Before you see the dog, you hear its bark.
"Woof, woof, woof," came the clear, innocent barking of a puppy from outside the palace.
"Little dumpling, I'm here."
Duofu was nestled in the arms of the little eunuch Xiaojizi, his two bright eyes following the eunuch's every move, looking ahead with curiosity and excitement.
Meanwhile, the little tail hidden behind its body appeared intermittently, chirping energetically. It had slept soundly in its warm bed all afternoon and was in high spirits.
As the eunuch Xiao Jizi moved quickly, Duofu soon entered the inner palace.
Upon entering the sleeping quarters, one immediately sees Emperor Kangxi sitting on the table, dressed in a bright yellow casual robe, with a fine jade dragon-shaped pendant beside him. His majestic aura is impossible to ignore.
But soon Duofu's bright eyes darted around and settled on the little dumpling, Yinzhen, and its tail wagged even more enthusiastically.
"Your humble servant Xiao Jizi greets Your Majesty." Upon entering the shop, Xiao Jizi immediately knelt on the ground and bowed to Emperor Kangxi, who was seated directly above the dining table.
Before Kangxi could make any move, the Fourth Prince Yinzhen had already run ahead, picked up Duofu from the eunuch's arms, and held Duofu up in his arms to say to Kangxi.
"Father, look, isn't your son Duofu clever and handsome?"
Duofu, nestled in the arms, raised his head even higher after hearing the Fourth Prince's praise, though it was of no use, since he was so round he had no neck.
"Little meat bun, you're great. As a qualified pet owner, you should praise me anytime, anywhere."
Seeing the Fourth Prince holding the puppy, Kangxi's smile deepened, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Five-year-old Yinzhen was well cared for by Consort Tong.
With fair and chubby skin, her baby fat bulged on both sides of her cheeks when she spoke, and she also had a pair of big, almond-shaped eyes. Her appearance made people feel a little sorry for her.
Moreover, since the child was raised by his cousin, whom he favored, he felt even more affection for him.
The little puppy in his arms, Duofu, also looked like a chubby little ball of flesh. Apart from its big fox eyes, it looked like a chubby little ball of flesh all over, and sometimes you couldn't even see its little tail hidden behind it.
"Indeed, as my fourth prince said, he is quite good-looking."
Emperor Kangxi looked at Consort Tong beside him with tender eyes.
"Cousin, what do you think?"
Consort Tong, standing to the side, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, secretly smiling. Her eyes were filled with laughter, and she exuded a cheerful aura, appearing languid and relaxed. Hearing Kangxi's question, she quickly nodded.
"Isn't that right? He's certainly been raised very well." Looking at Consort Tong, who was beaming with joy, it was unclear whether she was praising the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, for being so well-fed, or simply commenting on how chubby and adorable the little puppy was.
Seeing how happy the Empress and the Emperor are.
The personal servants attending Consort Tong moved more nimbly, seeing that Consort Tong, who hadn't shown a happy face in a long time, was finally genuinely happy today, and their gazes toward the Fourth Prince beside her were even gentler.
The wet nurse, in particular, had a especially kind gaze.
She was Consort Tong's wet nurse, raising her from a young age as if she were a precious treasure. To put it bluntly, she treated Consort Tong like her own daughter, cherishing and protecting her, and unwilling to let her suffer any harm.
It seems that the Empress did not make a mistake in raising the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen.
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, was quite useful. He could help the Empress relax and, to some extent, maintain her favor with the Emperor.
Emperor Kangxi gazed tenderly at Consort Tong sitting beside him, his strong, powerful hand slowly covering her delicate, jade-like hands and gently holding them.
"My cousin, of course, raises the best children."
Consort Tong's cheeks flushed, but her gaze lingered on Emperor Kangxi.
Consort Tong genuinely loved Emperor Kangxi. She had adored her cousin since childhood and longed to become his wife.
Although this wish was not fulfilled, she was still quite happy to have entered Kangxi's harem.
"Woof, woof, woof," Duofu nestled in the Fourth Prince's arms, burying his head in his chest.
My eyes are lifeless. No way, no way, I'm a single dog in modern times.
Now that I've traveled back to ancient times, I've truly become a single dog, and I'm even showing off my love in front of other single dogs.
Do they have no conscience? Where is justice?
Duofu buried its head even deeper into the arms of the Fourth Prince Yinzhen, its tail drooping limply.
The Fourth Prince, hearing the weak whimpering of the puppy Duofu in his arms, assumed it was hungry.
He directed the little eunuch beside him to bring up Duofu's food.
"Father, let me tell you, don't let my little Duofu fool you. He has a huge appetite and likes to eat and then sleep. Sometimes I even think I'm raising a little pig."
Looking at the small table piled high with various foods, a quick glance revealed seven or eight kinds of meatballs, two bowls of goat milk, and four or five kinds of pastries.
Meanwhile, the little puppy, Duofu, was already sitting in the middle of the table, happily devouring all sorts of food.
"I'm going to turn my grief and anger into appetite, and make you all flaunt your love, I'm going to eat you out of house and home."
Duofu barked as he ate.
In no time, there was hardly any food left on the small table, and Duofu's once flat belly had become round and plump.
Emperor Kangxi sighed and looked at his fourth son, Yinzhen, who was watching Duofu eat with a happy expression.
"Xiao Si, your dog is so young, yet it eats so much. It will be even worse when it grows up. Luckily, you are the one who takes care of it. How could an ordinary family afford to raise it?"
Consort Tong also looked at Duofu with surprise in her eyes, her voice filled with disbelief.
"I only heard from the servants below that this little puppy has a big appetite, but I didn't expect it to be this big."
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, looked completely unconcerned, but his two phoenix eyes shone brightly.
"Father, Mother, my dog Duofu is a special kind of dog. He is very intelligent, so it's only natural that he eats more."
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, dared not tell Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong his suspicions.
He didn't want them to know; it was just a secret between him and others.
Duofu can only belong to him, from the moment he raised Duofu.
“Cousin Emperor, we are not an ordinary family.” Consort Tong looked at Kangxi with eyes full of admiration and affection for him, which she could not hide.
The Fourth Prince gently touched Duofu's belly with his chubby little hands, feeding him as he echoed his sentiments.
"Yes, Father Emperor, I am the Emperor's son. How could I not be able to support a child like Duofu who can eat well?"
After speaking, her two innocent phoenix eyes looked at Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong, her eyes full of seeking approval.
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