Chapter 144 The Taste of Freedom
The firelight warmed the cold night, and the ice flowers in the air were melted into damp mist by the wolf tribe's enthusiasm.
Sahan and Ruixue drank heavily with the men, while the women surrounded Mrs. Sa, chatting about everyday matters.
Su Yuyao and Bai Er volunteered to stay in the cave to look after the children.
"This young master Weiming is really handsome! His thick eyebrows and big eyes look just like Boss Sa! His nose and mouth look like Madam Sa! He has all the good-looking features! If only he had the courage of you, Miss! He would definitely achieve great things like Boss Sa in the future!" Bai Er said with a smile as he stuffed roasted meat into Su Yuyao's mouth.
Su Yuyao chewed on the fragrant roasted meat, looked at the soft, dim light, and said with a smile, "My brother is definitely the best! Although he may not be able to achieve great things, he is more than qualified to be the leader of the wolf clan!"
Wei Ming was unaware that his sister had already decided his destiny; he was only focused on struggling with his little hands.
He stood there blankly with his little hand raised, looked at it for a long time, as if he had made a great decision, and slowly put it into his mouth, but he couldn't get it in.
Bai Er held the last piece of roasted meat to Su Yuyao's lips, "Miss, would you like some more?"
Su Yuyao took the meat with her mouth and said, "Eat! I'm not full yet!"
"Huh? Still eating?! You've already eaten so much!" Bai Er looked at the bones at his feet and advised with some concern, "Even if it's delicious, there's a limit! Don't overeat! Last time... you ate dried tofu..."
"Stop talking!" Su Yuyao was afraid that Bai Er would reveal her embarrassing secret, so she reluctantly replied, "Okay! I won't eat! Then go and get me some wine! Hot wine!"
"Huh?! You're still drinking?!" Bai Er glanced at the wine jar at his feet. "You've already drunk a whole jar! What if you get drunk?!"
"Ugh!" Su Yuyao sat up impatiently. "How could I get drunk so easily?! I'm perfectly fine! Go get me another jar!"
"Waaah—!" Wei Ming suddenly burst into tears.
"Why are you crying?" Su Yuyao gestured at Weiming a couple of times, still too afraid to hug him, and could only tentatively sniff him. "You didn't pee!"
"Waaah—! Waaah—!" Wei Ming cried even harder.
"Miss! How about a hug? Is the young master going to sleep?"
"How could I possibly hold a baby! I can't bear the risk if he bumps into something! Go and call my mother in! And while you're at it, bring me a jar of wine!"
"Wah! Wah! Wah—!" Upon hearing this, Wei Ming clenched his fists tightly as he cried.
"Oh? Miss! It seems the young master doesn't want you to drink!" Bai Er teased. "I'll go and invite Madam Sa in!"
Su Yuyao bent over next to Weiming, poking at Weiming's little hand with her finger. "Little thing! Are you crying so loudly because you don't want your sister to drink?"
Wei Ming slowly closed his mouth, stared at Su Yuyao with wide eyes, and tried to make a sound, "Oh..."
"Huh?!" Su Yuyao sat up abruptly. Looking at Weiming, who had calmed down, she tentatively asked, "Then... what if you drink, sister?"
"Waaah—!" Wei Ming burst into tears again.
"Huh?!" Su Yuyao suddenly found it amazing, "Then what about meat, sister?"
Wei Ming shut his mouth again, glared at Su Yuyao, clenched his little fists, his face turned red, shrank his neck, and exerted force.
"puff!"
"Hmm?" Su Yuyao sniffed, then jumped off the bed and ran towards the cave entrance. "Mom! Come quick! Weiming pooped!"
The bonfire outside the cave was blazing hot, turning the entire snow-capped mountain a fiery red. Everyone raised their jars and drank heartily, feasting to their hearts' content! The aroma of roasting and the mellow fragrance of fine wine drifted into the snow cave, but it still couldn't mask the sour and foul smell of excrement inside.
"Ugh! I'm so angry!" Su Yuyao stomped her feet and yelled, "Weiming is so mean! This is my new bed! I haven't slept in it even once! And he just pooped this huge pile on it!"
"Oh dear!" Sahan glanced at the soiled bedding while holding Weiming, then quickly closed her eyes and pulled Su Yuyao away. "Ningbao, Weiming is just a little kid, he couldn't control himself... Don't be angry... Have your mother clean him up properly! Change to a clean animal skin!"
Madam Sa, along with Bai Er, remade the bed and then pulled Su Yuyao to the bedside, saying, "Look! Mother has cleaned it up!"
