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Chapter 5

Zhao Xuan had been inspired by OuYang MingYue and after leaving the Treasure Pavilion went straight to the clothing store. The store owner came forward immediately to make his greetings. Zhao Xuan said, "Take out all the brightest, softest and most expensive fabrics in your store so I can take a look."


The store owner joyfully agreed. He hurried to tell his workers to bring out all the treasures they had in the store houses for the Lord Regent to take a look.

"Your Lordship, take a look at this. This is the newest gold thread flowers shipped from Hangzhou. It's real silk. Everything is extremely delicately made and feels super smooth when touched by skin. If you don't believe me then just feel it. And also these gauze, they are light and airy and brightly colored. Look how long it is but on the scale it's so light, you can tell it's the highest quality. What color do you want? Otherwise I can bring out all the colors we have so you can pick?" After speaking the store owner immediately yelled at his workers. "How come you brought out all the same colors? How can his Lordship choose like this? Quickly quickly, bring out all the patterns that we have, you bunch of lazy do nothings!"

The workers immediately rushed off to follow his orders.

The owner immediately bowed down again and began to obsequiously display and explain his wares to the Regent again. He saw that the Regent was only interested in fabrics which were brightly colored and assumed that he was trying to please some young lady. He was just thinking that he had better go and back some enquiries to find out who it was so as to better keep this big client, when the Lord Regent took out the little fox sitting at his breast and placed him on top of the fabric. He said in an indulgent voice, "Li'Er choose what you like. Anything you pick I'll buy it for you."

Zhou YunSheng was crystal clear that if he purchased any fabric today then tomorrow he would be turned into Zhao Xuan's doll and the other person would not be satisfied until he was thoroughly trussed up. Thus he expressed that he didn't want to choose. He placed his bum down and sat without moving. He even used his large and fluffy tail to cover himself up.

The store owner was so shocked that the nerves around his mouth began twitching.

So it turns out that the Lord Regent wasn't trying to please a young lady at all, but instead an animal? These years things were getting stranger and stranger. Who had ever heard of an animal wearing clothes? Wasn't he wearing his own white fur already? The store owner thought this in his heart but he didn't dare show it on his face. Right now he was really speechless though and couldn't do anything except stare with his mouth pressed tightly together.

Zhao Xuan saw at that the little fox wasn't moving and that his eyes were wet and he wore a bullied expression. He couldn't contain the love in his heart and picked up the little fox to kiss him a few more times. He said in a persuading tone, "Be good and pick a few. After you pick we can go home. There's many birds waiting at home for you to play with. Don't you want to go back quickly?"

What kind of tone was that? It wasn't like talking to an animal, but more like talking to a small ancestor!

Everyone said that the Lord Regent spoiled his pet to the heavens, to the point where he wished he could pluck out the moon and the stars for him. Now that the store owner saw this scene he realized that it wasn't exaggerated at all. However no matter how intelligent the little fox was, it was after all just an animal. How could it understand human words? The store owner's heart sank and he felt that this business transaction couldn't be completed today.

Zhou YunSheng thought about the birds that were waiting for him at home. Even though his heart was arrogant and he wanted to darkly curse at Zhao Xuan for being childish, however his claws felt uncomfortable. He couldn't help but claw at some of the satin and turned the delicately made material into a mass of messy threads.

A maligned expression appeared on both the store owner and Yu Bao's faces but Zhao Xuan only laughed heartily. He pointed at the material underneath the little fox's but and said, "I'll take this one. Wrap it up."

The store owner's heart immediately became joyful and took out the wrapping paper.

Zhou YunSheng was in a hurry to get home. Originally he hesitated however Zhao Xuan slapped his butt and his entire body fell inside the piles of material. His eyes were dazzled by the array of bright colors and he felt quite dizzy.

Zhao Xuan laughed loudly. He wasn't until he heard his begging "ying-ying-ying" sound that he finally fished him out again. He carefully placed him on the crook of his arm however Zhou YunSheng took his revenge by scratching him on the face a few times.

Sweat appeared on the store owner's face however Yu Bao was already used t o it.

This fox was very intelligent. Sometimes if the Lord Regent teased him overmuch he would scratch a few times but he would always retract his claws first. He seemed to know his limits. His paws were pink and fleshy, very soft and so even if he scratched it didn't hurt. Actually it felt very comfortable so the Lord Regent probably enjoyed it very much.

Just as he thought, Yu Bao saw the Lord Regent grab the little fox's paws and voluntarily rub it against his face a few more times as though telling him to scratch a few more times. He even kissed the little fox's pink paws a few times. The smacking noise of the kiss was very loud and clear.

