"'Nothing ventured, nothing gained,'" Zheng Xiu repeated, then asked curiously, "It's a metaphor. What's wrong, didn't you understand?"
"I understood." Situ Yong's lips twitched as he nodded. Just as he was about to stop him, Zheng Xiu pointed at the bodice with a look of disgust. "Wrap it up for me."
Situ Yong caught a whiff of its faint fragrance from a distance, and his heart skipped a beat. After he wrapped up the still-warm bodice, Zheng Xiu held the bag with one hand and instructed the Orange Cat, "I'll be right back. You're the Pillar Cat. Keep a close watch for me. If anything happens, don't hesitate to use your claws."
"MEOW!"
[Hmph!]
The Orange Cat crossed its front paws over its chest and looked away, the very picture of indignation.
"When we get back, I'll have Feng Bei cook again. All the fried fish cakes you can eat!"
"MEOW MEOW?"
[Really?]
"A word from the Red King cannot be taken back, not even by a team of four horses!"
