Why is the Dog Emperor Like That? - Chapter 2

I am truly speechless.

I never imagined that with only half a river’s width left between me and freedom, Yin Xiao would still refuse to let me go. He didn’t even care if he gained a reputation for “preferring the company of men” just to drag me down with him and ruin my lifelong prestige.

Oh, the misery!

From this day forward, there is no more Imperial Preceptor Ji Zijin in the Great Liang Kingdom. There is only the rebel Ji Zijin: the one who “abandoned the Emperor after a scandalous affair, refused to take responsibility, and fled by boat.”

How disgraceful! Truly disgraceful!

However, I soon had no time to worry about that. I gradually realized that the waves were becoming increasingly violent.

A massive whirlpool appeared in the center of the river.

Anything caught in its maw, regardless of whether it was soft, hard, large, or small, was instantly shredded into debris. I paddled desperately to move outward when, with a sharp crack, the oar snapped.

Well, damn. I am finished.

Subconsciously, I looked back toward the shore. The waves were too high and the boat was rocking so violently that I could not see a thing.

“Ji Zijin!”

I guessed I must be dying; I was even hallucinating the sound of Yin Xiao’s roar. Otherwise, how could I possibly hear a human voice from this far out?

The moment I was sucked into the whirlpool, my mind was still wandering aimlessly.

Maybe I am about to “transmigrate” again? Do novels not always have a “Quick Transmigration Bureau”? Please, let me transmigrate into a decent, righteous character who lives a long, peaceful life!

Being a villainous Imperial Preceptor is a high-risk occupation. I cannot do it; I simply cannot do it anymore.

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.

The ill-fated relationship between me and Yin Xiao began the day I transmigrated into this “cannon fodder” character.

That year, I was sixteen. Yin Xiao was four years younger than me, just a twelve-year-old brat. And he was a very, very rude brat at that.

That day, wearing a face full of smiles, I went to greet this little future villain who was destined to chop off my head.

“This humble official, Ji Zijin, greets Your Highness.”

At that time, I was not technically the Imperial Preceptor yet because Yin Xiao was not the Emperor. I was not exactly the Grand Tutor either, as Yin Xiao had not been named Crown Prince. The Emperor had not given me an official rank yet, so thinking about it, I was probably just a low-level schoolteacher.

However, that little bastard Yin Xiao would not even call me “Mister” or “Teacher.”

The moment I finished my greeting, he snapped: “You filthy thing!”

I was furious. Who was this little brat calling a “filthy thing”? But then again, who asked for this brat’s father to be a feudal monarch wearing dragon robes?

I replied respectfully, “I do not know which words of mine have offended Your Highness. I pray Your Highness will enlighten me.”

The palace maid standing nearby, Jinlan, also spoke up for me: “Please calm your anger, Your Highness. This Mister Ji began studying poetry at age three, and at age seven, he wrote ‘Ode to Water,’ which made him famous throughout the capital. Having him as Your Highness’s teacher is a wonderful opportunity.”

“I do not care about his scholarship.” Yin Xiao glared at me with disdain. “You are someone my Eldest Brother did not want. Does that not make you a filthy thing?”

He was clearly the one insulting me, yet his own eyes were red and he was huffing and puffing as if I were the one bullying him.

Jinlan looked at me sympathetically and tried to persuade him gently: “Your Highness has misunderstood. While it is true that Mister Ji was originally supposed to be the study companion for the First Prince, however, it was Mister Ji who turned down the First Prince to take the initiative to become your teacher.”

Yin Xiao froze.

The original owner of the body I transmigrated into, “Ji Zijin,” was a rather capable man.

As the saying goes, “a mind full of books radiates its own elegance.” The original Ji Zijin had both literary talent and good looks; he was quite famous among the elite circles of the capital. The Emperor had noticed his talent and assigned him to the First Prince, Yin Shu, to be his study companion.

According to the original plot of the book, Ji Zijin was supposed to decline politely on the surface while being secretly overjoyed in his heart.

Everyone knew that the Great Liang Kingdom had two princes. The First Prince, Yin Shu, was the same age as me: sixteen. He was gentle, elegant, and handsome; every girl in the capital wanted to be his consort.

As for Yin Xiao, the Second Prince, he was still young and somewhat overlooked. When they were small, the two brothers were treated similarly, but in recent years, the Emperor had shown a strong inclination toward naming Yin Shu the Crown Prince.

Though the officials did not say it out loud, they secretly approved of Yin Shu. He was dignified, steady, and the Emperor’s eldest son. It was only fitting that he should inherit the throne.

I thought it was fitting, too. After all, he was the Shou (protagonist) of this BL novel. As a protagonist, he was destined to have a successful career and a happy love life.

If I could have just stuck with Yin Shu, I would have had a much better path.

Unfortunately, according to the original plot, even if I followed Yin Shu, I would still be reassigned as Yin Xiao’s teacher three years later. By then, Yin Xiao’s temper would be even worse; if a servant said a single word wrong, Yin Xiao would turn it into a matter of life and death.

At that point, even if I wanted to teach him, I would not have the strength to do so.

Therefore, I declined Yin Shu and proactively sought out Yin Xiao, planning to “throw myself to the tiger.” While the “Great Villain” was still just a “Little Villain” and had not completely darkened yet, I wanted to provide early intervention and treatment.

The second Yin Xiao realized I had chosen him of my own volition, the way he looked at me changed instantly.

It was as if one moment I was a “filthy thing,” and the next I was a rare treasure that Yin Shu wanted but could not have. He pretended to be serious as he glared at me, though the corners of his mouth twitched dozens of times a minute.

Finally, the little villain Yin Xiao turned around and said in a voice suppressed with joy, “It seems you have good taste. You know that this Prince is better than my Eldest Brother.”

Compared to the “Yama Yin” who would strike terror into people’s hearts years later, the current Yin Xiao was actually somewhat childishly cute.

I felt inexplicably better and coaxed him: “Meeting Your Highness for the first time today, I realize the rumors cannot be trusted.”

“Rumors?” Yin Xiao’s smile vanished instantly. He stared at me suspiciously. “What rumors? What did they say about this Prince? Was it something treasonous? Tell me everything, word for word.”

I felt silent.

Crap. I forgot this brat is incredibly sensitive.