SLLBTT Chapter 32
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
⋇⊶⊰Chapter 32⊱⊷⋇
The snow leopard was a disastrous beauty.
Therefore, the emboldened snow leopard tribe proposed some matters, hoping to gain some advantages. Currently, their biggest concern was the territorial dispute with the snow fox tribe. There was a river dividing the two tribes, and both wanted it as their territory. Now, the snow leopard tribe suggested claiming the river for themselves. The snow fox tribe, of course, would not agree.
As the two sides argued, the Snow Wolf King asked everyone for their opinions.
The censors, already having reservations about Liu Jiao, this "jinx," also held grievances against the snow leopard tribe. They sided with the snow fox tribe. The senior official in charge of this matter didn't want trouble and simply said, "Since the previous dynasty designated this river as belonging to the snow fox tribe, it's not advisable to change it without any special reason."
The Snow Wolf King nodded and asked, "What's your opinion, Censor Xu?"
Censor Xu, displeased with the snow leopard tribe, said, "I think the senior official is right."
However, the Snow Wolf King brought up an old memorial, projecting it onto the large screen, and said, "Didn't you vehemently oppose the snow fox tribe occupying this river before!"
Censor Xu's face darkened. He didn't quite remember when he had opposed it.
However, as he looked at the black-and-white text on the screen, Censor Xu found himself vehemently criticizing the snow fox tribe for using this river. As he read, he finally recalled. In the previous reign, the Snow Wolf King favored a fox spirit and gave this river to the snow fox tribe. Censor Xu found it absurd and strongly opposed it. Unfortunately, the late king insisted, and the river remained with the snow fox tribe. It had been many years, so Censor Xu had forgotten.
After all, Censor Xu had new matters to bring up with the Great King every day. Who could remember so much?
The Snow Wolf King asked, "Censor Xu, why were you so against it back then but now supporting it?"
Censor Xu cleared his throat and replied, "It's been so long... I see the snow fox tribe has managed things well, so I don't have any objections now."
The Snow Wolf King thought for a moment and said, "How about this, Censor Xu, you lead an investigation team to check on their governance. If the snow fox tribe is doing well, we'll continue. If there are areas for improvement, you can report back."
"Yes, Great King," Censor Xu agreed.
However, Censor Xu was somewhat disgruntled because he felt suddenly being dispatched so far away to investigate a river was undoubtedly a way of being "sent away in idleness." Perhaps the Great King found him annoying and decided to cast him off.
But Censor Xu stubbornly thought, "I won't stop advising! With the internet so developed now, even if they send me to outer space, I can still advise!"
The chieftains of the snow fox and snow leopard tribes also came to the Snow City to appeal their requests.
The Snow Wolf King didn't give a direct response to their requests, only saying, "Alright, I will consider what you've said... By the way, since you're here, why not visit the two consorts in the palace? They've been in the palace for a while, so they must be homesick. Seeing them would be a comfort."
So, the two tribal chieftains entered the palace.
Upon arriving at Chunguang Pavilion, guided by Da Huangya into the main hall, he saw Liu Jiao, once a little boy, now dressed elegantly with a jade crown and brocade robe, sitting on the couch, truly resembling a significant figure.
The tribal chieftain, Liu Ming, quickly bowed, "Greetings, Beautiful Lady."
In Liu Jiao's mind, Liu Ming was still the chieftain of the tribe. Now, seeing him bow before him, Liu Jiao felt awkward and hurriedly said, "Chieftain, please rise." Liu Ming stood up but kept his head lowered. Liu Jiao pointed to a seat, "Please, have a seat."
"Thank you for the seat, Beautiful Lady." Liu Ming sat down on the chair, wanting to discuss matters of favoritism and territory with Liu Jiao. However, with the two palace attendants standing there, speaking wasn't convenient. He cleared his throat twice, then glanced at the attendants, subtly hinting for them to leave.
But Liu Jiao didn't understand this subtle hint, just blinked at Liu Ming.
Liu Ming cleared his throat twice more, looked at the attendants, and coughed again.
Liu Jiao said, "Chief, is your throat uncomfortable? Drink more hot water."
"Uh..." Liu Ming hadn't expected that, even after spending so much time in the palace, Liu Jiao was still so oblivious! How did he become the "disastrous beauty"?
Da Huangya, on the other hand, understood and couldn't help saying, "Chieftain, as an outsider, you can't be alone in a room with the Beautiful Lady. We have to be here."
Liu Ming, hearing this, felt embarrassed for not understanding the etiquette and thought: Maybe being alone together is against the rules, and Liu Jiao is just pretending to be clueless? He's been in the palace for so long, surely he's made progress in these matters?
Liu Jiao, munching on chicken claws, asked, "Is everything good in our village?"
"Since the Beautiful Lady brought it up," Liu Ming was relieved that Liu Jiao asked, "it's about the issue with the ancient river."
"What's wrong with the ancient river?"
"The snow fox tribe wants to build dams, and we have to pay them for using the water from the ancient river!" Liu Ming slapped his thigh. "Is that fair?"
"It's incredibly unfair!" Liu Jiao, hearing this, felt uneasy. "Wasn't that river always shared by everyone?"
"Exactly!" Liu Ming sighed. "You must speak up for us in front of the Great King. Now that you're quite favored by the Great King, do not forget your fellow villagers."
Liu Jiao was still unsure. "I don't know how to help."
"Come on! With the Great King's favor towards you, it shouldn't be difficult for you to say a word or two."
"I..." Liu Jiao didn't know what to do, feeling somewhat anxious.
Da Huangya interrupted, "This matter pertains to the previous dynasty. How can the Beautiful Lady intervene?"
Liu Jiao was taken aback. "So, I can't bring it up to the Great King?"
"Why so strict?" Liu Ming hurriedly added, "Just casually mention it during a chat. It won't hurt!"
Da Huangya, however, wore a serious expression, making Liu Jiao hesitate.
Liu Ming added, "Besides, people from the snow fox tribe have also gone to the palace to meet their Talented Lady. He might be making moves too."
"Talented Lady from the snow fox tribe?" Liu Jiao pondered, "You mean Suisui?"
Indeed, it was Suisui.
After spending a night working on problems in the side hall the day before yesterday, Suisui was still exhausted and lacking energy.
The chieftain of the snow fox tribe scrutinized Suisui and asked, "What's wrong? Is the Talented Lady feeling unwell?"
Suisui didn't say anything, but his attendant chimed in, "Aiya, last time after the intimate session, the Talented Lady came back with sore shoulders and back pain, uncomfortable for several days."
The chieftain of the snow fox tribe, with a hint of suggestiveness, said, "That's inevitable. After all, there's a noticeable difference in size between a snow wolf and a snow fox! Serving a few more times will help."
Suisui didn't know how to respond and could only say, "It's because my skills aren't good enough."
The chieftain chuckled. "Improving those skills, I have a solution! Look, I even brought a fox tribe manual titled 'The Art of Seduction.'"
Suisui glanced at the cover and casually tossed it aside. "You might as well give me a set of Huanggang secret scrolls!"
The chieftain, bewildered, asked, "What secret scrolls? Is that some powerful women's secret manual? Why have I never heard of it?"
Suisui shook his head. "Forget it, it's nothing. I strained myself while working on math problems the day before yesterday, and I need a few days of rest."
"What about that Snow Leopard Beautiful Lady? What's his background? Is he easy to deal with?"
"Him? Hah, he's a fool, thinks we're friends!" Suisui sneered and picked up the "Art of Seduction" book again. "I'll send this over to him. Consider it my gift to him."
"Such a valuable item, and you're giving it to him?"