Kiyomi Tsuki and His Fox

Chapter 14

“I am the guest, you are the host. Don’t you know how to treat a guest?” Kiyomi shouted, justifying her words.

Lei Yongxiang was furious. "Qing Jianyue, I'm in a terrible mood right now. Don't mess with me, or I'll beat you up."

Kiyomi Tsukishi buried her head in her stomach. "Okay, okay, we'll coexist peacefully. Sherry, okay?"

"I just took my medicine and went to sleep." Lei Yongxiang's fierce face suddenly changed, and his tone became as gentle as a spring breeze. But soon, he glared at Qing Jianyue, his eyes blazing with anger. "I really don't understand why she mistook you for my older brother. Did you do something to her?"

Kiyomi Tsuki was so frightened that she grabbed the white fox as a shield. "Hey, don't make wild guesses, it could kill someone. I didn't do anything, she just hugged me and bit me hard, it still hurts."

"Why? It's been three years, three whole years, and she still can't forget her older brother."

Lei Yongxiang clutched his head in anguish.

Kiyotsuki's black eyes met the white fox's golden eyes for a moment, then Kiyotsuki put the white fox down, crawled to Lei Yongxiang's side, and carefully poked Lei Yongxiang with a finger.

"You like Miss Yang?"

Lei Yongxiang suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. Qing Jianyue jumped up, not even caring that the white fox rolled off his arms and fell to the ground. He hid behind an osmanthus tree, and only after a long while did he peek out to peek at him.

"Kiyomi Tsuki, do you know that prying into someone's privacy can cost you your life?"

“I know you want to twist my head off, so I hid behind a tree.”

Lei Yongxiang burst into laughter, "Good lad, you really are a clever little devil. I really don't understand where the fortress lord found you. Come out here, I won't twist your head off."

Kiyomi Tsuki walked out with a grin and sat down casually in front of him. The white fox jumped back into his arms.

"With your rascal-like appearance, how could Sherry mistake you for her older brother?" Lei Yongxiang's eyes flashed with intense grief and resentment.

"Yes, I find that strange too." Kiyomi Tsuki nodded, pulling a bottle of wine from behind her back. "Want a sip?"

Lei Yongxiang took the bottle and downed it in one gulp. Qing Jianyue looked down at the white fox again; his black eyes blinked, and the white fox's golden eyes blinked back. In the blink of an eye, the bottle was empty. He casually tossed the bottle aside, burst into laughter, and recited in a long voice: "I remember when we met, trembling with fear, my hair disheveled and limbs weak. A clay figure, speechless and unable to raise its head. Shame on me? Shame on me?"

"He's drunk," Kiyomi Tsuki said definitively, then pulled out a packet of red dates and started eating them. "What do you mean?"

Five years ago, in the autumn, Yang Xueli's father was promoted and transferred to Lujiabao. At sixteen, she followed him to Lujiabao. Sixteen was an age when she was unaware of love and sorrow, innocent and carefree, and deeply loved by her father. One morning, she slipped out of the garden gate, captivated by the beautiful scenery of Lujiabao. Playing and lingering, she stumbled into the fragrant osmanthus blossoms and the golden sands of longan covering the ground.

The Lei brothers, Lei Yongqing and Lei Yongxiang, were practicing martial arts when she suddenly barged in, startling them. Her adorable appearance was like that of a fairy who had fallen from heaven and lost her way; her beautiful eyes were wide open, staring at them with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. In Lei Yongxiang's words, that sight still makes his blood boil when he thinks about it, and he longs to immediately pull her into his arms.

Suddenly, she seemed to realize how embarrassing it was for a girl to stare at them like that. Her face flushed crimson in an instant, and she turned to run away. Lei Yongqing grabbed her first. Startled, she tried to back away but fell into Lei Yongxiang's arms.

Lei Yongxiang spread out his thick palms, a silly grin spreading across his face, his drunken state evident. "I hugged her, her body exuding fragrance, so slender, so delicate."

"And then?" Qing Jianyue popped a red date into her mouth and chewed it slowly.

"My brother asked her name with a smile. She trembled with nervousness, standing there like a statue, head bowed and silent. Her shy and timid appearance made me feel both pity and tenderness. I fell in love with her. For the first time in my life, I experienced the feeling of loving someone. But just as I was about to propose," Lei Yongxiang said with an expression that seemed to be both crying and laughing, "I heard the news that my brother was going to marry her."

Kiyomi Tsuki conjured up another bottle of wine and handed it to him.

Lei Yongxiang downed a few mouthfuls of wine and loudly recited, "I stand leaning against the high tower, the wind is gentle, I gaze into the distance and spring sorrow rises darkly to the horizon. In the fading light of the setting sun, the grass is green and the smoke is dim, who can understand my silent thoughts as I lean on the railing? I intend to indulge in a drunken revelry, to sing to the wine, but forced joy is tasteless. My clothes grow looser and looser, but I have no regrets, for I am wasting away for her."

Tears streamed down her face; she was overcome with grief, yet she burst into laughter, making the scene all the more heartbreaking. Kiyomi rubbed her nose, feeling a lump in her throat; it was so painful.

