Chapter Eleven

"Your Lordship, forgive this humble official for speaking plainly, but Grand Secretary Li must have felt deeply humiliated when he swept out. He toiled inside and out, selecting talent for you and seeking excellence, yet you offered him not a word of thanks for his efforts. You only worried about your 'Imperial Noble Consort,' so besotted with that cat that you could not tear yourself away. Were this humble official in his place, the grievance would take root in my heart too. In my view, you should untie the knot in Grand Secretary Li's heart and have a proper heart-to-heart with him."

"So he got prickly because he hasn't had a private heart-to-heart with Zhen? The Minister of Rites speaks sense. Mm. Zhen shall soothe his wounded little heart."

"Xiaoyang, why are you looking at me like that?" Long Ang, the Minister of Rites, blinked innocently.

"...Brother, Li probably won't be happy."

"Why not?" Long Ang, the Minister of Rites, tilted his head in puzzlement.

"...Being alone with the Holy Emperor would make anyone's balls ache, wouldn't it?" Shameless, despicable, filthy-minded, vindictive, capricious—those words had practically been invented for the Holy Emperor!

"How could that be? Your Lordship is a wonderful man. Being with him is a feast for the eyes, like bathing in a spring breeze; it leaves you refreshed from head to toe. That's why I've taught you since you were little: give yourself wholly to Your Lordship, be loyal to him, adore him, cherish him!"

"...I don't have the equipment for that!"

A note from the author:

The old hand said that if I wagged my tail and acted cute, lots and lots of fresh, adorable little comments would fall from the sky. Is that true? Stares at you with innocent eyes ~~ = 3=

Chapter Eleven

The pond in the Imperial Garden was clear to the bottom, with a few clusters of pink lotus dotting its green surface. Koi darted about as though they had caught the scent of dragon Qi. Swishing their brilliant crimson tails, they gathered beside the pavilion and leaped from the water to snatch the fish food that fell in little showers from above, bestowed by Imperial Grace.

In the pavilion, the "Imperial Noble Consort" lay curled beside a man's splendid shoes of gold-threaded brocade, her little belly round and swollen with pregnancy. She opened her mouth wide in a lazy yawn. The man bent to stroke her soft fur, then scooped her into his arms and brought her to his lips for a fond little nibble.

"Imperial Noble Consort, once Zhen has fed them their fill, Zhen shall let them feed you."

The "Imperial Noble Consort" was a Persian cat presented as tribute by an envoy from beyond the realm. At present, she was the only one who could be heavily pregnant and still enjoy the emperor's exclusive favor, outshining every beauty in the Inner Palace.

It was said that, to keep her beautiful and tender, the emperor had decided she should eat what would nourish her and ordered the imperial chef to serve her a whole koi at every meal. It was said that, to find a palace where she would be comfortable, the emperor let her choose for him whenever he drew a tablet at night. Whichever tablet her little paw struck, he spent the night in that imperial concubine's Bedchambers. It was said that the willful cat tired of the old and craved the new: she never chose any concubine's palace more than three times, and she was forever slipping outside the imperial palace, leading the emperor about as he scattered his affections far and wide.

No wonder every imperial concubine, eager to please the only man who mattered to her, carried an exquisitely groomed tomcat through the Imperial Garden each day. They were not looking for the emperor, only for his "Imperial Noble Consort." Whether by seduction or by force, if they could tie her heart to their Bedchambers and make her reluctant to leave their tomcat, would the emperor's heart not be theirs for the taking?

Did the Imperial Noble Consort have a favorite tomcat?

Yes, and no.

Like her master, she had no fixed favorite. She had no requirements for tomcats at all. She welcomed every newcomer, tired of old flames, and scattered her affections everywhere. With her proud little paws, she padded through the imperial palace, meowing as she built her own little Inner Palace.

But...

She liked men.

Though she was a female cat, she liked... exceptionally handsome men.

"...Your Majesty. Might I trouble you to have your Imperial Noble Consort get off me?" The moment his guard slipped, she had sprung from her master's arms onto him.

The emperor waved a gold-threaded sleeve and chuckled indulgently. "Little Jing, Zhen's Imperial Noble Consort has always liked you so much."

There was a sour note in his voice, though he sounded as if he were granting his blessing to an extraordinary, forbidden romance. Li Chenjing's mouth twitched. "I am terrified by the honor. Sorry for the trouble, Your Majesty, but please teach your Imperial Noble Consort some propriety."

"Heh, what does it matter? Zhen doesn't mind her tangling herself up with you. Zhen promises not to be jealous. Don't be so stubborn and prudish. Yield to her."

"..." Yield to a female cat? He was a full-grown man!

"Little Jing, do you know how many men want to cradle her in their arms and cherish her? That the Imperial Noble Consort deigns to nestle against your chest is a favor. You should be proud."

Indeed.

This lawless cat in heat, showered with all the favor of three thousand beauties, was particular about men... The man she liked had hair like silk and cool, frost-colored eyes. Every gesture carried a touch of aloof indifference. With a cold expression, his presence was commanding; when his lips curved, he radiated nobility. His long lashes trembled with a blink, and a mere glance held a thousand graces. He had a mature man's steady reserve, yet the jade-smooth skin of a young lord; his eyes were composed and manly, but when he smiled, he shone with the tender radiance of a maiden...

"That sounds less like a description of me than of a demon reborn."

"The Imperial Noble Consort does have lofty standards."

"..." Lofty standards were no excuse for going too far. Curling up in his arms was one thing, but what did she mean by sticking her tongue out at him? She was pregnant and still refused to behave? He wanted to sweep her away with one sleeve and send the little scourge of the realm flying into the pond to feed the fish!

Taking a deep breath and summoning every scrap of his self-restraint, Li Chenjing picked up the lovestruck cat and tossed her back into her master's arms. "Humans and cats walk different paths. Your Highness, please conduct yourself with dignity! Your Majesty, why did you summon me here alone? Please tell me at once!"

"Zhen has reviewed the list of newly admitted Academy Students. Thank you for your efforts, Grand Secretary Li."

"And?"

"And... Zhen knows you wanted to have a good, private, heart-to-heart with Zhen. Is that right?"