Volume 5 Chapter 45
by Need_More_SleepVolume 5 + Chapter 45: The Premonition of The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor stood within the courtyard. This time, he was not beside the brook observing fallen petals drifting upon the water. Instead, with rare leisure and refined composure, he held a watering can, tending carefully to the flowers and plants in the garden.
“Father Emperor, I have returned.”
Hearing the familiar voice, the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor lifted his head.
Before his eyes appeared a beautiful fox maiden with long, flowing pink hair.
Seeing his daughter return safely, he set down the watering can in his hand.
“You’re back, Yue Liu.”
“Mhm!”
Yue Liu stepped before the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor and offered a slight, respectful bow.
“Father Emperor, my talks with the Dragon Clan have temporarily concluded. I have come to report to you.”
“Oh? They’ve already concluded?”
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor was deeply attentive.
Previously, the Fox Clan’s royal family had sent a diplomatic overture to the Dragon Clan.
As the initiator of this move, the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor had believed that upon receiving the message, the Dragon Clan would certainly be surprised, but would likely take a long time before replying.
After all, the relationship between the two races was still in a rather delicate and sensitive state.
Yet unexpectedly, the Dragon Clan responded with remarkable speed. They had even dispatched the Silver Dragon Princess to Fox Hill. Their swift action was astonishing.
Such an unanticipated attitude inevitably left the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor surprised.
To ensure parity of status, he had sent Yue Liu, also a princess and the future heir of the Fox Clan, to meet with Xia Yi. The two represented their respective races in formal negotiations.
As for the outcome of the talks, he was naturally full of anticipation.
“Yue Liu, what was the final result? What was the Dragon Clan’s attitude?”
“Father Emperor, just as you instructed, I proposed establishing diplomatic relations with the Dragon Clan. However, the condition was that they hand over the Blackstone Kingdom to us.”
“And the result?”
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor was well aware of how outrageous this demand sounded. But that was precisely the point, it was meant to test the Dragon Clan’s attitude.
If the Dragon Clan had no intention of negotiating at all, they would surely have flipped the table and walked away.
But if they wished to talk, their stance would inevitably be different.
“The Silver Dragon Princess, representing the Dragon Clan, agreed.”
“Agreed?!”
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“However, there was one condition. Th-that is… um…”
The little fox’s cheeks began to burn. Saying it in front of her father felt unbearably embarrassing.
“What condition could possibly make those money-grubbers abandon Blackstone Kingdom?” the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor pressed.
“It was… it was… that I…”
The little fox clenched her teeth and stamped her foot before blurting it out.
“That I marry into the Dragon Clan.”
“…What?”
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor froze.
If Yue Liu were to marry over, then only Xia Yi would be qualified to wed her.
What was going on with this Silver Dragon Princess? Why had she taken a liking to his daughter?
Was the Silver Dragon Queen’s daughter actually inclined toward women??
In history, there had indeed been cases of political marriages between nations involving two women.
Though exceedingly rare, it was not impossible.
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor could not help but grow tense.
This was bad. The precious cabbage he had painstakingly raised was about to be taken by someone else.
He simply could not accept it.
No, absolutely not. He had hoped his daughter would remain by his side for at least another ten years!
“Yue Liu… you didn’t agree, did you?”
“How could I possibly agree?!”
Her face flushed bright red, the little fox replied.
“Xia Yi and I are merely destined rivals, nothing more! Dragons and foxes… how could we possibly… marry…”
“…Phew.”
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor let out a long breath of relief.
Thankfully, his daughter had not been swayed. What if she had eloped with the Dragon Clan? What then?
“In any case, I refused! I renegotiated with my so-called rival afterward. The Dragon Clan said they could not hand over Blackstone Kingdom, but they offered other conditions. Among them was guaranteeing that our Fox Clan would have priority in receiving the war reparations the Vampire Clan is meant to pay. Additionally, they would open trade routes in Blackstone Kingdom, allowing our Fox Clan to purchase magic crystal ore at relatively favorable prices! However, I did not immediately agree. In the end, I refused and concluded the talks!”
“Yue Liu, your decision was correct.”
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor gently stroked his daughter’s head.
“Although the Dragon Clan’s subsequent conditions were quite attractive, this time our main objective was to test their attitude. We must not act rashly. Now it seems clear that the Dragon Clan has considerable willingness to form an alliance with the Fox Clan. As long as we know this, future negotiations can continue, and we can secure even greater benefits for our people.”
“My destined rival plans to return to the Dragon Kingdom.”
“Let the Silver Dragon Princess return. I will continue maintaining communication with the Dragon Kingdom. When preparations are more complete, I shall invite the Silver Dragon Queen to Fox Hill for formal discussions.”
“Father Emperor, I’ll leave the rest to you,” the little fox paused. “Father Emperor, there were also some incidents in Greenfield City. The situation was as follows…”
Afterward, she recounted everything that had occurred in Greenfield City.
When he finished listening, the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor’s expression became somewhat complicated.
“The Silver Dragon Princess’s claims lack sufficient evidence. We can only maintain a half-believing, half-doubting stance for now. I will send people to investigate. Once matters are verified, we can speak further. As for the existence of other Nine-Tailed Foxes in Fox Hill, that is simply too absurd… Bai Yang is currently away, handling certain matters. When he returns, I will have him investigate this.”
“I feel that what my rival said might be…”
True.
The little fox thought the word silently in her heart, but did not voice it.
She understood that even if she trusted Xia Yi without reason, that trust would not automatically extend to the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor.
“Don’t overthink it for now, Yue Liu. Your primary task at present is not this. The Fox Clan’s most important matter right now is not these affairs,” the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor said. “You know why I summoned you back, don’t you?”
“Father Emperor, I understand. It is for the Fox God Festival.”
Yue Liu was the shrine maiden of the Fox God. During the Fox God Festival, the shrine maiden held the most crucial role. The ceremony could not proceed without her presence, no one else could possibly replace her.
For the Fox Clan, the Fox God Festival was the most important time of the year. She absolutely could not be absent. That was why she had hurried back from Greenfield City, she had not even stayed to spend a little more time with Xia Yi.
“You need not consider other matters. Focus solely on the Fox God Festival, Yue Liu.”
“I understand, Father Emperor.”
“Very well. Go and rest first. The journey must have been tiring. Restore your condition as soon as possible and devote yourself fully to the festival.”
“Yes. Then I shall take my leave, Father Emperor.”
After bowing respectfully to the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor, the little fox withdrew.
Watching his daughter’s departing figure, the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor felt an unprecedented premonition rise within his heart, so strong that it drew a smile to his lips.
This Fox God Festival would surely become… the finest one yet.
[Translator’s Note: Sorry for the late updates, I have been dealing with a lot of things in my life.]
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