The National Teacher pulled the little fox out of her sad mood. Well, wherever she was, she was living alone. This man might have a bad side, but he could understand her thoughts. Since he was willing to take care of her, she might as well stay with him for a while until she regained her strength.
After thinking it over, the little fox tugged at the National Teacher’s sleeve, asking him to loosen his grip on her a bit. She then extended her little paw, taking nine pieces of cake from the table and neatly arranging them.
“Nine? Nine?” The National Teacher guessed.
The little fox shook her head, signaling he was wrong. After thinking for a moment, she picked up a piece of cake, took a few bites, and placed it back on the table.
The National Teacher looked at the piece of cake she had bitten and smiled. "Nine pieces of cake plus the one you bit, are you called Little Nine?"
The little fox’s eyes squinted in a smile, nodding her head. Yes, I’m Little Nine. Why else would I have nine tails?
The National Teacher gently rubbed her head, messing up her fur playfully. "Alright, Little Nine."
Little Nine was completely charmed by the National Teacher's smile, almost drooling in admiration. She squeaked twice, still not knowing what his name was.
"Lián Mùxiū, my name," the National Teacher said with a smile.
"Yip?" Little Nine was astonished. He can read my mind and even explain things to me. How amazing! Lián Mùxiū? His name sounds so nice.
"Yip-yip," she responded enthusiastically.
The National Teacher heard her and took it as confirmation that she had remembered his name. However, what he didn’t know was that when Little Nine made the last "yip-yip," she was actually calling him "Mù Mù."
One day, when Little Nine’s tail had returned to its second form and she could speak human language, she would start calling him "Mù Mù." By then, the National Teacher would realize that, from the very beginning, Little Nine had given him a special name. But by then, it would be too late to change how she called him.
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When the Emperor, Lián Jǐngyì, returned from the hunt and heard that the National Teacher had taken in a little fox, he hurried over without even changing his clothes.
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He opened the tent flap and saw the National Teacher, smiling warmly, holding a white ball in his arms. He was feeding the fox a grape with his right hand.
"... Mùxiū, did I come to the wrong tent?" Lián Jǐngyì, though he had seen the National Teacher smile before, had never seen him smile so gently.
"Your Majesty, you should not refer to yourself as 'I,'" the National Teacher said without even lifting his head.
"I've been your brother for so many years. Calling myself 'I' would sound too distant," Lián Jǐngyì waved his hand nonchalantly as he walked over to sit at the table.
"Your Majesty, this isn’t appropriate. If the Censor hears you, he might report you to the Taifu," the National Teacher cautioned.
"Who cares? Whether I’m the Emperor or he’s the Emperor, just show me the fox," Lián Jǐngyì said, eager to see.
Lián Jǐngyì and Lián Mùxiū had grown up together. Lián Mùxiū had been found by Lián Jǐngyì when they snuck out of the palace together. He had no memory of his past, but because Lián Jǐngyì liked playing with him, the Emperor had given him the surname Lián and named him Mùxiū. Since then, Lián Mùxiū had always stayed by Lián Jǐngyì’s side.
They had grown up as close as brothers, never apart, and when Lián Jǐngyì became Emperor, Lián Mùxiū naturally became the National Teacher.
Little Nine, content in Lián Mùxiū’s arms and enjoying the food, suddenly saw a hand reaching toward her.
She bared her teeth at Lián Jǐngyì, clutching Lián Mùxiū’s sleeve tightly, refusing to let go. What’s this? Just because I have no spiritual power doesn’t mean anyone can grab me!
Lián Jǐngyì, seeing the little fox baring her teeth at him, understood she didn’t want him to touch her. He muttered to Lián Mùxiū, "Mùxiū, has your fox turned into a spirit? I haven’t even touched her, and she’s already showing her teeth. Will she bite me?"
"Heh." The National Teacher stroked Little Nine’s fur and fed her another grape. "Little Nine is indeed special. Your Majesty should not make sudden moves. If she bites you, don’t blame me for not warning you."
"Ugh, fine," Lián Jǐngyì sighed, "But this little fox has such an unusual reaction to you from the very first time. You two really have a bond," he added with an unspoken hint of jealousy.
Little Nine, sensing Lián Jǐngyì’s subtle resentment, looked at him with her big eyes, then glanced at Lián Mùxiū. What’s going on here?
Lián Mùxiū, amused, tapped Little Nine’s head. "What are you thinking? If you like something, eat more."
Little Nine shook her head, signaling she didn’t want to eat anymore.
Lián Mùxiū gently wiped her mouth and poured her a cup of water, taking special care of the little creature in his arms. After all, there was no other being in the world who was cared for so meticulously by the National Teacher.
Lián Jǐngyì watched the scene between the National Teacher and the little fox, feeling a complicated mix of emotions. He and Lián Mùxiū had grown up as brothers, and although they had always been close, something about Lián Mùxiū had changed after he became the National Teacher. Lián Jǐngyì couldn’t pinpoint the exact change, but it was there.
Just as they were sitting in the tent, a loud noise from outside interrupted the peaceful moment.
"Who dares to make such a racket outside my tent?" Lián Jǐngyì’s voice was sharp.