There is a happy inn in the capital.

Happiness lay beside the hospital bed, gently touching the dog's uninjured ear, and whispered...

"Godmother, why did that uncle hit the dog so hard? The dog was just hungry!"

Ping An clenched her little fists and angrily replied, "Because he's bad! A big bad guy!"

The middle-aged man who had been watching the commotion earlier had somehow joined them. Hearing this at the clinic entrance, he couldn't help but speak again.

"Little child, you can't say that. Humans are the most intelligent of all creatures, while animals are lowly. If you offend a human, it is only right that you be punished; this is the way of nature."

Li Shuchen pulled the two children to his side, squatted down, looked them straight in the eyes, and spoke in a gentle yet clear voice:

"Peace and happiness. Look, this world is vast, and it's not just us living here."

She pointed to the sparrows hopping on the branches outside the window, then gently touched the dog on the sickbed.

"There are birds flying in the sky, dogs and cats running on the ground, fish swimming in the water, and cows mooing in the fields... They are all part of this world, just like us, they get hungry, they feel pain, they feel happy, and they feel afraid."

"That uncle hit the dog because he felt dogs weren't as important as people and could be bullied at will, but that's wrong."

"We humans, because we are smarter, stronger, and more knowledgeable, are not meant to be the bosses who bully other lives."

She looked specifically at the middle-aged man, then back at the children, and thought, "This intelligence and strength should be used to care for the weak, protect those who cannot protect themselves, and make this world a better and warmer place."

"Just like now, when you saw the dog was injured, you felt sorry for it and wanted to help it. This is a very precious kindness. We love them and don't hurt them casually, not because we are afraid of them, but because we have this kindness in our hearts and know how to respect every life. Do you understand?"

Peace and happiness seemed to understand, but they nodded their little heads attentively.

Ping An thought for a moment and said, "Godmother, if I have meat buns in the future, I'll share half with the dog, and it won't steal them anymore."

Happiness also said, "From now on, I will pet the dog gently and won't pull its tail."

The middle-aged man at the door opened his mouth, looked at the two children's innocent faces and Li Shuchen's calm yet firm gaze, and finally awkwardly touched his nose, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Li Shuchen smiled and kissed the two children's foreheads.

"Yes, that's right. May we be safe and happy. From now on, you'll definitely be a very loving and kind child. As for this dog, once it recovers, your godmother will help you raise it. How about we name it... 'Laifu'? I hope its suffering will end and it will be blessed with good fortune from now on."

"Laifu! Good!" the two children clapped their hands happily.

Under the sunlight, the clinic was filled with the aroma of medicine. The injured dog twitched its nose gently in its sleep, as if dreaming of a warm embrace and plenty of food.

And two seeds of love and respect quietly took root in the pure hearts of the children.

After bandaging up the still weak Laifu, Li Shuchen brought it back to the backyard of the Happiness Inn. He placed it in a corner with a soft cushion, and then solemnly led Ping'an and Happiness to the stable.

She pointed to the tall and imposing Li Wanbai, who was elegantly chewing a bean cake, and said to the trembling Laifu...

"Look closely, this is Li Wanbai, a veteran of our inn's animal kingdom, the leader of horses, your boss."

Li Wanbai snorted, tilted her head slightly, and glanced at the skinny Laifu with her beautiful big eyes. She flicked her tail lightly, giving a reserved yet slightly arrogant greeting, as if to say...

"Hmm, new here? Looks pretty pathetic. From now on, follow me and behave yourself."

Laifu seemed to sense that Li Wanbai meant no harm, or perhaps it was soothed by Li Shuchen's exaggerated tone. It cautiously and very softly let out a "woof," then obediently lay back down on the soft cushion, its shiny black eyes surveying its new surroundings.

"Alright, now let's make a comfortable home for Laifu!"

Li Shuchen rolled up her sleeves, full of energy. She found some old planks, cotton, and sturdy coarse cloth, and with peace and happiness in her heart, she busied herself with chores in the open space of the backyard.

"Ping An, hand over that small wooden board! Yes!"

"Happiness is like stuffing cotton inside, stuffing it full and soft!"

"The nails need to be hammered flat, otherwise they'll scratch Laifu."

The two children were so busy their faces were flushed, but they were extremely excited.

Although the final product looks a bit crooked, and the mats are bulging and deflated in places, it was a huge project they completed by hand.

When Li Shuchen pushed the huge "doghouse" covered with thick cotton padding to a dry spot under the eaves, Laifu tentatively went inside, circled around twice, and then curled up contentedly, its tail wagging gently.

As the days went by, with careful feeding and unconditional love, Laifu changed at a visible pace.

Those horrific wounds scabbed over, fell off, and grew tender new skin and soft down.

The original dry, messy, blood-stained yellow fur gradually faded, replaced by a clean, fluffy, golden coat that shimmered with a healthy sheen in the sunlight.

It no longer cowers in fear, but becomes cheerful and lively. It wags its tail to greet every familiar person, chases its own tail in circles in the yard, and carefully rests its head on the knees of peace or happiness, begging for a pat.

Li Shuchen often watched Laifu, who was running wildly in the yard and looked like a ball of golden sunlight, and sighed at Gu Ziying, who came to the inn to play.

"Look, this is what it looks like to be loved. Being loved really makes you grow flesh and blood like crazy, and even your eyes sparkle."

That afternoon, Princess Changning, having a rare moment of leisure, strolled to the backyard of the Happiness Inn. Watching Li Shuchen directing the staff in drying a new batch of flowers, and Ping An and Xingfu happily chasing after Laifu nearby, she found a wicker chair, sat down, and poured herself a cup of Li Shuchen's homemade flower and fruit tea.

"You're living like a goddess more and more these days," Princess Changning said critically, taking a sip of tea. "The tea is alright, just a bit too sweet."

"If you don't like it too sweet, don't drink it," Li Shuchen said without turning his head. "What do you want? Are you eyeing those newly brewed grape wines in my cellar again?"

"Who cares about your lousy wine?" Princess Changning rolled her eyes, put down her teacup, and said casually, "I overheard something when I went to the palace to pay my respects to my aunt, the Empress, the other day."

"What's the rumor? Another imperial concubine selection? That's going to be exciting," Li Shuchen said dismissively.

“Bigger than that,” Princess Changning lowered her voice, glancing at the children playing nearby to make sure they couldn’t hear, “The Emperor… seems to be considering abdicating.”

Li Shuchen paused in his drying flowers, then turned around: "What? Abdicate? Your Majesty is in the prime of your life!"