The Xuanwu Emperor sat on the round stool, turning away and ignoring Jiang Xinyue
Jiang Xinyue pouted pitifully, looking as if she were about to cry. She knelt on the floor and shuffled along, with her two tiny fists propping up her chin and blinking her large, aggrieved eyes
Her eyes brimmed with tears, resembling the little white dog kept near the swing in Hexi Palace
The Xuanwu Emperor sighed and stroked her bruised cheek, lifting her up and placing her on his lap. "Does it hurt
Jiang Xinyue quickly shook her head, seizing the opportunity to cling to him obediently with a smile. "No, no...it hurts the Emperor more
"What hurts the Emperor
"Striking your humble servant wounds the Emperor's heart
She embraced the Emperor bashfully, their foreheads touching, rubbing her nose against his. "Your Majesty, your humble servant was wrong, causing the rift between you and Concubine Li
Her face flushed red. "Your humble servant had no idea it would escalate like this. I just...wanted to let off steam at Layue
She did not deny purposefully approaching Layue
"You still do not realize your mistake
The Xuanwu Emperor turned his head aside, looking at her sternly. "There were many ways to vent about Shuang Jiang, yet you chose the most foolish by harming yourself. Layue is merely a palace maid - you could have punished her directly, but you chose self-harm instead. Were you foolish or not
Jiang Xinyue rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking: If I did not harm myself to make you worry, how would you punish Concubine Li's maid so severely
Palace maids in service to different mistresses had different fates
"There are many clever consorts in the palace. Your humble servant has the Emperor; I need not be so clever. Being a little foolish...doesn't the Emperor protect me anyway
"You seem rather proud of that, don't you
Jiang Xinyue pouted and shook her head slightly. "A little
The Xuanwu Emperor understood - she meant that with so many clever consorts in the palace, she was content being called foolish yet protected by him. She did not mind him calling her foolish
Had he said the same to Concubine Li, she would have been crestfallen, secretly trying to prove her intelligence and change her image in his heart
Although the Emperor, he was not divine and would inevitably compare Concubine Li and Zhenji
In this regard, he preferred Zhenji's nature
Pure yet slightly spoiled, kind yet not timid, spirited yet not hurtful. She never concealed her little thoughts before him, adorably naive and lovable - impossible to be angered
Wang Dequan had received orders to fetch the Emperor's scar-healing medicine for Xi Que and Shuang Jiang to apply on Zhenji.0
However, the Xuanwu Emperor took the medicine from Xi Que and silently applied it on Jiang Xinyue himself
He gently dabbed, careful not to hurt her, frequently meeting her gaze and blowing on the medicine every few dabs. The doting eyes he would give a dog brimmed with indulgence that could unwittingly captivate
Fortunately...the recipient was Jiang Xinyue
A modern twenty-first century woman determined not to be lovesick, but to become a pampered concubine living freely
The Emperor was but a tool for her comfortable life
After Concubine Li's great humiliation yesterday in Yikun Palace, everyone expected a confrontation between her and Zhenji...oh no..
This morning, the Emperor decreed Zhenji the fifth-grade Zhen Fangyi, another promotion as Jiang Xinyue wished - not the sixth-grade "Precious Chicken
A catfight
Impossible
Concubine Li had many to punish consorts she disliked
In Hexi Palace was a pure white puppy the size of two palms, a gift from the Internal Affairs Department welcoming Zhen Fangyi's move
Usually, Jiang Xinyue left it to her maids, only holding it occasionally out of interest
The adorable puppy was especially affectionate towards its master, earning the name "Little Ai Jiang" from Xi Que
On ordinary days returning from Yikun Palace, Little Ai Jiang would be the first to greet Jiang Xinyue
"Where's Ai Jiang? Why didn't Ai Jiang come ou
Jiang Chuan rushed out of Hexi Palace, only to find his mistress had returned. He knelt and kowtowed. "Forgive me, Mistress. Little Ai Jiang was lured out by someone with food. We are searching for her.
He presented a gnawed bone found at the gate, clearly eaten by Little Ai Jiang
Jiang Xinyue glanced at the bone. "Ai Jiang is so small and rarely leaves. Search everywhere and ask around all the nearby palaces
She had been so focused on protecting others that she neglected the puppy's safety at home
Biting her lip, she felt guilty
Though Little Ai Jiang was affectionate, she was extremely timid and would never stray far from Hexi Palace
If someone had lured her out, it must have been a treacherous servant in Hexi Palace - Little Ai Jiang fully trusted the palace maids
In Yanqing Palace
"Ahhh!
A shrill scream pierced the palace grounds. Consort De frowned and covered the third prince's ears. "What happened? What mischief is she up to again
The senior maid Jinyan rushed in. "Your Highness, a dead dog was hung at Concubine Su's chamber door. She was so terrified that she fainted
Jinyan had seen it - bloody and gruesome, utterly horrifying
"A dog
Consort De immediately thought of the puppy from Hexi Palace that the third prince and second princess adored. "Who keeps dogs in the palace
Jinyan pondered. "Many keep cats, but it seems only Zhen Fangyi keeps a dog
Consort De massaged her brow. "Zhen Fangyi has provoked someone again? Such a cruel method...alas...go to Hexi Palace and inform Zhen Fangyi
The third prince said Zhen Fangyi doted on Little Ai Jiang. This would surely devastate her
Before Jiang Xinyue arrived at Yanqing Palace, the Xuanwu Emperor and Empress Zhu came first
It was because after regaining consciousness, Concubine Su insisted through her sobbing that Jiang Xinyue wanted to harm her, sending maids to summon the Empress to judge the matter
The Emperor, happening to dine in Yikun Palace, heard about Hexi Palace's puppy's gruesome death hung at Concubine Su's doorstep and followed the Empress over
The Empress was already there
Concubine Su rushed into the Emperor's embrace, saying: "Your Majesty, what has your servant done to offend Zhen Fangyi? Ever since I was honored by your affection, she has targeted me at every turn, and now she has pulled this stunt. I was truly terrified, wuwuwuwu..
Empress Zhu looked disdainfully at her dramatic display and said coldly: "Concubine Su keeps accusing Zhen Fangyi, but did you not see with your own eyes that she hung Little Ai Jiang at your doorstep
Concubine Su sniffled and lifted her head from the Emperor's embrace, shaking her head again: "Besides her, who else would hate your servant so much
"Who hates you
Jiang Xinyue hurried over and overheard her accusation. Rolling up her sleeves angrily, she squatted down: "Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty, and to the Empress Mother