Chapter 48: Count Jiushi Takes His Place

“Congratulations, Jiushi. You really are an abnormal child. I hope you won’t disappoint His Majesty’s high expectations.” Kong Yingcai said as he flipped his hand, casting a spell to tie the scroll with a purple ribbon again, then handed it to me.

“Oh, okay, thank you.” I took the certificate with a bitter smile. I thought this old man Kong was… really asking for a beating. I was made a count! And he still says I’m abnormal! Though I… am a bit abnormal. I’ve never heard of a nine-year-old cutting off his own arm.

Anyway, I hated this old man!

“No… Anna, did you hear what I just thought? Please don’t tell the prime minister! I beg you!”

“Relax. My mind-reading can only hear what you want me to hear. And I usually don’t use this spell.”

“Oh… that’s a relief.”

“So? What did you say about the prime minister?”

“Nothing! Nothing at all!” I replied flusteredly. It seemed she hadn’t heard?

At that moment, Princess Qiaolu walked over. She wore an extremely gorgeous princess gown and a crown on her head. She had completely lost the domineering aura from the ruins, replaced by a different kind of cold beauty. I was mesmerized for a moment.

“Congratulations, Jiushi.” The princess said in her usual bold tone.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Meanwhile, the general walked over from the side. “Hmph, you kid, you’re really something. Just arrived at Huaying City and already made a count.”

“Hehehe.” I laughed sheepishly, but inside I really wanted to put my hands on my hips!

Then General Yun Feibai handed a brocade box to the princess. She took out a silver rectangular medal with exquisite colored paintings engraved on it.

“This is your count medal.” The princess personally fastened this particularly cool medal on me. Then she took out a brocade ribbon with a garnet-colored edge from the box and covered my eyes with it. “This is a translucent ribbon specially made for you so you won’t stand out too much in the castle.” The princess’s hands were cold, but that couldn’t cool down my excitement at all.

With the ribbon tied, my vision was slightly dim, but overall it was much, much better than gauze. I couldn’t see anything at all with gauze, and this was also very breathable.

“Thank you, Princess.” Then the princess handed the brocade box to me again. “Here is also the reward that Father wants to give you: ten gold coins. You can use them as you wish. Also, the count’s salary for this month has already been distributed, so you’ll have to wait until the end of the year. Just endure for half a year. Haha, anyway, since you’re staying by my side, you won’t have many places to spend money.”

“What? Distributed at the start of the month? Have to wait half a year? Ten gold coins?” I suddenly felt like I had missed out on a fortune! Then I asked in shock, “Hey, wait. Do I have to stay by your side all the time?”

“Of course. Besides the ruins in Mengnan Forest, we’ve discovered many other ruins elsewhere. If you’re not by my side on standby, would you rather stay in a mansion far from Huaying City? When I need you, would I have to send someone to fetch you? How troublesome!”

As before, the princess said a lot of things that made me feel like she was threatening me, until she suddenly hit the point: she just found it troublesome!

“Oh, okay. I didn’t mean anything else. I’m just afraid I’ll cause trouble in the palace.”

“Haha, what trouble could you cause? You’re so small.”

“Mmph… I’m still growing!” I said, a bit angry and embarrassed. I really cared about my height, which was shorter than a sword!

Then they all laughed. They laughed so much that I had nothing to say.

Anyway, it seemed I would be settling down in the capital of Huaying City.

After that, the prime minister left with a few soldiers. Only the general, the princess, Yi Qin, and Anna, whose name was terribly long, remained in the room.

Seeing that annoying prime minister gone, I could no longer suppress the restlessness in my heart. I was so excited that tears streamed down my face.

My emotions were mixed, like finishing a game. I didn’t know if it was loneliness or satisfaction, happiness or sadness.

With tears streaming, I kept nodding and saying thank you. “Thank you, Your Highness, General, and both Marquises. Thank you all.”

The princess crossed her arms. “It’s nothing, nothing. No need to thank me. I should thank you instead. Honestly, I never expected we’d get so much from the Mengnan Forest ruins. It’s all thanks to you.”

“Jiushi, since you call me big brother, there’s no need for such formalities. If you really want to thank someone, I think you should thank Anna, who treated you, and the princess.”

“Hey, right, right. You shouldn’t thank me.” Yi Qin was obviously a bit angry and poked the armored general with her elbow.

“Oh, Yi Qin, sorry. I should thank you too. Yes, I must thank you. Without you, I wouldn’t know what a pure body is.” The general clearly had feelings for this Yi Qin! Why did I, a single dog, have to suffer secondary damage!

I laughed with relief, tears still flowing. “Thank you, everyone. Sorry… I don’t know what to say.”

“I told you to stop saying sorry. You… sigh.” The general sighed helplessly and patted my head.

I was very happy now. I felt that my persistence had paid off.

“It’s really great to be alive! Thank you… Anna.”

“Hmph, I already said it’s my duty.”

“But even so, I’m still very grateful to you.”

“Hmph, you’re just a kid, but you sure know how to flatter.”

“This isn’t flattery. I really am grateful.”

“Fine, I’ll take it for now.” Hehe, this Anna is a bit tsundere!

Afterward, we exchanged a few simple words and left separately.

I followed the princess to my room. A wide, bright, clean big bed! And a desk! Wow! Perfect!

“This is your room from now on. If you need anything, you can pull the rope by the bed, and someone will come to ask what you need.”

“Hey, wait!” Before I could think too much, the princess quickly threw the box and the title certificate in my hand onto the bed and started showing me around the palace.

“We’re on the south side of the second floor. My room is on the third floor. With your current status, you should be able to wander around the castle freely.”

I listened helplessly to the word ‘wander’.

“I think I’d probably get tired after climbing to the third or fourth floor…” (Quietly)

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nothing. I just think this castle is really big.” I pretended to cover up.

“Oh, and this is the guest bath on the second floor. There’s a larger bath on the third floor.”

“This is the main dining room on the second floor. Usually, when I’m in the castle, I eat here. Of course, you must join us. It’s more lively with more people.”

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