As the silk in her hand was slowly pulled away, An Ruoyan's face gradually darkened. Everyone said that her brother, the Emperor, doted on her, but who knew the truth?
Her elder brother doted on her and spoiled her, which was indeed true. He would satisfy her every whim. However, his attitude towards her remained as cold as it had been just now. His pure black eyes were devoid of any emotion; nothing could be seen but aloofness.
Sometimes she wondered, what was the reason for her brother's doting affection for her? Was it like raising a pet? As long as she stayed obediently in the palace and behaved as a princess, he would let her do whatever she wanted.
The other princesses envied An Ruoyan for being able to be affectionate and playful with An Honghan.
Pairs of eyes watched An Honghan's departing figure... Everyone hoped to gain the Emperor's favor.
From An Honghan's arms, Xi Xizhi peeked out with her tiny, fluffy head, watching the group of princesses behind her grow smaller and smaller until they disappeared from sight. She slowly breathed a sigh of relief, her paws gripping An Honghan's clothes tightly, appreciating his kindness even more.
Women are like tigers, that's for sure.
"Leave those princesses alone from now on." A cold, emotionless voice came from above.
Xi Xizhi raised her little head and looked up at him. Without him reminding her, Xi Xizhi would behave herself and not provoke them.
Among those princesses, the sixth princess was the most powerful. She was not only the leader of the princesses, but also the most resourceful.
Xi Xizhi wanted to live a few more years, and for the sake of her own life, it was extremely important for her to attach herself to An Honghan, this powerful figure!
As soon as they stepped into the Panlong Hall, a familiar, high-pitched voice entered their ears.
"Your Majesty, lunch is ready. Would you like to eat?" Lynn returned to his post, still covered in wounds. His face was pale, and he spoke weaker than before. He walked with a limp, presumably because the wound on his buttocks had not fully healed.
Remembering what the uncle had said last time, "It's enough to make a scarf," Xi Xizhi gritted her teeth and cursed inwardly, "Serves him right." This is what happens when you stand by and watch someone die...
"Hmm." An Honghan replied casually, sat down in a chair, and then asked, "How's the matter I asked you to investigate going?"
Xi Xizhi was placed on the table. Looking at the table full of delicious food, her eyes finally locked onto the roast chicken with its golden-brown and crispy skin.
Xi Xizhi was afraid she wouldn't be able to control her drooling, so she swallowed hard a few times and wiped her mouth with her paw. Seeing dozens of palace maids and eunuchs standing around her, Xi Xizhi sat up straighter. With so many eyes watching her, it would be impossible for her to even sneak a bite.
Lin En put down the last dish and bowed his head to report, "It has been found out that five concubines accompanied the Empress Dowager to the Imperial Garden that day. According to the confessions of the two eunuchs, they were all involved in bullying Feng Yun Diao."
Xi Xizhi's small body swayed slightly, then sat up straight again, blinked, and wondered if An Honghan was planning to avenge her.
The rhythmic tapping of fingers on the table filled the hall.
An Honghan said, "Throw all five concubines into the Cold Palace. As for the two eunuchs..." An Honghan glanced at them coldly, "Act according to the old rules."
The usual rules? Xi Xizhi pondered, wondering what kind of punishment that would be.
It chirped curiously twice, "Chirp chirp..."
“There are some things you’re better off not knowing.” An Honghan reached out and stroked the little sable’s soft fur. Living in the palace, the little sable had to be ruthless. But at the same time, An Honghan hoped that she could keep a pure place in her heart.
We should minimize her exposure to the darker aspects of the palace.
My other side isn't so appealing...
Xi Xizhi didn't press the matter, because the conflicting expressions on An Honghan's face were unfathomable to her.
The two words, "have a meal," carried an undeniable air of authority.
Xi Xizhi's three favorite things in life are eating, drinking, and sleeping; any one of them is enough to make her beam with joy. Looking at the table full of colorful, fragrant, and delicious dishes, her eyes narrowed into slits.
