SWNOVELXO Chapter 512: Shaking the Mountain to Warn the Tiger
Chapter 512: Shaking the Mountain to Warn the Tiger
Lin Fengmian paused mid-step, turning his head to cast a cold glance at Jun Yunzheng.
“Big Brother, what did you say?”
Jun Yunzheng smiled mischievously. “I’m not sure. You’ll have to see for yourself.”
With that, he walked away, leaving Lin Fengmian standing there with a dark expression on his face.
“Elder Ming, go find out what’s going on!”
Elder Ming obeyed and soon returned with the information he had gathered.
It turned out that Consort Xuan had been bitten by the snow lion kept by Queen Ding Wanqiu. The beast was at the Core Formation Realm, while Consort Xuan was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm. She was no match for it and had suffered several bites, leaving her poisoned.
Lin Fengmian’s expression darkened.
“Let’s go. We’ll go see my mother.”
The three of them quickly arrived at Consort Xuan’s palace, Lele Hall, where they happened to run into Le’er, who was rushing out in a hurry.
When Le’er saw him, she was surprised. “Your Highness, why are you here?”
“How is my mother? Is she alright?” Lin Fengmian asked.
“Her Ladyship is fine. She’s resting now,” Le’er replied, though her tone was evasive.
Lin Fengmian was no fool. He could tell from her demeanor that Consort Xuan’s condition wasn’t as good as she claimed.
“If you don’t want to tell me the truth, I’ll go in and see for myself. Move aside!”
He strode straight into Lele Hall, but Le’er quickly tried to stop him. “Your Highness, I’m telling you! Her Ladyship isn’t in a state to receive visitors right now. Please don’t go in!”
Lin Fengmian ignored her excuses and walked straight to the bed chamber. Through the hanging curtains, he could vaguely see a graceful figure standing by the bed.
He took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, “Mother, are you there?”
A faint voice came from inside. “Wuxie?”
“So you’re not asleep yet. May I come in?”
Consort Xuan reflexively hummed in agreement before hurriedly correcting herself. “No, no! It’s not convenient!”
But Lin Fengmian had already lifted the curtains and stepped inside. What greeted him was the sight of Consort Xuan’s snow-white and voluptuous figure.
She was lying on the bed with her clothes half removed, while a female cultivator was applying healing spells to her bare back. The fair skin bore several claw marks and bite wounds, with black miasma rising from them-clearly poisoned.
The two of them stared at each other. Lin Fengmian was momentarily stunned before he quickly covered his face with a fan and turned away.
“I didn’t know that you were actually being treated. I thought Le’er was lying to me…”
Embarrassed, Consort Xuan belatedly pulled the blanket over herself. “It’s okay. It’s my fault.”
Lin Fengmian felt a bit uncomfortable. Was this woman a little naive?
How could this be her fault?
“Mother, are you okay?”
“It’s nothing serious. The royal physician said that after a few days of rest, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry!” Consort Xuan gently reassured him.
Lin Fengmian nodded. “I understand. Please rest well, Mother. I’ll take my leave now.”
Consort Xuan hummed in appreciation. “Le’er, please see Wuxie out.”
Once outside, Lin Fengmian noticed the wounds on Le’er’s hands and asked, “Were you there when Mother was bitten? What exactly happened?”
Le’er hesitated before nodding reluctantly. “This servant dares not speak carelessly. If Her Ladyship finds out, she’ll scold me to death.”
“I see.”
Lin Fengmian turned and walked away without another word, leaving Le’er completely confused.
What exactly did His Highness understand?
Lin Fengmian instructed Elder Ming, “Elder Ming, go find out where the beast is.”
Elder Ming quickly advised, “Your Highness, please calm down. There may be a misunderstanding.”
Lin Fengmian calmly replied, “A misunderstanding? Do you believe that?”
Elder Ming’s expression stiffened. It was clear that this was no misunderstanding.
After all, the snow lion was in the Core Formation Realm and had developed a rudimentary intelligence. If no one had instructed it, why would it bite someone for no reason?
