The maids who often passed along the way looked at the senior maids carrying the foxes with envy.
These were the Prince and Princess Consort's pets, kept spotlessly clean. The two fluffy creatures looked so soft to stroke, but unfortunately, it was never their turn. Such a fine posting as carrying the foxes was usually snatched up by the senior maids.
Though the two foxes were easy to serve, they were not the sort to draw close to people, so the maids only dared to look on in envy.
"Serving the foxes earns an extra two taels of silver every month!"
Once inside the fox room, where it was quite warm, the two senior maids set the foxes down on separate cushions. Watching them nestle against cushions bearing familiar scents, curl into more comfortable positions, and fall soundly asleep, they could not help but sigh.
At times like this, there was even more envy in their hearts.
"They really have good lives!" one maid said softly. "Favored by the Prince and Princess Consort, even foxes can live well!"
"There is no need to envy them. We serve the Prince and Princess Consort—do outsiders not see us as equally fortunate?" a senior maid said.
That was true. The two foxes seemed blessed in their eyes, while they seemed just as blessed in the eyes of others.
The maids lightened their footsteps as they withdrew. Though the two foxes vaguely heard what they said, neither reacted. With the pain fading, their numbed nerves needed ample sleep to recover.
Meanwhile, after watching the maids carry the foxes away, Su Ziji sat before the couch and lowered his gaze. The phantom of half a Rosewood Pendant emerged.
``` "Having slain Zhou Xuan and greatly altered history, would you like to draw upon it with