Chapter 51: Holding the Red Fox
Although Uncle Seuss’s reasoning sounded plausible, Jiang Xue and Jiang Mei, who knew him well, knew not to take it completely at face value.
However, it was still nice to hear it as a blessing.
The winter in this country wasn’t as cold as back home. Jiang Xue took a sip of the still-warm black tea and, finding it to her liking, poured a small cup for Xiao Luohan and sent it over.
The Crown Prince hadn’t only burned books last night, but had also dismissed the servants of Wangmei Pavilion, leaving only enough supplies and water for three days. Although Xiao Luohan hadn’t taken the things the Emperor sent during the “move,” after witnessing the Emperor’s disgusting behavior, she didn’t even want to touch his tea.
Jiang Xue knew that she actually liked tea and would try to savor it when her health improved, but drinking too much would make her feel unwell, so she only poured a small amount, lest she “overindulge.”
Xiao Luohan quickly wrote back, saying that both the pastries and the tea were to her liking.
Precisely because she was feeling content, she brought up another concern: 【Does Uncle Seuss like calligraphy and paintings?】
Jiang Xue immediately understood. Xiao Luohan wanted to repay Uncle Seuss for the afternoon tea, but she had no suitable gifts left, only her calligraphy and paintings.
She thought for a moment and asked Uncle Seuss, “Do you mind the supplies given by the Emperor of Daying? I remember there was tea, precious medicinal herbs, incense, porcelain, fabrics…”
Before she could finish listing them, Uncle Seuss readily agreed. “You can even tell her that your uncle’s place is a garbage dump. I’ll accept any of that ominous stuff from the dog of a Crown Prince and the dog emperor.”
So all the gifts were moved into Uncle Seuss’s warehouse.
“Although they’re all brand new and can’t be sold as antiques, they’re all royal-grade, durable and practical.” Uncle Seuss’s smile was as bright as sunshine. “Tell her that I’m satisfied with this generous gift, it’s enough for ‘tuition,’ and she shouldn’t worry about it.”
After they finished afternoon tea, Uncle Seuss took them to his indoor gym.
The gym was divided into two sections, one with exercise equipment and various melee weapons, and the other a small shooting range.
“We won’t be using this room for now.” Uncle Seuss went straight to the shooting range. “I originally wanted to simulate the scene in the Eastern Palace, but A-Xue probably hasn’t been there, right? Should we discuss it with Xiao Linghan tonight?”
“Since she doesn’t want you to go to the Eastern Palace, she must have been there and knows what it’s like. Just ask her to tell you what we need to recreate to increase the chances of success in our simulation. It’s best to replicate the actual environment.”
Jiang Xue quickly nodded. “I’ll ask her when I enter the dream tonight!”
She actually understood Elder Sister Red Fox’s concerns.
Some things, when left at the speculation stage, allowed those who knew to hold onto hope. Once there was concrete evidence, and that hope was extinguished, the blow might affect the plan.
But if this influence was to increase their chances of success, she felt it was necessary to clarify and ask.
After receiving her promise, Uncle Seuss pointed to the large screen behind the human-shaped target.
“I usually use an AR game a friend gave me to simulate specific scenarios,” he said. “If I have a knowledgeable friend with me, they can give instructions from the outside and correct me in real-time. If not, I can record it and review it later. It’s very convenient.”
“In AR, you can use unlimited ammunition, and the guns don’t wear out, but that’s not the case in reality.” He took out the AR equipment from a locker. “But since you’re teaching that little princess in a dream, it’s fine to just familiarize yourself with the feeling of using AR first.”
Jiang Xue took the AR equipment and suddenly understood one of the points in the plan.
Before the practical training, she had to familiarize herself with how to use a gun.
At dusk, Xiao Luohan, who was about to make instant noodles, received food from Jiang Xue.
【It’s creamy mushroom pasta made by my older sister!】
【Do you want a drink? There’s fresh orange juice and coconut milk.】
The pasta was already rich and creamy, so Xiao Luohan hesitated for a moment, then asked for orange juice.
The room temperature in that country was just right, so the juice wasn’t cold in her hands.
She sipped the juice and ate the pasta while it was still hot, finishing everything.
Perhaps because of the increased frequency of “feeding” recently, she noticed that Jiang Xue and the others were becoming more precise with the portion sizes, neither too little nor too much.
After eating and drinking her fill, she rolled up her sleeves, carefully washed the dishes and glass, dried them with a cloth, and returned them.
After doing all this, she lit some incense, started the charcoal brazier, and sat down to warm herself by the fire, holding the gun-related materials Jiang Xue had just sent. She read each sheet, then tossed it into the brazier.
She still kept the charcoal and incense she had used for the initial offering to the ghost or spirit, and still remembered the ritual, but she didn’t know if her elder sister could see the materials this way.
If she could, this would be the last and most meaningful thing she did for Beiliao.
Since ancient times, if a reigning emperor was too incompetent, there would always be capable and ambitious people to replace him. If this could eradicate Beiliao’s deep-rooted problems, perhaps her mother wouldn’t have to continue living in the cold palace.
The stack of materials turned to ashes in the brazier. Xiao Luohan stirred the ashes, making sure nothing remained, then extinguished the fire and opened the door for ventilation.
