One thousand taels?!
There's food to eat and money to be made; only a fool wouldn't go!
Xi Xizhi, who had just been wavering, immediately had a gleam in her eyes.
However, Xi Xizhi did not reply to Dongfang Youyu immediately, but only said, "I need to go back and discuss it with my family."
Anyway, she already has An Honghan by her side, so there's no need for her to go with Dongfang Youyu. If An Honghan doesn't dare to agree, she can always switch sides later.
After saying goodbye to Dongfang Youyu, Xi Xizhi's mind was filled with thoughts of Fengxianju. She hadn't had a chance to try Fengxianju's signature dishes on her last trip out of the palace, and after so long, she would have almost forgotten about it if Dongfang Youyu hadn't mentioned it.
The more Xi Xizhi thought about Fengxianju, the more her mouth watered.
Only two words came to mind: I want to eat.
He rushed into the Panlong Hall, his footsteps making a particularly loud thud.
An Honghan, holding a book in his hands, immediately looked up at the palace gate upon hearing the familiar footsteps. "You've finally decided to come back?"
Xi Xizhi pouted. It was only an hour's absence, so why was An Honghan acting like he was interrogating her?
In an effort to please An Honghan and persuade him to leave the palace for a trip, Xi Xizhi forced a smile and said, "I have something to discuss with you."
Xi Xizhi jogged over and sat down in the chair next to An Honghan. She glanced at the book in his hand. Even though Xi Xizhi couldn't read, she knew that given An Honghan's personality, the book must be some kind of guide to governing the country.
An Honghan noticed the child's excited expression and, instead of following her lead, asked, "Who did you just meet?"
Xi Xizhi paused for a moment, then answered truthfully, "Dongfang Youyu."
An Honghan's face instantly darkened. "What did you say?"
"Actually, it's nothing. He said there will be a food tasting competition at Fengxianju in three days." Thinking of those fragrant delicacies, Xi Xizhi wiped her mouth, afraid that her saliva would flow out.
In the very first few words between the two, An Honghan took control of the situation.
Xi Xizhi tugged at An Honghan's sleeve and shook it, "Didn't you say you wanted to eat Fengxianju's signature dishes last time? Why don't we go out of the palace to eat them in a couple of days?"
Her clear, bright eyes, like those of an animal, gazed intently at An Honghan with anticipation.
An Honghan's hand holding the book trembled almost imperceptibly, nearly revealing his thoughts.
Without a trace of expression, An Honghan put down his book. "That was several months ago. I haven't thought about leaving the palace recently."
The outside world is chaotic and messy. Besides, Xi Xizhi has never participated in the Fengxianju competition, so how would she know how many people there are? It would be too easy for things to go wrong if there were too many people crowding together.
Xi Xizhi felt a moment of dejection, but she was unwilling to give up. She clung to An Honghan and shook his sleeves, her charmingly naive expression seemingly saying, "If you don't let me go, I'll annoy you to death."
An Honghan could be ruthless to anyone, but he couldn't do anything with this sable. He frowned slightly and said, "How about I send someone out of the palace to buy you the signature dish of Fengxianju?"
Xi Xizhi stared blankly at An Honghan, then said, "By the time we got back, the vegetables were already cold. How could they taste as good as freshly cooked ones?!"
"How about I order someone to invite the cook to the palace for you?" An Honghan patted the little boy's shoulder, his eyes full of doting affection.
Xi Xizhi gritted her teeth and said fiercely, "Even if you're a pet, you still need to go out for a walk!"
Being confined in the palace all day, An Honghan might not feel bored, but Xi Xizhi would. Besides, no matter how good or magnificent the palace was, it was like a cage, locking those inside in so tightly that they could never escape unless they died.
Doesn't this exceptionally intelligent emperor get tired of staying in the palace all day? Why doesn't he go out and relax?
Xi Xizhi sat down in the chair angrily, her eyes looking away from An Honghan.
Almost the moment the little girl uttered the words "to be a pet," An Honghan knew that she was furious beyond measure.
The eunuchs and palace maids around dared not breathe, for they had never seen anyone dare to be angry with His Majesty before!
What's with the little girl talking about pets? Could it be that His Majesty keeps her as a pet, just for his amusement?
Given His Majesty's personality, he really is capable of doing such a thing!
Realizing this, everyone understood to some extent. No wonder His Majesty doted on this child so much; it turned out he was just keeping him as a pet, just like the Phoenix Cloud Sable presented by the Kingdom of Jiu. Back then, His Majesty doted on it, but now, the Phoenix Cloud Sable has been missing for several days, and His Majesty hasn't inquired about it at all.
It turns out that the girl and the animal were on the same wavelength.
An Honghan's expression grew colder and colder. Although he had indeed treated Xi Xizhi like a pet at the beginning, he never thought that way again after he realized his true feelings.
The moment Xi Xizhi uttered the word 'pet,' An Honghan was immediately enraged.
He couldn't even control the tone of his voice, "Is this what you thought?"
A slight chill permeated the air, and everyone couldn't help but shiver.
Xi Xizhi gritted her teeth and mustered her courage to retort, "It's not a thought, it's a fact."
These words completely chilled An Hong's face. His eyes were devoid of any emotion. He slammed his hand heavily on the table, the loud thud startling everyone who followed.
"Get out."
The other person's sudden words felt like a thorn piercing Xi Xizhi's heart, and her bitten lips gradually lost their color.
"Fine, I'll get out..." Xi Xizhi stood up and started to walk outside...
Seeing her pitiful state, An Honghan composed himself, reached out and pulled the child into his arms.
"I didn't tell you to get out, all palace maids and eunuchs get out of here."
Fearing His Majesty's wrath, everyone rushed out upon hearing the noise. Lynn was at the very back, and as he stepped out of the palace, he closed the door behind them.
Xi Xizhi struggled to break free from An Honghan's embrace, but An Honghan used great force, and Xi Xizhi had no chance to resist.
Her hands were tightly held in his arms, and she couldn't move.
The child's resistance only fueled An Honghan's anger. He reached under Xi Xizhi's skirt, grabbed the tail, and tugged at it gently.
With the tail of fate in her grasp, Xi Xizhi immediately stopped moving.
"Stay put and behave yourself."
"You...you let go." Xi Xizhi reached out, trying to pry open An Honghan's hand that was holding her tail.
An Honghan wasn't about to let her get away with it. He slapped the little brat hard on the bottom and said in a lecturing tone, "I've raised you for several months, and your temper is getting worse. You're throwing tantrums at me every few days."
Xi Xizhi bit her lip tightly, remaining silent, all her senses focused on the tail that An Honghan was pulling on.
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