The Ninth Prince also found it too noisy over there, so he nodded and said to the beast tamer, "Protect him well."

Qi Qi walked to the dog kennel and sure enough, there was a bunch of large dogs of all kinds. They were not as docile as pet dogs in later generations, but had a primitive ferocity. Some were lying lazily in their cages, while others were pacing restlessly inside their cages, breathing on passersby.

The animal trainer said, "Sir, these large dogs are hunting dogs from the Western Regions. The puppies they had before have all been given away, and the next litter is probably not until next year."

Qi Qi wasn't startled by the barking. His attention was drawn to the little dog on the ground in front of him. The barking he had just heard must have come from it. It was about the size of two hands and dared to bark at the big dog in the cage in front of him.

The animal trainer said, "This is a puppy from a local hunting dog, also known as the Five Black Dog. It is one of the breeds that hunters love to keep. They are very loyal to their owners and have a good temperament."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Qi Qi.

The Wuhei dog is certainly nice, but it's too common and all black. Compared to other breeds from abroad with special names and appearances, it's rather ordinary. Since pet owners naturally prefer rare and special breeds.

Qi Qi looked at the somewhat fierce-looking little dog and muttered, "This dog looks like it'll steal a cassock when it grows up..."

Animal tamer: "What?"

Qi Qi quickly asked, "Can I hold it?"

The animal trainer said, "It's possible. This dog was accidentally thrown out of its nest when it was born. I didn't expect it to survive the fall, but it hit its head and became a little... not very bright."

When Qi Qi saw the puppy see the animal trainer, it barked a few times and tried to come over, but then its limbs wandered around like it had just appeared, and it tripped and fell to the ground with a thud. The feeling was... strangely wonderful.

Qi Qi walked over and picked up the puppy. The puppy wasn't afraid of strangers, barked twice, and looked bewildered. Qi Qi said with satisfaction, "You're the one!"

Qi Qi carried the dog and ran towards the Ninth Prince.

The Ninth Prince saw the chubby boy running towards him, carrying a chubby little dog.

Human eyes are round and upturned, with clear black and white. A puppy's eyes are also round, black and moist, with only a little white at the corner of the eye. When a human holds the dog up to show it, the puppy barks twice, both with the same silly and innocent look.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, please take it!"

The Ninth Prince looked at his smiling face, deliberately clicked his tongue, and poked the puppy's head with his finger: "So ugly."

The puppy immediately started barking at him.

"So fierce? What's its name?"

Qi Qi knew he had agreed, and chuckled wickedly to himself: "Your Highness, come and collect it."

"Come here."

"Come here."

"Come here."

"Let me think about it,"

Qi Qi pondered, "It's so dark, how about we call it Little White?"

Ninth Prince: "?"

Qi Qi's mind went blank: "Tiezhu, Cuihua, Wangcai, Gousheng, Goudan, Batian, Buliuqiu, Heifengli..."

The Ninth Prince asked in confusion, "What does '不溜秋' mean?"

Qi Qi: "It's all dark and gloomy~"

Ninth Prince: "Pfft..."

He suppressed a laugh and asked again, "Then what does 'black pineapple' mean?"

No sooner had these words been spoken than the dog was lifted up in front of the Ninth Prince, barely obscuring the chubby boy's face. It stared at the Ninth Prince with the same wide, bewildered eyes as the other boy, who said, "Black Pineapple means... I like you~"

"The dog likes you, Your Highness. You must take good care of it from now on."

The Ninth Prince snorted and patted the dog's head: "How about we name it Laifu? It'll be good to have another older brother."

Qi Qi didn't care. Nowadays, people treat their dogs like sons and daughters. What's wrong with adopting a younger brother?

"Laifu is going home."

...

The puppy was brought back to Fengyi Palace. Like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, it was completely fearless, looking around curiously. The younger palace maids couldn't help but take a few more glances. It wasn't until the eldest sister, Dongmei, arrived and saw the two of them carrying the puppy back that she became quite agitated: "Your Highness, the puppy was just brought back and hasn't been bathed yet... Let me give it a proper welcome and a bath first!"

Poor Laifu was dragged by the scruff of his neck to take a bath by Dongmei, who had no choice but to obey.

Qi Qi and the Ninth Prince were also washed in basins.

Qi Qi naturally took a bath in the Ninth Prince's private room. This was a secret among the palace servants in the side hall. It was against the rules for a young eunuch favored by the Ninth Prince to be allowed to bathe in the prince's private room. This matter could not be spread, because the Ninth Prince was a little tyrant. The young eunuch had never seen him angry, but everyone else had.

Xiao Fuzi washed the Ninth Prince, but Qi Qi wasn't used to it and washed himself on the side. The two little brats were completely naked in front of each other.

Qi Qi thought to himself, "I've seen the Ninth Prince's butt before, and we'll probably grow up together. Could this be the legendary childhood sweetheart?"

No, no, no, then wouldn't the palace be full of childhood sweethearts?

Qi Qi splashed water on his face, shook his head, and told himself that he might be doomed. He had already considered the Ninth Prince as a friend, and the thought of his good friend possibly being killed in the future was enough to make him extremely sad!

Damn it, I'd better just stay a good little eunuch!

"Are you out of your mind?"

The Ninth Prince watched him go crazy from the side and said worriedly.

Qi Qi: "...You're the one who's out of your mind!"

The Ninth Prince was completely bewildered: "I didn't."

...

Regardless of what Gu Siyan thought that night, Qi Qi simply cleared her mind and didn't think too much. There was always calming incense burning in the Ninth Prince's palace, and the smell made Qi Qi want to sleep.

The puppy wasn't familiar with the side hall yet, and we were worried it would make noise at night, so its bed was placed in the outer hall. There were people on night duty watching over it, so it wasn't too scared.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!