Why Harem Intrigue When You Can Just Raise a Dog Instead

Just past five, Meng Sangyu hardened her heart and left a crazily barking ABao. Adorned with a vibrant robe, she stood in the cold wind at the palace doors waiting for the arrival of Emperor Zhouwus entourage.

When the fake emperor arrived, what he saw was a elegant beauty with her robes waving in the wind by the cold wind. The beautys face seemed pale due to the cold and her long phoenix eyes were watery as she looked at him, as if they held tens of thousands of emotions. He blanked for a moment and couldnt help lowering his head. His already anxious heart began beating rapidly, not because of her beauty, but because of the tragedy he was about to face. Once he took this step forward, he would not have another chance to live.

Changxi faced a cough behind him as a warning. He immediately lifted his head and forced a smile as he faced toward the Virtuous Consort who was coming up to greet him. Its this damned I clearly dont like you but I have to force myself to pretend to like you face again! Actually you really dont need to come! I would surely thank you and eight generations of your ancestors*! Meng Sangyu curtsied in greeting as she swore to herself.

In her last life, she had been tossed to the side and uncared for by her parents since she was little. To live better, to receive more attention, she had learned since she was young to watch peoples expressions. As such, she was extremely sensitive to negative emotions of others, able to detect even the slightest of changes in expression. Otherwise, she wouldnt have discovered the Emperors dearly hidden feelings as soon as she entered the palace.

The fake emperor followed the teachings of Changxi and quickly went forward to lift the Virtuous Consort from her curtsy and held her soft little hands. This pair of hands were soft but freezing cold, just like how he felt right now. The fake emperor unknowingly squeezed and quickly let go, then led the Virtuous Consort into the hall. The smile on his face became a little more natural.

Is this flirting? Meng Sangyu felt the strength on her hands and gave the man a strange look. In the past, even if Emperor Zhouwu held her hand, the strength would always be not loose but not tight, as if he had already measured it. He never lost himself in bed either, just doing it as if finishing a task he must complete. Other than Shen Huiru, his attitude towards all women was the same. Although he seemed close, he actually was rejecting people to thousands of li away*. You could only see the look in his eyes relax momentarily when there is a new woman rather younger and with little background enter the palace every so often. But this relaxed look would fade with time and the metamorphosis of the new woman, difficult to see again.

Thats why this is actually a pitiful man.

As Meng Sangyus thoughts drifted all over the place, the fake emperor already brought her to the main hall. A burning fire pit made the big hall very warm. The warm air immediately enveloped her, making her face red, and allowed for the fake emperors heart to slightly relax.

The two sat by a little table on the couch. BiShui and Nurse Feng paced the room, preparing tea and deserts.

You couldnt just come and start of with Beloved consort, lets rest can you now? That would seem too hasty! The fake emperor picked up the hot tea and blew on it, thinking carefully about what he should do. Just at this time, he heard barking from the side hall next door. Thinking of the Virtuous Consorts pet that he saw last time, a light flashed through his eyes, thinking that he finally found a topic to converse.

Beloved consort, how well has that pet of yours been trained?

Your Majesty, what training? He cant even move now! Meng Sangyus voice had a blaming tone as she glanced coldly at Changxi.

Changxi quickly lowered his head.

Oh? Is it from what XuYao did last time? Is he severely wounded? The fake emperor put down the tea cup, following her direction of conversation.

BiShui, tell YinCui to carry ABao in to let His Majesty take a look! Meng Sangyu waved her hand and said. Hearing ABaos slightly sore voice, it seems that he had been barking nonstop since she had left. This child really cant leave her side for a minute. What should we do in the future? Although she was clearly complaining, but she was slightly happy inside. She was entranced by this feeling of being needed and relied upon.

The barking of the little dog was getting closer and closer. When he entered the hall and saw Meng Sangyu, he immediately lifted his head from YinCuis arms. The devastated barking became cute whimpers, and his little paws extended toward Meng Sangyu, as if asking for his owner to hug him.

Seeing his watery little eyes, Meng Sangyus heart softened like crazy. She immediately got up and carried him into her arms, using a finger to scratch his chin.

The sound of happy whimpers became louder.

Beloved Consort, how did he become so hurt? I didnt think XuYao would be so cruel! Seeing ABaos Christmas sweater, Emperor Zhouwu froze for a moment. He only noticed ABaos shaved fur and body of wounds after the Virtuous Consort sat down with ABao in her arms. Look at these paws, theyre wrapped like hooves, and that tail, what difference does it have from a rolling pin? How pitiful!

