Xiao Jiu was very anxious. What if Lian Muxiu was also mesmerized by the voice? What should she do?

  At this place, Lian Muxiu was the only one Xiao Jiu knew! If something happened to him... Xiao Jiu couldn’t bear to think further.

  She lay on Lian Muxiu’s shoulder, scratching his neck with her little paw.

  "Chi chi, chi chi chi," Muxiu, wake up, your Xiao Jiu is still waiting for you to take care of her!

  As Xiao Jiu scratched, she felt her body lift, her neck tightened as she was picked up and placed back into Lian Muxiu’s arms.

  "Chi?" Is Muxiu awake?

  Lian Muxiu, both amused and exasperated, rubbed Xiao Jiu’s head. "Silly fox, do you think I’m so easily charmed?"

  "Chi chi?" Xiao Jiu didn’t understand. She, an ancient demon beast, had almost fallen for it, so why wouldn’t Lian Muxiu, a regular person, be susceptible?

  "Silly fox, be good."

  Lian Muxiu said this and then stopped looking at Xiao Jiu. Xiao Jiu could only sense his concern through the way he tightened his arms around her.

  "I didn’t expect the National Master would keep a fox and spoil it so much. Heh, this really opens my eyes," came the voice again. This time, though, it didn’t have the same alluring charm as before. Xiao Jiu thought the speaker must have intentionally restrained themselves, otherwise, she might have fallen into it again.

  "Heh." Lian Muxiu returned a light laugh. "I didn’t expect that the Prince of Nanyu, Wen Chengyu, who was supposed to take a few more days to reach Tancheng, has already entered the city."

  The voice responded again, "National Master, you truly are impressive. I admire you."

  Then, the sound of beads clinking filled the air. Xiao Jiu looked up and saw a man walking out, assisted by several maidservants. He was tall and slender, wearing a fine purple silk robe adorned with elegant bamboo leaf patterns. His black hair was tied up high with a white jade hairpin. He had red lips and white teeth—if Lian Muxiu hadn’t identified him, Xiao Jiu would have mistaken him for a young woman in disguise.

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  "Your Highness, you flatter me. Since you’ve already arrived in Tancheng, why not stay in the royal residence instead of at this Taibai Residence? Do you find our royal palace here lacking compared to Nanyu’s?" Lian Muxiu said directly.

  Wen Chengyu, clearly not expecting such a straightforward question, momentarily froze. In the brief blink of an eye, if Xiao Jiu hadn’t been paying close attention, she might have missed the brief expression change.

  "National Master, please don’t slander me," Wen Chengyu responded smoothly, a hint of unease in his voice. "I came early to explore the streets of Tancheng. Since childhood, I have longed for life outside the palace. I often snuck out as a child, but no matter how many times I was punished, I couldn’t help myself. So, my uncle and mother sent more guards with me this time. Coming to North Yan is truly fulfilling a childhood dream."

  Wen Chengyu spoke with sincerity, almost making himself sound like he might cry from recalling his childhood experiences.

  "Your Highness’s story is indeed touching. I too sympathize with you," Lian Muxiu said, his tone unaffected as if he were listening to just another tale of hardship.

  "Chi chi." Xiao Jiu, wanting to get Lian Muxiu's attention, wondered: was what the Prince of Nanyu just said true?

  Wen Chengyu, also drawn by Xiao Jiu’s movement, said, "Oh, so this is the little fox that National Master treasures. Let me take a look."

  Wen Chengyu’s tone had changed again, and Xiao Jiu’s first thought was... What a sleazy voice. She wanted to scratch him.

  Seeing Wen Chengyu’s hands reaching out to her, Xiao Jiu immediately fluffed up her fur and bared her teeth at him, showing a fierce look. If Wen Chengyu really had the power to charm people, she didn’t want to get near him. There was no way she would let him hold her.

  "Hey, National Master, your fox is quite fierce!" Wen Chengyu quickly withdrew his hands, narrowly avoiding Xiao Jiu’s sharp teeth.

  Lian Muxiu gently stroked Xiao Jiu’s fur. "Your Highness, my little fox isn’t something everyone can touch. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, she’s poisonous. If you’re careless and get bitten, don’t come to me asking for an antidote."

  As Lian Muxiu spoke, he gently pinched Xiao Jiu, and Xiao Jiu cooperated by opening her mouth and showing her sharp white teeth. In the sunlight, her teeth gleamed with an eerie shine, making it seem like she truly was poisonous.

  Wen Chengyu, seeing this, hesitated. If what the National Master said was true, there was no need to risk getting close to the fox!

  "Cough, cough." Wen Chengyu cleared his throat lightly, pretending to cover his embarrassment.

  "Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?" Lian Muxiu asked, pretending not to notice the awkwardness in Wen Chengyu. "You’re fond of coughing, so I thought I’d let you do it for real."

  "No, National Master, it’s nothing. I might have caught some wind," Wen Chengyu said quickly, scrambling for an excuse.

  "Oh, I see." Lian Muxiu paused and then added, "Your Highness, it’s better to return to the royal residence. I’ll have someone inform the court physician to check on you. If it’s nothing, that’s fine, but if you’ve caught a cold, you should get treatment right away."

  Wen Chengyu gritted his teeth. "You, Lian Muxiu, are you trying to force me to go to the royal residence?"