In order to avoid getting bored with playing with things, Qin Zhao has been arranging for the servants of the mansion to take care of the little koi since it came to the mansion.

However, although he rarely visits in person, he has never forgotten the little guy's condition every day. Now that he thinks about it, this little koi has indeed been a bit strange recently.

"You said that little fish has been hiding under the water these days and cannot come out. When did it start?" Qin Zhao‌.

The maid responsible for feeding the little koi knelt in front of Qin Zhao, not daring to raise her head. Her nervous voice trembled slightly: "It was about seven days ago."

Qin Zhao: "Tell me carefully."

The maid responded "Yes" and explained: "In the past, the little koi would come out to play with the servants from time to time, but since seven days ago, it has always stayed at the bottom of the water. It would only reluctantly come out when the servants were feeding it.

He came out, then immediately hid under the water after eating. It seemed like..."

Qin Zhao: "What?"

"It seems like...he's hiding from something."

Qin Zhao frowned slightly.

seven days ago.

It was seven days ago that he met the young man.

Qin Zhao fell silent.

Although the maid has been in the Regent's Palace for many years, she rarely has the opportunity to talk to the Regent alone like this. The quieter the room, the more frightened she became, and she almost cried out of fright: "My maid told the steward about this a few days ago.

But the steward said that the prince is very busy these days, so..."

The maid finally couldn't hold it any longer and shed tears: "I definitely didn't bully the little koi. I really don't know why it suddenly became like this!"

Qin Zhao: "..."

Did he say anything?

The regent pressed his eyebrows: "Calm down first, I have no intention of blaming you."

 If the young man really turned out to be a little koi, he suddenly avoided the attention of others because he was worried about being seen by Qin Zhao.

But why is he hiding?

Did I bully him by giving him food and drink that night?

Qin Zhao felt a little puzzled and waved his hand: "That's all, you can get off first."

The maid stood up tremblingly and saluted him. Qin Zhao caught a glimpse of the maid's eyes that were red from crying, and suddenly called her: "Wait a minute."

Qin Zhao paused and asked uncertainly: "This king is looking at you...is it really scary?"

The Regent is really scary.

Jing Li hid under the water, puffing out bubbles gloomily.

Seven days ago, after he escaped from the regent, he didn't even bother with his clothes and took them back to the bottom of the lake. He hid the stolen clothes behind a rock at the bottom of the lake. As for himself, he was

Even if you are beaten to death, you will not dare to go ashore again.

Thinking about it afterwards, judging from the regent's attitude that day, Jing Li felt that he must have been exposed. Otherwise, why would the regent not hesitate to turn the entire palace upside down these days to find him.

He didn't even dare to change back into his human form and steal something to eat.

Hate.

...so hungry.

"Little koi, it's time to eat!" Shui‌‌ suddenly someone called him.

Jing Li raised his head toward the water, a little surprised.

Isn’t it time for feeding at this time?

The little koi fish swung its tail, swam toward the water, and carefully poked its head out among the lotus leaves.

The one who came was the maid who used to feed him. Standing on the shore of the lake, she saw the little koi popping up and waving to him with the food in her hand.

What she was holding in her hand... was actually a pastry???

Before Jing Li could think about it, the maid broke off a small piece of pastry and threw it into the water. It was true that Jing Li felt there was something strange about this, but at that moment, his body was out of control and he swam quickly through it.

, bite the pastry in one bite.

The next second, he was caught firmly by the suddenly pulled fishing net.

Jing Li: "..."

This is what the legend says, if your mind is running fast, your body should be running fast.

Jing Li thought desperately in his heart when he was fished out to the lake bank and saw the regent slowly walking out from behind the tree.

The room was silent, with a faint scent of incense floating in the air.

There is a fish tank filled with water on the table, and the little koi carp is placed in the fish tank. This time there are no decorations in the fish tank, and the bottom of the water is empty. The little koi carp is curled up at the bottom of the fish tank, and the whole fish is

It shrank into a small ball at the bottom of the water, which looked a bit pitiful.

When Qin Zhao walked in, this was what he saw.

He walked to the table and placed a plate of cakes in his hand next to the fish tank. The little fish in the water seemed to raise its head slightly and glance at him, and immediately looked away after catching his gaze.

...Is he so scary?

Qin Zhao patiently sat down at the table, raised his hand and knocked on the wall of the fish tank: "Look up."

The little koi's tail trembled obviously, and it slowly raised its head.

"Do you know why I brought you here?"

The little koi looked up at him, motionless.

‌Pretending.

Qin Zhao didn't say anything, but pushed the pastry in his hand towards the little koi: "I said you didn't eat much in the morning. Are you hungry? Do you want to eat some pastries first?"

Jing Li felt his stomach growl.

In the past few days, he was worried that his identity would be discovered, and he did not dare to turn into a human again and steal food. He had not eaten enough for several days.

Jing Li ate the snacks next to him, and then quietly ate them again. The regent, who was sitting at the table, finally couldn't resist the temptation of delicious food and swam out from the bottom of the water.

He has been hiding underwater recently, and he has hidden all the relevant evidence. There is no reason why this person would discover his identity.

Jing Li thought with a good feeling about himself and raised his head towards the regent.

But the regent didn't move and had no intention of feeding him.

The little koi fish shook its tail in confusion.

The regent said quietly: "If you want to eat, just come out by yourself."

Jing Li: "???"

This... what does this person mean?

Did he find out???

The little koi wagged its tail at him again, pretending not to understand.

Qin Zhao saw his intention and couldn't help but smile softly: "It's too late to pretend that I don't understand human language now, don't you think?"

Jing Li: "..."

The regent is really scary!

The little koi didn't respond, and Qin Zhao didn't push him. He took a sip of tea from the teacup at his hand and said, "Let me tell you straight. There are monsters in the house these days. I wonder if you can tell me."

"...I asked a wandering Taoist priest to cast a spell and found out that the demonic energy was coming from the artificial lake."

"And in that artificial lake, you are a living creature."

When the Prince Regent said this, his smile completely subsided, and there was no trace of happiness or anger in his expression.

A bad premonition flashed through Jing Li's heart.

"I would rather believe someone who has something than someone who doesn't have anything. I'll give you a choice." Qin Zhao put down the tea cup and made a soft sound when the cup hit the table. "I will hand you over to the Taoist priest and let him

I will treat you as a monster and capture you to make medicine. Or, I specially hired a cook from a restaurant in the capital, and he is currently sharpening a knife in the backyard."

"... He said he is very good at cooking fish. I don't mind having a feast tonight."

Is there any difference between these choices?!

Jing Li stepped back unconsciously, and his tail hit the wall of the fish tank.

This person had obviously discovered his identity, and deliberately caught him in a fish tank before confessing, cutting off all his escape routes.

...There is really no escape now.

Jing Li felt desperate, almost hearing the sound of sharpening knives coming from the backyard.

"What do you want to choose? Let's talk." Qin Zhao‌.

In fact, when the regent spoke to him, his tone was always calm, and there was even a hint of smile in his tone.

But in Jingli, it was extremely terrifying.
To be continued...