Xiao Hei wasn't just fast; he was incredibly fast. Before Huangfu Yue had even finished her cola, potato chips, and spicy strips, he had arrived.
"Mistress, I'm here! Please open the window, I'm outside."
Huangfu Yue suddenly heard Xiao Hei's voice from outside the window. She immediately got up and opened it, seeing Xiao Hei waiting there. A slight smile curved her lips.
How greedy was this little guy, how eager to taste human delicacies, to arrive so quickly?
"Come in," Huangfu Yue beckoned to Xiao Hei. She poked her head out the window, looking to see if anyone had spotted Xiao Hei. She found no one outside.
Huangfu Yue pulled her head back in and closed the window.
Actually, it wouldn't have mattered much if someone had seen Xiao Hei. She had no intention of hiding him.
"Xiao Hei, I have something good for you to eat." Huangfu Yue sat down at the table and pointed to the cola, potato chips, and spicy strips on it. "Do you know what these are?"
Xiao Hei certainly wouldn't know.
As expected, Xiao Hei shook his head, his eyes fixed on the cola, potato chips, and spicy strips on the table, shining with intense curiosity.
"Mistress, what are these?"
"These are cola, potato chips, and spicy strips. They're delicious, I'll let you try them."
As Huangfu Yue spoke, she picked up a teacup from the table, poured more than half a cup of cola into it, and then took a handful of potato chips and spicy strips each, placing them on the table for Xiao Hei.
She wanted to be a good mistress and share with Xiao Hei, letting him know the joys of the human world.
"Thank you, Mistress." Xiao Hei hopped onto the table, looking expectant. He took a drink of the cola first...
"How is this thing called cola so delicious! It tastes so invigorating! And it's cold, very cooling." Xiao Hei instantly fell in love with the iced cola.
After taking several gulps of the iced cola, he moved on to the potato chips and spicy strips. These also quickly won him over, making him utterly smitten, and he praised them as being delicious.
"Heh heh, of course, they're delicious. Eating these together is a true earthly delight!" Huangfu Yue chuckled, also drinking her cola and eating potato chips and spicy strips.
As the person and the crow were enjoying their feast, a knock suddenly sounded at the door...
"Miss, it's me, Ying'er. Have you finished bathing? If you have, this servant will come in to serve you, to dry and comb your hair." Ying'er's respectful voice came from outside the door.
"I'm finished, come in," Huangfu Yue replied.
"Mistress, why are you letting her in? Aren't you afraid she'll see me?" Xiao Hei asked softly, sounding puzzled and a little flustered, wanting to find a place to hide.
"What's there to be afraid of? You're not something that can't be seen." Huangfu Yue said nonchalantly.
Xiao Hei was overjoyed by Huangfu Yue's words, his eyes filled with deep emotion.
He had thought that, as a crow – an omen of bad luck and death, a spirit – Huangfu Yue would be afraid of letting people see her with him. He hadn't expected her to be completely fearless.
Ying'er soon pushed the door open and entered. Upon seeing a crow in front of Huangfu Yue, she was greatly startled and immediately pointed at Xiao Hei in fear, exclaiming...
"A crow..."
"He is my pet." Huangfu Yue interrupted Ying'er.
She reached out and stroked Xiao Hei's glossy black feathers, smiling. "I like him very much. I hope you will too!"
Xiao Hei was even more touched, his eyes glistening. How could this mistress be so good! No one had ever treated him so well...
Before, his vow to serve Huangfu Yue, to give his all for her, was out of a desire to live. But now, he was willing, from the bottom of his heart, to serve Huangfu Yue and lay down his life for her.
Ying'er was astonished by Huangfu Yue's words, but she quickly accepted it. She respectfully curtsied and nodded, replying, "Yes."
Huangfu Yue's lips curved as she surveyed Ying'er. She was wearing a veiled hat and it was clear from her face and body that she had not yet washed or bathed.
"Why haven't you bathed yet?" Huangfu Yue asked, a little confused.
"This servant wanted to serve you first before bathing. This servant feared that if I bathed now, I wouldn't be able to serve you immediately after you finished, to dry and comb your hair," Ying'er replied.
Huangfu Yue's lips curved again. This girl was truly remarkable.
"I've already dried my hair and was just about to comb it. Come and comb it for me," Huangfu Yue instructed.
Although her hair was dry, she had been too busy enjoying her earthly delights to comb it, and it was still messy.
"Yes." Ying'er immediately agreed, fetched a comb, and went behind Huangfu Yue to begin combing her hair. Her eyes subtly glanced at Xiao Hei, who was still standing on the table.
