Une jeunesse errante

Chapitre 43

Kiyoshi was taken aback, thinking to herself: Does Bai Yiting know something?

"We are really curious about you. Someone like you couldn't possibly be unknown. So, we investigated you." The white rabbit's clear voice rang out in our ears.

Kiyomi Tsuki shuddered slightly again.

"But we haven't found anything. Your background is shrouded in mystery." The white rabbit said coldly, "Qingjian Yue, who exactly are you? And where did you come from? What is your purpose in approaching the Lord of the Fortress?"

Kiyoshi thought to herself: No wonder Bai Yiting always takes his precious daughter with him wherever he goes. So, the white rabbit is his assistant. I really underestimated this girl.

Faced with the aggressive gazes of Bai Yiting and his daughter, Qing Jianyue smiled bitterly and said, "Manager Bai, Miss Bai, you seem to have misunderstood. I don't have any remarkable background. The reason I don't talk about it is because a long, long time ago, I was just a poor beggar that everyone looked down on. As for getting close to the lord of the fortress, of course, I had a purpose."

The white rabbit's eyes lit up. "What's the purpose?"

Kiyomi Tsuki suddenly grinned, revealing her pearly white teeth, and smiled like a mischievous child, "For 100,000 taels of gold!"

The white rabbit scoffed, "No one would believe you."

A fantastical image shone in Kiyoshi's two clear, dark blue crystal eyes: "With 100,000 taels of gold, I can build a house, buy a piece of land, and marry a wife as beautiful as Miss Bai."

The white rabbit had a strange expression on its face, like it had eaten a chili pepper.

"Then, have a little Kiyomizuki just like me, a mischievous little devil." Kiyomizuki pointed to her own nose and laughed like a little idiot.

The white rabbit almost fell to the ground.

Bai Yiting laughed.

As dawn broke, Cai Bo'an, Lin Feng, and Fang Runmin returned. Bai Yiting immediately greeted them, and the four whispered among themselves. The white fox was clearly exhausted; as soon as it returned, it lay down at its master's feet. Qing Jianyue tenderly stroked it, ordered a servant to bring hot water, and carefully wiped the bloodstains from the white fox's muzzle and the mud covering its body with a hot towel, then combed its long, snow-white fur bit by bit.

Unable to resist the urge to pet the white fox, the white rabbit leaned closer and said, "Young Master Jianyue, may I help you?"

Kiyoshi exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Shiro, you'd better not come over."

However, the white rabbit had already crouched down and reached out its hand. The white fox suddenly leaped up and roared. The white rabbit screamed in fright and fell to the ground. Bai Yiting rushed over upon hearing the noise, reached out his large hand, scooped up his daughter, and held her in his arms. Over there, Qingjian Yue had already pinned the white fox down and slapped it hard on the rump several times. The white fox let out a pitiful whimper.

Cai Bo'an asked, "Are you alright? Miss Bai, are you hurt?"

Bai Yiting asked, "Rabbit?"

The white rabbit broke free from its father's embrace and said angrily, "Kiyomizuki, you just wait and see."

Kiyoshi hugged the white fox tightly to prevent it from causing any more trouble, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Miss White, the fox is exhausted, so its temper has become difficult to control."

"I don't care," the white rabbit said hatefully. "I'm going to get my hands on you, you fox."

Bai Yiting, Cai Bo'an, Lin Feng, and Fang Runmin all wore strange expressions.

Kiyomi Tsuki stared blankly, thinking to herself: He really won't give up.

A cold glint flashed in the white fox's sharp golden eyes. "You wretched woman, just wait until I, the Fox King, bite your thin neck off!"

A shout came from inside the room. Zhang Zhichun, who had been guarding the door, immediately turned around. "Young Master Jianyue, quick, Young Master Qingfeng is calling for you." As he spoke, he pushed open the carved door. Qing Jianyue wiped his hands clean, tossed a towel to a servant, and quickly entered the room, the white fox following closely behind its master. It didn't want to be watched by a rabbit; after all, it would be extremely humiliating for the Fox King to be caught by a rabbit.

Rushing into the room, Qing Jianyue almost bumped into Qingfeng. "Qingfeng, you and the Lord of the Fortress?"

