Chapter 16 Which idiot kidnapped the fox spirit? "Your Highness the Thirteenth Prince..."
"Your Highness, it's best not to look." Tinglan closed the window and turned to lead the young prince to the table.
The little prince, who is usually well-behaved and obedient, kept turning back today while being led by the hand.
Tinglan lowered his head, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes, and naturally changed the subject, "Where would Your Highness like to go later?"
"I want to go shopping!" The silly fox fell for it and immediately raised his hand happily.
"Didn't we just go shopping?"
The fox pouted, "That doesn't count, I haven't finished buying yet."
As he spoke, he pulled out an embroidered money pouch from his pocket, on which a white fox head was embroidered crookedly.
It wasn't particularly pretty, but it wasn't particularly ugly either; it was just the little fox's skill.
He opened his money pouch, reached inside, and pulled out a fist-sized luminous pearl. It shimmered in the sunlight, clearly a priceless and extraordinary item.
I sit and watch the moon rise from the tide, a luminous pearl in a crystal dish.
"Here, you can use this to buy steamed buns or other things you like." The fox carefully placed the large bead into Tinglan's hand, even explaining how to use it in a very considerate way, fearing that Tinglan wouldn't know how.
Tinglan looked down at the pearl in her hand and fell silent.
The Emperor had seen countless treasures, but he had never seen anyone exchange a luminous pearl for steamed buns.
Seeing that he didn't react, the fox quickly lowered its head and continued rummaging through the tangle. "Don't you like this color? I have more here."
Tinglan couldn't help but laugh and pressed his hand down. "I like it very much, but who told Your Highness that you can exchange a luminous pearl for steamed buns?"
"It's my sister." The fox looked up, clutching the money bag, and grinned foolishly. "My sister is so kind."
"Then, Your Highness really traded the luminous pearl for the steamed buns?" Tinglan's eyes widened, a hint of doubt creeping into his mind, but he didn't ask directly.
He had no idea that the young prince had an older sister outside the palace... The prince's background is truly mysterious.
"No, I like this color, I can't bear to part with it."
"Since that's the case, Your Highness is actually willing to give it to me?" Tinglan joked.
“You’re different,” the fox replied without hesitation, grinning and showing his white teeth.
You are my best friend.
Tinglan's breathing suddenly became heavy. No matter how many times he had experienced it, every time he heard the little prince say such things, he would have the illusion that he was being cared for.
But he knew perfectly well that this was impossible... The young prince was just looking for a backer and putting on an act.
Tinglan looked away as if trying to avoid him, but couldn't bring herself to refuse. "Thank you, Your Highness."
The fox chuckled and said, "I have more. If you like, I have other ones in similar colors."
Tinglan was surprised to learn that such treasures were actually categorized by color. He gently shook his head, saying that this was enough. "Would Your Highness like to rest in a side room?"
"Okay!" The fox happily jumped off the chair.
Eat your fill and then sleep! That's my favorite way to go!
This is the fox's attitude towards life: eat your fill and then sleep soundly!
In the quiet afternoon, a fox lay on its side on the tatami mat and fell fast asleep.
Tinglan sat on the edge of the carved wooden bed, a smile playing on her lips, staring at the sleeping profile of the little prince.
If the fox were awake, he might be puzzled as to why Tinglan was looking at him with that kind of gaze...
A deep-seated attachment and possessiveness.
Tinglan rolled up her sleeves, hesitated for a moment, then gently placed her hand on the little prince's face and rubbed the soft flesh on his cheek.
Its comfortable feel is exceptionally pleasant to the touch.
Tinglan snapped out of her daze and withdrew her hand as if she had been electrocuted.
The young prince continued to sleep soundly, as if nothing had happened.
The Ninth Prince examined his fingers, and after a moment, placed them on his face.
The fox remained fast asleep, completely unaware of what was happening.
Tinglan reached out again, smiling as she brushed aside the stray hairs on the little prince's forehead.
Its hair was soft and fluffy, and it tickled its face. Disturbed from its sleep, the fox immediately turned over and pressed its face against the pillow, muttering something in its sleep.
The Ninth Prince was finally satisfied and made no further moves. He simply sat by the bedside, watching quietly, waiting for the boy to wake up.
*
As dusk settles and the moon rises above the trees, the entire street is illuminated, dappled with shadows, bustling with people, and incredibly lively.
The young prince finally saw the lanterns he had been looking forward to.
"Tinglan, I want that little fox! Yes, the one on the far left!" Ji Qing jumped up and down excitedly, pointing at the various lanterns on the stall.
Tinglan paid the bill skillfully, took down the lamp, and handed it to the young prince.
The fox mumbled to himself, making music as he spun around to show off his lantern, his clothes billowing in the air. He turned back, his eyes sparkling, and asked, "Isn't it beautiful?"
The Ninth Prince chuckled softly, "Beautiful." But his eyes weren't on the lamp.
Ji Qing, with a mischievous grin, asked again, "Isn't the white fox the prettiest?"
The Ninth Prince remembered a little white fox that had climbed onto him and nodded with a smile.
Ji Qing was satisfied now. He grabbed Ting Lan's sleeve and strode forward triumphantly.
As the crowd surged, the two drew closer and closer.
"Tinglan, I feel a bit cramped," the fox whispered in the Ninth Prince's ear.
There were too many people and too much noise. He couldn't hear what anyone was doing. It was too chaotic, like trying to read a hundred books at the same time, which was giving him a headache.
