Why is the Dog Emperor Like That? - Chapter 11

It was the middle of the night.

I lay stiffly in bed, unable to sleep, letting my thoughts wander. I was very seriously pondering a question: if Yin Xiao truly likes Yin Shu, which one of them is the Gong?

Yin Shu is the protagonist Shou, so he is likely the one. So, is Yin Xiao the Gong?

I frowned, mentally picturing an adult version of Yin Xiao intimately holding his brother, posing for a Boys’ Love novel cover.

I shook my head vigorously to drive that strange image out of my brain.

In January, the first snow fell upon the capital, covering the city in white.

As the saying goes, “a timely snow promises a good harvest.” The Emperor took his kinsmen and the two princes out of the palace for a snow hunt.

I was happy for him. In the original book, Yin Xiao never participated in such activities. It was not that his father did not invite him, but rather that the Yin Xiao in the original book had a very poor constitution. With a persistent cough every winter, he was lucky just to survive the season, let alone go hunting.

Yin Xiao wanted to take me along, but how could an imperial teacher justify joining a snow hunt? Yet, because I was not going, Yin Xiao became suspicious.

“Once Teacher is out of my sight, who are you going to look for again?”

His eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, stared at me as if I were a piece of meat with wings. He was terrified that I would fly away the moment he blinked.

I felt so wronged. Well, fine, I have a history, so perhaps I am not that wronged.

I had to soften my stance and show my loyalty: “I will stay in the palace and wait for you honestly, Your Highness.”

Yin Xiao studied me: “Really?”

“Really.”

I heard a faint chuckle escape his lips. He truly enjoys seeing me in a submissive state. He was born with the luck of a master.

I followed the entourage to see Yin Xiao off. From a distance, I saw Yin Shu ride his horse up to Yin Xiao’s side.

The hunting gear the Internal Affairs Office made for Yin Xiao was the exact opposite of his brother’s pure white silver-rat fur cloak; it was a pitch-black sable fur cloak. Both rode precious horses that matched their clothes: one black and one white.

Looking at those two silhouettes riding away, one black and one white, they looked elegant and dashing.

Now I was even more certain that the plot was drifting further toward a brotherly love romance. I secretly admired how free this plot was; it was not even pseudo-incest, but the real thing! Could the original work be a novel from a hardcore site?

While I was lost in thought, I suddenly saw Yin Xiao turn around on his horse and wave at me. I smiled and waved back.

In the afternoon, the weather grew colder. I felt drowsy sitting by the warm charcoal brazier. Yin Xiao probably would not return until after having dinner with the royal relatives, so there would be no lessons today. I decided to take a nap.

Even with Yin Xiao away, I did not dare sleep in his comfortable bed. I could only sleep on the side, a place where usually only the night-watch maids would lie.

It was strange. There probably are not many teachers in history who sleep beside their students every day.

I fell into a hazy sleep. After an unknown amount of time, while half-awake, I felt someone stroking my hair. I could not fully wake up; my consciousness felt covered by an invisible net. The person’s touch was gentle, and I drifted off again.

Quite a while later, I finally woke up. When I opened my eyes, I was met with a shocking sight of blood-red. Startled, I grabbed the quilt and retreated.

“Teacher?” He reached out to pat me, his tone somewhat helpless.

I finally saw clearly that the color was a patch of red on the clothes covering Yin Xiao’s chest and abdomen. It was vivid and piercing; it was indeed blood.

I quickly got up to check: “Are you hurt?”

I held him down, trying to find the wound. Fortunately, there were no tears in his clothes. It seemed the blood was not his.

Seeing me in a frantic state, Yin Xiao laughed. I got angry and glared at him. His smile only grew wider. This brat’s wings have truly grown strong.

Yin Xiao said he had something to give me. He led me to the courtyard of the Lanyue Palace, and I nearly fainted at the sight.

Three or four dead deer were tied by their limbs in the middle of the yard, all with arrow wounds. To ensure they did not suffer, their necks had been cleanly slit to drain the blood. Several young palace maids and eunuchs watched from a distance, curious yet terrified.

Only Jinlan remained unfazed. She even said with a beaming face, “Master Ji, you are here! These are all the prey His Highness caught today. He said they are all for you.”

I am squeamish at the sight of blood. Suppressing my dizziness and nausea, I forced myself to stand my ground. These, are for me? Does he want me to skin and butcher them myself?

Seeing my unsteady steps, Yin Xiao supported me while raising an eyebrow, finding it amusing: “Teacher is actually afraid of this?”

I coughed twice: “A gentleman stays away from the kitchen.”

The youth gave a wicked grin, looking as if he had caught me in a compromise: “Rest assured, I am not asking you to process them. I just wanted Teacher to have a look first.”

Yin Xiao waved his hand, and someone immediately moved the deer away. He said that once they were made into deer hide and deer glue, they would be given to me.

Deer hide makes good clothing, and deer glue is excellent for nourishing the blood and spirit. They are good things. I just never expected to receive such a raw gift.

