SLLBTT Chapter 83
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
⋇⊶⊰Chapter 83⊱⊷⋇
Bai Lingling was very happy, presenting grass carp as a betrothal gift to marry Leng Jiao.
Leng Jiao's parents were extremely shocked.
Facing Lord Bai, who stood alone in the northern country, Father Sheep showed considerable respect but still had concerns. "Isn't this... not good? After all, Jiao'er has just left the palace... Leaving the palace and getting married right away, won't it invite gossip?"
Mother Sheep looked at the basket of grass carp, nodded, and said, "Most importantly, we don't eat grass carp."
"That's not the most important!" Father Sheep gave Mother Sheep a stern look.
Bai Lingling, however, asked, "Then what do you like to eat?"
Mother Sheep replied, "We love to eat grass. The fresh kind."
"No problem. I can buy a piece of pasture and give it to you."
Mother Sheep joyfully said, "I agree to this marriage!"
Father Sheep firmly declared, "No, I don't agree!"
Leng Jiao, however, stood by silently, not uttering a single word.
Bai Lingling gazed at Leng Jiao and asked, "I just want to hear from you, do you agree or not?"
Leng Jiao remained silent.
Bai Lingling patiently observed Leng Jiao. "Just say you agree, and that's it. You don't need to worry about anything else."
Father Sheep asked, "What if he doesn't agree?"
Bai Lingling responded, "Then I can wait until he agrees."
Father Sheep exclaimed in frustration, "You're bullying and taking advantage of others, forcibly taking away our sheep!"
The standoff between the wolf and the sheep continued, but suddenly, a commotion outside caught their attention. Sensing the presence of a strange predator, the sheep parents instinctively shrank back. Leng Jiao, on the other hand, stood up and went forward. "What's happening?"
It turned out a long-tailed snow leopard had entered through the door.
Unable to run fast in human form, Liu Jiao transformed back and rushed over. The sight of such a large snow leopard terrified Father Sheep and Mother Sheep. "Baaahhh—" Mother Sheep called out her husband's name in fear, "Oh, Baah Dad—"
Liu Jiao quickly reassured, "It's okay, it's okay, I don't eat intelligent beings."
Leng Jiao said, "Father, Stepmother, this is the Snow Leopard Chief Guard. The Great King probably has some decree to issue. You two should step aside for now."
Father Sheep and Mother Sheep immediately walked away hand in hand.
Seeing the snow leopard rushing over, Leng Jiao knew there was urgency and quickly said, "What's going on? Is it related to that USB drive?"
"Yes!" the snow leopard replied, "Jiao'er, you already know?"
"I don't know," Leng Jiao asked again, "What's in the USB drive?"
"The USB drive contains a selfie video of the Wolf Noble Lady. He rambles in the video, claiming that the Great King harmed him."
Leng Jiao and Bai Lingling's expressions changed drastically. "What!"
Bai Lingling asked, "What about Bai Xiaoxiao?"
"The Great King didn't say anything, just asked me to come back and find you."
Bai Lingling looked anxious. "This... if Bai Xiaoxiao knew it was a trap, why still go to the Heavenly Palace? If he knew it was safe for you to come back, why didn't he realize it was safe for him too?"
Leng Jiao replied, "If the Great King hesitates and doesn't go to the Heavenly Palace, it would raise suspicions with the Son of Heaven. It's better to go openly."
Bai Lingling shook his head. "It seems I need to make a trip to the Heavenly Palace as well."
Leng Jiao, however, pulled Bai Lingling aside. "You said it yourself, it's very dangerous for the Great King to go to the Heavenly Palace. Why are you following him?"
"Even if it's dangerous, I have to go. It's a matter of principle."
Leng Jiao retorted, "What's the use of you going?"
Bai Lingling hesitated but then said, "There are many suspicious aspects to the difficulties faced by Bai Qingsi..."
"What???" Leng Jiao was shocked. "Who are you saying is facing difficulties?"
Bai Lingling, unable to conceal the truth, admitted, "Bai Qingsi."
"Bai Qingsi?!" Leng Jiao was incredibly surprised, "The former Wolf King?!"
"Exactly." Bai Lingling nodded. "After being stripped of his throne, Bai Qingsi remained in the Heavenly Palace for 'reeducation.'"
Leng Jiao suddenly understood and said, "The Son of Heaven's 'reeducation' style is quite unique? To the extent that Bai Qingsi became pregnant?"
"Yes." Bai Lingling nodded. "That's exactly how it is."
Leng Jiao was exasperated. "No wonder..."
Leng Jiao added, "I even gave Bai Qingsi a sheep hoof slap in the face!" Quite a bold move!
"Well done. I've been wanting to do that for a while."
Reflecting on it, Leng Jiao felt a bit apprehensive, "I just slapped the former Wolf King, who is also the Son of Heaven's favorite. He might even be the future Wolf King..."
Suddenly, Leng Jiao thought of something and suggested, "I sense something fishy about this. Is there any way we can go back to Xing Palace?"
Bai Lingling replied, "As long as you want to, I have a way."
Xing Palace had always been closed, inaccessible without the Snow Wolf King's decree. However, Liu Jiao possessed a military pass, allowing entry and exit. With Bai Lingling's influence, accompanying him posed no issue, and bringing Leng Jiao along was also feasible.
