The Dog Emperor Has Gained Telepathy - Chapter 07 【7】

Chapter 07 【7】

【7】

Inside the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, Lu Zhiwan sat before the rosewood carved dragon-patterned fish table. Though still alive, she felt she could die from overeating at any moment.

Facing the mountain of delicious dishes piled before her, she patted her stomach with utter despair—she couldn’t eat anymore. If she forced down another bite, she feared she’d become the first imperial consort in history to be recorded as dying from overeating.

“Why has Lady Lu stopped eating? If the dishes aren’t to your taste, This Old One can have the kitchen prepare two new ones..
“No need, no need!” Lu Zhiwan quickly shook her head, looking at the elegant noblewoman across the table with moved expression: “Your Majesty, the food in your palace is absolutely delicious, but this humble consort truly cannot eat another bite..
On her way to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, Lu Zhiwan had imagined countless dramatic scenarios of a malicious mother-in-law bullying her daughter-in-law—after all, since her niece Gu Guifei had nearly slashed her face, then as her aunt, Empress Dowager Gu probably wasn’t much better.

To her complete surprise, though both were women of the Gu family, Empress Dowager Gu and Gu Guifei had completely different temperaments.

This over-forty-year-old empress dowager had a youthful baby face with two dimples that appeared when she smiled. Years of privileged living had treated her exceptionally well—her black hair remained thick and lustrous, her skin fair and smooth, making Lu Zhiwan want to call her “elder sister
Beyond her gentle appearance, Empress Dowager Gu’s personality was exceptionally kind. She treated Lu Zhiwan like her own junior, chatting amiably with her before inviting her to stay for lunch.

It was just that this lunch was rather too lavish. Having been gnawing on coarse buns just yesterday, Lu Zhiwan now looked at the exquisite delicacies before her with a sense of unreality, like a country bumpkin visiting the city.

“You haven’t eaten much, how can you be full already?”

Empress Dowager Gu showed slight disappointment, her gaze sweeping over Lu Zhiwan’s pointed chin and slender shoulders as she sighed softly: “This Old One remembers during the selection ceremony, you weren’t this thin. Three months apart, and you’ve become so gaunt. If not for your unchanged beauty, This Old One might not have recognized you
Lu Zhiwan thought to herself that with previous daily meals of salted fish and coarse buns, even Zhu Bajie would have lost three pounds, let alone her sixteen-year-old body still developing.

However, she couldn’t mention those past matters before the empress dowager. Not that she didn’t want to complain, but she feared the empress dowager might take pity and add two more bowls of rice—she truly couldn’t eat anymore!

“This humble consort is deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s concern. Perhaps the warmer weather has reduced my appetite.” Lu Zhiwan put on an expression that would please elders: “Please rest assured, after returning, this consort will eat and drink more, striving to gain some weight
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Gu nodded approvingly: “That’s more like it. Young girls look better with some flesh on them
She examined Lu Zhiwan again, smiling cheerfully: “All these years, This Old One has worried so much about the emperor that I couldn’t eat or sleep properly, only praying daily to Bodhisattva to make him understand matters between men and women. Fortunately, persistence finally paid off. That you’ve caught the emperor’s eye has lifted a great worry from This Old One’s heart..
Lu Zhiwan lowered her head with an awkward smile, afraid to meet the empress dowager’s gaze and reveal her guilt.

If the empress dowager learned that the emperor only held her hand under the covers, she’d probably start losing sleep from worry again.

“From the very first moment I saw you at the selection ceremony, I could tell you were blessed with good fortune. Now it seems my judgment was correct. His Majesty rarely shows interest in women, so you must seize this opportunity and strive to please him..
As Empress Dowager Gu spoke, she cast an expectant glance at Lu Zhiwan’s stomach: “It would be best if joyful news comes soon, to help the imperial family flourish and multiply
Lu Zhiwan sulkily sucked in her protruding belly: “..
This was all the chicken, duck, fish, and meat she had eaten through her own efforts—certainly no imperial heirs here.

