These women were pampered and never swore. Their fingernails were as long as those of a fierce ghost, and they were coated with red balsam juice, so red that it seemed as if they could drip blood.
Xi Xizhi was not strong enough, and no matter how much she struggled, she could not get rid of the eunuch's big hand.
Several women pinched and pressed Xi Xizhi's tender flesh with their fingernails, causing her to scream in pain. If she didn't avenge this, she wouldn't be worthy of being called Little Sable! If Little Sable didn't show her power, she'd truly become a sick cat!
Seeing the vast disparity in strength between the two sides, Xi Xizhi gritted her teeth. A gentleman takes his revenge, even after ten years. One day, it will make them pay for the suffering they endured today.
Don't assume that cultivators value harmony above all else. In her master's words, if someone bullies you and you don't know how to fight back, that's not tolerance, that's cowardice! We are cultivators, not Taoists. There's no need for us to be like those old Taoist priests who eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, and spend our time with ancient lamps and Buddha statues.
Xi Xizhi opened her mouth, wanting to bite the other person's finger, but before she could succeed, the Empress Dowager slapped her head to the side.
"Removing my blue feather is too lenient a lesson. If you weren't His Majesty's pet, I would have ordered you to be skinned and made into soup long ago." The Empress Dowager poked Xi Xizhi's stomach hard with her finger, the sharp nails scraping Xi Xizhi painfully.
Out of respect for An Honghan's authority, the Empress Dowager dared not make a big fuss. Seeing that Xiao Diao had been tortured enough, she told them to stop.
"Alright, that's enough for today. Let's see if this little beast dares to anger me again!" The Empress Dowager took the silk handkerchief handed to her by the eunuch, wiped her hands, and seemed disgusted that she had just touched the little mink.
Xi Xizhi bared her teeth and squeaked at the Empress Dowager. The stone table was littered with the fur of the little mink, some of which had fallen off as Xi Xizhi struggled, and others that had been plucked by these vicious women.
"Mother, this little sable seems unwilling to admit defeat," said the most beautiful of the concubines. "Should we continue to discipline it and make it obedient?"
Beauty and cruelty are indeed directly proportional. This woman is petite and delicate, so how could she be so vicious? I'm already covered in wounds, yet they still won't let me go.
"Consort Tong, if you continue to reprimand him, are you afraid that His Majesty won't know about this?" The Empress Dowager scolded her. Although she was An Honghan's biological mother, who didn't know how ruthless he was? If she hoped that he would think of family ties, then his own brother wouldn't have died.
No matter how glamorous she was in the harem, she still had to restrain her arrogance when standing in front of him.
Liu Sitong was so frightened that she stood behind the others. She had only said those words because she saw that the Empress Dowager was still angry, but who knew that the Empress Dowager would get angry at her instead.
The women in the imperial harem were all ruthless and vicious. Xi Xizhi finally understood why people said the imperial palace was the most terrifying place. Not only men fought for power, but women did too.
The Empress Dowager lifted the little sable with both hands, holding it in her arms, and said, "Go to the Imperial Study."
Xi Xizhi hated her embrace and tried to struggle, but the Empress Dowager held her down tightly with one hand. She wasn't stupid enough to think that this old woman was kindly sending it back. Lying in her arms, Xi Xizhi felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, wishing she could jump off immediately.
Upon seeing the door to the Imperial Study, Xi Xizhi's eyes widened with excitement. After wandering around outside, she realized that her master was wonderful in every way.
Two palace maids knelt on the ground, weeping softly. They had just finished reporting to His Majesty that Little Sable had gone missing again when they saw the Empress Dowager enter carrying a small white ball.
When Xi Xizhi saw An Honghan again, it was as if she had seen a long-lost relative, and her eyes welled up with tears. Compared to those vicious women, An Honghan, this grown man, was much gentler.
The Empress Dowager put on a loving mother's demeanor and walked toward the desk where An Honghan was sitting. "Since my son has fed the Phoenix Cloud Sable, he should not let it run around. If it gets lost, where will we find it in such a vast palace? Fortunately, I found it in the Imperial Garden, otherwise, who knows where this sable would have gone."
Xi Xizhi glared at the Empress Dowager through gritted teeth. This old woman was utterly shameless. Just moments ago in the Imperial Garden, she had such a vicious and ferocious face, but now she was playing the role of a kind old woman. No wonder she sent it back; she was trying to play the good cop in front of An Honghan.
An Honghan glanced coldly at the Empress Dowager, his eyes completely unmoved. However, when he looked at Xiao Diao, a hint of doting affection flickered in his eyes.
In front of An Honghan, Xi Xizhi finally straightened her back. Weren't they just bullying her because they outnumbered her? Now that An Honghan was backing her up, Xi Xizhi became bolder. From morning until now, Xi Xizhi hadn't urinated. She had felt the urge to pee in the Imperial Garden, but for the sake of her reputation, she had held it in.
Remembering how this old woman had tormented her before, Xi Xizhi adopted a desperate stance, shifting her little bottom towards the Empress Dowager's brocade robe.
What is more important than revenge? If this grudge is not avenged, Xi Xizhi will not be able to eat or sleep in peace.
Then—a strong smell of urine filled the air.
In fact, Xi Xizhi's urine did not smell bad, but for the Empress Dowager, who was always very clean, it was an utter disgrace.
Enraged, the Empress Dowager threw the sable furiously onto the white jade floor, instantly shedding her pretense.
An Honghan's eyes darkened, and he swiftly reached out to catch the little sable. His gaze sharp as a sword, he looked up at the Empress Dowager, "It's just a little sable cub, why is Mother so angry?"
An Honghan stroked Xi Xizhi's fur, and as soon as he touched it, Xi Xizhi jumped up as if her fur had been bristled.
Its entire body was covered in bruises, and even though the fur hid them from view, the wounds were definitely there. It was better not to touch them, but touching them caused sharp pains.
An Honghan sensed the little sable's unusual behavior, but didn't think about it in that way. Besides, judging from the little sable's appearance, there didn't seem to be any major problems.
The Empress Dowager's sleeves were soaked, and the stench emanating from her was unbearable. This little ferret was utterly insolent; she had just disciplined it, and it had come to provoke her again—it simply hadn't learned its lesson.
Sooner or later, she will order someone to peel it.
"My son, I don't object to you keeping a pet, but if you're going to keep one, it should be a well-behaved and obedient one. What's the use of keeping a sable that's always causing trouble? It will only tarnish the reputation of the royal family." The Empress Dowager was so angry that her hands trembled, and she shouted at An Honghan without regard for her status.
The concubines behind her disliked the unpleasant smell on the Empress Dowager's brocade robe, and only offered a few words of comfort, but none of them approached.
Displeased that someone was speaking ill of Xiao Diao in front of him, An Honghan's face darkened. "I have official business to attend to. Your Majesty, please return."
Such blatant dismissal caused the Empress Dowager's face to stiffen, but after a moment, she returned to normal.
"I know that you are busy with state affairs, so you have neglected to train Fengyun Marten. Since I am idle every day, why don't you let me take care of Fengyun Marten for a couple of days?"
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