Before Tinglan could say anything, they heard the neighing of a horse coming from afar.
The fox turned around instantly and saw several people riding bicycles in the bustling city in the distance, seemingly shouting something.
Tinglan frowned. "Your Highness, let's move aside."
The rider, finding himself unable to move an inch through the crowd, angrily untied his long whip from his waist and lashed it out. The sharp crack of the whip shattered the noise of the crowd. "The government has been ordered to apprehend a fugitive. Make way!" the man shouted.
Pedestrians screamed and scattered in all directions, creating a chaotic scene.
Ji Qing stood by the roadside, whispering worriedly to Ting Lan, "Could they have arrested Pei Yue?"
Tinglan smiled and shook his head, "Your Highness, rest assured, according to the documents from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Pei Yue is still in custody."
Horsemen galloped past, and the scattering crowd knocked the lantern from the fox's hand, which rolled a few times on the bluestone ground.
"My lantern!" The fox was heartbroken and immediately chased after it to pick it up.
The bright and beautiful lanterns lay quietly on the bluestone slab.
"Phew, thank goodness it's not broken." The fox patted its chest and bent down to pick it up.
Under countless dazzling lanterns, Tinglan stood still, smiling as she watched the little prince skip and hop to pick up the lanterns. She saw the white jade hairpin she had given him on his head and the tassels of the sachet on his waist swaying gently, which was quite adorable.
At that moment, a man in black blocked Tinglan's view.
The man's curved knife silently approached Ji Qing's neck. Standing behind Ji Qing, he whispered, "Don't move, just listen to me."
The man looked down at his carefully chosen target. He was dressed in fine clothes and had an exceptionally handsome appearance. He must be a son of an official with a distinguished background. Only the lives of such people are valuable, and the government can exchange them for things.
The fox, seeing such a spectacle for the first time, was dumbfounded, clutching the lantern in its hand.
I only stopped listening for a little while, how could this happen?
My head hurts, and I feel like hitting someone.
I'm going to beat this guy up and kick his ass.
The fox, of course, wouldn't listen to what the man said. Without fear, he turned his head and carefully examined the man.
What kind of idiot is he to be able to accurately abduct someone who isn't just one person from among so many passersby...?
The scimitar pressed even closer to the fox's neck. "I told you, don't move!"
Tinglan frowned when she saw someone standing inexplicably behind the young prince. She quickly stepped forward and was about to speak when she saw a cold light flash from the person's sleeve and press against the young prince's neck.
He didn't know if he had bitten his tongue, but a trace of blood filled his mouth. Before he could think, he drew the short knife hidden at his waist.
However, Tinglan is not skilled in martial arts. He is proficient in all six arts of a gentleman, but not in martial arts.
This dagger... was originally left by his family for him to commit suicide, and he has carried it with him for so many years, but no one knows why.
A thousand thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant.
Amidst the chaos, the fox calmly smiled at Tinglan, even waving his free hand at him, "Don't worry, I'll take care of him now."
The bandit then realized what was happening, turned around, and glared fiercely at Tinglan, "And you, if you touch him again I'll kill him."
Tinglan's eyes flashed with murderous intent. He sneered, removed his waist tag, and said loudly, "Where are the Embroidered Uniform Guards? This is His Majesty's own son, the Thirteenth Prince. Capture the bandits, and you will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver and promoted three ranks."
The surrounding commotion instantly subsided as someone did indeed step out from the crowd.
That was the legendary, omnipresent secret police, a shadow looming over the heads of all officials.
The situation was so tense, on the verge of exploding, when the poor Thirteenth Prince, who had been kidnapped by the bandits, waved to them and smiled brightly, "Oh, no need to bother, I can actually handle it myself."
Almost simultaneously, they heard a crisp sound of bones breaking.
The Thirteenth Prince's slender fingers gripped the bandit's wrist, which was holding a knife.
With a loud clang.
The murder weapon fell to the ground.
Everyone instinctively looked down at the murder weapon on the ground, and when they looked up again, they saw the handsome thirteenth prince standing alone with his hands hanging down.
The bandits vanished without a trace; instead, a dark shadow suddenly swept across their heads and crashed heavily to the ground.
Face down.
Oh, so His Highness threw him out.
He was thrown out by His Highness!?
Amidst countless gazes, the fox clapped its hands, walked over with ease, and smiled at Tinglan, saying, "It's alright, it's all sorted out. The lantern you gave me isn't broken either. Let's continue our shopping trip."
He turned to the dumbfounded Imperial Guards behind Tinglan and said, "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry to have troubled you."
A series of gasps of cold air rose from all around.
Is this really the Thirteenth Prince?
That's unbelievable... His Highness the Thirteenth Prince is simply a god!
"Your Highness's divine bearing is truly awe-inspiring!" the Imperial Guards saluted and shouted in unison.
The fox scratched its head, stood there dumbfounded, tugged at Tinglan's sleeve, and whispered, "What do you mean?" Have I gotten into trouble again...? No way!
A note from the author:
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The phrase "luminous pearl" comes from Tao Bi's poem "Tide and Moon Pavilion".
The older sister handed the money bag to the fox: "These are very valuable; you can use them to buy whatever you want."
Fox: Yay! I want to eat steamed buns! I want big steamed buns!
The older sister was speechless: Steamed buns... fine, you can buy the ugliest ones inside.
The fox nodded vigorously.
I'm sorry [crying], I'm late again. I will continue to update daily until next Wednesday!
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