Chapter 72: Lost - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 72: Lost

Yunxu looked surprised. This fire fox’s sense of smell was too sharp. The distance from home to here was at least over an hour’s journey; how did it manage to find its way here!

She rubbed its head and curiously asked, “Your nose is too sharp. Even the dogs in the second courtyard aren’t as good as you.”

Chilin seemed to understand and bared its teeth at Yunxu.

Comparing a spiritual fox to a dog? What an affront.

Chilin had been living in Ning’an Courtyard for a while, so the maids understood its temperament and wouldn’t really provoke it.

After the master and servant teased it for a while, Chilin was taken by Yunxu to eat something.

Chilin’s sudden appearance had also woken up the orange cat nearby, but everyone’s attention had been on Chilin just now.

Unexpectedly, the orange cat looked at Chilin with unfriendly eyes, as if an outsider was encroaching on its territory.

Similarly, Chilin bristled and bared its teeth at the orange cat.

It’s said that when two tigers fight, one will get hurt. Who knows who would win between a cat and a fox?

Xu Mingyue came out of the hot spring and happened to see the orange cat in an attacking stance. From her position, she couldn’t see the fire fox in Yunxu’s arms and thought the cat was growling at Feng Jinyao.

She scolded, “Tuan Rong, don’t act up.”

Hearing its owner’s familiar voice, the orange cat immediately softened its arched back and looked at Xu Mingyue with an innocent expression.

The cat could change its demeanor so quickly, showing how intelligent it was.

With the opponent retracting its aggression, the fire fox Chilin naturally wouldn’t provoke further, snuggling adorably in Yunxu’s arms.

Xu Mingyue, still curious about the red fur in Yunxu’s arms, walked closer and discovered it was a rare fire fox!

Her eyes were filled with surprise. “Where did you get this?”

Yunxu smiled and quickly answered, “This is the fire fox my second young master gave to Miss. It’s called Chilin. Miss didn’t return to the mansion today, but it’s amazing. It followed her scent and found its way here. It just came in and confronted Tuan Rong, it has quite a temper.”

Her words showed affection while also teasing the fire fox a bit.

Xu Mingyue wanted to touch Chilin’s head but saw it raise its brows at her, as if saying, 'Don’t touch me.'

This made Xu Mingyue even more surprised.

“What a spiritual fox!”

Knowing it didn’t want to be touched, Xu Mingyue didn’t insist.

“What fox?” Bai Siruo approached from behind, first stunned by the sight of the little creature, then showing delight.

Regardless of its willingness, she stroked the top of its head, finding its fur extremely smooth.

“The color of this fur is perfect. I remember my grandmother had a fire fox cloak, also in this striking red. It was beautiful.”

Chilin, originally furious and ready to bite, was scared into burrowing into Yunxu’s arms upon hearing this, fearing this lady might really turn it into a cloak.

Its back end faced Bai Siruo, tail wagging, making everyone laugh.

“Good, good. You know to be afraid. Let’s keep you for now. When you’re bigger, we’ll make a cloak; that would be really warm.”

Bai Siruo’s deliberately ominous tone made Chilin want to cry, losing its earlier arrogance.

Yunxu admired Miss Bai from the bottom of her heart. It seemed like a fierce 'fox' needed an even fiercer person to handle it; the ancestors weren’t wrong!

On their first night staying in the mountains, the three women, a cat, and a fox didn’t feel lonely.

They stayed up late chatting by candlelight, forgetting the time, and it was nearly dawn when they went to sleep.

The next morning, they were awakened by the temple bells, all with dark circles under their eyes.

The main room had three chambers, just enough for each to have their own space, making it not crowded.

The mountains brightened early. Feng Jinyao got up first and called Yunxu and Lamei to come in and help with washing up.

They had already prepared hot water and brought in a fresh mountain breeze, which Feng Jinyao found particularly pleasant, despite the biting cold.

Lamei held a new set of clothes sent by Xu Mingyue the previous night. The fresh, simple outfit matched Feng Jinyao’s usual style.

As she helped Feng Jinyao dress, she quietly asked, “Miss, do you want to visit the temple fair today? I heard more people will come today.”

Her voice was full of excitement. Since entering the mansion, this was Lamei’s first time coming along for incense offering and she was very interested in the temple fair.

Yunxu glanced at her excited expression and teased, “You want to go, right?”

Lamei, her thoughts exposed, blushed and looked at Feng Jinyao, nodding with some shyness. “I used to visit temple fairs as a child, but the memories are vague. Yesterday reminded me of many things, so…”

At her age, it was normal for her to be less steady than Yunxu.

“It’s fine. We have nothing else to do. After breakfast, see if any of the maids want to go and take them with you. Just be back before lunch.”

“Thank you, Miss. Thank you, Miss.” Getting the nod, Lamei was more excited than receiving money during the New Year.

She served Feng Jinyao with even more dedication.

Breakfast was simple, a bowl of rice wine and osmanthus-flavored pearl balls, and a plate of chestnut cakes.

Feng Jinyao, who loved sweets, enjoyed it thoroughly.

Just as she put down her chopsticks, a cry came from the next room.

That was Xu Mingyue’s room! What could have happened? Feng Jinyao frowned and hurried over. Just as she reached the door, she saw a sleepy Bai Siruo arrive, still in her nightclothes, obviously just woken up.

“What’s going on? What’s going on?” The two entered, asking.

They saw Xu Mingyue looking anxious, her maids frantically searching around with serious expressions.

“Tuan Rong is missing.”

That was the orange cat most loved by Elder Xu. If he found out it was lost, he might get so angry it would make him sick.

“Don’t worry. It might have woken up early, seen everyone asleep, and gone out to play.”

Feng Jinyao comforted. Although she didn’t raise pets, she knew that this orange cat, raised by the Xu family since it was little, was very attached to its owner and wouldn’t run away easily. It was probably attracted by something and left.

“Yesterday at the temple fair, I saw a vendor selling fried fish. Miss, do you think Tuan Rong might have smelled it and ran off?”

Xu Mingyue’s maid Yunbai said anxiously.

“Maybe. You all go out and look along the road. We’ll join you soon.”

“Yes.”

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