SLLBTT Chapter 87
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
⋇⊶⊰Chapter 87⊱⊷⋇
Faced with the suggestion of calling 120, Bai Lingling and the Snow Wolf King both refused.
Bai Lingling said, "The emergency ambulance (120) can't reach the Heavenly Palace."
The Snow Wolf King added, "There's no saving them."
Liu Jiao approached the Son of Heaven and Bai Qingsi, only to discover that they had already passed away. His face turned pale. "How could this happen? I just took a nap. How did this tragedy unfold?"
The Snow Wolf King simply said, "The Jade Dragon Sword is the strongest weapon in the world. That's why the Son of Heaven always wore it. It's never removed, even during sleep, it is placed beneath the pillow. Despite the Son of Heaven's divine dragon lineage, he couldn't withstand a direct stab from the Jade Dragon Sword."
Liu Jiao, still groggy, asked, "What Jade Dragon Sword?"
The Snow Wolf King shook his head and sighed.
Bai Lingling, however, said, "I think they harmed each other. No one can save them now. It might be better for us. How did you manage to fly over to save the Son of Heaven just now? If the Son of Heaven is gone, we might find some peace."
However, the Snow Wolf King said, "Are you confused too? The day I incurred the Son of Heaven's wrath and was sent to the private prison, the Son of Heaven died in my cell, killed by none other than the Snow Wolf King's son. Given this situation, do you think we can escape blame or will our guilt only intensify?"
Bai Lingling suddenly understood, his face showing remorse. "Indeed..."
People outside were unaware of the intricate grudges between the Son of Heaven and Bai Qingsi. All they knew was that the Wolf Noble Lady was dead, and the culprit was "the Snow Wolf King's son," also known as the Snow Wolf King's firstborn. The Snow Wolf King was imprisoned by the Son of Heaven, but when he came to visit, he was killed by the Snow Wolf King's son. No matter how one looked at it, the Snow Wolf King couldn't disassociate himself from the matter.
Bai Lingling frowned, looking at the two lifeless bodies on the ground. "What should we do now? Rescuing them is too late. Isn't fleeing the best option?"
The Snow Wolf King shook his head. "If we leave, it will only confirm our guilt of regicide. The Heavenly Palace will surely pursue and block us. Our lives are now ruined. I can accept that, but I fear even the Northern Wolf Clan will suffer."
"What do we do then?"
Liu Jiao, slow to catch up, suggested, "Can't we explain to everyone?"
Bai Lingling shook his head. "How do you explain such a story clearly?"
"Even if we explain, it's useless," the Snow Wolf King said, "This is a royal scandal. They won't accept such a truth. It's better to put the blame on me. Think about it, whether the Son of Heaven being killed by a greedy wolf or dying in debauchery by the hands of a male consort, which 'truth' is more in line with the dignity of the royal family?"
Bai Lingling sighed helplessly. "Well, this is a deadlock!"
"Indeed," nodded the Snow Wolf King, "Bai Qingsi had already prepared two plans. Plan one was for him to smoothly deceive everyone, making the Son of Heaven believe that I killed Bai Qingsi, shifting the blame onto me. Then Bai Qingsi would inherit my throne – that was his ideal plan. If there were any hiccups along the way, it would lead to the current plan. He staked his life, hoping we'd all be buried with him."
Bai Lingling took in a sharp breath. "He's truly ruthless!"
The Snow Wolf King paced around, then turned to Liu Jiao. "This matter has nothing to do with you. You should leave."
Liu Jiao replied, "I'm not going anywhere."
Saying that, Liu Jiao nuzzled into the Snow Wolf King's arms with his snow leopard's head. The Snow Wolf King sighed, stroking the snow leopard's fur. "Alright. We'll face this together."
Liu Jiao happily exclaimed, "That's good. The Great King doesn't need to worry about me. I'm not afraid of anything."
The Snow Wolf King held Liu Jiao, his thoughts spinning. "It seems we can only take risks in the field of battle."
Bai Lingling, as if recalling something, suggested, "Snow leopards are fast, can jump high, and naturally excel at stealth. They're suitable for all kinds of movements. Maybe we can send him for help..."
"Yes, I can do it!" Liu Jiao exclaimed with sparkling eyes, "I am the Great King's strongest Snow Leopard Chief Guard!"
The Snow Wolf King smiled, holding Liu Jiao's large paw. "Then I entrust you with a task, my Snow Leopard Chief Guard."
"What is it?" Liu Jiao asked.
"Go find the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Family and tell him this good news."
"Good news? What good news?" Liu Jiao was puzzled.
For the Crown Prince, what news could be more uplifting than "your father is dead"?
"But where is the Crown Prince?" Liu Jiao asked.
"The Crown Prince often advised the Son of Heaven to kill Bai Qingsi to eliminate future troubles. The Son of Heaven, displeased with him, sent him to the Cold Sands Isle."
The Cold Sands Isle was not far from the Heavenly Palace but situated on a cliff of a snowy mountain, difficult for ordinary people to climb. It was an extremely harsh and cold place. However, it wasn't much different from the snow leopard's homeland, making it a familiar environment. Therefore, Liu Jiao took on the responsibility of delivering the "joyful news of losing a father."