Meng Sangyu glanced at him and didnt carry on the conversation. Unless her head was kicked by a donkey* she wouldnt say bad things about the emperors son with him. Emperor Zhouwu finally noticed the fraud on the side now. A sharp light struck through his dark eyes as soon as the two words Beloved Consort came out. He uncontrollably began barking at the fake emperor. He wanted to resist, but unfortunately ABaos brain capacity was too small, which affected his personality and thinking process.

He seems to be hostile towards us? The fake emperor raised his brow. This standard expression Emperor Zhouwu used to express his dissatisfaction he copied perfectly.

Meng Sangyus heart tightened. She hurriedly patted ABaos head, signing for him to be quiet. Then she picked up his two front paws and made a kowtow posture smiling as she said, How could it be? He was just saying: Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live*!

Woof woof woof woof woof, woof woof, woof woof*. Based on ABaos barking frequency in combination with the Virtuous Consorts translation, it really seemed like that was it. The fake emperor paused in thought, then lifted his head and burst into laughter. His panic and despair since receiving the Gracious Consorts orders all disappeared in this relaxing laughter. Since hes going to die sooner or later, why not enjoy the present?

The Virtuous Consort not only looks beautiful and proper, her personality is also surprisingly cute. It was comfortable being with her, making one unable to stop the happiness in their hearts. But how strange it was that the emperor didnt fall in love with her but instead went on to like such an wildly ambitious and dark one as the Gracious Consort. They really werent wrong when they all said that the emperors heart is unpredictable! The fake emperor thought in his heart and couldnt help but compliment, Beloved Consort is really such an astounding person!

His voice was intimate, his expression soft, the depths of his eyes showed an impossible to miss interest. This was a sign of a mans appreciation for a woman. The first signs of his heart moving.

Emperor Zhouwu received his expression, his heart squeezed, his breath stopped, he suddenly felt terrified and anxious. How good Sangyu is, no one knew better than him. Whoever paid her even a little bit of attention would involuntarily be attracted by her. Shes optimistic, shes open-minded, shes natural, she has an open personality. In this dark forbidden palace where the daylight does not reach, shes like a ray of sunshine with a deadly allure. As long as theyre not blind as he had been, as long as theyre a man they wouldnt be able to resist her charisma.

If this man becomes interested in Sangyu Emperor Zhouwu grit his teeth, to scared for his thoughts to continue. It was as if his heart was carved and dragged out by someone then crushed. He again deeply hated his situation. Even if he wasnt a human, it would be good if he at least possessed a mastiff! Then he would definitely immediately bite this persons neck in two!

Meng Sangyus heart at this moment was also not calm. What did she just see? How could she have seen gentleness in the dog emperors eyes? Usually, no matter how happy the laughter of the dog emperor seemed, the freezing cold in the depths of his eyes never melted! So this person whos openly laughing out loud has to be fake right? She couldnt help but think.

Seeing Meng Sangyus extremely cute, dumbfounded blank expression, the fake emperor couldnt help but tease her, Look at his face full of hostility, he really doesnt like us.

Meng Sangyu followed his finger to finally see ABao twisted expression. ABao had his eyes opened wide in a glare, his teeth bared, the tip of his nose pulsing as he emitted a low growl in warning. It would be bad if this angry and vicious expression made the emperor unhappy!

She hurriedly covered ABaos dog face. With a awkward smile she explained, Your Majesty is misunderstanding, ABao isnt hostile toward Your Majesty, hes being hostile to other people. Puppies hold very deep grudges. It was all thanks to ChangXi Gonggong* that this consorts ABao got to take a cold bath in the lotus pond. If it wasnt so he wouldnt bring back this body of wounds either. She coldly took a glance at ChangXi.

ChangXi immediately kneeled down, slapping his own face as he took blame, This servant should die, this servant was wrong, this servant has eyes but was blind! This servant begs for the forgiveness of Your Ladyship the Virtuous Consort! He had thought that this woman would for sure have lost everything, which was why he was so fearless when beating her pet. But who would have thought that Her Ladyship the Gracious Consort would still have use for her? As such, it couldnt be avoided that he would have to compromise this time. Its just a woman whos going to die soon, Ill just bear with you for now. Just wait until I become Minister of Memorials and see! ChangXi lowered her eyes, hiding the spite in the depths of his eyes.

