As her spiritual power gradually returned to its previous level, Xi Xizhi's mood improved more and more. With nothing to do, she would go out for a stroll every day, only to be caught by a certain emperor and taken to the imperial study to grind ink, serving as his laborer.
The little sable cub gripped the ink stick tightly with its two paws, pushing it in a circular motion. In the fine She inkstone, a pool of jet-black ink gradually rippled as the ink stick moved.
While grinding ink is very easy for humans, even the easiest task becomes incredibly difficult for a ferret. The ferret's two front paws already make it unsteady on its feet, and pushing the ink stick makes it even more challenging.
After rubbing for a while, Xi Xizhi's claws gradually became numb.
Seeing An Honghan diligently reviewing memorials, Xi Xizhi immediately threw down the ink stick and slumped onto the desk, panting. To stretch her limbs, Xi Xizhi rolled over on the spot until she felt comfortable, then lay down quietly, her fluffy chin resting on her two front paws, looking indescribably innocent and adorable.
An Honghan seemed to have anticipated that the little ferret would slack off. After finishing writing the last character with his brush, he turned his gaze to the little ferret.
"The ink is too weak, keep grinding. This is a debt you owe me, and it is only right to repay debts."
In recent days, An Honghan has said this phrase quite often. And each time, Xi Xizhi obediently complies, holding the ink stick with a sorrowful expression, and continues to painstakingly grind ink for someone.
The palace maids and eunuchs serving in the imperial study would always chuckle softly when they saw this.
Why did they show no sympathy for Xiao Diao when they saw her being bullied by His Majesty, but instead gloated? Or was Xiao Diao born with the appearance of a submissive, timid wife?
The mere thought of the word "young wife" sent a chill down the spines of the palace maids. Why would they associate the appearance of a "young wife" with an animal?!
By the time An Honghan finally finished dealing with official business, the sky outside was gradually darkening. The occasional chirping of cicadas added a touch of liveliness to the twilight.
An Honghan closed the memorial in his hand, slowly stood up, and said, "Send these memorials to the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Justice respectively."
Xi Xizhi yawned lazily and noticed that An Honghan had finally learned to balance work and rest and was planning to go back to Panlong Palace to sleep. She immediately perked up, shook her fur, and jumped up from the table.
A day apart feels like three autumns; it really misses that soft, cozy bed. It doesn't know why, but lately, it hasn't done anything, yet it's exhausted every day. It gets sleepy every two or three hours. It's not a snake; it doesn't need to hibernate. Besides, it's not even winter yet, but Xi Xizhi's sleep has doubled compared to usual; it wishes it could stay in bed all day long.
In short, one word: exhausting.
An Honghan also noticed the little ferret's unusual behavior and had asked Physician Xu to examine it. However, the examination revealed that the little ferret was perfectly healthy. According to Physician Xu, the little ferret was incredibly healthy and even a bit chubby, probably because it was still growing and that's why it was often sleepy.
As long as the little ferret was healthy, An Honghan let it do nothing but eat and sleep all day. Occasionally, he would let it grind ink, which he considered a form of exercise.
Carrying the little sable all the way back to Panlong Palace, An Honghan immediately ordered the palace maids to prepare a bath as soon as he stepped into the palace.
The wisps of ambergris wafted into her nostrils, and just smelling the fragrance made Xi Xizhi even sleepier. She raised her paw to cover her mouth, yawned twice, and her small eyes were half-closed, her watery gaze melting anyone's heart.
An Honghan couldn't help but stroke its fur. "What have you been secretly doing lately? Why are you yawning all the time?"
As if complaining, Xi Xizhi glared at him with her wide, round eyes. "Doesn't it spend all day with you, from morning till night? Don't you know perfectly well whether it's secretly doing something else?"
Nestled in An Honghan's arms, Xi Xizhi was too lazy to move, letting An Honghan carry her into the bath.
The warm pool water bubbled and murmured, while wisps of mist swirled around it, creating a dreamlike scene.
When An Honghan first started raising the ferret, he was worried that it wasn't a good swimmer and might drown. But after a few months of getting to know it, and seeing the ferret swimming so happily, An Honghan gradually relaxed his guard.
With the recent increase in official duties, An Honghan hasn't had a moment to relax each day, and now he feels extremely tired. He closed his eyes and leaned against the edge of the pool for a short rest.
Xi Xizhi floated on the water like a corpse, her long, white hair swaying wildly. Completely relaxed, half her body floated on the surface, her eyes closed as she slept. The water temperature was just right; she didn't feel cold at all while sleeping like this.
Just as Xi Xizhi was about to fall asleep, she suddenly felt as if she were on fire inside her body, and her body temperature gradually rose. Meanwhile, the water around the little sable was boiling like hot water, with bubbles popping and crackling...
Xi Xizhi was so frightened that she opened her eyes instantly, her body felt like it was about to explode, and the veins all over her body were bulging and clearly visible.
What... what happened?!
Xi Xizhi had never seen anything like it before, and the excruciating pain made it thrash about in the water. In an instant, as if the pain had reached its limit, Xi Xizhi let out a scream that it could no longer hold back.
At that moment, An Honghan opened his eyes.
On the water's surface, everything returned to calm.
Where the little ferret had originally been, there was nothing but rising bubbles.
An Honghan thought it was a prank by Xiao Diao. He frowned first, then shouted, "Come out here. Don't sneak out every time I close my eyes. You're all dirty. You have to soak yourself clean before you're allowed in bed."
The magnetic sound drifted through the hall, creating echoes that then traveled back.
The bathing tub was completely silent.
Instead of the expected squeaking of the ferret, An Honghan stood up from the water with a splash, water droplets sliding down his muscular chest, a perfect display.
He raised his sharp eyes and looked around, carefully observing where the ferret might be hiding.
Underwater, Xi Xizhi was in a state of shock, so much so that she didn't hear a word An Honghan had said.
After the pain throughout her body, Xi Xizhi clearly felt the changes in her entire body. Incredulously, she raised her hands, and they were indeed human hands, though only the size of lotus roots. There was no way Xi Xizhi could be seeing things.
Her waist-length silver hair floated in the water, swaying gently.
A completely naked little girl, curled up and floating in the water like a baby in the womb.
Xi Xizhi raised her right hand and pinched her left arm hard until a sharp pain shot through her chubby arm. Only then could she truly believe what she was seeing.
She... transformed into human form.
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