Chapter 20 The Fox Spirit Appears [VIP]

Chapter 20 The Fox Spirit Appears [VIP]

Chapter Summary: "Speaking human language?!"

"Madam, you must be tired from your journey. Please take a seat!"

Lotus Embroidery Shop, Qinghui Garden.

A lotus pavilion stands gracefully before the terrace, its reflection shimmering on the small bridge and flowing water, where swimming fish frolic joyfully.

It was a sweltering day. The magistrate's wife, exhausted from her journey, instructed her attendants before even entering the embroidery shop that there was no need to go into the main hall. She told the He sisters to simply sit and enjoy the lotus blossoms for a while in the scenic Qinghui Garden.

Inside the Xiehui Pavilion in the garden, the Prefect's wife, surrounded by attendants and exuding the fragrance of sandalwood, had just taken her seat. Before Pan Yue could even serve her the tea, fruit, and snacks specially prepared for her, Madam Huang waved her silk handkerchief, interrupting the He Xi sisters' approach to offer their greetings, and went straight to the point: "I'm really busy today. We're acquainted, so there's no need for such formalities, ladies. Just have someone quickly bring my son's white fox fur coat!"

He Xi and the other woman paused in their curtsy, their eyes meeting, and they both stiffened.

"how?"

Madam Huang paused slightly, noticing the unusual expressions on the two men's faces. She abruptly put down her teacup, looked them over, and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

"Please forgive me, Madam!"

Sensing the displeasure in her tone, He Yue instinctively trembled. Before she could speak, she knelt down with a thud, kowtowed twice, and then looked up at Madam Huang with tears in her eyes.

"My sisters and I have been fortunate enough to receive your favor for many years, and have devoted ourselves to tailoring and sewing clothes for everyone in the household. Today, we are even more fortunate to have your eye on us and have you sew a priceless white fox fur coat for your son. But that fox fur coat..."

The more the people below spoke, the more Huang, seated at the head of the table, looked down, her gaze growing increasingly cold and distant.

Their eyes met, and He Yue paused, then suddenly lowered her eyes, pondering what Madam Pan had told her yesterday. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "There is something I have never told you, Madam. The animals I embroider, whether tigers, rabbits, eagles, dogs, dragons, phoenixes, deer, or fish... are all lifelike. This is not only because my master's skills are superb, but also because I have a natural talent for it, and more importantly, because I have had a special affinity with animals since I was a child!"

"A destined connection?"

Buddhism highly values ​​the concept of "karma" or "predestined affinity".

Madam Huang lightly tapped the tea table, glancing down at the two sisters below who were meandering around the hall, avoiding the main topic. After a moment's thought, she said indifferently, "Your embroidery skills are renowned throughout Yunzhou!"

He Yue dared not beat around the bush, but lowered her head even further and said in a muffled voice, "I dare not lie to you, Madam. Three days ago, I followed your instructions and embroidered the fox fur collar on your brocade robe. But I was too tired and fell asleep next to the fox fur collar. I even had a dream!"

"Dream?"

The hand tapping on the coffee table suddenly stopped, and Huang's brows furrowed, her face growing increasingly grim.

"yes!"

With her heart pounding, He Yue clenched her fists slightly as she slowly said, "So that Madam may know, that day in the storeroom, I saw a fox in my dream. It was pure white and its eyes were full of sorrow. I didn't understand what it meant, but the fox stared at me and spoke in human language!"

"Speaking human language?!"

He Yue nodded slightly, and before Huang could ask any further questions, following Pan Yue's instructions from the day before, she looked up at Huang with tears in her eyes and said, "Your happy mother and son are making my mother and son suffer a separation!"

Huang's brow twitched, and her expression suddenly darkened.

Before she could answer, He Yue suddenly sat up straight, her brows furrowed, and said rapidly, "I was startled awake from my dream, my heart pounding with fear. I didn't dare delay and went to check on that fox-like white-collar worker."

The conversation suddenly stopped!

It was as if the music, at its climax, had come to an abrupt end, and under the Xiehui Pavilion, one could hear a pin drop.

His clear eyes were unfocused, filled with a sense of desolation and unease.

Infected by her emotions, the maids around her all clenched their fists, widened their eyes, and craned their necks, looking uneasy.

