Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
⋇⊶⊰Chapter 74⊱⊷⋇
Leng Jiao was utterly shocked.
Leng Jiao, of course, knew that the Snow Wolf King hadn't favored any concubines in the harem, but he never thought the Snow Wolf King hadn't even touched the Snow Leopard Chief Guard.
Leng Jiao could only express his feelings with a simple "baa."
Liu Jiao pulled Leng Jiao down to sit again. "Isn't it strange?"
Certainly strange! Everyone in the Northern Kingdom knew Liu Jiao as the "Snow Leopard Jinx"! Who would have thought that this "jinx" hadn't stirred up any trouble at all?
Leng Jiao remained skeptical. "Then what were you two doing together every night?"
"We could do many things," Liu Jiao answered honestly, "like tonight, we had planned to play cards together."
"......?" Leng Jiao's face was filled with a puzzled "baa."
Liu Jiao looked steadily at Leng Jiao.
"Can't be playing cards all night, right? What about late into the night...?"
"Sleeping."
"Baa?"
"What else can you do in the middle of the night without sleeping?" Liu Jiao was curious why Leng Jiao was so inquisitive.
Leng Jiao cleared his throat twice and said, "Though that's true. But..."
Mid-sentence, Leng Jiao fell silent. Suddenly, he realized that despite being friends with Liu Jiao, he and the Snow Wolf King were ruler and subject. He couldn't casually discuss the Snow Wolf King's private life or ask too many questions. Even if Liu Jiao didn't mind, it wasn't appropriate.
Leng Jiao had to change the subject, "I see. Speaking of which, it's late now, and I should go back to sleep."
"Alright, call for the sedan chair on your phone. Wait inside, and come out when the sedan chair arrives."
"No problem. I'm a Noble Consort now. Sedan chair dispatch takes priority."
Thus, the Sheep Noble Consort enjoyed the privilege of priority sedan chair dispatch and soon had a sedan chair arrive to pick him up.
Bai Juan, who got hit on the forehead, also returned to the palace.
In this side hall, only Liu Jiao remained. He headed straight to the main hall of the Wolf Palace, finding the Snow Wolf King busy with completing governance tasks.
The Snow Wolf King looked up when he saw Liu Jiao approaching. "Finished playing cards?"
"Mm." Liu Jiao ran over to the Snow Wolf King, glancing at the documents in the Snow Wolf King's hands. Two bold characters were written on the paper: Pardon Decree. "What does this mean?"
The Snow Wolf King explained, "I plan to find a reason to release the harem. Let the concubines without favor be able to leave the palace early, without delaying their youth."
Suddenly, Liu Jiao remembered the Secret Fragrance Leng Jiao had used on him today.
"So, all the concubines who haven't been bitten by the Great King will leave?"
Surprised by Liu Jiao's knowledge, the Snow Wolf King asked, "You know about this?"
"Leng Jiao mentioned it."
"Hmm, that's right," the Snow Wolf King said. "You could say it that way. But you could also say that all the concubines in the palace will be released."
"And what about me?"
The Snow Wolf King chuckled, scratching Liu Jiao's cat-like chin. "What does it have to do with my Chief Guard? You're not a concubine."
"True, I guess..." Liu Jiao suddenly felt reassured. It seemed he wouldn't be leaving the Snow Hall on the Wolf Mountain. So, he sprawled over, resting on the Snow Wolf King's lap, dozing off like a little cat.
The next morning, Liu Jiao woke up in bed, still covered with a thin silk blanket.
By the time Liu Jiao got up, the Snow Wolf King had already gone to attend court.
Bored, Liu Jiao strolled out of the bedroom, where palace attendants had already brought breakfast. Unconcerned, he started eating, unaware that a new round of accusations against him had begun in the court.
Censor Xu argued, "Liu Jiao is just the Chief Guard, yet he sleeps and goes about with the Great King day and night. It truly violates etiquette!"
The Snow Wolf King smiled without speaking, thinking to himself, "Merely sharing the nights and days with Liu Jiao has brought so much criticism. What will happen when we share not only sleep but life and death?"
Though the Snow Wolf King remained silent, Censor Li immediately jumped in to counter Xu, "Sharing meals and beds has never been considered a violation of etiquette. In the Three Kingdoms era, Liu Bei shared meals and beds with many of his subordinates. Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty even personally fed Li Bai. Now, the Snow Leopard Chief Guard is a hero who saved the Great King. The Great King's treatment of him is a display of benevolent rule!"
"You..." Censor Xu was infuriated.
The Snow Wolf King spoke solemnly, "The Snow Leopard Chief Guard is a hero who saved the Great King. None of you should criticize him."
The hall fell silent.
With Queen Ming now deceased, the court was even more inclined to follow the Snow Wolf King's lead. The only dissenting voices were from officials like Censor Xu, known for their unbending principles. Such officials posed little threat, and the Snow Wolf King would listen to their arguments but would continue to lavish affection on Liu Jiao as he pleased.
