Grace was in a bad mood, and with no one to confide in, she started talking to an Antler Serpent.
But she thought this serpent looked especially clever and beautiful. Whatever she said, it seemed to respond to her in its own way.
Plus, its color was exactly the same as that dragon...
She decided to take good care of it. Maybe if she raised it well, it would become her spirit pet...
...
Just then, Hope came in and said to Grace, "Miss, I just heard that Aunt Wan is sick."
"Sick? She was just fine this morning!" Grace asked, puzzled.
"I heard it was because Cindy Zhu made a fuss, insisting on entering the palace. Aunt Wan got so upset, her chest started hurting," Hope said.
"I see..." Grace's lips curled up. "Then I suppose I should go check on her."
Grace Wan was ill, and as someone who had always been close to her, Grace knew she ought to visit—both out of sentiment and propriety.
So, she had someone prepare some gifts, told her new spirit pet to behave, and headed out to visit Grace Wan.
Grace Wan was lying on the bed, and she really didn't look well.
Still, Grace made a show of concern, grabbed her hand, and even checked her pulse—she wasn't sick at all.
It was just a matter of the heart.
Her son didn't become the imperial son-in-law.
Her daughter was causing trouble and wouldn't stop.
And she got into another spat with Lena, so now she was just sulking...
...
After visiting Grace Wan, Grace saw the Antler Serpent lying obediently on the couch, its head resting on its body, looking extremely bored.
As soon as it saw her return, it immediately lifted its head and looked at her.
That look was just too adorable!
Grace grinned and walked over to pet the fuzz on its head. "Have you been lying on the couch this whole time? So well-behaved! From now on, you can roam around this room as you like, and you can play in the Forget-Worries Pavilion's garden too. I'll tell everyone not to hurt you."
Evan Xiao looked at her, feeling a bit conflicted inside.
If he wanted to snatch the Dragon Scale and leave, it would be a piece of cake.
But for some reason, he just stayed here like a fool, letting these silly humans treat him as an Antler Serpent and tease him in every possible way...
"But you can only play inside the Forget-Worries Pavilion! Don't go outside. If the guards see you, they'll eat you!" Grace warned again.
"Yeah, Antler Serpent meat is really tasty. Hiss! Why am I drooling..." Grace said, slurping up her own saliva.
In her previous life, she'd actually eaten Antler Serpent!
Antler Serpent meat was tender, juicy, and delicious. Just thinking about it made her mouth water...
You really do have quite the appetite!
Evan Xiao bared his teeth at her.
But Grace just laughed happily when she saw this. "Haha! Don't get mad! Relax, I won't eat you! You're way too cute—how could I ever?"
She rubbed the fluff on his head. "By the way, why do you have fuzz on your head? I thought Antler Serpents didn’t have any!"
That's the Crown Prince's dragon mane!
You're the only one on the whole continent who dares to touch the Crown Prince's dragon mane!
You keep rubbing it!
Stop rubbing it!
...
Grace was happily playing with the little Antler Serpent when Xi'er rushed in, flustered. "Miss, the Second Young Master and Third Miss are here!"
"Hmm? What are they here for?" Grace asked, puzzled.
"I don't know, but they both look really angry..." Xi'er said nervously.
"Is that so?" Grace raised her eyebrows, got off the couch, and went to the guest room to meet them.
Sure enough, Kevin Zhu and Cindy Zhu had come together.