Chapter 54: Lin Xiu’s Suggestion
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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For the little beast named Bai Ling, the biggest regret of its life was probably its playful nature. Venturing out from its clan alone, it was happily playing with a tiger cub in the forest when a large net fell from the sky…
First, it was confined to a cage, enduring the bumpy journey, drowsy every day. Later, it was brought to a place with many cages, each holding various exotic beasts. People walked back and forth in front of the cages. Eventually, it was taken away and brought to its current location.
Though this place provided food and drink, it lacked its father, mother, and fellow clan members. No one spoke to it. It couldn’t understand human language, nor could anyone understand its speech. It was dying of boredom.
Now, finally, a kindred spirit was speaking to it. How could it not be excited and overjoyed?
It flew out of Lin Xiu’s arms, flitting around the side chamber. Despite searching the entire room, it couldn’t find the being who had spoken to it.
Disappointed, believing it had hallucinated, it lay down on the floor, motionless.
Then, the voice echoed in its mind again: “Stop looking. I’m right in front of you.“
It abruptly raised its head, its crystal-like eyes fixed on Lin Xiu. It flew up again, hovering before him. After scrutinizing him for a while, it finally realized that it was he who had been speaking.
Filled with joy and curiosity, it asked, “Are you a tiger too?“
Lin Xiu responded with surprise, “Aren’t you a cat?”
The spirit beast was clearly offended. It began circling Lin Xiu, saying indignantly, “You’re the cat! Your whole family are cats! This princess is a noble tiger! Those villains who kidnapped me actually wanted me to catch mice! How could this princess catch such disgusting things…“
After muttering to itself for a while, its anger seemed to subside. It stopped in front of Lin Xiu again and asked curiously, “Hey, are you a human?“
Lin Xiu nodded.
Confusion appeared in the spirit beast’s lively eyes. “But how can humans understand our words? I can also understand you. It’s so strange…“
Without waiting for Lin Xiu’s reply, it pleaded, “You’re the only human who can talk to me. Can you play with me? They can’t understand me, and I can’t understand them. I’m really bored to death…“
“Also, they feed me fish every day. I’m going to throw up just from smelling fish…“
“Eating fish is worse than eating carrots!“
“Can you tell them to stop making me eat fish?“
“And can you come here every day to talk to me? I’m so bored…“
The little creature looked at him with pleading eyes, appearing utterly pitiful.
In truth, it was indeed pitiful. Far from home, different species, unable to communicate. If it were an ordinary animal, it wouldn’t matter much; their intelligence was low, content with food and drink. But it was a spirit beast, highly intelligent and possessing emotions. If Lin Xiu were in an environment where he couldn’t communicate, not even with gestures, he too would quickly become depressed.
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Lin Xiu hadn’t intended to communicate with the Noble Consort’s pet. Even though the probability was extremely low, he didn’t want to expose his two abilities. But facing a powerful enemy, he couldn’t afford such caution anymore.
He looked at the little beast and communicated telepathically, “I can play with you often, but you have to listen to me.“
The spirit beast hovering in mid-air nodded repeatedly. “Listen, I’ll definitely listen, as long as you play with me!“
Because Lin Xiu’s diagnosis required absolute silence, everyone, including the emperor and the Noble Consort, waited outside. They only heard occasional sounds from the spirit beast within the side chamber, unaware of what was happening.
The Noble Consort was anxious but restrained her impatience. Fortunately, Lin Xiu emerged shortly after, holding the spirit beast.
She hurried forward and asked, “How is it?”
The spirit beast in Lin Xiu’s arms remained listless. Lin Xiu looked at the Noble Consort and asked, “May I ask, Noble Consort, what does the spirit beast usually eat?”
A young palace maid stepped forward and replied, “The finest fish fillets. There’s absolutely no problem with the spirit beast’s food.”
Lin Xiu asked, “Only fish?”
The young palace maid looked puzzled. “Shouldn’t cats eat fish?”
Internally, Lin Xiu sighed. There was nothing wrong with fish; he enjoyed it too. But eating it for every meal, day after day, for months on end, even the greatest fish lover would tire of it…
Although this spirit beast resembled a cat, it wasn’t one. If it could understand the maid’s words, it would be getting angry again.
