Kiyomi Tsuki and His Fox

Chapter 73

The white fox's golden eyes crinkled with laughter, and it happily curled its fluffy tail.

"Young Master Jianyue, please." Zhang Zhichun personally lifted the cotton curtain.

Kiyomi Tsuki straightened up, took a deep breath, strode over, and went into the room with her head down.

Since its beloved master was busy, the little fox decided to play by itself. The white fox frolicked freely in the front and back yards, sometimes suddenly jumping out to scare the guards. Of course, the guards wouldn't get angry; they would even offer it some treats. But its master had forbidden it from being greedy and eating what others gave it. So, the white fox always ran away with great pride.

In the large study, warm sunlight streamed through the window and shone on Lu Qingcheng. He sat on a heated couch reading, wearing a moon-white jacket underneath a maroon long cotton robe, with a ruby ribbon tied around his forehead, which accentuated his handsome and masculine face, making him appear both rich and beautiful, and exceptionally dashing.

"Lord of the Fortress, Young Master Jianyue has arrived," Zhang Zhichun said.

"Go out and take care of your business." Lu Qingcheng didn't even lift her eyelids.

"Yes." Zhang Zhichun bowed his head and left the study. As soon as the carved door closed, Qing Jianyue became uneasy.

Lu Qingcheng remained engrossed in her book. A chilling silence fell over the room. After what seemed like an eternity, Lu Qingcheng reached for the teacup, only to find it empty. Qing Jianyue quickly brewed a cup of hot tea and brought it to her. Only then did Lu Qingcheng look at him properly, take the fragrant tea, sip a few mouthfuls, put it down, and continue reading.

Have you had breakfast yet?

"I've already used it."

Before she could finish speaking, Qing Jianyue's stomach growled loudly. Lu Qingcheng stopped turning the pages, lifted her eyelashes, and looked up at Qing Jianyue. Qing Jianyue's face flushed hot.

"I lied. I haven't eaten yet."

Lu Qingcheng narrowed his long, slender eyes slightly, like a figure in a traditional Chinese painting, his handsome face exuding a mysterious and cold aura. "It should be said that Qing Jianyue was a big lie from beginning to end."

Kiyoshi's heart skipped a beat, thinking to herself: He really did know.

"I didn't expect you to have such influence that even Madam Long had to send her greetings." Lu Qingcheng sneered, "Zhonghe's successful mission to Tianlong Fortress this time is truly thanks to you. Tell me, how should I thank you?"

Kiyoshi Tsuki said awkwardly, "No need for thanks. You take such good care of me, I should be the one to repay you."

Lu Qingcheng remained silent, staring at him with extremely cold eyes, her body exuding a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.

Qing Jianyue took a step forward uneasily and then stopped. She lowered her head, twisted her hands, and said in a convoluted manner, "I lied. I thought that with just a hairpin, I didn't know if people would accept it. If my handsome brother fails to accomplish his task, wouldn't it be as if I were just bragging? That's why I concealed seven or eight parts of the truth."

"Fine, you're right." Lu Qingcheng casually tossed the book onto the small lacquered table. "Tell me, how exactly did you get that hairpin?"

"To tell you this might make the Lord of the Fortress laugh. I did indeed find that hairpin; I'm not lying about that. However, although I found it, I stole it. That night, I warned Lord Long and Madam Long about the assassins, so I hid in the flower bushes. After Lord Long dealt with the assassins, Madam Long came out and stood in the flower bushes where I was hiding. After they went into the room and their servants cleaned up, I crawled out of the flower bushes and picked up Madam Long's hairpin. I had just climbed a tree to jump over the wall when Lord Long caught me like a cat."

Qing Jianyue hesitated and stole a glance at Lu Qingcheng, only to be met with his piercing gaze, which made her shrink back in fright.

"Lord Long knew I was the kind person who warned them about the assassins, and he was very grateful, saying he wanted to thank me. He asked me how much money I wanted, saying it didn't matter how much, but the hairpin had to be returned to them. I'm such a smart person, if I don't care how much money I want, doesn't that mean the most valuable thing is the hairpin?"

Kiyomi Tsuki became more and more proud as he spoke, recalling with a proud look how he had tricked the hairpin into his hands.

"Do you keep your word? I'm just a child. Even if I'm fooled, it doesn't matter. At most, I'll learn one thing: don't trust wicked people. But you are in trouble because you've hurt a child's innocent heart."

