Volume 1 Chapter 36
Leng Jiu woke up to find something soft and round on her chest. She couldn’t help but smile as she lifted the quilt and poked its little head. “I love to sleep, why are you so lazy too?”
Seeing that it still seemed drowsy, Leng Jiu got up, gently covered it with the quilt, and called for Lu Chang to fetch some pine nuts. She then went to wash herself. She wasn’t particularly fond of bathing, but every time she had her period, she felt uncomfortable all over and needed to wash to feel better.
After her bath, she came out to see the little creature hopping around happily. However, as soon as it saw Leng Jiu, it stopped immediately, looking at her curiously and proudly.
Leng Jiu extended her hand. The little creature watched for a while, then grabbed her sleeve and climbed onto her shoulder in a few moves. It was already dinner time, and Lu Chang had prepared the meal, waiting for Leng Jiu. Beside her was a special gilded plate filled with fresh pine nuts.
Leng Jiu placed the little creature beside her and patted its round body. “Eat!”
Lu Chang handed over a bowl of medicinal soup to Leng Jiu. “This is newly prepared by the imperial physician today, with some added ingredients to ward off the cold.”
Leng Jiu sniffed it a bit; it had a slight medicinal smell but wasn’t unpleasant, even quite fragrant. She drank it all, feeling a warm and comfortable sensation in her stomach. She picked up her chopsticks, ready to eat, but noticed the little creature staring at her, motionless. Puzzled, she asked, “What’s wrong? Not hungry?”
The little creature’s shiny black eyes glanced around and finally fixed on a piece of freshly roasted meat, unable to look away.
Leng Jiu’s eyelid twitched. “You’re a herbivore, right? Don’t tell me you want to eat meat!”
The little creature waved its paws in dissatisfaction, displaying an expression of ‘I want to eat meat, so what?’, leaving Leng Jiu speechless.
She took a small knife, cut a tiny piece of meat, and placed it on a clean plate in front of it. “Eat!”
The little creature’s eyes lit up and, without any further pretenses, grabbed the meat with its paws and started nibbling with its slightly longer teeth. Though its eating was somewhat comical, it was quite pleasing to watch. It quickly finished the small piece of meat, licked its paws, and then cleaned the fur that had been stained by oil, looking like an elegant gentleman.
“This little squirrel is quite intelligent and very cute!” Lu Chang couldn’t help but praise, then added, “Since it’s willing to stay with the Empress Dowager, why not give it a name to call it by?”
“A name?” Leng Jiu looked at the little creature. “Give a squirrel a name?”
The little creature angrily scratched with its paws, seemingly saying, ‘What’s wrong with being a squirrel?’.
Leng Jiu thought for a moment. “Xiao Bai? Xiao Hei? Or Xiao Hua, you choose one yourself!”
The little creature was furious: are those even names? It’s not a dog!
Seeing its dissatisfaction, Leng Jiu thought for a moment and suddenly smiled. “How about calling you Kano? This name sounds gentlemanly, fitting you well!”
The little creature’s eyes brightened, nodding its little head in agreement, but Leng Jiu’s next sentence made it flop down instantly!
“I knew you’d like it! That was the name of my favorite mastiff!”
The little creature’s happy expression froze. Why is it still a dog’s name? But Leng Jiu ignored it and started eating her meal.
Suddenly, a guard entered and saluted, “Your Majesty! Miss Hua Yuxuan requests an audience!”
Leng Jiu paused, and Kano retracted its paws, looking adorably curious.
“Let her in!”
“Yes!”
The guard left, but Lu Chang said, “Your Majesty, you haven’t eaten yet. Why not let her wait a bit?”
Leng Jiu reached out to tease Kano with her fingers. “I’m not very hungry anyway, it doesn’t matter if I don’t eat.”
After a while, Hua Yuxuan entered, wearing a simple peony dress and her hair adorned with just two jade hairpins, looking graceful and poised.
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
“Rise!” Leng Jiu raised her hand slightly. “Miss Hua, what brings you here so late?”
Hua Yuxuan glanced around at the palace attendants. “Could Your Majesty have them leave? I have something to say to you in private.”
Leng Jiu raised an eyebrow. “But I don’t think there’s anything between us that needs to be said in private.”
Hua Yuxuan looked a bit troubled, then clenched her fists and said, “What if it’s about my brother?”
Hua Jinzhi? Leng Jiu glanced at the little creature beside her, her expression shifting slightly. “Lu Chang! Leave us.”
Lu Chang bowed and retreated, signaling the palace maids to leave as well.
With the palace doors closed, the room fell silent. Leng Jiu raised her eyes. “You can speak now, can’t you?”
Hua Yuxuan looked at Leng Jiu and suddenly knelt down. “I beg the Empress Dowager to spare Jinzhi!”
