Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Tang Locke’s Gift
The hamster maid’s voice came from outside. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, are you awake?"
She had heard a slight stirring from within the room.
Yu Zhizhi said softly, "Please come in."
The hamster maid at the door entered, smiling brightly as she said, "Teacher Dai Li sent me to help Ms. Zhi Zhi get ready for the day~"
On the soft bed, the light gauze curtains of the canopy swayed gently in the breeze.
Yu Zhizhi clutched the quilt with one hand and nodded lightly.
As the hamster maid drew closer, she noticed the red marks on her shoulder and neck and couldn’t help but smile, pressing her lips together.
’I really like Ms. Zhi Zhi~’
This S-Class female of the Empire was so noble, yet she treated her servants wonderfully and never made sport of them.
’If only Ms. Zhi Zhi could stay at the Duke Mansion forever!’
’Teacher Dai Li said that I’m Ms. Zhi Zhi’s personal maid now!’
Yu Zhizhi changed into a light purple gauze dress. She sat before her vanity and, seeing the marks on her neck, couldn’t resist picking up a brush and dipping it in powder.
She brushed it on gently, using the powder to conceal them.
The hamster maid was combing her hair.
When she was finished, she said softly, "After we eat, we must go see the guests. Lord Nade and Lord Nar from the K family are waiting in the drawing room."
"Mm~"
The Duke had told her in advance.
She had met Donner privately once before and had some impression of him.
As for Donald...
Yu Zhizhi was completely unfamiliar with him.
She had never interacted with him privately, but she still remembered the pair of identical white wolves standing by the door on the day she ascended the high platform.
Donald was the current acting head of the K family, handling all of its affairs.
Donner was his twin brother.
Though they looked identical, their personalities were completely different.
"By the way, how is Ping’an?" Yu Zhizhi asked hastily as she came to the dining table.
The hamster maid smiled slightly. "Don’t worry, Ms. Zhi Zhi, Ping’an is doing very well. He’s in a sickroom now, receiving round-the-clock treatment and care. He even woke up two hours ago, drank a lot of Nutrient Liquid, and has gone back to sleep."
’He woke up...’
’It seems the Rabbit Clan youth wasn’t exaggerating. He really did heal the Wild Dog.’
’That’s wonderful.’
Yu Zhizhi hoped from the bottom of her heart that the Wild Dog would be all right.
Besides her personal feelings, there was also the side quest.
In another week, if she completed the side quest, she would get the [Teleportation Scroll] she had been longing for.
"The Duke also said—" The hamster maid served a small tureen of nourishing medicinal soup. "—that once he has fully recovered, he can be assigned to guard the study."
Yu Zhizhi picked up her spoon and slowly drank the soup.
The meal ended.
Led by the maid, Yu Zhizhi walked toward the drawing room.
The soft setting sun cast a pale golden layer upon the ground. She once again saw the brilliant golden tree in the drawing room’s courtyard.
Crossing the courtyard, she saw Donner leaning against the doorframe.
He wore a dark green uniform, a bright smile on his face. His short white hair looked like a thin layer of fallen snow.
"Good evening, Ms. Zhi Zhi."
Yu Zhizhi lifted the hem of her skirt with both hands and curtsied lightly. The young Wolf Clan man stood up straight, placed his right hand over his chest, and bowed in return.
Arriving at the entrance to the drawing room, she looked inside. Aside from the attending servants, there was no one else.
Donner knew what she was thinking and said with a smile, "My older brother had business to attend to today, so I’m here in his stead. Please—"
Yu Zhizhi entered the drawing room and sat down. A manservant approached with black tea and pastries, filling her cup.
"Are you living well here?"
Donner got straight to the point. "How is Duke Bolan treating you? If you don’t like it here, the K family would welcome you back at any time."
The young Wolf Clan man spoke with the tone of a close relative.
His ruby-like eyes always held a hint of a smile, making one feel an irresistible urge to get closer to him.
"The Duke..." Yu Zhizhi paused, then nodded. "He treats me very well. I... I’ll be staying here a while longer."
Don Nal K said nothing more.
He held out his hand, and an attendant at his side handed him an object.
The young Wolf Clan man slowly walked over to the young woman. "Tang Luo Ke asked us to bring this to you."
"What is this?" Yu Zhizhi accepted an object wrapped in black cloth.
"He said—it’s a gift."
’A gift?’
Yu Zhizhi unwrapped the black cloth, revealing an exquisite drawing board.
She slowly turned it over and saw the abstract image on the canvas—
An endless spread of black, a faintly visible red figure baring its fangs and claws like a demon; and then a small splotch of white, strangely shaped, but with a pair of rabbit ears that were exceptionally distinct.
The painting was incredibly crude.
It was difficult to understand.
Yu Zhizhi picked up her teacup with one hand and took a sip of tea.
A glance at the red shadow from the corner of her eye sent a chill through her. It was like a colossal, monstrous beast, its fangs piercing the body of the little white rabbit—
She seemed to understand something.
Her hand trembled, and the tea spilled all over, running from her jaw down to her neck.
A nearby servant quickly handed her a clean handkerchief.
Yu Zhizhi set the teacup down.
Her heart hammered in her chest. She took the handkerchief, wiped the corner of her mouth, and then slowly began to dab at her neck.
Her eyes were fixed on the painting.
’This giant red shadow... it represents Tang Luo Ke himself.’
’And the little white ball—’
’Its rabbit ears are perfectly clear. The meaning is obvious.’
’Why did Tang Luo Ke send this painting? Is it a threat? A warning? A premonition?’
’Beyond that, it also held a thick... ’
’Desire.’
Yu Zhizhi didn’t know.
She just blankly wiped away the spilled tea, her rabbit-like eyes looking completely innocent.
The young Wolf Clan man watched the little Rabbit Clan female’s expression change with a smile.
From confusion to terror, and now to innocent pity. She clutched the painting, the handkerchief slowly wiping her neck, and gradually...
...as the powder was wiped away, the ambiguous red marks appeared, exceptionally vivid, as if branded onto her snow-white neck.
An unreadable smile flickered in Donner’s deep red eyes.
’This is really... unexpected.’
Duke Bolan had an almost pathological fastidiousness when it came to choosing a partner. For so many years, no matter how His Majesty the King tried to persuade him, he had been unwilling to choose a female from outside the Snake Clan.
Perhaps in his heart, anyone outside the Snake Clan was an anomaly.
And the Rabbit Clan, in the eyes of the Snake Clan, were so weak they barely qualified as food.
The little female before him, dressed in a light purple cinched-waist long dress, looked charmingly naive and cute. Her lace hairband was of a matching color, and her two rabbit ears stood upright. If it weren’t for all the servants present, Donner really wanted to give them a good squeeze.
Especially the red marks on her neck...
They left much to the imagination.
"Ms. Zhi Zhi, are you perhaps curious about Tang Luo Ke’s condition?"
Hugging the drawing board, Yu Zhizhi lifted her gaze to the young Wolf Clan man before her and asked softly, "How... is he?"
It had been almost a month since she left the K family.
When she left, Tang Luo Ke had not yet been released.
Now...
Donner smiled faintly. "His mental state has deteriorated. He’s under strict supervision right now. The family is urgently developing medication for him."
"When he heard news of you this time, he asked me to give you a message."
