Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Tiger
Everyone sharply drew a cold breath.
The tiger is the king of all beasts and the ruler of the mountains and forests. Today, with so many people going up the mountain, and experts aplenty, they naturally wouldn’t fear a fierce tiger. If the Commandery Princess hadn’t entered the mountain, and only the commoners and government officials had gone in, encountering such a fierce tiger would have been a great misfortune.
County Magistrate Cai, the more he thought about it, the more afraid he became, breaking out in a cold sweat: "On the way down the mountain, I will lead the people in opening medicinal fields."
Jiang Shaohua smiled and reassured him: "It’s not that you can’t enter the mountain. Tigers are rare sights; you just need to bring more people and sharp weapons when you enter."
County Magistrate Cai agreed repeatedly.
As they were talking, the sound of a tiger’s roar became more and more piercing. The medicine-gathering commoners paled and huddled together, trembling. The trusted aides showed no fear, with more than a dozen of them surrounding the seven-foot-long, five-foot-tall tiger with weapons in hand.
With so many trusted aides there, it wasn’t necessary for Jiang Shaohua to take action. Jiang Shaohua watched from a distance with great interest as the trusted aides skillfully coordinated their attacks, and in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the tiger fell defeated. One trusted aide was lightly injured, the rest unharmed.
"The formation of the Third Camp’s trusted aides is indeed the best." Jiang Shaohua didn’t hold back her praise: "Commander Liu has truly put in the effort, and today I have learned something new."
Liu Hengchang, maintaining a demeanor of composure and humility, bowed gracefully and replied: "With so many people, if we couldn’t handle a single fierce tiger, I would have no face to stand before the Commandery Princess."
Jiang Shaohua smiled warmly: "Commander Liu is too humble."
Song Yuan, who rarely gave compliments, also smiled and said: "Commander Liu’s ability to lead soldiers is first-rate, and what’s even more commendable is his humble and low-key nature."
If it were Qin Zhan or Meng Dashan here, they would have been bragging boastfully by now.
"Commandery Princess," Qin Hu joyfully ran up to report: "Ahead is a tiger’s lair, and there is a newly born tiger cub inside."
Jiang Shaohua’s smile slightly paused, and she frowned: "Was the one we just killed the tigress?"
Qin Hu was taken aback: "No, it was the male tiger."
No, there was still a tigress.
Song Yuan and Liu Hengchang reacted quickly, each giving orders, loudly commanding the trusted aides to increase their vigilance. Just as they finished speaking, another tiger’s roar echoed.
This time, the roar came from just a few meters behind Jiang Shaohua.
Everyone’s expressions changed abruptly.
Song Yuan and Liu Hengchang each drew their weapons, while Qin Humeng Sanbao and others also unsheathed their weapons and rushed over. Jiang Shaohua swiftly turned around and drew her sword, striking out.
Her spear was inconvenient to carry, so she usually only brought a treasured sword. This sword was about three feet long and incredibly sharp. As she thrust forward, it pierced the tiger’s right eye.
The tiger’s right eye was pierced and blinded, letting out a deafening howl as it lunged forward, only to be collectively blocked by the group.
County Magistrate Cai was so scared that his legs went weak, and he plopped down onto the ground.
Chen Jinyu, also terrified, took out a dagger and stood in front of County Magistrate Cai. Ma Yaosong, his face turning pale, yet still composed, drew his weapon and dashed forward.
As for the Commandery Princess, her movements were swift, her sword like lightning, moving so fast it was dizzying to watch. With the assistance of Song Yuan, Liu Hengchang, and others, she soon pierced the tiger’s throat with a single stroke.
The commoners, having witnessed the Commandery Princess’s heroic feat of killing the tiger, couldn’t help but burst into cheers.
Jiang Shaohua was wearing a red dress today, and the tiger’s blood splattered onto her clothing, making it hard to see any difference except for the strong scent of blood.
Jiang Shaohua leisurely wiped the blood off her treasured sword with a cloth: "Where is the tiger’s lair? I want to take a look."
Qin Hu composed himself and quickly led the way.
After walking a while, they arrived at the tiger’s lair. The lair reeked with a thick odor and was filled with the bones of many wild animals. A newly born tiger cub lay in the lair, less than a foot long, looking as small as a cat. Its wet, large eyes made it appear immensely cute.
Jiang Shaohua had initially intended to eradicate the problem entirely, but upon seeing the cub, she found herself hesitating.
As she wavered, Song Yuan’s voice sounded beside her: "This tiger cub has just opened its eyes and seems to be newly born, having yet to see blood. If the Commandery Princess likes it, perhaps take it and raise it for a time."
It’s common for women in their chambers to keep cats, dogs, or birds; would it be too much for her to keep a tiger?
Jiang Shaohua was very tempted but said, "It’s impractical. It’s a cub now, but once it grows up, it could harm others."
Song Yuan, familiar with the Commandery Princess’s temperament, laughed and suggested: "A tiger cub takes three to five years to grow up. The Commandery Princess can keep it for amusement. Once it grows, it can be released back into the mountains."
Jiang Shaohua held back for a moment before nodding slightly, reluctantly accepting Commander Song’s suggestion.
However, when she personally picked up the cub, her smiling lips betrayed the Commandery Princess’s good mood.
...
"Wow! Wow wow!" Chen Jinyu, just recovering from his fright, was enchanted by the cub in the Commandery Princess’s arms. Thick-skinned, he asked to hold it: "Are you tired from holding it, Commandery Princess? Let me hold it for a while."
Which young woman could resist a fluffy cub?
Jiang Shaohua, rare in her stinginess, turned aside: "I’m not tired."
Undeterred, Chen Jinyu followed her around: "Let me touch it!"
Jiang Shaohua pursed her lips into a smile, stroked the cub’s head, and left its rear end for Chen Jinyu. Chen Jinyu petted it repeatedly, his eyes sparkling, and suggested excitedly: "The Commandery Princess should give it a name!"
A name was indeed needed. Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment: "Its body has stripes; how about we call it Little Flower?"
Chen Jinyu beamed: "Simple and memorable, rolls right off the tongue. Little Flower it is."
The cub cooperatively let out a few cries. The young tiger looked very much like a cat, even with similar cries.
Jiang Shaohua patiently pried open Little Flower’s mouth: "Little Flower must be hungry. It doesn’t have teeth yet, so it can’t eat meat and needs milk."
Chen Jinyu furrowed his brow: "Then what should we do? Little Flower’s mother is dead, where can we find tiger milk!"
Qin Hu casually interrupted: "If there’s no tiger milk, just find a doe to give milk to Little Flower."
"Sanbao, let’s go look for a doe right now."
An hour later, Qin Humeng Sanbao returned, brimming with confidence.
They hadn’t found a doe but did find a female goat. This goat had just given birth to a kid, and there was plenty of milk. Little Flower was not picky, gulping down milk contentedly.
Jiang Shaohua rarely indulged her childlike nature, and with Chen Jinyu, they both watched Little Flower drink milk, giggling and whispering softly.
Song Yuan watched the scene with warm eyes.
Liu Hengchang watched and suddenly recalled an old rumor circulating in the Personal Guard Camp.
It was said that young Commander Song had loved his cousin Jiang Yan, but unfortunately, Jiang Yan married Lu Xuan as a live-in son-in-law. Commander Song, heartbroken, remained single ever since.
Commander Song had poured all his affection into the young Commandery Princess, much like a father would do to his daughter.