Why Harem Intrigue When You Can Just Raise a Dog Instead

le to fiddle with him.  During this time frame, the virtuous consort’s change perplexed him.

This woman considerately prepared him a delicious smooth minced meat congee, almost making the Emperor Zhou’wu who has ate half a month of dog food shed tears.  This woman allowed him to eat on the table and not drive him away to a damp dark corner.  This woman took on the job of bathing him herself, gentle and experienced in the process, not a bit like the impatient and crass students of the Taming Enclosure.
This woman used a gentle voice and soft tone to talk to him, with a peaceful and sincere attitude, as if she were facing a human.  Or more exactly, as if she were facing a child.

Emperor Zhou’wu fixed his gaze with on the virtuous consort’s gentle brows and eyes without blinking an eye, feeling incredibly complicated.
Was this still the capricious and stringent Meng Sangyu who forced the empress to death, suppresses the Noble Consort, and surmounts the inner palace? With this entrancing smile, eyes full of spirit, he can barely recognize her.

However, after getting tossed around all day, Emperor Zhou’wu was already too tired to investigate.  In the warmth of the blazing brazier and the gentle petting of the virtuous consort, he soon doze off into sleep.  This was the first time in half a month that he was able to sleep so sweetly and deeply.

But when the virtuous consort carefully laid him into the basket, the highly alert Emperor still immediately woke up.
It wasn’t until after the virtuous consort quietly shifted away that he opened his dark black eyes, gazing at her back with complicated eyes for a long time.

Pulling at the little cloth on top of his stomach, Emperor Zhou’wu reflected on his toasty fresh dumb name.  A little humiliated, a little helpless, but also a little comforted.

A’Bao, heart’s treasure?  What stupid name is this?  She really is an uncultured daughter of a general after all, not a single bit eloquence.
He wanted to snort a laugh, but when he discovered that he could only make a soft and sweet whine, Emperor Zhou’wu’s face turned green then white.
He angrily slapped at the little cloth on his stomach with his paws and slowly closed his eyes.

A quarter till four, the skies were still gray, but dawn was already breaking in the east.  There wouldn’t be much time before the warm light of dawn shined upon the land.  At five, it would be time to go to Feng’luan Palace to pay respects to Noble Consort Li.

Half a year ago, the empress experienced labor complications, giving birth to a stillborn fetus, an already formed little prince.
Not long after, the empress also passed away depressed, leaving her just seven year old daughter, the fourth princess.  The empress dowager was disheartened due to a coup preceding the enthronement of Emperor Zhou’wu, move to Thousand Buddha Mountain to worship, and has not overlooked wordly matters since long before.  Thus, the inner palace’s two highest positions have been unfilled.  Naturally, Noble Consort Li with the highest position following would preside over the six palaces in their stead.

Noble Consort Li’s father is the current court’s left chancellor, his power overspreading through the court.
In addition, Noble Consort Li consecutively gave birth to the second prince and third princess, one twelve years and one ten years in age, both healthy and clever.
Position, power, children, all that the concubines of the inner palace could dream for, Noble Consort Li already had.
She truly could be called the champion of the inner palace.

But this champion appeared slightly groundless before Virtuous Consort Meng Sangyu.

Meng Sangyu was seventeen this year, a flowering age, a vibrant and gorgeous beauty.
Her father Meng Changxiong is the distinguished gallant Jian’wei General of the Zhou, with the power of a hundred thousand brigades in his hands, perennially stationed at the borders.  The reason the Zhou dynasty has flourished under the constant aggravation of the barbarians is completely due to the unstoppable Meng Family Army under Meng Changxiong.

The Meng family rose to prominence from their military accomplishments.  During the era  of Founding Emperor Zhou they already held the position of senior official in the court, receiving a hereditary title of Duke of Protection.  In the Zhou empire, not just the powerful left and right ministers, even Emperor Zhou’wu has to give considerable respect to the Duke of Protection.

Clever, beautiful with a powerful background, Meng Sangyu became a nail in the eye and a thorn in the side of a plethora of concubines in the various palaces.
But after fighting for three years, they not only were unable to remove this thorn, but also became a stepping stone for her.
The emperor didn’t find fault with her even after she forced the empress to death.  Who would still dare to cause trouble for her?

In front of the forceful and unreasonable, militant-like virtuous consort, these concubines just felt spent.

At this point in time, the legendary shrewd ‘favored consort’ Meng Sanyu was slowly awakening to the quiet calling of Head Nurse Feng.  She propped up her upper body and lazily leaned on the bed frame.  Her drowsy eyes open only a slit, she let Head Nurse Feng wipe her face and hands with a warm cloth.

With her face refreshed, she stepped barefoot into a pair of embroidered shoes which dangled off her feet as she walked to her vanity table and let a little palace maid arrange her hair.  On her upper body hung a scarlet colored small dudou, just barely covering her round and prominent breasts.

(TN: These descriptions have just escalated veerrry quickly, but anyways, for anyone who does not know what a dudou is, it’s basically ancient Chinese undergarment.
Fun fact, it’s usually red and have something embroidered on it.  For those who are curious, feel free to search it up, do be warned that it is definitely still considered underwear in the modern day as well.)

She wore a pair of white silk bloomers on her lower body.  The light thin fabric stuck tightly to her skin, drawing out the elegant curve of her slender legs.  This half covering, half hiding manner of dress was more alluring than not wearing any clothing, the little palace maids serving her on the side already flushed red, but could not resist moving their gaze to the alluring maiden.

“Your ladyship, it is already fall.
The mornings are cold, you should wear more.” A thread of cold wind entered the sleeping quarters from the cracks of the half shut window.  Head Nurse Feng furrowed her eyebrows and immediately grabbed a chiffon cardigan for Meng Sangyu to slip on.

Meng Songyu let Head Nurse Feng move her around with a bored expression until her face lit up at the sight of Bi Shui who was holding A’Bao.