The next day, Jiang Yunshu took Yuancheng to pick out a dog.
The moment Yuancheng saw a two-month-old puppy, he couldn’t take another step.
Jiang Yunshu asked the kennel eunuch, "What kind of dog is this? How big will it grow?"
The eunuch replied, "This is a hunting hound. It won’t grow too large—slender in build, excellent for hunting."
"A hunting hound?" Jiang Yunshu frowned. "Wouldn’t keeping it in the palace be a bit… beneath it?"
Hearing this, Yuancheng immediately grew anxious. "I’ll take the puppy running! Every day, we’ll run together!"
Jiang Yunshu could tell—Yuancheng adored this little dog.
She patted his head. "You’re already busy with studies and martial training every day. Adding puppy runs to that—won’t you be exhausted? Can you keep it up?"
Yuancheng nodded vigorously. "I won’t be tired! I can do it!"
"The puppy and I will run together, grow up together, and see who gets bigger faster!"
Jiang Yunshu smiled and agreed, withholding the fact that the puppy would undoubtedly outpace him.
Yuancheng was overjoyed. His mother had said yes—he had his very own puppy now!
"What should I name you?" Yuancheng carried the puppy back to his palace and spent the whole night brainstorming. The next day, he told Jiang Yunshu he’d decided on "Zhuifeng" (Chasing Wind).
Jiang Yunshu laughed. "Sounds more like a horse’s name."
Yuancheng’s eyes widened in surprise—how had she guessed? He’d actually been inspired by the names of his mother’s and Xie Lin’s horses the night before.
"It’s a great name!" Yuancheng insisted. "He runs as fast as the wind!"
Jiang Yunshu smiled and nodded.
Soon, the palace maids reported to Jiang Yunshu that every night after lights-out, Yuancheng would pretend to sleep briefly, thinking he’d fooled the attendants, before silently slipping out of bed to carry Zhuifeng up and cuddle with him.
Zhuifeng, however, had been well-trained by the kennel eunuch. He knew his own bed and understood he wasn’t supposed to sleep on a human’s. Every time Yuancheng placed him on the bed, Zhuifeng would immediately jump down.
Undeterred, Yuancheng kept bringing him back, clutching him tightly to prevent escape.
Being just a puppy, Zhuifeng’s little mind grew confused after days of this. He forgot his training and began sleeping in Yuancheng’s bed every night.
At dawn, before Yuancheng woke, Zhuifeng would jump down first. Thus, it took the maids many days to discover the nightly arrangement—and when they did, they were horrified, rushing to inform Jiang Yunshu.
Jiang Yunshu simply laughed. "No need for alarm. I’ll go see for myself tonight."
That evening, she and Xie Lin quietly entered Yuancheng’s bedchamber and found him sound asleep with Zhuifeng in his arms.
The dog, ever alert, pricked his ears and opened his eyes at their entrance.
Jiang Yunshu watched for a while, noting how Zhuifeng never resisted when Yuancheng—a restless sleeper—rolled onto or squished him. The pup would just wriggle free and find a new spot.
Reassured, she permitted Zhuifeng to sleep with Yuancheng nightly.
Xie Lin, fastidious as ever, scowled at the scene and left in disapproval.
Jiang Yunshu instructed the pup’s caretaker eunuch, "From now on, wash Zhuifeng’s paws every night before bed."
Initially, Yuancheng had no idea his secret had been uncovered. He believed he’d guarded it perfectly.
Sleeping with his dog at night and running together by day, his appetite improved, and he grew taller even faster!
Originally, Yuancheng’s height was measured monthly—a habit of Jiang Yunshu’s, who marked his growth on a pillar.
After getting Zhuifeng, though, monthly measurements weren’t enough. He ordered the maids to measure him and the pup every ten days, racing to see who’d grow quicker.
Eating heartily, running tirelessly, and training diligently, Yuancheng was certain he’d outpace the dog.
Three months later, he had indeed shot up—but Zhuifeng had transformed from puppy to full-grown hound.
Furious, Yuancheng refused to measure his height for an entire year!
