After the court session, An Honghan went to the Imperial Study, leaving Xi Xizhi to the side. Fortunately, there were several plates of pastries on the table, which Xi Xizhi secretly stuffed into her mouth while observing her new master.
Seeing him frown every now and then, Xi Xizhi sighed... It turns out that being an emperor is not an easy thing.
On the one hand, he had to guard against his ministers' rebellious intentions, and on the other hand, he had to manage the affairs of the country and ensure the basic livelihood of the people.
It's hard to be a person, but it's even harder to be an emperor.
After eating and drinking her fill, Xi Xizhi lay on her desk to rest and recharge. Her bright eyes glanced at the memorial that An Honghan was diligently sketching, the characters on it crooked and winding. After a few glances, realizing she couldn't read the language of this country at all, Xi Xizhi tried to meditate to regulate her spiritual energy. She moved her legs, just about to cross them into a cross-legged position, when she stumbled and fell off the desk.
Although An Honghan was reviewing memorials, he would glance at Xiao Diao every now and then. Luckily, he was quick-witted and grabbed Xiao Diao by the neck, otherwise he would have fallen off the desk and hurt the little guy.
An Honghan pinched the little mink's chubby leg and said, "You're so fidgety, what are you trying to do?"
Xi Xizhi kicked away the large hand that was ravaging her, and was about to shout, "I want to meditate!", but the sound was abruptly cut off in her throat. Looking at the hairy limbs, Xi Xizhi shrugged... and had to face the fact that she was no longer human, so how could she sit cross-legged like a human? She had no legs, only the limbs of an animal.
A wave of sadness washed over me. Of all things to become, why a little ferret cub? From a cultivator to a pet—is there anything more tragic in the world?
What sins did she commit in her past life that fate would play such a cruel joke on her?
How do fairies cultivate? They absorb the essence of the sun and moon to build a solid foundation, then overcome heavenly tribulations to attain immortality.
Xi Xizhi pondered her future path of cultivation... It would be extremely arduous.
An Honghan thought the little ferret was frightened, so he stroked its head as if to comfort it.
Lynn, who had been serving in the Imperial Study, widened his eyes upon seeing this scene. His Majesty was always cold-blooded and ruthless, showing no emotion even when slaughtering his own brothers, but now... he was actually comforting a little ferret? Accustomed to His Majesty's cold nature, this sudden change made Lynn look at the little ferret with new respect.
It truly is a magical object; no wonder His Majesty loves it so much.
Disliking being touched, Xi Xizhi moved her fluffy head to the side, avoiding the large hand.
Realizing that the little sable had dodged, An Honghan's face darkened. "To have won my favor is a blessing you've accumulated over three lifetimes. You've dodged me time and time again. Do I have to teach you a lesson before you'll learn to behave and stay obediently by my side? If that's necessary, I'll break your legs and see how you manage to dodge again."
Lynn's face stiffened for a moment. This was the His Majesty he knew! He must have been hallucinating just now! How could His Majesty have pity on a little pet?
"It must be an illusion," Lynn thought to himself repeatedly.
For the sake of cultivation, Xi Xizhi lived in seclusion in the deep mountains and forests for many years, rarely contacting the outside world. Seeing the other person's face suddenly turn ferocious, she was startled, her round body trembled, and she shrank back.
You can know a person's face but not their heart; you can draw a tiger's skin but not its bones. The master was absolutely right. The face that was so handsome just a moment ago had turned sinister and terrifying.
Humans are indeed the most difficult creatures to understand in the world.
"You're scared now?" Seeing the little ferret trembling, An Honghan toned down his imposing manner and gently stroked its soft fur. "As long as you behave, I won't break your legs."
He grabbed the little ferret's paw roughly and poked its bright red paw pads with his fingers. The touch was much better than he had imagined, and An Honghan couldn't help but squeeze them a few more times.
Xi Xizhi desperately wanted to pull her claws back; her body was still very fragile and delicate, having only recently been born. But the person didn't seem to care about the pressure, squeezing her claws until they ached.
"Chirp chirp..."
Xi Xizhi finally couldn't help but speak up, trying to stop someone's wicked behavior.
The other person didn't react at all, continuing to knead her breasts at will. He seemed not to hear her cries.
Xi Xizhi was a bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong. Besides, she was currently powerless; if the other party was displeased, he could strangle her with a single finger. The fluffy head moved closer to the large hand, stuck out its tongue, and gently licked it, trying to awaken his conscience and make him spare its claws.
An Honghan was brought back to his senses when he felt a damp touch on the back of his hand.
The little ferret stared at him with its big, watery eyes, chirped twice, and quietly pulled its paws out of his hand.
The moment the fleshy pads touched the ground, Xi Xizhi quickly withdrew them. Damn it, this guy has absolutely no sense of gentleness; his claws are numb, and it hurts whenever he touches anything.
An Honghan's pure black eyes were unfathomably deep. Every human-like action of the little sable fascinated him.
“It’s clearly a ferret, but it looks so much like a human.” An Honghan lifted the little ferret’s two front legs and hugged it to his chest.
The Phoenix Cloud Sable is like a modern miniature pet dog. Even when fully grown, it's only about the size of a cat. Not to mention that Xi Xizhi was still a cub; An Honghan could easily wrap his hand around her.
Her frail body made her feel utterly powerless.
Are we destined to be inferior pets? Are we destined to be manipulated by others for the rest of our lives? With no dignity whatsoever?
Xi Xizhi was unwilling to accept it; she had always been alone...
His eyes gradually dimmed, and his head drooped listlessly on An Honghan's palm.
Confused as to why the little ferret had become quiet, An Honghan looked up at Lin En and asked, "What's wrong with it?"
Lynn was drenched in sweat, rolled up his sleeves to wipe it away, and stammered for a long time. He wasn't a mink, how could he know what that little mink was thinking?
Receiving no answer for a long time, An Honghan's eyes quickly turned icy, his sharp gaze like an arrow piercing straight into one's heart.
Having served An Honghan for many years, Lin En could tell from his expression that it was the prelude to his anger.
Lynn was so frightened that his knees buckled and he knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, this servant guesses that Little Mink is probably hungry."
Xi Xizhi lazily lifted her eyelids and snorted twice in dissatisfaction. Nonsense! Which eye of yours saw her hungry...? That plate of pastries just now made her stomach bulge.
"Oh?...Really?" An Honghan poked the little sable's belly, where it was as soft as a river of spring water.
The ferret was well cared for; it was chubby and plump, all fleshy, and very comfortable to hold.
"It looks very full."
Someone got hooked on poking and kept tickling Xi Xizhi's stomach.
Although Xi Xizhi's body was that of a ferret, her mind was that of a real person. Having her stomach caressed by a man made her feel somewhat embarrassed. She rolled over, lying on his palm like a dead fish, determined not to let him succeed.
An Honghan burst out laughing, "This little guy is actually shy."
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