How was this the ordinarily very cold and stern Lord Regent who was lofty and held himself above all others! Clearly this was the little fox's slave! After thinking this Yu Bao scared himself and immediately hid behind his master and slapped himself for his silly and disrespectful thoughts.

Zhou YunSheng couldn't stay angry with Zhao Xuan like this. So he curled up inside his arms and closed his eyes.

Zhao Xuan's interest was still high. He picked a few red gauze and placed it against the little fox's body to compare. He said to himself, "This will look good as a small jacket. It's very suitable against Li'Er's fur color. We can make one that has a small hood. That way he won't get affected by the wind and rain."

The store owner found a new avenue to sell. He immediately began to go down this road, saying which ones he thought would look good as a hat and which ones would be good for making jackets. He said the little fox was so beautiful, everything on him would look heavenly.

Everyone in the Capital knew both soft and hard methods didn't work on the Lord Regent. He especially hated obsequiousness and flattery from others. However he didn't hate at all when people flattered the little fox. Instead he felt very pleased and happy. He picked over ten different materials before finally leaving, satisfied.

"He bought so much material just to make clothes for a little fox whose length isn't even half chi? How many years will it take before he can wear them all? And also doesn't he already have fur all over his body? This is too ridiculous! It's really true when people say that a rich man's dog lives better than a poor person." A worker couldn't help saying.

"Without them, how will we eat and drink? How can you talk about him after taking his money? If you really feel life is so unfair hurry home and go hang yourself. Maybe your next life will be better." The store owner slapped the worker on the back side of his head. He looked around and only after ascertaining that there was no one around, let out a sigh of relief.

Zhao Xuan held the little fox and strolled home leisurely. The things he had bought would naturally be taken to his home first by others.

This kind of a casual "strolling the street" activity was for Zhou YunSheng a form of torture. The main reason was because Yu Li's body was too troublesome. If he saw something new and interesting he would watch to scratch, if he smelt something fragrant, particularly meat, his saliva would begin rolling down. No matter how much he inhaled he couldn't stop it from leaking out.

Right now about 10m in front there was a meat shop. The fragrant smell of meat wafted over him and made Zhou YunSheng's heart extremely itchy. He felt the saliva in his mouth about to leak out and he hurried to clench his mouth shut to stop it. He even used his paws to cover them up. However not long after he began to drool, not only making a clear wet patch on his fur but also on Zhao Xuan's sleeve.

Goddammit! What's wrong with this body! Has he not eaten meat in eight lives or something!?

He darkly cursed himself. When he saw Zhao Xuan looking down at him he hurried to his tail to cover his face. He really didn't have any face to see others.

Zhao Xuan felt his wet sleeve and then looked at the meat shop. He already knew what was happening and started to laugh.

Yu Bao couldn't count how many times his Lordship had laughed on this day. Previously this person was as grim as a dead person, but now with the addition of this snow fox, he had become much more lively.

Although he often felt that the Lord Regent had become a bit unreliable however he was also glad about him becoming more happy.

It should be known that a few months ago the Lord Regent had even felt so bored about his life that he had even wanted to give the imperial power back to the young Emperor.

But since he had been the Regent for so long and had so much power and influence at court, how could the young Emperor simply let him go peacefully just like that? He would definitely eradicate the root along with the grass. At that time Yu Bao had desperately begged to the Lord Regent not to do it however he didn't seem to want to change his mind. He seemed to have become sick of the world and didn't want to live in it any longer.

But since the little fox had come, every day he seemed to find a renewed interest in the affairs at court. His power and influence also increased and his methods also became more authoritative. It was as though he had gained something that he wanted to protect.

The Lord Regent's fluctuating mood stabilised and thus being by his side also became much safer. Yu Bao and the other attendants were able to breathe a sigh of relief. Thus even if the Regent wanted to spoil this fox to the heavens, other than making a few comments, they also wouldn't interfere.

Zhao Xuan pried aside the little fox's large fluffy tail and saw his drooling just in time. The little tongue was occupied in trying to suck back the saliva back into his mouth. This made the little fox look extremely cute. Zhao Xuan laughed out loud and his cold and hard heart had already melted into a puddle of water. He picked the little fox and began to press closer to kiss his mouth.

Zhou YunSheng felt so embarrassed he wanted to die. He was angry about being laughed at so when he saw Zhao Xuan's mouth come closer, he turned his head to one side and made a resisting "heng-heng-ji-ji" noise. However his little nose was not able to controlled and continued to sniff at the fragrant meat smell in the air. Two radiant trails of drool dribbled from his mouth. This time it was too late to hide it and the evidence was clear. Zhao Xuan's features twitched and Zhou YunSheng could only use his claws to cover his face again and made a low "wu-wu" sound.

