Half an hour earlier…
Qing Wu had to leave on some business and instructed someone to bring the meal to the garden, where Jiu Jiu would dine.
As one exquisite dish after another was placed on the table, Jiu Jiu’s mouth almost watered.
“So fragrant… delicious…”
Jiu Jiu placed Xiao Hui on the table and gave it a chicken leg.
The girl and the mouse ate with great delight.
Suddenly, Jiu Jiu’s hand was slapped.
A red mark instantly appeared on her small hand.
“Where did this beggar come from? How dare she cause trouble in Donggong!”
“Guards, drag her away and beat her to death with clubs!”
A woman dressed in luxurious silk robes coldly gave the order, looking at Jiu Jiu with utter disgust.
Jiu Jiu, who had been inexplicably slapped, darkened her expression.
“Who are you?”
Jiu Jiu wrinkled her nose.
She smelled awful!
As soon as she spoke, Jiu Jiu was seized by the servants behind the woman.
The maid attending to Jiu Jiu hurriedly said, “Miss Yushu, please do not harm the Little County Princess.”
“Little County Princess? How come I didn’t know there was a Little County Princess in Donggong?”
“Where did this imposter come from, daring to deceive her way into Donggong? Truly audacious.”
Qiao Yushu glanced at Jiu Jiu and said coldly, “Seize this audacious little imposter and throw her into the Beast Garden.”
“No, Miss Yushu, she really is the Little County Princess…” Before the maid could finish, she was slapped twice.
Jiu Jiu, who had been struggling, stopped when she heard she was to be thrown to the tigers.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jiuyuan had just listened to the maid’s report of the incident.
Xiao Jiuyuan’s face turned ashen, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
“Zhui Ying.”
“Yes.”
Zhui Ying pushed Xiao Jiuyuan’s wheelchair, swiftly heading toward the Beast Garden.
Xiao Jiuyuan had a passion for fierce beasts. Within Donggong, there was a courtyard where various beasts were specially raised by dedicated keepers.
Among them, the most ferocious and dominant was Xiao Jiuyuan’s beloved pet—a white tiger of overwhelming majesty.
Any living creature that entered its territory would be hunted and killed in an instant, becoming food in its belly.
The area where the white tiger resided was also the most dangerous part of the entire Beast Garden.
The slightest misstep could mean death.
A four-year-old child thrown into the white tiger’s territory had no chance of survival.
Yet, just as Xiao Jiuyuan anxiously rushed to the Beast Garden, a completely different scene was unfolding inside.
“Roar—”
The white tiger, sensing an intruder in its territory, immediately came to investigate.
It saw a small figure looking around curiously in its domain.
Upon seeing the tiger, the child showed no fear. Instead, she excitedly rushed toward it.
“Wow, Little White, you’re so beautiful!”
The white tiger picked up Jiu Jiu with its mouth and placed her on its back.
Jiu Jiu rode on the tiger’s back, not a trace of fear in her eyes.
She snorted and said, “Little White, let’s go. This Great King will take you to stir up some trouble.”
“Hmph, daring to bully this Great King? Let’s see how I deal with her!”
“Roar—”
With a long roar, the white tiger carried Jiu Jiu over the wall of the Beast Garden.
Once outside, a small, dusty head poked out from Jiu Jiu’s embrace.
“Squeak, squeak, squeak—”
Xiao Hui chattered away, and Jiu Jiu nodded, “I understand.”
“Little White, go this way.”
With Xiao Hui guiding the way, Jiu Jiu quickly found the person she was looking for.
At that moment, Qiao Yushu was playing the zither.
The maid beside her flattered sweetly, “Miss’s music is like heavenly melodies, no wonder the Crown Prince enjoys listening to you play so much.”
"Everyone outside says the Crown Prince is very fond of you, Miss, and even refused the Emperor's arranged marriage for your sake."
"We'll soon be calling you Crown Princess."
Qiao Yushu's lips curved upward. "Such sweet words. A reward for you!"
"Thank you, Miss." The maid knelt to express her gratitude.
As a song ended, Qiao Yushu asked the maid, "Has that little bastard been dealt with properly?"
"Rest assured, Miss. I personally watched that little bastard being thrown into the Beast Garden, into the most ferocious White Tiger enclosure. She's certainly dead!" the maid replied.
