Ming Luomeng was a little nervous, her cat ears trembling uneasily.
However, Pei Shenyu just gave her a faint glance before heading out the door, seemingly giving instructions to a servant.
Only then did Ming Luomeng relax, her body gradually softening bit by bit. The white furball slumped on the crown prince's clothes, spreading out into a flat, cat-shaped pancake...
But soon, the sound of footsteps was heard again; Pei Shenyu had returned.
As before, before the cat could react, the young man calmly scooped her up into a ball. The scene before her eyes blurred as she found herself cradled in Pei Shenyu's arms, confusion flickering in her cat-like eyes that gleamed like glass.
It wasn't until they arrived at a place filled with steam that she realized they were in a bathhouse.
The servant, though puzzled by the crown prince's orders, had obediently prepared a brand-new small bucket, barely big enough for foot-washing but just right for the length of a cat. The bucket was already filled with warm water.
Pei Shenyu dipped his hand into the small bucket to test the temperature, his brows relaxing slightly as he found it just right.
At that moment, Ming Luomeng finally understood the young man's true intention: He wanted to bathe the cat.
The cat froze for a moment, her tail puffing up, unsure of how to react.
But before she could figure out what to do, Pei Shenyu had already lifted her by her front paws, suspending her over the surface of the water. Her hind paws barely touched the water, and the fur on her tail and paws was immediately soaked by the warm water.
The damp sensation sent an instinctive wave of discomfort and displeasure through her.
Ming Luomeng shivered slightly, quickly beginning to protest with meows, struggling.
No, she didn't like water!
"Don't move," Pei Shenyu frowned, easily restraining her two flailing little paws with one hand. He said, "Look at your paws-they're so dirty, they'll need several rinses to get clean."
Perhaps it was because she had just experienced climbing a mountain to gather herbs, had accidentally rolled into a bush, and then endured the dusty journey on horseback with Pei Shenyu. The cat hadn't realized that she was now covered in dirt.
Hearing this, Ming Luomeng instinctively glanced at the water.
Wait, is this her?
The moment her paw touched the water, it stained the clear liquid with a small patch of filth. Her fur puffed up, and the dirt and dust slowly settled. Her reflection in the water made it clear-she was just a dirty little cat with a grimy face.
Her cat ears twitched, and Ming Luomeng blushed instantly.
It was only because of her fur that Pei Shenyu couldn't see it.
The impulse to be clean overcame the cat's natural fear of water. A look of hesitation flashed in Ming Luomeng's eyes as she thought, after all, she had fur to hide behind-letting him bathe her... might not be too bad.
This was the only way she could console herself.
Yes, she had fur, she had fur...
As she thought this, the cat's long lashes fluttered a few times. She fought the urge to lift her paw out of the water, and her flailing little paws gradually and timidly retracted.
Pei Shenyu looked down at the little cat who had instantly become obedient the moment he spoke, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes. The absurd thought was fleeting.
For a moment, he almost believed the little cat understood what he was saying.
Although he had never raised a cat, he had heard of their temperament-active at night and afraid of water. Pei Shenyu simply assumed that the little cat he brought back was particularly gentle and well-behaved, and a faint sense of comfort welled up in his heart.
Pei Shenyu's gaze fell on the crumbs at the cat's cheeks, his expression unreadable.
He could have easily let a servant clean her, but seeing this delicate cat, he hesitated.
Forget it, with the many affairs of the day, he was used to handling trivial matters himself.
His cat naturally didn't need others to intervene.
Pei Shenyu lowered the cat into the water, submerging her body up to her neck. Ming Luomeng instinctively curled up again, but her subconscious knew that Pei Shenyu wouldn't harm her.
The warm water gradually eased her unsettled mind, and she began to relax.
Pei Shenyu's expression softened as he picked up the soap prepared earlier.
His long, slender fingers, resembling bamboo sticks, slowly pressed down on the cat's neck, gently rubbing from top to bottom with his fingertips.
