Discussing The Correct Posture To Enjoy Dog Food

Chapter 138 - Grape Flavored Imperial Gong (17)

Translated by Hua Li ^_^

Fengqi Palace.

The Empress was holding a cat, gently squeezing its paw so that its sharp claws extended and retracted intermittently, his eyes lost in thought.

Several attendants serving nearby watched the cat with fear.

Although the cat was tamed by the Empress and recognized only him and the servant responsible for its care, they were still worried that it might scratch the Empress and did not dare to relax.

After a long silence, the Empress asked, “Has that Chu Mo accepted the decree?”

His personal attendant respectfully replied, “He is already on his way. With the Empress’s personal decree, even if he had a hundred lives, Master Chu wouldn’t dare to defy it.”

The Empress usually enjoyed such flattering words, but today they sounded grating to his ears. He couldn’t help but think of what he had witnessed three days ago.

After his house arrest was lifted, he heard that the Emperor had recently taken a liking to reading and often summoned Scholar Chu to attend to him. He also heard that Scholar Chu had found an ancient book in the library and solved the “plague” problem of last year’s examination candidates for the Emperor, which piqued his interest in the library as well.

The library was located in a side hall of Zhengyang Palace, right where Zhengyang Palace and Jiaotai Hall intersected, with the other half connecting to the Eastern Palace. Entering from the side door did not require passing through Zhengyang Palace.

And as the Empress, he naturally had the privilege of entering the library.

He thought, back then, he was also a well-known scholar in the capital, famous among the ger. If the Emperor was moved by literature, wouldn’t this be his chance?

But he never expected that what truly moved the Emperor was not scholarly writings that benefited the people, but that person.

Thinking of his past earnestness, the Empress felt only irony.

“Meow!!”

The cat yelped as it was pinched painfully, and the Empress suddenly came back to his senses. He soothed the cat, saying, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, it’s nothing serious.”

He repeated this, not knowing if he was comforting the cat or himself.

A flash of determination crossed his eyes, and he asked, “Where is Qinshu? Is he ready?”

Attendant Qinshu respectfully answered, “Everything has been prepared according to Your Highness’s instructions.”

“And the Emperor?”

“Your Highness, the Emperor entered Chongwu Gate just a tea cup’s time ago.”

“That’s good.”

The Empress smiled, his eyes filled with malice.

Before long, Gou Liang entered the side hall of Fengqi Palace, separated by a screen, behind which shadows were faintly visible.

Upon seeing Gou Liang, an attendant gracefully emerged from behind the screen. Noticing that Gou Liang was accompanied by Eunuch He, the attendant’s expression changed slightly but quickly recovered, approaching with a smile and tea in hand. “Master Chu, please wait a moment. The Empress will join you shortly.”

With that, Qinshu bowed to Eunuch He and swiftly returned behind the screen, bringing another cup of tea for Eunuch He.

“Master Chu, why aren’t you drinking the tea? Is it not to your liking?”

It was a great disrespect not to drink the tea offered by the host, especially in Fengqi Palace. Qinshu glanced at Gou Liang curiously.

Eunuch He, who was just about to drink the tea according to etiquette, suddenly paused as if he had thought of something.

Gou Liang said, “I am merely an outside official and should not linger in the harem. Receiving the Empress’s summons already fills me with trepidation. As for the tea… I have never had such precious tea before. The fragrance is delightful, and I wish to savor it a bit longer to remember the Empress’s grace. I hope the attendant doesn’t mind?”

Eunuch He felt a chill down his spine, clenching his fists secretly within his sleeves.

Gou Liang was the Emperor’s favorite. He had seen and used the best of everything.

He wouldn’t care about such second-rate tea unless there was something wrong with it!

Eunuch He tensed up, a slight sweat breaking out on his back, but his expression remained respectfully composed.

Qinshu did not notice anything amiss and smiled, saying, “Of course not, Master Chu. You are too kind.”

As he spoke, he gazed at Gou Liang with overt admiration, his eyes full of infatuation. “Master Chu, your talent is well-known even here in the harem. The Empress also holds you in high regard. Today, he found a difficult passage in a book and thought of asking for your guidance. Unfortunately, we servants are too ignorant to understand it.”

