Pet rights

"Your Majesty." Lin Ben stood respectfully beside Emperor Wende, and sighed as he looked at his gloomy face.

"They all want Bianzhou!" Emperor Wende slammed the memorial to the ground. Lin Mu knelt down with a thud, not daring to raise his head.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." Lin Ben waved his hand, signaling the servants around him to leave, and then served tea to Emperor Wende. "Bianzhou has beautiful scenery; it is naturally a place that inspires longing."

"You certainly know how to talk!" Emperor Wende took a sip of tea and glanced at the memorial on the ground. Lin Ben quickly picked it up and handed it to Emperor Wende.

"Then tell me, should I let those people have their way?" Emperor Wende picked up his brush and suddenly recalled the time when he taught Lou Xuan to write. Back then, he was just the Crown Prince, while Lou Xuan was still an innocent princess.

"Very well, Princess Zhaoyang has rendered meritorious service in reporting Wang Juesong, so let's grant her Bianzhou as her fiefdom." Emperor Wende rubbed his temples wearily. "Now that she's grown up, she's starting to use some of the scheming she never did before."

"Her Highness, like His Majesty, the court and the harem are inseparable. It seems Your Highness doesn't want Bianzhou to fall into the hands of powerful families." Lin Ben breathed a sigh of relief and silently prayed for Lou Xuan.

"She does have backbone; in that respect, she's better than her brothers who refuse to depend on powerful families." Emperor Wende felt somewhat relieved.

"In the end, I'm the one who wronged her. Xuan'er is a strong-willed person. Since I let her go to Bianzhou, she naturally won't let go of this fat piece of meat." Emperor Wende pondered for a moment, "Have someone help Zhaoyang clean up her mess, so that the Fifth Prince won't find out."

"It's His Majesty." Lin Ben was secretly on guard. Although His Majesty didn't seem to care much about the Fifth Prince, it was rather strange that Princess Zhaoyang could so easily kick him out of the picture.

"Go down." Emperor Wende rose and slowly walked to the rear hall. The woman on the wall had a charming smile and beautiful features.

"Xuan'er has grown up, but Zuo'er is still young. Let him be taught so he can become a carefree prince in the future. This throne is so lonely and frightening. I still miss the time when you were here. I don't know if you will be angry that the Dou family had to be eliminated." Emperor Wende knelt on the prayer mat, the eyes of this great emperor red as he knelt before the portrait.

"I have wronged Xuan'er. She has suffered so much, and I have forgotten her. It seems that once a person sits on the throne, they can only see the pros and cons and have no feelings left." Emperor Wende reached out and lit three incense sticks.

"Xuan'er is getting married. I have granted her Bianzhou, which she desired, as her fiefdom. I only wish her happiness and peace." Emperor Wende took out a jade pendant hidden behind the ancestral tablet.

"I originally intended to leave these two jade pendants to Xuan'er and Zuo'er, but now I'll give them both to Xuan'er. If I had protected you more back then, would you still be by my side now?" Emperor Wende grasped the jade pendants and slowly walked out of the inner palace.

"Your Majesty, Princess Zhaoyang and General Wei have returned and should arrive in the capital soon." Lin Ben presented the report to Emperor Wende.

"Whenever they enter the capital, let them come directly to see me. Remember, Zhao Yang Chang Yi Wei Shu and Jiang Jin are both indispensable."

Emperor Wende patted Lin Ben on the shoulder with the report, "Have people protect Xuan'er well. If even a single hair of hers is lost, all of us will be executed."

"Your Majesty, why don't you send a contingent of Right Guards to escort the Princess?" Lin Ben felt that His Majesty was becoming increasingly unpredictable; just moments ago he was furious, but now he seemed quite worried about his life.

"Send two teams; ensure the safety of Xuan'er and Wei Shu at all costs." Emperor Wende immediately issued an imperial edict, dispatching two teams to Bocheng to provide support.

"Summon Jiang Luo to see me." Emperor Wende's expression remained impassive, but an idea had formed in his mind.

"My lord, someone from the palace has come to say that His Majesty summons you." The steward hurried to the study door. Jiang Luo, who was practicing calligraphy inside, quickly put down his brush upon hearing this.

"Who sent the message?" Jiang Luo straightened his clothes and led the steward to the main hall.

"Eunuch Fu." Jiang Luo breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the visitor. "I wonder if His Majesty has summoned me suddenly for some urgent matter?" As he spoke, he slipped some silver into Eunuch Fu's sleeve.

"I'm not entirely sure about this, Imperial Censor Jiang." The eunuch Fu dared not accept money so easily. Jiang Luo was greatly alarmed; could it be that his second wife had offended Wei Shu in Bianzhou and been killed by him?

"Imperial Censor Jiang, please." The eunuch Fu didn't give Jiang Luo time to think and directly pulled him onto the horse. "His Majesty summons you urgently; we hope you will not delay, Imperial Censor!"

In the Zichen Palace, Emperor Wende was looking at the letter handed to him by a secret guard. "Who do you think this second daughter of the Jiang family is?"

The guard, kneeling below with his eyes lowered, replied, "Brave and resourceful, but exceptionally ruthless."

"Do you think the Jiang family could raise a woman with such a temperament?" Emperor Wende threw the letter into the incense burner.

"This subordinate does not know." The guard knew that speaking too much while serving the emperor was the worst thing one could do. His only responsibility was to write down everything he saw and hand it to His Majesty. As for speculation and deduction, that was beyond his capabilities.

"Your Majesty, Imperial Censor Jiang is already waiting outside the door." Lin Ben's voice reached Emperor Wende's ears. He waved his hand, and the guards immediately disappeared from the hall. "Let him in."

