TSWPF -Chapter 409 Fooling Around

Li Qingling looked at Diandian and smiled, then instructed the guards to sort the game. They would deliver it later according to the list.

The guards responded with a nod and efficiently began sorting the game.

Diandian also joined in, waddling over with its short legs to help.

Liu Zhimou arrived and saw this bustling scene with his own eyes.

He walked over to Li Qingling, surprised, and asked where the game had come from.

Li Qingling glanced at him, then pointed at the little girl, saying it had been given to her by someone else.

“Someone else?”

Liu Zhimou thought for a moment. He had no idea who Li Qingling meant by “someone else.”

“Why so much? Did you move the entire Ninghua Mountain back here?”

Li Qingling chuckled at his words. She wondered the same thing—what state had Ninghua Mountain been left in after all that chaos?

“Ningning, can I discuss something with you?” Liu Zhimou glanced at the game and looked down at Li Qingning.

Before he could even finish, Li Qingning looked up at him. “Brother-in-law, you want to discuss giving some of the game to the commoners, right?” She wriggled her little hands. “Sister agrees, so I agree too.” Indeed, the two of them—husband and wife—always thought alike.

Liu Zhimou couldn’t help but squeeze Li Qingling’s hand. Was this a case of hearts in sync?

Li Qingling smiled at him, blinking. “What’s your idea?”

“My dear wife, you’re amazing,” he said. She always considered him in every little thing—it was really wonderful.

With a wife like her, how could he ever fancy another woman? His heart was small, and there was only room for her.

“Good to hear.” Li Qingling smiled again, then asked, “How’s the matter at the yamen? Settled?”

He nodded. He had quickly dealt with the soldiers sent from the prefectural city. Who knew how the prefect would feel?

He had written a truthful memorial to the emperor regarding the situation here. Now it was up to the emperor to handle it.

The prefect would likely not escape punishment.

If he hadn’t been lucky this time, saved by the black-clad men, who knew what would have happened? Such a serious matter, and the prefect wouldn’t even lend a hand due to petty grievances…

A man so heartless and unprincipled—how could he serve as a prefect?

If he didn’t get punished, Liu Zhimou would consider his surname written in reverse.

“Madam, the list has arrived.” Nianxia ran over, handing Li Qingling the list of citizens.

Li Qingling nodded and took it, examining it carefully.

After reading through, she looked up at Liu Zhimou. “Husband, can we divide the game according to the severity of the citizens’ injuries?”

“That works…”

Once the game was roughly sorted, Li Qingling handed the list back to Nianxia to take care of distribution.

Nianxia nodded and methodically allocated the game according to the list. After finishing, she double-checked with Li Qingling, and only after receiving her approval did the guards deliver the game.

“Awwooo…” Seeing the game disappearing from the floor, Diandian grew anxious and ran to Li Qingling, pushing the wild chicken and hare towards her with its paw and howling.

Li Qingling laughed at it. “No need to worry; your game won’t be taken away.”

This little creature really feared someone else grabbing its game.

Diandian glanced at Li Qingling, tilted its head thoughtfully, and sat at her feet, staring intently at the game as if daring anyone to touch it.

Its stance made Li Qingling and the others laugh uncontrollably.

“Diandian, when the roasted game is ready, can you share some with me?” Li Qingning squatted down, teasing Diandian to see how it would react.

Diandian looked up at her and decisively nodded.

This was Ningning’s gift—it was only proper to share.

Li Qingning giggled, reaching to pat Diandian’s little head. Seeing it covered in blood, she recoiled. “Diandian, you’re so dirty!”

Hearing her, Diandian looked at its own body, then turned to Liu Zhimou and howled.

Liu Zhimou twitched his mouth. Was this little creature clinging to him? Thinking of him as the one who would wash it?

A dignified county magistrate reduced to a tiger’s bath servant—it really was…

“Diandian, what’s in it for me if I give you a bath, hmm?”

