Chapter 36 Daji (Part 3) The Beast Garden

The dim morning light shines through the high-hanging glazed window lattices of the Zhaixing Pavilion, casting mottled shadows.

Lin Jiaojiao woke up in a soft animal-skin mattress, her consciousness still hazy. The chaotic dreams of last night dissipated like the receding tide, leaving behind only a feeling of exhaustion as if she had survived a disaster, and a trance as if she was trapped in a gorgeous cage.

She sat up and looked around. The huge bedroom looked even more spacious and luxurious in the morning light. The exquisite bronze lamps were extinguished, leaving only the cool air and the faint aftertaste of expensive spices.

The brilliant lights of last night faded away, and the Star-Picking Pavilion in the daytime looked more like a silent tomb built of gold and gems.

[Zero…] She subconsciously called out in her heart.

"I'm here." Zero's voice sounded immediately, steady as ever, with the distinctly clear texture of the early morning. "Physical condition: Good.

Environment: safe.

Suggestion: Wash up and eat first."

His voice was like a reassurance, dispelling the confusion she felt when she first woke up. Lin Jiaojiao lifted the animal skin and stepped barefoot on the cool and smooth obsidian floor. The slightly cool touch made her completely sober.

The door of the bedroom was pushed open silently, and several female slaves who had been waiting outside came in one after another. They still kept their heads down and their movements were as gentle as feathers. They held a warm copper basin, soft cloth towels, fragrant bath beans and a brand new dress.

This time, Lin Jiaojiao was no longer as passive as she was last night. She imitated Ling's calmness and tried to accept the slave girl's service as naturally as possible.

The warm water brushed across her skin, bringing a comfortable warmth. The slave girl changed her into another dress, a water-blue gauze gown, the material as thin as a cicada's wing, embroidered with a lifelike picture of butterflies playing in flowers with silver thread. When she walked, her sleeves fluttered, as if surrounded by butterflies. A moon-white silk ribbon was tied around her waist, which made her waist look even more slender, not even thick enough to be held in one hand.

The slave girl combed her long hair gently, and her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. It was tied into a simple bun and a jade hairpin inlaid with rice-sized pearls was inserted diagonally. It was simple, elegant and fresh, but it made her face look even more pure and flawless.

"Lady Su, breakfast is ready. Please move to the side hall." The female slave reported respectfully.

The decoration of the side hall is equally luxurious.

A large rosewood table was filled with a wide variety of food, including steaming millet porridge, crystal clear meat soup, golden and crispy roasted poultry, fresh and juicy seasonal fruits and vegetables, and several plates of exquisite snacks.

The aroma of the food mixed with the elegant incense in the hall, forming a strange, appetite-killing and luxurious atmosphere.

Lin Jiaojiao sat down in front of the table. Looking at the overly sumptuous food in front of her, she had no appetite. Being in this unfamiliar environment and facing this sudden "favor", she just felt out of place.

"Eat." Zero's voice carried a hint of undeniable reminder, "Maintaining physical strength is the basis of survival."

Lin Jiaojiao picked up the jade chopsticks and sipped the warm millet porridge. It tasted delicious. The female slaves standing in the palace were like exquisite puppets, silent. In the huge palace, only the sound of her subtle chewing echoed, making the silence even more suffocating. She always felt that there should be another figure beside her.

Just then, a sound of hurried footsteps could be heard outside the palace, accompanied by a deliberately high-pitched, slightly shrill female voice: "Oh! Is this the King's newly acquired Sumerian? You're really putting on airs! I came to visit her in person, and there's not even anyone to greet her?"

Before he could finish his words, a woman in gorgeous palace clothes and exquisite makeup rushed in aggressively, surrounded by a group of female slaves and eunuchs. She looked to be about thirty years old, with a mean and arrogant look between her eyebrows. She was none other than the former queen Jiang, who had been banished to the cold palace by Emperor Xin.

Queen Jiang's eyes were as sharp as knives, instantly locking onto Lin Jiaojiao who was sitting in front of the table.

When she saw Lin Jiaojiao's face, which was still extremely beautiful even without makeup, her eyes instantly burst into unconcealable jealousy and resentment, and her carefully applied makeup could not hide the distortion of her expression.

