The sun hangs high, icicles drip water downward, and within the red-walled, golden-tiled palace lies a world of melting snow.
Bai Zhi’er is wearing a bright red little cotton-padded jacket, adorned with golden embroidered clouds.
Her jet-black, soft hair is braided into two small pigtails tied with golden butterflies.
This further accentuates the delicate whiteness of her cheeks, soft and tender like a peeled egg, with a hint of pink on her chubby face.
She squats by the palace road, holding a small bowl with a bit of minced meat.
"Dahua, come quickly, there’s something tasty for you!" Bai Zhi’er shakes the little bowl.
A group of palace attendants accompanies her, all watching the princess’s actions with smiles.
Bai Zhi’er calls out for a while but does not see the cat’s trace.
Qingmei laughs, "Princess, this Dahua cat is very cautious; I think you should leave the bowl here, and it will come out to eat in a while."
Bai Zhi’er blinks her round eyes and places the porcelain bowl at the base of the wall.
Qingmei thought she would leave.
Unexpectedly, Bai Zhi’er just walked to the corner of the palace road and then hid half of her little body.
Her bright, black eyes are like two glistening black grapes.
She waves her little hand, "Sister Qingmei, come over here, we’ll wait for a while and see when Dahua will come!"
Feng Fuce, leading a line of the Xiu Luo Envoys, glances sideways and sees such a scene.
The little one, dressed in festive attire, peeks around the red wall to watch a chubby striped cat eating.
Some of the palace servants behind her are even tiptoeing to watch the cat.
Feng Fuce frowns slightly and stands watching for a while.
A Xiu Luo Envoy next to him comments, "The little princess is lively and clever, quite adorable indeed."
Feng Fuce glances at him, and the person quickly realizes his mistake, bowing his head hurriedly, "I overstepped."
"Don’t let it happen again," Feng Fuce coldly replies and leaves with his entourage without looking back.
Bai Zhi’er watches the Dahua cat finish eating the minced meat but doesn’t hurry away.
Instead, she sits in place and starts licking its paws.
The plump back draws Bai Zhi’er to tiptoe quietly, getting closer bit by bit.
When she gets next to the Dahua cat, the little one slowly squats down.
She reaches out her small hand to gently stroke its head.
The cat’s fur is soft, fluffy, and delightfully touchable!
The Dahua cat seems very comfortable, arching its body and rubbing against Bai Zhi’er’s little palm.
Bai Zhi’er’s black eyes light up like stars.
Upon hearing this soft and tender child’s joyful exclamation.
The Dahua cat turns back to glance at Bai Zhi’er, only then realizing it was approached by a human.
It jumps in fright, paws kicking up snow dust, and disappears in a flash.
Qingmei quickly walks over and laughs, "I told you, Dahua cat is afraid of people."
Bai Zhi’er blinks her long lashes, "But it let me pet it just now."
Though it hadn’t realized at the moment.
The little one smiles, bending her eyebrows, "It’s okay, we’ll feed it often, and it will become familiar with us! Sister Qingmei, where’s the next little cat?"
Qingmei replies, "There’s another one that often appears near the Imperial Kitchen, with jet-black fur, only its two front paws have white fur."
Bai Zhi’er immediately takes small steps, her little body jumping like a red butterfly.
"Let’s go and have a look now; I want to meet all the cats in the palace!"
Close to noon for a meal, Qingmei accompanies Bai Zhi’er back to Ruizhu Palace.
Bai Zhi’er had seen five or six wild cats in the palace since the morning, and she’s in a cheerful mood.
The little baby voice is always filled with joy.
Until Bai Zhi’er sees the Chief Aunt Si Zheng, standing at the door, who has been waiting for a while.