Chapter 8

After Huren and the others left, I angrily went to find Feng Zheng

Yet, there stood a person at the door

His words carried a rare sense of compromise and persuasion, which softened me instantly

What a show of strength

The blue phoenix is, after all, just a chicken, not a true phoenix, so it cannot sing loudly; it can only cluck and flap its wings desperately, causing feathers to fly in all directions.

Lord Huren, with a troubled expression, explained: "Your Highness, please do not be angry. This breed of cat is called the Fuhu, capable of fighting snakes and hunting, with loyalty comparable to that of a dog. Women in our dynasty have traditionally loved to keep them in their homes, both for amusement and for protection. His Majesty gifting this cat to the princess is also in accordance with our customs"

The victorious Jin Er licked the chicken feather by her mouth, and with a proud meow towards us, she seemed to imply that she deserved favor for her achievements

Feng Zheng sighed and finally looked up at me, "What do you want me to do? Should I take the princess back because I was upset?"

Not much! Not much!" The man hurriedly said, "This matter is indeed perilous! The Emperor of Beiliang is truly insidious and cruel! Just think of our Changping Pass, it was taken from us by such treacherous individuals through despicable means. Now we are instead sending the princess to leap into this sea of knives and flames, it is simply—

I said it. If this tiger can be subdued, why would it care about a mere mountain chicken?

I am filled with righteous indignation, "What if that cat bites not a chicken, but a person? What if it bites not a maid, but a princess? What if the princess teases it, and in a moment of madness, it scratches the princess's face?"

Speak up! I am shouting in my heart

Lord Huren, sweating profusely, said: "The kitten, upon seeing its new master, only wishes to perform in order to earn the master's trust and rewards. The princess, unaware of the situation, was frightened; this is indeed a mistake on my part for not having explained the matter clearly."

The princess is still unconscious, and only I went out to entertain them

At the sound of a sharp scream from Jiayue, only a faint crack was heard here, and the chicken's head had already drooped down

I am too lazy to call someone to set up the curtain, so I directly walked over and asked: "Lord Hulin, what kind of deity is this cat from your country, that it is so fierce?"

Feng Zheng stated: "In the face of the overall situation, if one can endure, then one should endure; these are the exact words of Lord Wei."

So, what do you think we should do? I turned to Feng Zheng and asked

Feng Zheng sat there, silent, with only the dissatisfaction reflected in his icy gaze. He was always like this, perpetually indifferent and proud, looking down on everything.

I underestimated Jin'er. Despite its seemingly weak and proud appearance, it turned out to be quite fierce when it came to hunting. It leaped up, dodged a peck from the mountain chicken, and then turned around to bite the chicken's neck.

A crowd gathered around, leaving the kitten neglected. It tilted its head in confusion, then returned to its previous delicate and innocent demeanor, exuding an air of naivety

It is well known that the princess was frightened. The officials of Northern Liang immediately came to apologize.

Jia Yue rolled her eyes and fainted

Indeed, before even getting married, the cat from Beiliang has already killed our chickens from Nanliang

Feng Zheng did not even raise his eyebrows, his long fingers steadily holding the teacup, elegantly bringing it to his lips and taking a gentle sip. His aunt was the most renowned talented woman in Kyoto, a master of tea art, and we girls had all learned a thing or two from her back in the day. I naturally did not learn much, but it was evident that Feng Zheng had inherited his aunt's skills to perfection.

This is simply too much to bear! I slammed my hand on the table, causing the teapot and teacups on the table to jump up

I was furious and turned to the small official sitting next to me, asking, "Do you think I am being overly sensitive?"

In fact, I have already been quite elegant, having used so many idioms. Otherwise, according to my usual practice, I would typically start by inquiring about the maternal relatives of the other party

After I uttered the last two curse words, I released the pent-up resentment that had been building within me for a long time

How did I move my father out

I sneered. Not saying it was intentional, right

As soon as I heard it, I became furious. Yes, it is all my father's fault. Did my father sell out for glory? Was that battle lost by my father? Was the defense of Changping Pass lost under my father's command? My father has worked tirelessly to fill the gaps, only to be met with ingratitude. If you want to fight, then go ahead and fight! Turning fertile fields into a battlefield can happen in the blink of an eye. Oh, you need not worry; you are all royal relatives and nobles, so it won't affect you. After barely ten years of peace with the people, my daughter is still unmarried, and now you want to confiscate our property. If it were you, could you endure it? Oh, you need not worry; you are all royal relatives and nobles, so it won't affect you. After barely ten years of peace with the people, my daughter is still unmarried, and now you want to confiscate our property. If it were you, could you endure it? You look down on my father, but I must say, my father is in the military, with strict discipline, upright military conduct, brave soldiers, and wise leaders. My father is in politics, with a solemn court, new policies benefiting the people, and national prosperity. My father is loyal and devoted, loving his country and his people, and he not only speaks but also acts on it. Unconvinced? Go back twenty years and live on gruel and vegetables in the chaotic times of the previous dynasty! My father is loyal and devoted, loving his country and his people, and he not only speaks but also acts on it. Unconvinced? Go back twenty years and live on gruel and vegetables in the chaotic times of the previous dynasty! What have you arrogant, blind, and hollow scholars done? You shout all day long, with a basket full of ideas, but which one is practical? Which one has ever been useful? After saying so much, it is all—nonsense!

A man, a big fellow skilled in swordplay, even drinks tea so elegantly What is he doing

Feng Zheng casually remarked, "You are overthinking it."

Moreover, what kind of cat did Emperor Bei Liang send? Even if it is a wild cat, it cannot possibly kill a prey that is four or five times its size at just one month old

I have nothing more to say and turn to leave

However, Feng Zheng merely pressed his lips tightly together, still maintaining that appearance of strict self-discipline.