Nan Zhiyun looked at him but said nothing, her attention returning to the little cat in her arms. It was over four months old, still a tiny kitten.
"Does Her Highness know what His Majesty said when he sent this cat over?" Qian Xia asked with a smile.
"What did he say?" Nan Zhiyun's mind was entirely on the little cat.
"His Majesty said that the one sent to Her Highness today is a miniature version of Her Highness, that he was giving Her Highness herself," Qian Xia said with a hint of teasing.
Nan Zhiyun froze for a moment, not processing it immediately. Then Xia Yi said, "His Majesty means Her Highness is like a little cat, right?"
Nan Zhiyun finally understood and became embarrassed. "I am not a cat," she murmured. Qian Xia, listening beside her, couldn't help but be amused. Her Highness was becoming more childlike lately. His Majesty was right; she truly was like a cat.
"I've never raised a cat like this before…" Nan Zhiyun worried faintly. She had a tendency to kill anything she raised. Her flowers died, her grass died, and even a little rabbit she had kept before had died. Especially that white rabbit; not only did it die, but it was also braised…
Did cat meat taste good? She hadn't tried it, but rabbit was quite tasty. However… she didn't want this cat to die either. So… Nan Zhiyun looked at the eunuch.
"Was this cat always kept in Yujin Garden? Who was responsible for its care?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
"Replying to Noble Consort, it has always been in Yujin Garden. Before, it was the people of Yujin Garden who were responsible, without dedicated caretakers. A while ago, His Majesty wanted to choose a cat to send to Her Highness, so he selected this one. It was then separated and placed under my care for observation for some time before being sent to Her Highness," the little eunuch replied.
"Can you raise cats?" Nan Zhiyun asked him.
"I have raised some before," he answered.
"Then would you be willing to stay with me and just be responsible for raising this cat?" Nan Zhiyun asked him. The eunuch hadn't expected Nan Zhiyun to ask him to stay and care for the pet.
"Your Highness's immense kindness, I could not ask for more!" the little eunuch immediately kowtowed.
"Then I'll go and speak with His Majesty later," Nan Zhiyun said, stroking the cat in her hand with a joyful expression.
"Ah, right, what is your name?" Nan Zhiyun looked at him again.
"This servant's name was Xiao Jiangzi, but that was my previous name. I hope Her Highness will bestow a new name upon me," Xiao Jiangzi said.
"Hmm… then let's call you Jiang Ji." Nan Zhiyun was very casual with names, naming whatever came to her mind. Eunuchs entering the palace often had names derived from their surname or a character from their given name, so Nan Zhiyun kept his surname, Jiang.
"Yes, this servant Jiang Ji thanks Noble Consort Nan Zhiyun for bestowing a name," Jiang Ji quickly expressed his gratitude.
"Don't thank me too soon. I still need to speak with His Majesty. We'll see if His Majesty agrees," Nan Zhiyun said. Although she felt Yu Jingchen would agree, it was not appropriate for her to make the decision alone.
"Yes," Jiang Ji's gratitude seemed genuine.
Qian Xia and Xia Yi exchanged glances. They didn't object. They had seen His Majesty's current attitude towards their lady, so they weren't overly worried.
As for this Jiang Ji… he seemed honest and diligent, so they weren't afraid he would cause any trouble. Besides, their lady had shown him kindness; he should be overflowing with gratitude.