Qiao Yushu's lips curled, her eyes glinting coldly. "That reckless little bastard. If not for… I would have killed her long ago."
"Miss is right… Ah! What is that?" The maid screamed mid-sentence.
A majestic white tiger's head suddenly poked through the window.
"Roar—"
The tiger's roar frightened Qiao Yushu so much she nearly fainted.
"Xiao Bai." A clear child's voice rang out, and the tiger's roar immediately ceased.
The white tiger retreated a few steps, allowing Qiao Yushu and the others to see Jiu Jiu riding on its back.
"You little bastard, you're not dead?" Qiao Yushu glared at Jiu Jiu through gritted teeth.
Dare to insult me?
Jiu Jiu pointed her small finger. "Mice, bite her!"
As soon as she spoke, countless mice swarmed from all directions.
The mouse army quickly surrounded Qiao Yushu and her maid, their screams echoing continuously.
"Ah, my face…"
"You little bastard, you… you'll die a horrible death!"
"Save me, save me…"
From screams to curses, and finally to pleas for mercy.
Qiao Yushu wept and wailed.
Just as Qiao Yushu thought she would be bitten to death by the mice, a small figure stood before her.
"Who told you to kill me?" Jiu Jiu asked Qiao Yushu.
A flicker of struggle passed through Qiao Yushu's eyes.
Then Jiu Jiu added, "I'll only give you one chance. If you don't tell me, you'll wait to be bitten until you're a bloody mess, turned into an ugly monster everyone despises."
"No! I… I'll tell you, it's…" Qiao Yushu cried out in terror.
Just as she was about to reveal the mastermind's identity, a voice interrupted her.
"Little County Princess, why have you come here?"
It was Qing Wu.
Hearing the tiger's roar, Qing Wu grew worried and rushed over.
But he never expected to witness such a scene.
"What are you doing here?" Jiu Jiu gave Qing Wu a disdainful look.
Just as Qing Wu was about to speak, Jiu Jiu cut him off. "She tried to kill me. Are you going to do something about it?"
"Such a thing happened?" Qing Wu exclaimed in shock.
Qiao Yushu hurriedly cried out in protest, "General Qing Wu, save me! I have no grudge against the Little County Princess. Why would I want to kill her? The Little County Princess must have misunderstood something. Please, General Qing Wu, save me!"
"Little County Princess, Miss Yushu is His Highness's person. I'm afraid…" Qing Wu knew Qiao Yushu served a special purpose for Xiao Jiuyuan, so he tried to persuade Jiu Jiu.
Jiu Jiu interrupted him. "What if I refuse?"
"Little County Princess, she is His Highness's person. We can use her life to threaten His Highness, making him obediently follow your orders." To protect Qiao Yushu's life, Qing Wu went to great lengths.
Jiu Jiu stroked her chin thoughtfully before reluctantly agreeing.
Qing Wu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Then Jiu Jiu added, "You, hang her on a tree for me. Make sure all the servants in the mansion see her."
"This…" Qing Wu hesitated.
Jiu Jiu snorted coldly. "I knew you were trying to fool me."
"Hmph, this great king settles scores on the spot!"
"Xiao Bai, go!"
"Roar—"
The white tiger let out a long roar, opening its bloody maw as it pounced toward Qiao Yushu.
"Ah—"
Qiao Yushu screamed and fainted.
The tiger picked up the unconscious Qiao Yushu in its mouth, carried her outside, and flung her hard against a tree.
Qiao Yushu ended up securely caught on a tree branch.
"Little White, come back!"
Jiu Jiu called the white tiger back and climbed onto its back.
Under her command, the tiger leaped onto the roof in just a few bounds.
"From today onward, I am the boss of this estate."
"That useless father of mine—don’t pay him any mind. He’s nothing but a hopeless case…"
Xiao Jiuyuan, who had rushed over in a panic, saw the small figure riding on the tiger’s back like a mountain bandit, declaring her sovereignty.
Hearing her wave her little fists and call him useless, a hopeless case, Xiao Jiuyuan gritted his teeth, his temples throbbing with pain.
If he didn’t make her cry for her father and mother today, he’d be her father!