The Little Fox Spirit Doesn't Want to Carry a Cub - Chapter 27

This scene was, in truth, a bit startling.

The people of this dynasty had always believed in gods and feared demons. If an ordinary person were seen suddenly sprouting animal ears and a tail, most people would be terrified, if not outright aggressive.

But the current Crown Prince was no ordinary man.

Regarding the fact that Li Ruan was a little demon, Jiang Shen had long harbored suspicions. Therefore, seeing the youth reveal his original form didn’t bring much shock; instead, it felt like a logical conclusion. The youth’s behavior was unlike commoners, yet his martial prowess was staggering—it all made sense if he were a little demon.

Thus, seeing this scene, Jiang Shen’s first reaction was to send the attendants away, and his second was…

He really is something.

In such a strange place, he could fall into a deep, unguarded sleep, and even sleep until his ears and tail popped out. How could he be so muddled? Jiang Shen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He didn’t wake the boy immediately but knelt beside the small couch. He didn’t know if all demons looked like this—half-human and half-beast—nor did he know if all little demons’ hybrid forms were this adorable.

The youth was curled up like a small animal, holding that fluffy tail like a pillow under his head. He was sleeping very soundly, his lips slightly parted, murmuring incomprehensibly in his dreams. If he slept much longer, he’d likely drip drool onto his tail.

The pair of animal ears on his head was also charming. They were a vivid red, just like the tail, save for a small tuft of white fur at the tips. They drooped quietly on his head; as Jiang Shen leaned closer, his breath brushed against them, causing the ears to twitch sensitively.

Jiang Shen felt an itch in his heart and couldn’t resist reaching out to touch them. The youth likely didn’t mind his touch; when Jiang Shen withdrew his hand after a light brush, the boy moved his head as if trying to follow.

Just like a puppy.

“Jiang Shen…” Close up, Jiang Shen finally heard the murmuring. “Pet me some more…”

No one in this world could refuse such a request. At least, Jiang Shen couldn’t. Suppressing a smile, his palm settled onto that fluffy tail. It was warm and incredibly soft. This was the exact sensation he had felt when half-asleep that morning.

Jiang Shen was enchanted by the feeling. He kneaded and stroked gently, until the tip of the tail trembled with comfort. He stroked all the way to the base.

At the base of the tail, even the fur was sensitive. As Jiang Shen’s fingers brushed past, he saw the youth jolt.

“No…” He hugged his tail tightly, curling his body even tighter. “…Not there.”

“Not there?” Jiang Shen mused. He remembered that when he accidentally touched the tail that morning, it was exactly this spot that startled the boy awake.

He licked his lips, a trace of mischief rising in his heart. Try it again?

He softened his movements further, stroking up inch by inch along the soft fur and giving a light pinch at the very base.

“Mmm!” The youth’s body shrunk, letting out a soft, sweet moan.

The animal ears and tail vanished instantly without a trace. Jiang Shen withdrew his hand like lightning.

When Li Ruan woke up, he felt something was wrong. His consciousness was muddled, and he instinctively reached behind him, but felt nothing. However, a tingling sensation remained at his tailbone; even a touch from himself felt unbearable. He didn’t dare mess with it and sat up.

Only then did he see the man standing with his back to him by the couch.

“Jiang Shen?” Li Ruan blinked. “When did you get back?”

Jiang Shen didn’t turn around, his voice slightly husky. “…Just now.”

“Oh…” Li Ruan touched his hair, asking tentatively, “Then you didn’t… didn’t see anything strange, right?”

Jiang Shen: “…No.”

Likely because his spiritual power was constantly being drained, his ears and tail had been popping out accidentally these past few days. Several times he had woken up in Jiang Shen’s arms only to find his tail tightly wrapped around the man. It had made Li Ruan a restless sleeper; he would wake up early every morning for fear of scaring Jiang Shen to death with his ears and tail.

After days of poor sleep and a long journey today, he was truly exhausted. The scent of Jiang Shen filled this bedchamber; after staying here for a while, his spirit had relaxed, and he hadn’t been able to resist a nap. Fortunately, he hadn’t been caught.

Judging by Jiang Shen’s reaction, everything seemed fine. If he had really seen the ears and tail, how could he be so calm?

In reality, Jiang Shen was not calm at all. He looked down at a certain place that showed a clear outline even through layers of clothing and gritted his teeth. Since meeting this youth, his self-control had been pathetic.

Truly a beast.

“Why are you just standing there?” Li Ruan’s voice sounded right behind him. Jiang Shen stiffened as his sleeve was pulled. “I’m so hungry. Can we eat first?”

“…You eat first.” Fearing the boy would notice something, Jiang Shen kept his body tense and didn’t turn around. He pulled his sleeve from the boy’s hand. “I… I’ll bathe and change first.”

With that, he left the bedchamber without looking back.

After bathing and changing to settle his “issue,” Jiang Shen returned to the bedchamber once he felt he had regained his ascetic state. Li Ruan was leaning boredly against the table.

Seeing Jiang Shen enter, his eyes lit up. “You’re so slow! Come on, I’m starving, and your cub is starving too.”

Jiang Shen’s pace faltered. He hadn’t known the youth was a demon before, so he hadn’t taken the pregnancy talk seriously, assuming it was a delusion. But… was it possible that because demons were different from mortals, male demons could indeed carry children?

The thought flashed through his mind. His knowledge of demons was limited to folk legends; he vaguely recalled reading that some flower demons were hermaphrodites and could bear children regardless of appearance. Do fox demons… do the same?