Kiyomi Tsuki blinked her dark crystal eyes, her innocent and adorable appearance resembling a docile kitten trying to please its owner. But the words she spoke were those of a cunning little fox, always scheming against others.

Long Zhenyu burst into laughter. His laughter was as refreshing as an early autumn breeze on one's cheek. "Madam, did you hear that? This little wildcat is really cunning."

A burst of laughter, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, came from inside the window. "Just agree to him for now and see what this little wildcat wants?"

"Tell me, little wildcat, what do you want?" Long Zhenyu gently and kindly reached out his large hand to stroke Qing Jianyue's head and smiled, "As long as it's within my power, I will do it for you."

At this point, Qing Jianyue paused, a strange expression appearing on his face. When he continued, Lu Qingcheng immediately noticed that he was becoming evasive.

"So I asked Lord Long if he kept his word. Lord Long said that every word he spoke was as good as gold. I said that I hadn't thought it through yet, and that I would come to you with the hairpin to ask for what I wanted once I had thought it through."

Qing Jianyue cautiously observed Lu Qingcheng, who stared at him expressionlessly. Suddenly, Qing Jianyue shouted excitedly, "This time it's all true. If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

Lu Qingcheng took out a sachet and tossed it onto the small lacquered table. The sachet landed on the book with a dull thud. Qing Jianyue naturally understood his meaning, picked up the sachet, and took out a piece of warm, lustrous jade from inside.

"This is an ancient jade piece. The flying dragon on it is lifelike and exquisite. What's most remarkable is that its pattern is carved entirely according to the jade's natural shape, making it extremely valuable."

After admiring the dragon-patterned pendant, Qingjian Yue looked at Lu Qingcheng with an innocent expression.

"Kiyomizuki, I really want to devour you alive."

Lu Qingcheng's dark eyes were as bright and cold as if they had been covered with frost for a thousand years. His face was gloomy and terrifying. He had indeed turned into a male and cruel black panther, ready to pounce and devour him at any moment.

The jade pendant slipped from her hand and fell to the floor. Qing Jian Yue was so frightened that her upper and lower jaws chattered. "No, my flesh is too coarse and doesn't taste good. It'll get stuck in my teeth. Even if you really want to cook me, tell me first what I did wrong."

A fierce glint flashed in Lu Qingcheng's eyes. "Zhonghe said that this dragon-patterned pendant was given to you by Young Master Long of Tianlong Fortress."

Qing Jianyue's face turned pale instantly, and his heart skipped a beat. Why was Long Fengming dragged into this? Did he misunderstand that I had some kind of relationship with Long Fengming? Thinking of this, he hurriedly and frantically explained, "No, no, I don't know Long Fengming at all. I don't know why he gave me the dragon-patterned pendant. I really don't know."

"Even at this point, you still want to lie to me."

Enraged, Lu Qingcheng grabbed the teacup beside her and slammed it hard on the table. Qing Jianyue, terrified like a child about to be punished, covered her head and face with both hands. Tea splashed everywhere, and amidst the violent shattering of the teacup, bright red blood flowed from between Lu Qingcheng's fingers, a glaring sight.

"Your hand."

Qing Jianyue, disregarding her fear, lunged forward and grabbed his hand, but Lu Qingcheng suddenly flung her away, causing Qing Jianyue to stumble back several steps before regaining her balance.

"Who exactly are you? Where did you come from? What is your purpose in coming here?" Lu Qingcheng blurted out. "Don't lie to me, or I won't forgive you."

Kiyomi Tsuki seemed to have suffered some major shock; his face turned pale and then red, and he couldn't say a word.

"Why won't you speak?" Lu Qingcheng roared angrily, "Is it because you don't want to talk, or is there some other reason you can't tell us?"

Qing Jianyue remained silent. What else could he say? At this moment, in this situation, he couldn't come up with any lie. Gradually, the anger on Lu Qingcheng's face turned into sorrow, and suddenly he gave a bitter smile, a smile full of deep affection and resentment that struck Qing Jianyue's heart like lightning.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Lu Qingcheng closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze was unfathomable and terrifying. In an instant, Qing Jianyue felt a chill run down her spine. Lu Qingcheng said in a deep voice, "Come in."

Zhang Zhichun hurried into the room and reported, "Master, Madam Tong, the First Master Tong, the Second Master Tong, and Young Master Zhong have arrived. Madam has already gone to the city gate to greet them. She requests that you come quickly. Master, what about your hand?" Zhang Zhichun's face showed an anxious expression. He said loudly, "Young Master Jianyue, there is wound medicine and gauze in the cabinet."