SLLBTT Chapter 29
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
⋇⊶⊰Chapter 29⊱⊷⋇
"What's different?" Liu Jiao was filled with childlike curiosity.
The Snow Wolf King replied, "Whatever you and your friends enjoy, I will play with you."
Liu Jiao thought for a moment and said, "We wrestle."
"Alright, then let's wrestle."
The Snow Wolf King and Liu Jiao began grappling on the blankets in the side hall. Liu Jiao wasn't brilliant in academics, but he had a natural talent for wrestling. Back in the mountains, he rarely found a match, earning a reputation as the Formidable Second Fool. Even in the palace, during breaks, Liu Jiao used to play with a few top-tier buddies, but now, there was no one to play with him.
Liu Jiao was wrestling with the the Snow Wolf King for the first time. He initially thought that since the Snow Wolf King looked elegant and scholarly, he might not be adept at this. However, as soon as they started, Liu Jiao realized the Snow Wolf King was a master.
They wrestled for quite a while, and in the end, the Snow Wolf King lifted Liu Jiao from the waist and slammed him onto the blanket. Liu Jiao attempted to resist but found himself breathless, legs kicking like a rabbit lifted into the air.
"Do you surrender?" the Snow Wolf King, pinning Liu Jiao to the floor, asked with a smile.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Jiao said, "I give up, I give up."
Only then did the Snow Wolf King release Liu Jiao. Liu Jiao, who had been tightly held, now stretched his legs and waist, relaxing. He added, "The Great King is too formidable!"
However, the Snow Wolf King responded, "You're quite good too, just lacking systematic training and technique."
Upon hearing this, Liu Jiao blinked and asked, "Is there systematic training for this? How do you train?"
"Do you want to learn?"
"Of course!" Liu Jiao's eyes sparkled. "This is much more interesting than Chinese, Math, or English!"
A few days later, Cat School Director, announced the addition of physical education classes to promote students' comprehensive development beyond Chinese, Math, and English. The P.E. teacher was the retired headmaster and a contemporary martial arts master.
The Snow Leopard PE Teacher guided everyone in high jump. Several delicate palace concubines made earnest attempts, often colliding with the bar. The teacher, upon witnessing this, said, "Beautiful Lady Jiao, why don't you give it a try!"
Liu Jiao hesitated for a moment, then effortlessly stepped over, completely oblivious to the supposed difficulty.
The teacher nodded and remarked, "Not bad! You have a natural talent!"
Suisui, feeling challenged, also leaped over, performing equally well.
The teacher then said, "Look, it's quite easy! Both Masters have cleared it."
Bai Juan couldn't help but complain, "They're all carnivores, it's different."
Before the words had settled, Leng Jiao "whooshed" and jumped over, even turning around to make a "baa" sound.
The teacher said, "See, whether carnivores or herbivores, anyone can do it!"
Bai Juan, sulking, was left speechless.
Another concubine, however, exclaimed, "Aiya, that's innate talent unique to certain races! We really can't learn it!"
The teacher said said, "Now, with the comprehensive development, both sports and academic courses contribute to the overall grades. Learn if you want!"
The concubines had nothing to say and obediently started learning. After explaining the basic movements, the teacher said allowed everyone to practice freely. Despite the usual exclusion of the snow leopard, Liu Jiao had already learned and chose to sit by the flower bed, daydreaming, watching everyone gather around Suisui to seek advice on the secrets of high jumping, laughter filling the air.
Enviously, he thought, "Suisui excels in academics, sports, and has good relationships with everyone..."
After a while, Suisui approached Liu Jiao with a smile, pulling him up. "Can you jump onto that tree?"
The concubines, witnessing Suisui suddenly pulling Liu Jiao, turned to look. Liu Jiao was bewildered and asked, "Which tree?"
Suisui pointed with a finger towards a three-meter-high green tree, "That one."
Liu Jiao stepped forward, gave a little kick, and effortlessly jumped onto the tree.
The crowd exclaimed, "Amazing!"
Suisui added, "Isn't he? Beautiful Lady Jiao is fantastic!"
Watching everyone happily surround him, Liu Jiao was both joyful and touched — he hadn't experienced acceptance in so long. Every bit of recognition from peers was precious to him.
Under Suisui's guidance, everyone seemed to forget about Liu Jiao's "cheating" incident and gradually started accepting him again. Liu Jiao was grateful to Suisui and became good friends with him. He often invited Suisui to Chunguang Pavilion, and in return, he frequently visited Suisui's Bilian Pavilion.
One day, when Liu Jiao visited Bilian Pavilion, he unexpectedly heard Suisui sobbing softly. He hurried toward the sound and found Suisui teary-eyed by the water pool. Astonished, Liu Jiao concernedly asked, "Suisui, why are you so upset?"
Suisui cried, "Sniff... I admire the the Snow Wolf King in my heart, but he never calls me to be with him... sniff... so I'm sad."
Liu Jiao was stunned.
Suisui continued, "I envy you because you can serve the Snow Wolf King. I, I can't..." Suisui started crying again. "Sniff... sniff..."
"Don't cry." Liu Jiao was a bit flustered, took out a tissue from his pocket, and handed it to Suisui. "Serving the Snow Wolf King is not all that great. It's quite tiring, and it hinders your studies!"
Hearing this, Suisui almost rolled his eyes. Are you fucking showing off?
Now, a month had passed since Liu Jiao's "cheating controversy," and Queen Ming' ban had been lifted. On the first day after the ban was lifted, he personally went to Snow Hall on the Wolf Mountain to read his self-reflection essay in front of the Snow Wolf King, but the Snow Wolf King waved his hand, stopping him. "No need for a repentance speech. I just want to know, why did the Queen Dowager commit such a pointless mistake?"
Queen Ming smiled and said, "I've been around in this deep palace for a long time, and I know that the officials in the Censorate have nothing better to do, always finding faults to showcase their fairness and sternness. If the Great King really cares for Beautiful Lady Jiao, he shouldn't favor him excessively, providing evidence for others to criticize. In my opinion, Suisui, with his outstanding looks and intelligence, being a fox tribe member, would become an easy target once he gains favor. Beautiful Lady Jiao, on the other hand, can now rest easy. Otherwise, with his wit, the more you favor him, the closer you push him towards irreversible danger."
The Snow Wolf King smiled faintly, showing no emotion on his face. "The Queen Dowager seems concerned about the six palaces."
"That's only natural," Queen Ming continued, "I took the initiative to bring Suisui here. He is now waiting in the side hall for the Great King. Please make a wise decision." With that, Queen Ming bowed and took his leave.
The Snow Wolf King nodded and instructed Lanmao to escort the Queen Dowager. Hong Huli, however, asked, "Suisui is already in the side hall. Does the Great King want to...?"
"Want what?" the Snow Wolf King responded coldly, "Since the Queen Dowager says Suisui is intelligent, then you go bring ten sets of exam papers to the side hall and tell him he can't leave until he finishes them!"
Suisui, originally waiting in the side hall with anticipation for the Great King, was surprised to receive ten sets of exam papers. Despite being a good student, these were carefully selected challenging questions, leaving Suisui dizzy and exhausted. In the middle of the night, overwhelmed by the difficulty, Suisui lamented, "Sniff... palace intrigue is truly difficult and cruel!"