The three entered the palace once more, heading straight to where the former Wolf King faced complications during childbirth, only to find it reduced to ashes.
Bai Lingling exclaimed in shock, "What happened here?"
"We were just about to report!" a guard replied, "Not long after the Great King left the palace, it caught fire."
Bai Lingling asked again, "Any casualties?"
The guard answered, "The Goat Doctor burned to death inside."
"The Goat Doctor who attended to the Wolf Noble Lady's childbirth?"
"Exactly," the guard confirmed.
Leng Jiao and Bai Lingling exchanged glances.
Thus, they returned to the royal palace. Lanmao, guarding the harem, was surprised to see them. "What's happening, my lords?"
Bai Lingling boldly entered the Snow Hall on the Wolf Mountain, opened the Snow Wolf King's computer, and asked, "What's the Great King's password?"
Lanmao was astonished. "Meow, are you planning a rebellion?"
Bai Lingling sighed. "Alright, you probably don't know. How about this, Snow Leopard, what's your birthday?"
Liu Jiao truthfully answered, and Bai Lingling entered Liu Jiao's birthday, successfully accessing the system. Leng Jiao was equally surprised, "What are you doing on the Great King's computer?"
"Bai Xiaoxiao has the highest authority in the Northern Kingdom's internet system," Bai Lingling explained. "I want to see what the Goat Doctor was up to."
Meanwhile, the Snow Wolf King's carriage had arrived in the Heavenly Palace, and the Snow Wolf King was meeting with the Son of Heaven in private.
The Son of Heaven coldly observed the Snow Wolf King and asked, "By the bedside, how can one tolerate the snoring of others! Do you also feel the same?"
The Snow Wolf King replied, "I sleep with the snow leopard every day. Why would I have such thoughts?"
"Of course, a snow leopard is acceptable," the Son of Heaven said. "A snow wolf, on the other hand, is not, right?"
The Snow Wolf King sighed. "The Son of Heaven and I grew up together. Doesn't the Son of Heaven understand my character?"
"Exactly," the Son of Heaven said, "We grew up together, but I could never fathom your thoughts."
"I have been loyal to the Son of Heaven, never harboring any disloyalty."
"But you must be on the throne to demonstrate loyalty," the Son of Heaven sighed, "We are no longer youths. Thoughts are no longer as simple as they were in the past."
The Snow Wolf King knelt and said, "If the Son of Heaven doubts, I am willing to lay bare my heart as proof."
The Son of Heaven sneered, "Even if you have committed no wrongdoing, if I were to expose your heart, what would others say about me?"
"I must have committed some fault."
"Oh?" the Son of Heaven asked, "Tell me, what fault have you committed?"
The Snow Wolf King admitted, "Shamefully, I am unaware of any wrongdoing on my part. But judging by the Son of Heaven's expression, I must have erred. Please, enlighten me, and I will mend my ways."
The Son of Heaven sighed. "In the past, everyone kept their distance from me. I was the loneliest child in the class, and only you were willing to accompany me..."
The Snow Wolf King also remembered the past. The Son of Heaven used to be one of the princes in the imperial family. Despite having brothers, he was genuinely lonely. There were many classmates, but few playmates. A little prince sat alone on the long steps, with no one to play with.
Perhaps the Son of Heaven remembered those times too.
However, from the Snow Wolf King's perspective, the little prince did have playmates initially. Yet, the little prince, strong and self-centered, frequently injured playmates during roughhousing, never expressing remorse. Moreover, the little prince's arrogant nature and disrespectful words made him difficult to get along with, leading everyone to avoid playing with him.
As a hostage, the Snow Wolf King had no choice but to be deferential to all imperial princes. Even when the little prince caused internal bleeding with his attacks, the Snow Wolf King remained composed — after all, a divine snow wolf healed quickly. Relying on such resilience, the Snow Wolf King became the only friend of the little prince.
As the little prince grew, his martial prowess became extraordinary, achieving great feats in wars. However, the previous Son of Heaven thought his temperament too ruthless for ascension and favored an older prince. The little prince then eliminated his brother, seizing the throne.
In the Son of Heaven's recollection, he had rendered great service to the imperial family, but his father and elder brother feared him. Thus, he had to act preemptively. When he killed his elder brother, he even shed two tears in sorrow! Being born into the imperial family was truly tough and exhausting!
Regarding Bai Qingsi, the Son of Heaven considered himself rather gentle. However, given his character, demonstrated by playful actions that caused internal bleeding in the Snow Wolf King and killing his elder brother while still claiming deep brotherly love, his "gentleness" towards Bai Qingsi was lacking.
The Son of Heaven, still grieving Bai Qingsi's death, stared at the Snow Wolf King and said, "I have always treated you well. Even if I favored Bai Qingsi, I wouldn't let him threaten your throne. All I want is for our children to become kings. Is that too much to ask? Since you can't produce a son, is it such a burden to pass the throne to the child of Bai Qingsi and me? What about your loyalty and filial piety?"
The Snow Wolf King thought to himself, "So, it's about this."
However, the Snow Wolf King calmly responded, "Have you heard of false pregnancy in canines?"