If anyone else saw the crown prince of the current dynasty, humbling himself to bathe a cat, they would surely be in disbelief.
But Ming Luomeng was far from appreciative.
Her willingness to enter the water was already her biggest compromise, but why did he have to touch her? Being pressed on the back of her neck made her feel overly sensitive, and the little cat's paws couldn't help but scratch at the water a few times.
Seeing the little cat's uncooperative demeanor, Pei Shenyu did not lessen his grip, but instead coaxed her softly:
"Be good, don't move. It'll be over in a moment."
Completely subdued by his strength, Ming Luomeng had no choice but to reluctantly lie back down in the bucket.
As his fingertips moved, a slightly itchy and tingly sensation swept over her. The dirt and dust in her fur were gradually washed away, and Pei Shenyu even changed the water. She was being rubbed so comfortably, yet she still felt deeply embarrassed-after all, she was being touched by a man.
The cat's front paws clung to the edge of the small bucket, her eyes fixed on the ground.
But Pei Shenyu noticed that the tips of the cat's ears seemed to be trembling slightly. He asked instinctively, "Are you cold?"
Ming Luomeng let out a weak "meow."
No, you just need to hurry up. This is so embarrassing, meow.
But Pei Shenyu couldn't understand her meaning, so in his slight confusion, he reached out and, as if testing a person's body temperature, touched the little cat's ears, which were almost pressed flat against her head. Then, he gave them a gentle rub.
The cat's ears were thin and soft, flushed red from the warmth, almost hot to the touch.
It clearly wasn't due to being cold.
Suddenly having her ears pinched, Ming Luomeng would have blushed all over if she were in human form, the redness spreading all the way to her earlobes. Feeling both shy and annoyed, she couldn't help but turn her head and softly complain, "Meow!"
The cat's eyes were almond-shaped, appearing even rounder when wide open.
As Pei Shenyu looked at those water-clear cat eyes, the sound of her meowing fell on his ears, as sweet and endearing as a girl pouting.
"So, it's a little female cat," Pei Shenyu chuckled softly, saying, "So delicate."
Upon hearing this, Ming Luomeng froze completely.
She hadn't realized when he had noticed everything so clearly... The cat was utterly mortified, her ears drooping even further, almost steaming from her head. Her body instinctively curled up tighter and tighter until she nearly became a ball of fur.
Seeing the little cat's evasive movements, Pei Shenyu gently stroked her back, smoothing down her fur. "Don't squirm; we're almost done, just your paws left."
Having been burdened with high expectations since childhood, Pei Shenyu always strove for excellence and perfection in everything he did. Since he decided to keep this cat, the crown prince would not settle for anything less. Even if it was just raising a cat, even giving a cat a bath, he would not do it carelessly.
Sensing the cat's resistance, Pei Shenyu spoke up, "Be good. The sooner we finish, the sooner I can let you go."
Talking to a cat like this would seem ridiculous to anyone else, but Pei Shenyu spoke naturally, without realizing anything was out of place.
It was as if he subconsciously knew that this cat could understand him.
Only then did Ming Luomeng begrudgingly turn her head back and continue staring at the ground, resigned to her fate.
Pei Shenyu said no more, silently continuing his washing. His hands kept pouring water and gently rubbing, and soon the cat was again feeling extremely comfortable. Even her four little paws were individually pressed into the water and scrubbed clean.
Ming Luomeng was just beginning to melt into the gentle yet precise pressure, when she was suddenly caught off guard by him rubbing her tail tip.
A cat's tail is particularly sensitive.
The little cat, feeling wronged, let out a soft, drawn-out meow: "Meow..."
"All done, little one."
A white towel was then draped over her, wrapping the entire cat, leaving only a pair of almond-shaped eyes exposed.
Ming Luomeng looked up, meeting Pei Shenyu's clean, handsome face.
Pei Shenyu's eyes showed satisfaction as he said gently:
"This is the first time I've ever bathed a cat."
