The Minister of War's mansion.
"Father, what happened?" Wang Ba Dan asked timidly, seeing his father's unusual expression as he entered.
"Zhu Pigu died yesterday," the Minister of War said with a solemn expression. "The imperial city is about to undergo changes. You should stay home if you have nothing to do."
"Zhu Pigu is dead?" Wang Ba Dan was stunned.
His first thought was of Ye Fan.
Zhu Pigu had said he was going to deal with that brat before. Now that Zhu Pigu was dead, he couldn't help but think of Ye Fan.
After all, someone like Zhu Pigu, such a scumbag, would have been dealt with long ago if anyone had disliked him. He wouldn't have waited until now.
"Father, I think I know what's going on," Wang Ba Dan said worriedly.
"You know?" The Minister of War was clearly taken aback.
In the secret chamber.
"Is what you said earlier true?" The Minister of War was greatly surprised after hearing his son's account.
"Your son would not dare to deceive you, Father," Wang Ba Dan replied honestly.
"If that's the case... it's not impossible that the young outsider did it..." the Minister of War murmured. "If so, then this person is far more than meets the eye."
"You are not to leave the mansion during this period, and do not get involved in this matter concerning the young man," the Minister of War instructed. "The Ninth Princess will be yours sooner or later. Leave this to your father."
"Your son obeys!" Wang Ba Dan quickly agreed.
Although he was a little unhappy, he dared not defy his father's wishes.
Moreover, if Zhu Pigu was indeed killed by Ye Fan, he was also afraid to provoke Ye Fan easily.
Seeing the two emerge from the secret chamber, the old butler hurried to greet them.
"My lord, someone is here to see you," the old butler said. "I've never seen this person before, and I was about to turn him away. But he said you would see him after seeing this."
After speaking, the old butler respectfully handed over a jade pendant.
The moment he saw the jade pendant, the Minister of War's expression changed drastically!
"Quickly invite him in!" the Minister of War said, looking both agitated and incredulous. "Never mind, I'll go personally! No, no... you go!"
Not long after, the old butler led the person in.
The visitor appeared to be a young man, but his face was hidden by a hooded cloak, making it impossible to see his features.
Without a word, the Minister of War, with the visitor, went to the secret chamber.
In the secret chamber.
"Greetings, sir!" The Minister of War immediately knelt on the ground.
"Get up," the young man's voice sounded somewhat hoarse.
"Sir, your sudden visit..." the Minister of War stood up and asked nervously.
"Naturally, there is important business," the young man said with a slight smile. "Very important business."
A quarter of an hour later, the Minister of War walked out of the secret chamber alone.
"Father, who was that person just now?" Wang Ba Dan quickly asked.
"You will know when it's time. Do not ask so many questions now," the Minister of War said with a stern expression. "From today onwards, you are not to step outside the mansion. Stay home obediently!"
"Your son obeys!" Wang Ba Dan answered obediently.
Princess Liang Rujing's palace.
Er Ha stared intently at Liang Rujing's sofa with his reinforced titanium dog eyes.
"Little brother, you have quite the nerve, don't you?!"
"You're not the first one to look at Brother Ha like this, but do you know that the grass on your predecessors' graves is several feet high?!"
"Do you believe I'll send you to join them if you keep looking?!"
"Oh? You still dare to look?!"
"You're quite brave, aren't you!"
Suddenly, Er Ha dodged away.
"Alright!"
"You dare to make a move?!"
"Since you're so dishonorable and attacking me, don't blame Brother Ha for not being polite!"
Er Ha shook his dog head and pounced towards the sofa with fierce cuteness!
Several young palace maids stood by, watching all this quietly.
The first time they saw this, they were indeed flustered, screaming and calling for help.
After all, if the princess's furniture was damaged, they would be punished.
However, Liang Rujing, who came upon hearing the commotion, said it was fine.
"It's just a sofa. Chew it as much as you want!"
"As long as the little dog is happy, it doesn't matter how much it destroys!"
