don¡¯t worry, calm down now, be good.¡±
Hearing Lian Muxiu¡¯s soothing voice and feeling his long fingers comb through her fur, Little Nine calmed down.
Once she had calmed down, Little Nine felt incredibly wronged. She had been struck by a heavenly thunderbolt and ended up in this unfamiliar place where no one knew her. After accepting her fate, she had hoped to quietly cultivate on Wuling Mountain, but instead, she found herself caught in the royal hunt. She almost died at the hands of the two royal siblings, Lian Jingrui and his sister.
After narrowly escaping death, she ended up being stuck by Lian Muxiu, this cunning man, who wouldn¡¯t let her leave. Originally, she was happy because Lian Muxiu treated her well¡ªat least someone was protecting and caring for her. But after a few days with him, Little Nine had already been scared and frustrated enough to grow her fur several times.
Sigh... How annoying, Lian Muxiu. He knew she only recognized him now, yet he kept teasing her...
The more Little Nine thought about it, the more miserable she felt. She longed to return to Wuling Mountain and play with her good friends. Although the food on Wuling Mountain wasn¡¯t great, she was the boss there. No one could bully her. But now, in this strange place, anyone could easily crush her.
"Sniff sniff, chirp chirp, sniff sniff, chirp chirp chirp." Little Nine buried her head in her paws, softly crying, her sobs leaving Lian Muxiu completely stunned, unsure of what to do.Stolen novel; please report.
Lian Muxiu never knew that a fox could cry like this!
"Uh... Little Nine..." Seeing the little fox crying in his arms, Lian Muxiu didn¡¯t know what to do. "Ying Yi, stop the carriage, and immediately send a message to Ying San, tell him to come right away."
"Yes, Master." The shadow guard, Ying Yi, hearing the order, immediately took out a signaling firework and sent it off.
Inside the carriage...
"Little Nine... please stop crying." This was Lian Muxiu¡¯s first time trying to comfort someone... No, more specifically, it was his first time trying to comfort a fox, and he was completely flustered. He had done something unforgivable¡ªhe had made Little Nine cry.
After a moment¡¯s thought, Lian Muxiu decided that while waiting for Ying San to arrive, he wouldn¡¯t speak. Less than half a tea''s worth of time passed before Ying Yi¡¯s voice came from outside, "Master, Ying San has arrived."
"Let him in."
"Yes."
Ying San was puzzled. It was his day off, but he had been urgently summoned. He jumped onto the carriage, lifted the curtain, and walked in. Upon entering, he froze.
"Master... What is this..."
Lian Muxiu, holding Little Nine in his hands, looked at Ying San seriously and asked, "She¡¯s crying. How should I comfort her?"
"What?" Ying San was dumbfounded. Did he hear that right? The master urgently called him over just to ask how to comfort a... fox? He only knew how to comfort women! Was the sun rising from the wrong side today?
"Did you hear me?" Lian Muxiu¡¯s cold voice made Ying San instinctively kneel.
"Master, forgive me. Ying San is at fault."
"Knowing you¡¯re wrong and still not answering properly?" Lian Muxiu was furious. He realized that he had been too lenient with his shadow guards. Now, they dared to question his orders. Ying San didn¡¯t realize it yet, but the extra training they were about to get was his doing.
"Yes, Master." Ying San didn¡¯t dare to stand up but only looked at Lian Muxiu, "Master, can you tell me what happened with... this fox?"
Lian Muxiu calmly explained what happened¡ªhow Little Nine had cried. Ying San nodded in understanding, though inwardly, he was thinking that their master was too cruel, even bullying a poor fox!
"What should we do now?"
"Master, you¡¯re saying that this... fox... likes to eat?" Ying San asked tentatively.
"Yes."
"Then we should immediately go to Yipin Food. You can buy more food for her. That should make her happy, right?"
Lian Muxiu: "..."
Had he gotten so flustered that he had forgotten such a simple solution? Little Nine had a simple nature, and when he had lured her to him, food had been the key. Why was he struggling with this now?
He waved his hand, signaling Ying San to leave. Ying San obeyed, sitting next to Ying Yi and taking over as the driver, finding a spot to watch the commotion.
"Little Nine." Lian Muxiu placed Little Nine on the table and lifted her little face to look into her tearful eyes. "Little Nine, look at me."
But Little Nine refused to look at him.
Lian Muxiu forced her gaze upward. "Little Nine, I have something important to tell you."
Chapter 16: Yipin Food
When Little Nine heard Lian Muxiu say he had something important to tell her, she reluctantly looked at him.
Lian Muxiu met Little Nine''s gaze. "Little Nine, I made you cry just now. It was my fault."
"Chirp chirp," Little Nine nodded. It¡¯s your fault, didn¡¯t you know?
Seeing that Little Nine responded, Lian Muxiu''s frown relaxed a little. "I swear by my title as the National Master of Beiyan, I will never let you cry again. I will protect you and take good care of you. Stay by my side for the rest of your life. Will you?"
Little Nine was confused. What¡¯s going on? Lian Muxiu is so serious about swearing to her? She...
"Chirp?" Little Nine¡¯s large eyes were filled with doubt. Her life was long, she didn¡¯t even know when it would end. She had only known Lian Muxiu for a short while. Why would he think of something like this?
"Little Nine," Lian Muxiu¡¯s eyes were full of sincerity. "In this life, I have no plans to marry or adopt children. I thought I would be alone until I die, but now that I have you, I want to take care of you forever. Will you?"
Little Nine was stunned. She was pure, but that didn¡¯t mean she was naive. She was a demonic beast, and if she agreed to stay with Lian Muxiu for her entire life, it would truly be a lifetime contract, until he passed away.
Little Nine thought about it, but she couldn¡¯t give him an answer right away. She tapped Lian Muxiu¡¯s hand to get his attention, then opened her mouth and rubbed her belly to let him know she was hungry.
Upon seeing that Little Nine was hungry, Lian Muxiu didn¡¯t ask for an answer but instead ordered the guards, Ying Yi and Ying San, to immediately head to Yipin Food.
Lian Muxiu gently rubbed Little Nine''s head. "Be good, we will get there soon. Since you¡¯re hungry, I¡¯ll make sure you get plenty to eat."
"Chirp chirp." Of course! After pretending to cry for so long, she was already starving. In Little Nine¡¯s mind, eating first and then focusing on cultivation was more important than human relationships. The bond with humans could wait for now.Stolen story; please report.
It didn¡¯t take long to arrive. If not for the crying incident earlier, they would have already eaten a lot.
Ying Yi jumped off the carriage, and Ying San stood on the carriage to lift the curtain for Lian Muxiu and Little Nine. "Master, we¡¯ve arrived."
"Got it." Lian Muxiu nodded, picking up Little Nine and getting off the carriage. Despite only having Ying Yi and Ying San around, Little Nine keenly felt that at least twenty people were protecting her and Lian Muxiu.
Little Nine was puzzled. Why so many precautions just for getting some food?
Lian Muxiu gently rubbed her head. "Better safe than sorry. It¡¯s always good to be cautious."
Little Nine nodded, somewhat understanding. This was Tancheng, the capital of Beiyan, as people had told her. How could it not be safe? But since Lian Muxiu said to be cautious, she would just go along with it; after all, there was no harm done.
"Master, this way," Ying Yi led the way, with Lian Muxiu holding Little Nine and Ying San following behind.
Little Nine quietly lay in Lian Muxiu''s arms, her big eyes scanning the surroundings. Ahead, there was a large stone arch with the words "Yipin Food" written on it, and it seemed to have been around for many years.
Walking through the stone arch, Little Nine¡¯s eyes widened involuntarily. The entire street was filled with food, with various smells¡ªsweet, spicy, salty¡ªassaulting her nose. Little Nine looked left and right, not sure where to start.
Seeing Little Nine¡¯s eyes and nose fixated on the food, Lian Muxiu smiled. What an interesting little thing¡ªevery time she saw food, her eyes would light up.
Lian Muxiu turned to Ying Yi. "Did you find out everything?"
Ying Yi bowed. "Yes, Master. Taibai Ju in the center is an old brand in Yipin Food. I¡¯ve already reserved a private room for you."
Lian Muxiu nodded. "Good job. Let¡¯s go."
"Yes, Master."
Before Little Nine could decide where to start, she felt Lian Muxiu begin walking.
She tugged at his sleeve. "Chirp? Where are you going?"
Lian Muxiu replied, "I¡¯ve reserved a private room at Taibai Ju. Once we¡¯re inside, I¡¯ll have the guards bring a sample of every dish for you."
Oh, so the National Master is concerned about losing face. Little Nine nodded in understanding. As long as she got food, she didn¡¯t mind where they ate.
The moment they arrived at the entrance of Taibai Ju, people had already received the orders and were waiting for Lian Muxiu¡¯s arrival.
From the manager to the servants, everyone was eagerly anticipating the visit of the National Master. It was a great honor!
The manager glanced at the sky, wondering why Lian Muxiu, who should have already arrived, was still not here. Did he change his mind? But then again, such a respected figure wouldn¡¯t back out without notifying anyone, would he?
"Manager, do you see those people?"
Chapter 17: The Manager of Taibai Ju
One of the sharp-eyed young servants spotted Lian Muxiu and his group from a distance and quickly ran over to the manager. He cautiously leaned in and whispered, "Manager, do you see them?"
The manager shielded his eyes with his hand, looked carefully, and indeed confirmed. "Oh, Xiao Si, I always said you had sharp eyes, but I didn¡¯t know they were this useful. You really helped me today! I¡¯ll double your wages this month!"
Xiao Si¡¯s eyes lit up at the mention of the reward, his smile getting so wide that his small eyes almost disappeared. "Oh, thank you, manager! I¡¯ll definitely do my best!"
The manager grinned widely, his small mustache twitching as he spoke. "Well, if you want to thank someone, thank the National Master."
Xiao Si nodded eagerly. "Understood, manager."
