The envoy wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, fearing that An Honghan would be displeased, and said, "Your Majesty, this little sable is usually very well-behaved, but it was particularly excited to see Your Majesty, which is why it acted this way..."
They had tamed the Phoenix Cloud Sable for a month, and its wild animal instincts had long been worn away. Its current resistance made the envoy sweat with worry. Despite being only in his early twenties, An Honghan was a cold-blooded and ruthless man at heart. He had killed all his brothers at the age of sixteen and secured his throne.
Legend has it that in recent years, this emperor's cruelty has reached a new level. The slightest offense to him would result in a cold command: "Drag him away and execute him." Everyone in the palace lived in fear; those who served him were all extremely cautious, lest they incur his wrath.
"Oh?" An Honghan drawled meaningfully, "You mean, this little sable is hiding from me... because it likes me?"
"This, this... Your humble servant..." The envoy wanted to explain, but couldn't find an excuse, so he could only follow up with An Honghan's words, "Your humble servant thinks it is like this."
An Honghan placed the sable on his lap. "I don't like animals that lack wildness, and this sable suits my taste perfectly. Tonight, we will hold a banquet at Liuyun Palace to welcome the envoy and to express my gratitude to King Liu."
Does it suit...your...taste...or?
Xi Xizhi's attention was entirely focused on those three words. She raised her large, watery eyes and stared at An Honghan, a hint of grievance in them. "To die before achieving one's goal, leaving heroes to weep in sorrow!" She, Xi Xizhi, was a cultivator, yet today she was to become someone else's food.
What goes around comes around, and retribution is inevitable. If I had known this day would come, I should have listened to my master and eaten less meat and more vegetables. Now, karma has come back to bite me.
Looking down at his limbs covered in soft silver hair, he pinched them. They were very tender. They should taste delicious, right?
An Honghan noticed the little ferret's movements and became increasingly interested in it.
This little ferret can actually understand human speech? Those clear blue eyes, without any impurities, are a pleasure to behold.
How could he possibly bear to eat such a treasure?
Seemingly realizing something, An Honghan reached out and touched the tuft of fiery fur on the little sable's forehead, falling into deep thought. After a while, he raised his head, looked directly at the envoy, and said, "It is a Phoenix Cloud Sable."
These words sparked another round of discussion among the ministers. The reason was simple: the phoenix-cloud sable had been extinct for over a century. They had only ever seen descriptions of it in books.
It is said that the phoenix-tailed ferret was a favorite pet of beautiful noblewomen, and thus it was heavily hunted by hunters a century ago. Furthermore, because it was extremely difficult to breed in captivity, over time, this small and adorable pet became increasingly rare, eventually leading to its extinction.
The flame-like downy hair in the center of the forehead is the most distinctive feature of the Phoenix Cloud Sable clan.
Upon An Honghan's pointing it out, the ministers were suddenly surprised to realize that this sable was actually the legendary Phoenix Cloud Sable, no wonder it looked so cute.
"The Phoenix Cloud Sable has been extinct for a century. Who knows if this sable is real or fake?" The Left Prime Minister, Situ, had just accused the Jiu Kingdom of sending a sable to fool the Fengze Kingdom. Now, the situation has changed, making him lose face.
"What do you mean by that, Lord Situ? No wonder our country would deceive His Majesty?" The envoy's cheeks flushed red with anger as he bowed to An Honghan and said, "Your Majesty, to distinguish the real Phoenix Cloud Sable from the fake, one only needs to observe at night whether the flame-like fur on the sable's forehead glows. Our country has always respected Your Majesty and would never dare to present a fake Phoenix Cloud Sable to Your Majesty. Please, Your Majesty, investigate thoroughly."
The envoy spoke with utmost respect. But these words were enough to prove that this sable was indeed a Phoenix Cloud Sable.
“I also know this method…” An Honghan nodded, leaning slightly to the side as he rested on the armrest of the golden dragon throne.
All the ministers craned their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of the Phoenix Cloud Sable.
Xi Xizhi was a little annoyed; that gaze kept reminding her...you're a pet now, a plaything. Seeing that the man remained expressionless, Xi Xizhi burrowed deeper into his clothes, trying to cover herself and prevent others from admiring her.
An Honghan felt a warm embrace, as if a gentle stream was flowing into his heart. Keeping such a pet seemed like a good choice. Of all the tributes the Jiu Kingdom had offered over the years, only this one truly pleased him.
"King Liu is truly kind-hearted, even willing to give me such a precious and rare Phoenix Cloud Sable. When you return, please thank him for me." A cold voice came from above.
The minister, who had just been full of interest, immediately stood up straight and dared not look at the cage again.
That chilling voice, capable of penetrating to the depths of one's heart, is something no one can imitate. It seemed like a casual remark, yet it served as a warning to the court officials: how could they possibly lose the dignity of the Fengze Dynasty's subjects for a mere plaything?
After the envoy finished his audience, he left the Golden Palace with the eunuch who led the way.
Next, it was time for the ministers to report. Various reports on the state of the nation were presented in turn. For example… where there were floods, how to resolve them, and how to reassure the people.
From their conversation, Xi Xizhi came to a conclusion... she had been transported to an unknown country, possessing the body of a nearly extinct pet ferret. Although this wasn't Earth, its history was similar to ancient China, with a monarch ruling the world.
Those who cultivate immortality believe in adapting to circumstances and accepting their lot. The most urgent task is to cultivate back into human form as soon as possible, so that they may have a chance to protect themselves.
Being a pet means having no rights! People can kill you or skin you at will, without giving you a single word.
Xi Xizhi ignored the large hand that kept stroking her fur and quietly nestled in An Honghan's arms.
Time flies by.
He yawned impatiently a few times, his eyelids about to close again. Suddenly, the world spun around him, and Xi Xizhi was lifted up. Peeking out, he saw the hall filled with kneeling ministers, shouting in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The ministers' loud voices echoed in the hall, making Xi Xizhi's head spin.
Is this what they call a pilgrimage? It's quite impressive; no wonder everyone in the world is vying to become emperor.
"What are you looking at? If it weren't for the envoy from the Kingdom of Jiu today, the court would have been adjourned long ago." An Honghan pressed down on the little sable's head, holding it firmly in his arms, and led the Grand Eunuch Lin En away from the side of the throne in the Golden Palace.
An Honghan's hands were large, almost enough to envelop her body with one hand. Xi Xizhi struggled a few times but couldn't break free, so she adjusted to a comfortable position and nestled in his arms.
"You little rascal, you know how to enjoy yourself." An Honghan teased in his uniquely icy voice, pinching the little ferret's ear.
Xi Xizhi turned her head away, too lazy to look at An Honghan.
Thinking to myself: I'm going to be stewed by you tonight anyway, so there's no point in struggling. I might as well save my energy for one last fight.
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