"Emperor, I wish to visit the Exotic Beast Garden," the Virtuous Concubine softly said, "I want to raise a kitten."
"Alright, then go to the Exotic Beast Garden. I rember so subjugated state sent us a few cats a few days ago, and the colors of their eyes are different. Go have a look. If you like one, pick it," the Emperor said with a smile.
"Hmm, thank you, Emperor." The Virtuous Concubine smiled sweetly, gazing affectionately at the Emperor’s handso face. Her heart was truly filled with the sweetness of honey. Such a handso Emperor, yet so fond of her; she felt incredibly lucky and blissful.
The Emperor climbed onto the palanquin, and the Virtuous Concubine boarded her soft sedan chair following behind.
Even she, the most favored, could not sit on the Emperor’s palanquin. The Emperor was a man who adhered to rules.
Upon arrival at the Exotic Beast Garden, the staff rushed out to greet them.
The Virtuous Concubine successfully chose the kitten she fancied, one entirely snow-white, fluffy, with two eyes indeed of different colors—one blue and one green—leaving her amazed.
After selecting the kitten, the Virtuous Concubine playfully expressed a desire to see the white peacock in the Exotic Beast Garden.
The Emperor also liked that white peacock, for it was exceptionally beautiful when it spread its tail. The unfortunate thing was, this white peacock was proud; more often than not, when the Emperor accompanied his concubines to look at the peacock, they would rely see it leisurely strolling within its designated garden, not even glancing at them, let alone spreading its tail for them. The two eunuchs responsible for feeding the peacock exerted every effort, and only when the peacock was in a good mood would it slightly spread its tail.
Despite that, the white peacock remained one of the most popular animals in the Exotic Beast Garden.
The Virtuous Concubine pursed her lips, smiling mischievously, "I hope the white peacock is in a good mood today and will share a smile with us."
"It should be," the Emperor, staring at the playfulness of the Virtuous Concubine, felt a tickle in his heart. He took her hand, softly saying, "Tonight, I’ll co to see you."
The Virtuous Concubine nodded bashfully, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Led by the Emperor, they walked to the garden where the white peacock was kept, only to find it empty, even underneath the shade of the trees.
The Chief Eunuch went looking for the two young eunuchs responsible for feeding the white peacock but could not find them.
"Where are they?" The Chief Eunuch summoned the Chief Eunuch of the Exotic Beast Garden to inquire about the whereabouts of the two young eunuchs who fed the peacock.
With a puzzled expression, the Chief Eunuch of the Exotic Beast Garden replied, "They went to the Empress Palace to help take care of the white peacock."
"What?" The Chief Eunuch was equally bewildered, "What did you say?"
"The Empress visited the Exotic Beast Garden two days ago and took the white peacock away," answered the Chief Eunuch of the Exotic Beast Garden.
The Chief Eunuch was at a loss for words. The Emperor and Empress had a fight the day before yesterday, and now the Empress had taken away the white peacock favored by the Emperor and Concubine. What would the Emperor do? The Chief Eunuch felt incapable of imagining.
"What did you say?" The Emperor, hearing the Chief Eunuch’s report, almost questioned if there was sothing wrong with his ears. The animals in the Exotic Beast Garden were for royal viewing; small animals could be taken and raised, but no one had ever taken a large animal away: it was dangerous, difficult to feed, and lacked an appropriate place.
Could the Empress have really taken the white peacock away?
"To Zhaoyang Palace!" the Emperor declared furiously.
The Virtuous Concubine followed behind the Emperor, intending to go along. Why go? Of course, to see the bustle involving the Empress. The Emperor was thunderously angry; what punishnt would the Empress face? The Virtuous Concubine was keenly eager to see it with her own eyes.
The Emperor turned to the Virtuous Concubine, saying, "Beloved Consort, you should return first, and I’ll co to see you tonight."
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