Master?
Chen Shi's heart tightened. Didn't Godmother say the Fusang Tree had no master... Ah right, Godmother never said the heavenly silkworm didn't have a master!
He paid no attention, simply holding up this hundred-mu-wide mulberry leaf and flying rapidly toward the Willow Leaf Boat where Empress Houtu was.
I got stolen?
The white-haired, white-clothed little girl blinked. Well, shouldn't I make a fuss to show that I, a servant, am utterly loyal to my master? If Master knows I made a fuss, will she treat me a little better?
Thinking to this, she made up her mind not to make a fuss.
Changing masters can't possibly be worse than before, she thought inwardly.
Chen Shi held the mulberry leaf high and landed on the boat.
Empress, is this the heavenly silkworm? he asked.
Empress Houtu looked the white-haired little girl up and down and smiled. It is indeed this heavenly silkworm.
Chen Shi placed the mulberry leaf on the surface of the sea and dashed straight toward the Fusang Tree again, his voice echoing from afar: Empress, take good care of her for a moment. I'll go and be right back!
Both Empress Houtu and the white-haired little girl were quite surprised. A moment later, Chen Shi came racing back, holding a thick stack of mulberry leaves—all tender leaves that had just sprouted not long ago.
He arrived on the Willow Leaf Boat and smiled. After all, I stole her, and I'm afraid she'll go hungry, so I picked a few more leaves.
The white-haired little girl looked at him, quite surprised. This person who stole me doesn't have a bad heart after all.
Empress Houtu grabbed that mulberry leaf, and it instantly shrank rapidly, turning into the size of an ordinary mulberry leaf and landing in her palm.