Diandian placed a paw on the wild chicken and said to Liu Zhimou that he should give it a drumstick in return.

The male owner would wash it, so a chicken leg was a proper reward.

Liu Zhimou glanced at Li Qingling. She whispered the translation of Diandian’s words into his ear.

He stared at Diandian blankly. Just one drumstick?

“I want two drumsticks. Is that okay?”

Two?

Diandian looked at Liu Zhimou, then at the wild chicken, and after a moment of hesitation, painfully nodded.

For a proper rose-petal hot bath, two drumsticks it would be. Eating a bit less was fine.

Without Li Qingling translating, Liu Zhimou could already tell what Diandian was thinking from its expression.

He smiled at it. “Later, I’ll give you a rose-petal bath.”

Diandian howled excitedly.

At that moment, Ah Huang padded over, gazing silently at Liu Zhimou with big eyes.

“Ah Huang, what’s wrong? Do you need something from me?” Liu Zhimou gently patted Ah Huang’s head. Why was it staring at him? Did it want a bath too?

Ah Huang grunted twice. It also wanted a rose-petal hot bath.

Its unfilial son would boast about his rose-petal baths in front of it, making it seethe with envy.

So it wanted a bath too, just to see what it felt like.

Li Qingling laughed. She hadn’t expected Ah Huang to want a rose-petal bath too. Was it jealous of its son?

“What did Ah Huang say?” Liu Zhimou asked, curious.

Li Qingling’s cheeks ached from laughing so hard. She wiped away tears and translated for the bewildered Liu Zhimou.

“…”

It turned out she guessed right—Ah Huang wanted a rose-petal bath too.

He glanced at Ah Huang’s massive body, then at the small creature at Li Qingling’s feet. The contrast…

“Ah Huang, we don’t have a bath that big at home, so…” Could it not take a bath?

Even if he helped, it would exhaust him.

Ah Huang didn’t answer, just stared at Liu Zhimou with those big eyes, conveying: “You can’t play favorites.”

After a moment, Liu Zhimou gave in, nodding in agreement.

Ah Huang, thrilled, turned to Ah Bai, asking if it wanted a rose-petal bath too.

Ah Bai looked at Liu Zhimou and shook its head, indicating no.

Ah Huang understood and said it didn’t need the master to bathe it—it could let Nianxia do it.

Ah Bai hesitated but finally nodded.

It too couldn’t resist the charm of a rose-petal bath.

Li Qingling: “…”

This little family was really planning to ruin all the roses at home, weren’t they?

Ah Huang didn’t know Li Qingling’s thoughts. Excited, it grunted again.

Li Qingling couldn’t favor one over the other, so she nodded to Diandian, approving the bath.

After this matter was settled, Ah Huang proudly glanced at Diandian. It would soon get its rose-petal bath—now who could boast in front of it?

Diandian glanced at Ah Huang, ignoring its childish father.

It had bathed in rose petals countless times; it was about to take its first. What was there to brag about?

Ah Huang strutted to the side, squatting and waiting to bathe in the yard with Li Qingling and the others.

Three-quarters of an hour later, Li Qingling looked at the remaining game and instructed the guards to send two hares and two wild chickens to Deputy Magistrate Ma, taking the rest back to the kitchen.

She exhaled gently, clapping her hands. “Let’s go back to the yard.”

Liu Zhimou held her hand, and with the three big tigers following, they slowly walked back to the yard.

When Mr. Luo and the others woke, they rushed to the yard upon hearing that Liu Zhimou was bathing Ah Huang and the others.

Upon arrival, they saw Liu Zhimou sweating profusely while scrubbing Ah Huang.

They laughed heartily. “Ah Huang, you’re getting a rose-petal bath too? Diandian led you astray, didn’t it?”

Ah Huang glanced at Mr. Luo and the others, grunted happily, and from then on would enjoy a rose-petal bath every now and then. It was incredibly comfortable—no wonder its unfilial son insisted on it.