Su Yuyao pouted and sniffed, "It still stinks! But it's bearable!"
“Oh…” Wei Ming blinked at Su Yu Yao while nestled in Sa Han Yi’s arms.
"Oh! Oh! Oh! You knew it!" Su Yuyao pointed at her slightly flushed face, pretending to be angry, and said, "If you dare to dirty my bed again, you'll be slapped!"
Wei Ming looked at Su Yuyao, and whether she understood or it was just a coincidence, she actually pouted, and looked like she was about to shed tears.
"Don't cry!" Su Yuyao took Weiming from Sa Hanyi's hands, awkwardly hugged it to her chest, and said, "From now on, you can only cry when your sister tells you to! You can only laugh when your sister tells you to!"
Wei Ming pouted and looked at Su Yuyao with a wronged expression. Suddenly, he stuck out his little tongue and turned to Su Yuyao's chest, making a sucking motion.
"Madam! Is Weiming hungry again?"
"That's right! Weiming should nurse and go to sleep!" Madam Sa took Weiming into her arms, and saw Weiming's little head shaking incessantly, looking for milk on Madam Sa's chest.
Mrs. Sa quickly sat down on the edge of the bed, unbuttoned her clothes, and began to breastfeed Weiming.
Su Yuyao then bent over and lay down next to Madam Sa, watching with great interest as the dawn gradually faded.
“Mother…” Su Yuyao nestled shyly against Madam Sa’s chest, “Please… let me have another bite…”
"Ningbao! You're so big now! Aren't you ashamed!" Before Madam Sa could even speak, Sa Hanyi rejected Su Yuyao's request, "Don't fight with your brother for milk!"
"You eat too, don't you?!" Su Yuyao said defiantly. "I haven't seen Mom for so long, I want Mom to hold me while I sleep tonight!"
"Alright! I understand!" Madam Sa handed the sleeping Weiming to Sa Hanyi. "Sir, you go back first. I'll go over after I've put Ningbao to sleep..."
"Then you'd better hurry!" Sahan squeezed Madam Sa's wrist and said softly, "I'll wait for you..."
Mrs. Sa blushed and nodded.
Su Yuyao snuggled into the long-lost embrace once again.
She looked at the pitch-black ditch in front of her. How could it be so dark?
He squeezed her plump breasts again, and a stream of milk sprayed onto Su Yuyao's face.
"Silly child, what are you babbling about?" Mrs. Sa said with a smile.
"Mother...your milk smells so good!" Su Yuyao said with a smile, her nose glistening with milky white milk.
She placed her lips on Mrs. Sa's breasts, and suddenly a wave of emotion welled up in her eyes. "Mother... I miss you so much..."
Mrs. Sa stroked Su Yuyao's head. She didn't know what Su Yuyao had been through, but judging from the longing for love and protection emanating from Su Yuyao, what Su Yuyao had experienced was far worse than what Mrs. Sa knew.
"Good child, don't cry, Mother is here..." Madam Sa didn't ask why, nor did she offer much comfort. She simply gave Su Yuyao her most tender embrace without reservation.
Su Yuyao fell asleep with a mouthful of medicine in her mouth and tears streaming down her face. It was as if she had returned to her childhood and was once again protected by her mother's powerful love...
At this moment, she stopped thinking about hatred, stopped dwelling on right and wrong, stopped trying to convince herself, and stopped forcing herself to grow up...
Xuanfeng gazed at the silent Vermilion Bird Palace under the dark night. This hall, which had once been disturbed by Su Yuyao, had now returned to a peace that was once so unfamiliar.
Girl! Can you really bear to leave me?
He closed his eyes, searching for Su Yuyao's figure. Strange...
Why isn't the bell ringing?! And why can't I see anything?
You brat! What method did you use?! You actually managed to block the bell?!
Xuanfeng opened his eyes and let out a long sigh.
“My lord!” Guan Yue stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Lady Qingyue has sent word that she has arrived at Binglun Palace and will begin her seclusion today!”
"Seclusion..."
"The damaged vegetation has been repaired by Xianmingjun, who has just set off to return to Buyeliao!"
"Um."
"Aunt Yuqing has taken full control of the Mountain God Garden, and she moved in today!"
Xuanfeng didn't say a word, but instead glared at Guan Yue with sidelong glances.
Guan Yue felt a little guilty and continued with his head down, "The people who were imprisoned, except for Luo Fengyue, have all confessed that Lord Qinggan ordered them to guard a stone tablet, and they don't know anything else."