He could only explain to the Noble Consort, “In response to Your Ladyship, this subject read in a book that although this spirit beast looks like a cat, it’s actually considered a member of the tiger clan. In other words, it shouldn’t like eating fish, let alone eating the same food every day. Even we humans couldn’t stand it. In this aspect, the spirit beast is the same as us…”
No one would question feeding a cat fish. However, due to her trust in Lin Xiu, the Noble Consort still asked, “Then what should Nuan Nuan eat?”
Lin Xiu glanced at the little creature in his arms and said, “Some cooked meat, like chicken or beef. Anything but fish. Supplement it with appropriate vegetables, like greens and carrots…”
The Noble Consort quickly sent someone to the imperial kitchen to fetch the food Lin Xiu requested, placing it in a jade bowl.
When Lin Xiu brought the jade bowl close to the spirit beast’s mouth, a scene that astonished everyone in Changchun Palace unfolded.
The spirit beast, which hadn’t eaten for two days, plunged its head into the jade bowl, devouring the food ravenously.
A young palace maid exclaimed with delight, “It’s eating! The spirit beast is finally eating!”
The Noble Consort finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she looked at Lin Xiu with pleading eyes and said, “Have you really not considered coming to this palace? You only need to help this palace care for Nuan Nuan. Whatever you want, this palace will give you…”
Before Lin Xiu could respond, the Emperor of Xia chuckled, then quickly advised, “That won’t do, that really won’t do. The Noble Consort can have anyone, but Lin Xiu truly won’t do. At most, I’ll give him a token, allowing him to come every other day to care for the spirit beast…”
If it were anyone else, he might actually have summoned them into the palace for the sake of the Noble Consort’s pet. But this was Zhao Lingjun’s fiancé. Forget a single spirit beast, even all the consorts in his harem combined weren’t as important to the nation as a Zhao family prodigy.
The Noble Consort was somewhat disappointed, but she abandoned the idea. She asked Lin Xiu, “As long as we feed Nuan Nuan these things, it won’t get sick again?”
Lin Xiu shook his head. “In response to Noble Consort, the food is only a contributing factor to the spirit beast’s illness. The true reason, this subject has already explained to Your Ladyship last time.”
The Noble Consort said, “But this palace later also had Ling Long frequently take it out of the palace, yet it had no effect. Her condition has actually worsened.”
Lin Xiu thought for a moment, then said to the Noble Consort, “Perhaps, it’s because Your Ladyship is the spirit beast’s true master. If Your Ladyship personally takes it out of the palace, the situation might be different. Of course, this is merely this subject’s conjecture…”
After all these events, regarding the spirit beast’s illness, the Noble Consort had complete faith in Lin Xiu. However, a eunuch behind the Emperor of Xia frowned and reprimanded, “Impudent! The Noble Consort is of noble birth. If something were to happen, who would bear the responsibility?”
Lin Xiu immediately cupped his hands. “This subject was thoughtless and spoke out of turn. Please forgive this subject’s transgression, Your Majesty and Noble Consort.“
“You were merely speaking the truth. What transgression is there?” The Noble Consort waved her sleeve and looked at the Emperor of Xia. “I want to leave the palace!”
The emperor understood the significance of the pet to her. A helpless expression appeared on his face. Finally, he said, “Zhu Jin, you personally take some men and protect the Noble Consort. But remember to be discreet. If those old fogies find out about the Noble Consort leaving the palace, they’ll inevitably complain to me again…”
Zhu Jin bowed. “By your decree.”
Since this was also for the sake of treating the spirit beast, Lin Xiu had to accompany the Noble Consort on her incognito outing. However, he didn’t depart with them immediately. Instead, he addressed the Noble Consort, “Your Ladyship, this subject still needs to return home to prepare some things. Half an hour later, this subject will await Your Ladyship at the Moon Picking Tower entrance…”
The Moon Picking Tower wasn’t far from the Imperial Palace, just a short walk after leaving the palace gates.
The Noble Consort nodded. “Go ahead. This palace needs to change clothes as well.”
Moments later, Lin Xiu left the palace. He avoided the main streets, instead taking a circuitous route through several hidden alleys for fifteen minutes before slipping into the Lin Estate through the back gate.
At the main gate of the Lin Estate, Da Huang was keeping watch. Suddenly, it perked up, got to its feet, and ran into the estate.
Lin Xiu looked at it and transmitted, “Are they still there?“
“Woof woof…”
Da Huang raised its head and barked twice.
Shortly after, a figure emerged from the Lin Estate. On the second floor of the teahouse opposite, the man jolted up excitedly. “He’s out! He finally came out! Quickly report to the Young Master!”
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