SLLBTT Chapter 23
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
⋇⊶⊰Chapter 23⊱⊷⋇
"......seventeen......" The voice of the Snow Wolf King abruptly stopped.
Liu Jiao, who had been waiting for a long time for the eighteenth, was astonished when it failed to show up. His eyes widened as he asked, "Why isn't there an eighteen?"
The Snow Wolf King said, "I was just about to ask you, but you're asking me?"
Liu Jiao's face turned pale all of a sudden. "Oh... I... I don't know..."
"You don't know again? How come you don't know anything?"
Liu Jiao looked flustered, recalling what the Snow Wolf King had said – that losing even one would incur his punishment. Liu Jiao, feeling distressed, exclaimed, "Heavens... I really didn't know! What should I do?" With that, Liu Jiao leaned softly on the Snow Wolf King's shoulder, pleading, "Great King, please forgive my transgressions!"
The Snow Wolf King had initially intended to tease Liu Jiao, but seeing him like this, he lost interest. He took out one from his sleeve and said, "I was hiding it."
Liu Jiao was astonished. "How did you manage to hide it?"
"I counted fifteen twice," the Snow Wolf King answered with a smirk, "and you didn't notice."
Liu Jiao was genuinely stunned. "You counted fifteen twice?... Your math skills are even worse than mine?"
When the Snow Wolf King heard his remark, he couldn't help but smile. He pulled Liu Jiao into his embrace and said, "Indeed, in the presence of the Beautiful Lady, I forget even how to count..." With that, the Snow Wolf King lowered his head and kissed him.
The royal physician was still waiting outside. The medicine boy approached and asked him, "Didn't the Cat Proctor just mention that Beautiful Lady Jiao is sick? Why hasn't the doctor gone to treat him? If you don't go in now and delay the treatment, it'll be a serious offense."
The doctor gave him a disdainful look. "What do you know? If I go in now, that would be a serious offense!"
The medicine boy shrugged and walked away.
After a while, hearing no commotion from inside, the doctor finally knocked on the door.
"Come in," the Snow Wolf King said.
The doctor entered, bowing respectfully to the Snow Wolf King and Liu Jiao. The Snow Wolf King told him to dispense with formalities, and only then did the doctor lift his head. He saw Beautiful Lady Jiao lying on the bed, leaning against the Snow Wolf King's shoulder, covered by a blanket. His complexion was unusually rosy, his breathing slightly laborious.
Seeing the scene, the doctor thought, "Aiya, I might have arrived a bit too early!"
The doctor approached, intentionally ignoring any movements under the blanket, behaving like a blind man, and proceeded to check Liu Jiao's pulse.
Liu Jiao was incredibly nervous, fearing that the doctor might notice the Snow Wolf King's improper actions under the blanket. His face turned as red as a tomato. On the other hand, the Snow Wolf King remained calm and continued his discreet movements.
"Beautiful Lasy Jiao... the pulse is quite rapid," the doctor said, stroking his goatee.
Liu Jiao became even more anxious, his tongue tied, unable to speak.
Yet, the Snow Wolf King, with a concerned expression, asked, "Is it serious?"
The doctor chuckled. "No need to worry. Young people, now and then, experience such things. It's quite normal."
The Snow Wolf King then felt Liu Jiao's forehead and remarked, "But his body temperature is quite high."
"When he first came to the clinic, the medicine boy measured his temperature. It should be normal," the doctor explained. "If the Great King is concerned, Beautiful Lady Jiao can take another measurement."
"No need for that. I trust the doctor's skills," the Snow Wolf King nodded, then added, "Considering his condition, do you think it's suitable for him to continue with the exam?"
The doctor, looking at the disheveled blanket on the bed, thought to himself, "What's wrong with these two? There's a vast forest outside, and they choose to 'create fire by rubbing wood' here! Can't they show some respect for this sacred hospital?"
"Indeed, not suitable," the doctor replied. "Rest and recuperation should be the utmost priority."
"Since the doctor suggests that," Snow Wolf King said to Liu Jiao, "Beautiful Lady, take a rest for now."
"Hmm..." Liu Jiao bit his lower lip, suppressing something.
"No need to worry about the exam," the Snow Wolf King reassured.
The perceptive doctor said, "I'll go write a sick leave form and issue an exemption from the exam for Beautiful Lady Jiao."
"Alright, many thanks, Doctor."