A glint of light flickered in Leng Jiu’s eyes, and she smiled playfully. “Young Master Hua hasn’t offended me. Why would I need to spare him?”
Hua Yuxuan seemed hesitant but finally spoke softly after some struggle. “That day… I saw what happened in the bamboo forest!”
Leng Jiu didn’t show the shock or anger Hua Yuxuan expected. Her expression remained unchanged. “So what?”
Hua Yuxuan hadn’t anticipated her indifference, and her face turned even paler. Finally, she clenched her fists and spoke clearly. “You are the Empress Dowager, and you shouldn’t have such entanglements with a courtier. If you truly care for Jinzhi, don’t lead him into disloyalty and unfiliality. He has a bright future ahead; it shouldn’t be ruined!”
Leng Jiu chuckled lightly. “You really are a good sister, caring for your brother. I’m truly moved!”
Hua Yuxuan looked up. “Please, Empress Dowager, grant my request!”
“Grant your request? Why should I?”
Hua Yuxuan’s expression changed. “Empress Dowager, you…”
Leng Jiu interrupted her, smiling coldly and mockingly. “Hua Yuxuan! You’re merely the daughter of a minister, albeit a potential future Empress. But that ‘potential’ isn’t certain yet. What gives you the right to speak to me this way? Even if you become Empress, you would still have to pay your respects to me daily. Essentially, you’re still a junior. Is it your place to lecture me?”
Hua Yuxuan’s face paled further, but she stubbornly said, “I’m not lecturing you, Empress Dowager, just begging you to spare Jinzhi!”
“When have I not spared him? Don’t you think you should say this to him instead? Rather than advising him directly, you come here to show off your virtue and sisterly love. Do you think I’m easy to talk to, or do you think you have leverage over me?”
“I wouldn’t dare!”
Leng Jiu sneered. “Oh, you don’t dare? I thought you’d do anything for your brother. Perhaps I should invite the Emperor here, and you can tell him everything. Maybe then, I’ll truly spare your brother!”
“Empress Dowager!” Hua Yuxuan looked at Leng Jiu in disbelief. “Do you really not care about Jinzhi?”
“Why should I care? He’s your Hua family’s member. Why should I care for him?” Leng Jiu’s words were almost cold-blooded.
At that moment, Hua Yuxuan realized her foolishness. She had thought Empress Dowager Leng Jiu would care about her reputation, and for Long Yi’s sake, or even have feelings for Hua Jinzhi, and at least not let anything happen to him. But looking at this cold and ruthless woman, she knew she had bet wrong, and lost everything.
“Let’s pretend I didn’t come today. I’ll take my leave!” Hua Yuxuan, her face ashen, was ready to leave, but Leng Jiu smiled warmly. “It’s rare to have a visitor. How can you leave so soon? I haven’t eaten yet. Why not join me?”
Without waiting for a reply, she called out, “Lu Chang! Clear this table and bring a new one. I’ll dine with Miss Hua!”
“Yes!”
Lu Chang immediately had the table cleared and set a new one with fresh dishes.
Hua Yuxuan’s mind was in turmoil, making it impossible for her to eat. “I’ve already eaten and don’t want to disturb you, Empress Dowager.”
At that moment, Eunuch Qu’s voice came from outside. “The Emperor has arrived!”
Hua Yuxuan trembled, while Leng Jiu’s smile grew warmer. “The Emperor is here! Even if you don’t want to dine with me, surely you can keep him company?”
Hua Yuxuan’s face turned grim, unsure of how to respond.
Long Yi entered with large strides, glancing at Leng Jiu before his gaze fell on the kneeling Hua Yuxuan. “Why is Miss Hua here?”
Hua Yuxuan, still kneeling, rose to curtsy. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
For once, Leng Jiu didn’t show a cold face to Long Yi but smiled lightly. “The Emperor arrived just in time! Miss Hua came to see me, and I wanted her to stay for dinner, but she insisted on leaving. Now that you’re here, perhaps you can persuade her. I rarely have visitors and don’t want her to leave so soon.”
Long Yi, affected by Leng Jiu’s unusual warmth, didn’t seek Hua Yuxuan’s opinion and simply said, “Since the Empress Dowager wishes it, stay. In the future, you’ll often come to pay respects to her anyway.”
What could Hua Yuxuan say? Even if the place were filled with nails, she had to sit down today.
—
**Aside**
Kano! Isn’t this name cute? Ha! The scummy character has appeared. Do you feel like smacking me? But our Jiu’er isn’t to be trifled with. Haha, let’s see if Hua Yuxuan can eat! Although this story has plenty of scummy men and women, and occasionally brainless ones pop up, I promise, the protagonist will crush them all. After all, cannon fodder is meant to be trampled—that’s the way!