Chapter 09 [9]

【9】

“Crash—”

The sharp and piercing sound of cups breaking suddenly rang out in Yonghe Palace. All the palace servants in the hall knelt down in fear, not daring to make a sound.

"Your Majesty actually held her hand? And they held it all the way!"

On the rosewood throne, the purple-robed Concubine Gu was so angry that her face turned pale. She pointed a trembling finger at the young eunuch in a green robe kneeling on the ground and said, "Are you sure you saw it clearly?"

The young eunuch, lying on the ground, replied cautiously, "Absolutely true! Not only did I see it, but everyone working in the Yangxin Palace saw it clearly. It was His Majesty who took the initiative to reach out to Concubine Lu."

The word "active" made Concubine Gu feel more and more uncomfortable. In the two years since she entered the palace, she had thought of countless ways to get close to His Majesty, but His Majesty always acted indifferent and kept people at a distance.

She had suspected the emperor of a hidden illness, so she secretly added a blood-tonifying medicine to the soup sent to the Yangxin Palace. When the medicine took effect, she could clearly see the emperor's reaction: his cold, pale face flushed crimson, his narrow eyes blurred.

But when she took the initiative to throw herself into his arms, he pushed her away without any hesitation as if he had seen a venomous snake or a ferocious beast, and even forced himself to endure the effects of the drug and scolded her: "Get out."

That night was the middle of winter and snowing heavily. His Majesty took several cold showers before the effect of the medicine wore off.

The next morning, the imperial decree arrived at Yonghe Palace: "The Imperial Concubine is under house arrest for three months and is never again allowed to set foot in the Hall of Mental Cultivation." If it weren't for the joint pleas of her aunt, father, and brother, she would have been deposed by His Majesty and banished to the cold palace. An ordinary concubine might have been executed on the spot.

Thinking of that difficult past, Concubine Gu couldn't help but clench the coral bracelet in her palm. Her aunt had clearly told her that the emperor didn't get close to others because of a mental illness caused by his childhood experiences, not because he really hated her. But now... why was he willing to get close to Lu Zhiwan?

Could it be that Mr. Lu is skilled in medicine, or has some other extraordinary qualities?

After sitting quietly for a long time with a sullen face, Concubine Gu beckoned Su Yi over and said, "My brother sent some fine West Lake Longjing tea a few days ago. Go to Changchun Palace and invite Concubine Du and Lady Zhao to come and enjoy tea with you."

Su Yi understood: "I will go right away."

Listening to the palace servants' retreating footsteps, Concubine Gu silently pinched a coral bead, and a cold light flashed across her charming fox eyes.

Her aunt was a kind-hearted person. She had tolerated the late emperor's Concubine Zhengui for decades, and only after Concubine Zhengui died of a premature death did she finally get her reward. She didn't want to be as passive as her aunt - before Lu became the next Concubine Zhengui, she had to take precautions.

***

Lu Zhiwan was unaware of the various strange changes in the harem. At this moment, she was sitting in the carriage, listening to the lively shouts coming from the street outside the window. She really wanted to open the window to take a good look at the ancient scenery. However, there was a moody living ancestor sitting in the carriage, so she didn't dare to act rashly.

Seeing the black-robed man leaning against the wall of the car, his eyes closed, looking drowsy, but his big hand holding hers, pinching and kneading it from time to time, as if he was playing with some stress-relieving toy, Lu Zhiwan couldn't help but ask cautiously, "Your Majesty, where are we going?"

The hand that was holding her paused for a moment. The emperor, with his black hair and jade hairpin, still had his eyes closed. He said in a calm tone, "You'll know when we get there."

"Oh." It was just as boring as saying nothing.

As if he understood her thoughts, the man in front of her suddenly opened his eyes and slowly looked towards her: "Are you afraid of cats?"

"Cat? What's there to be afraid of?" Lu Zhiwan was stunned for a moment, and his bright black eyes blinked slightly: "Your Majesty, why did you suddenly ask this?"

"Just asking."

Xiao Jingting closed his eyes again, leaning lazily against the car wall: "It's best not to be afraid."

Lu Zhiwan pondered his words, vaguely wondering if he was going to take her to pet cats. Cat cafes were a popular place for modern men and women to date. Could there be a similar place in Daxing Dynasty? Then they had quite a variety of leisure activities.

After driving smoothly for another half an hour, the carriage stopped in front of a house with a plaque that read "Jinliyuan".

Looking at the magnificently built house, Lu Zhiwan was amazed. He didn't expect that he was really here to pet cats. But this cat cafe is too luxurious!

Xiao Jingting tilted his head, his eyes inadvertently passing over her fair profile: "Why don't you leave?"

"No, nothing." Lu Zhiwan came back to his senses. After realizing that he was here to pet a cat, his anxious heart calmed down and his tone became much more relaxed: "Your Majesty, do you like cats very much?"