The manager turned to see the group of servants standing behind him, and his face darkened. "What are you all doing? Didn¡¯t you hear that the National Master has arrived? Hurry up and get the private room ready, prepare the tea, and you there¡ªyes, you¡ªwhy are you standing around? Go tell the kitchen to start preparing the dishes!"
"Yes, manager!"
"Right away!"
"Ouch, slow down, you bumped into me!"
"Watch where you''re going, can''t you be more careful?"
Xiao Si, still excited about his double wages, couldn¡¯t help but notice the others staring enviously at him. He wished his eyes were as sharp as his, but his eagerness only led to chaos, bumping into people as they rushed to prepare.
The manager, seeing the chaos, shouted again, "What is going on? Hurry up!"
"Yes, manager!"This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
After calming down the staff, the manager smiled again, and just as he turned around, Lian Muxiu¡¯s group arrived at the entrance of Taibai Ju. The manager quickly straightened his clothes and walked toward Lian Muxiu, greeting him respectfully. "Welcome, National Master! It is an honor to have you visit."
Lian Muxiu smiled warmly, gesturing for the manager to rise. "There¡¯s no need for such formalities. I¡¯m just here to eat, no need for such a grand greeting."
The manager, bowing, insisted, "No, no, National Master, you have worked so hard for Beiyan, and everyone knows it. As a humble restaurant owner, I owe my business¡¯s success entirely to the efforts of National Master."
Lian Muxiu sighed softly, "You¡¯re too kind. Beiyan thrives thanks to His Majesty¡¯s efforts. I only assist him in small matters, and I feel ashamed for taking credit."
Little Nine, nestled in Lian Muxiu¡¯s arms, perked up her ears and listened carefully, thinking to herself, What a hypocrite!
Though the manager praised Lian Muxiu¡¯s contributions to Beiyan, he subtly planted little traps with his flattery. If Lian Muxiu fell for these compliments, soon people would be saying that Lian Muxiu was the true hero of Beiyan, more important than the Emperor himself.
Lian Muxiu, sharp as ever, immediately deflected the manager¡¯s flattery, skillfully complimenting the Emperor while clarifying that he wasn¡¯t someone who would take all the credit.
The manager, bowing again, praised Lian Muxiu. "You are too modest, National Master. You are truly a person I deeply admire."
"Manager, surely you don¡¯t expect me to stand here and chat with you outside the restaurant?" Ying San, who could not stand excessive flattery, interrupted.
"Ying San, stop speaking out of turn." Lian Muxiu scolded, but then turned to the manager, apologizing, "I¡¯m sorry, my guard was rude."
The manager hurriedly waved his hands, "No, no, it¡¯s my mistake! I should have been more careful with my words!"
"Oh, by the way, I never asked for your name."
"My surname is Bai."
"Ah, so you¡¯re Manager Bai..." Lian Muxiu said, drawing out the last word in a way that made the manager feel a sudden chill, like something ominous was about to happen.
Manager Bai quickly replied, "Yes, yes, National Master, please come inside. The private room is ready, the tea has been prepared, and the kitchen has already started cooking. We will not delay you."
"Lead the way." Ying Yi¡¯s voice was direct and to the point.
"Yes, please come this way."
As Lian Muxiu and his group walked into Taibai Ju, Manager Bai walked alongside them, smiling widely. But inwardly, he couldn''t shake the feeling that something about the conversation earlier had unsettled him. Perhaps he had misinterpreted the tone of Lian Muxiu¡¯s last remark?
Shaking off the feeling, Manager Bai led them upstairs to the second floor.
Chapter 18: The Manager of Taibai Ju
On the second floor of Taibai Ju, the private rooms were elegantly designed, quite different from the typical wooden partitions in other restaurants. Instead of solid walls, each room was separated by thin, gauzy curtains, allowing those inside to see the outside but preventing those outside from looking in clearly.
However, if one wished to discuss private matters, it was better to go to the third floor, where the rooms were more secluded.
Ying Yi knew that Lian Muxiu had come today for the precious little fox in his arms, and since the busy National Master rarely had the time to casually wander around food streets, he had not booked a room on the third floor.
¡°National Master, please this way.¡± Manager Bai bowed respectfully and led them to a quieter room in a slightly secluded area. ¡°As per your guard''s instructions, I have specially chosen this quiet spot.¡±
¡°No problem, it¡¯s just what I needed.¡± Lian Muxiu replied, settling into the room.
Ying Yi raised the curtain and allowed Lian Muxiu to enter with Little Nine. Manager Bai moved to follow them but was stopped by Ying San.
¡°Manager Bai, shouldn¡¯t you check the kitchen?¡± Ying San asked, smiling mockingly.
Manager Bai paused for a moment, and quickly plastered a smile on his face. "Yes, yes, I will go immediately! I''ll have the tea sent to you, and then I''ll check with the kitchen."
¡°Yes, four people,¡± Lian Muxiu¡¯s calm voice interjected.
¡°Ah?¡± Manager Bai looked confused, murmuring to himself, ¡°The National Master and two guards, that¡¯s three people. Are there more guests?¡±
Ying San walked over and leaned in, pressing his weight on Manager Bai. He whispered, ¡°Are you blind? Can¡¯t you see the National Master is carrying another one?¡±
Manager Bai looked at Lian Muxiu¡¯s arms and his eyes widened. He stammered, ¡°T-That¡¯s... that also counts as... a person?¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Little Nine, nestled in Lian Muxiu''s arms, had been listening patiently to Manager Bai. Feeling slighted, she bared her teeth and gave him a fierce glare. However, being so small, even her fiercest growl came across as adorably cute.
Ying San laughed. ¡°You¡¯ve never seen such things before, huh? Our National Master treats all beings equally. Even if it¡¯s just a fox in his arms, she¡¯s part of the National Master¡¯s family now.¡±
Manager Bai, still taken aback, quickly agreed, ¡°Ah, yes, yes, four people, understood. I¡¯ll leave now.¡±
With a wave of his hand, Ying San motioned for him to go. Manager Bai, now thoroughly flustered, turned around, murmuring to himself about how strange the National Master¡¯s household was, even treating a fox as part of the family. He¡¯d never seen such a thing before.
Ying San waited until Manager Bai had gone downstairs before entering the room, ¡°Master, how did I do?¡±
¡°Not bad, you¡¯ve got a bit of flair.¡± Lian Muxiu smiled, complimenting Ying San.
Little Nine, who had been watching, tilted her head in confusion. ¡°What are you two up to?¡±
Lian Muxiu grinned. ¡°You think I didn¡¯t give any orders to Ying San, and he just figured it out?¡±
Little Nine¡¯s big eyes looked up at Lian Muxiu, completely puzzled.
¡°You¡¯re probably wondering why he knew what to do without being told,¡± Lian Muxiu teased, but this time, he made sure not to rile her up.
Meanwhile, Ying San quietly moved closer to Ying Yi, whispering, ¡°What¡¯s going on with our National Master? He¡¯s talking strategy with a fox?¡±
Ying Yi¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°Shut up.¡±
¡°Hey, Ying Yi, I¡¯m just chatting with you. Come on, tell me what you think,¡± Ying San insisted, leaning in.
Ying Yi¡¯s lips twitched. He couldn¡¯t stand Ying San¡¯s incessant questioning. He really wondered what Lian Muxiu saw in him to keep him around.
¡°Why did the Master call you?¡± Ying Yi finally snapped.
¡°Come on, to...¡± Ying San froze mid-sentence, suddenly realizing that the reason he was called wasn¡¯t for strategy. He was here to help calm the fox in Lian Muxiu¡¯s arms. Had he just been made a fool of?
Ying San glanced at Ying Yi, his disbelief evident. He couldn¡¯t believe Lian Muxiu was willing to spend so much time over a fox.
Ying Yi¡¯s next words crushed any lingering hope. ¡°The Master came out today just to bring the fox here to eat.¡±
Ying San¡¯s mind shattered at that moment, the sacred image of Lian Muxiu he¡¯d had crumbling to dust. For a fox, the National Master had set aside his duties and taken time out of his schedule to eat with it?
¡°Ah!¡± Ying San suddenly shouted, causing both Lian Muxiu and Little Nine to turn toward him.
Flustered, Ying San quickly coughed and muttered, ¡°Sorry, my throat¡¯s a bit sore.¡±
Chapter 19: Little Nines Hard-to-Understand Situation (Part 2)
Lian Muxiu gave Ying San a glance and said lightly, ¡°If you¡¯re having a sore throat, you can pick up some medicine on the way back to avoid passing the discomfort onto Little Nine.¡±
Ying San, at that moment, wanted to cry. He had followed his master for many years, risking his life for him, yet he found that he couldn¡¯t even compare to a little fox in the eyes of his master.
As a man, Ying San couldn¡¯t let himself be too melancholic, so he took a deep breath and said, ¡°Understood, Master.¡±
Ying San made a decision then: he would serve his master even better, to increase his standing in Lian Muxiu¡¯s eyes.
Looking at Little Nine, Ying San wanted to take a good look at this little fox who was so highly regarded by his master. But to his surprise, he found nothing but disdain in her eyes. Ying San rubbed his eyes, but the disdain didn¡¯t go away. He sighed, ¡°Master, is Little Nine¡ looking down on me?¡±
Lian Muxiu turned to look at Little Nine, and sure enough, there was clear disdain in her eyes. He chuckled softly, ¡°Ying San, Little Nine clearly thinks you¡¯re a bit slow.¡±
Ying San was immediately infuriated, ¡°What? She dares to look down on me? I...¡±
Before Ying San could finish, Little Nine turned her back on him, not even looking at him anymore. She was afraid that if she kept staring at this fool, she might get infected.
Little Nine tugged at Lian Muxiu¡¯s sleeve on the table, ¡°Squeak, squeak.¡± She had been interrupted by Ying San when she was trying to ask something earlier. Lian Muxiu still hadn¡¯t explained it.
