Chapter 162: Searching for Dogs
Zhou Fu was still somewhat dazed, curled up on the ground, until a little eunuch next to him whispered a reminder.
"Zhou Fu, hurry up and kowtow to the Empress."
Zhou Fu was startled awake and hurriedly turned over to kneel down. Because he was too nervous, his movements were clumsy and awkward, and his forehead hit the ground heavily.
"This servant, Zhou Fu, kowtows to Your Majesty!"
Jiang Huan ignored the eunuchs who were kowtowing repeatedly. Her gaze first swept over the overturned exquisite porcelain bowl, and then fell on the mother dog and the puppies it was protecting.
The bone structure and coat color are both good; it's round and fluffy.
So cute! I really want to touch it!
But perhaps because they were frightened, they all huddled behind their mother, their bright black eyes peering out timidly yet curiously.
Jiang Huan withdrew her gaze and looked at the little eunuch named Zhou Fu.
He was thin and frail, and his faded eunuch robe hung loosely on his body.
She had just noticed that Zhou Fu had been trying to calm the frightened dogs.
The puppies, as if they trusted him, whimpered with worry.
Most importantly, while the other eunuchs were so frightened that they knelt down and kowtowed, Zhou Fu, though also lying down, made a specific little gesture with his fingers toward the female dog, which seemed to calm the dog down a bit as a result.
They probably have dog training skills.
This is a crucial brick in Jiang Huan's grand undertaking; it must be moved back to Weiyang Palace to shine!
She remained calm and beckoned Liu Youde over.
"Steward Liu, you just said that this little eunuch spilled the soup and disturbed the kennel?"
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, this little brat is clumsy, crude, and deserves to die."
Liu Youde bowed as he answered, eager to quickly solidify the charges against Zhou Fu.
Jiang Huan, however, remained unhurried and said slowly, "I see that although the mother dog is fierce in protecting her puppies, she has not lost control and barked wildly. The puppies are just looking around curiously. They don't seem to be frightened by her; they seem to be frightened by you all."
Her gaze returned to Zhou Fu. "In my opinion, if it weren't for this little eunuch constantly comforting the mother dog, you would all have been bitten through several holes."
Zhou Fu froze, not daring to reply, while Liu Youde and the others were taken aback.
Before they could explain, Jiang Huan said directly, "I am here today on the Emperor's orders to select a few good dogs that are stable in temperament, clever and loyal, to take back and train properly."
The words "By order of the Emperor" struck like a thunderbolt, sending shivers down the spines of the kneeling crowd.
"Oh dear! Your Majesty is wise; your affairs are of utmost importance to us!"
Liu Youde's survival instinct kicked in, and he immediately put on a fawning expression.
"This servant happens to have several fine greyhounds here, all of excellent quality, fierce... no, majestic, specially trained to protect your esteemed guest!"
“No need to bother.” Jiang Huan interrupted him, raising her hand to point precisely at the mother dog and her puppies.
"I find this litter very pleasing to the eye. The puppies have bright eyes and sturdy builds."
She paused, then changed the subject: "Your name is Zhou Fu, right?"
Zhou Fu trembled again, hesitated, and cautiously raised his head.
A youthful face, dark and rough skin, and a pair of clear yet stubborn eyes; he was fourteen or fifteen years old.
"Your humble servant Zhou Fu greets Your Majesty."
Are you taking care of all these puppies?
Zhou Fu paused for a moment, then nodded vigorously: "Your Majesty, it is this servant who is responsible for feeding and cleaning."
"They know you very well, are you friends?" Jiang Huan asked with great interest.
Zhou Fu was taken aback by the question. He had always been close to small animals and was usually called a freak.
In his heart, these dogs were already friends and family.
But he never expected that these arrogant and conceited people who treated pets like toys would think the same way.
Feeling a warmth in his heart, he answered with even greater sincerity: "Your Majesty, this servant is usually a slow worker. When I have nothing to do, I like to play with them and brush their fur. They probably remember that."
He put it simply, but Jiang Huan understood.
Only by treating others with care will you receive a response.
These puppies are close to him because he treats them with genuine affection, not just as a chore.
“Your Majesty, don’t listen to his nonsense,” a eunuch couldn’t help but interject, his voice tinged with jealousy. “He’s just slow and slacking off…”
"Shut up! How dare you interrupt Her Majesty!" Xiao Zhao's shout startled the eunuch so much that he almost collapsed to the ground.
Jiang Huan ignored him and simply looked at Zhou Fu, asking, "Do you want to change jobs?"
"Huh?" Zhou Fu didn't understand and was at a loss for what to do.
Jiang Huan smiled knowingly, having made up her mind.
She accepted the offer.
If she's going to raise a dog, she wants a happy and willing one, so that they'll have the energy to guard the door for her.
The young eunuch in front of her perfectly fit her hiring criteria.
Anyway, he was being bullied in the Beast Taming Bureau, but if he went back to Weiyang Palace with her, his value would at least double.
Having made up her mind, Jiang Huan instructed, "Go prepare cages and bring all the dogs in the litter."
"And this little eunuch Zhou Fu will be officially transferred to Weiyang Palace today."
Everyone, including Zhou Fu himself, looked up in astonishment, staring at Jiang Huan in disbelief.
Everyone in the palace knows the name of Weiyang Palace; it is the palace where the emperor's most beloved concubine lived!
Liu Youde was dumbfounded. He racked his brains but could never have imagined that he would offend Consort Zhuang here.
He had bullied Zhou Fu quite a bit in the past, and now that he had suddenly gained power, he would have to pour out all his grievances to his new master.
Liu Youde tried to stop him: "Your Majesty, Zhou Fu is clumsy, he..."
"Whether he is stupid or not, I will judge for myself."
Jiang Huan's tone left no room for argument as she coldly looked at the group: "As for you, bullying the weak and framing your colleagues—is this how the Imperial Beast Control Bureau performs its duties?"
Her voice turned cold: "Liu Youde, your job as manager is off starting today. As for the others, they will be fined three months' wages and sent to the laundry department for a full month of hard labor. If they dare to cause trouble again, they will not be let off lightly."
Make an example of her to scare others, so that the Imperial Beast Management Bureau won't think that Weiyang Palace is easy to fool in the future.
"Your servant obeys the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your grace." Liu Youde's face turned ashen, and he collapsed to the ground.
The remaining eunuchs were even more pale, and they kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy.
Zhou Fu was completely stunned. He looked at Jiang Huan, and a single sentence from her pulled him out of the mire.
Having finished her business, Jiang Huan turned and left: "Take the people and the dogs, and return to the palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xiao Zhao immediately responded and quickly directed everyone's actions.
The well-trained eunuch carefully led the mother dog out of the kennel. Although she was wary, she let out a low growl when she saw Zhou Fu was also there, and did not resist.
Several puppies were placed into a cage lined with soft padding and carried steadily by four eunuchs.
With the help of the eunuch, Zhou Fu staggered along beside the cage.
He looked back at the place where he used to live, his eyes still filled with a sense of unreality.
Jiang Huan's gaze fell on him, then looked at the bewildered puppies peeking out, and she made a plan in her mind.
With a little training, these cubs will one day become the majestic guardians of Weiyang Palace.
Those fools who dare to try and break into the palace? They'll have to ask the imperial guards of Weiyang Palace if they'll allow it first!
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