Chapter 14: Little Red Sugar Is Truly Adorable

After dinner, Ji Huo took Little Brown Sugar to the small courtyard where he lived.

“Little Brown Sugar, let’s go,” Ji Huo called, waving to her.

At once, Little Brown Sugar hopped off her chair, her bare feet pattering as she ran toward Ji Huo.

“Papa Bear, I’m going to see the house!” she called cheerfully.

“Go on, go on. If you get bored, remember to come play with Papa Bear,” Ji Xiaoxiong replied with a smile. If he didn’t have matters to attend to, he would have loved to go with her.

The siblings made their way to the back courtyard, with Little Brown Sugar skipping and chattering ceaselessly to Ji Huo, full of lively energy.

Ji Junhong wiped his mouth slowly. Seeing his father still watching Little Brown Sugar’s retreating figure, he chuckled, “Father, if you want to go have a look too, just go.”

“I’ll have to go to the palace later,” Ji Xiaoxiong replied absentmindedly, eyes still on Little Brown Sugar.

Ji Junhong nodded. He figured it must be the commotion caused by the Fourth Prince bringing Second Brother back—now the old emperor wanted their father to discuss the matter at the palace.

After all, if the leading general chose a side, this drama of two dragons vying for the throne would come to a swift end.

Ji Junhong noticed his father’s grave expression and considered offering some comfort, but then saw his father’s dark face suddenly break into a smile as bright as a chrysanthemum.

“Little Brown Sugar really is adorable.”

Ji Junhong was speechless.

Enough, Father! You want a daughter, but isn’t this taking it too far?

“Come to think of it, having a girl in the house makes things livelier,” Ji Xiaoxiong mused, then fixed his gaze intently on his eldest son.

Ji Junhong’s heart skipped a beat, but he nodded, “That’s true, Father. Perhaps in a few days, we could arrange for Second Brother to meet some young ladies from noble families in the capital. He’s been taking care of Little Brown Sugar all this time; it’s time he starts a family and experiences the warmth of a home.”

Ji Xiaoxiong scrutinized his son for a moment longer before finally nodding, “Makes sense.”

He fell silent for a moment, then said slowly, “Xiao Huo has wandered for years and endured much hardship. It’s always been a debt I owe him.”

When he saw his father finally look away, Ji Junhong breathed a quiet sigh of relief, thinking, Good thing Second Brother’s here to share some of the pressure.

Still… a hint of doubt flashed in Ji Junhong’s eyes. A ten-year-old in red, always barefoot—why did that seem so familiar?

…

“You’ll be living at the Duke’s manor from now on. No more missions,” Ji Huo said offhandedly.

Little Brown Sugar’s face fell at once. “Huh? But I want to go kill people! Staying here every day is so boring!”

“You’re now the adopted daughter of General Flying Bear. Why are you always thinking about killing?” Ji Huo scolded. “And who told you to come straight to the Duke’s manor and charm my father like that? He likes you more than he likes me now.”

Pouting, Little Brown Sugar mumbled, “I came all the way here for you, running errands and helping you discipline those brats, looking after your food and clothing, and now you won’t even let me kill anyone… Heartless! I hate you, you big meanie!”

Ji Huo stared at her blankly. “Who bought you all your clothes? Who does the shopping, cooking, and washing? Who did you force to work in the Four Seas Restaurant for a year just to learn how to cook? I even wash your clothes.”

“And remember when you were a child and got lured away by traffickers with a lollipop? Who saved you by killing their entire family in the middle of the night?”

“Huh?” Little Brown Sugar’s face was a mask of confusion. “What are you talking about, silly brother? I don’t know anything about that!”

“Get out!” Ji Huo snapped.

“So that’s settled. Unless those brats get a task they can’t handle, you’re not allowed to intervene.”

“Okay.”

“And about your outfit—don’t you want to change? People will start to get suspicious if you wear the same thing all the time.”

“Nope.”

“Then at least put on some shoes?”

“Nope.”

“So what did you tell my father? A little girl running around barefoot every day, yet not a speck of dirt on her feet—is that normal?”

“I told Papa Bear I have a strange illness that makes me uncomfortable all over if I wear shoes!”

“And he believed you?!”

“Yep! He even gave me two little pearls!”

“…Impressive.”

Ji Huo reached out to ruffle Little Brown Sugar’s hair, but she squirmed away in protest.

“But you need to be careful not to show your martial skills in public. You’re still wanted, you know.”

“I knowwwww.” Little Brown Sugar grumbled under her breath, “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have left any witnesses. It’s all because that guy had a candied hawthorn—I snatched one, took a bite, and didn’t feel like killing anymore. That’s how he saw me.”

“It’s not the first time. You’ll get used to it.”

“Ugh! O(*≧д≦)O!!”

Truth be told, the courtyard Big Brother prepared was just to Ji Huo’s liking. He hadn’t had a chance to see it before, but now that he had, everything was satisfactory.

The room prepared for Little Brown Sugar was unmistakably a little girl’s: pink everywhere, and the bed softer than Ji Huo’s own.

The moment she saw it, Little Brown Sugar dove onto the bed, rolling around with glee, burrowing under the covers and playing without end.

Ji Huo had long grown accustomed to her childish ways and let her be. Satisfied with his own room, he mused to himself, “It’s nice, but this place is a bit far from the manor wall. If I want to slip out at night, it’ll be a hassle. Maybe I should scout out a spot closer to the wall for climbing over.”

Little Brown Sugar burst in from outside, no longer bothering to act demure since there was no one around. She ran, her bare feet floating above the floor like a little ghost.

“Silly brother, let’s sneak out tonight!”

She ran a few steps, then turned suddenly, pointing her chubby finger at the bookshelf. “There’s a breeze coming from there!”

Ji Huo’s eyes narrowed. He walked over, felt around, and gave the bookshelf a hard push. It slid aside to reveal a dark tunnel, with a note pinned beside the entrance.

Ji Huo picked it up and read, his expression turning odd:

“Second Brother, this secret passage leads outside the Duke’s manor. Climbing over walls is a bad habit.”

Little Brown Sugar peered over his shoulder, eyes wide. “Wow! Your brother knows you so well—he could tell at a glance you like sneaking out.”

Ji Huo flicked his wrist, and the note crumbled to dust.

“He’s slandering me.”

“I want to go out tonight!” Little Brown Sugar’s eyes shone as she stared at the secret passage, her gaze curving like a crescent moon.

“Go by yourself. I’m going to rest. Be careful—there’s a lot of intrigue in the capital,” Ji Huo said, covering the passage and preparing to lie down.

That night, sure enough, Little Brown Sugar slipped out through the tunnel, returning only in the middle of the night.

The next morning, as Ji Huo opened his eyes, he heard someone approaching the courtyard.

“Young master, time to get up. The master says he’s taking you to the palace.” The voice outside was respectful and clear.