Xiao Hei was also looking at Ying'er. When their eyes met, Ying'er was startled and quickly averted her gaze.
This crow was so frightening, it sent shivers down one's spine.
She truly couldn't understand why the Princess would keep it as a pet, instead of a cute kitten or puppy, or perhaps an even cuter little white rabbit.
Didn't girls like kittens, puppies, and little white rabbits? Did they all raise such pets?
This was the first time she had seen someone keeping a crow as a pet.
She really wanted to ask the Princess if she wasn't afraid of keeping a crow as a pet? If she didn't find it unpleasant?
Crows were not only frightening in appearance but also symbols of death and ill fortune. Most people would find them unlucky and would not want to be near them.
However, she could only think these thoughts; she dared not ask.
After all, the Princess had just said she liked this crow very much and hoped she would too. Asking might displease the Princess.
"Xiao Hei, why are you staring at Ying'er? Don't scare her. Focus on eating," Huangfu Yue noticed Xiao Hei's constant gaze at Ying'er and gently tapped its little head.
Xiao Hei quickly withdrew his gaze and resumed drinking cola and eating potato chips and spicy strips, once again exclaiming in his heart how delicious they were.
Huangfu Yue also continued to eat and drink happily, enjoying the delights of cola, potato chips, and spicy strips.
Seeing Huangfu Yue and Xiao Hei happily eating and drinking, Ying'er became intensely curious about the cola, potato chips, and spicy strips.
In fact, when she first entered, she had already seen the cola, potato chips, and spicy strips on the table. However, at the time, her attention was entirely on Xiao Hei, so she paid no mind to the other items.
Now, seeing Huangfu Yue and Xiao Hei eating the cola, potato chips, and spicy strips with such relish, as if they were incredibly delicious, she couldn't help but feel curious about them.
But she dared not ask Huangfu Yue what they were eating. Dutifully, she quickly shifted her gaze away from the cola, potato chips, and spicy strips and focused on combing Huangfu Yue's hair.
As Huangfu Yue was in mourning, Ying'er did not style her hair in a complex or ornate manner. Instead, she created a simple bun, which, despite its simplicity, was still beautiful.
It was evident that Ying'er's hands were very skillful!
"Miss, the hair is combed. Do you still have the small white flower you wore on your head earlier? This servant will put it back on for you," Ying'er said.
"Yes." Huangfu Yue immediately took out the small white flower she had removed from her hair when she bathed earlier.
During the mourning period, women were expected to wear white flowers on their heads, so she had not thrown the small white flower away but had kept it.
After Ying'er had carefully placed the white flower back on Huangfu Yue's hair, Huangfu Yue immediately asked the space to fetch a bottle of iced cola, a bag of potato chips, and a bag of spicy strips from the supermarket for her.
She bestowed the iced cola, potato chips, and spicy strips upon Ying'er.
"These are cola, potato chips, and spicy strips. They're very delicious, have a taste."
"Thank you, Miss, thank you, Miss." Ying'er's eyes lit up with surprise at the cola, potato chips, and spicy strips Huangfu Yue handed her, and she thanked her repeatedly with joy.
Did the Princess sense her curiosity about these unfamiliar foods and thus bestow them upon her?
The Princess is truly kind!
"Don't just stand there, sit down and eat," Huangfu Yue gestured to a nearby chair.
Ying'er's expression immediately became one of astonishment. She hurriedly shook her head and said with utmost reverence, "Thank you, Miss, but this servant is content to eat while standing. This humble servant is but a lowly subordinate, how could she dare to eat together with her master? It would be an insult to this servant."
Huangfu Yue frowned slightly. "I don't like what you said. What do you mean by 'lowly subordinate'? Servants are subordinates, yes, but they are never lowly. I'm telling you to sit and eat, and you are not to refuse."
Upon hearing this, Ying'er was deeply moved. The Princess was truly too kind!
Ying'er was so touched that tears welled up in her eyes. "Thank you, my Mistress..."
"Stop thanking me, my ears are getting calloused from hearing it. Hurry up and sit down to eat."
Huangfu Yue reached out as if overwhelmed, pulling Ying'er down to sit. She then took the cola from Ying'er's hand, pulled open the tab, and handed it back to her. "You can drink now!"
"Miss, you are truly so kind! It is a blessing from my past lives to be able to serve by your side. This servant will definitely devote herself wholeheartedly to serving you!" Ying'er said, her voice thick with emotion as she made a vow.
Huangfu Yue's lips curved into a smile, and she nodded.
Xiao Hei watched Huangfu Yue and Ying'er and thought that this maidservant was just like him.
This young Princess truly accepted all beings, human and spirit alike!