Lian Muxiu, now distracted by Little Nine, said, ¡°Ying Yi, tell us about Taibai Ju.¡±
¡°Yes, Master.¡± Ying Yi replied, ¡°Though Taibai Ju is on Yipin Street, the true owner behind it is someone else.¡± At this moment, since they were on the second floor of a private room, Ying Yi couldn¡¯t speak too openly. If anyone overheard, rumors might start spreading.
¡°Who¡¯s the other person?¡± Little Nine asked, confused.
Lian Muxiu patted Little Nine¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s a bit too complicated to explain in a few words. I¡¯ll explain it to you in detail when we get back. How about that?¡±
Little Nine nodded eagerly. Her stomach was growling, and that was the most important thing now. She was starving.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Little Nine tugged at one of Lian Muxiu¡¯s fingers, pointing to her belly to let him know how hungry she was. Lian Muxiu, however, was too engrossed in the softness of her belly to notice, his finger gently tracing along. The touch startled Little Nine, and she squealed, ¡°Squeak!¡± Who says that foxes don¡¯t feel ticklish?
Lian Muxiu smiled, his lips curving. ¡°Heh, Little Nine, you¡¯re so cute. I¡¯m really starting to like you more and more.¡±
Little Nine, hearing Lian Muxiu¡¯s compliment, didn¡¯t feel happy at all. She bared her sharp teeth at him, warning him that if he didn¡¯t give her food soon, she¡¯d bite him!
Lian Muxiu patted her head soothingly. ¡°I¡¯ll have Ying San hurry up, Ying San.¡±
¡°I?¡± Ying San pointed at himself, and seeing Lian Muxiu¡¯s determined gaze, he reluctantly walked out of the private room, muttering, ¡°I knew it, always bullying the good people. Why didn¡¯t Ying Yi go? I¡¯m an elite guard, and now I¡¯ve been reduced to delivering food for a fox¡ sigh.¡±
As he bent down to pick something up from the floor, Ying San noticed a small glass bead, but before he could touch it, he heard Lian Muxiu¡¯s voice, ¡°If you don¡¯t go to the kitchen right now, when we return, you¡¯ll be assigned to follow Ying Si.¡±
Ying San froze. ¡°Master, I was wrong. I¡¯ll go immediately.¡±
In a flash, Ying San vanished, and Lian Muxiu nodded in satisfaction.
Little Nine raised her head, confused, ¡°Is Ying Si really that powerful? Why is Ying San so afraid of him?¡±
Lian Muxiu seemed to recall something and smiled, explaining to Little Nine, ¡°Ying Si is also one of my guards. She¡¯s a woman, but she¡¯s not any less capable than the other three men. When we get back, I¡¯ll have all four of my guards come to meet you.¡±
Little Nine nodded vigorously. She liked this idea.
¡°Master, the food is ready. Should we bring it in now?¡± Ying San¡¯s voice came from outside the room, having clearly visited the kitchen already.
Lian Muxiu replied, ¡°Yes, bring it in. Little Nine is already hungry.¡±
¡°Yes, Master.¡± Ying San¡¯s voice clearly showed he was grinding his teeth in frustration.
Little Nine lowered her head and quietly pouted. She almost wanted to laugh at Ying San¡¯s misfortune. But then, she thought better of it. It was more important to get the food now. Besides, Ying San wouldn¡¯t escape. She¡¯d save her next bout of disdain for him.
With a response from Ying San, Ying Yi lifted the curtain, and several waiters came in, each carrying a tray. On the trays were Taibai Ju¡¯s signature dishes, specialty snacks, and one waiter carrying tea.
Ying Yi intercepted the last waiter who was carrying tea. ¡°It¡¯s well-known that the National Master doesn¡¯t drink tea. Does Taibai Ju not know this?¡±
The waiter, who was just following orders, didn¡¯t know and was startled. Seeing Ying Yi¡¯s cold expression and the murderous aura around him, the waiter quickly knelt, ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡ Please forgive me, National Master.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine, Ying Yi,¡± Lian Muxiu said without even looking up. ¡°Ignorance is no sin. My not drinking tea is a personal preference, and there¡¯s no need to make it known to all of Tancheng, causing trouble for others.¡±
¡°Yes, Master,¡± Ying Yi replied, bowing respectfully, and then addressed the kneeling waiter, ¡°Get up. I overreacted. I apologize.¡±
The waiter, hearing Ying Yi¡¯s apology, stood up but immediately knelt again, saying, ¡°I apologize! Please forgive me, Master!¡±
Chapter 20: Choking Little Nine
"Master, I really can''t accept your apology. It¡¯s too much for me," the waiter stammered, trembling in fear. He was silently wailing inside, thinking, "How did I end up with this job of serving tea? If I''d known, I would have stayed in the kitchen rather than risk this."
Now, not only was he unsure whether he''d be rewarded with a tip, but he wasn¡¯t even sure if his life would be spared.
Ying Yi, with an impassive expression, grabbed the waiter by the arm and yanked him up, ¡°Get up when I say so. No more nonsense.¡±
The waiter was shaken by Ying Yi¡¯s ominous tone, shivering, "Yes, understood."
"Go on."
"Yes, right away," the waiter replied, carrying the tray, and scrambled to find the manager. He needed to explain that he had possibly offended the National Master. What was he going to do?
After the other waiters served the food, Ying San entered the room and immediately threw his arm around Ying Yi''s neck, whispering, ¡°Well done, brother. You really know how to act. Impressive.¡±
Ying Yi calmly removed Ying San''s arm, "You think too much. This is just how I am. No acting involved."
Ying San pouted, ¡°Boring, Ying Yi.¡±
¡°Ying San.¡± Lian Muxiu, observing Ying San, was starting to feel more and more annoyed with him, "Go and instruct all the guards to buy a portion of every famous snack and dessert from Yipin Street, and have it sent to the National Master¡¯s residence."
¡°Master, what¡¯s this about?¡± Ying San, not understanding the reason for the order, asked directly. Lian Muxiu, not one to be strict, allowed for questions if his subordinates didn¡¯t understand.
"Litle Nine will probably be too full to eat anything else after this. I promised her I¡¯d take her to try everything on Yipin Street, and I cannot go back on that promise," Lian Muxiu said as he poured water into Little Nine¡¯s bowl.
Ying San, seeing Lian Muxiu attentively serving the little fox by the table, felt a mix of frustration and confusion. He silently sighed and moved to fulfill the order.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Ying San pulled out a peculiar flute from his chest and walked to the window. He played a tune, which was a unique communication method among their group of guards. The pitch and length of the notes conveyed orders.
¡°Master, it¡¯s done.¡±
¡°Mm?¡±
"Master, really?" Ying San thought. That was it? Just a simple response? It seemed like he was becoming more confused by the day.
After a moment, Ying Yi spoke up, "Master, someone is coming."
Lian Muxiu picked up a handkerchief from the table and carefully wiped the food crumbs and grease off Little Nine¡¯s mouth, smiling, "Little Nine, how are you feeling? Are you satisfied with the food from Taibai Ju?"
Little Nine was so busy stuffing the last bit of pastry into her mouth that she hadn¡¯t even swallowed when Lian Muxiu picked her up. The pastry got stuck in her throat.
"Squeak... squeak... squeak..." Little Nine was choking, her legs kicking, her eyes widening in panic.
Lian Muxiu immediately flipped Little Nine over and placed her on his lap, using his hands to press on her belly, forcing out everything she had just eaten. The piece of pastry that was stuck in her throat was finally dislodged.
"Squeak... squeak..." Little Nine, lying on Lian Muxiu¡¯s lap, cried in distress. Her food, her precious pastry, she had worked so hard to eat it, and now it was all gone.
Lian Muxiu poured her a glass of water and gently placed it by her mouth. "Drink this. Rinse your mouth. It must not feel good after throwing up."
Little Nine drank a few sips and then turned her head, silently sulking.
Lian Muxiu, noticing her mood, continued to soothe her with gentle actions, knowing that this little fox loved to eat and was disappointed that her meal had been wasted. He didn¡¯t speak, just continued to comfort her through his actions.
After a while, Little Nine finally turned her head, looking up at Lian Muxiu with her big, tear-filled eyes, full of grievance. Lian Muxiu¡¯s heart melted at the sight.
He comforted her softly, ¡°Little Nine, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll go back to the manor soon. The guards have already sent food there. You can eat more when we get back. Don¡¯t be sad, alright?¡±
His voice was tender, and he didn¡¯t scold her for making a mess of his clothes when she vomited. Instead, he had even poured her water. Little Nine¡¯s tears welled up again, and with a quick nod, she blinked and the tears fell.
They landed in Lian Muxiu¡¯s palm, turning into a purple bead.
¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Lian Muxiu instinctively clenched his hand into a fist, glancing at Ying Yi and Ying San.
Ying Yi and Ying San noticed Lian Muxiu¡¯s gaze, "Master, do you need something?"
Lian Muxiu stared at both of them for a moment but didn¡¯t notice anything unusual. He sighed inwardly, relaxed, and responded in a calm voice, "It¡¯s nothing."
Although Ying Yi and Ying San were puzzled, they knew that when the master said "nothing," it meant just that.
Lian Muxiu naturally placed the purple bead in his pocket and picked up Little Nine, "No more crying."
His stern voice immediately stopped Little Nine¡¯s crying.
The Little Fox Who Only Trusts Li Nuxiu
Little Fox instinctively glanced at Li Nuxiu, wondering why his expression had suddenly changed.
Before she could react, Little Fox extended her little paw, pointing at Li Nuxiu, her eyes filling with tears again. Her graceful, flowing movements clearly showed that she was accusing Li Nuxiu, "You bad man, why are you scolding me again!"
Li Nuxiu gently pressed down on Little Fox¡¯s paw. "Ying Yi, Ying San, both of you leave. I have something to discuss with Little Fox."
