Yu Jingchen led Nan Zhiyun to the outer room. Xing Lai and the others were waiting outside, carrying several items, some of which seemed to be alive. Nan Zhiyun gazed at them with anticipation.
"Consort Shu," Xing Lai bowed respectfully.
"Open them for Yun'er," Yu Jingchen commanded. Xing Lai gestured to the people behind him to lift the cloths. In the center was a cage of rabbits, white, gray, and black. The other items appeared to be furs.
"When I saw these rabbits today, I remembered the rabbits you raised when you were little, so I had them caught. I originally had a few foxes too, but they are difficult to raise and aggressive, so I didn't keep them. However, the fur is quite nice, so I had it processed and sent over for you," Yu Jingchen explained.
Nan Zhiyun looked at him, her expression unreadable. She remembered the rabbits she had as a child. She suddenly wondered if Yu Jingchen was mocking her again in his heart... after all, none of those rabbits had survived.
"With so many rabbits, does Your Majesty plan to cook them?" Nan Zhiyun asked "innocently."
Yu Jingchen raised an eyebrow at her words: "Shouldn't this question be for our Consort Shu? Did Consort Shu find rabbit meat delicious when she ate it before? If it was, then these rabbits can be cooked." Yu Jingchen put his arm around Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun: "..."
"However, our Consort Shu is quite capable. After all, you started with two rabbits, and then there was a whole litter. Even though they all died, you didn't lose out. You raised them for so long, and in the end, they ended up in your belly. Is braised rabbit the most delicious?" Yu Jingchen retorted, not to be outdone.
Nan Zhiyun: "..." How many times had she been left speechless by him already?
"I don't want these rabbits anymore," Nan Zhiyun suddenly said.
"Why not?" Yu Jingchen asked, feigning ignorance.
"I don't want to eat them," Nan Zhiyun said, not quite knowing why she uttered those words.
"Is it really just about eating?" Yu Jingchen's recent pastime seemed to be teasing Nan Zhiyun. He found it quite amusing to do so, and he liked the lively Nan Zhiyun he saw then, wanting to cherish her.
"What if they have another litter? They'll eat all the flowers and plants in the He An Palace," Nan Zhiyun said. When she raised rabbits before, she hadn't realized how prolific they were.
"If they really eat everything, then we can feed them the grapes that were just planted in Yun'er's palace. At worst, the imperial palace is so large, let them eat wherever they please. Or, if Yun'er dislikes someone in the future, you can send that litter of rabbits to their palace and let the rabbits eat everything in sight. Since they are imperial gifts, except for Yun'er daring to eat them, those people wouldn't dare do anything to the rabbits," Yu Jingchen said, as if he were truly joking with a child.
Nan Zhiyun knew Yu Jingchen was joking, but she couldn't help but feel disgusted. What were these things? Was this still His Majesty?
Nan Zhiyun originally liked rabbits, considering them cute creatures. However, after Yu Jingchen's speech today, her gaze towards the cage of rabbits became filled with disdain. But... to be honest, rabbit meat was indeed quite delicious... with so many rabbits, she should have enough to eat for a long time, shouldn't she?