After drying her with the towel, a breeze blew through, and Ming Luomeng was once again a pristine, snow-white cat.
That evening, when Pei Shenyu returned after finishing his affairs in the council chamber, the young servant in a green robe who followed him in, carrying a food box, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Oh! Your Highness, the cat you brought back is truly beautiful."
Perched on the wooden desk was a perfectly white cat, her fur as immaculate as snow, glowing softly under the lamplight. Her fluffy tail curled gracefully at her side, her posture as elegant as a lady's. Her cat eyes were as bright as gemstones, sparkling with light.
She looked completely different from the dusty, dirty cat that had been brought back earlier, like two entirely different creatures.
"Of course," Pei Shenyu glanced at his cat, his tone calm.
But his voice couldn't hide his pleased mood.
Ming Luomeng felt a little giddy from the praise, but the hunger in her belly made her meow uncontrollably. "Meow~"
"It takes His Highness to have such a discerning eye. Even in the palace, I've never seen such a striking cat," Yuan Hao, the servant, said with a smile as he opened the food box and beckoned to the cat, "Come on, little one, you must be starving."
The enticing aroma wafted over, and Ming Luomeng, curious but still reserved, carefully walked over and peeked.
Inside the crimson food box was a dish of steamed small fish, neatly arranged.
Fresh and tender, it looked quite tempting for a cat.
Yuan Hao placed the bowl and chopsticks on the other side of the table before withdrawing with the wooden food box. Pei Shenyu sat down at the other end, noticing that the cat was just circling the dish, unsure of how to start.
"Meow..." Ming Luomeng licked her lips, looking a bit conflicted.
She didn't want to dirty her paws, but how could she eat?
Pei Shenyu seemed to be deep in thought.
The esteemed crown prince picked up a pair of long chopsticks, carefully removing the bones from a fish, and placed the boneless, white fish meat in a small bowl that had originally held soup.
Although cats can eat fish, he couldn't help but worry whether this cat's throat might be more delicate than others.
He then noticed the little white cat's eyes light up as she finally lowered her head to nibble at the fish in the bowl.
Even the way she ate was refined and delicate, like a proper lady.
Pei Shenyu couldn't help but shake his head and sigh with a smile, "What kind of cat have I raised?"
The moon hung high in the sky, and the evening's bustle gradually subsided.
After finishing the fish, Ming Luomeng began to feel sleepy. When Pei Shenyu suddenly picked her up again, she was no longer startled. Instead, she obediently nestled into a comfortable position in his arms, quietly lying in the crown prince's embrace.
"Come here, little cat." Pei Shenyu held the cat as he walked into the inner room, pointing to something in the corner, indicating it to the cat in his arms: "This is the cat bed I had Yuan Hao prepare for you."
As he spoke, he gently set the cat down.
Ming Luomeng blinked her eyes and was then placed by Pei Shenyu into this simple cat bed, constructed from a wooden box and a few pieces of cloth.
The small cat looked especially dazed in the spacious cat bed.
"Meow, meow?"
That night.
No matter what, Ming Luomeng eventually ended up sleeping in this new cat bed.
To avoid disturbing the Crown Prince's rest, the servants placed the cat bed in the outer room of Pei Shenyu's sleeping quarters, with only a wall separating it from him. Although the cat bed was simple, the servants had put some thought into it, lining it with soft cotton fabric.
Even so, Ming Luomeng still found it a bit rough, not as comfortable as lying on the Crown Prince's clothes.
Leaning against the window, under the cold and clear moonlight, the lonely white cat quietly curled into a ball, her tail tip resting by her ear. Ming Luomeng scratched with her paws, unable to fall asleep.
The lamps and candles inside the room had already been extinguished, leaving it pitch black.
But from the corner beneath the table facing the cat bed, a sudden rustling sound emerged. Ming Luomeng was startled, her fur standing on end.
