Chapter 142: Do I Look Like a Failure to You?

[Master, it seems all the prey along this path have been scared away by a natural predator. If you go any further, you’ll be stepping into a tiger’s den!] the little rascal warned.

So that’s it. Most prey have an innate fear, and as the tiger is the king of the forest, it’s only natural that other animals tremble at its presence. No wonder they hadn’t seen a single hair along the way.

Chu Ge glanced back at her small follower trailing behind and didn’t expect him to be of much help. “I suspect there’s a tiger’s den ahead. Do you want to come along?”

The servant seemed oblivious to the fact that Chu Ge was addressing him. “Huh?”

Chu Ge had no choice but to repeat herself. Although she disliked repeating herself, if this guy insisted on tagging along, he would surely become tiger food. Then, well, someone would definitely hold her accountable.

“The princess consort says there’s a tiger’s den ahead. Are you coming or not?”

The servant twitched his mouth, disbelief written all over his face. “His Majesty ordered me here, so of course I’m coming along.”

[Master, he says you’re crazy and talking nonsense!] the little rascal whispered.

Chu Ge raised an eyebrow, appreciating once again the little rascal’s ability to read others’ minds.

“Fine, if you want to feed the tiger, then follow along.”

She didn’t bother arguing further. She had warned him, but he refused to listen. If he couldn’t escape and ended up as tiger food, it wouldn’t be her problem.

Feigning fear, the servant continued to lag behind, lazy as ever.

Chu Ge rode her horse while he trudged on foot. They climbed a small hill, then a larger one. The servant was drenched in sweat, suspecting Chu Ge was just toying with him.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the air. The servant’s body stiffened; his hair stood on end, goosebumps prickling every inch of skin. His hot sweat turned cold. “What’s that noise!?”

Chu Ge showed no concern. “A tiger, what else? I told you it was a tiger, yet you insisted on coming.”

At that, the servant dropped to the ground in a squat. “Princess Consort Qi! Behind you! Behind you! Oh my god! Help! There’s a tiger!…”

A puddle of yellow liquid formed on the ground. Shaking uncontrollably, the servant scrambled to his feet and bolted away, leaving Chu Ge behind. He didn’t care about losing his shoes or the bleeding blisters on his feet; all he wanted was to flee down the mountain. Whether Chu Ge lived or died was her own business; it had nothing to do with him.

Chu Ge stared wordlessly at his retreating back. If you’re cowardly, just don’t come along, you little chicken.

Turning back, the tiger yawned, revealing its blood-filled maw. It then stuck out its tongue, licking its dagger-like teeth, flicked its needle-sharp white whiskers, shivered all over, and began to stride forward.

Its fur was a rich golden yellow interspersed with white, marked by bold black stripes. Its green eyes gleamed fiercely as it swaggered toward Chu Ge inside the iron cage.

Squinting, Chu Ge drew a dagger. Since the locals here couldn’t cultivate spiritual power, she would stand on equal footing with them—no need for magic. Let’s see how she would confront a tiger!

Feeling threatened, the tiger suddenly opened its blood-red jaws, baring its sharp teeth, its tail erect, lunging repeatedly in Chu Ge’s direction.

The tiger burst through bushes, the leaves rustling wildly.

Chu Ge braced herself defensively and stabbed fiercely at the tiger’s eye with her dagger!

The eyes are the weakest point of all living creatures!

“Roar! Roar!” The tiger emitted a mournful cry but quickly sprang back up and counterattacked, attempting to swipe at Chu Ge with its claws.

Chu Ge’s body was still too fragile, her skin tender. Without missing a beat, the tiger’s claws raked a bloody scratch across her arm.

Gazing at the blood trickling down her arm, a glint of bloodlust flashed in Chu Ge’s eyes. She lightly licked the wound with her tongue, leaving fresh red marks at the corners of her mouth. “Come on! Keep going!”

One of the tiger’s eyes was wounded. It began circling Chu Ge in place, trying to find her weak spot.

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Qi Ming had already hunted down quite a few prey, his servants trailing behind laden with trophies.

“Long live the Crown Prince! Mighty and imposing!” The continuous praise made Qi Ming somewhat overconfident, causing him to miss his next few shots.

Chu Ge’s attendant, descending from the mountain, finally reached the emperor’s camp and rushed straight to the emperor, dropping to his knees. “Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Bad news! Princess Consort Qi has gone to face the tiger!”

Catching his breath several times, one could imagine how fast the servant had run.

The emperor sprang up instantly. “What! Princess Consort Qi has provoked a tiger!?”

Murmurs rippled through the audience.

The princess bore a worried expression. “Oh heavens! Our idol must hold on!”

Another princess exclaimed, “Damn it! I finally found a woman to admire and was looking forward to bonding with my sister-in-law. How could she be doomed in a tiger’s jaws!? Father! Please speak up and save her!”

All eyes turned to the emperor. As Chu Ge’s husband, Prince Qi Xiu remained calm, though he was also Zhongli.

The emperor looked at his second son. “Why aren’t you worried at all?”

Zhongli replied, “Chu Ge is the emperor’s wife. I trust she can handle it.”

The emperor stroked his beard, then smiled after a long pause and sat down. “In that case, everyone needn’t fret. Let us watch together with Prince Qi and see how the princess consort performs!”

Chu You snorted lightly, secretly hoping Chu Ge’s recklessness would lead to her demise in the tiger’s jaws.

The empress looked on with disdain. Women should fulfill their roles within the harem—needlework, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were proper pursuits. Fighting and hunting were for savages.

The empress’s views were rather old-fashioned, but they reflected the traditions of this continent over millennia. For thousands of years, women had been expected to support their husbands and raise children. Earning a living and going to war were men’s responsibilities.

As dusk fell, hoofbeats sounded down the mountain—clop, clop, clop. The first to return was Crown Prince Qi Ming, his spoils abundant, servants struggling to carry everything on horseback.

Other nobles and princes arrived gradually, their hauls less impressive but still respectable.

Some were lucky enough to catch the nine-colored brocade quail, others a spotted deer, and even a foolish roe deer’s antler.

It was said that one prince had been hunting wild rabbits but scared away a wild roe deer instead. The antler was left behind, and the prince, hoping for good fortune, picked it up. The deer would grow new antlers, but that prince might never encounter such prey again.

As night deepened and the sun dipped westward, Chu Ge still hadn’t returned. Zhongli dispatched several men to follow the servant who had come down earlier. “The tiger is huge; the emperor’s wife likely can’t handle it alone. Send more people to bring her back. The tiger’s hide could become a fine rug—what a blessing today.”

Chu You smiled sardonically. This Prince Qi was truly bold. At this hour, Chu Ge might already have been digested by the tiger, yet he dreamed of tiger skin. What a fantasy.

The emperor and the others relished a twist in the tale. They hoped for a miracle from Chu Ge rather than the grim outcome of her being eaten.

(Let’s set a small goal: remember “Book Guest Residence” in one second.)