I thought to myself that Yin Xiao is still young. He is not as mature or smooth as Yin Shu and does not yet understand the principle of giving gifts based on the recipient’s tastes. If I had to choose between a bone fan and dead deer, I would certainly choose the fan.

However, the gift Yin Xiao gave me must be the very best one in his own heart. I smiled; it turns out everyone is biased toward their own child.

Seeing that I remained silent for a long while, Yin Xiao’s smile faded slightly. He awkwardly moved his lips, masking his insecurity with arrogance: “What? You do not like it?”

“How could I not like it?” I smiled and bowed: “This humble official thanks, Your Highness.”

A satisfied curve immediately appeared on Yin Xiao’s lips. He turned around and cleared his throat: “Ahem. This is the birthday gift this Prince is giving you. Keep it well.”

I blinked, a bit surprised. I did not expect him to remember.

The next day, I remembered an important matter. I asked Yin Xiao, “Your Highness, did anything happen when you were hunting with your brother yesterday?”

He said no without looking up. I did not quite believe him. Thinking of the deer Yin Xiao caught, I asked him what Yin Shu had hunted.

Yin Xiao pondered for a moment and said thoughtfully, “Eldest Brother caught a dozen rabbits. He left all the large prey to Father and me.”

“Left them? He truly did that?” I sounded a bit impressed. With that level of emotional intelligence, it is a pity he did not join the civil service. Oh, wait, Yin Shu does not need to. He is the establishment.

As I was lost in thought, I looked up and met Yin Xiao’s searching gaze. He stared into my eyes, seemingly suppressing some dissatisfaction: “Teacher, since you do not care about my brother, why do you always mention him?”

Always? This was only the second time today!

Of course, I did not argue. It seems I should mention his brother less in front of Yin Xiao. Otherwise, if this cub starts seeing me as a love rival in the future, what if he kills me?

The Spring Festival was approaching. From the middle of the twelfth lunar month, the palace servants began to get busy. Batches of purchased New Year goods were delivered to various palaces.

The already magnificent palace lanterns were all replaced with a new batch of red ones. With fine wood as frames and silk and glass decorated with colorful paintings, they were beautiful. Even the tassels were made of polished gemstones.

The Spring Festival is a holiday for family. The entire palace was busy for the Emperor’s family; it was a grand sight.

On New Year’s Eve, I returned to the Ji household. My father, more accurately, my father in this world, Old Master Ji, had booked a table for New Year’s Eve dinner at Cuizhu Pavilion, one of the top restaurants in the capital.

When I arrived, Old Master Ji was already dead drunk. Smelling the stench of alcohol on him, I frowned and sat further away. Opposite me sat several ladies about my age. I only realized they were my stepmothers when I heard others call them “Auntie Zhou” and “Auntie Fang.”

Old Master Ji is an official who makes money and has no other hobbies besides marrying wives. Fortunately, heaven is fair; despite his many wives, he has no other children besides the original owner of this body. Truly, the vitality of a man who indulges too much is not great.

The restaurant felt a bit stifling, so I went outside for some fresh air. I heard a mess of crashing sounds from inside. Perhaps Old Master Ji had stumbled while holding one of his concubines.

Standing outside the restaurant, I saw the red lanterns decorating the streets and heard the shouting of street vendors. People of all ages were gathered, and everyone I saw was smiling. I kicked a pebble by my feet, thought about it, and decided to return to the palace.

Yin Xiao looked surprised and happy to see me back. He asked me why I returned. I was silent for a few seconds, unable to answer myself.

Yin Xiao studied me and, after being awkward for a long while, squeezed out a sentence he considered a comfort: “The conditions for the Spring Festival at the Ji house are naturally not as superior as those of the Royal Family. It is good that you returned to the palace.”

I was moved. I decided that once the Spring Festival passed, I would assign him a new batch of winter break homework to help him improve.

That night, Yin Xiao dressed in formal attire and walked out of the Lanyue Palace. He was going to Qianliang Palace with Yin Shu and the various concubines for the New Year’s Eve family banquet. After the family banquet, on the first day of the New Year, would be the national banquet.

Since it was the grandest festival of the year, the palace rules were not as strict. I gathered with Jinlan and several young palace maids and eunuchs for a lively New Year’s Eve dinner. We played cards and set off firecrackers; it was very joyful. Although Jinlan and the others felt sorry for me because I did not go home for the New Year, I did not feel bad at all. Celebrating the New Year like this was actually happier.

I had some wine, and my face felt hot. I walked outside the Lanyue Palace to get some fresh air. Beneath the palace walls, a few eunuchs guarding the gates had fallen drunk in a corner. The usually tense palace was now relaxed, free, and lively everywhere.

It was just a bit cold. The Lanyue Palace is truly colder than the Cold Palace. I rubbed my hands and exhaled a large cloud of white mist.

I was just about to go back when, suddenly, I heard a string of hurried footsteps and the whistling sound of heavy sleeves swinging through the air. You can tell just by the sound that it is a thick, solemn formal dress that only members of the Royal Family can wear.

Is Yin Xiao back?

I was startled. A plot point from the original book suddenly flashed through my mind, matching this scene perfectly.

No way? How did it still happen?