The little cat arched her back, tail straight up, fully focused on the space under the table.
But after a long time, she saw nothing. She twitched her ears, uncertain and wary, and slowly laid back down. However, less than half a minute later, that unsettling sound came back, making her fur stand on end again.
Suddenly, she recalled that in the southern regions, there were cockroaches, which favored warm, damp, and dark places, often appearing on summer nights...
Ming Luomeng's pupils contracted, and without thinking any further, the cat agilely leaped from the bed, her four snow-white paws moving quickly as she dashed straight into Pei Shenyu's sleeping quarters. Then, she jumped onto the bed, crossing the curtains.
Ming Luomeng leaped lightly and landed steadily on the bedding, making almost no sound. However, if it had been anyone or anything else entering his territory, Pei Shenyu would have woken up immediately.
But perhaps the cat's presence was too small and harmless, or maybe it was because the cat and he had used the same soap, making their scents similar. In any case, when this light and clean little cat jumped onto the bed, the always vigilant Crown Prince, who never let his guard down even in sleep, did not sense anything unusual.
He even naturally extended his arm and drew the cat, who had suddenly invaded his territory, into his embrace.
Ming Luomeng held back her shyness and managed not to make a sound.
She awkwardly turned in the crook of Pei Shenyu's arm, her fluffy tail tip inadvertently brushing against his nose, causing him to make a soft "hmm" sound, as if he might wake up. The cat didn't dare move again.
Her amber eyes cautiously glanced at the sleeping Pei Shenyu. In the moonlight, his high nose and jade-like face were visible, as graceful and clear as a breeze. The cat's ears twitched, and for some reason, her heart began to beat faster.
Caught between her pride and the rustling sound from earlier, the cat's fur bristled again, making her hesitate even more. Forget it, she thought, given the urgent situation. Fearing he might wake up and throw her off the bed, she carefully curled up in a corner of his arm, becoming a quiet, bed-warming little cat.
And so, the person and the cat nestled close together, intimately entwined.
The moonlight outside was as clear as water. Ming Luomeng, gazing at the crescent moon, let out a sleepy yawn. One of her paws instinctively reached out and rested on Pei Shenyu's arm. Her little body curled up between his chest and arm, slowly drifting into a peaceful sleep.
But Pei Shenyu's dream was not peaceful.
In the dream, there was a misty white fog. When the fog cleared, a young girl appeared. She had fair skin, red lips, and long, black lashes-a rare beauty. She quietly nestled in his embrace. He lowered his head, and the girl looked up. Her eyes were like a pool of autumn water, stirring his heartstrings.
Seeing him looking at her, the girl timidly smiled at him.
Although he knew it was just a dream, his heart pounded like a drum.
It felt as if a cat's paw had scratched him-ticklish.
...
When the sky brightened and golden light spilled into the room, Pei Shenyu opened his eyes, rare confusion lingering in them.
As the Crown Prince, he had always been disciplined and indifferent to desires, with no concubines in the Eastern Palace. He usually relieved his energy through martial arts and had never paid attention to matters of love and desire, let alone had such an intimate dream.
His undershirt was soaked with sweat, and his heart was still beating rapidly.
His right shoulder seemed to be leaning against something soft. Pei Shenyu glanced over and saw the snow-white cat curled up in the crook of his arm, sleeping soundly.
"Your Highness, Your Highness?"
Pei Shenyu snapped out of the memory of his dream, lifting his eyelids slightly.
"Speak."
General Sun hesitated for a moment and then said, "Your Highness, what do you think about the direction of the next attack?"
There had been much debate about the location of the next surprise attack-whether to target Shallow Water River or the northern foothills. The officers on both sides had presented their arguments, but neither side could convince the other. They all looked to the Crown Prince on the main seat, waiting for Pei Shenyu's opinion to make the final decision.
But they waited for a long time without hearing a response from above.
Only then did General Sun dare to ask, as the Crown Prince seemed different today.
