Having a master is pretty good. Not only do you have food and drink, but you can also relax and do nothing every day. Compared to being someone else's apprentice, this kind of life is infinitely better. Back in the day, when she and her master lived alone deep in the mountains, she took care of all the housework, from laundry to cooking.

Although the word 'pet' didn't quite satisfy Xi Xizhi, this kind of life was extremely suitable for a lazy person like her.

I slept soundly in my little nest, without a single dream.

The next day, Xi Xizhi, still half asleep, went to the canna lily as usual, yawning as she absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Apart from two palace maids surrounding the flowerbed and keeping an eye on the little sable, the rest of the scene was no different from yesterday.

After finishing the morning court session, An Honghan first went back to Panlong Palace. He accurately located the little ferret that was dozing off, picked it up, and headed to the Imperial Study.

Feeling her body touch a hard, fleshy wall, Xi Xizhi whimpered in dissatisfaction. But the wall was very warm, so Xi Xizhi couldn't help but move towards the heat source. Throughout, the little sable's eyelids didn't open even once. Half-asleep and half-awake, it found a good spot, lay down in An Honghan's arms, and didn't move again.

The price of hard work was severe sleep deprivation. Even though the sun was almost high in the sky, Xi Xizhi still couldn't resist going to sleep.

Thus, this beautiful scene appeared in the Imperial Study.

The imposing An Honghan held a calligraphy brush in his hand, concentrating intently on handling official business. On his lap, a fluffy little ferret was curled up in a ball, and if one listened carefully, one could hear the ferret's steady breathing.

Because of the punishment, Lin En was beaten more than ten times and was temporarily unable to get up from the bed. So the eunuch named 'Xiao Xunzi' took over to serve An Honghan's daily life.

Having just escaped with his life, the eunuch appeared trembling with fear. Every two steps, he couldn't help but glance at An Honghan's expression, afraid of making another mistake and angering An Honghan.

"Your Majesty, these are grapes, a specialty of the Kingdom of Jiu."

A heavy bunch of black grapes lay on a white porcelain plate. Each grape was round and lustrous, translucent and glistening. Under the bright sunlight, it seemed that even the flesh inside could be clearly seen.

An Honghan glanced at it only once before burying himself back in his official duties. He hadn't put down his pen since entering the Imperial Study.

The little white ball on my leg moved, followed by a yawn.

An Honghan knew the little sable had woken up, so he placed it on the table, right next to the grapes. Because its body had shrunk several times over, when Xi Xizhi first saw the large, black, round beads appearing in front of her, she didn't recognize them for a moment.

With a gentle poke of your smooth paw, the crisp, tender peel breaks.

Ahhh! What is that?!

Curious, it moved its paw into its mouth, licked it, and found it to be a little sweet and a little sour.

—It's grapes!

As if she hadn't eaten for days, Xi Xizhi rushed towards the bunch of grapes. She pressed down on the largest and roundest black bead with both paws, gave it a hard push, and rolled two feet away with herself, tumbling several times on the table before finally coming to a stop.

The once orderly memorials were now scattered haphazardly everywhere.

Did she disturb An Honghan's review of memorials? Just as she realized this, Xi Xizhi quickly shrank back.

"You know you made a mistake?" Xi Xizhi didn't know whether An Honghan was happy or angry. His voice was the same as usual, making her feel uncertain.

Xi Xizhi was still clutching the large grape in her paws. After thinking for a moment, she reluctantly held the grape up and presented it to An Honghan like a treasure, "Chirp chirp..."

You eat.

An Honghan was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "For me?"

The little sable nodded obsequiously, knowing her life wouldn't be easy without currying favor with him. The grapes were originally yours; she could simply return them to you. Besides, there was still a large bunch left on the jade plate; even if she were stuffed, she couldn't eat that many.

"So you can even flatter me." An Honghan twirled the grape between two fingers for a while. "I'll let you off this time, now get your ass off my memorial."

Startled, Xi Xizhi jumped back several steps and looked down at the memorial, which she had already crumpled and bruised.

He peeled off the grape skin and put it in his mouth. He had eaten grapes before, the kind that were tributes from the Kingdom of Jiu, but he always felt that this grape was the sweetest.

With immense sorrow, Xi Xizhi watched as the largest and roundest grape was eaten by someone else. She bit her paw in anger and continued her battle with the plate of grapes.

With a limited appetite, Xi Xizhi could only manage to swallow a dozen or so grapes, no matter how much she ate. Thinking that An Honghan didn't seem to like grapes, Xi Xizhi remembered the old man who had treated her forelimbs. Since someone had helped her once, it was only right to give them a small token of gratitude.

If she gets injured again in the future, we'll have to trouble the old man again.

It gestured for a while in front of An Honghan, stroking its chin with its paw, imitating the old man stroking his beard, and then pushed the jade plate.

Seeing how much the little sable cared about the old man, An Honghan was displeased. He not only provided the little sable with food, drink, and shelter, but also fattened it up, so why didn't the little sable give him any gifts?

His voice turned cold as An Honghan raised the plate of grapes. "If I remember correctly, this plate of grapes belongs to me. If you want to give a gift, then give something of your own."

"So stingy!" Xi Xizhi glared at An Honghan through gritted teeth.

You are the ruler of a country, and all you're asking for is a plate of grapes. Is it really necessary to be so petty? Besides, she only asked because you're family.

She kept slandering An Honghan in her mind and muttering bad things about him.

Besides this silver fur coat, what else does she have to offer? But can she just give away this fur coat so easily?

With her head drooping dejectedly, Xi Xizhi kicked off the table and jumped off.

"You two continue to follow Little Marten." Given that Little Marten had gone missing once, An Honghan was even more worried about it and arranged for two palace maids to follow it at all times.

The two palace maids nodded and chased after the little sable.

Feeling dejected, Xi Xizhi strolled through the palace, admiring the beautiful scenery in an attempt to dispel her unpleasant mood.

Not far behind the Imperial Study was the Imperial Garden. So Xi Xizhi hadn't walked far before she saw a riot of colors, with all kinds of precious flowers vying for attention, blooming everywhere, in every color imaginable: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple.

Many of the flowers were varieties that Xi Xizhi had never seen before. There were twenty or thirty kinds of peonies alone, some planted in flower beds and others in flower pots.

Suddenly an idea popped into her head, and Xi Xizhi leaped into the pile of flowers.

The old man's gift has been secured...

It's a small gift but a big sentiment; I'm sure the old man won't mind too much.

The little sable was very small; it plunged into the flower bushes and disappeared in an instant, leaving the two palace maids behind it frantic. The Imperial Garden was so vast; finding a sable the size of a palm was no easy task, and the maids were almost in tears.

What will they do if His Majesty reprimands them?