But Emperor Zhouwu was laying on Meng Sangyus lap, their line of sight happened to match. Naturally, he received his expression in his eyes, thinking coldly in his heart: seems like, this servant cant be kept anymore!

For Emperor Zhouwus face, the concubines are all very polite to ChangXi, very respectful, but not Meng Sangyu. She 1. doesnt want to fight for favor, 2. doesnt want power, and even more doesnt need ChangXi to speak for her in front of Emperor Zhouwu for Emperor Zhouwu to always be thinking of her. If ChangXi doesnt come to bother her, naturally there would be no problems. But if he bothered her, she definitely wont let him go. She hasnt forgotten the revenge for that kick ABao got.

But, even revenge needs its limits. After all, ChangXi is a follower of the dog emperor.

Meng Sangyu was watching Emperor Zhouwus every expression, waiting to stop immediately as soon as he expressed even a little bit of annoyance. But just this one look revealed a problem. Whats that look? Its not annoyance, not anger, but rather seems like panic, fear, and uneasiness?

Meng Sangyu tightened her lips and took another look. This time, she finally confirmed she didnt see wrong. He was anxious and fearful of a servant? How could it be? Her heart started pounding, a thought started forming in her head as if lightning flashing through her mind.

Seeing Emperor Zhouwu furrow his brows as he looked over at her, clearly upset with a thread of unease in the depths of his eyes, Meng Sangyu lifted her hand and carelessly opened her mouth, Alright, you can stop. Next time take more care! With these words, she took another look at the fake emperor who secretly relaxed his facial expression and suggested, Your Majesty, so those other blind things wont harm ABao again, why dont Your Majesty write a dog tag for him? With an imperially granted dog tag, ABaos travel in this palace would be safe, and this concubine would no longer have to be worried for him!

This The fake emperor hesitated, he was scared to give himself away when he wrote.

BiXiao Palace ABao, just five words that can be done with the lift of a hand. Your Majesty, please grant this concubines wish! Meng Sangyu counted with her fingers and pulled at his sleeves, her voice soft and alluring.

The fake emperors heart shook, he stealthily looked toward the red-faced ChangXi. ChangXi gave him a barely noticeable look and the fake emperor happily agreed.

Emperor Zhouwu had already started hollering with all his might when Meng Sangyu had pulled on his sleeves in a cute whine*.

Meng Sangyu naturally noticed the strange exchange between the fake emperor and ChangXi. She quickly waved her hand to call YinCui to take away the noisy ABao so as he wouldnt anger these people and distract her.

As the sound of barking went afar, BiShui and Nurse Feng brought brushes, ink and paper and spread them on the table.

*Eight generations of your ancestors

Original: (Ba Bei Er Zu Zong)

Explanation: An expression thats used in conjunction to swear/curse words. Basically used to emphasis your hatred/dislike for someone. In this case its used sardonically.

*rejecting people to thousands of li away

Original: (Ju Ren Yu Qian Li Zhi Wai)

Explanation: A saying for pushing people away, refusing their approach. Li is a unit for distance in ancient China, I do not believe that its in common usage in the modern day.

*head was kicked by a donkey

Original:

Explanation: For those who dont know, a donkey is also known as an a**. This is a relatively more crude saying in China for saying that unless youre dumb you wouldnt do something. Slightly less crude alternatives would be saying unless XXXs head was caught in a door ( Nao Zi Bei Men Jiao Le) or unless water went in XXXs head ( Nao Zi Jin Shui Le). So shes basically saying that unless she was a dumba** she wouldnt do it. [I feel like horrible person teaching yall these mean words.]

*Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!

*Woof woof woof woof woof, woof woof, woof woof

Original: (Wang)

Explanation: Had to improvise with the syllables, but the number is still the same. 🙂

*Gonggong

Original:

Explanation: A more polite reference of a eunuch usually used in speech. It also means father-in-law.

*Cute whine

Original: (Sa Jiao)

Explanation: Truth is, I dont think this saying exists in English. Its a phrase to describe acting cute, a little whiny, toward a significant other or friends and family youre close to. Its often a way to get someone to do something you want them to in a cute manner (?)

Clam Spam:

but unfortunately ABaos brain capacity was too small, which affected his personality and thinking process

Rolls eyes

Clam was again told to be more tactful.

Traveling, *very* limited ability to respond.