Xi Xizhi's half-spoken words were stuck in his throat before he swallowed them back in.
Little mink's aggrieved expression made An Honghan very satisfied. He grabbed the fur on its neck, lifted it, and held it in his arms.
Xi Xizhi felt her neck fur go numb, as if several hairs were broken. She yelped in pain.
Startled by the little mink's commotion, An Honghan didn't understand what was going on.
Just then, Lin En came in from the outer hall, ready to attend to An Honghan getting up. He happened to see this scene: An Honghan's hand twisting the little mink's neck and pressing it into his arms. The mink was struggling, baring its teeth and crying.
He told himself that Majesty's brutal temperament surely prevented him from raising pets. With just a light twist of that huge hand, he could snap the little mink's neck. Now, his vicious side was exposed.
Noticing Lin En's expression change, An Honghan half-squinted his eyes, "What kind of look is that?"
Lin En shuddered in fright and knelt on the ground, "Majesty, if you want to kill this little mink, there's no need for you to do it yourself. Just hand it over to us below."
"When did I say I wanted to kill it?" An Honghan's eyes were full of doubt as he glanced at Lin En.
Could he have guessed wrong? But wasn't his Majesty's gesture like he wanted to strangle the mink?
"Why is it making such a fuss?" Initially, he had deliberately intimidated little mink, but now, listening to its whining, An Honghan felt increasingly agitated, getting an urge to really strangle its neck.
Lin En, having served An Honghan for many years, managed to compose himself and said, "Majesty, you're holding the mink's neck like that, causing it discomfort; it's only natural that it would cry out."
Grateful, Xi Xizhi looked at Lin En, thinking how much more amiable this middle-aged uncle was compared to a certain king who didn't know how to be gentle. If he continued to hold her like that, she would become a bald mink one day...
Chirp chirp...
Xi Xizhi cried out again.
"Oh, I see." An Honghan lightened his grip and moved his hands under the little mink's armpits, holding it gently.
It felt much more comfortable being held this way.
It wasn't entirely An Honghan's fault, after all: being the king of a country, he had been pampered since childhood, with others attending to him. Naturally, he was inexperienced in attending to others and couldn't always avoid mistakes.
"Majesty, young minks, like human babies, are extremely fragile at this stage and require careful care, such as holding them properly; neglect can result in lifelong disability." Lin En might not be as bookish as the ministers, but he was knowledgeable.
Especially when it came to caring for people and attending to their needs; if he acknowledged himself as second-best in that regard, no one would dare to claim to be first.
Lin En's image grew in Xi Xizhi's eyes. The uncle was absolutely right; it was high time to educate the emperor; she couldn't endure this kind of treatment much longer.
Xi Xizhi gazed at Lin En with near-admiration, displeasing An Honghan, who said coldly, "Lin En, you're speaking too much."
Lin En was the longest-serving steward by An Honghan's side. Previous stewards had lasted only a few months before angering An Honghan, being dragged to the execution platform. But Lin En had served An Honghan for five whole years.----
Palace maids and eunuchs came and went, but only he stayed alive. The reason was simple: he knew his limits, what to say and what not to say.
"We are guilty; please spare your anger, Majesty." Lin En knelt down again.
Throughout the day, Xi Xizhi saw him kneel countless times, secretly marveling at the hardness of ancient people's knees: if she knelt like that daily, she would hardly be able to walk steady.
An Honghan had to deal with daily affairs; after his siesta, he sat at his writing desk, diligently handling official business.
One couldn't deny that An Honghan was a good emperor: he intervened in matters big and small. His temperament might be cruel, but he managed the country impeccably, with no margin for error.
Xi Xizhi's fluffy body curled up into a ball, lying at the edge of the writing desk. Her round eyes peeked through a narrow slit, secretly observing An Honghan.
An Honghan's facial features were both sculpted and refined, his long eyebrows exuding a touch of chilliness. His nose was prominent, lips thin, and overall appearance quite handsome. If not for the overpowering coldness around him, Xi Xizhi wouldn't tire of observing him for days on end.
"Majesty, the night banquet at Liuyun Palace is about to begin; should we head over now?"
As the sky darkened and the evening breeze brought a refreshing chill, it seemed even people's hearts felt calmer.
Xi Xizhi's ears perked up: by heaven, was it evening already? Anxiously getting up, she tried to run.
She hadn't forgotten An Honghan's sentence about being "to his taste"; surely she had no reason to gulp like a thirsty fish, barely escaping heavenly tribulation and enjoying a good life, only to be eaten as food.
Suddenly, Xi Xizhi's legs were suspended in the air as someone held her.
"Where are you trying to run again? Tonight, you are the star." Smiling wickedly at little mink's flustered appearance, An Honghan remarked.
How could the little mink be so clueless? For its "once-in-a-century Fengyun mink" title, anyone would want to raise it. After all, having such a precious pet was a prestigious thing.
Star...? Xi Xizhi's little head shrank as she wondered if An Honghan wanted to skin her alive in front of his ministers, then roast and fry her.
How miserable!
Xi Xizhi's watery eyes seemed to be able to squeeze out water.
"Head to Liuyun Palace." An Honghan enjoyed the little mink's antics and showed it, despite not smiling; even Lin En could tell he was in a great mood.
The little mink had only arrived that day, and Majesty had already laughed several times!