Facing the beautiful smile and clear admiration, any ordinary bookworm would have been flattered and blushed.

However, Gou Liang was no ordinary bookworm.

He maintained a serious expression, unmoved, and said, “There is no need for self-deprecation. Everyone has their own strengths. For the Empress to favor you is an exceptional honor.”

Qinshu did not understand the hidden mockery in Gou Liang’s words, interpreting it as him being unromantic.

“Master Chu, you’re too kind… Oh, the tea is getting cold, please drink it quickly. If you like the aroma, I can brew another cup for you.”

Before Gou Liang could respond, Eunuch He respectfully interjected, “Attendant Qinshu, the time is getting late. The Emperor will be returning to the palace soon. He mentioned yesterday that he has a historical anecdote he wishes to discuss with Master Chu. This matter cannot be delayed. What do you think?”

Qinshu panicked and said, “The Empress has not arrived yet. How can you leave now? What kind of etiquette is this?”

Eunuch He replied, “Matters of urgency take precedence. How can we delay the Emperor’s affairs? Please explain to the Empress. I will take Master Chu back to Zhengyang Palace now.”

“You!”

Qinshu did not know how to refute this, feeling helpless.

The Empress, hiding in the side chamber, cursed silently, thinking his servants were useless for failing such a simple task. He stepped out from the side door and behind the screen, speaking out, “Eunuch He, what urgent matter cannot wait for even a moment?”

Qinshu hurried back behind the screen, and Eunuch He knelt down before it, saying, “This servant pays respects to the Empress!”

“Your humble servant Chu Mo greets the Empress.”

Gou Liang raised his hands in salute and bowed slightly.

The Empress frowned, and his attendant Qin Hua scolded, “Master Chu, why do you not kneel before the Empress?”

Eunuch He quickly explained, “Your Highness, Master Chu injured his leg recently, and the Emperor has exempted him from kneeling.”

If he didn’t need to kneel before the Emperor, it was even less necessary before the Empress.

The Empress gritted his teeth and said, “I see. Is Master Chu’s injury serious?”

Gou Liang replied, “This humble servant is fine. The Emperor’s benevolence is immense, and I dare not decline.”

Listening to his bashful tone, the Empress gripped the armrest in anger but suppressed his rage, saying, “The Emperor has always been generous to his subjects, and I should not be negligent. Someone, serve the tea.”

He then turned to Gou Liang and said, “Master Chu, please have a seat. I came across a difficult passage in a book and have been unable to solve it. I took the liberty of inviting you here to enlighten me.”

How could Gou Liang sit?

He stood up again, saluting, “Your Highness, please speak.”

“No rush,” the Empress said with a smile, “Master Chu, please have some tea first. It is my oversight that you have not been served tea yet.”

“Your Highness flatters me.”

Gou Liang remained unhurried. Qinshu personally brought the tea and handed it to him. Gou Liang smiled at him, causing Qinshu’s pupils to momentarily lose focus. In that brief moment, the tea slipped from his hands—

The warm tea scalded Qinshu, who yelped in surprise, followed by the sound of breaking porcelain.

“What happened?”

The Empress strode out, seeing Qinshu kneeling in fear, saying, “This servant deserves death!”

Eunuch He frowned and reported, “Your Highness, this servant was careless and spilled the tea. Fortunately, it did not splash on Master Chu, otherwise…”

“Eunuch He, that is too harsh.” Gou Liang quickly interjected, “Your Highness, everyone makes mistakes. Please do not blame him, otherwise, it would be my fault.”

Listen to that kind tone, as if punishing this incompetent servant would make him seem cruel.

The Empress was furious inside but heard Qin Hua whisper, “Your Highness, the Emperor is about to arrive.”

Seeing his plan falling apart, the Empress grew even more enraged. He glanced at the cat held by a servant and gave a subtle signal.

The trusted servant immediately understood, “accidentally” tossing the cat toy towards Gou Liang. The excited white cat meowed and leaped towards the toy, aiming right at Gou Liang’s face!

“Master Chu!”

Eunuch He was alarmed and tried to intercept but was a step too slow.