Pei Shenyu collected his thoughts, pinched his brow, and pulled himself back from the dream he had last night. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "The northern foothills."
He had indeed been somewhat distracted just now, but he had already formulated a plan in his mind regarding how to attack the Prince of Jiangling.
"Prince Jiangling is skilled in water warfare, but the northern foothills are steep, and..."
As Pei Shenyu explained, the officers slowly began to understand.
They couldn't help but realize, "Indeed, as Your Highness said... No wonder, Your Highness's strategy is truly brilliant."
Their praise, however, was not mere flattery but genuine.
The Crown Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, Zhao Wu, had been trained in both the literary and martial arts since childhood and was a natural-born military genius. Pei Shenyu joined the army at the age of thirteen and frequently devised brilliant strategies, reclaiming lost territories multiple times. In the eighth year of Longshuo, when the Turks invaded, he shot the enemy leader with a single arrow, securing victory and reclaiming the land.
Recently, Prince Jiangling suddenly rebelled in the Jiangling region, catching the local forces off guard and leading to a crushing defeat.
It wasn't until the Crown Prince personally led his troops south to quell the rebellion that they managed to push back Prince Jiangling, winning key battles thanks to the Crown Prince's ingenious strategies. Even General Sun, who had always been unruly, had to admit defeat and accept his leadership.
After the military meeting concluded, everyone left the tent.
Having just engaged in a heated discussion, some of the men couldn't help but relax. One of them hesitated, uncertain, and said, "I think I saw the Crown Prince lose focus for a moment earlier?"
"Today, the Crown Prince seemed preoccupied with something, though it's unclear why," said another general.
"I heard some news-yesterday, the kitchen boy Xiao Zhou mentioned that the Crown Prince deducted a dish of meat from his own portion for the new cat he's raising. It seems that the Crown Prince is quite indulgent when it comes to this cat."
"Could it be that the cat was restless and disturbed the Crown Prince's sleep last night?"
The other person chuckled, "When spring comes, that's when the cat will truly cause a ruckus..."
The noise outside gradually faded, while Pei Shenyu remained seated in the tent, supporting his chin with one hand, his thoughts turbulent.
He couldn't help but frequently recall the dream he had last night. Although the person in the dream wasn't enough to completely unsettle him, it still distracted him quite a bit. Whether it was due to the summer heat or some other reason...
The always composed Crown Prince's ears were slightly red.
The afternoon summer breeze began to rise, and the sound of cicadas outside grew louder.
After a moment, his slender, jade-like hand resumed measuring and mapping on the wall, Pei Shenyu's brows furrowed in deep thought.
Prince Jiangling was cunning and devious; his intentions couldn't be as simple as they appeared, so caution was necessary.
This battle could only end in victory, not defeat.
"Your Highness, the servant you requested has been found, but due to transportation difficulties, it will take a few days for them to arrive..." Yuan Hao followed behind Pei Shenyu, reporting respectfully.
Just as they opened the door, both men fell silent.
Why? Because they saw shattered pieces of azure jade with dragon patterns scattered under the desk, and on the table was a delicate white cat.
"Meow..."
The little troublemaker also noticed the two men at the door. Knowing it had done something wrong, it timidly retracted its small paw, the one with the flower-like pad that had caused the mess.
Yuan Hao covered his mouth, utterly shocked.
This little ancestor!
Look at the shattered jade on the floor-wasn't that the Crown Prince's beloved jade brush washer? It had been a gift from the Emperor, and the Crown Prince had used it for years...
The atmosphere became oppressively quiet, with no one daring to speak.
Ming Luomeng drooped her soft little cat ears and hung her head in dejection, not daring to meow. She didn't know why, but when she saw the items on the table earlier, her mind went blank, and her body acted on instinct. By the time she realized what had happened, her paw had already pushed the item off.
Seeing Pei Shenyu standing motionless, her heart grew even more anxious.