"Yes, Master." Ying Yi responded, stepping toward the door. He paused after a few steps, then turned around to grab Ying San, yanking him by his collar and unceremoniously dragging him out.
"Hey, hey, Ying Yi! Ying Yi! Can¡¯t we just talk about this?" Ying San struggled.
"Stop talking. Didn¡¯t you hear the Master¡¯s order?" Ying Yi remained emotionless.
Ying San really wanted to ask his Master what kind of conversation could possibly be had with a little fox.
The room fell silent.
Li Nuxiu gently lifted Little Fox and placed her on the table. He pulled out the purple bead from his pocket and held it in his hand, staring intently at her. "Little Fox, what is this?"
Little Fox blinked, looking at the purple bead. It looked... so familiar.
Li Nuxiu placed the bead on the table. Little Fox extended her paw and began playing with the bead silently, moving it from one paw to the other, repeatedly pushing it back and forth.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
Li Nuxiu watched as Little Fox silently played, and after the seventh or eighth back-and-forth, he reached out and pressed the purple bead down.
Little Fox¡¯s paw froze as she looked at Li Nuxiu.
"Chirp?" What¡¯s going on?
"Little Fox, when I met you on Wuqie Mountain, I knew you were different. You not only have spiritual intelligence and can understand my words, but I also suspect that you can cultivate."
"Chirp." Little Fox nodded. She was indeed a special kind of fox, different from the others, and yes, she could cultivate. Was that so strange?
Seeing Little Fox nod without any hesitation, Li Nuxiu rubbed his forehead in frustration and lightly tapped her forehead, almost making her tilt backward.
Li Nuxiu said seriously, "You silly fox, would you respond this quickly to others?"
"Chirp chirp." Little Fox shook her head rapidly, looking like she was spinning her head like a rattle. She pointed to herself with one paw, then to Li Nuxiu with the other, and then made a hugging gesture.
Li Nuxiu was momentarily stunned. Little Fox was saying that she trusted him enough to tell him the truth because it was him, right?
"You mean..." Li Nuxiu spoke, his voice suddenly hoarse, "Because it¡¯s me, you did this? You trust me?"
Little Fox immediately nodded, eager to make sure Li Nuxiu understood. She nodded so vigorously that her head started spinning. "Chirp chirp, chirp chirp."
"Little Fox..." Li Nuxiu embraced her tightly.
"Chirp~" Little Fox let out a long chirp as she snuggled closer to him, rubbing her head against his chest. She was happy that she could express her joy this way.
She now had two tails! How amazing! In just a short time, Li Nuxiu had truly been her lucky star.
Li Nuxiu held Little Fox, understanding why she was so happy. "So happy, do you want some pastries?"
"Chirp chirp." Little Fox nodded. Li Nuxiu was so good to her, and she liked him more and more.
Just as the two of them were enjoying their happiness, there was a sound from outside the door.
"Master, the four dark guards have arrived."
The Distracting White Innkeeper
Li Nuxiu smiled lightly. "The words of White Innkeeper truly confuse me. What exactly did you do wrong? How about you tell me yourself, so I can understand what it is you think you''ve done wrong?"
"I... I..." White Innkeeper wiped the sweat from his forehead, but ended up touching a wound, causing him to wince in pain. "I made a mistake."
Li Nuxiu gave Ying Yi a glance. Ying Yi nodded, drawing his waist dagger and placing it coldly against White Innkeeper''s neck. The chill of the blade made White Innkeeper''s scalp tingle¡ªif he moved even slightly, his life might be forfeit right there.
"Master is asking you a question. Why are you dodging it? White Innkeeper keeps saying you made a mistake and asking for forgiveness, but Master hasn''t done anything to you," Ying Yi said coldly.
White Innkeeper was at a loss for words, unable to respond.
Little Fox watched curiously. Ying Yi, who had been a cold block of ice all along, was suddenly speaking so much. Impressive!
"I... I was told by a waiter that... that the wrong tea was served to Master... I was afraid it might affect Master¡¯s appetite, so I came to apologize," White Innkeeper stammered, speaking hesitantly under the pressure of Ying Yi¡¯s blade.
"Oh?" Li Nuxiu raised his cup and took a sip. "So it was just a wrong tea served, and White Innkeeper is this afraid? I think there''s more to this than you''re letting on."
White Innkeeper immediately denied it. "No... No."
Ying Yi pressed the blade closer to White Innkeeper. "Tell the truth."
White Innkeeper shuddered. "No, no, no, guards, please, don''t come any closer, I¡¯m scared!"
"You¡¯re scared?" Li Nuxiu chuckled softly. "If White Innkeeper were really scared, you wouldn''t have been showing off in front of me earlier."
Showing off? Little Fox thought back to see if that had happened.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Li Nuxiu patted Little Fox. "Ying Yi, tell White Innkeeper how much of a show-off he was."
"Yes, Master." Ying Yi sheathed his blade, his cold eyes piercing through White Innkeeper. "White Innkeeper, when Master came to dine, I was instructed to be low-key, but you made sure everyone knew. You were practically announcing it to the world."
"I... I only thought it was an honor for Master to eat here. I wanted others to admire Master¡¯s presence," White Innkeeper stammered.
"Secondly, White Innkeeper''s constant praises for Master are putting the hardworking Emperor in a difficult position. What about His Majesty?" Ying Yi continued.
"I... I misspoke, but Master really has done a lot for Bei Yan!" White Innkeeper still didn¡¯t understand. Everyone knew how important Master was, so why couldn¡¯t he praise him?
Ying Yi ignored White Innkeeper¡¯s defense and continued. "Third, White Innkeeper tried to approach Master¡ Could it be that¡"
White Innkeeper was already trembling with fear at the first part, and quickly waved his hands. "No, no, no, I don¡¯t want anything! I just..."
"You just wanted to stop Master from entering Tai Bai Ju, and also tried to find out if Master was here to eat or for something else," Li Nuxiu finished for him.
White Innkeeper suddenly looked up at Li Nuxiu, shocked.
Li Nuxiu¡¯s smile remained, his eyes cold as though he had known all along.
"Master, I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying," White Innkeeper mumbled, avoiding Li Nuxiu''s gaze, his tone filled with guilt.
"Don¡¯t understand? Fine, Ying Yi, take White Innkeeper upstairs to bring that person down."
"Yes, Master." Ying Yi bent low, taking White Innkeeper by the arm. "Please, White Innkeeper."
White Innkeeper struggled, running to the other side to steady himself, taking a deep breath to calm down before turning to Li Nuxiu. "Master, how did you know I was trying to stop you from entering Tai Bai Ju?"
White Innkeeper thought he had done a good job. From the moment Li Nuxiu arrived at Tai Bai Ju, he had delayed his entrance, made subtle comments to distract him, and even used the wrong tea to cause a disturbance, all to buy time for the person upstairs to leave early.
Normally, a tavern innkeeper disrespecting the national master would warrant severe punishment, such as the closure of their business. Yet Li Nuxiu had done nothing. White Innkeeper had been convinced that after dinner, Li Nuxiu would simply leave. But now, seeing Li Nuxiu¡¯s smile and cold eyes, he realized his actions had been utterly foolish.
"White Innkeeper, do you really think that after all the theatrics put on by my guards, you didn¡¯t realize anything?" Li Nuxiu asked lightly.
The word "theatrics" made White Innkeeper step back instinctively, his heart racing. He hadn¡¯t noticed?
Theatrics? Little Fox nudged Li Nuxiu and stretched out her little, fluffy paw to tap the table three times, then looked up at Li Nuxiu.
Li Nuxiu nodded, "Little Fox is very clever. Some people are even outsmarted by her."
The Mysterious Person on the Third Floor
Hearing this, Xiao Jiu¡¯s purple eyes sparkled with pride. Was she just any regular fox? Of course not, she was an ancient demon beast, a nine-tailed fox. She was very smart¡ªshe only needed to be told something once to understand. However... Xiao Jiu was also very lazy.
"Chi~" Xiao Jiu''s cry was filled with joy as she was praised by Lian Muxiu.
As soon as Lian Muxiu held Xiao Jiu in his arms, she naturally found the most comfortable position. Lian Muxiu stood up and didn¡¯t even glance at White Shopkeeper. "Let¡¯s go, Ying Yi, let¡¯s meet the person who White Shopkeeper was willing to risk his life to protect."
"Yes."
Ying Yi, who always followed Lian Muxiu¡¯s commands without question, regarded Lian Muxiu as a god-like figure. Even if Lian Muxiu ordered him to die, Ying Yi would do it without hesitation.
Just as they were about to leave the room, Lian Muxiu seemed to remember something. He turned around and spoke to the empty space, "Twelve, take White Shopkeeper back to the North Tower for tea. Be sure to treat him well."
A faint "Yes" came from the air, and Xiao Jiu only saw a flash of black, and White Shopkeeper disappeared from the ground.
"Chi?" Is that an°µÎÀ (shadow guard)?
"Yes, that''s Shadow Guard Twelve, very strong. Let him take people back for tea; it''s just right," Lian Muxiu replied.
"Chi chi." Xiao Jiu was curious, Lian Muxiu had so many shadow guards, and each seemed interesting. Xiao Jiu lifted her little paw and made a decision in her mind: she would work even harder to cultivate and meet all of Lian Muxiu¡¯s shadow guards.
Lian Muxiu smiled at Xiao Jiu''s little actions, which made her seem even more adorable, and then led Ying Yi up to the third floor.
The third floor was very different from the second. While the second floor was somewhat noisy, the third floor was silent, eerily silent.
It was so quiet that even a needle falling to the ground could be heard. Ying Yi walked ahead of Lian Muxiu, prepared to defend against any unforeseen situations.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"Master, this third floor is a bit too quiet. Please be cautious," Ying Yi said.
"Mm," Lian Muxiu responded indifferently, showing no hint of nervousness on his face.
Just as Ying Yi was fully focused on walking ahead, he suddenly felt Lian Muxiu pass him, walking ahead. "Master..."