She wouldn’t forget what Shizhu had taught her.
She didn’t know where Shizhu was now, or if she also remembered her instructions, to live well for herself no matter what she heard.
Before going to bed, she placed the diary on the nightstand and the stun gun under her pillow, within easy reach.
This was something Jiang Xue had reminded her of last night. She was afraid that after the Crown Prince’s outburst, some palace maids would come to bully her again. Even just showing them the electric sparks to scare them away would be good.
Besides, it was time to take out the stun gun.
Now that the path ahead was clear, Xiao Luohan slept more soundly. She knew that she needed to stay calm and conserve her energy at this time.
After a long flight and a long day of gun training, and having accepted Uncle Seuss’s request, Jiang Xue’s thoughts were preoccupied. After falling asleep, she didn’t go to Xiao Luohan’s mindscape first, but instead found herself in the familiar darkness.
She had been afraid when she first came here, but now, knowing that Elder Sister Red Fox was here, she was much bolder.
“Elder Sister Red Fox—Your Highness the Broken Plum Blossom Princess—Big Sister Xiao Linghan—” she called out into the darkness, using all three forms of address.
The red fox appeared in response, but still didn’t say anything, only dropping a rolled-up piece of paper in front of her.
Jiang Xue quickly picked it up and unfurled it in front of the red fox—it was a map of the Eastern Palace!
The bedchamber was the most detailed, with the positions of the tables, chairs, counters, lampstands, bed, washbasin, screen… everything marked on the map.
But after scanning it, Jiang Xue didn’t find any markings related to Xiao Linghan’s body, or any hints of a hidden corpse.
…Had they all guessed wrong?
No, if there was nothing in the Eastern Palace, Elder Sister Red Fox wouldn’t have repeatedly stopped them. It could only be hidden somewhere even Elder Sister Red Fox didn’t know about.
Jiang Xue looked up, wanting to confirm her guess, but the red fox pounced on her, grabbing her collar in its mouth.
She felt a tightness on the back of her neck, and then her perspective changed. When she came to her senses, she was already in the Wangmei Pavilion of the mindscape.
She saw Xiao Luohan looking at her in surprise. The next moment, the tightness on her neck loosened, but at the same time, something fluffy brushed against her back.
“Elder Sister, don’t go!”
Just as Jiang Xue steadied herself on the soft cushion, she saw Xiao Luohan turn and pounce on the fleeing red fox.
The red fox didn’t run, but let her hug it, staying like that for about half a minute before transforming into a plum blossom, flying out of Xiao Luohan’s arms and drifting out the window.
Jiang Xue didn’t interrupt the two sisters, only placing the map of the Eastern Palace, which she had been protecting, on the ground, slowly unfolding it with her paw—she had transformed into the large white cat when the red fox grabbed her collar.
“I got the map from Elder Sister Red Fox. I’ll draw it for Uncle Seuss tomorrow,” she said softly after Xiao Luohan calmed down. “I only learned how to use a gun today. Uncle Seuss wants us to practice first before the actual training. Now that we have this map, I think he’ll arrange the practical training tomorrow.”
After hearing her words, Xiao Luohan slowly returned to the desk, picking up Jiang Xue and the map along the way.
“Practice here?” she asked.
“Yes, after all, the actual location will be indoors… Although we’ve also considered outdoor scenarios, for basic training, it’s better to start indoors.” Jiang Xue looked around, pointing to an undecorated area. “Let’s go there. I’ll conjure the guns and targets.”
Xiao Luohan carried her over there, her mind still on the red fox.
Watching Jiang Xue transform back into a human, conjure two pistols, and set up the targets, she couldn’t help but say, “Elder Sister is a little different now.”
“Different how?” Jiang Xue turned her head in surprise.
“Although she was also in the form of a red fox before, she felt like a gust of wind,” Xiao Luohan carefully chose her words. “A bit like… the me in my dreams at first, or the you in your dreams.”
“Intangible and untouchable?” Jiang Xue understood. “More like a spirit than a physical being?”
“Yes, but Elder Sister now feels like she’s alive again,” Xiao Luohan continued. “When I hugged her, it was like hugging you—soft and warm fur, I could even feel the slight rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, and her heartbeat…”
She paused. “I don’t know if it’s because I wanted to hug such a lively Elder Sister, or… or if Elder Sister has truly found a way to strengthen her power.”
Jiang Xue was about to agree when she heard the second part and frowned.
She had heard from Xie Xitong that, according to the records of the elders in the Xie family who understood metaphysics, some powerful vengeful spirits strengthened their power by devouring other spirits.
—”Her elder sister is someone with a deep obsession, willing to pay any price to make this happen.”
With this speculation and association, she couldn’t help but recall Uncle Seuss’s words that afternoon.
However, they could only see the so-called “result” now. Since their understanding was limited, there was no need to assume the worst.
Before she could speak, Xiao Luohan said, “Let’s learn how to use the guns first. Although the night is long, I haven’t been sleeping well recently and might suddenly wake up from the dream.”
Jiang Xue was also worried about this and nodded vigorously, picking up a pistol. “I’ll teach you right away!”
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