The Dog Emperor Has Gained Telepathy - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Fortunately, Xiao Jingting stopped laughing after just two chuckles. Otherwise, Lu Zhiwan truly feared she wouldn’t be able to control the primal rage within her and end up doing something like beating up this dog emperor.

Your Majesty, my face has become like this, and you’re still laughing! Lu Zhiwan pouted her small mouth, complaining with feigned grievance and coquettishness: How could you be so mean.
Xiao Jingting, who had just contained his laughter, felt another wave of amusement rising. Suppressing the curl of his lips, he adopted a stern expression: Speak properly, don’t make me laugh again.
Where had she made him laugh? Lu Zhiwan rolled her eyes inwardly. No wonder he remained a virgin at an age when others were already fathers! If he weren’t the emperor, he’d be destined to grow old alone and unloved!

Though she thought this, she obediently toned down some of her affected sweetness. With red-rimmed eyes, she slowly recounted the matter of there being a traitor in Lifeng Palace.

As she spoke, she even mustered the courage to take two steps forward, pressing her flushed little face close before Xiao Jingting’s eyes, blinking her dark pupils pitifully: Your Majesty, look! This concubine’s lovely, jade-like face nearly got ruined!
Xiao Jingting didn’t mind her sudden proximity. His narrow eyes lowered, sweeping indifferently over her face.

Her features were delicate and exquisite—even with her reddened skin and the rash that had appeared, the longer one looked, the more strangely pleasing she became.

It was just that this woman was truly shameless, never missing an opportunity to praise herself even at such a time.

Raising two long fingers, Xiao Jingting pressed them against her forehead, pushing her back bit by bit, his expression aloof: Standing so close—are you trying to give me nightmares tonight?
Lu Zhiwan’s lips twitched. Had this man been raised on arsenic? His mouth was so venomous.

Yet the next moment, she heard him call out loudly toward the door: Someone, summon the Imperial Physician.
Lu Zhiwan: … Fine, she’d take back her previous thought.

With the emperor’s command, the Imperial Hospital naturally didn’t dare delay. Before long, an Imperial Physician hurried in.

Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless fortune and peace.
Rise.
Beside the sun-warmed long couch, Xiao Jingting set aside the memorial in his hand onto the nearby flat-topped table and lifted his eyelids slightly: Examine her face.
Not here to treat His Majesty? Imperial Physician Zhang was puzzled inwardly, but when he lifted his head and saw the graceful figure sitting diagonally across from the emperor, he couldn’t help showing a flicker of surprise: How did Her Ladyship’s face end up in such a state?
Uh, I was caught off guard and harmed by a vile person. Lu Zhiwan sheepishly repeated the incident with the poisoned rouge, ending with an anxious question for the physician: My face… it can return to how it was before, right?
Imperial Physician Zhang examined it more carefully and answered cautiously: At this moment, your humble servant doesn’t dare make a hasty judgment. Could Your Ladyship please allow me to inspect that box of poisoned rouge?
Lu Zhiwan had brought the box of poisoned rouge with her and immediately handed it over for Imperial Physician Zhang’s inspection.

After a thorough examination, Imperial Physician Zhang’s expression turned grave: This has been mixed with Purple Poison Herb Powder. Using it two or three times can cause facial skin to ulcerate, ooze pus, and develop sores. It’s an extremely malicious method.
Lu Zhiwan’s heart tightened: Then what should I do?
Imperial Physician Zhang reassured her: There’s no need to be too nervous, Noble Lady. Although this powder is toxic, fortunately, you discovered it in time. Though you’ve developed some red rashes now, with internal herbal decoctions and external ointment applications, your face should return to its original state after some time.
Only then did Lu Zhiwan breathe a sigh of relief. Although the dog emperor didn’t care much about looks, she did! If this pretty face of hers suffered even the slightest damage, she could never forgive herself.

As long as it can recover, that’s fine.
Freed from the fear of disfigurement, Lu Zhiwan could now wholeheartedly play the victim. After the Imperial Physician wrote the prescription and withdrew, she pinched her thigh hard, squeezed out two tears, and threw herself into Xiao Jingting’s arms: Your Majesty, I was so frightened just now! If my face had truly been ruined, I would have lost all chance to serve you in the future. What meaning would such a life hold? Thankfully, Heaven is merciful and could not bear to separate two lovers like us…
Lovers?

Xiao Jingting narrowed his dark eyes, about to speak, when the woman in his arms continued with a sob: Your Majesty may not know this, but after you summoned me only twice, many in the rear palace grew jealous. These past few days, since you haven’t called for me, they assumed I had fallen out of favor and came to bully me again. What wrong have I done? I am merely a woman deeply devoted to Your Majesty. Is loving you my crime, that they must scheme and harm me like this?
Xiao Jingting’s temple throbbed. He looked down at the tearful, flushed face in his embrace and found himself at a loss for words.

Since childhood, countless people had flattered him, but no woman had ever been like her—seizing every opportunity to spout such embarrassing words as devotion, affection, and love.
He didn’t believe her, of course, but each time she spoke this way, her shamelessness pushed his understanding of her limits further.

Curious about how far she would go, he waited until Lu Zhiwan finished her tearful display before speaking calmly: If it was my neglect that gave others the chance to harm you, then until the rash on your face heals, you shall remain in the Hall of Mental Cultivation to recuperate. As for the one who secretly harmed you, I will find them and punish them accordingly.
Hearing this, Lu Zhiwan, who had been delicately sobbing moments before, forgot to cry. After a dazed moment, she lifted her face from the man’s broad chest, her eyes glistening: Really?
Looking at her tear-streaked, flushed face, Xiao Jingting pressed his thin lips together: The word of an emperor is final. Now, you must first… Release me.