Gou Liang squinted as the cat swiped the toy mid-air and pounced on him. With a rip, its sharp claws tore his clothes. The cat continued climbing up Gou Liang’s chest, making affectionate meowing sounds.

“Come down now.”

Gou Liang patted the cat’s head and put it down, smiling at the Empress, “Your Highness, your cat is very cute.”

The white cat clung to Gou Liang, circling his legs and suddenly kneeling and licking his shoes, acting all affectionate.

The Empress’s expression twisted.

He had always loved the cat’s aloofness, seeing it as a reflection of his own noble arrogance. But now, the cat he had raised for ten years was kneeling and licking Gou Liang’s feet, as if his dignity was being trampled on.

The Empress’s face twisted in rage, momentarily rendered speechless.

At that moment, hurried footsteps approached from outside the hall, and the door was suddenly kicked open.

The booming sound seemed to echo in the Empress’s ears, and a crazy idea flashed through his mind. Acting faster than he could think, he tore open his phoenix robe and pitifully cried out, “Your Majesty, please stand up for me…”

In his original plan, Qinshu was supposed to be caught entangled with the lust-intoxicated Gou Liang by the Emperor. He did not believe that the Emperor would continue to treasure someone unclean.

Now that the plan had failed, the Empress, in a fit of irrational anger, decided that even if it meant sacrificing himself, he would not let Gou Liang off easily!

Even Gou Liang was momentarily stunned by the turn of events.

Then, a mischievous smile appeared on his lips. In an instant, he switched to a tearful expression and rushed towards the Emperor who was striding towards him.

“Your Majesty!”

There was even a touch of a sob in his voice.

The Emperor’s brow furrowed deeply. He hurriedly caught him, wrapping one arm around his waist and touching his face with the other, anxiously asking, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

With a tear hanging from his eye, Gou Liang pitifully said, “Your Majesty, you must stand up for your humble servant.”

“The Empress tried to humiliate me. I refused, and he tried to tear off my clothes. Look…” He pointed to his clothes torn by the cat’s claws. “Your Majesty, I was so scared~”

The Emperor had never heard him speak in such a coquettish, alluring tone. His back tingled, and he instinctively kissed Gou Liang’s forehead, saying, “Don’t be afraid.”

Watching this scene, the Empress looked like a duck being strangled, speechless and stunned.

He never expected Gou Liang to see through his intentions, not only turning the tables but also using the situation to gain the Emperor’s favor!

Seeing the Emperor tenderly hold and kiss him, the Empress’s mind went blank, and he shrieked, “Lies! You’re lying! You were the one trying to violate me!”

Hearing this, everyone, including the Empress’s trusted servants, Eunuch He, and Eunuch Tong, who had entered with the Emperor, knelt in fear, not daring to witness the conflict for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

“Your Majesty, you heard him. He’s slandering me.”

Gou Liang’s voice was soft and alluring, full of grievance, yet his expression was wickedly gleeful.

The Emperor, deeply moved, let him have his way.

Seeing Gou Liang subtly point behind the screen, the Emperor called out to Eunuch Tong, ordering him to remove the obstructing screen. Then, he sat down on the main seat with Gou Liang on his lap, gently wiping away his mock tears, and softly asked, “What happened? Tell me everything, Xiao Keng’er, and I will ensure justice.”

“Your Majesty!”

The Empress cried out in disbelief.

The Emperor’s brows knitted, and Eunuch Tong, after a hesitant glance, bravely stepped forward and covered the Empress’s mouth.

The Empress struggled helplessly, emitting angry and terrified muffled sounds, while his personal attendants trembled on the ground, not daring to defend his dignity, pressing their heads even lower in fear.

Gou Liang, playing the part of a seductive temptress, softly said, “Your Majesty, you know that my heart belongs solely to you. I have eyes for no one else. The Empress, though noble, asked something I could never agree to.”

As he spoke, he shot the Empress a venomous, challenging glance, then continued compassionately, “Alas, the Empress is pitiable too. Your Majesty, don’t blame him. He has not had the company of a man in the palace for over a decade. When his desires surged, he must have acted impulsively. But as for me…”

He bit his lip shyly and continued, “I could never comply. I belong only to Your Majesty.”

The Emperor, suppressing a smile, hoarsely said, “Xiao Keng’er, you did the right thing. I will reward you generously.”