"Who would have thought!"

Noticing the gazes directed at her from both sides, He Yue's eyes widened, she suddenly sat up straight, and abruptly spoke.

"The fox white collar was perfectly fine just half an hour ago, but when I went to check, it actually had a wet patch on it!"

"ah!"

"Aye!"

"Stop saying that!"

"..."

The maids on either side turned their backs, and some of the more timid ones covered their ears, no longer daring to listen.

As expected, everyone reacted. A glint flashed in He Yue's eyes, and she suddenly lowered her gaze, continuing, "It concerns the Madam and the Eldest Young Master, so I dare not make any rash judgments. Although I was extremely frightened, I still mustered up my courage and tasted the dampness."

He Yue glanced at Huang Shi and said, "It's damp and slightly astringent, it really is tears!"

"What Lady Yue means."

Finally understanding the meaning behind her words, Madam Huang ignored the discussions around her, slightly curled the five fingers tapping on the armrest, glanced down at the hall below, and said coldly, "My son's fox spirit has been soaked with tears by that fox spirit who appeared in his dream?"

The pavilion beneath the setting sun vanished in an instant.

A sliver of sunlight slanted into the pavilion, carrying with it a sultry and uneasy atmosphere, as if a thunderstorm was imminent.

A bead of cold sweat fell before her eyes, and He Yue's hands, which were clasped in front of her, had clenched into fists without her noticing.

Fortunately, the current situation is just as Madam Huang predicted regarding the story of the fox spirit appearing in a dream.

He Yue steadied herself, propped herself up slightly, and said sincerely, "Madam, you are wise. If it hadn't happened to me, how could I have believed in such a thing as a fox spirit appearing? You know my sister and me well. That white fox fur coat was custom-made for the eldest young master. How could we have been so careless?"

She looked up to meet Madam Huang's gaze, which was still faintly frosty, and continued, "Madam's loving motherly heart is known to everyone in Yunzhou. Madam is a devout Buddhist, so she must know that heaven and earth have feelings and all things have spirits; now the eldest son has become the martial arts champion, and in the future he will follow the emperor to fight on the battlefield and make meritorious achievements. However, all wars, no matter how righteous the initial cause may be, are acts that take lives!"

"I am terrified!"

Before Madam Huang could respond, He Yue immediately prostrated herself on the ground, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Madam is kind-hearted and doesn't even touch meat. Now that a fox spirit has appeared before us, even if Madam scolds me, how dare I take such a great risk and let the eldest young master wear this white fox fur coat that is stained with ominous blood from birth?!"

The swaying lotus blossoms silenced the entire garden.

The sun was shining in the west, and no one spoke for a long time inside the pavilion.

After an unknown amount of time, the breeze that swept through the pavilion brought a chill. Madam Huang frowned, then looked at He Xi and Pan Yue, who stood calmly to the side. After a moment's thought, she said, "Does Madam mean that, apart from the fact that the fox fur collar got wet and half a month's work wasted, my son's winter clothes should remain the same?"

"Replying to Madam!"

He Xi suddenly raised her eyes, took a step forward, and curtsied gracefully, saying, "I heard that a fox spirit appeared in my dream, and I was also very frightened. I dared not make a decision on my own, and I was afraid of delaying Madam's time to prepare clothes for the eldest young master. After discussing with my sister, I dared to ask the villagers to collect about a hundred rooster tail feathers from Yanggu."

As she gestured to the servants to bring the brocade robe, she continued, "Sew feathers into the collar to replace the fox fur!"

"Rooster tail feathers?"

Huang was taken aback, and her brows furrowed instantly.

He Xi knelt before him, explaining neither humbly nor arrogantly, “Madam, have you not heard that the rooster possesses five virtues? ‘Wearing a crown on its head signifies culture; its spurs signify martial prowess; its courage to fight when an enemy is before it signifies bravery; its calling to others when it finds food signifies benevolence; and its faithfulness in keeping watch at night signifies trustworthiness’ [Note]! I believe these five virtues perfectly match your character, young master!”

Discussions quietly began to circulate.