"Stele".
"Yes! Uh... however... the stone tablet should have been blown up by Su Yuyao, so..."
Xuanfeng sighed with his eyes closed, "Is there anything else?"
"They're all gone! They were all blown up!" Guan Yue said definitively.
Xuanfeng suddenly opened his eyes, pointed at Guan Yue angrily, and said, "I'm asking if there's anything else?!"
“Oh…” Guan Yue thought for a moment, “And my father…”
"Keep it locked up!" Xuanfeng's anger flared up at the mention of the flute.
Guan Yue knew that Xuan Feng wouldn't calm down anytime soon, so he had no choice but to shut his mouth.
"Where is Master Qimen?"
"Oh, Lord Qi is still dealing with those matters after the court session. I heard it's almost finished!"
Xuanfeng nodded.
“Guan Yue, the matter at Jiujiao Mountain is almost settled, and I should return to Yinlu Mountain,” Xuan Feng turned to Guan Yue. “I will take Lord Guan Xiao with me. He made a mistake and must be punished.”
“Yes…” Guan Yue replied, bowing his head.
"As for Luo Fengyue..." Xuan Feng gazed at a tentacle in the distance that was also looking up at the sky, "Once his eyes have healed, you can decide what to do..."
"yes!"
Xuanfeng looked out into the desolate night again. No matter how hard he tried, the image in his mind remained blurry. Girl! I miss you so much! Do you... miss me?
...
Su Yuyao had never been so happy!
After waking up, without waiting for Bai Er to help her wash up, Su Yuyao rode Ruixue around the snow mountain. When she got hungry, she would just find a house to mooch a meal. After eating her fill, she would continue riding until Ruixue was panting heavily before she was willing to come back.
Su Yuyao was overjoyed, gesturing excitedly around Mrs. Sa as she recounted the people and events she had encountered.
After finishing his explanation, he immediately took Ruixue to the dueling arena to watch Sahan train the wolf pack.
After watching for a while, he got bored and encouraged the little wolf boy next to him who was being punished to go skiing on the snow slope.
"Hey! You lot! Did you get punished for disobeying?"
"Yes, Commander Ningbao..." The children scratched the back of their heads and chuckled.
"Come on! Let's go play on the snow slope!"
"Huh? This..." The children looked at each other, and finally their eyes fell on Sahan Yi.
Sahan gave the children a stern look, then turned back to continue training the wolf pack.
"No... Commander, look at Boss Sa's eyes..."
"What do you mean no?! My dad has already given his consent! If he didn't agree, he would have called you all back long ago!" Su Yuyao urged the children on, "Come on! Come with me!"
The children had long since lost interest, so they reluctantly, helplessly, and with a look of relief, followed Su Yuyao.
Sahan turned her head slightly, watched the children run away, and smiled with a slight upturn of her lips.
It wasn't until the sun set that Bai Er appeared on the snow slope, hands on her hips and looking furious. Only then did Su Yuyao, still steaming with heat, obediently climb the snow slope with a grin.
"Bai Er, what brings you here? Is dinner ready?"
"Why am I here?" Bai Er pointed angrily at Rui Xue and the children following behind Su Yuyao, who were also steaming hot. "If I hadn't come, were you going to keep playing here with them forever?! When are we going to go home?!"
"Look at you! Why are you really angry? I just arrived, I'm getting used to the place. Once I'm familiar with it, I definitely won't be like this anymore!" Su Yuyao hooked her arm around Bai Er's, pulled her close, and swayed her body as she said, "Don't be angry! I'll go back with you right now! Hey? Mom's grilling meat?"
Bai Er, having been coaxed into submission by Su Yuyao, smiled helplessly and said, "Miss, your nose is really sharp! It's roasted meat!"
"Hehe! That's great!" Su Yuyao waved to the children behind her. "Come on! Let's go to my place for some barbecue and wine!"
Over a roaring bonfire sat mutton, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Mrs. Sa smiled as she distributed the meat to the children and then handed a leg of lamb to Su Yuyao.
While munching on a lamb leg, Su Yuyao followed Bai Er, who was putting Wei Ming to sleep, and whispered in surprise, "Bai Er, you're amazing! You managed to put Wei Ming to sleep! How did you do that?"
White Ears was a little proud. "Impressive, right? I just tried swaying him a bit, and he fell asleep!"
"Didn't you breastfeed him?"
"Miss!" Bai Er blushed. "I don't have any milk to feed him!"