"Oh! She's really a foxy girl!" Queen Jiang sneered, her voice sharp, "No wonder she can be so infatuated with the king, even my position as the queen..."

“Target: Jiang family.

Emotions: Extreme jealousy and resentment.

Threat Level: Medium (verbal aggression).

Suggestion: Remain silent." Zero's voice analyzed calmly and gave instructions.

Lin Jiaojiao's heart tightened. She put down her jade chopsticks, lowered her eyelids slightly, and her long eyelashes trembled gently like butterfly wings. Her hands unconsciously twisted the corners of her clothes. She didn't say anything, but her look, like a frightened deer, with a hint of confusion and helplessness, seemed even more pitiful and sympathetic under Queen Jiang's aggressive momentum.

Seeing her like this, Queen Jiang was furious. Thinking she was pretending to be weak to gain sympathy, she stepped forward, pointed at her nose and said sternly, "Why are you pretending to be innocent? I'm telling you, the harem is full of tricks. Don't think you can just rely on your looks..."

"How dare you!" A low and majestic roar exploded at the door of the palace like thunder.

The tall figure of Emperor Xin appeared at the door. His dark royal robe carried a biting chill in the morning light. His face was as gloomy as water, and his eyes were like an icy blade, instantly stabbing at Queen Jiang.

Queen Jiang froze, her arrogance instantly extinguished, and her face turned pale! She hurriedly turned around and knelt in greeting: "Your Majesty..."

Emperor Xin didn't even glance at her, striding over to Lin Jiaojiao. He first glanced at her tenderly, then saw her drooping eyelids and clenched hands, and a flash of heartache flashed in his eyes. Then, he turned sharply to Queen Jiang and said in a voice as cold as ice: "Who gave you the courage to disturb my beauty?!"

"I... I just..." Queen Jiang was so scared that she was shaking all over and speaking incoherently.

"Just what?!" Emperor Xin's voice suddenly rose, filled with thunderous anger, "I think you've been too comfortable! Someone come here!"

"Here!" Two burly guards immediately rushed in from outside the hall.

"Drag this ignorant creature back to the cold palace! Keep him under strict watch! No one is allowed to visit him without my order!" Emperor Xin's voice was firm and unquestionable.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please spare my life!" Queen Jiang cried miserably and was dragged out by the guards without mercy. Her voice gradually disappeared outside the palace.

The hall instantly returned to dead silence. The female slaves were so frightened that they dared not breathe and fell to their knees on the ground.

Emperor Xin then turned around, the anger on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by an almost cautious gentleness. He walked to Lin Jiaojiao, stretched out his hand, and gently held her hand that was twisting the corner of her clothes. His palm was broad and warm, with thin calluses.

"My beloved concubine was frightened." His voice was low and soft, with a hint of subtle comfort. "I was negligent. From now on, I will not let anyone disturb you again."

Lin Jiaojiao raised her head and met his eyes, which were now filled with concern and heartache. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know how to start. Ling's voice rang out at the right time: "Thank him."

"Thank... Thank you, Your Majesty." Lin Jiaojiao obeyed, her voice tinged with a soft, nasal twang. "But... she... is the queen after all..."

"She's not!" Di Xin said firmly, a fierce look flashing in his eyes. "From now on, you are the only one in this harem. My Zhaixing Pavilion is built just for you!" He held her hand tightly, his tone filled with unquestionable promise: "I will protect you and will never let anyone hurt you!"

His words were domineering and fiery, like the strongest cage, locking her tightly.

Lin Jiaojiao looked at the undisguised possessiveness and protectiveness in his eyes, and felt mixed emotions. On the one hand, she did feel a little relieved, as Emperor Xin's protection made her temporarily safe; on the other hand, this extreme exclusivity and pampering made her feel a deeper sense of suffocation.

"My king..." she called softly, with a barely perceptible hint of fatigue in her voice.

Emperor Xin seemed to sense her emotions and frowned slightly. "Are you tired, my beloved? Or... do you not like this Zhaixing Pavilion? What do you want? Tell me! I will send someone to do it right away!"

