Does He Eat Too Much

"Ever since she came back from Blue Moon Nunnery, I've felt like I can't get a handle on her anymore," Grace Wan said, frowning. "Now she's all buddy-buddy with the Jade Hall crowd, visiting them every day. She doesn't fight with your father anymore, and she doesn't even want to go to the palace. I have no idea who's been stirring things up..."

"Who else could it be?" Wendy Zhu sneered. "It's definitely that bunch of servants Jade Hall stuck around Chloe: Hope, Claire, and especially her old nanny!"

"That bitch!" Grace Wan's eyes burned with hatred. "Always getting in the way!"

"Mom, once you become the Co-Head Wife, you should really deal with those troublemaking servants," Wendy Zhu said. "Once you have the proper status—and with me backing you up—you won't have to worry about anything!"

Grace Wan nodded, looking at Wendy Zhu with affection. "I'm so lucky to have such a capable daughter."

"Mom, you've put up with so much for us all these years," Wendy Zhu said. "But don't worry—now that I'm Empress, I won't let you suffer even a little bit more!"

"Exactly! That sickly one should just kick the bucket already! Only you deserve to be the Zhu family's head wife!" Cindy Zhu chimed in.

Grace Wan hugged her two daughters, feeling a deep sense of comfort and gratitude.

Suddenly, she remembered another reason for coming to the palace today. "By the way, Empress Wendy, now that Princess Xinyao has broken off her engagement with General Evan Xiao, do you think there's any chance she could marry your brother?"

Wendy Zhu thought for a moment and said, "Let's wait until you get your official status. Once my brother shakes off his illegitimate son label, I can send someone to the Empress Dowager to sound her out again."

"Alright," Grace Wan nodded.

...

When Chloe Zhu got home, everyone at Serenity Pavilion was thrilled to see the Antler Serpent had come back on its own.

Nanny whipped up a bunch of tasty treats for him. He curled up on the table and leisurely polished off every single dish he liked.

"Cutie, you sure can eat!" Claire said, smacking her lips. "Good thing you ended up with Miss Chloe—who else could afford to feed you?"

The Antler Serpent shot her a look.

Did he really eat too much?

"Totally!" Hope chimed in. "Look at him, such a picky eater—he only goes for the good stuff. What a little rascal!"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but reach out to pet him again.

But the Antler Serpent sprang away from Hope's hand and hopped right onto Chloe Zhu.

Hope's hand froze in midair, her face full of disappointment.

Chloe Zhu couldn't help but laugh. "Cutie, they're my personal maids—they won't hurt you. Be good, let them pet you, okay?"

The Antler Serpent shook his head.

Then he buried his head in her arms, his tail swishing back and forth.

"Oh well! What can you do?" Chloe Zhu shook her head at Hope and Claire. "He still doesn't want to."

"Miss Chloe, I'm so jealous!" Claire said, her eyes sparkling. "If only I had a spirit pet like that!"

Hope's eyes suddenly lit up. "Hey, Miss Chloe, ask him if he has any brothers or sisters! Maybe he can bring them here too!"

Chloe Zhu thought it was a great idea, so she asked, "Cutie, do you have any siblings?"

The Antler Serpent nodded.

Quite a few.

"Can you call them over here too?"

The Antler Serpent shook his head.

If that happened, the whole continent would be in chaos.

"Aw... so you can't," Chloe Zhu said, a little disappointed. "I bet they're just as cute as you, right?"

The Antler Serpent shot her a sideways glance and didn't respond.

...