第八章（265字）

The Nephew’s Warning

1． Late at night, Reynard’s nephew Grimbart slipped out of the house and found him in the woods.

2． “Uncle, your situation is very serious,” Grimbart whispered.

3． “You must go to the palace and defend yourself. Right now the King is hearing only one side of the story.”

4． “You’re not there, so everyone is blaming everything on you. The attacks keep piling up.”

5． “The longer you wait, the worse it gets. The sooner you go, the better.”

6． Reynard was silent for a moment. Then he asked softly, “Nephew, do you think I’m a bad fox?”

7． “I admit, I have schemed, tricked, and punished some of those arrogant nobles...”

8． “But I didn’t do it for myself. I did it to survive—I had no choice.”

9． Grimbart said nothing, but his eyes were full of concern—and respect.

10． “If the King can forgive me, I’ll leave all this scheming behind and live as a hermit in the deep mountains.”

11． “I’d rather live a poor, quiet life than be caught in their lies and greed any longer.”

12． Just then, they heard a chicken cluck. A little chick came hopping out of the bushes.

13． Reynard’s eyes lit up. He leapt forward, grabbed the chick, and plucked off all its feathers.

14． “I’m hungry,” he said. “Let’s eat this one before we go.”

15． Grimbart rushed forward to stop him. “Don’t do this! We must hurry to see the King—that’s what matters now!”