If only it had known sooner, it would have pestered the master for it earlier. No need to endure its son’s boasting.

“Big brother, let me help you.” Liu Zhiyan rolled up his sleeves and walked over to lighten Liu Zhimou’s burden.

Li Qingfeng and Da He also ran over to help.

Bathed by so many, Ah Huang squinted in pleasure, more determined than ever to have regular rose-petal baths.

How could it miss such a treat?

If Liu Zhimou knew, he would surely cough up blood. He was already exhausted after one bath—what about multiple times? Would he survive?

Fortunately, he didn’t know Ah Huang’s thoughts and continued dutifully scrubbing.

“I wonder if Mo’er’s scrubbing skills are good? I want to try too,” Mr. Luo said with a smile.

“Looking at Ah Huang’s expression, Mo’er’s skills must be pretty good,” Old Xue chimed in, “Mo’er, when you have time, can you scrub me too?”

Liu Zhimou: “…”

Who had he offended? Was he really becoming a bath servant?

He straightened his nearly broken back, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked at Mr. Luo and Old Xue. “You two can scrub each other. Do you really need me?”

Mr. Luo shook his head. “No, I don’t trust Old Xue’s skills.”

Old Xue glanced at Mr. Luo with disdain. “You’re too rough; I can’t let you scrub me. You might peel off a layer of skin.”

“Old Xue, explain who’s rough?” Mr. Luo protested. Everyone praised him as refined; how could Old Xue dare say he was rough? Maybe he was losing his eyesight?

“Whoever admits it, admits it,” Old Xue replied.

Back and forth, one left, the two elders started arguing again.

Liu Zhimou and the others were used to this by now, continuing to scrub Ah Huang without intervening.

Once the elders finished arguing, it would naturally stop—no need for them to meddle.

Moreover, the more the two elders argued, the closer they became; there was no reason to be the bad guys.

“Ningning…” Suddenly, a cold male voice interrupted the argument. Both elders turned in unison toward the black-clad man approaching slowly, face covered.

They silently exchanged glances, smiling, and called out, “Hero!”

Through Liu Zhimou, they had learned the whole story and were grateful to the black-clad man.

They truly believed that without him, who knew what would have happened to Liu Zhimou?

No matter who the black-clad man was, in their hearts, he was their lifesaver.

A lifesaver deserved respect.

The black-clad man glanced at Mr. Luo and Old Xue, nodded slightly, then looked at the little girl helping Ah Bai bathe.

“Brother Ming, why are you here?” Li Qingning looked up at the black-clad man happily. “Do you want to help bathe Ah Bai? It’s fun.”

The black-clad man silently glanced at Ah Bai, saying nothing, only asking if she was tired.

Li Qingning shook her head. “Not tired.”

“Hmm…”

After the hum, there was silence.

Li Qingning looked at him again. “Did you come to find me for something?”

“I was going to ask if you wanted to go shopping. Seeing you so happy…”

He dragged out the end of his sentence, teasing the little girl. She quickly said, “Yes, yes, yes…”

After a pause, she added, “I need to ask my sister first. If she doesn’t allow it, I won’t go.”

Hearing this, the black-clad man frowned slightly and nodded lightly.

Li Qingning washed the foam from her hands and ran barefoot to Li Qingling’s room, asking if she could go shopping.

Li Qingling asked who she would go with.

“Brother Ming.”

Li Qingling frowned. Him again?

Sensing her mood, the little girl carefully said she wouldn’t go if Li Qingling disapproved.

Li Qingling sighed slightly in her heart and nodded to allow her, but from tomorrow she would have to stay home to practice calligraphy.

“Good, I’ll go out today. Starting tomorrow, I’ll stay home with you, sister. I remember what I promised!”

“Good…” Li Qingling ruffled her hair. “Go ahead!”

Li Qingning grinned at her and dashed out.

“Brother Ming, my sister agreed I can go shopping.”