Jiang Shen instinctively looked toward the youth’s waist and abdomen, feeling a surge of blood to his head. The desire he had just suppressed was rising again. He didn’t dare think further, cleared his mind, and sat beside the youth.

Only then did he notice something odd. Jiang Shen’s decision to let Li Ruan ride his sedan into the palace had intimidated many. Although the Prince wasn’t in the palace this evening and Li Ruan was dining alone, the palace had still prepared dinner according to the Prince’s specifications.

A table full of various dishes was laid out. Jiang Shen looked at the food, then at the youth who seemed completely unaware of any problem, and let out a silent sigh. He pretended to be nonchalant and asked casually, “These dishes have been out for so long… how are they still hot?”

Jiang Shen had been delayed at the Qianqing Palace for at least an hour. The dinner should have been cold, yet many dishes were still steaming. He looked at the soup in the center and suspected it might still be scalding.

Li Ruan froze completely. He had only thought about waiting for Jiang Shen to eat together, so he had used magic to keep the food warm. He hadn’t expected Jiang Shen to be gone so long that the warm food became an anomaly.

“I, I, I…” He tensed up like a small animal, whispering guiltily, “P-probably because it’s warm in this room!”

Early spring, warm. This little fox’s brain…

“Mm, you have a point.” Jiang Shen didn’t expose him and ladled a bowl of soup. “Eat quickly. Watch out, it’s hot.”

Li Ruan was simple-minded; hearing this, he assumed Jiang Shen didn’t suspect him. He quickly tossed the matter aside and began eating happily. Jiang Shen watched his carefree manner, liking him more the more he looked.

He didn’t plan to expose the fact that the little demon’s identity was out. The youth had said Jiang Shen used to call him “Little Fox,” which meant that when they first met, the original Jiang Shen likely knew his true nature. If he knew then but was hiding it now, there must be a reason. Jiang Shen was willing to wait and see what else this little fellow had planned.

However, there was one more pressing matter.

“Little Fox,” Jiang Shen called.

Li Ruan looked up from his bowl. “What is it?” He wasn’t used to the human way of eating; his face was buried in the bowl, and a grain of rice clung to his lip.

Jiang Shen reached out to gently wipe it away. “Now that you’ve followed me into the palace, you must be more cautious in your words and actions than before. Do you understand?”

“I know,” Li Ruan said. His expression was blank, not looking like he understood at all.

Jiang Shen didn’t want to be too harsh and scare him. “But what you said to Captain Yu today… was not cautious enough.”

“What did I say?” Li Ruan thought for a moment. “‘Accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger’?”

Jiang Shen nodded.

“But isn’t he your confidant?” Li Ruan blinked, seemingly puzzled. “Doesn’t a confidant mean you can say anything? Back at the Ancestral Temple, I was always by your side, and you didn’t hide anything from him.”

Jiang Shen was surprised. He had thought the youth didn’t understand palace rules and spoke recklessly, but he actually… knew?

“So, you weren’t on guard before Yu Xiu because you felt he was trustworthy?” Jiang Shen asked.

“Mmm…” Li Ruan looked at Jiang Shen. “I just felt I could trust your judgment.” Because he trusted Jiang Shen’s judgment, he also trusted the people Jiang Shen kept by his side.

“Don’t worry, I won’t talk nonsense in front of outsiders. I know,” Li Ruan said, realizing what Jiang Shen was worried about. “A-Xue told me before I came. There are many rules in the palace, and many people who like to scheme and harm others. I’m not afraid for myself, but I can’t let my mistakes affect you.”

“A-Xue?”

Li Ruan instinctively covered his mouth, looking innocently at Jiang Shen. He had already learned how to deal with the man: when faced with something he couldn’t explain, he would stay silent and just stare at him. If he stared long enough, Jiang Shen wouldn’t have the heart to ask further.

Sure enough, Jiang Shen lost to that gaze. He sighed, “Fine, I won’t ask.”

Li Ruan patted Jiang Shen’s shoulder, comforting him in return: “I know you’re worried, but rest easy. Since I’ve prepared to accompany you into the palace, I will definitely protect you. I certainly won’t harm you.”

A muddled little demon full of loopholes was seriously saying he would protect him. Jiang Shen laughed.

“Do you not believe me?” Li Ruan saw his expression and said seriously, “Don’t always think I’m stupid. I’m very useful, and I can really help you.”

He had retrieved the secret letter before, and he had extinguished the fire at the temple—though Jiang Shen had forgotten the former, and he couldn’t speak of the latter.

“No, I don’t disbelieve you.” Jiang Shen stroked the youth’s hair. Knowing he was a demon, many things that were previously inexplicable now made sense. For instance, the rain that put out the fire that night likely had everything to do with this little demon.

Without Jiang Shen knowing, this little fellow had probably already protected him once. Perhaps more than once.

But… in this imperial city, human hearts were far scarier than demons.

Jiang Shen thought for a moment and said gently, “I’m just more worried about your safety. While in the palace, protect yourself first, then worry about me. Okay?”

Li Ruan thought for a while and nodded in compromise. “Okay.”

Jiang Shen smiled and gave him a piece of sugar cake. “Eat.”

Li Ruan buried his head in his food again. Jiang Shen watched him, feeling a bit more at ease. This little fox might seem muddled, but his perspective was unexpectedly clear; he wasn’t entirely without a sense of guard.

As long as they carefully navigated this period until the Emperor abdicated the throne to him, the youth would have nothing to worry about in the palace.

The only problem was…

Jiang Shen looked at the youth’s back—where a tail was once again flickering and wagging happily because of the delicious food—and let out a silent sigh.

It’s time to dismiss the internal attendants in the palace, Jiang Shen thought helplessly..