Chapter Forty-One: Spare the Dog for Its Master—This One Belongs to His Majesty

"Woof, woof, woof—"

Cui Yuanhai, Minister of the Ministry of War, frowned as he watched the imperial hound barking incessantly at him. However, his expression smoothed out almost immediately.

Chief Eunuch Li, clutching the leash attached to the hound, offered a smile that was awkward yet perfectly polite. "Ah, Minister, please don't be offended. This dog, the Emperor’s favorite, has one major flaw: it loves to bare its fangs and bark non-stop at anyone who isn't the Emperor himself."

He glanced back at the silent General of the Dragon Cavalry, Cui Shanling, and the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, Cui Shanyue. "Surely, as you watch this beast snapping at your father, you two generals wouldn't dream of striking it, would you?"

General Cui Shanling’s face was as dark as the bottom of a scorched pot, and he remained silent for a long moment. Deputy Commander Cui Shanyue’s face was grim, his eyes surging with such murderous intent that it seemed he truly wanted to draw his blade and hack the imperial hound to pieces right then and there.

"Chief Eunuch Li, you jest. This imperial hound belongs to His Majesty, after all."

Ultimately, Cui Yuanhai was a man of deep cunning. Facing such humiliation, he managed to suppress his inner rage, wearing a smile so flawless that even a critic as sharp as Chief Eunuch Li could find no fault.

"As the common saying goes, one must consider the master before beating a dog. Not to mention that His Majesty reigns over all under heaven—he is the supreme sovereign. This imperial hound is beyond noble; we would never harbor the slightest intention of rebellion or disrespect."

Having said this, he cast a sharp glance at his eldest son, Cui Shanling, and his second son, Cui Shanyue.

General Cui Shanling bowed slightly. "I, too, would never dare harbor such thoughts."

Deputy Commander Cui Shanyue cupped his fists, his voice booming: "And I would never dare harbor such thoughts either!"

Yet, the look in his eyes suggested he could devour someone alive.

The imperial hound held by Chief Eunuch Li barked even more ferociously, nearly snapping its leash to lunge at Deputy Commander Cui Shanyue. Facing the blatant malice of the hound, the Deputy Commander finally showed a hint of unease and retreated a few steps.

The obedient hound immediately sat down, lolling out its tongue, and scanned the three Cui men with the gaze of a jailer watching prisoners.

"Heh, look at this beast. Changes its mood in a heartbeat," Chief Eunuch Li remarked offhandedly, tugging at the leash. "Since the three of you have no intention of killing His Majesty’s 'vicious dog,' I shall take it back to report to the throne..."

With that, he glanced at a young eunuch nearby and scolded, "Useless! Can't even keep an eye on a dog? Go back to the palace and take your lashes!"

"Yes, Great Chief Eunuch!" the young eunuch replied, his voice thick with fake sobs.

However... to the three men present, those sobs sounded suspiciously like suppressed laughter. The faces of the Cui men grew even darker.

Curiously, right after Cui Yuanhai and his sons learned of the affair involving their daughter, Lady Cui, Chief Eunuch Li Juezhong had arrived with his men, claiming the Emperor’s hound had run into their estate. This led to the scene of veiled insults and metaphors.

But upon reflection, it was hardly strange.

The Eastern Depot was the Emperor’s dog. And now, the second daughter of the Cui family—the wife of Li Hu—had declared that she would ensure Li Wenxuan, a hundred-man commander of the Eastern Depot’s penal division, would not live to see tomorrow’s sun.

Was that not an attempt to slaughter the Emperor’s dog?

Emperor Wu, a man who loved a good spectacle, had brought the dog directly to the three Cui men. *Here! My dog is right here. Go ahead and kill it for me! Kill it! Why don't you kill it, damn you?*

Deputy Commander Cui Shanyue said with a sullen face, "Chief Eunuch, you really ought to keep a better watch on His Majesty’s hound. We recognize it, but those with ill intent might not. It would be quite unfortunate if someone were to slaughter it for food."

The threat was heavy. If they didn't do it themselves, there were plenty of others who would. Just like the high mortality rate of the Eastern Depot’s penal commanders—it was no accident, but a sign of someone secretly opposing the Emperor.