The black-clad man nodded, disregarding her wet clothes, and picked her up.

Li Qingning laughed and waved at Mr. Luo and the others, promising to bring back treats.

After they left, Old Xue worriedly asked Mr. Luo, “Is it safe for the little one to go out with the hero?”

Though the hero saved Liu Zhimou, they were still concerned. They didn’t know him well and couldn’t judge his character.

Familiar faces don’t reveal hearts; who knows if he’s a bad man?

Mr. Luo furrowed his brow, sighed, and said that after he leaves, they should give the little one a proper lesson. Otherwise, she could be easily deceived.

Old Xue, unusually, didn’t argue, nodding in agreement.

“Mr. Luo, do you think he’s someone important in the Nether Assassins? The leader?”

If he could command other Nether Assassins, he must have a position.

“Very likely.” Mr. Luo frowned deeply. Encountering the Nether Assassins—was it a blessing or a curse?

Even if they respected him, they couldn’t help but worry. Their feelings were conflicted.

Hopefully, after the black-clad man leaves, they won’t cross paths again.

They just wanted to live quietly, avoiding martial world grudges. They couldn’t afford trouble.

“Last time, Mo’er was chased by the Nether Assassins,” Old Xue sighed. “This time Mo’er was saved by them. Does that make up for it?”

Chased once, saved once. That counted as making amends, right?

Mr. Luo pursed his lips, shrugged helplessly. “I suppose so.”

He glanced at Liu Zhimou drying Ah Huang’s fur, then stepped forward, asking about the prefect.

Liu Zhimou didn’t even look back. “I don’t know his reaction.”

“If he’s sensible, he should come and see you to explain. If not, we’ll wait for the emperor’s punishment.”

Don’t think the imperial tutor is just for show; in key moments, he could sway the emperor.

The prefect’s actions angered him. He wouldn’t let the prefect off easy.

He shuddered to think what would have happened without the black-clad man’s rescue. All responsibility would fall on the prefect.

“Better if he doesn’t come.”

No sooner had Liu Zhimou said this than a guard ran over. Someone claiming to be the prefect had arrived.

Liu Zhimou raised an eyebrow and looked at his clothes. “Invite him to the flower hall. I’ll change and see him.”

Mr. Luo said he’d accompany him.

It would be good to hear what the prefect had to say.

Liu Zhimou went in to change into his official robes.

Li Qingling asked, “What’s going on? Why change robes?” He just returned from the yamen.

“The prefect is here.”

Li Qingling smirked and stepped forward to help adjust his robe, mockingly remarking, “Isn’t it a little late to come now? Early or late, now what? Coming to claim credit?”

Liu Zhimou laughed softly, tapping her nose with a finger. “Let’s see what he’s really up to. Whatever it is, I won’t forgive him.”

Li Qingling patted him lightly, stepped back, and appraised him in his wide robe, which gave him a certain gravitas. She nodded, smiling.

She wanted to see how thick-skinned the prefect was to dare come to Liu Zhimou.

Liu Zhimou pulled her into his arms, kissed her forehead, and told her to rest while he went.

Li Qingling agreed with a nod and personally saw him to the door. “Good luck.”

He smiled at her and, with Mr. Luo, walked slowly to the flower hall.

For a petty, opportunistic man like the prefect, there was no need to rush—letting him wait was part of the plan.

“Mo’er, do you have a strategy?” Mr. Luo asked leisurely. “You’ve dealt with the prefect before; you know what kind of person he is.”

Liu Zhimou nodded lightly. “I have a plan. Don’t worry.”

He had already prepared a strategy when he heard the prefect was coming.

Mr. Luo didn’t ask for details, trusting him.

With him nearby, the prefect wouldn’t dare attempt anything underhanded.

If anyone dared bully his apprentice, they’d have to consider whether they had the guts.

Three-quarters of an hour later, they reached the flower hall. A short, middle-aged man with a beard was drinking tea inside.