Ming Luomeng recalled waking up this morning. Although Pei Shenyu hadn't said a word to her, nor did he acknowledge her, he had quietly withdrawn the sleeve she was lying on, changed his clothes, and left the room. However, his restrained expression, devoid of emotion, seemed to be suppressing something.
Now, having unintentionally caused more trouble, she feared she had made him even more displeased.
Sunlight streamed in from behind Pei Shenyu, making it difficult to see the expression on his face. The little cat suddenly felt inexplicably wronged.
At that moment, Pei Shenyu suddenly took a step forward.
Ming Luomeng panicked instantly, her tail shooting up as she leaped off the table.
"Don't move!" Pei Shenyu's voice immediately commanded in a deep tone.
The cat was startled into staying put, frozen in place.
Yuan Hao noticed how the cat's eyes, like dust-covered gems, had dimmed, its tail drooping in a pitiful manner, and couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. Surely, the Crown Prince wouldn't hit the cat-after all, he was known to be a gentleman.
But he feared that the cat might be sent away.
However, the Crown Prince squatted down, grabbed the cat's front paw, and scooped up the motionless creature. Ming Luomeng widened her cat eyes, only to see the young man holding her little paw, pressing and massaging each pad in turn. Then, Pei Shenyu let out a noticeable sigh of relief:
"So mischievous. If the jade fragments had cut you, there would have been blood."
Yuan Hao stood by, dumbfounded.
This cat really was treated like royalty...
Ming Luomeng was equally stunned, unable to react for a moment. "Meow?"
Pei Shenyu said no more, placing her into his arms and standing up. "Yuan Hao, gather the fragments and replace the brush washer with a new one." Then, he glanced at him again and added, "Make sure no one outside hears of this."
"Yes, Your Highness," Yuan Hao replied solemnly, finally coming to his senses.
After all, this was an imperial gift that had been broken. Even if it was the cat that caused it, if word got out, it might be used against them. He understood the gravity of the situation.
But from the Crown Prince's attitude, it seemed that this incident would go no further.
Yuan Hao silently raised the importance of the cat in his mind. My goodness, it seemed this little cat was worth its weight in gold.
The servant carefully collected the fragments and left the room. Meanwhile, Ming Luomeng, having overheard everything, felt miserable and lay quietly in Pei Shenyu's arms, as still as a fake cat.
Pei Shenyu indeed regretted the loss of the jade brush washer. It had been a gift from his father when he was seven, given as a reward after being praised by Grand Tutor Li. It had been with him for ten years, so naturally, he was somewhat attached to it. But in the end, it was just an object, unlike a living creature. After all, she was still just a young kitten, so her lack of understanding was excusable.
Besides... his father had likely forgotten that he had ever given him the brush washer.
A fleeting trace of confusion passed over Pei Shenyu's brow as his thoughts wandered.
Finally, he sighed softly, "Punishment is still necessary. If you're this naughty again, I'll deduct one of your fish meals. But as for this time..."
"Meow."
Ming Luomeng didn't dare to argue, only letting out a soft sound.
Her little paw rested on his arm, and her watery cat eyes seemed like a clear pool, filled with grievances and a hint of coquettishness.
Seeing this, Pei Shenyu suddenly remembered those eyes from his dream, and his heart stirred.
His long fingers stroked her head and then gently rubbed her fluffy little cat ears. Ming Luomeng's ears twitched; feeling sensitive, she wanted to extend her claws, but knowing she was at fault, she didn't dare move. All she heard was him saying:
"As punishment, you will have to sleep by yourself from now on. You're not allowed on my bed."
That night.
Because she had caused trouble during the day, Ming Luomeng felt very guilty. At night, she obediently stayed in the new cat bed that Pei Shenyu had ordered for her, not daring to climb onto the bed as she had last time.
The room was pitch dark. She lifted her eyes to meet the darkness under the bed. Although she could see in the night, she still felt a little afraid.
Tonight, even the moonlight outside was very dim.
