Chapter 32: The Fox
"Commandery Princess, I’ve seen it—the mountain on the western side of the Traveling Palace has a very tall waterfall, and even more splendid is the hexagonal pavilion next to it. The stream by the pavilion flows continuously into the mountain ravine. Standing in that pavilion, one could surely see the entirety of Zheng Capital City," Xue Liu said, her voice filled with longing.
Having grown up in Qishun Building, the farthest they had ever walked was the path from Qishun Building to the Crown Prince’s Mansion, with moss spreading across the ground, the palace walls on either side dark and aged, and the study front of the Crown Prince’s Mansion was particularly strict—the most they usually saw were the overly well-cared-for few flowers and plants within Qishun Building.
"I think it looks very good too," Zheng Nianru nodded. Later, when she went out, she was surrounded by attendants, and at every place, she was shielded by yellow curtains, rarely seeing such natural scenery.
Xing Yu somehow obtained a wild chicken, and Nanny Yun was busily preparing it. Although they still couldn’t go out, the guards from Noble Consort Wen were much more relaxed than those in the Imperial Palace, and their secluded residence naturally attracted little attention.
Xing Yu, following the walls of the Traveling Palace, chased a shiny, bright red wild fox that had come down from the mountain—it was extremely beautiful.
The fox darted into the compound of the Traveling Palace, and under Xing Yu’s pursuit, slowly made its way toward the courtyard where Zheng Nianru was. Xing Yu skillfully neither hurried nor slowed, neither allowing the fox to panic and leap over the wall nor dash haphazardly into other courtyards.
"Xue Liu, close the courtyard gate—," Xing Yu shouted, her not-so-tall figure awkward but very agile.
Xue Liu, quick as lightning, immediately closed the gate, and Xing Yu slipped inside from outside the main gate.
The wild fox, seeing so many people suddenly, panicked. It overturned the pot of hot water Nanny Yun had prepared for scalding the chicken.
"My water, you two little rascals, be careful not to frighten the mistress," Nanny Yun scolded, hurriedly grabbing the wild chicken with one hand and fetching water with a bucket in the other.
Fu Dong and Nian Xia immediately looked for something to help catch the wild fox.