Meanwhile, Bai Lingling had also arrived at the Heavenly Palace to inform the Empress Dowager that "your son has died."
The Cold Sands Isle, in its bitterly cold elevation, faced perpetual snow and storms. The Crown Prince, unfazed by the chill, enjoyed skiing and ice skating here every day.
Well, the Heavenly Crown Prince possessed a divine dragon's physique, impervious to the cold.
Today, while halfway through his skiing, the Crown Prince was informed, "The Empress Dowager is here to see you."
The Crown Prince was surprised but also fearful. "The Empress Dowager has always wanted to make her younger son the heir apparent, so she doesn't like me. If she suddenly comes to see me, isn't it to take advantage of my Heavenly Father's dislike and harm me?"
After pondering for a moment, the Crown Prince thought, "Although I have been confined by Father, the position of the Crown Prince has not been revoked yet! The Empress Dowager probably wouldn't dare to harm me."
So, the Crown Prince went to the hall, only to find the Empress Dowager sternly staring at him, with a few armed guards standing behind her, their eyes filled with chilling hostility.
The Crown Prince was also surprised. "Empress Dowager..."
The Empress Dowager angrily ordered, "Seize this patricidal traitor!"
The armed guards rushed forward, intending to kill the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, alarmed but not willing to surrender, quickly raised his sword to defend himself. The Empress Dowager, with an imposing manner, watched the Crown Prince, thinking, "The Son of Heaven is dead. As long as the Crown Prince dies too, it will be the day my beloved younger son ascends the throne."
The Crown Prince was hard-pressed, about to be defeated, when suddenly a large-tailed snow leopard descended from the sky, holding the Jade Dragon Sword in its mouth. The Crown Prince took the sword, as if suddenly turning into a paying player in a game, activating a cheat code, doubling his damage output, and leaving the opponents with no armor.
The Empress Dowager was both shocked and enraged. "Where did this creature come from?"
After the Crown Prince killed the guards, he approached the Empress Dowager with the Jade Dragon Sword. The Empress Dowager's knees went weak as she fell to the ground. "You traitor! You killed the Son of Heaven and now you come to kill me!"
The Crown Prince was bewildered. "What?" Turning to the snow leopard, he asked, "Who are you? How did you get the Jade Dragon Sword?"
Fearful that Liu Jiao might not articulate well or reveal too much, the Snow Wolf King instructed him not to say anything beyond what the Snow Wolf King taught him. So, when Liu Jiao spoke, he simply said, "Your dad is dead!"
"What?"
"Your dad is dead!"
"How..."
"Your dad is dead!"
Thr Crown Prince staggered, utterly astonished, "How... How can it be? My dad... dead?"
The Empress Dowager sneered, "Still pretending! You harbored resentment against the Son of Heaven, hired an assassin to kill him, and took the Jade Dragon Sword. Now, taking advantage, you want to kill me too? You really have the audacity!"
Caught off guard by the accusation, the Crown Prince, within moments, was filled with intense dread. "Where does this accusation come from?"
"Crown Prince, don't be deceived!" a cold voice came from outside.
The Crown Prince and the Empress Dowager turned to the direction of the voice, witnessing a pristine, divine snow wolf rushing towards them.
"Bai Xiaoxiao?" the Crown Prince asked, "Is that you?"
"Crown Prince, I witnessed it with my own eyes. The Empress Dowager sent an assassin to kill the Son of Heaven!"
The Crown Prince immediately understood, raising his sword to point at the Empress Dowager. "So it was you!"
The Empress Dowager was bewildered. "Me? It's not me!"
The Snow Wolf King signaled to the snow leopard again, indicating that he could say the second sentence now.
"It's you! It's you!" the snow leopard promptly spoke, "It's definitely you!"
The Crown Prince said, "There are witnesses and evidence. Do you still want to deny it?"
With the situation favoring the Crown Prince and more people on his side, they ignored the Empress Dowager's struggles, tied her up, and headed straight for the Heavenly Palace. In the Heavenly Palace dungeon, they found the Son of Heaven's blood splattered, and Bai Qingsi's lifeless body.
"This is the assassin. I saw it with my own eyes." The Snow Wolf King pointed at Bai Qingsi.
Bai Qingsi's face was already unrecognizable, and no one could identify him.
The Snow Wolf King continued, "I also heard with my own ears. The assassin said they were sent by the Empress Dowager."
Listening, the Crown Prince felt something was amiss. "Is what you're saying true?"
The Snow Wolf King replied, "Of course. If not, would the Empress Dowager's words be true?"
The Crown Prince understood and simply said, "I get it."
With the crime of assassinating the Son of Heaven established, the Empress Dowager was executed on the same day. The Crown Prince ascended to the throne, and with the snow leopard and the Snow Wolf King's meritorious service, they were honored and gloriously returned to the Northern Kingdom.
Who actually killed the Son of Heaven became secondary.