The little cat could only tuck her small head in, wrapping herself pitifully with the tip of her tail, curling up into a sad little ball of fur. Struggling with her discomfort in the new cat bed and an inexplicable sense of loneliness, Ming Luomeng lay awake for a long time in the dark.
Suddenly, a strange scent wafted in. She twitched her little ears, catching the faint sound of footsteps in the void.
The steps stopped just outside the door.
An eerie instinct made Ming Luomeng raise her front paws. The light little cat leaped out of the cat bed, landing softly and silently, and slowly approached the door.
Through the door, the cat's sharp hearing allowed her to distinguish the faint breathing of the person outside.
But who was it?
Just as Ming Luomeng was about to grasp something in her mind, the footsteps gradually receded. However, the strange scent became even more pronounced. She sniffed, finally identifying the source of the scent-a small scented pellet that had rolled in through the gap under the door.
Tiny and inconspicuous, it was quickly emitting a peculiar fragrance.
Ming Luomeng instinctively disliked it, feeling an urge to bristle her tail.
It was as if she had sensed a lurking danger-
Her round cat eyes fixed on the tiny scented pellet. With a lift and push of her delicate paw, she forcefully nudged the pellet back out through the door gap.
The pellet rolled down the steps outside, disappearing into the night.
The scent also dissipated significantly.
Having done this, Ming Luomeng finally felt a bit relieved. She tried to think further, but a sudden wave of inexplicable fatigue overwhelmed her, softening her entire cat body.
She returned to the cat bed, and after just a few blinks, the little cat drifted off into a deep sleep.
The next day, daylight broke.
Ming Luomeng twitched her eyelids, lazily opening her cat eyes. A sharp beam of light streamed through the lattice window, casting a small patch of light where countless dust particles floated. The room was so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard.
It seemed the master of the house had already left.
The little cat blinked and tried to get up from the cat bed, but her limbs felt exhausted. Her eyelids drooped again, and she soon fell back asleep. This nap was long and deep, lasting several more hours.
By the time Pei Shenyu had finished his regular inspection of the military camp, had lunch with General Sun and others, and reviewed a few military reports, it was already noon when he returned.
He stopped in front of the cat bed, looking down at the little white cat curled up into a ball, pondering aloud: "Do cats always sleep this long?"
"Your Highness, you might not be aware," Yuan Hao, standing behind Pei Shenyu, replied with a smile, "Cats like to be active at night and sleep during the day. This little cat doesn't bother you at night, does it? Should I take it to the woodshed to rest better?"
"No need. The little thing is quite well-behaved at night." Pei Shenyu's clear voice carried a hint of amusement: "Watching it sleep during the day is rather charming."
"Of course, Your Highness's cat would naturally be exceptional."
Ming Luomeng lazily lifted her eyelids and woke up. She didn't care about how the two were ruining her reputation in front of her; she only knew that she had slept for a very long time and was now starving.
The little cat stretched out her pink paws, clawing at the ground. Her pupils narrowed as she stretched comfortably.
Pei Shenyu couldn't help but smile at the cat's adorable antics: "Awake now? Did I wake you?"
Ming Luomeng looked up at him.
The afternoon sun shone down behind him, casting a long shadow. The backlight turned the stray hair at the boy's temples a golden hue, highlighting Pei Shenyu's elegant and handsome features, giving him the appearance of a celestial being, with a casual and leisurely air.
"Meow~"
Ming Luomeng's soft meow trailed off, her tail wrapping around and curling up his leg.
She was hungry and knew exactly who to turn to for food.
"Only now waking up, you must be starving." It seemed Pei Shenyu understood the cat's thoughts. He turned and asked: "Yuan Hao, has the little thing's food been prepared?"
"Yes, Your Highness, the kitchen has it ready."
"Good, bring it up."
Yuan Hao, having received his orders, went to the kitchen to fetch the food box, diligently serving the little master her meal.