"Shh!" Lian Muxiu gestured for Ying Yi to be quiet, and then did the same motion for Xiao Jiu to be silent. Xiao Jiu, understanding, nodded and kept quiet.
If Lian Muxiu knew what Xiao Jiu was thinking at this moment, he would surely tease her¡ªafter all, wasn¡¯t she the one who kept crying so easily?
Lian Muxiu closed his eyes and listened intently, his ears twitching. In a moment, he figured out where the person he was looking for was. He took a step forward, heading toward a room in the center of the third floor. He walked slowly, but the distance between him and the room quickly shortened.
Standing at the door, Lian Muxiu subtly raised his chin toward Ying Yi, who nodded and stepped forward to knock on the door.
Before Ying Yi could knock a second time, the door creaked open. Xiao Jiu, curious, peeked out of Lian Muxiu¡¯s arms. She was eager to see who this person was, the one whom White Shopkeeper had tried to protect.
In front of them stood four attendants, their heads lowered, and even when the door opened, they didn¡¯t look up.
Following them were four or five maids, some standing aside, others holding trays, all with the same impassive expressions.
Xiao Jiu observed for a while. These people weren¡¯t the ones Lian Muxiu had come to see. So who were they serving?
"I did not know that the great North Yan¡¯s National Master would visit. Please forgive our poor reception, National Master," a voice came from the room.
Before seeing the person, Xiao Jiu already heard the voice, which sounded like flowing water over stones¡ªclear, elegant, and smooth. It was soothing to the ears, and Xiao Jiu¡¯s desire to meet the speaker intensified.
She couldn¡¯t wait to meet this person.
Trying to climb down from Lian Muxiu¡¯s arms, Lian Muxiu, having already noticed her movement, firmly held her back. Xiao Jiu¡¯s nose was pressed against his chest, and a refreshing minty scent filled her nose.
Suddenly, Xiao Jiu shivered as if waking up.
She huddled quietly in Lian Muxiu¡¯s arms, feeling a bit confused. What had just happened? Why had she become so anxious just by hearing that person¡¯s voice? This wasn¡¯t like her!
Xiao Jiu¡¯s mind raced, and then she remembered something. Back in White Spirit Mountain, one of her playmates had once mentioned that there were many extraordinary people in the human world who practiced different kinds of arts, some of which could mesmerize people¡¯s hearts simply through their voices. These people would use their voices to ensnare others, and after that, they would take the mesmerized person away, but what happened after that, Xiao Jiu didn¡¯t know.
Xiao Jiu suddenly realized that Lian Muxiu had also heard that person¡¯s voice, and in a flash, she leaped from his arms and climbed onto his shoulder.
"Chi chi," Xiao Jiu urgently warned, "Muxiu, don¡¯t fall under their spell!"
The Prince of Nanyu, Wen Chengyu
Xiao Jiu was very anxious. What if Lian Muxiu was also mesmerized by the voice? What should she do?
At this place, Lian Muxiu was the only one Xiao Jiu knew! If something happened to him... Xiao Jiu couldn¡¯t bear to think further.
She lay on Lian Muxiu¡¯s shoulder, scratching his neck with her little paw.
"Chi chi, chi chi chi," Muxiu, wake up, your Xiao Jiu is still waiting for you to take care of her!
As Xiao Jiu scratched, she felt her body lift, her neck tightened as she was picked up and placed back into Lian Muxiu¡¯s arms.
"Chi?" Is Muxiu awake?
Lian Muxiu, both amused and exasperated, rubbed Xiao Jiu¡¯s head. "Silly fox, do you think I¡¯m so easily charmed?"
"Chi chi?" Xiao Jiu didn¡¯t understand. She, an ancient demon beast, had almost fallen for it, so why wouldn¡¯t Lian Muxiu, a regular person, be susceptible?
"Silly fox, be good."
Lian Muxiu said this and then stopped looking at Xiao Jiu. Xiao Jiu could only sense his concern through the way he tightened his arms around her.
"I didn¡¯t expect the National Master would keep a fox and spoil it so much. Heh, this really opens my eyes," came the voice again. This time, though, it didn¡¯t have the same alluring charm as before. Xiao Jiu thought the speaker must have intentionally restrained themselves, otherwise, she might have fallen into it again.
"Heh." Lian Muxiu returned a light laugh. "I didn¡¯t expect that the Prince of Nanyu, Wen Chengyu, who was supposed to take a few more days to reach Tancheng, has already entered the city."
The voice responded again, "National Master, you truly are impressive. I admire you."
Then, the sound of beads clinking filled the air. Xiao Jiu looked up and saw a man walking out, assisted by several maidservants. He was tall and slender, wearing a fine purple silk robe adorned with elegant bamboo leaf patterns. His black hair was tied up high with a white jade hairpin. He had red lips and white teeth¡ªif Lian Muxiu hadn¡¯t identified him, Xiao Jiu would have mistaken him for a young woman in disguise.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"Your Highness, you flatter me. Since you¡¯ve already arrived in Tancheng, why not stay in the royal residence instead of at this Taibai Residence? Do you find our royal palace here lacking compared to Nanyu¡¯s?" Lian Muxiu said directly.
Wen Chengyu, clearly not expecting such a straightforward question, momentarily froze. In the brief blink of an eye, if Xiao Jiu hadn¡¯t been paying close attention, she might have missed the brief expression change.
"National Master, please don¡¯t slander me," Wen Chengyu responded smoothly, a hint of unease in his voice. "I came early to explore the streets of Tancheng. Since childhood, I have longed for life outside the palace. I often snuck out as a child, but no matter how many times I was punished, I couldn¡¯t help myself. So, my uncle and mother sent more guards with me this time. Coming to North Yan is truly fulfilling a childhood dream."
Wen Chengyu spoke with sincerity, almost making himself sound like he might cry from recalling his childhood experiences.
"Your Highness¡¯s story is indeed touching. I too sympathize with you," Lian Muxiu said, his tone unaffected as if he were listening to just another tale of hardship.
"Chi chi." Xiao Jiu, wanting to get Lian Muxiu''s attention, wondered: was what the Prince of Nanyu just said true?
Wen Chengyu, also drawn by Xiao Jiu¡¯s movement, said, "Oh, so this is the little fox that National Master treasures. Let me take a look."
Wen Chengyu¡¯s tone had changed again, and Xiao Jiu¡¯s first thought was... What a sleazy voice. She wanted to scratch him.
Seeing Wen Chengyu¡¯s hands reaching out to her, Xiao Jiu immediately fluffed up her fur and bared her teeth at him, showing a fierce look. If Wen Chengyu really had the power to charm people, she didn¡¯t want to get near him. There was no way she would let him hold her.
"Hey, National Master, your fox is quite fierce!" Wen Chengyu quickly withdrew his hands, narrowly avoiding Xiao Jiu¡¯s sharp teeth.
Lian Muxiu gently stroked Xiao Jiu¡¯s fur. "Your Highness, my little fox isn¡¯t something everyone can touch. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you, she¡¯s poisonous. If you¡¯re careless and get bitten, don¡¯t come to me asking for an antidote."
As Lian Muxiu spoke, he gently pinched Xiao Jiu, and Xiao Jiu cooperated by opening her mouth and showing her sharp white teeth. In the sunlight, her teeth gleamed with an eerie shine, making it seem like she truly was poisonous.
Wen Chengyu, seeing this, hesitated. If what the National Master said was true, there was no need to risk getting close to the fox!
"Cough, cough." Wen Chengyu cleared his throat lightly, pretending to cover his embarrassment.
"Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?" Lian Muxiu asked, pretending not to notice the awkwardness in Wen Chengyu. "You¡¯re fond of coughing, so I thought I¡¯d let you do it for real."
"No, National Master, it¡¯s nothing. I might have caught some wind," Wen Chengyu said quickly, scrambling for an excuse.
"Oh, I see." Lian Muxiu paused and then added, "Your Highness, it¡¯s better to return to the royal residence. I¡¯ll have someone inform the court physician to check on you. If it¡¯s nothing, that¡¯s fine, but if you¡¯ve caught a cold, you should get treatment right away."
Wen Chengyu gritted his teeth. "You, Lian Muxiu, are you trying to force me to go to the royal residence?"
The Frustrated Wen Chengyu
Wen Chengyu was seething with anger, his hands clenched into fists, then loosened, repeating this motion twice until he finally managed to suppress his rage.
"Since the National Master has extended such a kind offer, it seems unreasonable for me to refuse," he said, forcing out the words.
"Your Highness understands, I¡¯m glad," Lian Muxiu said with a smile, clearly appreciative of Wen Chengyu''s timely cooperation. "Since Your Highness has decided to go to the royal residence, we will depart this afternoon. I will leave Ying Yi here. Should you require anything, just give him instructions. After all, Your Highness is not familiar with Tancheng, is that right?"
"Very well," Wen Chengyu said through clenched teeth, forcing a stiff smile. "You¡¯ve truly been a great help, National Master. I¡¯ll prepare a feast at the royal residence in a few days and would be honored if you could attend."
"I will certainly attend, Your Highness," Lian Muxiu smiled and nodded. "In that case, I won¡¯t trouble you further while you prepare your things. Ying Yi."
"Yes, Master," Ying Yi said, bowing.
"Make sure His Highness safely reaches the royal residence. Understood?"
"Yes, Master. I¡¯ll see to it. If I fail, I¡¯ll personally come to report to you."
"Good."
After giving his instructions to Ying Yi, Lian Muxiu¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of amusement, and he turned to Wen Chengyu. "Your Highness, the life of my guard now rests in your hands. I trust you won¡¯t allow my subordinate to lose his life due to a momentary lapse in judgment. You know, Ying Yi is my most reliable guard."
