Ning Fu hadn't thought that the usually easy-going monarch would become so severe but then thinking about it, he realised that he was the one who had dared to pull at the cat's whiskers so now he couldn't complain if the cat had unsheathed its claws and was barring its teeth at him.
So, he silently listened to the monarch as the other person reprimanded him and then asked him to leave.
However, he still couldn't forget the loneliness he had seen in the monarch's eyes a few hours ago and it also reminded him of the solemn tone the monarch had used when he had told about his beloved to the Empress Dowager.
Hence it shouldn't have come as a surprise to either of them when he said, "Your Majesty, this lowly one will reflect on his actions and will gladly accept any punishment you mete out but this lowly one has one thing to say. Will Your Majesty give leave to this lowly official to say it?"
