"Look, what is that?" Qin Yuhang pointed ahead, took down the bow and arrow from his horse's back, drew the bow and shot forward, but was unexpectedly pushed by Ye Hui's elbow, causing the arrow to fly askew.
"What's wrong, my dear?"
"Quickly come down and see if it's hurt," Ye Hui had already clearly seen the animal's shape. The night had just fallen and was not very dark, and the scenery dozens of meters away was clearly visible. A black wolf stood with its head held high in the grass. Although she could not be sure it was the black wolf she encountered four months ago, she could not risk it being shot dead.
Ye Hui was brought down from the horse's back by Qin Yuhang and walked towards the black shadow. Just like how foreigners think all Chinese people look similar, and Chinese people think all foreigners look similar, humans also have the same problem when looking at wolves.
Ye Hui looked at it suspiciously: "Are you that stupid wolf?"
A black wolf that can leave its body, a black wolf that can travel through time and space?
"Be careful, my dear, don't let it hurt you," Qin Yuhang stood in front of her. Old Eleven was also a witness that night, came over and looked again and again. For a nobleman raised in the imperial capital, it was even more difficult to distinguish the appearance of animals.
The black wolf held its head high and gave her a contemptuous glance before looking away.
How dare you challenge me? Ye Hui, who had become a queen, had never been looked down upon before. She gritted her teeth: "Even if you don't admit it, I know you're that stupid wolf. What's wrong? Are you old, sick, or retired, staying here wanting to seek refuge with me?"
The black wolf closed its eyes, completely disdaining to respond to her.
Oh, you dare to look down on me? Ye Hui placed her hands on its neck, searching for the scar from a few months ago. Her method was somewhat rough, grabbing its fur. Seeing it stubbornly motionless, she remembered that real dream and became bolder, scratching and clawing: "Someone, bring a torch!" After a moment, she said to the black wolf: "Don't be afraid, I'm not planning to eat wolf meat. You're too old, the meat must be tough and unpalatable. I just want to use the torch to see if there's a scar here."
The black wolf seemed certain that Ye Hui would not burn it to death and appeared calm and composed.
Several men nervously gathered around, hands on their sword hilts, staring unblinkingly at the black wolf, waiting for it to move slightly so they could strike swiftly. The black wolf seemed to have human-like understanding, remaining motionless and cooperative, but always keeping its head held high with a proud expression.
By the torch's light, Ye Hui finally discovered a scar on its neck beneath the fur. She had raised two dogs in her previous life and had a fondness for canines. Seeing the scar and remembering that night's real dream, she cheered and hugged its neck. "Hehe, stupid wolf, it really is you."
The black wolf blinked in frustration, wondering how it had become a stupid wolf in this foolish human's eyes.
"Stupid wolf, come with me. I'll take care of you from now on. Don't be out here in the wind and rain. You're clumsy and a bit silly. If you accidentally fall into a hunter's trap and get skinned to become a delicacy, wouldn't that be a shame?"
Ye Hui was lifted back onto the horse by Qin Yuhang and spoke to the black wolf walking on the ground: "Since we're friends now, I can't keep calling you 'stupid wolf'. I should give you a nice name. Hmm, let me think. You have a dark, black fur and you're a wolf, so I'll call you Black Wolf. It's cool and sounds good."
Qin Yuhang could not help but laugh, touching his wife's nose: "This name is indeed quite nice. My dear is truly talented."
"Of course," Ye Hui said with thick-skinned confidence: "I used to raise two dogs, both foreign purebreds bought from specialty stores. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep them alive." Her expression dimmed slightly as she looked at the black wolf: "I hope you're easier to raise and not picky. I have nowhere to buy dog food for you. Ugh, canines are so troublesome."
"Are you being silly again, my dear?" Qin Yuhang wondered: "Looking at this black wolf, it shouldn't be hard to raise. It probably likes to eat raw meat."
Back at the camp, Ye Hui handed the black wolf to Old Eleven, who had personally rescued the black wolf from the trap and was the best choice.
Unexpectedly, fourteen-month-old Hengting was the first to run over to the black wolf. Perhaps such a small child did not yet understand the dangers of large animals, or perhaps the black wolf favored the child's innocence, but it was surprisingly willing to let Hengting approach.
A human and a wolf quickly became friends.
Ye Hui was not at ease and specially selected four of her most capable personal guards to constantly watch over them.
Hengting had already learned to walk and could clearly make monosyllabic sounds. Old Eleven lifted him onto the wolf's back. The small body rode on top, hands grabbing the wolf's fur, laughing: "Mom, look..."
Ye Hui glanced for a while and commented: "Two fools."
Returning to the tent, Muo Qi washed her hands and feet, wiped her entire body with warm water, and let her long hair down. Her hair was now very long. Humming a song, she wore a snow-white thin silk nightgown and sat cross-legged on the felt mat that had been laid out.
"Muo Qi, go fetch Secretary Qin."
Muo Qi agreed, but after going out for a while, Old Ten and Old Eleven entered instead - her two assistants.
"Why are you here?"
"Secretary Qin said he has already possessed the madam for several days and specially gives tonight's sleeping rights to us."
Would it be a front and back attack again? A warm color spread across Ye Hui's face. It had been a week since they had served her, especially since her menstruation... she somewhat looked forward to being tightly embraced by them.
"Have you finished bathing?
Madam, rest assured, I just wiped it clean.” When traveling, bathing is inconvenient, and knowing she has a cleanliness obsession, he always cleans thoroughly before intimacy.
