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The day is slow and peaceful. You almost forget that this is the dangerous palace. You understand that this peace won't last long. Might as well enjoy while you still can. You take a basket and go to the pond to pick lotus, but a dog barks at you, making you startled.
Xiu Ying: (What, there's a dog? I'm not scared of anything, except dogs!)
It's always at the worst of luck with you. A little black dog runs towards you. You try to hide behind a tree, but that does not help. It still runs to you.
Xiu Ying: Don't come! I don't have food! Get out of here! Leave!
You panic and try to dodge. After a while, you see that the dog is interested in your basket, so you throw it away, As expected, the dog runs towards the basket. Just as you breathe in relief, someone starts scolding.
Noble Consort: How dare you! What did you do to my dog?
Xiu Ying: (Just my luck. It's bad enough to encounter a dog, let alone the Noble Consort's dog)
You didn't do anything wrong, but you still need to give the Noble Consort an explanation. What should you do?
Xiu Ying: Greeting Noble Consort. I did not harm the dog.
Maid: [Jumps out] I saw everything, Your Highness. She tried to throw the basket at you dog!
Xiu Ying: [Explain] I'm scared of dogs, and I only passed the basket to the dog because it likes the basket.
The maid beside the Noble Consort holds the dog in her arms and brushes its hair. She looks at you sinisterly.
Maid: He's a good boy. Why would you be scared? I think you want to hurt him!
Xiu Ying: I've always been scared of dogs. I don't want to hurt it.
Maid: How would I know that?
The Noble Consort is arrogant, and so is her maid. They try to give you a hard time by claiming you want to hurt the dog. You explain as best as you can to prove you innocence.
Xiu Ying: You see, the dog is in perfect health.
Maid: [Butts in] We don't know if he's been injured internally.
Yet another stranger being so hostile to you. Now you know why they say "a dog's temper is up to the master". You try your best to remain civil.
Xiu Ying: Why don't we get the imperial physician here and see if he's been hurt. I'll accept my punishment if he is.
Maid: You should be punished just for being so hostile towards the dog!
Xiu Ying: The Noble Consort hasn't spoken yet, what gives you the right to start trouble?
You look at her calmly. She gets scared and looks to her mistress. The Noble Consort doesn't show much expression as she listens to the two of you. You still want to speak, but the Noble Consort begins.
Noble Consort: That's enough. I don't want to hear any excuses.
Xiu Ying: [Hopelessly] Your Highness, I really wasn't trying to hurt the dog...
Noble Consort: [Impatient] Enough! If anything happens to my dog. I'll have you pay with your life! Get the imperial physician. You better pray he's okay.
You are forced to kneel as the Noble Consort leaves with a perfectly fine dog. You've long heard that the Noble Consort is arrogant. It doesn't matter what you want to say. As long as she wants to punish you, she will. The sun burns. You get woozy. Shi Lian sneaks over and brings you some water.
Xiu Ying: [Thankfully] Thank you, Shi Lian.
Shi Lian: The Noble Consort always does as she says. That's her new dog, her baby. She sees the dog's life above people's. Sorry about everything.
Xiu Ying: I'm fine. Can you help me with something?
You whisper to Shi Lian. Then as she leaves, you wave. You don't believe that you have such bad luck. The person behind everything must have been busy all this time.
