Fortunately, the meatball fell into the bowl instead of rolling onto the table.
Jun Li Luo caught Song Yun Chu’s reaction from the corner of his eye and curved his lips. “Yun Chu needn’t be overly grateful. You’ve served me with utter devotion. That Mandarin Duck Jade Pendant is a rare treasure—I wouldn’t part with it for anyone else. Bestowing it upon you and Miss Jiang is my blessing for both of you.”
Song Yun Chu: “…”
[Grateful my foot! Is that really a blessing? You’re clearly stirring up trouble. That dog scumbag Jun Tianyi already can’t bear to let go of Jiang Rumin. By granting us such pendants and demanding we wear them constantly, you want to make us look like the perfect golden couple, don’t you? That dog scumbag will definitely lose his mind when he sees this.]
[You dog emperor! I work overtime after court sessions, I work on my days off—you never give me a break, and now you’re trying to provoke conflict between me and that dog scumbag. What cursed karma made me end up with a boss like you? If there’s something wrong with your head, summon a imperial physician and get proper treatment!]
Although Jun Li Luo had grown accustomed to being called “dog emperor” by Song Yun Chu, hearing such vicious mental insults still displeased him.
What? You think you can meddle in my romantic affairs, but I can’t use you to deal with Royal Uncle?
Aren’t you supposed to foresee future events? Since you know everyone’s fate, you should be able to avoid many risks in advance.
Don’t you despise Royal Uncle? You curse him even worse than me. Besides, you’re capable of defeating him now—why fear his retaliation?
The two stared at each other in silence. Though seething with resentment, Song Yun Chu maintained composure and forced a smile at the emperor. “Your Majesty’s gift of rare treasures naturally fills me with gratitude. However, the Mandarin Duck Jade Pendant is truly precious and carries such beautiful symbolism. Perhaps Your Majesty should keep it for yourself, to wear with your future empress once you’ve selected one.”
Currently, Jun Li Luo maintained perfect impartiality toward the women in his harem. All four consorts held equal rank, yet their families—eager to gain advantage—had mobilized their factions at court to propose an early establishment of the empress position. Jun Li Luo ignored these petitions, stating only that they could discuss the matter after one of the consorts bore him a prince.
Song Yun Chu knew perfectly well he was lying through his teeth.
The emperor currently abstained from intimate relations with women. Forget about conceiving a prince—the consorts struggled to even get pregnant. And even if pregnancy occurred, whether the child would survive to birth remained uncertain. Though the harem contained only four women—excluding the spy Consort Shu—the remaining three were fully capable of palace intrigue.
In the original storyline, the dog emperor refused to appoint an empress initially to balance court factions, believing no particular faction deserved elevation at that time. Later, he intended to reserve the position for Jiang Rumin. Beyond personal preference, this was also because Jiang Rumin carried the title of Phoenix Woman, considered an auspicious sign.
Unfortunately, the dog emperor breathed his last without ever seeing Jiang Rumin don the empress’s phoenix robes.
“There’s no urgency regarding the empress position. I have numerous governmental affairs to handle. With the harem currently small, the consorts need only manage their own domains properly. Yun Chu, don’t trouble yourself with my matters—focus more on your own marriage arrangements. You may not refuse the Mandarin Duck Jade Pendants I’ve bestowed upon you.”
Seeing refusal was impossible, Song Yun Chu could only accept. “Then this humble official thanks Your Majesty for your generous favor.”
That afternoon, as Song Yun Chu left the Imperial Study, he found the outside air refreshingly clear and invigorating.
Interacting with the Dog Emperor always left her with an endless stream of curses in her heart.
While leaving the palace and passing through the Imperial Garden, Song Yun Chu heard the young eunuch accompanying her say, “My lord, the flowers in the Imperial Garden are exceptionally beautiful this season. When His Majesty grows weary from reviewing Official Documents, he often strolls here to relax, saying the fragrance of flowers lifts his spirits. Would you care to enjoy the blossoms as well?”
Song Yun Chu replied, “Very well.”
Upon entering the Imperial Garden, she was indeed greeted by waves of refreshing fragrance that soothed the heart and mind. As she admired the vibrant array of blossoms, she suddenly heard the delicate laughter of women not far away.
After the laughter subsided, a faint argument seemed to arise from that direction.
Taking a few steps toward the source of the voices, she heard a melodious, oriole-like voice behind the rockery uttering sharp and acrid words—
“Little sister, you spend all day in the kitchen just to curry favor with His Majesty. When I get close to you, I can almost smell the greasy smoke. Do you think injuring your hand will earn His Majesty’s pity? In my opinion, His Majesty has seen through your affected and artificial tricks, which is why he couldn’t be bothered to console you and simply sent you two boxes of jewelry to dismiss you.”
Song Yun Chu’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Only Consort Zhen could speak so unpleasantly.
Consort Zhen’s arrogance was well-founded—her father was a first-rank military official in the court with considerable achievements. Though Consort Li, as the daughter of the Grand Tutor, held the same rank, her family’s influence and prestige couldn’t compare to Consort Zhen’s, allowing the latter to mock her without restraint.
“His Majesty is busy with state affairs, and I am content with the two boxes of jewelry he bestowed as consolation. If His Majesty truly thought I was being affected and artificial, why would he eat the Imperial Cuisine I prepared and send Chief Eunuch Li to visit me? If Sister Consort Zhen thinks she smells greasy smoke when near me, wasn’t it you who approached me first? I had no intention of chatting with you to begin with.”
Hearing Consort Li’s composed retort, Song Yun Chu thought to herself: Well countered. To be the Dog Emperor’s virtuous helpmate, one must never fall behind in arguments.
In the pavilion on the other side of the rockery, Consort Zhen grew furious at the response and snapped, “What do you have to be so proud of? Just two boxes of jewelry? If you had real ability, you’d be summoned to attend His Majesty like Consort Shu.”
Song Yun Chu felt that Consort Zhen’s words were deliberately meant to stir conflict between Consort Li and Consort Shu. As a spy, Consort Shu naturally had no fear of palace tactics, given her backing came from the emperor himself. But Consort Li… there was no guarantee she wouldn’t be provoked, especially since, in the original story, she genuinely loved the Dog Emperor.
Thinking this, Song Yun Chu stepped out from behind the rockery and said sternly, “Consort Zhen, mind your words.”
Her sudden appearance startled Consort Zhen.
“At noon, this humble official dined with His Majesty, and he personally praised Consort Li’s culinary skills. Instead of troubling Consort Li here, Consort Zhen, you would do better to cultivate your own character. If the words you just spoke were to reach His Majesty’s ears, it would not bode well for you.”
“You…!”
Consort Zhen listened to this reprimand, her face turning ashen. She pointed her round fan at Song Yun Chu, ready to scold her, but her personal maid quickly tugged at her sleeve and whispered in her ear, “Your Highness, you must not offend Minister Song.”