Zhao Xuan suppressed his urge to laugh until he was red in the face. He finally controlled himself with effort and used his handkerchief to wipe the little fox's mouth and chest. Then he walked towards the meat shop.

"Boss, give me ten meat sandwiches." He also included Yu Bao and the other attendants. He prodded the little fox who was pretending to be dead in the crook of his arms. "If you want to eat it just eat, what's there to be embarrassed about? Or are you embarrassed that you have too much saliva? How old are you, not even 1 yet right? Drooling is normal. Look at those 1 year old kids. Which one is any better than you?" Right now next to them just happened to be a woman holding her son that was not even 1 years old yet. His chin and neck were clearly very wet.

According the ages of fox demons, Yu Li was still a child and so couldn't control his animal instincts. Zhou YunSheng was comforted by Zhao Xuan and felt a little bit better in his heart. He raised his head and stared at the meat being tossed around in the pan.

The meat shop's boss's movements were very efficient. There was already a piece of meat placed on the chopping board. "Dong-dong-dong" the sound of chopping meat was very pleasant to the ears. Yu Bao counted the numbers and said, "Lord Regent, we have 11 people here. You're short on one." Of course he counted the little master already.

"I'll eat the same onewl as Li'Er." The things outside smelled good however they weren't clean. It was enough to let the little fox taste the flavor. If he liked it then he would ask his own chefs to make it for him.

Yu Bao quickly opened the wallet to take out the money.

The people around were holding their meat sandwiches and watching as they walked. Particularly this very handsome man and the little snow fox in his arms. They ate one bite each before switching, just as though they were two people in a pair, it made everyone around stare. Zhao Xuan fed the last piece of meat to the little fox and he ate the bread only. Then Zhao Xuan took out a napkin and helped the little fox clean his mouth and claws.

Zhao YunSheng saw that Zhao Xuan's hands and lips were also covered with oil. So he reached out his tongue and helped him lick it clean.

This was a little animal's way of expressing his love so it was a basic instinct that he couldn't control.

Zhao Xuan enjoyed it very much. He opened his mouth and sucked the little fox's tongue lightly.

The man and the fox strolled leisurely and eventually reached the Regent's Manor. When they opened the door they saw a woman dressed richly who came running over. She carried a handkerchief which she used to make a formal address. "Xue'Er has seen his Lordship. The Lordship bought so much materials and jewels, Xue'Er really feels incredibly moved and honored. I don't dare to take it all, should I share it with my sisters and everyone can choose?"

Because the store owner hadn't made specific instructions so of course the people who delivered the wares naturally thought these things were for the female mistresses who lived at the Regent's Manor.

Zhao Xuan was 27 years old and naturally had already received marriage orders. Although he didn't have any proper wife (wangfei) in the household, however he had one cefei and five concubines. {T/N: Er.. so wangfei is the name of the official wife, cefei is a lower ranking wife (or higher ranking concubine), and qie is the name of the lower ranking concubine. Also I mistranslated chapter 2 when I said he has no wife or concubines. Actually it just says he doesn't have a proper wife/wangfei, I've fixed it now.} All of these women were gifts from various political factions as well as the young Emperor. All of them had ulterior motives and so how could Zhao Xuan dare to use them? All he did was give them a room and treat them like ornaments. In the previous life, Zhao Xuan kept himself a virgin for the female lead. This was one of the golden fingers that the world gave to the female lead so don't think too much about whether or not it's logical.

Yu Bao looked at the gloating and pleased looking Lin Xue'Er and then looked at the black stormcloud forming on the face of the Regent and felt sweat drip down his forehead.

Zhou YunSheng had been living at the Lord Regent's manor for 10-20 days and never knew Zhao Xuan had any women. When he saw Lin Xue'Er the aura around him grew obviously cold. When he recovered he couldn't help clawing viciously on the back of Zhao Xuan's hand.

"Li'Er are you angry? Such a vinegar pot." Zhao Xuan knew that no matter how smart a little animal was, it wasn't possible that it would know how to fight for favor. Most likely he was just scared at seeing a stranger. After all he had suffered at the hands of OuYang MingYue. However he really wished he could interpret the little fox's actions as jealousy. That would make him incredibly happy.

"Don't worry. I'll send her away immediately." After speaking he immediately indicated with Yu Bao. "Take Lin cefei away. And also tell all those other women to pack their things. If any of them want to get remarried then this Lord will prepare a dowry for them. Also, bring those purchases back."

Yu Bao bowed his head his head and ordered two able-bodied attendants to drag the crying and shocked looking Lin cefei away.

