Chapter 17 Let's discuss it?

Shen Cong narrowed his eyes slightly and looked out.

A little girl with her hair in two buns, wearing a mint green cross-collar top and a moon-white pleated skirt, skipped and hopped in.

The red headband hanging down her head fluttered in the wind as she walked, making her look very playful.

She didn't look panicked at all, like a little girl out for a spring outing.

A hint of surprise flashed in the boy's eyes.

Is she stupid or ignorant?

Erfeng's face showed no surprise, only joy.

After the joy, a pang of heartache arose in my heart.

Does this little girl even know what she's about to face?

The prince's Snowhawk is no ordinary dog; it was brought back from the battlefield by the late emperor, a hunting dog that has actually eaten people and seen human blood.

Li Nanke was unaware of Erfeng's inner turmoil. She walked up to Shen Cong with a smile and knelt down to pay her respects.

“Li Nanke of the Marquis of Anping pays his respects to Your Highness.”

Shen Cong leaned back lazily in the recliner, his eyelids slightly open, his icy gaze sweeping over her entire body as if searching for any dirt or grime.

Then he closed his eyes again and coldly gave instructions to Erfeng.

"Give this girl to Xueying."

Erfeng opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to plead for Li Nanke.

But when she met Shen Cong's cold and stern gaze, she suddenly shut her mouth.

The prince hated it most when people around him acted on emotion. The more he pleaded for the girl, the faster she would die.

He could only sigh silently and wave to Li Nanke.

"Come with me."

"Uncle Erfeng, wait a moment, I'm grabbing my things."

Li Nanke responded sweetly, got up, and ran to the courtyard gate.

Then she took a basket that almost reached her waist from the guard outside the courtyard gate and carried it with both of her small hands.

He stumbled and walked halfway forward before dejectedly putting the basket down.

Then, blinking her big, grape-like eyes, she looked innocently at Erfeng.

"Uncle Erfeng, the basket is so heavy!"

Erfeng's heart softened, and he reached out to take the basket.

"I'll carry it for you."

Li Nanke's eyes formed crescent shapes.

"Uncle Erfeng is such a good person."

Erfeng felt even worse.

What an adorable little girl! She speaks so sweetly and looks so cute.

How could the prince bear to feed the snow eagle?

Erfeng silently made a decision in his heart.

He placed the basket at the entrance of Xueying's yard, gritted his teeth, and gave Li Nanke some instructions.

"Don't go in yet, wait for me here, I'll be right back."

He was going to kneel down and beg the prince to plead for Li Nanke, even if it meant being whipped.

Who could bear to see such a cute little girl being eaten by a dog?

Too cruel!

Erfeng turned and left, leaving Li Nanke standing blankly at the courtyard gate.

Why does Uncle Erfeng look so tragic? Is it because he can't bear to see her feeding the dogs in such a miserable state?

Li Nanke couldn't understand it, but when he turned around, he was attracted by the scene in the courtyard.

The courtyard was very spacious, divided into two sections, with a bluestone path paved in the middle.

On the left, there is a platform about one person high made of rosewood, which should be a viewing platform.

To the right is a training ground with wooden hurdles, balance beams, and wooden stakes; it must be Xueying's usual training ground.

The three main rooms opposite have all been opened up, and the windows are made of large panes of glass, making them bright and clear, so you can see the snow eagle running and playing inside at a glance.

Such a large yard, yet it's only for Xueying—no, for a dog to live in.

The Prince Xuan's residence was indeed luxurious.

Li Nanke lifted the basket with both hands, stepped over the threshold, and huffed and puffed as he walked inside.

Sensing someone enter, Xueying cautiously darted out of the room.

It has a lithe figure, and its short, thick fur looks like a tough suit of armor in the afternoon sun.

Upon seeing Li Nanke, his eyes, which had been somewhat listless from being hungry for a day and a night, immediately lit up.

Its whole body tensed up, its ears stood up high, its nostrils twitched rapidly, then it lowered its body and let out an urgent roar.

Snap.

The basket in Li Nanke's hand fell to the ground, and her face turned a little pale.

She had seen the snow eagle like this in her dream, and she could tell at a glance that it had been starved for two days and was now excited to have found its prey.

She realized once again that King Xuan really wanted to feed her to Xueying, and was even willing to starve Xueying for this reason.

She instinctively took two steps back, her heart pounding rapidly.

Although she made solemn vows to her mother, and although in her dream, Xueying was initially very wary of her, he was later won over by her and became very close to her.

But that was all in her dreams; in reality, this was only the second time she had seen Xueying.

Her only source of confidence was the closeness Xueying showed her when they first met.

But the snow eagle of that time was completely different from the snow eagle that had been starving for two days... a dog.

Who knows if Snow Eagle, currently in a state of extreme hunger, can still maintain his sanity?

As Li Nanke backed away, she waved her little hand pitifully at Xue Ying.

"Your name is Snow Eagle, right? I know you're a really smart and powerful dog. Can we make a deal? Can you please not eat me?"

"Woof woof woof!"

The snow eagle let out an urgent cry, then pounced on Li Nanke with its front hooves raised.

Li Nanke was tackled to the ground, trembling with fear, and instinctively closed his eyes.

The main courtyard next door.

Shen Cong stared expressionlessly at Er Feng, who was kneeling on the ground.

"I'll give you a chance. Say what you just said again. If you do it well, I'll spare your life."

Erfeng's forehead was covered in cold sweat. "She is, after all, the daughter of the Marquis of Anping. If Xueying really eats her..."

If word gets out, the prince will gain another reputation for letting his dogs run rampant and bullying the weak, which is not good for him either.

"Ha, you think I care about my reputation?"

Erfeng gritted his teeth, "If Your Highness is angry that she can get close to Xueying, then beat her up, or at least beat her up twice."

Or punish her by forbidding her from ever being near Xueying again. Such a small child, to be eaten by a dog, it's just too much…”

"Do you think I'm too cruel?"

Shen Cong slowly sat up straight, his narrow phoenix eyes flashing with a sharp edge.

Erfeng shuddered. "No, no, I wouldn't dare."

Shen Cong chuckled and slowly closed his eyes.

"Considering that you have served me fairly well in the past, I will spare you this time. Go and receive ten lashes yourself."

Erfeng knew that when the prince said those words, he meant he didn't want to hear another word.

Continuing to say anything will only anger him.

That poor little girl, he really did his best.

Just then, a series of cries from a snow eagle suddenly came from the neighboring courtyard.

"Woof woof woof woof woof!"

Erfeng was so frightened that he suddenly turned his head.

Snow eagles only make this call when they spot prey and are extremely excited.

Could it be that the little girl went into the yard by herself?

Erfeng's expression changed, and without thinking, he got up and ran towards the next room.

Shen Cong opened his eyes, paused, got up from the recliner, and slowly walked towards the next room.

It was only a few steps from his main courtyard to Xueying's courtyard.

As soon as I entered, I saw Erfeng standing in the yard, staring blankly into the house.

Hearing his footsteps, Erfeng turned around, his mouth agape wide enough to fit an egg.

"Your Highness, she... Xueying...look."

Shen Cong glanced around the room expressionlessly, his eyes narrowing slightly.