Before he could finish, the flushed face broke into a smile, and she spread her arms, throwing herself at him again: Your Majesty is so wonderful! I love you so much!
The sudden impact sent Xiao Jingting stumbling toward the couch. Had he not braced himself in time, she might have pinned him to the ground—

In broad daylight, with eunuchs and palace maids present, did this Lu woman have no sense of propriety or shame?

His breath slightly uneven, Xiao Jingting gritted his teeth: Get off me!
The woman on top of him froze, then hurriedly pushed herself up: Please don’t be angry, Your Majesty. I was just so overjoyed, I couldn’t help myself.
As Lu Zhiwan scrambled to her feet with an awkward smile, she stole a glance at the man’s waist, adorned with a gold-and-silver inlaid belt. Who would have thought this dog emperor had such a nice waist? Had he trained it, or was he naturally strong?

Before she could look a second time, a large hand landed on her head, twisting her face away like a screw. The man’s tone was flat: Though I permit you to stay in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, until your face recovers, you will rest in the side chamber.
Lu Zhiwan let out an Ah, sounding somewhat disappointed: Your Majesty…
Xiao Jingting gave her no chance to wheedle, signaling Yu Mingjiang with his eyes: Grand Companion, take her away.
Having achieved her goal and unexpectedly gained the chance to recuperate by the emperor’s side, Lu Zhiwan knew when to stop and did not linger any longer.

Your Majesty, please continue with your duties. This humble consort takes her leave. After properly paying her respects to the aloof man by the couch, she withdrew with Yu Mingjiang.

Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, within half a day, news of Lady Lu Jieyu intercepting the emperor to lodge a complaint and receiving permission to recuperate in the Hall of Mental Cultivation had spread throughout the Eastern and Western Six Palaces.

In an instant, the various consorts reacted with shock, envy, jealousy, and of course, fear.

Especially when the palace maid from Lihfeng Palace who had betrayed her mistress by tampering with the cosmetics was dragged to the Western Alley and beaten to death in front of the supervising eunuchs and maids from each palace, those with ulterior motives grew even more panicked.

The following afternoon, Yu Mingjiang respectfully presented a confession letter: Your Majesty ordered this old servant to investigate this matter, and I dared not neglect it. This is the confession left by Zhao Shi, Beauty of Changchun Palace, admitting that she instructed the palace maid Gui Lan to poison the rouge. Zhao Shi has now taken her own life by hanging out of fear of punishment. Her body remains in the side hall of Changchun Palace. I await Your Majesty’s instructions.
At that time, the emperor was wearing loose black robes, sitting cross-legged by the couch, holding a pure white Linqing Lion Cat in his arms. Upon hearing Yu Mingjiang’s report, he merely glanced indifferently at the confession letter on the tray, showing no interest in reading it, and lowered his eyes as if it were none of his concern: Poisoning to harm a palace consort is already a crime, and taking one’s own life without permission adds further offense. Handle it according to palace regulations.
Your Majesty is absolutely right, Yu Mingjiang said. Should this matter be reported to Noble Consort Gu?
The emperor let out a meaningful scoff. Do you think Zhao Shi had the courage to poison on her own?
Yu Mingjiang lowered his eyelids, not daring to respond.

Enough. Take this confession letter to show Lady Lu. This matter can be considered settled.
Yes. Yu Mingjiang acknowledged. Before withdrawing, he remembered something and softly added, Your Majesty, this Zhao Shi was also from Yuezhou. Her father, Zhao Zhiming, currently serves as the Prefect of Yuezhou.
The large hand stroking the cat’s head paused, and then the emperor’s calm voice sounded unhurriedly: As a prefect, failing to properly educate his daughter shows he is unworthy of his position.
He then bent down, deeply inhaling the scent of the cat as if greatly relaxed, a lazy expression appearing between his handsome brows: Strip Zhao Zhiming of his prefect’s cap. As for his successor… let Lady Lu’s father take the position.
Upon hearing this, Yu Mingjiang clasped his hands and said with a smile, Your Majesty’s grace is profound. Lady Lu Jieyu will surely be overjoyed to hear this news.
Thinking of the woman’s delighted and excited appearance, Xiao Jingting’s eyebrows lifted slightly, though his tone remained unchanged: Go.
This old servant will go at once. Yu Mingjiang quickly withdrew.

Xiao Jingting leaned leisurely against the bright yellow pillow embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns, stroking the kitten’s head intermittently, his voice very soft: Little Orchid, when do you think she will come to express gratitude?
The little white cat, thoroughly enjoying its owner’s petting: Meow~
I guess within the time it takes for one incense stick to burn at most.
Meow!
You think so too?
Meow meow.
Alright, then let’s wait and see. If we guess correctly, you’ll get two extra fish treats tonight.
Before long, Lu Zhiwan indeed arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, even faster than he had anticipated. However, her reaction was completely different from the tearful joy he had imagined—

She performed a proper bow toward him, then slowly lifted her delicate face where the red rashes had somewhat faded. Her gaze, fixed on him, was filled with sincerity: This humble consort dares to implore Your Majesty to revoke the decree and by no means appoint my father as the Prefect of Yuezhou!
Xiao Jingting looked at her, his thick eyebrows furrowing: Why?