[Zero...] Lin Jiaojiao asked for help in her heart.

"Let's change the subject. Emperor Xin likes to collect rare and exotic animals." Zero gave a concise suggestion.

Lin Jiaojiao's mind moved slightly, and her eyes swept across the sunny garden outside the palace. She said softly, "I just feel a little stuffy in the palace. I heard... there are rare and exotic animals in the palace? I... have never seen one..."

Her words were filled with just the right amount of curiosity and yearning, like a young girl who was naive to the world.

When Emperor Xin heard this, his eyes lit up instantly. He liked her interest in "new" things. It made him feel that he could show her his "treasures" and maybe even make her smile.

"Haha! My beloved concubine wants to see rare and exotic animals? Great! Great!" Emperor Xin laughed loudly, and the previous haze was swept away. "Great! I have indeed collected quite a few rare things! Come! I will take you to see them!"

He excitedly took Lin Jiaojiao's hand and said, "It's on the west side of the Imperial Garden! I'll take you there!"

Lin Jiaojiao was pulled up by him, and she felt a little relieved. At least... she had temporarily left this suffocatingly silent palace. She obediently followed Emperor Xin and walked out of the Zhaixing Pavilion.

The sunlight sprinkled on her body, bringing a hint of warmth. The tall figure of Emperor Xin walked in front, blocking most of her view. The female slaves and eunuchs followed far behind, not daring to make a sound.

[Zero, rare and exotic animal?] Lin Jiaojiao muttered to herself.

"Opportunity." Zero's voice analyzed calmly, "Take your time, don't rush, Jiaojiao."

His calm voice made Lin Jiaojiao feel much more at ease, and she began to try to observe her surroundings slowly.

Emperor Xin took her through several palace gates and came to a relatively remote corner of the palace. It was not as luxurious as the Zhaixing Pavilion, but more like a temporary enclosure. The air was filled with a strange smell mixed with grass, feces and wild animal fur.

Several rows of simple wooden fences formed cages of varying sizes, and the cages contained what Emperor Xin called "rare and exotic animals."

A colorful peacock with long tail feathers was standing listlessly in the cage, occasionally spreading its tail and shaking off a few gorgeous feathers.

A tall ostrich with a long, thin neck paced anxiously in the cage.

Several brightly colored parrots were chirping noisily in the cage.

There was even a small leopard with extremely fierce eyes, lying in a cage, staring at the newcomers vigilantly, making a low snoring sound in its throat.

Several palace servants, wearing coarse short clothes and covered with grass debris and stains, were busy cleaning the cages and adding water and food. When they saw Emperor Xin coming, they were so scared that they knelt on the ground in a hurry, buried their heads deeply, and their bodies trembled slightly.

Emperor Xin pointed at the animals with great interest, "Look, my beloved! This is a peacock sent as tribute by the southern barbarians. It's so beautiful when it spreads its feathers. That's an ostrich from the Western Regions. It runs as fast as the wind! And this leopard is incredibly ferocious. And these parrots can speak human language..."

He knew everything by heart, and his tone was full of boasting and pride.

Lin Jiaojiao's gaze passed over the animals and fell on the palace servants who were kneeling on the ground and shivering. They looked haggard, and their hands were covered with calluses and scars. They were obviously doing the dirtiest and most tiring work. The unpleasant smell in the air also made her frown slightly.

She couldn't help but feel a little sorry, not only for the palace servants, but also for the animals trapped in cages.

"Don't worry." Zero stated calmly, "This is the fate of this era. You can try to change it, but your safety comes first."

At this moment, next to a cage containing several small monkeys, a young eunuch who looked only about ten years old, was so nervous that his hand trembled and he knocked over the bucket. The water splashed on the ground and also splashed on his worn trouser legs. He was so scared that his face turned pale and he fell to the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: "My king, please spare me! My king, please spare me!"

Emperor Xin's brows furrowed instantly, the smile on his face disappeared, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes: "Useless! You can't even do such a small thing, drag it on..."

"My king!" Lin Jiaojiao suddenly spoke, her voice not loud, but with a hint of soft eagerness.

Emperor Xin was stunned and looked at her.

