Why is the Dog Emperor Like That? - Chapter 4

Since that day, I had been giving Yin Xiao lessons for several days, and things were relatively peaceful. Aside from the occasional complaint like, “The person my big brother took a fancy to is only so-so,” he did not go out of his way to make things difficult for me.

However, Yin Xiao’s maid, Jin Lan, often stole glances at me with a look that suggested she had something on the tip of her tongue. I felt a sense of dread. First, I had not known Miss Jin Lan for long, so I truly could not return her feelings. Second, if Yin Xiao found out about this, it would be a disaster.

In the original book, Yin Xiao utterly detested matters of the flesh. When a young maid and a eunuch under his command secretly became a couple, he had them both dragged away and fed to the dogs. If I were to get involved with Miss Jin Lan, my death date would surely be moved up by several years. The feeling that I might be reincarnated at any second was certainly a thrill.

I told Miss Jin Lan that I had something to say to her and asked to meet at the side hall at noon. Jin Lan parted her lips as if she also had words to say, then lowered her head. “Then I will see you at noon.”

Although I did not know what Miss Jin Lan liked about me, I had to persuade her to give up before the matter was exposed. After class, noon was fast approaching. I hurried out to find her, but a cold voice suddenly came from behind me. “Hey.”

I turned around and found myself staring eye-to-eye with the small-statured Yin Xiao. I could feel the young boy’s deep dissatisfaction. In a questioning tone, he asked, “Who are you going to see?”

How did he know I was looking for someone? My heart skipped a beat. Had I already been discovered? I held my ground and made up an excuse about “some business at home,” smiling as I brushed him off. My acting was a bit clumsy, but surely he would not see through it.

At noon, I arrived at the agreed location. This was the side hall of Yin Xiao’s Lanyue Palace, which was usually left vacant as a storehouse for bedding and miscellaneous items. As soon as I entered, the smell of dust hit me, making me cough as I rushed to open the windows for ventilation. After letting the air clear for a while, it was finally habitable.

While no one was around, I took a casual look through the side hall. I found that there were indeed no treasures here, only some old furniture. However, what caught my attention was a small box placed high on top of a cabinet. In front of the cabinet stood a chair; on its seat were two tiny footprints.

I could immediately imagine Yin Xiao standing on his tiptoes to push that box to the top, proudly puffing out his little chest, thinking no one could see it there. I let out a soft chuckle. That image was actually quite cute. Just as I was amusing myself, I heard footsteps behind me and a gentle, clear male voice. I froze.

The man called my name softly. “Zijin.”

The voice matched the man: as crisp as mountain spring water and as steady as green pines and cypresses. I quickly bowed. “Greetings to the First Prince.”

Yin Shu let out two soft laughs. I could imagine his long, beautiful eyes casting a gentle gaze toward me. As the “protagonist shou” of the original book, Yin Shu was elegant and kind, a temperament he did not change even after ascending the throne. Even I felt that, given his personality and character, no one could dislike him. It was no wonder the original “protagonist gong” was willing to come out of seclusion for him.

However, Yin Shu’s arrival was truly ill-timed. I appeared calm on the surface, but my mind was already a tangled mess. If Yin Xiao found out that Yin Shu had trespassed into his side hall, then things would end poorly.

While I was filled with anxiety, Yin Shu remained as calm and composed as usual. “Zijin, I asked Miss Jin Lan to invite you here for a chat. I hope I haven’t troubled you?”

I shook my head like a rattle. “Not at all.”

He changed the subject. “I heard that my second brother has been somewhat inconsiderate toward you. Is it true?”

I shook my head even more frantically. “No, no, no, no!”

This was a life-or-death question! Even if Yin Xiao were actually whipping me until I screamed, I would still have to say no. Since I had become Yin Xiao’s teacher, I was on his side. If I complained to Yin Shu about Yin Xiao, wouldn’t I be bringing disaster upon my entire family?

“Is that so?” Yin Shu looked at me with a faint smile on his lips, though there was a strange sense of regret in his eyes. I had no idea Yin Shu cared so much for me. I couldn’t help but find it strange. If Yin Shu cared this much for the original Ji Zijin, why would he dismiss him from his circle of advisors years later?

After bidding farewell to Yin Shu, I hurried away from the side hall. I left in such a rush that I did not notice a dark, sinister shadow standing behind the hall door.

The next day, I went to Lanyue Palace to teach Yin Xiao as usual. It was July, and the sun was scorching. I knocked on the study door and stood outside for a long time, but I heard no sound from within. Was he still sleeping? I waited a while longer and knocked again, but there was still no response. Just as I turned to leave, a voice finally came from inside. “Come in.”

I pushed the door open. For some reason, the room seemed darker than usual today. Yin Xiao’s voice was low. “Lock the door.”

I did as I was told. When I turned around, I suddenly saw little Yin Xiao smiling at me, looking adorable and pleasant. His eyes were curved with mirth. “Teacher, close your eyes and hold out your hand. I have something to give you.”

I was surprised. Did Yin Xiao actually have such a well-behaved and sensible side? I didn’t believe it. He was probably planning to prank me. I held out my hand, fully prepared. What would he give me? A bug? A venomous snake? Or something else?

As it turned out, I was completely wrong. With a “click” against my wrist, a heavy iron chain was fastened. I snapped my eyes open and was stunned. A thick iron chain was locked around my hand at one end and fixed to the wall at the other. Was this some kind of imprisonment play?

“You!”

“Don’t shout. Confess truthfully.”

Before I could call for help, something cold was pressed against my neck. He held a knife, his voice as dark and ruthless as his gaze. “Yesterday, what did you and my big brother talk about?”