"Wow!" Su Yuyao immediately became adoring of Bai Er. "Bai Er! You're so awesome!"
"Right! I don't know why, but Young Master Weiming is very obedient in my arms!"
"Bai Er! Look how talented the child is, why don't you marry Rui Xue quickly and have a baby!" Su Yuyao said with a smile.
"Huh?" Sitting by the campfire, Ruixue stared blankly at Bai'er. "Give...give birth to a baby..."
"Miss!" Bai Er's face was already flushed red. "Don't talk nonsense! Even Yu Chuanzi's marriage must be approved by Lady Qingyue, how could it be..."
"Oh! I understand! I'll go pray for your marriage! You two take care of your business first!" Su Yuyao nudged Bai Er with her shoulder.
Bai Er's face turned bright red, and she said angrily, "Miss! If you keep saying that, I... I'll just ignore you!"
"Fine, I won't care. Go take care of Ruixue!" Su Yuyao said, gnawing on a lamb leg and glancing at Ruixue.
Ruixue's ears could no longer be hidden; Su Yuyao glanced at them, and her tail popped out with a thud.
The children, having witnessed the spectacle, lost all appetite for meat and quickly covered their mouths as they ran home to spread the word.
Sahan rolled up her sleeves and walked to the cave entrance. Looking at Bai Er, whose face was red, and Rui Xue, who was losing her balance, she asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"
Madam Sa gently tugged at Sa Hanyi's sleeve and said with a smile, "Ruixue truly likes Baier! Baier is also sincere towards Ruixue! Why don't you, sir, mention it to Consort Qingyue and see if that's alright?"
Sa Han glanced at the two people exchanging glances, then looked at Su Yuyao, who was jumping around in the middle trying to bring them together, and said in a low voice, "It's not that I don't want to say it, it's just that Lady Qingyue has always been aloof and arrogant. Look at how she looked down on us the two times she came! I'm afraid... if we say it, she won't like us and will just shut us down with a single no!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Sa said somewhat dejectedly, "That's true! What should we do then? Should we let Ningbao speak to her? She's Bai'er's mistress, so it's only right that she bring it up!"
Sahan thought for a moment and nodded, "It's safest for Ningbao to go! If Lady Qingyue objects, Ningbao can still beg her!"
"Wow—!" Wei Ming was finally woken up by Su Yuyao's relentless harassment.
"Oh dear! Why are you crying!" Su Yuyao said, picking at her slightly bleached little hand with her greasy fingers, "Sister is playing matchmaker!"
"Miss! If you say that again, I'll really get angry!" Bai Er coaxed Wei Ming, frowning as she said, "Although Lady Qingyue has many servants, she remembers each and every one of them! Even though we are of low rank, we have never been married off arbitrarily! Last time you said that Hongzhu was recruited as a maid by Lord Zeyuan, it must have been because Hongzhu begged and made a scene, which angered Lady Qingyue before she agreed! Otherwise, Lady Qingyue would not have agreed to let Hongzhu go to Youlong Palace as a maid!"
"You white-eared devil, I'm talking to you about your marriage in a proper way! Why did you bring up Hongzhu?" Su Yuyao was also a little annoyed. "Besides, our wolf clan is going to marry you openly and formally, not make you a concubine. Are you still not happy?!"
"How could I not be happy!" Bai Er said, her eyes red-rimmed. "At Hidden Deer Mountain, Her Majesty knew about my relationship with Ruixue, but deliberately avoided it. Lord Xuanfeng is so smart, he couldn't possibly not know! But he never mentioned it either. On the contrary, Lord Qimen even found excuses to send Ruixue away..."
“White Ear…” Su Yuyao suddenly understood the contradiction of White Ear.
If they don't go to their mother, although they can't cross the line, they can continue their ambiguous relationship. But if they go to their mother, and she really doesn't allow it, it will become a public opposition, and then things will be difficult for them!
A hint of disappointment flashed across Ruixue's face, but then a pure smile appeared on her face. She stood up, tugged at Su Yuyao's braid, pulled her aside, walked to Bai'er, and whispered, "Bai'er, feelings don't need anyone's approval, as long as you and I are willing, it's fine. However... we can't hurt our elders' feelings!"
Bai Er's eyes gleamed as he looked at Rui Xue and nodded solemnly.
Weiming pursed her little lips and looked at Bai'er and Ruixue, as if comforting them. She cried a few times casually, then fell asleep in Bai'er's arms again.
Su Yuyao stood to the side, gnawing on a lamb leg while watching Bai'er coax the child and Ruixue coax Bai'er.
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