Sensing the relaxed atmosphere in the pavilion, He Xi raised her eyes slightly and respectfully addressed Madam Huang, saying, "I only hope that Madam will not blame my sister and me for presumptuously guessing your intentions. I only wish that your son's career will be as brilliant as a rooster, soaring high like a whirlwind!"

The words were powerful and resonant, each one carrying a clear and firm tone.

"The rooster, adorned in splendor, rises with a startling gust of wind."

Madam Huang took the tea offered by the maid, paused slightly as she lifted the lid, murmured the words He Xi had spoken, took a small sip, put down the teacup, and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Madam Xi!"

He Xi felt a sense of relief, but before she could even exhale, she saw the person seated folding their robes, straightening their posture, and saying calmly, "Only that fox spirit..."

He Xi trembled and knelt down beside He Yue with a thud.

Madam Pan's idea only goes this far; if Madam Huang still doesn't believe it...

The two exchanged glances, unsure of what to do, when suddenly a loud rustling sound came from outside the pavilion. A strong wind blew, causing the lotus leaves to sway and startling sand and stones into the air.

The two of them instinctively turned around.

Outside the pavilion, clouds had already gathered and sand and stones were flying.

"lady!"

"Madam, be careful!"

A strong wind blew the hair at her temples, blinding the maids on either side and causing them to bend over.

With each helping, they finally managed to lift Huang, who was in the main seat, up. Then they heard a clanging sound outside the pavilion, and vaguely heard an ancient tree branch break. The raging wind suddenly stopped, and everything was quiet.

The crowd looked at each other with alarmed expressions, glancing out of the pavilion. Their expressions quickly changed.

It wasn't the withered lotus leaves and the messy surroundings that made me feel the strange atmosphere outside the Xiehui Pavilion, where a misty haze had suddenly appeared and a warm breeze was blowing.

They seemed to be in a magnificent palace, while places like Lotus Embroidery Shop and Yanggu Valley in Yunzhou had vanished without a trace.

Supporting herself with her maid's left hand, Madam Huang instinctively tightened her grip. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and a maid standing below the pavilion suddenly shouted, "Fox?!"

Everyone looked up abruptly, following the maid's gesture.

But amidst the misty haze, on the courtyard wall as tall as a person, beside a honeysuckle swaying gently in the wind, a white fox, which had appeared out of nowhere, sat atop the wall, coldly surveying its surroundings.

Although it is said to be a white fox, its demeanor seems somewhat unusual.

But the fox was pure white, with only a red dot between its brows; though called a fox, it resembled more a celestial being in a jade palace, draped in a crane cloak, coldly observing the affairs of the mortal world, aloof and unapproachable.

Songsong?!

Pan Yue happened to be at the foot of Xiehui Pavilion. Before she could rest for a moment, she looked up and saw the fox. Her eyes lit up.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the panicked figures around her. A plan formed in her mind, and she gave the He sisters a wink. Suddenly, she rushed forward, her face beaming with surprise, and exclaimed, "A fox spirit?!"

She turned towards the pavilion and continued, "There really are fox spirits in this world!"

He Xi and her sister were taken aback for a moment, then suddenly understood.

“It’s him!” He Yue nodded slightly to her, then suddenly clasped her hands together, knelt down while smoothing her clothes, and turned to Huang Shi, saying, “Madam Huang, this fox spirit is the one I saw in my dream!”

"The fox spirit has appeared!"

He Xi shouted loudly, then knelt down and called upon his men, "Everyone in the manor, let us pray to the fox spirit for protection!"

"May the Fox Spirit protect me!"

"May the Fox Spirit protect me!"

With a series of thuds, a huge crowd knelt down inside and outside the pavilion.

After recovering from her initial shock, Madam Huang looked around the garden and her light-colored eyes trembled slightly. After a moment, she released her grip on the maid's hand, clasped her hands together, and murmured, "May the Great Immortal protect my son..."

A faint whisper of "Bless my son" drifted on the wind. Pan Yue, standing below the steps, breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to take advantage of the crowd's inattention and leave, she looked up and saw Songsong on the wall staring intently at her. His expression was not as excited and enthusiastic as usual, but rather... complicated and resentful.

A sense of melancholy?

Pan Yue was stunned, not understanding what was going on. Songsong seemed annoyed by the commotion under the pavilion. It gave her one last deep look, flicked its tail, turned around, and leaped over the wall.