Wen Chengyu thought to himself, "I am in Tancheng now, on Lian Muxiu¡¯s turf... but if this were Yancheng..." He paused, realizing that even in Yancheng, he would be powerless against Lian Muxiu. After all, he was the Crown Prince, the heir to the throne. He couldn¡¯t afford to be seen as someone who trampled on lives recklessly.
Wen Chengyu forced a smile, "Rest assured, I¡¯ll be in the royal residence before sunset, and I¡¯ll send your guard back to report. I won¡¯t delay your orders."This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Lian Muxiu nodded, "Then I will take my leave first. Your Highness, please hurry."
After Lian Muxiu finished speaking, he gave a nod of farewell to Wen Chengyu and turned to leave. As he stepped out of the room, he paused, turned back to Wen Chengyu, and said, "Oh, by the way, I forgot to remind Your Highness¡ªtomorrow¡¯s morning assembly, I hope to see Your Highness present."
"Of course," Wen Chengyu replied through gritted teeth, barely able to contain his frustration. This despicable National Master was clearly trying to add insult to injury.
Wen Chengyu had hoped to handle Lian Muxiu today and go about his business. He had planned to wait for the official arrival date written on the documents and meet with Emperor Lian Jingyi at a later time. But Lian Muxiu¡¯s parting words were clearly a warning: he had better show up tomorrow morning. How irritating!
Lian Muxiu¡¯s Feeling of Relief
Once he stepped out of Wen Chengyu¡¯s room, Lian Muxiu felt a sense of relief. The Prince of Nanyu had arrived in Tancheng ahead of schedule. Lian Muxiu suspected the Prince had his own hidden motives, but he couldn¡¯t be certain yet.
With Ying Yi left to accompany Wen Chengyu and ensure his safety on the way to the royal residence, Lian Muxiu was left with only Xiao Jiu in his arms.
As they descended from the third floor, Xiao Jiu remained still, her big eyes darting around, seemingly lost in thought.
Lian Muxiu, gently stroking Xiao Jiu, called out to her, "Xiao Jiu."
"Chi?" What is it now?
"Did you forget to tell me something?"
"Chi chi." No, Xiao Jiu shook her head. There was nothing she needed to say to him. Even if there was, she couldn¡¯t say it right now. For the first time, Xiao Jiu was glad she couldn¡¯t speak.
"Really nothing?" Lian Muxiu asked with a playful smile, watching her shake her head so quickly, clearly trying to evade his question.
"Chi." Xiao Jiu nodded. She couldn¡¯t say anything.
Xiao Jiu gave him a playful smile. Despite showing her sharp little teeth, it didn¡¯t deter Lian Muxiu from understanding her intentions.
"Little fox, are you playing tricks on me?" Lian Muxiu teased as he gently held her paws, making her look at him. His voice held a touch of mockery, but his eyes were full of affection. How could he possibly be mad at her?
"Chi chi." Xiao Jiu shook her head, truly unable to speak now that she had lost all her powers. She knew exactly what Lian Muxiu wanted to ask, but there was no way to answer him with mere gestures.
Seeing the light in Xiao Jiu¡¯s eyes dim, Lian Muxiu sighed and gently placed her on his shoulder, letting her rest her head on his neck as he stroked her shiny, silver fur. "Xiao Jiu, since you don¡¯t want to speak, I won¡¯t force you. But you have to promise me one thing."
"Chi?" Xiao Jiu immediately looked up, her dull eyes now gleaming with a spark of interest.
The Shy Little Fox
"Chi chi." As long as she wasn''t required to explain anything right now, she could happily stay silent about anything.
"You... I really can''t get mad at you," Lian Muxiu said, reaching out to gently pinch Xiao Jiu''s ear. He loved her¡ªher body so soft, as if it had no bones, especially when she curled up in his arms, so small and fragile, making him want to protect her even more.
"Chi chi." Xiao Jiu, pleased by the praise, gave Lian Muxiu a little kiss on his cheek and then shyly buried her head in his neck, refusing to look up no matter how much he coaxed her.
If it weren¡¯t for the fur covering her face, Lian Muxiu would have seen that her face had turned red.
"Alright, alright." Lian Muxiu gently stroked Xiao Jiu, smiling, "Xiao Jiu, I¡¯m not asking you to say anything right now, but remember, you are special. You must never cry in front of others, understand?"
"Chi chi." Xiao Jiu nodded. She understood. The tears she shed earlier in the room were accidental. A fox who cried was rare, and a fox whose tears turned into pearls was even rarer!
If someone with bad intentions found out, they would undoubtedly stop at nothing to capture Xiao Jiu and subject her to unspeakable torture to uncover those mysterious secrets.
With that thought, Lian Muxiu tightened his embrace around Xiao Jiu. It was a blessing that she had crashed into his arms when she was at Wuqie Mountain, a blessing that he had decided to keep her, a blessing that Xiao Jiu trusted him so much!
Outside Tai Bai Restaurant, Ying San had been waiting for a while. Upon seeing Lian Muxiu come out, he quickly approached, "Master, shall we return to the estate directly?"
"Let¡¯s go back," Lian Muxiu replied.
"Yes."
Ying San lifted the carriage curtain and helped Lian Muxiu into the carriage. Lian Muxiu patted Xiao Jiu, "Xiao Jiu, be good, it¡¯s time to head back to the National Master¡¯s estate."
"Chi chi, chi chi chi." Xiao Jiu shook her little rear end and wagged her tail, refusing to come down. Her little paws tightly grasped Lian Muxiu¡¯s collar, not letting go.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
Ying San found it strange, "Master, what¡¯s with this little fox... no, this little ancestor?"
Ying San let slip calling Xiao Jiu a little fox, and Lian Muxiu shot him a look. "You dare call her a little fox?" he muttered, making Ying San quickly correct himself. It was clear now that this little fox was quite precious, and he, like everyone else, had to bow his head in her presence.
"Xiao Jiu, if you don¡¯t come down, I¡¯ll get on the carriage first. Be careful not to bump into anything."
"Chi chi."
Lian Muxiu felt Xiao Jiu nodding her head against his neck, knowing she would be careful. He lifted his leg onto the small stool while protecting her head with his hand.
Ying San, watching Lian Muxiu take such great care of Xiao Jiu, was puzzled. "Isn¡¯t she just a fox with some intelligence? Why is the master being so cautious?"
"Master, why is this little fox... no, this little ancestor staying on your shoulder and not getting up?" Ying San asked curiously before pulling down the curtain.
Lian Muxiu had already settled in the carriage and, hearing Ying San''s question, laughed softly. "Xiao Jiu, look, Ying San is curious about why you''re not getting up. If you don''t come down, I''ll tell him."
Xiao Jiu grumbled softly and then, when Lian Muxiu glanced at her, saw her big eyes closed, her face relaxed and comfortable as she had fallen asleep.
Lian Muxiu smiled, and silently mouthed to Ying San, "Xiao Jiu is shy."
Ying San, who had learned lip reading, immediately understood. His eyes widened in shock, staring at the sleeping Xiao Jiu, his mind racing. This little ancestor? Shy? Did she even know what being shy was? Wait a minute, why is she shy all of a sudden? What happened?
Seeing Ying San holding the curtain and standing still, Lian Muxiu, with one hand holding Xiao Jiu, grabbed a piece of pastry from the plate and tossed it at Ying San''s head.
Ying San, caught off guard, instinctively hissed and then quickly covered his mouth, glancing at Lian Muxiu. Seeing that Lian Muxiu wasn¡¯t angry, he awkwardly dropped the curtain and went to sit at the driver¡¯s seat, driving the carriage out of Tai Bai Restaurant.
On the road, Lian Muxiu, concerned that Xiao Jiu might be uncomfortable, gently shifted her from his shoulder into his arms. Xiao Jiu opened her eyes and looked at him with a dazed expression, making Lian Muxiu¡¯s heart melt.
"Sleep well, we¡¯ll be home soon."
Lian Muxiu¡¯s voice was soft and filled with unique tenderness. Xiao Jiu obediently closed her eyes, smelling the refreshing mint scent from Lian Muxiu¡¯s clothes, and drifted back to sleep.
Xiao Jiu was very quiet when she slept. Every time she did, her long, large tail would naturally curl under her head, serving as both a pillow and a blanket, killing two birds with one stone.
Lian Muxiu watched her sleep, thinking to himself that he could just watch her forever, with no need to do anything. With Xiao Jiu by his side, all his troubles seemed insignificant.
As Lian Muxiu stared at Xiao Jiu, her tail moved slightly.
The Two-Tailed Xiao Jiu
Lian Muxiu noticed the faint silver glow on Xiao Jiu''s tail, as if tiny stars were twinkling. The light was so subtle that if he hadn¡¯t been watching her so intently, he might have missed it.
Xiao Jiu seemed to sense the discomfort, her body shifting restlessly in Lian Muxiu''s arms, but her eyes remained closed.
Could it be Xiao Jiu?
Lian Muxiu stared at Xiao Jiu, lost in thought.
Xiao Jiu''s unease grew, and her movements became more pronounced. Lian Muxiu finally released his hold on her, allowing her to move freely.
Xiao Jiu, who had been resting in Lian Muxiu''s arms, now sprawled across his entire lap. Her large tail, sensing her agitation, swept around her, circling her body. Then, silver light enveloped her entire form, lifting her off the ground to hover at eye level with Lian Muxiu.
Lian Muxiu thought to himself, what he was about to witness could very well be something he had never seen before.
Sure enough, Xiao Jiu¡¯s body began to change. The silver-white fur became even brighter, with each hair meticulously aligned across her body. Lian Muxiu could almost count the individual strands with his eyes.
Then, her tail¡ªstarting at the tip¡ªbegan to separate, the silver glow spreading inward. It was as though Xiao Jiu''s tail was being divided in two.
Two tails?
Lian Muxiu raised an eyebrow. Could it be that Xiao Jiu¡¯s uniqueness lay in her having two tails instead of one, unlike ordinary foxes?