Jiang Luo entered the hall and first bowed, then slowly raised his head to carefully observe Emperor Wende's expression. Seeing no anger, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Minister Jiang, please don't be so formal, have a seat." Emperor Wende glanced at the somewhat fearful Jiang Luo and smiled.

"I have arranged for your second wife to marry Wei Shu. They are living happily together now. After the assassination attempt, Wei Shu has been very fond of Lady Jiang. So, Minister Jiang, you can rest assured."

Jiang Luo was completely relieved. As long as she was alive, it was good that she had survived under that man's control. "It is an honor for Second Sister to be favored by General Wei."

"However, this Lady Jiang is a woman of extraordinary skill. She was able to kill Wang Juesong in one fell swoop and take his head. She is truly a woman who is not inferior to men!" Emperor Wende's imposing presence, though not angry, made Jiang Luo tremble and kneel down again.

"My second wife lost her mother at a young age and has always loved riding horses and archery. My wife and I doted on her and never stopped her. Today, she has caused such a disaster, which is due to my poor upbringing." Although Jiang Luo didn't know whether Emperor Wende was pleased or angry, it was always better to apologize first.

"Rise. Killing a traitor is no big deal; I won't blame you. On the contrary, I will reward you for raising such a woman. Lin Ben bestowed the pearl and agate hairpin from Wusun upon Lady Jiang, and I rewarded you with a Duan inkstone from Lingnan East Circuit, which I found to have excellent color." Emperor Wende waved his hand dismissively.

"My daughter's killing of the traitor was merely a duty of a citizen of Great Yan; how could she accept His Majesty's reward!" Jiang Luo kowtowed in refusal, but could not defy Emperor Wende's decree, and returned to her residence with the two gifts.

"My lord, is something wrong with A-Jin?" Mother Jiang gripped Qi Niang's hand tightly. Qi Niang winced slightly but endured the pain out of concern for Jiang Jin.

"Second Madam is alright. His Majesty has given some rewards; have someone put them in the storeroom." The steward took the rewards from the eunuch and slipped some silver into his hand.

"It's getting late, why don't you stay at the manor for a simple meal?" Jiang Luo earnestly invited, not wanting to offend the emperor's eunuch.

"You're too kind, Your Excellency. I must return to the palace to report, so I won't disturb your meal any longer." Watching the eunuch's departing figure, Jiang Luo then looked at Qi Niang.

"Madam, starting tomorrow, let Seventh Sister learn riding and archery just like Second Sister. Of course, she should also learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

“Father?” Seventh Sister’s heart had already turned to retreat when she recalled the scars on Jiang Jin’s fingers. “Second Sister has quite a few scars on her hands. A woman’s hands are like her second face. I don’t want to lose face.”

"Then give the order: any of the ladies in the household who wish to learn riding and archery can come to me." Jiang Luo said no more, only glancing at Qi Niang.

As night fell, the pipeline was placed under martial law. Armored soldiers surrounded the central carriage, preventing even a flying insect from entering. Jiang Jin lay on the soft brocade quilt in the carriage.

“You left the capital in April, and you won’t be back until October.” Lou Xuan draped a thin cloak over Jiang Jin’s legs, while Jiang Jin fiddled with the handkerchiefs that had been brought to her by two or three people. “People outside don’t know how good your riding skills are, so just stay in the carriage and relax. That’s what Wei Shu said.”

"Why does Your Highness use him to pressure me? I will stay obediently in the carriage if Your Highness simply says the word." Jiang Jin pulled the large cloak over Lou Xuan's shoulders.

"You, all you do is beg me to go horseback riding, and I can't resist you, so I always agree." Lou Xuan tapped Jiang Jin's cheek with his finger.

"Your Highness is teasing me again." Jiang Jin looked at the storybook in her hand. "Your Highness, I'm afraid Wei Shu might change after he returns to the capital. I'll have a secret guard keep an eye on him then."

"You don't trust him?" Lou Xuan underestimated Jiang Jin; she thought Jiang Jin now completely trusted Wei Shu.

"It's always good to be cautious. Wei Shuxin is like a fox; he's not touching me now only because we share the same goal. If we're on different sides in the future, do you really expect him to give up His Majesty and his power for some vague love?" Jiang Jin said dismissively, completely baffled as to why Lou Xuan was so surprised.

“You are more clear-headed than I thought.” Lou Xuan sighed. “Love is like smoke, and only power is the foundation of one’s life. It’s a pity that women have too many helpless situations and can only struggle among men to fight for the meager power that slips through their fingers.”

“That little bit of power is enough to make a person lose their mind,” Jiang Jin continued. “Wei Shu may love me, but I’m already beyond his bottom line. It’s a pity that I want more than that.”

"Aren't you feeling unwell?" Lou Xuan asked, looking at Jiang Jin, whose complexion was pale.

"It's painful. Sweet moments are always the most memorable. Once you have genuine feelings, you can't control yourself. Falling into suspicion and arguing are common occurrences."

Jiang Jin smiled and lifted the curtain to look at Wei Shu on horseback. His noble bearing and the glory brought by his high position made him always hold his head high.

"If I had the power, I wouldn't hesitate to give even a little bit to my pet." Jiang Jin lowered the curtain.

"I've never seen you like this before. Do you still think he treats you like a pet?" Lou Xuan laughed and handed the teacup on the table to Jiang Jin.

“From the very first meeting, it was all scheming. Even if we’re loving now, it’s all just something I planned step by step. Wei Shu is extremely hard-hearted. If it weren’t for my face, my scheming, and His Highness’s help, how could I have stayed in his heart?” Jiang Jin said wearily. “It’s best for me to stay here.”