Xiao Jiu doesn't come to the Beast Garden very often, but she is very well-informed in the palace. Ever since Xiao Jiu showed a tendency to like puppies and kittens, she has become a focus of attention.
The Ninth Prince really loves cats and dogs. Will he come to the Imperial Animal Garden to get one someday? They've got their eyes on this big customer, after all, the Ninth Prince is a prince favored by the Emperor and has a lot of influence in the palace!
In reality, their lives at the Beast Taming Garden were just so-so. Even the stewards here were ridiculed for being exiled here. After spending so many years in the palace, they had only gotten worse and worse. They came here to serve cats and dogs, which was nothing compared to serving those noble people.
The manager didn't think much of it; he genuinely loved animals. But being told those things every day was still upsetting!
They're not as powerful as they were in the previous dynasty. Only by gaining the attention of their masters can they expect good treatment!
There were thousands of eunuchs and palace maids serving people in the palace, but the resources of the Imperial Household Department were very limited, so there were bound to be times when the resources were not distributed evenly.
And who would the Imperial Household Department allocate more resources to? Of course, it would be those who were welcomed or valued by the master. If they couldn't provide anything for the master, why would the Imperial Household Department support them? At this time, the treatment was average, which was secondary. If they were to be dismissed, where would all these people be sent?
That's why they're so hoping that more people will come here and bring more kittens and puppies!
When they saw a group of people coming, they were all greeted with smiles.
"Princess Qixia, Ninth Prince, Tenth Prince..." It was the manager of the Imperial Beast Garden who came to greet them personally.
He absolutely had to keep him here! The Emperor liked the Ninth Prince so much; maybe if the Ninth Prince took care of their pets, he could even get some exposure from the Emperor. This was something they never dared to dream of before. But if the Ninth Prince actually believed it… if that happened, the shopkeeper would be laughing in his sleep.
"That little dog who took a liking to our park last time, I wonder if he'd like to take a look this time! And that lion cat just had a litter recently, and their eyes are even two different colors!" The steward introduced them carefully, doing his best to introduce all the animals in the animal park that looked good recently, of course, they were all those with docile temperaments, so that sending the animals there wouldn't cause any problems.
The Emperor rarely visits their garden, so the only animals they can usually curry favor with are the older brothers or empresses, who all prefer small animals.
The cuter the cat, the whiter it is, the more popular it is. For kittens, the long-haired lion cat is the most popular!
Pekingese dogs are also very popular. So when the Ninth Prince came, he naturally had to cater to his preferences and keep him there. The Imperial Beast Garden serves these people, and if one day these children or empresses no longer like it, then it might have to be shut down!
"What would you like to see?" Jingrou asked.
"Look at everything!" Ever since Xiao Jiu came in, he felt like his eyes were a little too heavy to move. His eyes lingered on this and that, staring intently.
Every little animal seemed so appealing, especially the white rabbit. He'd only ever eaten rabbit meat; he'd never actually seen a rabbit look like this before!
After seeing it, I thought the little rabbit was snow-white and its fur must be very warm to the touch!
It really proves the saying that if you saw what a rabbit looked like, you'd probably say: Rabbits are so cute, why would you eat them?
So he couldn't make up his mind for a while, and when he heard the manager talking about cats and dogs... he wanted to see them all!
Let's take a look at them all, since we're already here.
The weather is a bit cooler now, and the people here clean diligently, so there isn't a strong smell. However, with so many small animals gathered together, there's bound to be some odor.
This smell is also related to animal fur.
However, Xiao Jiu was in high spirits and, holding Xiao Shi's hand, the two of them looked around everywhere. Behind them, a large group of palace maids hurriedly followed, fearing that something might happen to them.
After the manager's introduction, there were several birds of prey at the very back of the animal park, some of which were quite fierce, as well as an untamed eagle. The others were harmless, and with someone watching over them, Jingrou wasn't worried about the two of them wandering off, so she leisurely followed behind. Then the manager led them to see the litter of lion cats.
The Lion Cat originated in Linqing, Shandong Province. It is beloved for its ethereal appearance and gentle temperament. The name comes from the distinctive ruff around its neck that makes it look particularly beautiful when it runs or moves, resembling a lion.
Tracing the origins of the Linqing Lion Cat in Shandong, China, it is a descendant of Persian cats and Luxi tabby cats. Its development is closely related to the spread of Islam and the opening of the Grand Canal. As early as the Jiajing and Wanli periods of the Ming Dynasty, Linqing, located at the confluence of the Grand Canal and the Zhangwei River, gradually developed into the largest handicraft and commercial city in western Shandong. A large number of European merchants and missionaries flocked there. The Persian cats they brought had the opportunity to mate with the Luxi cats, thus giving rise to the Linqing Lion Cat.
When it comes to the history of the lion cats, everyone here talks about it with great enthusiasm, especially the manager, whose eyes are full of excitement. "You've come at the right time. The kittens born to the most beautiful lion cat in the park have already opened their eyes and are able to nurse independently!"
Then the group went into a warm room, where a young eunuch was wiping the kitten's body with a cloth. After he finished wiping it...
The kittens are at a very active age, running all over the house. They're still a little unsteady on their feet, but they're all full of energy and you can tell they're being well taken care of!
“It looks good…” Xiao Shi tugged at Xiao Jiu’s hand.
He was a little younger than Xiao Jiu, and at this moment he had already subconsciously walked forward. The cuteness of the little animal in front of him drove him to continue walking forward, to touch and look at it. Then he was stopped by the person next to him. He stared at the person with wide eyes, looking so aggrieved, as if he was about to cry.
Why not let him go and see? Xiao Shi didn't understand and looked pleadingly at his older brother beside him.
"Don't make noise, the kittens are learning to walk, don't scare them." At this moment, Xiao Jiu sounded a bit old-fashioned. He spoke like this because he was usually the most lively, and he only pretended to be calm in front of his younger brother.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
