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The man in black stopped his wiping movements, and couldn’t help but reflect on why he was being harsh to her.

Concubine Xu was not favored and did not share the emperor’s bed, yet even if she left the palace in the future with her powerful family’s backing, she wouldn’t worry about food or clothing.

It was only a matter of facing some censure as she got older.

Why was he so angry, then?

"If Xiao Jinyan really cared about you, he should let you leave the palace now instead of wasting time here."

The man in black’s tone suddenly turned gentle, causing Concubine Xu to be stunned for a long time.

After Concubine Xu left, the man in black stood in place, watching that petite figure walk towards the tent.

There was a moment just now when he wanted to ask her if she wanted to leave the palace. With his capabilities, taking her out of the palace wouldn’t be a problem.

Chu Zhao, who hid in the shadows, saw everything that had happened. In the past, when his master went into the palace, he wasn’t allowed to follow. Now he understood that Concubine Xu was still a maiden at heart.

His master had actually wiped Concubine Xu’s tears. The fondness in his actions—tsk tsk!

Once Concubine Xu was far away, Chu Zhao leapt out from the shadows.

"Master, if you like her, why not just bring her back with us? Otherwise, by the time she leaves the palace on her own, she’ll be an old maid..."

Before he could finish, the man in black ruthlessly thumped him on the head, "Can’t you speak properly?"

Chu Zhao covered his forehead and noticed a swelling, a clear indication of how angry his master was.

The man in black retracted his gaze and turned to leave.

Chu Zhao caught up, "Master, I’ve inquired, in the Daxia Imperial Palace, palace maids can choose to leave when they reach 25. The Crown Prince’s women are also allowed to leave if they haven’t shared his bed by age 25. Any other woman at 25 would already be a mother of several children..."

Man in black: "..."

*

After finishing her morning meal, Shen Chuwei checked Xiao Jinyan’s pulse and examined his injuries, which were slightly better than the previous day, mainly because the man in black had hit too hard.

Xiao Jinyan saw her anxious face and soothed her, "I am fine, there’s no need for concern."

"Whether Your Highness is fine or not, this concubine knows better than Your Highness," Shen Chuwei retracted her hand and began to prepare the medicine again. Internal injuries are not like external wounds; they need to be gradually treated.

Xiao Jinyan sighed helplessly. Being skilled in medicine certainly made one hard to deceive.

After Shen Chuwei prepared the medicine, she asked Chun Xi to go and decoct it.

The little tiger cub raised its head and looked at Shen Chuwei on the bed. It tried to climb up, but its short and weak limbs were not much help, and its pudgy little body bounced off the footboard and popped right out.

After several attempts, the little tiger cub turned its head to look at Xuetuan, who was sleeping nearby. Striding over with its short stubby legs, it nudged Xuetuan’s head with its own fluffy one.

Xuetuan opened one eye, saw it was the little tiger, and immediately closed it again as if it hadn’t seen anything, knowing it was being disturbed from its sleep.

The cub nudged for a good while, but Xuetuan paid it no mind. Eventually, the cub had to reach out its paw to scratch Xuetuan’s face, and then it licked Xuetuan’s cheeks as if to make amends.

Xuetuan, with a face full of saliva, felt at the end of its tether: "..." So annoyed!

The little tiger cub wasn’t discouraged and continued to try to please.

Xuetuan, tormented to the point where it couldn’t sleep, reluctantly opened its eyes, slowly stood up, lowered its head to pick up the cub by the nape of its neck, dragging the little tiger along as it walked.

Even though the little tiger was only about ten days old, it was only slightly smaller than Xuetuan. If Xuetuan hadn’t been so strong, it wouldn’t have been able to carry the little tiger at all.

The little body being lifted off the bed had a tranquil expression, allowing Xuetuan to drag it onto the couch.

After getting up, Xuetuan put down the little tiger with a look of distaste.

Once down, the little tiger made its way to Shen Chuwei with short steps and scratched her sleeve with its tiny paws.

Shen Chuwei was examining the chest of Xiao Jinyan, where the man in black had struck, leaving two palm prints.

When she noticed someone tugging at her sleeve, she looked down, puzzled, and saw the little white tiger earnestly reaching out to scratch at her sleeve.

Wasn’t the little white tiger on the ground? How did it get on the bed?

Catching a glimpse of Xuetuan beside her, she suddenly realized it must have been Xuetuan that carried the little white tiger up.

Xiao Jinyan followed Shen Chuwei’s gaze and saw the little white tiger scratching at Little Nine’s skirt, occasionally letting out soft cries, all in a bid to catch Little Nine’s attention.

"What is it doing?"

"It’s probably hungry." Shen Chuwei turned around to pick up the little tiger and took the glass cup on the low table, which was filled with goat’s milk she had prepared earlier.

The little tiger cub, drinking the goat’s milk, happily squinted its eyes.

Watching the little white tiger drink its milk, Shen Chuwei couldn’t help but laugh, "The little white tiger is so adorable."

Xiao Jinyan: "..."

"Since it’s a pet, it certainly needs a name. What should we name it?" Shen Chuwei turned her head to look at Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, what do you think is a good name?"

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the little white tiger indifferently, "You should name it."

Shen Chuwei stared at the little white tiger for a while, Mi Tuan? Sweet Dumpling? Those didn’t seem fierce enough.

Then a flash of inspiration hit her, "How about Dabai? When the little white grows up, it will surely be both cute and formidable."

Xiao Jinyan thought of the dead white tiger which, had it lived, was indeed formidable in size.

"As long as you like it."

Shen Chuwei withdrew her gaze and said, looking at Dabai’s soft body, "Taotao and Susu will surely like Dabai too."

Later on, wherever Susu went, she would be followed by two bodyguards, Dabai and Xuetuan, becoming the darling of the Imperial Palace that no one dared to trouble.

Xiao Jinyan emerged from the tent and went straight to the Conference Camp.

Weichi strode in.

Xiao Jinyan inquired sternly, "Have you found any news about the man in black?"

Weichi reported, "Master, we haven’t found out the origins of the man in black yet. However, last night, this subordinate noticed that Concubine Xu’s behavior was suspicious."

Xiao Jinyan asked coldly, "What sort of suspicious behavior?"

"Last night, this subordinate noticed Concubine Xu suddenly leaving the tent and heading for the woods. From a distance, it seemed like Concubine Xu met with the man in black."

PS: Second update