It was acceptable once or twice, but after a while, they became accustomed to it.
They even had the leisure to make internal remarks.
This little dog isn't big, but it has a lot of energy.
Look.
In the blink of an eye, a perfectly good sofa was ruined.
Although they didn't know why, it just felt very impressive!
Two young palace maids skillfully carried away the ruined sofa and quickly replaced it with a new one.
However, Er Ha's attention was no longer on the sofa. It turned to Liang Rujing's wardrobe.
The little fox lay on the table beside it, eating and watching Er Ha's performance.
Brother Ha had said that these things always attacked first, and then he would fight back.
Although the little fox hadn't seen how the furniture attacked, if Brother Ha said so, then it must be true!
The reason it couldn't see it was probably because its cultivation level was too low.
Speaking of which, this human's imperial palace is a really great place!
Take these delicacies, for example. It had never seen anything like them before!
There were actually such delicious things in the world!
Although its bad master's sect had given it some good things before, they were far inferior to the ones here!
Heavens!
I'm almost crying from how delicious the food is!
As it thought about this, the little fox's eyes actually welled up with tears.
This place was simply too good!
Every day, people served it with delicious food and drinks.
It ate until it was full, then slept, and ate again after waking up.
It was just like the immortal realm described by the elders!
Most importantly, it never had to worry about that bad master suddenly appearing with a spatula!
Since arriving here, it hadn't had a single nightmare!!!
Although I know this is greedy, I wish I could stay here forever.
"Your Highness!" Seeing Liang Rujing return, the little palace maids quickly bowed.
Her room was already in ruins.
Whether it was tables, chairs, benches, or various pieces of furniture, they were all reduced to fragments.
Her clothes were also scattered all over the floor, spreading towards the wall.
The culprit, Er Ha, was energetically dismantling a wall, with Liang Rujing's clothes wrapped around it...
Seeing her room in such a mess, Liang Rujing was not only not angry, but even a little happy.
It must have been that little dog.
Liang Rujing glanced at Er Ha, who was digging into the wall and kicking its little hind legs.
Such boundless energy!
It's so adorable!
Then she looked at the little fox, which was lying on the table eating.
This little fox was equally adorable, making her like it immensely.
Liang Rujing reached out and petted the little fox. The little fox closed its eyes in enjoyment.
Although this human was not its master, she gave it the warmth of a master.
Not only did she let it eat delicious food every day, but she also stroked it so gently.
And its bad master had never done this even once!
What an unqualified scoundrel of a master!
Hmph!
It's a pity that my body is controlled by that damned contract, and I can't change masters.
Ah!
I'm so angry!
Liang Rujing's expression turned somber for a moment.
No matter how cute these two little ones were, they ultimately belonged to Ye Fan.
Ye Fan had already been very generous to let her have them to play with for a few days.
After these few days, it was time to return them...
"Little fox, oh little fox," Liang Rujing sighed while petting the little fox, "Although I'm very reluctant to part with you, you are ultimately Ye Fan's pet."
"It's time to send you back now." Liang Rujing leaned over the table and pouted at the little fox. "But don't worry, I'll come to see you often."
The whole world can turn dark in an instant.
Sometimes it might only take a second.
Or a single sentence...
At this moment, the little fox suddenly felt that the delicious food in its mouth didn't taste as good anymore...
Without any warning, without any reservation...
Everything happened too suddenly.
Its world instantly plunged into darkness...
"Plop."
The medicinal herbs in the little fox's mouth fell onto the table.
Its gaze began to blur.
Its small body trembled on the table...
"Why?"
"Why is she sending me back?"
"Am I not behaving well?"
"No, I can't!"
The little fox tremblingly scooted backward.
"Please..."
"Don't..."
"Don't send me back..."
In its mind, the terrifying figure unbidden appeared.
It was the most terrifying existence, a combination of time itself.
At this moment, holding a pot and a spatula, waiting for it to return...