"Oh, the Deputy Commander’s concern is truly touching..." Chief Eunuch Li gestured with his orchid-shaped fingers, giggling like a flirtatious young woman. "As long as the people in your household, Minister, don't accidentally injure this beast, that’s fine. But as for outsiders..."

Chief Eunuch Li’s eyes gleamed like a lecherous man spotting a shapely woman swaying past him. "If they hurt this beast, you know what happens?"

"Poof—a swing of the executioner's blade, and everyone dies!"

With that "poof," the old eunuch sprayed a mouthful of saliva directly onto Deputy Commander Cui Shanyue’s face! Who told him to stand so close?

"You—" Cui Shanyue’s eyes bulged, nearly crushing the old eunuch's skull!

"Oh my, let me wipe that off for you. Why were you standing so close?" Seeing the overly enthusiastic Chief Eunuch Li leaning in, Cui Shanyue was so unnerved by the effeminate man that he retreated several steps.

Cui Yuanhai said with a cold face, "Chief Eunuch Li, you should return to report. His Majesty is waiting!"

Chief Eunuch Li finally gave a giggle, arched his fingers like a shy bride, shot a flirtatious look at Cui Yuanhai, and turned his back, swaying his hips as he walked away. "If anyone from the outside hurts His Majesty’s dog, for every one of them, we shall kill ten!"

He glanced back at Cui Shanyue, his gaze lingering with affected sentimentality. "I just hope I don't discover any connection between them and the people in this courtyard!"

The threat in these final words was no longer heavy—it was blunt.

*I, the Superintendent, know you have the means to find "unrelated" people to kill this whelp, but you had better not let me find a single trace. Once I find any connection between you! You will have to bear the thunderous fury of the dog's master!*

"Father, that old dog!"

Watching Chief Eunuch Li depart, Deputy Commander Cui Shanyue could no longer restrain himself and roared in a fit of rage.

"Third brother, show no disrespect to Father!" General Cui Shanling’s tiger-like eyes narrowed, and Cui Shanyue immediately calmed down. "But, Brother, look at how that castrated dog spouted such nonsense before us. It was far too arrogant!"

"And what if he is arrogant? Does he think such arrogance can protect that whelp?" Cui Yuanhai smiled with disdain, his eyes filled with contempt.

General Cui Shanling shook his head. "What possessed Second Sister to say in front of so many people that the Cui family would ensure this little beast wouldn't see tomorrow's sun?"

"If she truly wanted to do it, she shouldn't have done it in the daylight!" Cui Shanyue gritted his teeth. The castrated man was right; this was, after all, the Emperor’s dog!

"More than that, I am curious how this little beast managed to gather so many people to force your sister to go to the grave of Li Hu’s concubine." Cui Yuanhai stroked his fine black beard, his eyes full of contemplation.

"Could it be Li Hu?" Deputy Commander Cui Shanyue’s expression turned angry. "Did he scheme in the shadows, causing Second Sister to act so foolishly?"

"For all these years, Li Hu has had no other woman besides that concubine whom your sister forced to hang herself. And now, she wants to kill his flesh and blood..." The General’s eyes narrowed, his body radiating the aura of an enraged tiger. "If he holds a grudge and does such a thing, it is only reasonable."

"That beast Li Hu—without the support of our father and brother, how could a mere General who Smashes the Enemy hold the high position of General of the Western Expedition and enjoy such power and status today?" Deputy Commander Cui Shanyue began to curse.

Cui Yuanhai, however, was quite seasoned. He shot a reproachful glance at his third son. "Old Third, until the matter is clear, do not make such wild speculations about your brother-in-law..."

"Furthermore, since your sister has already spoken, ensuring this little beast does not see tomorrow's sun, as family, we should naturally help her finish the task."

Cui Shanyue gave a cruel smile, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. "Father, rest assured. Leave this to me. It will be flawless, and that old dog will find no trace of evidence!"

A young hundred-man commander in a blood-red cloak had already ridden his horse to the front of the Qingyun Pavilion.

It was dusk, and heavy snow was falling like goose feathers. The youth, his head and face shrouded by the blood-red cloak, walked into the Wanchun Pavilion under the gaze of the crowd, his gait steady, his posture upright, with twin blades strapped to his waist.