Looking at her cheerful expression, An Honghan smiled as well. She was so easily satisfied... Compared to those people who only knew how to fight for power, Xiao Diao was as clean as a blank sheet of paper.
Perhaps that's why An Honghan couldn't help but keep it by his side. Every almost human-like action of the little ferret brought a genuine smile to his face. An Honghan rested his chin on his hand, his narrow eyes slightly curved. Who could say it wasn't a treasure?
Hopping and skipping, Xi Xizhi headed straight for the roast chicken. The fragrant, tender, and crispy chicken leg seemed to beckon her from afar.
It gripped the chicken leg with its two claws and pulled hard. Lacking strength, it couldn't pull it off the first time. Left with no other option, Xi Xizhi used its hind legs to push against the chicken's body and its front claws to try and pull the leg off. After several attempts, getting itself covered in grease, it finally managed to pull it off.
The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs all lowered their heads and chuckled.
Xi Xizhi seemed oblivious, her eyes fixed only on the crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside chicken leg. She bent down, ready to take a bite, when suddenly she stopped completely.
An Honghan, thinking it might not suit Xiao Mink's taste, frowned and asked, "Don't you like it?"
But just a moment ago she seemed so excited...
Xi Xizhi shook her little head. How could the food made by the imperial chef not suit her taste? She wasn't picky about food.
In an effort to please this master, Xi Xizhi thought for a while and finally decided... to reluctantly part with her beloved possession as a token of her affection.
Xi Xizhi wanted to push the chicken leg in front of An Honghan, but looking at the distance, it was too far. The dining table in Panlong Palace was more than twice the size of the one in the Imperial Study. Moreover, there were many dishes in the middle, so by the time she pushed it over there, the chicken leg would probably be cold.
Using its paws to pick it up is impractical. If it uses its paws to hold the chicken leg, how will it walk?
With greasy paws scratching her head, Xi Xizhi had a sudden inspiration. She bent down, picked up the chicken leg with her mouth, and ran excitedly towards An Honghan.
After Xiao Diao's forceful tugging and pulling, the roast chicken was completely unrecognizable and no longer appetizing.
The white jade bowl in front of An Honghan was empty, as it hadn't been filled with rice yet. Xi Xizhi stood in front of the bowl, and with a thud, the chicken leg fell into it.
The eunuchs and palace maids stared wide-eyed. The chicken leg had been scratched and bitten by the sable, and it was covered in its saliva. Who would want to eat it? Even they thought it was filthy, let alone His Majesty.
As expected, An Honghan frowned immediately, his face turning slightly bluish-black.
"For me?" I don't know whether to be happy or angry...
The chicken leg was bitten through by the ferret's teeth, and the teeth marks were still faintly visible.
It seems it did something wrong again? Seeing everyone's expression, Xi Xizhi stood there awkwardly, stunned. Fine, if you don't want to eat it, then so be it. She stretched out her paw and reached into the bowl, trying to snatch the chicken leg back.
Before it even touched anything, the bowl suddenly moved and was lifted up above its head by An Honghan.
"How can I take back what I've given you?" An Honghan examined the chicken leg in his bowl, seemingly pondering how to eat it.
If he didn't eat it, judging from the little sullen look on his face, An Honghan wouldn't necessarily be very happy.
Xi Xizhi's eyes immediately lit up, "Chirp chirp..." It's for you to eat.
Flattering you is more effective than flattering anyone else. To thrive in the palace, all you need is to curry favor with you.
Under the expectant gaze of the little ferret, An Honghan gritted his teeth, picked up the chicken leg, and took a bite...
After chewing a few bites of the tender and crispy chicken, seeing that the little ferret was already chirping happily, An Honghan ate with even less aversion.
The palace maids and eunuchs felt a sense of unreality once again... Was this still the Emperor they feared? He ate the chicken leg that Feng Yun Diao told him to eat? That chicken leg even had the little sable's saliva on it.
Xi Xizhi ran back to the roast chicken and had another battle with it, tearing off another chicken leg and eating it with relish.
The once clean white down was now covered in patches of oil stains, making it look quite comical.
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