The silver glow gradually faded, and Xiao Jiu¡¯s tail returned to its normal form. Just as Lian Muxiu thought her transformation had ended, Xiao Jiu''s body suddenly expanded, growing several times larger. Lian Muxiu instinctively raised his hands, about to act, but Xiao Jiu quickly returned to her original size and gently landed back onto his lap.
Lian Muxiu relaxed his hands and began to gently stroke her freshly brightened fur. As he continued, his hand moved to her tail.
Xiao Jiu, still half-asleep, felt someone touching her tail. She shifted slightly, but as soon as she recognized the familiar scent of Lian Muxiu, she stopped resisting. She knew he would never harm her.
Lian Muxiu smiled at Xiao Jiu¡¯s response. He was relieved to see that she could recognize his presence even in her sleep. He had no intention of letting her down and decided that when they returned, he would prepare more treats for her.
He held her tail, examining it carefully. At first glance, there didn¡¯t seem to be any difference. But after looking more closely, he saw that the tip of her tail had indeed split into two. Her tail was so fluffy and soft that it appeared as one unless observed closely.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Lian Muxiu gathered her tail back together, gently shaking it to return it to its normal form. Once it looked perfectly fine again, he let go and continued to watch over her.
Outside Tai Bai Restaurant, Ying San had been waiting for a while. When he saw Lian Muxiu emerge, he hurried over, "Master, shall we head directly back to the estate?"
"Let¡¯s go back," Lian Muxiu replied.
"Yes."
Ying San lifted the carriage curtain and helped Lian Muxiu inside. Lian Muxiu patted Xiao Jiu, "Xiao Jiu, be good, it¡¯s time to return to the National Master¡¯s estate."
"Chi chi, chi chi chi." Xiao Jiu shook her little rear end and wagged her tail, refusing to come down. She gripped Lian Muxiu¡¯s collar tightly, not letting go.
Ying San found it strange, "Master, what¡¯s going on with this little fox... no, this little ancestor?"
Ying San let slip calling Xiao Jiu a little fox, and Lian Muxiu shot him a sharp look. "You dare call her a little fox?" he muttered, causing Ying San to quickly correct himself. It was clear that this little fox was highly regarded, and he, like everyone else, had to lower his head in her presence.
"Xiao Jiu, if you don¡¯t come down, I¡¯ll get on the carriage first. Be careful not to bump into anything."
"Chi chi."
Lian Muxiu felt Xiao Jiu nodding her head against his neck, knowing she would be careful. He stepped onto the small stool while protecting her head with his hand.
Ying San, observing how cautiously Lian Muxiu treated Xiao Jiu, was puzzled. "Isn¡¯t she just a fox with some intelligence? Why is the master being so cautious?"
"Master, why is this little fox... no, this little ancestor staying on your shoulder and not getting up?" Ying San asked curiously before pulling down the curtain.
Lian Muxiu had already settled in the carriage. Hearing Ying San¡¯s question, he smiled softly. "Xiao Jiu, look, Ying San is curious about why you''re not getting up. If you don¡¯t come down, I¡¯ll tell him."
Xiao Jiu grumbled softly and, when Lian Muxiu glanced at her, she saw her big eyes were closed, her face relaxed and comfortable as she had fallen asleep.
Lian Muxiu smiled, and silently mouthed to Ying San, "Xiao Jiu is shy."
Ying San, who had learned lip reading, immediately understood. His eyes widened in shock, staring at the sleeping Xiao Jiu, his mind racing. This little ancestor? Shy? Did she even know what being shy was? Wait a minute, why is she shy all of a sudden? What happened?
Seeing Ying San holding the curtain and standing still, Lian Muxiu, with one hand holding Xiao Jiu, grabbed a piece of pastry from the plate and tossed it at Ying San¡¯s head.
Ying San, caught off guard, instinctively hissed and then quickly covered his mouth, glancing at Lian Muxiu. Seeing that Lian Muxiu wasn¡¯t angry, he awkwardly dropped the curtain and went to sit at the driver¡¯s seat, driving the carriage out of Tai Bai Restaurant.
On the road, Lian Muxiu, concerned that Xiao Jiu might be uncomfortable, gently shifted her from his shoulder into his arms. Xiao Jiu opened her eyes and looked at him with a dazed expression, making Lian Muxiu¡¯s heart melt.
"Sleep well, we¡¯ll be home soon."
Lian Muxiu¡¯s voice was soft and filled with unique tenderness. Xiao Jiu obediently closed her eyes, smelling the refreshing mint scent from Lian Muxiu¡¯s clothes, and drifted back to sleep.
Xiao Jiu was very quiet when she slept. Every time she did, her long, large tail would naturally curl under her head, serving as both a pillow and a blanket, killing two birds with one stone.
Lian Muxiu watched her sleep, thinking to himself that he could just watch her forever, with no need to do anything. With Xiao Jiu by his side, all his troubles seemed insignificant.
As Lian Muxiu stared at Xiao Jiu, her tail moved slightly.
The Four Dark Guards
Ying San clapped his own face with both hands, then dug at his ears with his fingers, and asked in a dazed manner, "Master, my ears were not working well just now, could you please repeat that?"
Liang Mo Xiu looked at Ying San, confirming that he was serious, and kindly repeated, "Tonight, before Hai time, each of the four dark guards must bring a portion of cake to the National Master''s study to see me. One more thing¡ªeach of them must bring different cakes."
After saying this, Liang Mo Xiu began to walk away, ignoring the now-stunned Ying San behind him.
Ying San couldn''t believe what he had just heard, but he clearly understood the order. Cake? His master seemed a little... unusual.
Shaking his head, Ying San pushed away the chaotic thoughts in his mind and prepared to pass the message in the West Tower. With a few quick jumps, he vanished without a trace.
West Tower...
The West Tower was the information network established by Liang Mo Xiu. Although he spent most of his time in Tancheng, matters from all over Beiyan would still need his attention. To avoid wasting time on trivial matters, he set up the West Tower.
Ying Er was the head of the West Tower, and all matters, big or small, were reported to him first, and he would decide how to prioritize them for Liang Mo Xiu.
When Ying San arrived at the West Tower, Ying Er had just finished his tasks and was sitting in a pavilion, sipping tea.
"Well, what a rare guest, Ying San from the South Tower, actually visiting me in the West Tower," Ying Er teased as he looked at Ying San landing in front of him.
"Hey, Ying Er, when did I, Ying San, become a rare guest?" Ying San sat down without hesitation and poured himself a cup of tea.
After taking a few sips, he smacked his lips. "Ying Er, you''ve really improved your tea-making skills! It''s good."
Ying Er chuckled, "Stop it. My tea-making skills aren''t even a fraction of our master¡¯s. And you, always shouting and fighting, do you even know what drinking tea is about?"Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
"That''s a joke. This tea of yours is the only one I can drink. Ying Yi is too cold, and Ying Si and the master don''t drink tea. Who else but me would support your tea-making skills?" Ying San leaned back with his legs crossed, looking very casual, which made Ying Er¡¯s fists itch.
Ying Er silently gritted his teeth, repeatedly telling himself that Ying San was just a rough person and he was a scholar, so he shouldn''t argue with such a brute.
"Ying San, if there''s nothing else, why are you here? Did our master give you an order?" Ying Er asked, knowing that Ying San was not the type to sit idle and drink tea, but seeing him so relaxed, he guessed it wasn''t an urgent matter.
"Yes, Ying Er, let me tell you. Every time you mention an order, I just..." Ying San was about to explain but then swallowed his words.
Ying Er was puzzled. "What are you doing? You were about to say something, then stopped?"
"Hehe, Ying Er, do you want to know?" Ying San suddenly wore a mischievous expression, making Ying Er''s eyebrow twitch. "Seeing you like that, I know it''s nothing good. I don''t want to know anymore."
Ying San¡¯s expression immediately returned to normal. "Don''t, I''m here to pass on the master¡¯s order. But... I''m not sure how to begin."
"Ying San, are you joking? Our master¡¯s orders are always straightforward. How could you not know how to begin?" Ying Er laughed. He had always known that Ying San could finish a task in a sentence or two, but today, he was so talkative.
Ying San shrunk his neck. "I¡¯ll wait, let''s wait for Ying Yi and Ying Si to arrive, then I''ll tell you."
"Fine, we can wait. You¡¯re in charge of passing on the orders, we¡¯ll listen to you," Ying Er said, already seeing no reason to rush.
Ying San remained silent, his expression strange, alternating between smirking and becoming serious. Ying Er watched him, wondering if something was wrong. Why were Ying Yi and Ying Si taking so long to arrive?
Perhaps Ying Er''s thoughts had triggered something, as Ying Yi and Ying Si arrived shortly after.
Ying Si, the only female among the four dark guards, was not looked down upon because of her gender. Due to Liang Mo Xiu¡¯s influence, everyone under his command, regardless of gender, was treated equally. The positions of floor masters or dark guards were earned through skill.
Ying Yi had a cold demeanor, while Ying Si was just as indifferent. It was said that nothing could make Ying Si change her expression except for when Liang Mo Xiu was present.
"Ying San, why did you call us here?" Ying Si was the first to speak, already looking impatient as she had other things to attend to in the West Tower.
"Hehe, Ying Si, you''re in a hurry. I sent for you because the master gave an order."
"Master?" At the mention of these words, Ying Si¡¯s face softened slightly.
"Tell us," Ying Yi said simply. He had just come back from the palace and needed to return soon.
"Hehe." Ying San cleared his throat. "Ahem, here it goes."
"Speak quickly." The three of them spoke in unison.
The Place that Sells Pastries
"Hey, you three," Ying San was startled by the three voices speaking in unison, slapping his chest, "Why are you shouting so loudly? You scared me! I¡¯ve never heard you speak in such a synchronized way."
"Ying San, if you don''t speak, don''t blame me for inviting you to North Tower for some tea." Ying Si''s tone was neither fast nor slow, and it lacked any fluctuation, but Ying San was afraid of Ying Si like this¡ªnot because she was a woman he needed to respect, but because the North Tower she controlled had too many tricks and schemes. Every time he went to the North Tower, he felt like he had to endure severe treatment.
