SLLBTT Chapter 81
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
⋇⊶⊰Chapter 81⊱⊷⋇
The Snow Wolf King had to explain slowly, "I am, but you aren't yet."
"?" Liu Jiao was surprised. "Me?"
"Do you remember? I once asked if you had been in heat."
After thinking for a while, Liu Jiao said, "There was such a thing."
After receiving a negative answer, the Snow Wolf King took Liu Jiao on a plane.
Later, the Snow Wolf King accompanied Liu Jiao in many behaviors that would provoke Liu Jiao's interest.
Recalling everything, Liu Jiao couldn't help but ask, "Under the Great King's guidance, I should have experienced it many times, right?"
The Snow Wolf King shook his head. "Actually, no. These were all part of my 'patient and kind inducement.' Your reactions were rather passive, not like the initiative of a demon in love."
"So what?" Liu Jiao was puzzled.
The Snow Wolf King said, "You haven't entered the mating season yet, meaning you haven't matured in that aspect. I cannot force it, otherwise, it might harm your body."
Liu Jiao, feeling somewhat uncertain, became anxious, "So when will I be able to enter the mating season?"
The Snow Wolf King sighed. "I want to know that even more than you do!"
The Snow Wolf King thought that gentle persuasion could accelerate Liu Jiao's progression, but to his surprise, the royal physician warned that it might be counterproductive. The Snow Wolf King had to restrain himself, even foregoing the plane rides. The sympathetic doctor offered a calming tonic.
After some contemplation, Liu Jiao decided to keep the reinforced and toughened rope that could bind a snow wolf.
The Snow Wolf King questioned, "Why are you still holding onto this?"
"When I enter the mating season, won't I be able to use it?" Liu Jiao said, "I can't stay without entering the mating season forever, right?"
The Snow Wolf King explained, "Once you're in the mating season, you won't need this."
"Huh?"
"At that time, you won't avoid me. I won't need to use force. I might even worry about you using force on me." The Snow Wolf King even made a playful remark.
Taking the Snow Wolf King's joke seriously, Liu Jiao replied, "Well then, I'll keep it. It might come in handy when I need to use force on you."
"......"
Meanwhile, Liu Jiao, inside the room, spun in circles, then asked, "Are there any signs when entering the mating season for the first time?"
The Snow Wolf King replied, "Snow leopards typically enter their mating season in winter. Obvious indicators include loss of appetite, restlessness, and actively seeking a mate."
"Loss of appetite?" Liu Jiao thought about having eaten an entire pig just today.
The Snow Wolf King had also noticed Liu Jiao consuming a whole pig today. Speaking of which, the Snow Wolf King observed Liu Jiao's eating habits every day, repeatedly frustrated and unsure how to address the issue.
At times, the Snow Wolf King wondered if Liu Jiao would ever experience a loss of appetite in his entire life!
Early in the morning, Liu Jiao got up and ate a chicken, complaining to Big Yellow Duck, "Why is my appetite always so good?"
Big Yellow Duck replied with a smile, "Being able to eat is a blessing!"
Liu Jiao, gnawing on a chicken leg, didn't know what to say.
Big Yellow Duck added, "The Sheep Noble Consort is leaving the palace. Are you going to see him off?"
"Sure," Liu Jiao quickly finished breakfast and rushed to the palace gate.
At the palace gate, two cars were parked – one for Leng Jiao and another for Bai Qingsi. They were both heading to Xing Palace for recuperation.
Liu Jiao rushed to bid farewell to Leng Jiao. However, Leng Jiao pulled Liu Jiao to the wall, whispering, "I find this Wolf Noble Lady quite strange. Do you know how the wolf seed in his belly came about?"
Liu Jiao simply replied, "It's definitely not from the Great King."
Leng Jiao sighed in resignation. "Isn't that obvious? The timing doesn't match either."
"Leng Jiao, you're so clever. Don't you know?"
After careful consideration, Leng Jiao said, "He is a Wolf Noble Lady sent from the Heavenly Palace... So, he conceived in the Heavenly Palace? Could it be..." Leng Jiao gasped, "I understand now. No wonder the Great King protects him so fervently."
Liu Jiao stared at Leng Jiao and asked, "What do you understand?"