Soon, Elder Ming found out that the snow lion was probably sunbathing in Chunhua Garden at this time.
Lin Fengmian gripped his folding fan and said coldly, “That beast sure knows how to enjoy itself! Let’s go take a look.”
The three of them quickly arrived at Chunhua Garden and soon found the snow lion lazily basking in the sun by the lake.
The snow lion was pure white and had shrunk its size to that of a small cat. Its fluffy fur made it look quite adorable.
It lay lazily on the ground, surrounded by several palace maids and eunuchs. A middle-aged maid was grooming its fur, making it clear that the beast lived more comfortably than most people.
Lin Fengmian strode forward, but the maids and eunuchs quickly tried to stop him.
“Your Highness Wuxie, the snow lion is fierce. It’s best if you don’t approach it. It would be terrible if you got hurt.”
“Fierce? How interesting.”
Lin Fengmian didn’t stop. He coldly said to those blocking his path, “Get out of my way!”
They didn’t dare to stop him, and the maid who tended to the snow lion hurriedly stood up and bowed to Lin Fengmian.
“Chunyan salutes Your Highness Wuxie.”
Lin Fengmian asked coldly, “Was it this beast that bit my mother?”
“Your Highness, please forgive me. That day, Xue Tuan suddenly got scared and bit Consort Xuan. It was this servant’s fault for not keeping a closer eye on it.”
Although Chunyan claimed to take responsibility, there was no trace of remorse in her tone.
Lin Fengmian nodded. “It’s good that you know your mistake.”
With that, he slapped Chunyan across the face, sending her sprawling to the ground and knocking out several of her teeth.
Although Chunyan was at the Foundation Establishment Realm, she never expected Lin Fengmian to hit her. She was completely stunned.
Startled by the commotion, the snow lion stood up and bared its teeth at Lin Fengmian.
Although it was small, its fur was bristly, making it look ferocious.
Its appearance reminded Lin Fengmian of an old acquaintance, or rather, an old lion.
He wondered if that fickle creature had been killed by Jun Fengya after a thousand years.
If it had been that fickle lion, then Lin Fengmian might have shown some mercy.
But this beast that had bitten someone for no reason? Without hesitation, he kicked it.
“How dare you bare your fangs at me?”
The snow lion, used to being pampered, never expected someone to kick it so directly.
Caught off guard, it was sent flying into the pond, splashing water everywhere.
“Xue Tuan!”
Forgetting her own injuries, Chunyan cried out in panic, “Someone, help! Xue Tuan can’t swim!”
The eunuchs and maids were about to act, but Lin Fengmian coldly stopped them.
“Who dares?”
Though frightened, Chunyan tried to assert herself. “Your Highness Wuxie, this is the queen’s favorite spiritual pet!”
Lin Fengmian couldn’t help but laugh. “A dog relying on its master’s power? It’s just an beast and doesn’t know any better, but you don’t either?”
He slapped her again and said coldly, “Who gave you the right to shout at me like that?”
Chunyan, finally realizing her mistake, covered her face and said, “Your Highness, please forgive me. This servant was too panicked and spoke out of turn.”
But Lin Fengmian wasn’t about to let her off the hook so easily. According to Elder Ming’s investigation, it was this wicked servant who had deliberately let the lion bite someone.
He coldly said, “Speaking out of turn? Then kneel down and slap yourself!”
Chunyan, who had enjoyed the Queen’s favor for years and had even been respected by the consorts, had never suffered such humiliation.
But she wasn’t stupid. She lowered her head, hiding the resentment in her eyes, and knelt down.
She began slapping herself loudly and with great force, not holding back at all.
The more miserable she looked now, the more sympathy she could garner.
When the queen arrived, Lin Fengmian would pay for this!
Seeing this, some clever maids quietly slipped away to inform Queen Ding Wanqiu.
Lin Fengmian didn’t stop them. After all, he had come here to shake the mountain and warn the tiger.