Chapter 355: Chapter 355 - 347: Why Has the Female Master Come?
The little red panda, perhaps afraid of being abandoned, quickly snuggled into Xiao Jin’s arms.
Shen Tang burst into laughter, stretched out a finger, and tapped its round little head, "So cute! How could you bear to give it to someone else? If it were me, I would have kept it by my side and raised it."
Seeing Shen Tang’s fondness, Xiao Jin instantly became agreeable, "If you like it, then let’s keep it."
Shen Tang nodded, "Yes, this cub is still so small and has lost its parents. It’s quite pitiful. Let’s raise it for now! We’ll see if we can find an adoptive family later. But this little one eats bamboo, right? In this icy place, there’s no bamboo to feed it."
Xiao Jin nodded, "This area doesn’t produce bamboo. Is this little one a native locally?"
The two exchanged looks, suddenly feeling something was amiss.
Pandas eat bamboo, but Tieling City, this barren land, doesn’t grow bamboo.
No matter how you look at it, this little one doesn’t seem like a local species. Could it have come from elsewhere?
Did it migrate with its parents?
Or was it trafficked?
Lately, many regions have been chaotic with human traffickers, specializing in abducting young females and cubs.
"Little one, what’s your name? Do you know who your parents are?" Shen Tang asked.
The little cub just meowed endlessly; they weren’t beastmen of the Panda Clan, unable to understand what it was saying.
Lu Xiao came over and said, "This child is too young and hasn’t learned to speak. The parents probably wouldn’t migrate with such a young cub; it could have been trafficked."
Shen Tang said sympathetically, "Oh, let’s keep it first."
She took out some fruit from the space, and the little panda’s eyes lit up, holding it in its paws and eating happily.
After eating its fill, it fell asleep.
Lu Xiao held the cub and went to sleep.
...
After staying in Tieling City for a few days, Shen Tang planned to take the troops back to the Imperial City with Lu Xiao.
The situation here was still not completely stable. To prevent any accidents, Xiao Jin continued to lead the troops to station and guard the city.
Upon returning to the Imperial City, Lu Xiao received an urgent message from the family, needing to handle some affairs, so he returned to the Lu Family.
[Host, do you want to open that treasure map to see? You might uncover something good!], the system reminded.
Shen Tang took out the treasure map from the space, and upon opening it, the treasure map glowed with golden light!
The system exclaimed in surprise, [Wow, the host’s luck is really good, another golden legend!]
Before Shen Tang could clearly see what was on the map, an announcement sounded from outside the door, "Your Majesty, Elder Yuan from the Ministry of Revenue requests your presence."
"Understood, prepare the car, I will go over right away." Shen Tang casually placed the map on the table and went to attend to matters.
This time, not only was Wind Roar City and Tieling City successfully reclaimed, but also Black Wind Village-controlled areas and a nearby chaotic zone were brought back under the Imperial City’s control.
(Update map)
The morale in various places has increased to some degree.
The civilians and soldiers are all very happy, and Shen Tang specifically allocated a large batch of military rewards to award the hardworking soldiers.
"Your Majesty, please review this. It is the funding application reported by the City Lords from each city."
Shen Tang received the documents and examined them carefully, feeling a bit distressed.
They are all substantial amounts.
The buildings in various places need renovation. Many people from chaotic zones fled to the city, requiring more housing to accommodate these refugees.
The planting plan for grains also needs to be advanced; Shen Tang distributed grain seeds to each city and sent beastmen proficient in planting to teach the people. After this winter, the issue of grain shortage should improve.
There are also various miscellaneous tasks. After Shen Tang finished handling them, it was very late,
She initially planned to go home, but suddenly remembered the Lu Family was nearby. Lu Xiao should still be within the clan, so she instructed the driver to turn towards the Lu Family.
The guards of the Lu Family saw her coming and were all trembling and apprehensive, asking if they should notify the Family Head and Elder Family Head.
Lu Xiao has now officially taken over the Lu Family, becoming the rightful Family Head.
"No need, it’s late now, the Elder Family Head should have retired for the night. I see the light in your Family Head’s study is still on, so late and still not resting, I will go to the study to find him."
Shen Tang waved her hand and directly went to the place where Lu Xiao worked, intending to give him a surprise.
Upon entering, it was the study where he worked, very quiet.
The room wasn’t overly decorated; the four walls were lined with deep brown hardwood bookshelves, neatly stacked with hard-covered books, their embossed spines glowing matte under the lamp light.
A large hardwood desk was placed in the center, covered with several documents, with a pen lying to the side, ink still wet.
A brass incense burner was placed in the corner, thin smoke rising from it, a faint scent of sandalwood mingling with a hint of aged paper and ink.
Very simple, very traditional, with a bit of an old bureaucrat’s style.
But there was no one.
Did Lu Xiao go out for something?
Shen Tang lay on the couch, not having waited for him, yawning several times in tiredness, feeling her eyelids drooping, she got up and went to the inner room.
Lu Xiao was a genuine workaholic; when with her, he was somewhat restrained, but at home working with the family, he basically pulled all-nighters.
The Elder Family Head, feeling for him, simply sent someone to install a bedroom in the study, at least providing a proper place to rest when weary.
The bedroom had a bathing area; Shen Tang took off her clothes and showered.
After showering, she wrapped herself in a towel and returned to the bedroom, casually opening the wardrobe to select pajamas.
Only to find them all men’s casual wear, none for her to wear.
Shen Tang, belatedly remembering this wasn’t her home, it was Lu Xiao’s study in the family, naturally hadn’t prepared sleepwear for her.
Shen Tang thus picked a men’s robe and wore it.
But forgot this man was too tall; wearing his sleepwear, the hem dragged long on the floor, and taking two steps she risked tripping, too inconvenient.
Shen Tang had no choice but to take off the sleepwear and browse the wardrobe, selecting after a while a softer, loose men’s shirt, just enough to cover her thighs, the fabric fell half a hand short to the knees, resembling a short nightdress.
Don’t mention it, wearing it felt quite comfortable, rather fitting.
The clothes carried a faint fragrance, very pleasant.
Shen Tang lay on the bed, waiting for Lu Xiao to return.
The Lu Family has a troop stationed externally; they were attacked, so Lu Xiao rushed back to the clan overnight, discussing with the higher-ups, returning to the study in the deep night.
But caught the hint of a sweet fragrance in the room.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, as if a spark ignited in his heart.
Without glancing at the documents, he strode into the inner room.
The moment he pushed open the door, he saw the scene before him.
Lu Xiao’s breath abruptly deepened; he felt heat surging throughout.
Shen Tang wore only a loose men’s shirt, half her shoulder peeking from the fabric, bottom half bare, her snow-white, slender legs lying on the bed, dazzlingly white in the light.
"Female Master, why are you here?" Lu Xiao stared at her intently, his Adam’s apple bobbing, voice carrying a hint of hoarse dryness, perhaps not having had the chance to drink water during the meeting.
Shen Tang reveling in the faint woody scent from the clothes, voice sweet and drowsy, "Wanted to find you, so I came, not welcoming me?"
Lu Xiao chuckled softly, "Couldn’t ask for more."
He removed his coat, undid the watch, hugged her into his embrace, sat down on the bed.
His hands held the back of her head, lowering to a passionate kiss.