Bai Lingling told the Empress Dowager that the Crown Prince killed the Son of Heaven, baseless as it was. The Empress Dowager believed it because she wanted to.
Bai Xiaoxiao told the Crown Prince that the Empress Dowager killed the Son of Heaven, despite some oddities. The Crown Prince believed it because he wanted to.
Liu Jiao and his companions returned to the Northern Kingdom, and life became quite peaceful. Perhaps the only joyful thing was Bai Lingling's impending marriage to Leng Jiao.
This matter made headlines: "Someone who became Noble Consort and then Crown Princess."
Censor Xu consistently opposed, "Your Highness! This is simply incest!"
Censor Li, always rolling his eyes at Censor Xu, commented, "Censor Xu, your words are really vulgar."
The Snow Wolf King smiled indifferently. "Firstly, this is Bai Lingling's private affair, and I have no say in it. Secondly, someone released from the palace without favored status is free to choose their spouse, and I have even less say in that."
Censor Xu naturally had even less say, just offering a token opposition out of formality.
With Leng Jiao getting married, Liu Jiao enthusiastically declared his intention to be the best man, even ordering a new set of clothes to attend Leng Jiao's wedding. Hearing this, Leng Jiao asked, "Is it suitable for a married man to be the best man?"
"But I'm not a married man."
Leng Jiao frowned. "What are you and the Snow Wolf King now? It's not clear and not proper."
Confused, Liu Jiao asked, "So, how can I become clear and proper?"
Leng Jiao advised, "Actually, being in the harem is not bad now. There's no Queen Dowager above you, and no concubines below vying for favor. If you return and become a Beautiful Lady, it's no different to being the Queen."
"But I've already been a Beautiful Lady, and it wasn't that interesting. Besides, I haven't been allocated as many ceremonial guards."
"You can work your way up slowly. When your qualifications are enough, you'll become a Noble Consort," Leng Jiao said, "No one will compete with you. It will all be yours."
After thinking for a while, Liu Jiao asked, "So, what are the benefits of being a Noble Consort? I think being the Chief Guard is better. You can go anywhere, and there's plenty of meat to eat."
Listening to Liu Jiao's carnivorous talk, Leng Jiao sighed. "But if you talk like this, you won't be able to be buried with the Snow Wolf King after death."
Liu Jiao gasped, "Ah..."
"Do you want to be buried with the Snow Wolf King?"
"Of course, I want to," Liu Jiao thought for a while and said, "But... I also want to eat meat."
"Baa..." Leng Jiao was speechless, "As long as you're happy."
After attending Leng Jiao's wedding, Liu Jiao returned to the palace with the Snow Wolf King and spent a sleepless night. When they woke up in the early morning, the Snow Wolf King sensed Liu Jiao's unusual state and asked, "What's wrong?"
Propping up his cheek, Liu Jiao said, "Great King, there's something I want to tell you..."
"Alright," the Snow Wolf King smiled at him, "please go on."
"Can I be a Beautiful Lady when I reach around seventy or eighty years old?"
The Snow Wolf King frowned. "Why?"
"By that time, I probably won't be able to eat as much meat," Liu Jiao explained, "and I'll be close to death."
The Snow Wolf King couldn't quite follow Liu Jiao's train of thought. "I think I don't understand what you mean."
Liu Jiao then told the Snow Wolf King about the conversation with Leng Jiao, adding, "Because I want to eat meat and be with you, so I think this is the most perfect solution."
"No, it's not," the Snow Wolf King gently smiled, "I have a better solution."
"Really?" Liu Jiao's eyes widened. "What is it?"
The Snow Wolf King reached out and stroked Liu Jiao's tail. "As the Queen, you can eat as much meat as you want."
Liu Jiao was astonished. "But... I heard only snow wolves can be Queens."
The Snow Wolf King sighed lightly. "Is that so?"
With that, the Snow Wolf King stood up and said to Hong Huli, "Go and handle two matters."
"Yes," Hong Huli agreed.
"First, inform the President of the Northern Kingdom Biological Society."
"Understood."
"Second," the Snow Wolf King said, "renovate Jiaofang Hall."
Hong Huli's eyes widened, a look of surprise on his face, but he still replied, "Yes."
Curiously, Liu Jiao asked, "What kind of palace is the Jiaofang Hall? Why is no one living there?"
The Snow Wolf King held Liu Jiao's hand and said, "Your name is Liu Jiao, so naturally, Jiaofang Hall is your palace."
Three days later, the Northern Kingdom Biological Society declared that Liu Jiao was a divine snow wolf that didn't quite look like a divine snow wolf.
A month later, Liu Jiao was crowned Queen in the guise of a divine snow wolf and resided in the Jiaofang Hall.
Despite this, Liu Jiao still slept every day in the Snow Hall on the Wolf Mountain.
"I still prefer it here," Liu Jiao lay on the Snow Wolf King's arm.
The Snow Wolf King smiled faintly and said, "Nothing is more important than what you like."
-END-
T/N: Thanks for reading to the end! If you enjoyed my translations, please treat me to some ko-fi! Much love! ❤️