Lin Jiaojiao gently pulled Emperor Xin's sleeve, with a pleading look in her eyes. She looked at the frightened little palace maid, then looked at the simple and crowded cages, and whispered: "Your Majesty, please calm down. He... he is young and did not mean it. Besides, these cages are too small, and they don't seem to be very comfortable." She pointed to the ostrich pacing anxiously in the cage and the leopard with fierce eyes, and her eyes showed real pity.

Her words were gentle, with a hint of innocence and kindness that came from being ignorant of the world. Her worried look with a frown on her face, like that of a fairy untainted by dust, instantly touched the softest part of Emperor Xin's heart.

The displeasure in Emperor Xin's eyes instantly dissipated, replaced by a sense of satisfaction from being pleased. He liked her innocence and kindness. He held her slightly cold little hand in his backhand and softened his voice: "My beloved concubine is really kind-hearted. Okay, for your sake, I will spare him."

He waved his hand at the frightened eunuch: "Get out! If you do it again, I won't let you off easily!"

The young eunuch retreated tumbling and crawling as if he had been pardoned. The other palace servants also breathed a sigh of relief, and their eyes were filled with incredible gratitude when they looked at Lin Jiaojiao.

Lin Jiaojiao heaved a sigh of relief. Looking at the crowded cages and the listless appearance of the animals, an idea quietly surfaced. She raised her head and looked at Emperor Xin, her clear eyes filled with a hint of innocent yearning and a naive suggestion: "Your Majesty, I find these rare and exotic animals very interesting, but they've inevitably lost some of their wildness. If... if I could have a large garden and collect all the rare and exotic animals in the world, perhaps the princes and nobles would beg Your Majesty to come and see them. Your Majesty and I... could visit them often, and Your Majesty could raise even more rare and exotic animals!"

Her voice was filled with a hint of longing, as innocent as a child, but inadvertently, it planted a seed in Emperor Xin's heart.

Emperor Xin looked into her pure, flawless eyes, brimming with anticipation, and an idea struck him. Building a vast, unprecedented zoo for rare animals? This idea... seemed like a good one. It would satisfy his beloved concubine's wishes while also showcasing his majesty and wealth as the King of Shang. More importantly, it would be a uniquely "novel" paradise for him and his beloved concubine.

"A huge garden?" Emperor Xin's eyes flashed, and the corners of his mouth curled up in a determined arc. "What a great idea! My beloved concubine is indeed smart. I will immediately order the construction of a 'Garden of Beasts' on a site that is even larger than the Zhaixing Pavilion. It will be filled with rare and exotic animals from all over the world. Then, my beloved concubine can see them however she wants!"

He laughed out loud, full of heroic spirit, as if he had already seen the magnificent scene of the Zoo. He held Lin Jiaojiao's hand tightly, his eyes full of admiration for her "wonderful ideas" and... an excitement of putting them into practice.

Lin Jiaojiao looked at Emperor Xin's excitement and felt mixed emotions. She had just mentioned it casually to divert his attention, but she didn't expect him to react so strongly.

Building a massive zoo? How much manpower and resources would that require? How many people would be involved? A flicker of unease crossed her mind.

[Zero...did I...do something wrong?]

"Let's go with the flow." Zero's voice remained calm, "The proposal has been made and cannot be taken back.

Follow-up guidance: Pay attention to the treatment of craftsmen and palace maids.

In addition, it can also indirectly divert Emperor Xin's attention."

Lin Jiaojiao took a deep breath, suppressing the uneasiness in her heart. She gave Di Xin a faint, dependent smile: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I... am looking forward to it."

Emperor Xin looked at her pure smile and felt even more proud. He took her hand, looked at the animals in the cage with interest, and then took her away from this simple enclosure.

On the way back to Zhaixing Pavilion, Emperor Xin was still immersed in the idea of ​​building the Garden of Beasts, and talked incessantly about his idea. Lin Jiaojiao listened quietly, but was thinking about Ling's words in her heart.

[Pay attention to the treatment of craftsmen and palace maids.] She looked at Emperor Xin's excited profile and thought of the palace maids kneeling on the ground and trembling.

Maybe... this really is an opportunity? She thought silently.