After a harmonious lunch, Lu Zhiwan took her leave from the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility.

Looking at the large pile of rewards carried by the palace servants behind her, she still felt as if she were dreaming—it all seemed quite unreal.

This didn’t feel like a consort paying respects to the Empress Dowager at all. It was more like a junior visiting an enthusiastic aunt’s home—eating, drinking, and taking gifts. Before leaving, the aunt even held her hand, reluctant to let go, and urged: “Remember to eat more when you return, and come visit again when you have time
On the way back to Liuxia Pavilion, Lu Zhiwan didn’t take the sedan chair. Instead, she walked slowly with her hands on her waist to aid digestion, chatting idly with Qiurong Gugu along the way—

“Gugu, the Empress Dowager is so different from what I imagined..
“How so?”

“She’s too gentle, too kind—completely without the airs of an Empress Dowager…” Lu Zhiwan shook her head, dismissing the images of empress dowagers from various films and dramas, then leaned closer to Qiurong Gugu and whispered: “Is the Empress Dowager really from the same family as Gu Guifei?”

Could Gu Guifei have been adopted? Otherwise, how could their personalities be so vastly different.

Qiurong Gugu was momentarily stunned, then understanding her meaning, she covered her mouth with a light laugh before lowering her voice to match: “Although both are women of the Gu family, the Empress Dowager and Gu Guifei grew up in different circumstances, so their temperaments naturally differ
“Was the Gu family of the past very different from now?”

“Of course. When the Empress Dowager entered the palace, it coincided with Old Master Gu’s serious illness. The Gu residence was in decline, and the previous emperor was exclusively fond of Zhen Guifei at that time. Although the Empress Dowager was the legitimate empress, she was neglected and treated as a mere figurehead. Fortunately, Gu Gelao—the Empress Dowager’s elder brother—was intelligent and ambitious. He rose from a minor Hanlin Academy scholar to enter the Grand Secretariat, eventually becoming a chief minister of state. Gu Guifei was born in better times—she never suffered any hardships from birth, so naturally she became more willful..
Lu Zhiwan understood: “So that’s how it was
After chatting intermittently for a while longer, Lu Zhiwan grew tired from walking and boarded the sedan chair, returning to Liuxia Pavilion with all the rewards.

Xia He had been eagerly waiting at the entrance. Spotting the sedan chair from afar, her face immediately lit up with joy: “Mistress has returned!”

The other two palace maids and eunuchs in the pavilion were also craning their necks at the door. As soon as the sedan chair landed, they hurried forward to greet her, offering flattering and auspicious words: “Your servants pay respects to the Honored Lady! We congratulate our mistress on her glorious promotion and continuous imperial favor!”

Lu Zhiwan glanced over their fawning faces but paid them no mind, walking directly toward Xia He instead. A soft smile curved her eyes: “The Empress Dowager bestowed many fine things upon me. Come inside with me to look at them
Touched by her mistress’s closeness, Xia He’s eyes reddened slightly: “Yes
The servants from the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility soon placed the Empress Dowager’s rewards in the main room and respectfully withdrew.

Lu Zhiwan arranged a room for Qiurong Gugu. Though she initially intended to have Xia He help with organizing, the other two maids and eunuchs eagerly volunteered, taking up brooms and cloths to clean. Lu Zhiwan let them be, instead having Xia He accompany her inside to inventory the rewards.

“Oh my, this silk is truly beautiful. This gardenia-colored bolt should be made into a light gown for you, my lady. It would be both sheer and eye-catching when worn in summer
“My lady, look quickly! This gold and ruby lilac hairpin is exquisitely crafted. The petals are engraved so realistically they look alive
“Wow, there are so many tonics too? Why are there red threads mixed in this bird’s nest? Could this be the legendary golden thread blood bird’s nest that costs as much as gold?”

