SLLBTT Chapter 33
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
⋇⊶⊰Chapter 33⊱⊷⋇
"Give, give, give, otherwise how can it appear as friendship?" Suisui propped up his chin and added, "Moreover, hoarding erotic books is a crime. Letting him suffer a bit is good."
Once more, the chieftain of the snow fox tribe asked, "It seems that although there are many concubines in the palace now, only you and the snow leopard have slept on the royal bed, is that right?"
Suisui felt that his "sleeping on the royal bed" wasn't the same as what everyone else was talking about. He couldn't believe the snow leopard and the Great King were doing homework every night. However, Suisui also wouldn't admit that he hadn't received the Great King's favor. That would be too embarrassing. Therefore, Suisui pretended to be calm and said, "You could say that."
"Then continue to keep it that way..." The chieftain nodded. "After all, if you're still a vir*gin after a year in the palace, you'll be released to live freely. After a year, when they are all released, maybe only you and the snow leopard will share the spoils."
Suisui was stunned, his mind becoming even more chaotic.
This was a rule set by the previous dynasty, aimed at preventing palace consorts from leading lonely lives. After each tribe contributed beauties, if the consorts didn't receive the Great King's favor within a year, they were free to marry, and the Great King would bestow a considerable amount of wealth as dowry.
Inside Chunguang Pavilion.
On the other hand, Liu Ming earnestly advised Liu Jiao, "You must be careful. The fox demons' lineage has always produced favored consorts."
Liu Jiao asked, "How am I supposed to be careful?"
Liu Ming explained, "According to the 'Regulations for Humanized Management of the Harem,' palace residents who remain vir*gins after a year in the palace can leave freely and choose their spouses. So, as long as you maintain the momentum of being the favorite for this year, there won't be anyone competing with you in the palace after that!"
Liu Jiao exclaimed, "Vir*gin? How do you define being a 'vir*gin'?"
Awkwardly clearing his throat, Liu Ming replied, "Beautiful Lady is all "experienced" now. You don't need to ask me, right?"
"For female consorts and male consorts, it should be different, right? For male consorts, is it... as long as the butt O has not been XX, they are considered vir*gins?"
As an outsider, Liu Ming found it difficult to answer that question.
Da Huangya chimed in, "Yes, that's right."
Liu Jiao was shocked. Does that mean I'm also a vir*gin?
After that year...
Would he be released from the palace too?
Liu Jiao felt bewildered.
Outsiders couldn't stay in the palace for too long. After a brief conversation, Liu Ming took his leave. He hoped this favored snow leopard consort would remember to compete for the ancient river, but Liu Jiao seemed oblivious, preoccupied with the idea that if he remained a vir*gin, he would be released after a year.
After a while, Ah Ye entered the room. "Talented Lady Sui sent a gift."
Liu Jiao snapped back to reality. "Suisui sent me a gift? Let me see."
Ah Ye handed a box to Liu Jiao, who opened it and found a book titled "Fox Tribe Secrets: The Art of Seduction" inside.
Liu Jiao was taken aback. "Is this... a yellow (adult) book?"
Da Huangya flipped through it and remarked, "Yellow, even more yellow than this duck."
Liu Jiao couldn't figure it out. "It's really strange. Why would Talented Lady Sui send this?"
Ah Ye explained, "The servant who brought the gift said Talented Lady Sui was favored the day before yesterday, but there are rumors in the palace that you two are not getting along because of it. Talented Lady Sui claims no ill will, still considering himself Beautiful Lady Jiao's good friend. He just wants to serve the Great King together, so he sent this book to express his intentions."
Touched by the revelation, Liu Jiao said, "It seems Suisui is still a good friend."
However, Da Huangya remained indifferent. "Just take it as words. In the previous dynasty, a concubine like him..." Da Huangya paused, feeling it might not be appropriate to discuss the former dynasty in front of the current master.
"What would a concubine from the previous dynasty do?" Liu Jiao asked curiously.
"Ah? Well..." Da Huangya thought for a moment and decided to be straightforward, "He would probably tear this book in front of Suisui, saying, 'I don't need to learn this, but if I'm in a good mood, I might write one for everyone to study.'"
Ah Ye exclaimed, "So arrogant?"
"Yes, especially arrogant." Da Huangya nodded. "He used to swagger through the palace. If you didn't know him, you'd think he was a crab demon."
Liu Jiao, curious about this rumored concubine, asked, "Really?"
After entering the palace, he had heard about the reputation of this concubine. It was well known that the former Snow Wolf King was an eccentric ruler, attending court through holographic projection and napping, outsourcing "diligent governance" tasks for achievement farming. In his leisure, he proclaimed, "I can be a Great King not because of my wisdom, but because of good fortune. So, if I'm not enjoying being a Great King, I'd really be letting Fate down."
His harem was brimming with beauties from various tribes, making it one of the most fiercely contested in history. The concubine had a time when he held the highest position, being the Noble Consort and rivaling the Queen.
Liu Jiao asked, "The queen at that time was the current Queen Ming, right?" Da Huangya nodded, "Yes."
"Where is that concubine now?" Liu Jiao asked again.
Da Huangya remained evasive, "It's better not to ask about that, Beautiful Lady Jiao."
Liu Jiao refrained from further inquiry. He looked at the book titled "The Art of Seduction" on the side. "So, should I learn this?"
Ah Ye suggested, "Learning more skills is never wrong. Having many skills doesn't burden you, right?"
Da Huangya opposed, "This kind of thing, if discovered, can lead to punishment. It's better to burn it and be done with it."
Ah Ye argued, "Many consorts study these books for skills, and even though it's against the rules, nobody really cares. Better to learn more techniques!"
As the two debated, they heard a knock at the door. They fell silent, and Liu Jiao quickly tucked the book under the cushion, asking, "Who is it?"