Emperor Donghua said, “Bihua, you’re worrying far too much. This cub is still tiny. What could it possibly understand? You’re only leaving it with them for a month. Whatever those two may do as lovers, surely they won’t do it in front of your little beast.”
Bihua Lingjun considered this. “That’s true.”
Emperor Donghua sighed. “They’re simply two men in love. Now they’re living on a deserted island. If even a good friend like you keeps your distance, it would be terribly bleak for them.”
Bihua Lingjun felt a sudden prick of conscience. Stroking Yuan Su’s soft fur, he said, “Then I’ll entrust him to Hengwen.”
Bihua Lingjun had intended to set off immediately, but he could not bear to part with the cub. Instead, he took Yuan Su back to his residence and slept another night with him tucked under the covers. Only then did he ride a breeze to the island in the far eastern sea.
Cradling Yuan Su in one arm, Bihua Lingjun knocked on the door with his free hand. It opened a little later, revealing Song Yao, who smiled as soon as he saw him. “Brother Bihua! It’s been ages. I heard you gave birth and were recuperating at home. How can you be out and about already? Have you counted the days to make sure your confinement period is over? They say you must be especially careful about these things. Catching a chill could be dreadful.”
Bihua Lingjun’s face twitched twice. Then he said solemnly, “Brother Song, a few days ago I happened to meet Tianshu Xingjun in Heaven. Would you and Hengwen care to hear how he’s been getting on?”
At the name Tianshu, Song Yao’s expression shifted. He immediately broke into a broad smile. “Ha ha, Brother Bihua, it’s been so long that I couldn’t resist teasing you a little. Don’t take it to heart, ha ha. Did you come today on some business?”
Then his gaze fell on the little yellow bundle in Bihua’s arms. “And what are you holding there?”
Bihua Lingjun carefully lifted Yuan Su a little. The tiger had been sleeping with his head buried against Bihua’s chest. Still seemingly half asleep, he wriggled and pressed his head against Bihua again. Bihua stroked his fur. Song Yao leaned closer and inspected him from head to tail. “This yellow spotted thing… is it a cat?”
Bihua Lingjun said gravely, “A tiger.”
Enlightenment dawned on Song Yao. “I heard you hatched a tiger from that egg. Is this the one?”
Bihua Lingjun looked exceedingly pleased with himself. “It is. Actually, I’ve come today because I have a favor to ask of you and Hengwen.”
Bihua followed Song Yao into the inner courtyard. From some distance away, he saw Hengwen Qingjun waiting to welcome them at the entrance of the open hall. Song Yao strode over. “Hengwen, Brother Bihua has brought along the tiger cub he hatched.”
Hengwen Qingjun was immediately delighted. “Really? A tiger cub Brother Bihua hatched himself? We must have a proper look.”
Bihua Lingjun came up behind Song Yao. The little tiger feigning sleep in his arms opened his left eyelid just a crack and glanced toward Hengwen Qingjun before closing it again.
Bihua Lingjun held Yuan Su in his palms. Yuan Su yawned, narrowed his sleepy eyes in the gentle breeze, and gave a faint little wriggle.
Smiling like a peach blossom, Bihua lifted Yuan Su toward the two men again. “Brother Song, Brother Hengwen, isn’t he adorable?”
Song Yao and Hengwen examined the cub from every side and each stroked his fur. Both agreed that he was indeed adorable, very adorable.
Bihua Lingjun was delighted.
Once they were seated in the open hall and had drunk a cup of tea, Bihua Lingjun stroked Yuan Su as he slept soundly on his lap and came to the point. “Brother Song, Brother Hengwen, I actually have a favor to ask. I’m tied up with some heavenly business. Would you be willing to look after Yuan Su here for a few days?”
Hengwen Qingjun answered at once, “You’re far too courteous, Brother Bihua. It’s such a small matter. Besides, this cub is so adorable. You may leave him here with complete peace of mind.”
Bihua Lingjun was overjoyed, but Song Yao looked at Hengwen, then at the little tiger in Bihua’s lap, with a trace of hesitation.
This was exactly what Bihua had feared. Many years earlier, when Song Yao and Hengwen Qingjun descended to the mortal world on heavenly business, a reckless male fox had fallen in love with Hengwen, provoking no end of needless jealousy in Song Yao. The fox had since accumulated sufficient merit to attain an immortal body and now guarded a mountain range in the lower world. He was said to visit Hengwen on the island occasionally, and Song Yao still sounded intensely sour whenever he mentioned him. What if the business with that fox had made Song Yao suspicious of every furry spirit beast, whether male or female…
While Bihua fretted, Song Yao spoke. “Brother Bihua, you know I’ve never raised a spirit beast. Tell me everything I need to know about caring for this Wishful Egg tiger. What does he eat? Meat or vegetables? When should I bathe him? How many times a day should I comb his fur? Better yet, write it all down. I’m rather rough-and-ready. I wouldn’t want to harm your precious darling.”
These words made Bihua Lingjun feel thoroughly ashamed of having judged a gentleman by his own petty standards. “Don’t worry, Brother Song. There’s nothing complicated about it. He’s very good and easy to look after. He drinks only clear water and eats nothing else. Bathe him once a day and comb his fur afterward. At home he usually sleeps or takes a turn around the courtyard. He doesn’t run wild or pester people.” He looked lovingly at Yuan Su in his lap. “Of all the spirit beasts I’ve raised, he’s the best behaved.”
Song Yao gave a chuckle. “Brother Bihua, look at the way you gaze at him! You look like a father admiring his son. Ha ha! Don’t worry. Your son is my nephew. I’ll take good care of him!”
Bihua Lingjun then spent another long while recounting one little incident after another from Yuan Su’s life since hatching. He had finished an entire pot of tea before his account finally came to an end. Only then did he lift Yuan Su from his lap and reluctantly hold him out to Song Yao and Hengwen.
Song Yao reached out to take him. Yuan Su raised his head from Bihua’s arms and gazed at Hengwen Qingjun with large, watery eyes, making two soft, wheedling rumbles in his chest. Hengwen laughed. “Why, he even knows how to act spoiled.” But he merely reached out and patted Yuan Su on the head. Song Yao took him from Bihua and tucked him into his own arms. “Rest assured, Brother Bihua. If he’s even half a liang lighter when you come back in a month, you can hold me accountable.”
Bihua Lingjun said solemnly, “I’m leaving him in your care.” He gave another lengthy account of Yuan Su’s daily habits, stroked the cub several more times, and only then said his farewells and left.
Only after the breeze that had borne Bihua away vanished entirely did Song Yao sigh with melancholy and say to Hengwen Qingjun, “Don’t you think Bihua is getting rather worrying? He’s gone practically mad over this tiger. He’s talked more about it today than he ever used to say to me over ten visits.” He lifted Yuan Su by the scruff, raised his head, and inspected him. “He’s just a yellow-furred tiger. His spiritual energy… seems perfectly ordinary to me. Does Bihua think there’s something special about him simply because he came from the Wishful Egg, and Bihua hatched him himself?”
The little tiger lifted his eyelids and gave Song Yao a bored look. Then he twisted around in Song Yao’s arms and opened his large, watery eyes to gaze at Hengwen.
Hengwen Qingjun smiled. “He really is adorable, though. Bihua said he’s easy to raise. Let’s take good care of him for a month.”