All of the women in the manor were extremely disobedient. They already belonged to the Regent's Manor but they still used every opportunity to spread news to the outside. Particularly Lin cefei, she had long arms and was a spy for the Imperial Palace. Zhao Xuan already knew this of course and merely tolerated her and pretended not to know. However now there was someone in his heart and so naturally he wanted to clean out the manor.

Yu Bao took his master's words to these women. All of them were under orders and naturally didn't want to leave. They banged their heads against the floor and wailed loudly, begged and even pretended to seek death

Yu Bao didn't stop them. He simply ordered people to take the little master's things back and then just stood aside to watch the drama unfold. Of course not a single one actually committed suicide. They made a fuss for a long time until they realized the Lord Regent could not be moved, and so they had no choice but to leave. Actually this type of event also happened in the previous life when OuYang MingYue was married into the manor.  At that time OuYang MingYue was haplessly given the title of "jealous wife" and Zhao Xuan also offended a lot of people in power.

However Zhao Xuan wasn't the old Zhao Xuan. The original wasn't able to stop people's mouths however that didn't mean Zhao Xuan couldn't. After these women returned home there weren't any waves and all of them quickly remarried to far away places, never again returning to the Capital. After the Regent's Manor got rid of this group of women, they welcomed another. They were all talented seamstresses and had been hired to make clothing for the snow fox. The work was very easy and the salary was very good. Many people nearly broke their heads trying to compete for this position.

Poor Zhao YunSheng. He was internally injured every one to three days by Zhao Xuan's newest creations. He really wished he could run away from home. Thus he did his best to absorb 008's energy so he could heal his demon core as soon as possible and turn back into human form.

On this day Zhao Xuan placed the little fox on the table. In his hand he held a hat sewn with flowers and unceasingly turned it around on his head. First he tried front facing, then he tried back facing. Then he would try with the unexposed, then again with the ears out. He happily said, "So cute. My Li'Er is the cutest snow fox in all the world."

Zhou YunSheng helplessly clawed at him but ended up being held by him and kissed vigorously. Zhao Xuan laughed loudly.

At this time a messenger dressed all in gray suddenly came in. He placed a document onto the table. "Great Lord, this is the final judgement for Li WenHan decide by by the Judicial Bureau. Have a look. If you're not satisfied, then please inform and they will change it."

Zhao Xuan perused the document in front of the little fox. He held his small claw and moved it around the paper to read. It was clear he wanted to tell the fox the meaning of what was written.

He always felt that the little fox was extremely intelligent. He was different from other animals who didn't know a thing.

Li WenHan would have his titles and honors removed and be exiled beyond the border with the tattoo of a slave. To the ambitious and arrogant Li WenHan this was a heavy punishment. In order to get revenge on his stepmother he had worked hard to climb up and had always thought that one day he would be able to trample her underfoot. In order to gain this power and wealth, he didn't mind to ruthlessly kill Zi Li after using her. The fact that Zhou YunSheng hadn't cut his body into a thousand slices was already being very merciful to him.

Zhou YunSheng was satisfied by this orders. But when he thought about OuYang MingYue's reaction, he felt a bit of regret.

If Li WenHan was tattooed as a slave then OuYang MingYue ought to be exiled along with him to live a poor and bitter life.

The life of women in the ancient days was like this. If they married a chicken they had to follow a chicken. If they married a dog they had to follow a dog. It couldn't be changed. However OuYang MingYue would definitely not submit to this fate. She was a killer. If she saw a problem she couldn't solve, then she would use the training she had received to make the most simple choice: she would make Li WenHan completely vanish, and so this trap would not be control her.

Zhou YunSheng didn't have any way of warning Zhao Xuan. He could only scratch the document and make a "ao-ao" cry.

Zhao Xuan didn't understand. He added fifty lashes and affixed his seal on the judgment and sent it back to the Judicial Bureau.

When the Li family got this news, Li WenHan had already been beaten until he was half dead. Now that his stepmother saw that he was completely useless she also didn't bother to suppress him any longer. She sent people to take him medicine and even gave him some silver taels for his journey. Made OuYang was also not slack. Every day she sent people to the prison to give Li WenHan medicine and keep an eye on him. She wanted to ensure that he would be able to take OuYang MingYue safely into exile.

Under the care of these two women, Li WenHan managed to recover his life. However he didn't know that the person he was once the most intimate with was now plotting how to take his life.

Three days later, a person died in the Imperial Jail. A servant wrapped up the body and threw it at the back door of the Zhen Guo manor. In his last life he had been a Prime Minister of the country, a honored official chronicled by the annals of history. This life no one even knew how he died, it was really pitiful. The Zhen Guo manor buried him randomly and didn't make any notification or burn any effigies to him. Thus he passed away without a sound.

When the news reached the OuYang family, Madame OuYang frowned and sighed. "She really is very fortunate."


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