In the end, with the elimination of Queen Ming's faction, the Snow Wolf King's throne was secure. His words carried the highest authority in the Northern Kingdom. It was akin to the Snow Wolf King casually mentioning last night that Wen Yi should perform a solo dance for Lord Bai today. Since then, the musicians' guild had been tense and nervous all day.
"Noble Consort," Wen Yi asked Leng Jiao in a fluster, "Is he asking me to dance or to offer myself?"
Leng Jiao remained expressionless and replied, "That depends on what Lord Bai desires."
After a moment of thought, Wen Yi said, "And if Lord Bai desires the latter? Does that mean I'm favored by the heavens?"
Leng Jiao hesitated before replying, "I can't say for sure."
Soon, the musicians dressed up Wen Yi and escorted him to the Bajiao Palace where Lord Bai Lingling was temporarily staying. Wen Yi, adorned in the red dance attire from the previous night, gracefully danced in the reception hall. After the dance, he bowed his head and knelt on the ground.
"Your dancing skills are mediocre. How did you even get into the musicians' guild?"
Wen Yi, taken aback by Bai Lingling's immediate criticism, hurriedly responded, "This... it's because of the Noble Consort's favor."
"He even gave you a name?"
"Yes," Wen Yi answered, "The Noble Consort is kind-hearted and has taken care of me in many ways."
After some thought, Bai Lingling simply said, "Today, I visited the Royal Astorological Observatory, and they mentioned that I clash with those born in the Year of the Snake. No wonder I felt uncomfortable since last night's banquet. Here's what we'll do: arrange the paperwork, and you can leave the palace now."
Wen Yi was greatly shocked. "This... this can't be true! Although I'm a snake demon, my zodiac sign is Pig!"
Bai Lingling choked for a moment before saying, "I just made a mistake. I clash with those born in the year of the Pig, not the Snake."
So, in reality, Wen Yi, who was born in the year of the Rooster, was about to arrange the paperworks to leave the palace.
Soon, the news reached the Nishang Palace.
At that time, in the Nishang Palace, Liu Jiao and Leng Jiao were having afternoon tea. The tea included vanilla-roasted chicken. Liu Jiao ate the chicken, and Leng Jiao nibbled on grass — a perfect combination, wasting no food.
Hearing that Wen Yi was about to leave the palace, Leng Jiao was somewhat surprised. "Did he offend Lord Bai with his words?"
A servant said, "I don't know, they just mentioned zodiac clash."
"I understand," Leng Jiao thought for a moment and said, "Wen Yi is a child from a poor county. Trying to make a living in the capital is not easy. Make sure to arrange his reemployment properly."
"Yes, Noble Consort." The servant received the task and went to handle it.
However, Liu Jiao was astonished, "If zodiac clash is the reason, doesn't that mean everyone with this zodiac sign will be driven out?"
"Of course not," Leng Jiao explained, "It depends on whether the clash has actually occurred."
"How do you determine if a clash has occurred?" Liu Jiao asked, "What's the criteria for that?"
"The criteria is whatever Lord Bai decides," Leng Jiao said helplessly.
Liu Jiao nodded with only partial understanding.
Looking at Liu Jiao's confused expression, Leng Jiao chuckled. "Did you not really get it?"
"Of course, I understood!" Liu Jiao insisted.
"So, tell me, what does it mean?"
"Isn't it like in the snow wolf tribe, whatever the king says goes?" Liu Jiao said, "I definitely get it. If the Great King says I'm a Beuatiful Lady, I'm a Beuatiful Lady. If he says I'm a Chief Guard, I'm a Chief Guard. That's what it means, right?"
Leng Jiao was somewhat surprised. "You actually understood."
Liu Jiao, however, felt a bit disheartened. "Actually, I didn't understand."
"Huh?" Leng Jiao raised an eyebrow, looking at Liu Jiao.
Liu Jiao, feeling troubled, said, "I don't even know what I'm doing. If I'm called a consort, I haven't received the Great King's favor. If I'm called a guard, I haven't fulfilled my duty. I feel like one of those... you know... the kind that people often pity on the internet."
"Which kind?" Leng Jiao was still unclear.
After thinking for a while, Liu Jiao said, "A beard."
"Baa?" Leng Jiao felt the conversation taking a strange turn and quickly changed the subject. "By the way, why do you think Lord Bai gave me a deep-sea anglerfish?"
Liu Jiao recalled the moment at the banquet when Bai Lingling suddenly gifted Leng Jiao a deep-sea anglerfish. Liu Jiao replied, "Jiao'er, you're so clever and knowledgeable. Don't you know?"
"I wouldn't dare to say." Leng Jiao thought to himself, "Could it be because anglerfish are known for deep and unwavering love until death?"
Liu Jiao, however, said, "You really don't know? Anglerfish are delicious!"
"Baa?" Leng Jiao was somewhat surprised. "Is that the reason?"
"Yes," Liu Jiao said, "The Great King said so too."
"Oh?"
"Here's the thing, if you're not sure," Liu Jiao suggested, "let's just grill the fish now, and you'll find out, right?"
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