Chapter 12: What a Beautiful Big Cat

Early the next morning, Xiao Ningxun and Tuan Tuan dressed neatly, led a group of servants, and rode a carriage to Wanlingyuan.

Wanlingyuan was built on the outskirts of Jingcheng, covering several hundred mu, and serves as a place to raise various rare animals for the royal family and nobles to enjoy.

After alighting from the carriage, Liu Grandma handed over the name plaque of the Prince Ning's Mansion.

The Constable at the gate took it, looked, and promptly added a smiling face: "So it is the Prince Ning's Mansion's highness arriving; please wait a moment, I will go report to the Garden Supervisor."

Soon, a skinny tall man in his forties stepped out: "The young masters and mistresses of the Prince's Mansion have arrived; I have failed to receive you properly, my apologies, please forgive me."

"There are many rules in the garden; allow me to intrude with a word: please walk quietly and slowly, and do not disturb the beasts."

Liu Grandma nodded: "Thank you, sir, we will follow all regulations; the safety of the honored guests is paramount."

"Thank you, Grandma." The Garden Supervisor slowly recited the garden's rules: "There are three prohibitions: no striking the railings, no feeding, no loud voices. In this season, many night bats roost on the beams; please watch your step. Kindly follow me."

Tuan Tuan nodded earnestly, mimicking his tone: "I understand." Liu Grandma almost burst into laughter, gently pinched her and signaled not to imitate recklessly.

Tuan Tuan gave her a smile, dimples deepening; Xiao Ningxun looked at the younger sibling, her mouth pressed into a thin line from holding back laughter, wondering how the sister could be so cute.

The garden's layout was excellent: first various birds, then various dogs. As they walked forward, the Garden Supervisor gave brief introductions. This large parrot, called Snow‑clad Lady, was a tribute from Lingnan, entirely snow‑white, and could mimic human speech.

This is a Crown‑fur dog, with a very good temperament, understanding of people; many honored guests like to take one home.

All enclosures were built of iron and wood combined, very sturdy, and kept spotless; Tuan Tuan listened while following inside, watching with great interest.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she darted to the side of an enclosure's fence: "Wow! What a beautiful big cat!"

A huge, cat‑like animal lay on the ground, its body covered with spots as if black ink had been splashed on white snow. Its body was long and sleek, a long tail curled into a loop around its side, eyes closed as if sleeping.

Tuan Tuan tiptoed and gently called: "Hello there, big cat."

"Miss, speaking so softly is just right," the Garden Supervisor smiled. "This is a snow leopard that was a tribute from the Western Regions last year; it has a very fierce temperament and is hard to tame. We only toss food in for it and dare not approach closely."

As soon as the words finished, a voice from the corner ahead of a teenager rang out: "Let me tell you, I know this business!"

Tuan Tuan looked toward the voice and saw a round‑faced teenager in a moon‑white brocade robe, about the same age as Xiao Ningxun, smiling broadly as he walked over.

From his sleeve sprang a jet‑black myna bird, its little head cocked, mimicking his tone: "I know this! Know know know!"

Tuan Tuan found it amusing and giggled.

Liu Grandma recognized him, "What a coincidence, the second son of the Minister of Personnel, Lu Qingjia, is also here today."

Behind Lu Qingjia another youth emerged, also a teenager, dressed in splendid clothes, with an arrogant expression, holding a string of beast bells, which jingled with his steps.

Behind the two, more than twenty servants followed, marching grandly toward them.

Seeing him, Xiao Ningxun's brows twitched slightly: "Why is he here?"

Tuan Tuan tugged at her brother's sleeve: "Brother, who is he?"

Xiao Ningxun whispered: "He is the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Needle Guo, Wei Bing'an, who never tolerates others, has a terrible temper. Tuan Tuan, let's go look elsewhere."

The Garden Supervisor, seeing him, also frowned and hurriedly bowed: "Third Young Master Wei, allow me to say a word: this is a beast garden; no sudden sounds may disturb the animals. Please, Sir, put away that beast bell."

Wei Bing'an gave him a sideways glance, refused to put it away, and instead flicked it forcefully, producing a clang louder than before: "What do you know! My beast bell cost a fortune, a premium taming tool, not comparable to your inferior stuff!"

"So this is the tribute snow leopard? It looks fine, but unfortunately disobedient. A beast is a beast; let's see how the young master tames it today!"

Finishing, he raised the beast bell, pressed it against the snow leopard's enclosure and shook it vigorously; the clang rang quickly and loudly. The snow leopard, hearing it, opened its eyes, stood up, let out low roars from its throat, and its fur bristled.

Xiao Ningxun hurriedly pulled Tuan Tuan away from the fence and glared at him.

"Yo! Who do you think I am! I'm not the little mute from the Prince Ning's Mansion!"

Xiao Ningxun said calmly: "Put your beast bell away! You scared it!"

Wei Bing'an was startled, his face full of disbelief: "How strange! The little mute can actually speak?"

Tuan Tuan clutched her brother's sleeve tightly: "My brother is not a mute!"

Wei Bing'an then noticed another small one on the ground: "Could you be that little mongrel picked up from outside?"

Xiao Ningxun's face darkened, Liu Grandma's eyebrows rose; just as she was about to speak, Tuan Tuan's eyes flashed and she spoke first: "Little mongrel, who are you insulting?"

Wei Bing'an sneered: "The little mongrel insults you!"

Tuan Tuan patted her small hand: "Wow, so the little mongrel was insulting me."

Several servants nearby, hearing this, couldn't hold back and let out a "pfft" laugh, then, fearing to anger their master, immediately covered their mouths.

Lu Qingjia turned his head away, secretly gave Tuan Tuan a thumbs‑up; the myna flapped its wings, mimicking Tuan Tuan's tone: "Little mongrel, who? Little mongrel, you!"

Wei Bing'an was speechless, his face flushed purple with anger, and he struck the beast bell even harder; the piercing clang rang throughout the garden, causing many animals to become restless and cry out.

The snow leopard let out a low growl, then slammed into the fence; with a bang, the entire enclosure shook, clearly enraged.

The Garden Supervisor's complexion changed; these young masters! What nonsense! He must quickly escort them out: "I am at fault for startling you all. Please move elsewhere so the beasts won't be harmed."

Wei Bing'an turned a deaf ear, pressing his foot down to make the beast bell's sound louder and denser.

The snow leopard, wildly irritable, kept crashing against the fence with increasing force.

Tuan Tuan stood beside, staring motionlessly at the snow leopard. Xiao Ningxun, thinking the sister had been frozen with fear, hurriedly pulled her behind, bent down, drew the dagger from her boot, and pointed it at Wei Bing'an: "Stop!"