"Chirp chirp."
"Mm, I know. You rendered a service this time." Su Ziji was pulled from his thoughts by the cries. He stroked her furry little head and said with a smile.
Then, still smiling, he sighed softly. "Time passes so quickly. The Spring Examination is about to begin, isn't it? Since that's the case, we must strike first."
Little Fox suddenly seemed to think of something and chirped at Su Ziji again.
Su Ziji vaguely understood her meaning and stroked her head once more. "You want to help me? All right."
Little Fox immediately jumped down and ran out.
Less than half an hour later, soft sounds came from the door again, like several small animals scampering swiftly over together. Su Ziji put down his book and looked toward the entrance.
With a creak, the door was pushed open, and a row of foxes filed in from outside.
Big Fox and Little Fox brought five foxes with them and gathered around Su Ziji.
All of them were fluffy and seemed brimming with spirit. They could even half-stand and clasp their paws in salute, making Su Ziji's lips curl up unconsciously.
Su Ziji pulled open a drawer containing several silver ingots, each gleaming so brightly they dazzled the eyes. The foxes stared straight at them, chittering among themselves.
"Chirp chirp. (Is this life-taking silver?)"
"Chirp chirp chirp. (Yes, it has to be cast especially beautifully before it can take people's lives.)"
"Chirp chirp chirp chirp. (Isn't the Imperial Grandson a little blackhearted? Taking lives for just five taels.)"
Su Ziji had not understood, or perhaps he understood and simply did not care. He took out seven silver ingots, each weighing five taels.
These were indeed silver ingots he had specially ordered cast. Their silver content was high; he could not