“Mmmph!”

The Empress’s eyes filled with tears.

Gou Liang said, “Your Majesty, having you and being able to stay by your side day and night is the greatest blessing you’ve given me. I dare not ask for more rewards. Instead, could you reward the Empress?”

The Emperor finally smiled, holding Gou Liang tighter, and said indulgently, “Alright, whatever you say.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Gou Liang joyfully kissed the Emperor on the lips, deliberately making a loud sound. Seeing the Empress glaring at him with fury, he provocatively licked the Emperor’s lips with his tongue.

“Mmm!”

The Empress screamed.

The Emperor felt a surge of heat in his abdomen, thoroughly aroused by Gou Liang’s antics.

However, this was not the right time for the Emperor to indulge in affection with Gou Liang. After returning his kiss, the Emperor said with a gentle smile, “When have I ever denied you anything you wanted?”

Gou Liang smiled sweetly, then said with some difficulty, “But what would be the best reward for the Empress? He is the Phoenix of the nation and seems to lack nothing…”

He thought hard for a moment and then suddenly exclaimed, his eyes lighting up, “I know! The Empress lacks a man!”

“Mmm!!!”

The Empress was shocked by his shamelessness, filled with both hatred and fear.

Hugging the Emperor, Gou Liang turned to look at the Empress, still in that coquettish, lascivious tone, and said, “No need to thank me, Your Majesty. If you weren’t so desperately thirsty, why would you have tried to get me to drink Red Dust Drunkenness and want to engage with me? I can’t satisfy you, but I can still fulfill your need.”

“What?!”

The Emperor had been indulging his mischief, but at the mention of Red Dust Drunkenness, his face changed dramatically.

“Xiao Keng’er, did you drink it?!”

The Emperor anxiously cupped his face, searching for any signs of harm.

“Your Majesty, have you forgotten that I am skilled in medicine? Having been tricked by Red Dust Drunkenness once, how could I fall for it a second time?” Gou Liang looked at the Emperor reassuringly, tilting his head to kiss his palm, smiling as he said, “The Empress insisted I drink it, but I truly could not accept such kindness.”

Relieved to see he was unharmed, the Emperor exhaled deeply.

Then, he turned his gaze to the Empress.

It was his first proper look at the Empress since entering Fengqi Palace, and the coldness in his eyes made the Empress feel as if he had fallen into an icy abyss, the tangible killing intent making him shiver.

The look was brief; the Emperor quickly returned his attention to Gou Liang. “What reward would you like to give him? How about rewarding him with the Red Dust Drunkenness itself?”

His expression still bore a smile, yet his words condemned the Empress without any emotional fluctuation.

Gou Liang’s eyes curved with joy.

He soothingly patted the Emperor’s arm, then glanced at the Empress, whose face was ashen and who clearly understood the deadly consequences of Red Dust Drunkenness for gers. He said with a laugh, “How could I be so negligent as to reward the Empress with something so trivial? In my opinion…” He paused, suddenly dropping his flippant tone, and said flatly, “We should reward him with a stimulating drug so that he can fully experience the pleasure of a man, as an apology for my inability to satisfy his desires.”

“What does Your Majesty think?”

Gou Liang addressed the Emperor but kept his eyes on the Empress.

He watched with detached amusement as the Empress’s face turned deathly pale, his struggles and muffled pleas futile. Gou Liang’s gaze conveyed a contempt that filled the Empress with both extreme hatred and fear.

The Emperor chuckled, “Whatever my Xiao Keng’er says is good.”

“Someone come.”

“At your service.”

Eunuch Tong, who had been holding the Empress’s mouth and witnessed the entire scene, responded with a face full of cold sweat.

The Emperor said, “Announce my decree: Order the Imperial Guards to surround Marquis Boyang’s residence and invite all the male members of the Marquis Boyang household to the palace. Tell them I have a good show for them to watch.”

Marquis Boyang’s residence was the Empress’s family home.

Feeling the Empress’s panicked, rapid breaths against his hand, Eunuch Tong forced himself to respond calmly, “As you command.”

I had my semester exams this week, that’s why I couldn’t update last week. I will update an extra chapter as compensation next week.