"Thanks to my wife this time!"

Before one could think further, Huang's voice came from inside the pavilion.

Pan Yue turned around and saw Huang standing in front of the He sisters, helping them up while sighing with lingering fear, "If it weren't for Lady Yue's insistence on her own opinion and speaking out for justice today, I would have been foolish enough to harm my son without even realizing it!"

"What are you saying, Madam!"

He Yue waved her hands repeatedly, looking terrified, and said, "It is because of Madam's sincere devotion to Buddhism that the fox spirit appeared and enlightened the people!"

"Guidance?"

As if she understood something, Madam Huang paused slightly while holding the two people's hands, her brows immediately relaxing. She turned to her attendants and instructed, "Go back and tell the master that from this day forward, no one in the magistrate's office shall hunt mountain foxes again! And no fox-white clothing shall be worn inside or outside the mansion!"

"yes!"

The maids on either side responded gracefully.

Under the Xiehui Pavilion, upon hearing Huang's words, Pan Yue's eyes lit up and the corners of her lips slightly lifted.

Half an hour later, in the cool shade of the setting sun in front of the Lotus Embroidery Shop.

As the magistrate's wife and her entourage drove further and further away and turned the street corner, everyone under the eaves breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was really thrilling!"

"It's good that you survived safely! A great disaster is sure to bring good fortune!"

"In my opinion, the greatest contributor today is...my wife?!"

He Xi turned around with a beaming smile, but before she could even say thank you, she looked up and saw Pan Yue, who had been resting in the side hall, carrying uneaten plain noodles and fruit through the doorway. She was startled, quickly lifted her skirt, and hurried after her.

"Please wait, my lady!"

The sound of hurried footsteps grew louder as they approached. Pan Yue instinctively stopped, but before she could turn around, a gust of wind swept from behind, and the food box in her hand was snatched away.

He Xi took her arm and leaned closer to look at her face. Then she straightened up and pretended to scold her, "Why are you in such a hurry, my lady? Are you still blaming my second uncle for not recognizing a gem in gold?"

"What are you saying, my lady?!"

Concerned about Wu Song, who had left without saying goodbye the day before and hadn't returned all night, Pan Yue was taken aback upon hearing this, a hint of embarrassment flashing in her eyes. She quickly waved her hand and said, "Please don't be offended, my lady. It's just that we've been delayed here quite a bit today. I'm afraid the pancake shop is too busy, and Wu Da alone might not be able to manage it all."

"Still denying it!"

He Xi feigned displeasure, lightly shoved her, stopped, turned towards the embroidery shop, pouted, and said to her, "Madam has done an unparalleled job for my embroidery shop. Just now, my second uncle personally instructed that in the future, if there is anything needed, whether it is tea, fruit, steamed cakes, or even just a little something... as long as it is available from Madam, we will get it from her!"

"this……"

"If my wife is still worried!"

Before Pan Yue could respond, He Xi glared at her and made a move to pull her back: "Come back with me now to finalize the contract?"

Pan Yue looked up towards the direction of the embroidery shop.

Under the slanting rays of the setting sun, the two men from the He family, Uncle He and his daughter, had not yet left. When they saw her looking up, one of them bowed and the other curtsied, giving her a solemn salute.

Pan Yue quickly returned the greeting, then, after thinking for a moment, turned to the free-spirited He Xi and said, "In any case, regardless of yesterday or today, thank you for your thoughtfulness, Madam Xi!"

Before He Xi could respond, she added, "But I really have something to attend to today. If you don't mind, I'll come back tomorrow when I have some free time to discuss the contract with you!"

"Okay!" He Xiwu had no objection. She took her hand and happily said, "Let's go! I'll take you home!"

Pan Yue smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Lady Xi!"

A gentle breeze blows, the clouds are blue; wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys, and the fragrance of lotus blossoms wafts from the willows.

The long street is deserted, a pair of beautiful figures jostle and tease each other; in the vast world, true friends are found when the path turns around.

[Author's Note]

Note: "The rooster possesses five virtues: the one that wears a crown on its head signifies refinement... the one that keeps watch at night without fail signifies trustworthiness." —Han Ying, *Han Shi Wai Zhuan*