Chapter 142 You'll Be My Dog
When the imperial city is breached, he will reap the benefits. Once the city gates are closed, he will slaughter both the Zhou royal family and the Japanese pirates!
The fifth prince straightened his back, sat imposingly in his chair, and stared intently at the crown prince with his sharp eyes.
"The Japanese pirates are cunning and despicable, and their dirty tricks behind the scenes are probably impossible to guard against. I heard that the Great Zhou suffered nearly half its casualties in the East China Sea battlefield. I wonder if you still have enough troops? We Western Barbarians are willing to send troops to help you."
This information, which he secretly obtained at a high price from Shanzhanlou, is absolutely true.
This time, the Japanese pirates were clearly well-prepared. They had even specially trained a group of soldiers skilled in diving, who had secretly boarded several of the Great Zhou's warships and, under cover of darkness, assassinated all the soldiers on board.
Upon hearing that one of the ships belonged to General Xiao, the Fifth Prince snorted coldly. Now that the general was dead, it would be difficult for Great Zhou to continue to deceive them.
The prince put down his teacup, adopting a kind and benevolent expression, but unexpectedly said, "With your meager resources, you'd only be thrown into the sea to feed the fish. You might not kill the Japanese pirates, but instead fatten up the sharks in the sea. You Western barbarians should go back and wash up and rest."
Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent, including the Crown Prince himself. He pressed his jade thumb ring tightly, his mind in a daze. What... had he just said?
He seemed to have revealed all his innermost thoughts; it was truly unbelievable, the Crown Prince cursed inwardly.
Why did he feel inexplicably out of control? The Crown Prince suddenly remembered what his subordinate had said.
Could it be... that eerie female ghost in red really exists? Is she currently controlling me in the hall?
It was truly terrifying; the prince swallowed hard, looking utterly disheveled.
The hall remained silent, and no one spoke. The Fifth Prince, in particular, stared at the Crown Prince with a half-smile, clearly angered.
Accompanied by the crisp sound of porcelain cups clinking, the emperor said sternly, "Crown Prince, speak properly and do not be rude."
Although the words are crude, the principle is sound, but this is just too crude. How is the Fifth Prince supposed to save face?
The Crown Prince nodded slightly and said gently, "I didn't want to apologize either, but since Father Emperor has spoken, I'll reluctantly tell you that you Western barbarians are useless, and useless people should stay in the ash pit..."
The crown prince spoke the most hurtful words in the gentlest tone, unable to control his tongue, pouring out harsh words like a ditch in a field.
The prince was so frightened that he quickly covered his mouth with his hand to stop himself from speaking further, but it was probably too late.
Xie Mianmian noticed that the Fifth Prince's face seemed even darker than Black Wolf's. She bit her lower lip and stared at the Seventh Prince.
They... have probably gotten into trouble.
Since the death of the third princess of the Western Barbarian tribe who married the emperor, relations between the two countries have been as cold as ice. If the prince's foul language causes a war between the two countries, it would be a real sin!
A war sparked by the use of the "True Word Powder".
No!
The Seventh Prince looked at the Crown Prince with a complicated expression. He never expected that his respected elder brother, the Crown Prince, would be like this in private. Not only was he wicked, but he had also committed all sorts of bad deeds.
Crown Prince, when exactly did you start to turn so rotten?
The emperor sighed inwardly, wondering why he hadn't noticed before how ruthless his rebellious son could be.
He looked at the Fifth Prince with nostalgia. This was Xiao Yao's younger brother. The two siblings were so alike.
The emperor squinted and, through the fifth prince's features, vaguely saw that dazzling and unruly woman, only in a darker version.
He said kindly, “My son is unruly, please don’t be angry, Fifth Prince. He’s just been a little hot-tempered lately, which is why he spoke so harshly. I will definitely discipline him and give the Fifth Prince an explanation.”
But the Fifth Prince's face remained sour; his already cold and hard face was now as hard as iron cut by a knife.
His fist, almost the size of Xie Mianmian's small face, clenched so tightly it cracked. "Well, the Great Zhou is really going too far! Do they really think I'm still that child who can be bullied at will?!"
The emperor continued, "As for the East China Sea battlefield, the Great Zhou is still in control. This is a matter between the Great Zhou and the Japanese pirates, and the Western barbarians need not worry about it for the time being."
The fifth prince gritted his teeth and said, "Very well."
He looked up and suddenly stared directly at the emperor on the throne. "I wonder if Your Majesty could enlighten me on whether my third sister's death was caused by someone?"
The fifth prince was so enraged by the crown prince that he lost his mind and, without regard for anything else, began to question the fishbone that was deeply embedded in his heart.
The emperor was momentarily dazed by the question, his usually clear and dignified eyes becoming unfocused as he drifted into memories of the past.
Ten years ago, when he had just ascended the throne, he was beset by internal and external troubles and was extremely busy. At that time, the old emperor of the Western Barbarians, seeking the protection of the Great Zhou, sent his third princess into the palace before he could even react.
He did not summon her, treating her merely as a mascot kept in the harem.
At that time, whenever he finished dealing with urgent memorials, he would avoid those self-righteous old ministers and hide in a secluded place to relax.
It was there that the emperor, in the prime of his life, saw a beautiful woman fishing in the pond.
"What are you looking at? I'm talking to you. Want to come over and have some grilled fish?" the unpretentious woman said.
The emperor felt that she was different from the other young ladies from prominent families he had met before. At least she dared to joke with him and did not tremble with fear.
That afternoon, he ate the most delicious grilled fish of his life.
Xiao Yao actually carries seasonings with her, filling a small porcelain bottle. No wonder the grilled fish tastes so good.
The emperor leaned closer and peered into the porcelain bottle, trying to discern what seasonings were inside.
Xiao Yao quickly snatched the porcelain bottle into her arms, patted it, and said proudly, "This is a priceless secret recipe, not to be passed on to men or women, but only to those with a destined connection."
The emperor laughed and said, "Then...am I the one destined for this?"
He didn't refer to himself as "朕" (the imperial "I"), subconsciously concealing his identity. He was also dressed in ordinary clothes at the time, and for once, he was being himself.
Xiao Yao took a bite of the delicious fish belly. She was busy eating and mumbled, "You, a mere guard, want to be my...my destined one? You're not qualified. You'll never be one in this lifetime. Maybe you could consider being my dog."
Then, Xiao Yao saw the man in front of her suddenly start laughing, and he laughed... in a rather handsome way. Being her dog... would be fine too.
The story that follows is quite ordinary: a man and a woman who conceal their identities from each other develop feelings for each other, but neither of them dares to break through that thin veil of secrecy.
One was a concubine who married the dog emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
One is a ruthless emperor who considers himself to be his first lover.
Suddenly, the Crown Prince's damned voice rang out again, pulling the Emperor out of his fond memories.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