Qingfeng gently embraced him, smiling broadly, and said, "Don't be nervous. Look, I'm perfectly fine. My cousin is fine too. Don't worry, everything is resolved."

"Don't worry?" For some reason, Kiyomi Tsuki felt a strange sensation.

“That woman is no longer here.” Qingfeng said gratefully, “Jianyue, it was your scolding that made me understand. Now, I’m as clear-headed as someone who’s been drunk. I owe it all to you. I really want to thank you properly.”

Qing Jianyue felt goosebumps all over and chuckled foolishly, "Young Master Qingfeng is too polite."

"Alright, everything is resolved. Brother Dang and I have reached an agreement," Qingfeng said.

Kiyomi Tsuki was taken aback. "An agreement?"

A wicked glint flashed in Qingfeng Feng's eyes as he chuckled, "Yes, the agreement." He didn't finish his sentence, instead taking Qingjian Yue's hand and leading her around the sandalwood screen.

On the carved bed, Lu Qingcheng lay half-reclined, half-sitting, looking utterly annoyed. "Qingfeng told me everything. Jianyue, thank you for your hard work tonight." After saying that, Lu Qingcheng sighed and said nothing more.

Kiyomi Tsuki was completely bewildered. "Hey! I thought the lord was going to reward his subordinates with something." His eyes suddenly crinkled into crescent moons as he smiled. "For example, double the salary this month."

Unexpectedly, Lu Qingcheng flew into a rage, "No double salary. Let Qingfeng treat you to your favorite food at Cuiyi Garden."

Kiyomi Tsuki's hopes were dashed, and her lovely smile crumbled. "A meal is nice, but if you also make a human flesh bun worth 100,000 taels of gold, wouldn't I be left with more than I can handle?"

Qingfeng burst into laughter.

Lu Qingcheng exploded as if she had swallowed a bomb, yelling, "What are you standing there for? Invite the chief enforcers in!"

Kiyomi Tsuki slumped her shoulders, emerging from behind the screen like a little dog with its tail between its legs. The white fox, ever loyal, sympathetically stayed by its master's feet. Opening the carved door, Kiyomi Tsuki's face was puffed up with anger. She was furious! She'd worked hard all night, and this was the reward she received. She should at least be rewarded with a few hundred or a thousand taels of silver; otherwise, when would her dream of getting a wife ever come true?

Cai Bo'an, Lin Feng, Bai Yiting and his daughter, and Fang Runmin entered the room. Lin Feng was still troubled by the assassination attempt that had occurred that night. He was in charge of the castle's internal security, and this incident was clearly his dereliction of duty. As soon as he entered the room, he knelt on one knee and pleaded guilty, saying, "Lord, it was my negligence that caused you injury. I am deeply ashamed..."

"Second Lord, please stand up to speak." Lu Qingcheng interrupted him. "Thank you all for your hard work tonight. I'm fine; this little injury is worth it. Everyone, please sit down and let's talk."

Qing Jianyue brought over stools and invited Cai Bo'an, Lin Feng, Bai Yiting and his daughter, and Fang Runmin to sit down. Lin Feng remained standing, and Bai Yiting advised, "Brother Lin, it's not too late to say what you have to say later. The Lord of the Fortress has more important matters to discuss."

Lin Feng then reluctantly sat down.

After exchanging a glance with Qingfeng, Lu Qingcheng nodded slightly, as if they had reached some kind of tacit understanding. Qingfeng said, "Please, Second Lord and Deputy Enforcer Fang, tell us the details of how the assassin was captured."

Lin Feng sighed heavily, "Brother Fang, you go first."

"Yes," Fang Runmin said. "Thanks to Hu'er leading the way, my men quickly caught up with the fleeing assassins. There were only six of them, but each one was a top-notch fighter. They fought us without fear. The leader called himself Lu Fang. He was a powerful man with exceptional skill. He also had two young men under him, both in their early twenties, who were also very strong. One of them was incredibly accurate with his arrows. If Hu hadn't sacrificed himself to take an arrow for me, I would probably be in the underworld meeting the King of Hell by now."

Everyone was deeply moved upon hearing this.