“It’s always been like this since I was little. What he likes, I like too; what I like, he likes too. But every time, he gets there first. What can I do? He’s my older brother, a hero in everyone’s eyes, while I’m just an extra. No matter when, no matter where I go, people always only talk about him, while I’m so insignificant, as if I don’t exist. Brother Bo’an recommended me because I’m his brother; the lord of the fort invited me out because I’m his brother. I’ve had enough. I don’t want to live in his shadow anymore. My only wish is to be by her side. I don’t ask for anything else, as long as she’s doing well, as long as I can see her often, I’ll be content. But why, why can’t even this small wish be fulfilled? For three years, his ghost has been haunting Shirley, making her restless. And me, even hiding here feeding the horses, I can’t escape his shadow. I’ve had enough, I’ve had enough.”

Lei Yongxiang laughed and cried at the same time, then collapsed to the ground, dizzy and disoriented, sinking into a sorrowful, drunken dream.

Kiyoshi leaned over to check on him, nudging him with her hand. "Hey, Brother Lei, are you asleep? You'll get sick if you sleep like this."

Lei Yongxiang hummed a few times before sinking back into a deep, blissful dream.

Kiyomi Tsuki cupped her face in her hands. "I knew it. A man and a woman living together for three years, one a strong man without a wife, the other a beautiful woman without a husband—it would be strange if they didn't develop a passionate, boiling love. It's one thing for a man to love a woman to the point of death, but to also be filled with self-loathing and despair. The illness is more serious than I imagined. Little Fox, what do you suggest? Abandon him and destroy yourself?"

The little white fox ignored its master, raised its head, and blinked its beautiful golden eyes, seemingly admiring the falling flowers under the moonlight or hoping that the Jade Rabbit would fall from the sky and land right in its mouth.

The next day, after breakfast, Qing Jianyue rode his horse around until noon before returning. As soon as he entered the garden gate, he could hear the Cai brothers arguing about something. His return immediately silenced them. Lunchtime arrived, and as always, Madam Cai personally cooked a large table of delicious-looking dishes. Qing Jianyue was overjoyed, drooling as he circled the table. His master's mouth watered, and the little fox wasn't to be outdone, jumping and leaping with all his might—alas, why was he still so far from the table?

Finally, Grandma Cai gave the order, but just as they picked up their bowls, Qing Jianyue almost got into a fight with Cai Zhonghe over Grandma Cai's specialty, mandarin fish. At that moment, Lei Yongxiang stormed in. However, to Qing Jianyue's relief, Lei Yongxiang's target wasn't him, but Cai Bo'an. Seeing them move to the side hall to talk, Cai Zhonghe's face was filled with displeasure. His momentary lapse in attention led to his careless loss of control.

"Ha, this fish is mine." Kiyoshi Tsuki took the fish plate and placed it next to her own bowl.

Cai Zhonghe cursed, "You bastard, how can you finish such a big fish?"

"Of course I can finish it all! I love fish, especially mandarin fish. Little fox, half for you, half for me." Wow, how generous! The little white fox was overjoyed, running and frolicking around the table and chairs.

“Give me half,” Cai Zhonghe demanded.

"No, I won't give it to you. This is what my sister-in-law made for me, not for you. There's only one fish, and if you're added, it won't be enough."

"Are you a pig?"

Just as they were arguing, a loud crash suddenly came from the side hall, startling the little white fox so much that it dropped the piece of fish it was eating. Qing Jianyue clutched the table, looking left and right. What happened? An earthquake? Cai Zhonghe rushed to the side hall and, after saying something, quickly calmed Lei Yongxiang down. While Qing Jianyue continued eating, her two dark eyes darted around, occasionally peeking out. Cai Bo'an's face was full of anger, his chest heaving; he was clearly furious as well.

A woman's scream suddenly rang out. Lei Yongxiang, very sensitive to danger, quickly stood up. The Cai brothers followed him and hurried out of the side hall. Grandma Cai, having changed her clothes, came out and, seeing the scene, also hurriedly chased after them. Qing Jianyue, with a plate in her left hand and chopsticks in her right, leaned against the doorpost, eating and watching like a spectator.

"Master, it's terrible! The girl has run away, and we can't stop her no matter what we do."

Where did they go?

"She went towards Yingfeng Pavilion. Miss Zhou has her wet nurse with her, but when the girl's illness flares up, no one can stop her."

A group of people, like rabbits released from their cages, rushed and jostled each other.

Kiyoshi blinked and looked down at the white fox drooling over him. "It ran away? Should we follow it? But the food will get cold and won't taste good. Oh dear—" Suddenly, Kiyoshi jumped up as if he had been pricked by a needle, threw the plate and chopsticks on the chair, and ran away.

The Yingfeng Pavilion was built on a lush, green hillside. After climbing countless stone steps and passing the panting wet nurse, one could see Zhou Yanhua pulling at Yang Xueli. In the struggle, both women fell to the ground, Zhou Yanhua tumbling down several steps before coming to a stop. Lei Yongxiang rushed over and embraced Yang Xueli, showering her with care. Cai Bo'an arrived shortly after and helped Zhou Yanhua up, while Cai Zhonghe, supporting his grandmother, was a few steps slower. "Yanhua," Grandma Cai cried, embracing her sister. Zhou Yanhua burst into tears, and Grandma Cai, heartbroken, also wept.

Completely unable to climb any further, Qing Jianyue bent over, panting. Watching Lei Yongxiang carry Yang Xueli past at high speed, she couldn't help but shake her head. "What strength! I can't do it anymore. My heart is about to jump out of my mouth. I need to rest. If my heart really starts to jump out, I'll die."