Ming Luomeng ate to her heart's content, her cat tail lazily swishing as she paced around the doorway, digesting her meal.
From the doorway, faint voices could be heard, as if the guards outside were changing shifts. Her sharp ears caught snippets of a low conversation.
"Jiang Er, why do you look so drained? What, did the night wear you out?"
There was a 'slap,' the sound of a hand hitting a shoulder.
"Sigh, last night, I don't know why, but in the latter half, I felt utterly drained, like I'd seen a ghost... You see, it wasn't just me. Look at how pale Lu Da is."
The little cat pondered, a faint suspicion forming in her mind, as a serious glint flashed through her clear eyes. But soon, an overwhelming sense of fatigue clouded her mind, making her eyelids heavy.
Yuan Hao quietly glanced at the Crown Prince, who was sitting at the desk and was already calm and composed. He could not help but sigh with a sad face:
"Alright, alright, I'll take it down right away."
After some effort, the little servant replaced the incense with a new one. Seeing this, the cat stepped up to the head of the auspicious beast with dignity and lowered its head to sniff. Yuan Hao held his breath and concentrated, and when he saw the cat finally relax, seemingly satisfied, and jump off the shelf, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and couldn't help but complain, "Your Highness, this cat is really picky."
Most of the time, the first burner of incense was not satisfactory, and the little ancestor would not give up until the second burner was replaced.
Pei Shenyu was still writing calmly, not looking away, and said in a composed manner: "She doesn't know any better, why are you arguing with her?"
Over there, the little white cat easily jumped onto the desk again. Now she had become much more skilled at jumping onto high places and no longer needed to use anything to gain leverage as she did at the beginning.
When Ming Luomeng heard Pei Shenyu's words, she also meowed to show her agreement.
She couldn't speak to Pei Shenyu and tell him the whole story, but her instinct told her that the incense was not a good thing. So she could only resort to this method. If there was something else mixed in the incense burner, she would do something strange, and usually, the second burner would be fine.
Fortunately, Pei Shenyu later ignored her concern about the incense burner and seemed to have given up on it.
The little white cat on Yuan Hao's desk had its almond-shaped eyes slightly narrowed, its fluffy tail gently wagging, and it looked so adorable that you couldn't tell at all that it was actually a devilish little cat.
Yuan Hao couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "Look, she's all protected by His Highness! This cat is practically ruling over His Highness."
I don't know how many times the cat has knocked over the incense burner. Yuan Hao was puzzled and said, "Is this cat afraid of this incense..."
"Since she doesn't like it, there's no need to burn incense next time," Pei Shenyu said.
"But, Your Highness, that incense helps with your old illness..."
"It's okay. I'm almost fully recovered now."
Since Pei Shenyu said this, Yuan Hao had no choice but to agree to his order.
When the incense was finished burning, the young attendant in green swept the ashes into a dustpan and prepared to go out and throw them away. The bright moon was hanging in the sky, and as he was walking in the corridor, suddenly a clear female voice called him.
"Yuan Hao, it's so late, are you still busy?"
Yuan Hao looked back and said with an apologetic smile: "Sister Zi Yuan, thank you for your concern. It's not that the cat of His Highness is making trouble. The incense just burned out, and I was going to pour it out. I also want to talk to you tomorrow."
"His Highness said that this cat probably can't stand the smell of incense, so there's no need to adjust the incense from now on."
Zi Yuan frowned and looked unhappy when she heard this. "Just because of that wild cat?"
Yuan Hao smiled bitterly: "Isn't this His Highness's decision? Alas, I can't say anything. He is also a young master."
The two talked for a while before Yuan Hao left.
Zi Yuan was angry about losing the job, but she couldn't show it in front of Yuan Hao. She returned to the room and threw the handkerchief in her hand onto the bed. Not long after she sat down, there was another knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
Zi Yuan felt even more irritated, and her voice became a little hoarse.
But a cold female voice came from outside the door, smiling as she said, "A Yuan, it's me."