SLLBTT Chapter 38
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
⋇⊶⊰Chapter 38⊱⊷⋇
Liu Jiao approached the Snow Wolf King's bedside cautiously, examining his expression before asking, "Where does it feel uncomfortable?"
The Snow Wolf King replied, "What about you?"
Liu Jiao was taken aback. "Me? Why would I be unwell?"
The Snow Wolf King asked again, "When the Queen Dowager instructed you and Suisui to attend to me together, did it make you uncomfortable?"
After a moment of contemplation, Liu Jiao responded, "Initially, yes, a bit..."
"Oh?" the Snow Wolf King inquired, "Does that mean it didn't bother you later on?"
"Hmm," Liu Jiao nodded honestly, "After all, we never actually attended to you, right? We were all busy studying."
The Snow Wolf King fell silent.
Liu Jiao continued, "However..."
"However what?"
"However... these days, not seeing you, my heart..." Liu Jiao blushed slightly, "I still missed you a lot."
The Snow Wolf King smiled at his words, holding Liu Jiao's hand. "You missed me? Why didn't you come and seek an audience then?"
Liu Jiao shook his head. "They say you have been burdened with heavy tasks lately. I didn't dare to disturb you. Otherwise, it would go against the virtues of a consort."
The Snow Wolf King, hearing Liu Jiao earnestly speak of the "virtues of a consort," found it amusing. "Even if I didn't summon you, you should have come to seek an audience in the evenings. Why didn't you?"
Liu Jiao pondered for a moment, hesitating to speak.
"You can tell me." The Snow Wolf King squeezed Liu Jiao's hand.
Liu Jiao glanced at the Snow Wolf King before speaking, "In the evenings, Suisui and I are together. If I come to see you, he would have to follow..."
"Oh? You don't want Suisui to accompany you?"
"Hmm," Liu Jiao hesitated, shaking his head, "But not being jealous is the virtue of a consort..."
While the Snow Wolf King found it somewhat amusing when Liu Jiao first mentioned the "virtue of a consort," he now felt uneasy.
The Snow Wolf King gently brushed Liu Jiao's hair and said, "As I mentioned before, you don't have to worry about these things."
"How can I not worry?" Liu Jiao's eyes widened. "Even if you're the Great King, you have to complete governance tasks and listen to the censor's criticisms. How can a mere Beautiful Lady act recklessly?"
The Snow Wolf King was taken aback, sighed after a moment, and said, "I didn't expect you to understand such principles."
"Of course, I understand," Liu Jiao felt underestimated and grumbled defiantly, "I've been studying diligently."
The Snow Wolf King sighed, "I had hoped to see if you could adapt this year. It seems I may have been mistaken."
Liu Jiao was bewildered. "What do you mean by saying that?"
"Do you think you can adapt to life in the palace?"
After some thought, Liu Jiao answered, "Even though I may not be the brightest, I can take it slowly. Even if I'm slow, with effort, I'll eventually adapt."
"But I've realized, I don't want you to adapt." The Snow Wolf King stared at him, his eyes reflecting the fine mist of snow outside the window.
Outside, a thin, cold wind began to blow, causing the lingering snow on the pine trees to tremble and fall.
Queen Ming walked barefoot on the snowy path, leaving a trail of footprints.
A attendant followed behind, said in concern, "Queen Dowager, why endure this hardship? You are of noble birth..."
"I am a snow wolf," Queen Ming coldly stated, "This bit of cold is nothing."
The attendant fell silent.
After a while, Hong Huli rushed into the main hall of the Snow Hall, and through the curtain, reported, "Reporting Great King, Queen Ming has arrived."
The Snow Wolf King asked, "Is he here to confess?"
"Yes, he walked barefoot in single attire the whole way and is now kneeling outside."
"What did he do to Suisui?"
Hong Huli replied, "Queen Ming has ordered the arrest of Suisui and Beautiful Lady Jiao. Suisui is now in the Ministry of Justice, but Beautiful Lady Jiao is here with you, so he's safe."
Upon hearing this, Liu Jiao's face turned pale. "What is going on?"
The Snow Wolf King didn't answer directly but asked, "Have you ever thought about it? Trouble can happen in the palace at any time."
Suddenly, Liu Jiao remembered the warnings from his fellow tribespeople about "accompanying the ruler is like accompanying a tiger" and the tales of concubines meeting tragic ends. At that time, Liu Jiao was still in a daze and merely found the stories shocking. Now, having lived in the palace for some time, he realized his own foolishness, often getting blamed without knowing the cause.
Liu Jiao's face turned ashen as he shook his head, looking at the Great King on the bed.
The Snow Wolf King sighed and reassured, "No need to be afraid. Soon, you'll be able to leave the palace."