Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

In the public office.

The "click" sound of the scissors was particularly clear in the quiet room. Qian Ming held the comb and scissors in his hands, his brows knitted into a knot, his movements hesitant, and he kept muttering:

"Master, why are you cutting your hair again? Sixth Master has repeatedly told us not to cut your hair short again. You're...this makes it very difficult for me."

Zhang Jingwei lazily leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, and replied nonchalantly, "My hair is too long. Washing it is troublesome and wastes time and water. I'm so busy with official duties these days, how can I have the time to take care of these troublesome strands?"

Qian Ming said with a bitter face: "But Master, didn't you just open that 'Qingsi Parlor' that specializes in hair washing in the city? It's so convenient to go there..."

Zhang Jingwei waved his hand impatiently, interrupting him: "Just cut it for me, why are you wasting time? Ever since Mu Tou left, no one has been able to cut my hair to my satisfaction. I feel like I'm going to get lice! I feel uncomfortable all over."

"Our body and hair are given by our parents. We should not damage them. This is the beginning of filial piety..." Qian Ming repeated the old saying.

Zhang Jingwei sneered, with a hint of self-mockery and uninhibitedness: "Oh, I have no parents now, I'm all alone, I have nothing to fear! Cut!"

"But...but..." Qian Ming was still struggling, with the scissors in his hand hanging in the air, neither falling nor not falling.

At this moment, a series of crisp and rapid footsteps came from afar, accompanied by a silver bell-like voice: "Husband!"

Huangfu Ling, holding up her skirt, fluttered over like a cheerful butterfly. Seeing Zhang Jingwei sitting there getting his hair cut, she flashed with surprise: "Oh! You want to get your hair cut again?"

Zhang Jingwei opened his eyes and looked at his wife. His tone was a little helpless, but also concealed a subtle indulgence: "Why are you here? I've already made three rules with you. This is a government-controlled area. Unless it's absolutely necessary, a girl like you shouldn't come in casually."

Huangfu Ling walked up to him, took the comb from Qian Ming's hand naturally, motioned him to step aside, and then smiled brightly at Zhang Jingwei: "But I have something important to discuss with you."

"What's the matter?" Zhang Jingwei closed his eyes again, enjoying his wife's slightly unfamiliar but gentle combing.

"I want to have a pet." Huangfu Ling's voice was filled with anticipation.

Zhang Jingwei found it a little funny: "It's such a small matter, why not just tell Uncle Six and let him arrange it?"

Huangfu Ling curled her lips, a little aggrieved, "But Sixth Uncle said this matter is of great importance, he dare not make the decision, he must get your approval."

Zhang Jingwei snorted and agreed without much thought: "Okay, it's settled. If you like it, keep it. I'll talk to Uncle Six and set aside some money specifically for your pet."

"Thank you, my husband!" Huangfu Ling smiled brightly, her voice even sweeter. "Come, let me cut your hair."

Zhang Jingwei was very happy: "Thank you, Madam. Just do it in the style you like. You will see it every day anyway."

"My husband is so kind!" Huangfu Ling's hands moved even more gently. "Then... I'll buy him a fashionable new hat this afternoon as a thank you gift."

Zhang Jingwei laughed when he heard this: "Haha, thank you, madam."

He agreed, but inwardly he was thinking: Something's wrong. Is my wife being so attentive today just to keep a cat or dog in the house? With his Sixth Uncle's thoughtfulness, he wouldn't push such a small matter onto me. I'm afraid... things aren't that simple. Then he thought about how Wang Ergou and Ding Xu had also been sent out on errands and wouldn't be back for a while, leaving him with no one to immediately check in with. It felt like being blinded by a veil, shadowy and unclear.

……

Go home after get off work.

At the door, Zhang Liu, Zhang Shiyi, Liang Dahai and other servants stood in a neat row, all with solemn expressions, as if facing a great enemy.

Zhang Jingwei found it amusing and jokingly said, "Hey, what's going on today? Why are you all standing at the door? Are you lining up to welcome me?"

The groom, Zhang Shiyi, had a doleful face and was the first to complain, "Master, you're finally back! You agreed to let the young mistress keep that... that beast. Good grief, it wandered out today and bit Elvie! That poor donkey is still in the shed, kicking and trembling with fear!"

Zhang Jingwei then remembered, "Come to think of it, I seemed to have heard a low, mooing sound at the government office today, like a cow mooing... Could it be that she picked up a calf?"

Liang Dahai, standing by, quickly waved his hands and added with lingering fear, "Master, don't mention it! I was so frightened by its behavior today just to feed it that I changed my pants twice! If it were a grass-eating animal, we wouldn't have to come all this way to tell you."

Zhang Jingwei glanced at everyone and raised an eyebrow: "It seems that you all sneer at this pet she raised?"

Zhang Liu stepped forward, respectful but unable to conceal his worry. "I dare not criticize Young Madam. It's just... when I think back to the old master, he also kept all sorts of rare and exotic animals at home, but they were all kept in sturdy cages made of fine iron. But Young Madam placed it in the woodshed, and those few thin wooden boards clearly can't keep it contained!"

Zhang Jingwei's heart skipped a beat as an outrageous thought popped up in his mind. He tentatively asked, "She... doesn't raise a tiger, does she?"

Zhang Liu quickly shook his head: "Oh no, no, no, that's not the case."

Zhang Jingwei looked at the nervous expressions on everyone's faces and thought they were making a big deal out of nothing. He laughed and said, "Look how nervous you are. What size dog is this? Can it really turn the tables? I'll go and see for myself."

Zhang Liu hurriedly stopped him and said, "Master, for safety's sake, I've already sent for Captain Qi from the garrison camp to bring some soldiers over. You'd better be patient and wait..."

Zhang Jingwei waved his hand nonchalantly and interrupted him: "Is it that serious? How can you be scared by a beast in your own home?" As he said that, he walked inside.

As soon as he entered the yard, he regretted it.

In the courtyard, Huangfu Ling was holding a bamboo basket and feeding pieces of bright red meat to a huge creature squatting in front of her.

The monster was incredibly imposing, with a dazzling coat. It resembled a lion, but not a lion, and a tiger, but it was far larger than an ordinary tiger. Huangfu Ling, a tall woman to begin with, looked as petite as a rabbit nestled against a boulder against the backdrop of the giant beast.

Huangfu Ling heard footsteps, turned around, and smiled brightly: "Husband! You're back!"

Almost at the same time she spoke, the monster that had been docilely accepting the food suddenly turned its head, its huge amber eyes instantly locked onto Zhang Jingwei, the "intruder", and its bloody mouth opened slightly, letting out a low but heart-shaking roar:

"Roar-!"

The sound was like muffled thunder rolling through the courtyard, carrying with it a primal wildness and overwhelming pressure, making the eardrums buzz and the heart tremble. Although it was completely unclear what kind of beast this was, the dangerous aura of a top feline predator was unmistakable.

Only then did he suddenly realize that what he vaguely heard in the government office today was not the sound of a cow!

Liang Dahai, who was following behind him from a distance, trembled in his voice, with unbelievable admiration: "Amazing, amazing... Young Master actually stood there without even a frown! Just hearing that roar, my calves are cramping and I'm about to pee!"

Qian Ming also forced himself to remain calm, but his voice was a little weak: "That, that's right! Who is the young master? What kind of scene has he not seen? ... But, why haven't General Qi's men arrived yet?!"