Chapter 13: If He Defies the Imperial Decree, I Will Annihilate His Entire Family!
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Ji Ci retracted her claws and peeked outside. To intercept the eunuch delivering the imperial edict ahead of time, she had to wait along the only road leading outside the palace.
But her stomach was growling.
Just as Ji Ci hesitated between “catching the eunuch” or “feeding herself first,” the meal was delivered right on time.
Her eyes lit up—no matter the world’s vastness, eating comes first! She immediately decided: food first.
After a hearty feast, Ji Ci rubbed her round little belly contentedly and jumped straight out the window.
“Time to work!”
Dongfang Jibai’s eyelashes trembled; he could now actually hear Ji Ci’s “system” voice!
It turned out the system had assigned Ji Ci the task of intercepting the eunuch carrying the imperial decree!
Had he not heard Ji Ci’s thoughts, he would have thought she was running away!
Fortunately, she was just working!
Ji Ci sprinted to the street and spotted the eunuch’s carriage heading toward the General’s Residence.
She quickly ran ahead, scanning the surroundings—few pedestrians, the perfect moment to use her powers.
She placed her tiny paws on the road and activated her abilities.
In an instant, the plants beside the road grew wildly; thick vines instantly wrapped around the carriage wheels!
The carriage jolted to a halt. The eunuch, clutching the imperial edict, was thrown off balance and tumbled out.
The edict slipped from his hands, spinning through the air.
Ji Ci seized the moment, leapt up, and with a precise midair kick sent the bright yellow scroll flying into the blazing forge of the nearby blacksmith’s shop!
Flames instantly engulfed the imperial decree.
The eunuch, terrified beyond belief, scrambled forward and reached into the fire with bare hands to snatch the scroll.
But the edict was already charred and unrecognizable.
Shaking like a leaf, the eunuch trembled uncontrollably.
“E-Eunuch… what… what do we do now?” stammered the small attendant nearby.
The eunuch’s face was ashen as he clutched the ruined edict and climbed back onto the carriage. “Return to the palace.”
The guards hurriedly cleared the vines tangled on the wheels, explaining, “The eunuch was startled; wild vines wrapped around the wheels…”
The eunuch scowled, voice weak, “Nothing wrong with me… but His Majesty… this could cause trouble.”
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Inside the palace, the eunuch knelt at the Emperor’s feet, tears streaming down his face as he held the scorched imperial edict.
“Your Majesty, forgive me! On the way to deliver the decree, we encountered a strange incident—the wheels were entangled by monstrous vines, I was thrown from the carriage, and the edict… the edict accidentally fell into the fire… I deserve death. I beg for your punishment!”
The eunuch sobbed, sniffling pitifully.
The Emperor frowned and waved his hand, “Forget it, I will write another copy.”
Relieved, the eunuch quickly got up and attentively prepared the ink.
With the new edict written, he set off again.
This time, clutching the scroll like a precious treasure, he proceeded cautiously.
Ji Ci trailed behind but found no chance to strike. The carriage arrived safely at the General’s Residence.
An idea suddenly brightened Ji Ci’s eyes.
Just as the eunuch stepped off and steadied himself to announce the edict, Ji Ci leapt down from the eaves and crashed precisely into his arms.
The eunuch slipped and staggered backward, shouting in surprise; the scroll flew out of his hands again!
Ji Ci bounced off the ground, using the momentum to launch another perfect midair kick! The bright yellow scroll arced through the air and landed squarely into a passing night fragrance sedan!
Feeling proud of her accurate footwork, Ji Ci lifted her head arrogantly—she could definitely play soccer.
“My edict! My precious edict!” The eunuch collapsed to the ground, face pale, wailing in despair as if he’d lost his parents.
Several guards held their noses and frantically retrieved the scroll from the muck.
The scroll was filthy and reeked terribly, disgusting everyone.
The trembling eunuch took the scroll and ran to the riverbank, frantically dunking and scrubbing it.
But after washing, the characters were blurred beyond recognition, and the pungent stench of urine lingered stubbornly.
From afar, Ji Ci watched all this with her mouth nearly stretched to her ears in a grin.
“Eunuch… do you still plan to announce this edict?” asked the steward of the General’s Residence, holding his nose and hesitating behind the eunuch.
Trembling, the eunuch unfolded the wet, foul-smelling scroll—its ink smeared beyond recognition.
He sighed in despair, rolled up the scroll, shook his head, and muttered, “Return to the palace.”
Back in the palace hall, the eunuch grimly reported the second “accident.”
Xue Yingxue clenched her teeth in anger and shouted, “Father! Write another! I refuse to believe these sinister events will keep happening one after another!”
The Emperor, now losing patience, promptly grabbed his brush and penned a new decree.
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The eunuch had learned his lesson; this time he didn’t dare ride in a carriage but walked out of the palace carrying the edict.
Unexpectedly, near the imperial garden’s fish pond, a red shadow flashed—Ji Ci shot out like lightning and snatched the scroll!
“Where did that wild fox come from? Catch it!” the eunuch yelled shrill.
Ji Ci leapt onto an artificial rock, glanced back at the guards chasing her with swords drawn, and snorted.
Catch her? Dream on.
She slipped into a pavilion, tossed the edict onto the ground, then gleefully relieved herself and squatted on the scroll, leaving a “souvenir.”
Admiring her handiwork, Ji Ci wagged her tail in satisfaction—being an animal was great; she could do as she pleased without anyone accusing her of bad manners!
When the guards found the scroll, a glaring yellow pile shocked the eunuch’s face green with disgust.
“T-This…” the eunuch stammered, unable to speak properly, “How am I supposed to explain this to His Majesty?”
The guards exchanged uneasy looks, none daring to respond.
The eunuch feared for his life, desperately washed the scroll, and steeled himself to report back to the palace.
“Coming back so quickly? Has the edict been delivered?” the Emperor asked without looking up.
The eunuch shakily produced the wet scroll and laid it on the Emperor’s desk. As the Emperor opened it, a pungent stench hit his face, nearly making him faint.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
The eunuch fell to his knees, “Your Majesty, I suspect a demon is causing trouble at the General’s Residence. A red fox has repeatedly interfered with the delivery of the edict—just now, it was in the imperial garden…”
“A fox?” The Emperor frowned. “Where would a fox come from at the General’s Residence?”
“I do not know, Your Majesty.” The eunuch stammered, unable to offer any explanation.
“Enough. Since the edict cannot be delivered, let Dongfang Jibai come to the palace himself. I will speak to him personally,” the Emperor said irritably, waving dismissively.
The eunuch felt as if pardoned and hurriedly withdrew.
Xue Yingxue giggled beside the throne, “Father, do you think Dongfang Jibai will obediently accept the decree?”
“He is a subject. To defy an imperial decree is treason punishable by death. If he resists today, I will destroy the entire Dongfang family and make an example of him! A subject must know his place,” the Emperor said, his eyes flashing with lethal intent.