"like."

"That's such a coincidence! I also like cats." Lu Zhiwan smiled sweetly at Xiao Jingting. "I didn't expect that on the second day, Your Majesty and I would find a common interest. It seems that Your Majesty and I are really destined to be together."

Hearing this, Xiao Jingting stared at her for a while, his thin lips slightly raised, as if smiling: "Then you should like them more when you see them later."

This mansion was probably the emperor's private residence. It was deep and large, with few houses and mostly large open spaces. It didn't look like a place for people to live.

Lu Zhiwan followed Xiao Jingting closely and walked about twenty steps inside. He heard a few strange roars faintly from the front.

Lu Zhiwan frowned slightly: "Your Majesty, did you hear any strange noises?"

Xiao Jingting's expression did not change at all, he walked forward calmly: "No."

No? Lu Zhiwan pricked up her ears and listened again. This time there was no sound. She couldn't help but smile awkwardly: "Then I must have heard it wrong."

Although she said this, as she continued to walk forward, her body unconsciously moved closer to the man in front of her.

Xiao Jingting noticed her little action, his black eyes moved slightly, but he didn't say much.

After walking a little further, they came into view of a tall wall with a red iron gate opened on it. On both sides of the gate stood two rows of guards and a red-robed eunuch who looked quite prestigious.

Upon seeing the newcomer, the red-robed eunuch stepped forward with a broad smile on his face and said, "Your Majesty, your servant respectfully welcomes you."

Turning around, he smiled and saluted Lu Zhiwan, "This must be Concubine Lu, right? Your servant, Chen Jinxi, the head steward of Jinli Garden, pays his respects to the Concubine."

Lu Zhiwan smiled politely, "No need to be so polite, Manager Chen."

After a few pleasantries, Chen Jinxi stepped aside and respectfully led them inside.

Xiao Jingting walked towards the iron gate and asked casually, "How are the cats today?"

"Your Majesty, don't worry. The little ancestors are all fine." Chen Jinxi said with a smile, "Usually, the first and second flowers would be resting at this time. Perhaps they knew Your Majesty was coming to visit, so they are still awake now. Your Majesty, would you like to go check on them first?"

Xiao Jingting didn't agree immediately, but turned his head to look at Lu Zhiwan: "Do you want to see Yihua and Erhua first, or go see Xiao Caiyun?"

Lu Zhiwan was stunned. He actually had so many cats? They were all cats anyway, so it didn't matter who they were. She gave him a considerate smile and said, "I will obey your majesty."

"Then go see the flowers. If it's any later, they'll probably be asleep and won't be able to play with you." Xiao Jingting said, raising his finger to signal Chen Jinxi: "Go open the door."

Chen Jinxi replied yes, and then looked at Lu Zhiwan with a bit more admiration in his eyes. He didn't expect that this Concubine Lu, who looked delicate and weak, was actually so brave.

Soon, they arrived at the gate of another tall and magnificent courtyard.

Lu Zhiwan looked around at the scattered courtyards, and felt more and more sad in her heart - the world is deteriorating, people are worse than cats, and the courtyards where these cats live are more spacious than her Liuxiaxuan.

While he was thinking, Chen Jinxi had already opened the door and bent down to make way.

Xiao Jingting looked at Lu Zhiwan: "Go in."

"Yes." Lu Zhiwan narrowed his eyes, followed Xiao Jingting, and stepped into the door.

The sky was high and the clouds were vast, and the sun was shining brightly. Behind the high wall was a large open space with beautiful rockery, clear pool water, lush vegetation, and a spacious and quiet atmosphere.

This arrangement seems familiar?

Lu Zhiwan frowned slightly, but before she could figure it out, a beast roar suddenly sounded from the front.

Her heart trembled, and just as she raised her eyes, she saw two huge brown and yellow figures rushing towards her at lightning speed - "Ah!!!"

Lu Zhiwan: “???”

When she saw clearly what those two golden shadows with black stripes were, her face turned pale. The blood in her body froze. She didn't even have the strength to scream, let alone run away. She could only stare wide-eyed, silently conveying her inner horror to the man beside her - Ah ah ah ah ah ah tigers, did you see that? Two tigers!

In stark contrast to her shock, Xiao Jingting walked towards the two big tigers calmly: "One flower, two flowers, come here."

The two huge tigers came forward as if they understood, rubbing their big furry round heads against Xiao Jingting's palms, and making comfortable gurgling sounds in their throats.

Lu Zhiwan: “……!!”

So is the Dog Emperor’s true identity actually a Disney princess who can communicate with small animals?

Seeing that she was still standing there in a daze, Xiao Jingting slowly raised his eyelids: "Didn't you say you like cats? Why are you still standing there? Come over and pet them."

Lu Zhiwan's forehead twitched, and his expression was a little out of control: "..."

Oh my god, whose cat is so big!