Xia He buzzed around the pile of rewards like a little bee, exclaiming in wonder. Meanwhile, Lu Zhiwan lay lazily by the couch, her eyes curved in a smile: “Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is not only beautiful and eloquent, but also so generous with her gifts. She’s practically a living bodhisattva..
Having benefited from her kindness, Lu Zhiwan felt she was growing fond of Empress Dowager Gu. Her praises for the Empress Dowager flowed one after another, unstoppable.

After listening for a while, Xia He couldn’t help but tease: “My lady, you’ve been praising the Empress Dowager all this time without mentioning His Majesty once. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were attending the Empress Dowager at bedtime last night instead
“You bold girl, daring to tease me now.” Lu Zhiwan laughed and scolded lightly. But Xia He’s remark brought Xiao Jingting’s image to her mind. She touched her chin with slender fingers, considering her words: “His appearance is quite handsome, it’s just his temperament..
So strange and utterly unpredictable.

“Isn’t it said that sons take after their mothers? But I see His Majesty resembles the Empress Dowager neither in temperament nor appearance
Empress Dowager Gu had almond-shaped eyes, while the Emperor had phoenix eyes. Could he have taken after the late Emperor?

As Lu Zhiwan mused to herself, Xia He voiced her confusion: “Has my lady forgotten? His Majesty isn’t the Empress Dowager’s biological son, so naturally he doesn’t resemble her
Lu Zhiwan was taken aback: “Huh?”

“Everyone knows His Majesty’s birth mother was Lady Xu, a Talented Lady. Unfortunately, she fell ill and passed away shortly after giving birth to His Majesty, who was then brought to the Empress Dowager’s palace to be raised.” Xia He frowned, looking at Lu Zhiwan with concern. “Has my lady forgotten even this? Perhaps we should have an Imperial Physician examine you
“Um…” Lu Zhiwan awkwardly rubbed her nose. Just as she was about to brush it off, a sudden knock came from outside, giving her an opportunity to change the subject: “Xia He, go see who it is
“Yes.” Xia He responded and turned toward the door.

It was Qiurong Gugu who entered. After paying respects to Lu Zhiwan, she stated her purpose: “This humble servant’s luggage is still in the back chamber of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. May I request Your Ladyship’s permission to return and retrieve it?”

“Of course.” Lu Zhiwan nodded. “Do you have much to carry? Let Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Binzi accompany you to help
“Thank you, Your Ladyship. Then this humble servant will accept your kind offer
Qiurong Gugu bowed in gratitude. Before leaving, she seemed to remember something, paused, and turned back to ask Lu Zhiwan: “This humble servant might encounter His Majesty when returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Does Your Ladyship have any message you’d like me to convey?”

A message for the Emperor? Lu Zhiwan immediately sat up straight, her expression turning serious.

Based on her observations throughout the day, this Qiurong Gugu seemed to enjoy the Emperor’s trust. Though she didn’t quite understand why the Emperor had sent Qiurong Gugu to serve her… Could it be that he had truly fallen for her at first sight and sent his trusted maid to care for her? Or was the man up to something else, sending someone to monitor her?

Whatever the case, Lu Zhiwan was determined to steadfastly maintain her “infatuated, love-brained favored consort” persona for now! If the day came when she could no longer keep up the act, she would reconsider then.

Returning to her senses, Lu Zhiwan put on the expression of a young wife with budding affection and spoke shyly: “If Auntie Qiurong happens to meet His Majesty, please tell him that although this humble consort has only been separated from him for half a day, it feels as unbearable as three long years. I long to see His Majesty again soon to ease the pain of longing
Having said this, as if overwhelmed by shyness, she let out a delicate whimper and covered her face with both hands—

Ugh, so nauseating, I can’t keep this up anymore.

Xia He and Qiurong Gugu exchanged glances: “…..
The Jieyu is truly… passionate and straightforward, unconstrained by trivialities.

After a brief silence, Qiurong Gugu lowered her head and responded: “Rest assured, Jieyu, this servant will definitely convey your feelings