Whenever Ying San went to the North Tower, he would dream at night about how Ying Si would torment him, and those dreams were far from pleasant.
"Don¡¯t, Ying Si." Ying San jumped back, waving his hands, "I was wrong! I was wrong! I''ll speak now, okay?"
Ying Er laughed at Ying San, "You should¡¯ve spoken earlier. Why did you have to make Ying Si step in?"
"Hehe," Ying San smiled awkwardly, "The master said, tonight before Hai time, all four of us must reach the National Master¡¯s study."
"That¡¯s it?" Ying Er thought there should be more to it.
"There¡¯s more." Ying San said straightforwardly, "The master also said that each of us must bring a different pastry."
"Clang." The teacup in Ying Er''s hand fell to the floor and shattered. He shouted in distress, "My teacup¡"
Ying Si didn¡¯t react as dramatically as Ying Er, but from the frown on her face, it was clear she was suspicious of the master¡¯s command.
Only Ying Yi seemed to have guessed it, "Is it for that little fox?"
"Ying Yi really understands the master. He guessed it right away," Ying San bragged proudly, thinking back to his own reaction when he first heard the order. He looked at Ying Er, who had just shattered his favorite teacup.
"Fox? What fox?" Ying Si hadn¡¯t gone to Wuqie Mountain with the master, and due to too many matters in the North Tower recently, she hadn¡¯t been able to visit the National Master¡¯s residence, so she didn''t know about the little fox the master had recently adopted.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
"It¡¯s the fox the master brought back from Wuqie Mountain during the royal hunt. It¡¯s very smart and loves to eat," Ying Yi said, remembering the scene at the Taibai Residence, frowning. The master seemed to be treating this fox too well.
"Ying Yi, you can say ''fox'' here, but when you¡¯re in front of the master, don¡¯t mention the word ''fox''. That¡¯s the little ancestor now," Ying San reminded Ying Yi kindly. The master was really fond of that little ancestor, and when he called it a ''little fox'' earlier, the master almost killed him with a look.
"Yeah," Ying Yi nodded. He wasn¡¯t a talkative person and wouldn¡¯t bring up sensitive subjects in front of the master.
"Is it just a fox? Why is it called a little ancestor? Is it some kind of fox spirit?" Ying Si sarcastically remarked. She rarely acted this way, especially without meeting the person, just based on Ying San¡¯s words.
"Ying Si, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. When you¡¯re in front of the master, don¡¯t bring up the word ''fox'' or ''fox spirit.'' The master really cares about that little ancestor now. If you offend him, you know what the consequences will be."
Though they joked, Ying San seriously reminded Ying Si. He didn¡¯t want any of them to suffer punishment over trivial matters.
"Hmph, I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯ll make sure to arrive on time tonight," Ying Si said as she turned to leave.
"Ying Si, I hope you don¡¯t do something foolish," Ying San muttered quietly as he watched her leave.
"Ying San, does the master really care about that little fox so much?" Ying Er, after mourning his teacup, decided to probe for more information.
"Of course. You don¡¯t know. Today, the master even went..." Ying San was about to reveal more, but stopped short.
"Ying San!" Ying Yi interrupted.
Talking about the master behind his back was never a good idea.
Ying San regretted speaking out and slapped himself on the face. He knew he couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut, always wanting to share everything. Ying Yi had warned him many times that his loose tongue would eventually get him into trouble.
"What was that? Ying Yi, you stopped him at the wrong time. Let Ying San finish, I need to know so I can prepare for tonight," Ying Er, who was in charge of intelligence, said. He wanted to be fully prepared before heading to the National Master¡¯s residence that evening.
"What did you want to say?" Ying Yi asked coldly. "That the master dotes on the little fox? Or that the master is indulging in something trivial?"
Ying Yi¡¯s words stunned Ying Er and Ying San. They had never noticed that Ying Yi was so bold. He had no qualms about speaking his mind.
Ying Yi ignored their surprise and turned, leaping up onto the roof. He still had to go to the palace to protect Wen Chengyu. Before leaving, he threw out one last line, "I¡¯ll bring the pastries back from the Huan Shanfang tonight," and disappeared.
Huan Shanfang? Ying Er and Ying San exchanged glances. That was a place for sycophants!
"Ying Er, I¡¯m going to Huaxiang Lou to buy pastries, you don¡¯t follow me to the same place."
Ying San preemptively took the lead. Huaxiang Lou was one of the best restaurants in Tancheng, and its pastries were so famous that people from all over the area came just to queue up and buy them.
After Ying San ran off using his light skills, Ying Er watched him go and chuckled, "Is there really nowhere else to buy pastries besides Huaxiang Lou?"
A Happy Little Fox
Ying Er found it amusing. He thought that Ying San probably didn¡¯t know that, apart from Huaxiang Lou, a new pastry shop called Manfujia had opened in Tancheng. Manfujia''s pastries were just as good as those from Huaxiang Lou, and in fact, some of their varieties were even better. But, he wasn''t going to tell Ying San.
Ying Er decided to go to Manfujia to buy pastries. He was clever!
After the hour of Xu had passed, the four dark guards had gathered at the National Master¡¯s residence. Unlike previous gatherings, each of them was holding a box of pastries¡ªsome elegantly packaged, others simple and unadorned.
"Hahaha, look at you all. You don''t look anything like your usual selves," Ying San stood beside Ying Er, laughing heartily at Ying Yi and Ying Si.
It wasn¡¯t surprising that Ying San was laughing; Ying Yi and Ying Si usually exuded an aura that kept strangers away, but now, holding pastries, they looked out of place.
"Ying San," Ying Si clenched her fists, "If you laugh again¡ I might just take you back to the North Tower."
"Haha... haha," Ying San forced his laughter back, but it slipped out in a few broken laughs.
"Ying San," Ying Si¡¯s face darkened.
"Uh¡ Ying Si¡ don¡¯t be impulsive¡ um... I¡¯ll go see the master," Ying San quickly excused himself, dashing toward the back yard.
Since returning to the National Master¡¯s residence, Li Nuxiu hadn¡¯t gone anywhere. He had been in the room, keeping watch over the sleeping little fox. For some reason, ever since the change in her tail, Little Fox hadn¡¯t woken up yet. Li Nuxiu feared that if he left for even a moment, Little Fox would wake up and not find him. She knew no one else here, and if something happened while she was alone... what could he do?
Li Nuxiu lay sideways on the bed. Little Fox lay beside him on the pillow, covered with his blanket. Her position hadn''t changed. She clung to her big tail, only occasionally moving her little paw to swipe at her nose when her tail fur brushed it, before settling back into sleep.
Li Nuxiu, seeing Little Fox scratch her nose again because of her tail, reached out to help her move the tail aside. But as soon as he moved it, the tail returned to her face. He tried again, and the tail went back again.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Could it be that Little Fox''s tail has a will of its own?
"Chirp... chirp... chirp..." Just as Li Nuxiu was playing with Little Fox''s tail, she opened her eyes, still groggy from sleep. She sluggishly sat up from the pillow.
Little Fox had sat up too quickly and wasn¡¯t stable. Before she could adjust, she fell back down.
"Chirp." Her head was facing down, her back half still resting on the pillow. Her ears drooped, and she blinked hard. What happened? What was going on?
Li Nuxiu waited for a while, and after a cup of tea, Little Fox finally woke up, slowly wriggling down from the pillow. She lazily turned her body and looked at Li Nuxiu, making a couple of soft sounds. She was so tired.
Li Nuxiu noticed the exhaustion in her eyes. He reached out and gently rubbed her head. "Little Fox, don''t you know what happened?"
Little Fox shook her head. She had been sleeping, how could she know what had happened? Maybe she had slept too much, and now her whole body felt tired.
"Silly fox, look at your tail." Li Nuxiu picked up her tail from behind her and held it up to her eyes. Little Fox blinked and thought, yes... this soft, beautiful tail, it''s hers.
Li Nuxiu rubbed her head. "Look carefully, can¡¯t you see it?"
Little Fox stretched out her paw to touch her tail. Huh?
"Chirp?" Little Fox had forgotten that her tail was still in Li Nuxiu''s hand. She quickly sat up, causing herself some discomfort and crying out in pain.
"Slow down, slow down. Why are you being so fidgety?"
Li Nuxiu lovingly helped Little Fox, knowing how delicate her tail was. It would be painful for her if she pulled it too hard.
"Chirp chirp." Little Fox didn¡¯t even have time to feel the pain. She quickly sat up and leaned against the pillow. She grabbed her tail with both paws, pulling it hard. Then, as if startled, she suddenly let go, and the tail floated behind her.
Little Fox was stunned. How could this be?
After thinking for a while, Little Fox took Li Nuxiu''s hand in her paw and placed it on her other paw. "Chirp chirp." She wanted him to pinch it.
"You want me to pinch you?" Li Nuxiu wasn¡¯t sure if Little Fox really meant that.
"Chirp chirp." Little Fox nodded. She wanted him to apply some force.
Li Nuxiu frowned. "It will hurt."
Little Fox shook her head and extended her paw. Pinch me!
Li Nuxiu smiled and gently pinched her paw. Little Fox felt a slight pain.
So it was true?
"Chirp~" Little Fox suddenly jumped up and leapt into Li Nuxiu''s arms, rubbing against his neck non-stop. She could only express her happiness this way.
She now had two tails! How could she not be happy? In such a short time, Li Nuxiu had truly been her good luck star.
Li Nuxiu held Little Fox in his arms, understanding what made her so happy. "So happy, do you want some pastries?"
"Chirp chirp." Little Fox nodded. Li Nuxiu was so good to her, and she liked him more and more.
Just as the two of them were enjoying their happiness, there was a noise from outside the door.
"Master, the four dark guards have arrived."