Leng Jiao, however, said, "I don't understand anything."
At that moment, Bai Lingling arrived, carrying a basket of tender grass, claiming it was for Leng Jiao. Seeing the basket, Leng Jiao questioned, "Is this catnip?"
Bai Lingling replied, "Cat grass, dog grass – is there really a difference? I'll plant whatever grass you like!"
Leng Jiao, however, said, "I don't need any grass. There's plenty in the Xing Palace."
Bai Lingling insisted, "The palace grass is sprayed with pesticides, not good for your health!"
"Thank you, Lord Bai, for your concern. The palace must have excellent arrangements for my diet. No one needs to worry about that. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Leng Jiao said, preparing to depart.
Bai Lingling approached again, speaking in a low voice, "There's one more thing..."
"Hmm?"
"I noticed you had a falling out with the Wolf Noble Lady last night. I'm quite concerned about a sheep and a snow wolf cohabitating. Therefore, I've already instructed my Falcon Guard to accompany you to the palace. You can give him orders if needed."
"You're sending your personal guard to Xing Palace? Did the Great King agree? Is that acceptable?"
"He has no objections," Bai Lingling replied.
Leng Jiao thought to himself that Bai Lingling and the Snow Wolf King didn't seem as incompatible as rumored.
"Alright," Leng Jiao nodded, "I'll be on my way."
With that, Leng Jiao got into the car.
Watching the car swiftly drive away, Bai Lingling felt a bit sad, standing outside the city wall like a stone. Despite Liu Jiao calling him several times from the side, he didn't respond.
"Jiao'er seems to have taken the anglerfish with him."
"What?" Bai Lingling finally reacted, "He took the anglerfish with him?"
"Yes," Liu Jiao nodded, "That's right."
Bai Lingling finally relaxed. "I knew it. He has me in his heart."
"I think so too."
Bai Lingling found it amusing. "You, always in a daze, can still understand his thoughts?"
"There are many things I don't quite understand," Liu Jiao looked at Bai Lingling and said, "But I still know that you like Jiao'er, and Jiao'er likes you too."
Bai Lingling, aware of Liu Jiao's sometimes confused demeanor and unreliable speech, surprisingly believed him this time, becoming too happy to find words.
On Leng Jiao's side, he boarded the car, thinking about living together with the Wolf Noble Lady in the palace. The Great King tasked him with keeping an eye on the Wolf Noble Lady and ensuring a peaceful childbirth. Combining this with Bai Lingling and Liu Jiao's words, Leng Jiao speculated that the Wolf Noble Lady's unborn child wasn't the Snow Wolf King's and was likely the Son of Heaven's.
However, if the Son of Heaven favored the Wolf Noble Lady, why not elevate him to the position of a Heavenly Palace concubine? Why send him to the Northern Kingdom to give birth?
Leng Jiao frowned, sensing that there was more to this situation than meets the eye.
Of course, Leng Jiao had little knowledge of royal secrets and couldn't possibly imagine that the Wolf Noble Lady was the former Snow Wolf King.
After Bai Qingsi was sent out of the palace, the Snow Wolf King felt much more at ease. He found it uncomfortable to have the previous Wolf King, now pregnant with a dragon seed, lingering around. The Son of Heaven occasionally inquired about Bai Qingsi's well-being. The Snow Wolf King replied, "Sent him to the Xing Palace for recuperation."
The Son of Heaven asked, "Why exile him to such a remote place?"
The Snow Wolf King couldn't reveal the truth about Bai Qingsi witnessing his Noble Consort and brother engaging in illicit activities outdoors and, to silence him, banishing Bai Qingsi to the cold palace. Thus, the Snow Wolf King responded, "He repeatedly violated palace rules, constantly quarreling with other concubines. To ensure his well-being, he needs some isolation."
"In the Heavenly Palace, he behaved like a submissive wolf. How come he becomes so audacious once back in the Northern Kingdom?" The Son of Heaven was somewhat surprised. "It seems I haven't tried hard enough. When he returns after giving birth, I'll have to educate him properly."
Though the Son of Heaven spoke as such, little did he know that months later, news would emerge from the palace that Bai Qingsi had died during a difficult childbirth.