Although Yuchi Xiu galloped away on horseback the following night to find that cat, in his heart, he figured there was an eighty percent chance he wouldn’t run into it.
Truly, disaster comes from the mouth. When you realize too late that you’ve caused a colossal catastrophe and rush back to fix the problem, that troublemaking mountain spirit or wild monster would surely have vanished long ago, right?
No! When a human sees a fluffy kitty, can they really be blamed for wanting to step forward to tease it a little while venting about the unpleasant things in life? Isn’t that just human nature? Why on earth did it have to lead to such a massive disaster?
Though he felt a bit aggrieved, what was done was done.
After all, this wasn’t the real world; it was a web novel world where anything could happen. Fearing that the black cat might vanish for good, Yuchi Xiu spent the entire day consumed with worry…
Fortunately, right at the hour they had met the day before, that black cat swaggered out and appeared atop the wall.
Seeing it with its tail cocked high in the air and that haughty, overbearing look, Yuchi Xiu seriously doubted whether it even had a clue what kind of colossal mess it had stirred up.
This black cat was probably indeed some great demon that had cultivated for a century. Not only could it understand human speech, but it also let out a grand, uninhibited “meow,” openly admitting that the prince turning into a cat was entirely its doing.
Yet the fatal part was… this feline demon carried the cat world’s fine tradition of “causing trouble without cleaning up the mess” to the absolute extreme.
Did this mean the prince would henceforth… be stuck as a half-human, half-cat monster for the rest of his life?
Battered by this massive blow and overwhelming guilt, Yuchi Xiu’s head buzzed with a dull roar, and he nearly passed out on the spot.
Just because of a loose remark from me, a dignified Prince of Aorong has turned into a cat. Is this seriously happening?
Although Yuchi Xiu was usually a hardcore “cat addict” who considered feline masters to be supreme, business is business.
How could a royal descendant, whom someone’s parents had gone through hell and high water to bring into the world, turn into a cat overnight? This ruthless, decisive Prince of Aorong, Tuoba Lin, had now transformed into a fluffy creature whose intelligence dropped to zero the moment it saw the reflection of window latticework shaking.
And all of this… was entirely thanks to him, a counselor who didn’t even rank as a disposable cannon fodder character, but at best served as mere background scenery.
How on earth was he supposed to handle this now…
In truth, the former Prince and Princess of Aorong had given birth to a plump, dark feline baby right from the start. This meant that Tuoba Lin, from the very day he could clearly distinguish objects, had been a pure-blooded furball who couldn’t tear his eyes away from moving things. Unfortunately, the current Yuchi Xiu knew nothing whatsoever about these dark secrets of the Tuoba royal family.
Therefore, carrying the heavy sentiment of “running into a political intrigue novel, running my mouth, and ruining a feudal prince’s entire life,” Yuchi Xiu began to think with extreme seriousness and sincerity about how to clean up this messy situation.
The result of his contemplation was…
…completely helpless.
He wasn’t like protagonists in other novels who transmigrated into peerless swordsmen or powerful generals holding massive military authority. He was simply a pitiful counselor squeezed to death by a living judge of hell, coupled with a transmigrated rookie who understood nothing of ancient survival rules. How was he supposed to use his bare head to resolve such a grave crime of deceiving the emperor and overstepping his bounds?
Even if one were to force a weak maiden to take her father’s place in the army like Hua Mulan, she would at least be equipped with a precious sword. Yet this “three-nothings” working stiff devoid of silver, power, and physical strength—had nothing in his hands except a giant black cat that knew how to do nothing but cause trouble while acting cute, yet happened to sport a majestic face.
Judging by the fact that it only knew how to stir up trouble without resolving anything, it seemed I’m no different from this black cat…
All in all, Yuchi Xiu currently lacked any ability to dispel the demonic aura from the prince’s body.
Aside from a heart full of guilt, the only thing Yuchi Xiu could do right now was…
I must serve the prince well. I have to wholeheartedly cater to him.
Which meant doing everything in his power to wait upon this living judge of hell who had inexplicably contracted feline habits.
The greatest stroke of misfortune within this disaster was that, before transmigrating, Yuchi Xiu had been a seasoned cat owner with over twenty years of seniority.
The prince a novice who had just awakened his feline instincts didn’t even realize he was currently acting like a cat. Naturally, he would be completely oblivious to “how to be a comfortable cat” or “what taboos cats have.”
Yuchi Xiu secretly resolved to take meticulous care of this young kitten-prince, who was still practically at the weaning stage in the feline world.
This decision felt so tragic and heroic that he failed to notice he was gradually, without realizing it, treating the fearsome Prince of Aorong who once terrified him to the point of trembling legs as a squeaking little kitten waiting to be fed.
Lately, the index of happiness in the prince’s daily life had been rising sharply, reaching an almost ethereal, floating level of bliss.
He never dreamed that life could be so comfortable. It felt so pleasant that it bordered on unreality, making him wonder if someone had slipped knockout drops into his meals.
And the provider of this top-tier comfort… was precisely the frail new counselor he had recently recruited.
Didn’t the counselor’s father say his brain had been scrambled by a man-eating demon’s claw?
Could it be that a blessing had come out of misfortune, awakening a divine superpower for serving cats?
This counselor was devilishly capable at his job.
He was even more adept at serving cats than the former old steward the only person in the estate who had known the secret of the Tuoba royal family’s black cat bloodline.
Previously, because everyone in the estate was completely clueless about feline habits, the prince had to endure all sorts of petty, irritating discomforts every day. Being too lazy to lower his status and teach them one by one how things should be done, he could only grit his teeth and mumble his way through…
Lately, however, he would often suddenly think, “Huh? Why is this study so comfortable to stay in today?” Upon closer inspection, he would realize that the new counselor had quietly resolved all those annoying little troubles behind the scenes.
For instance, the large sandalwood chair by the window had been specially fitted with a soft cushion for a comfortable view of the scenery.
Take the dishes sent from the kitchen, for example: ingredients like bitter melon that he disliked eating had all been meticulously picked out.
Even the poor-quality incense that used to give him a headache and make him nauseous whenever he smelled it had been replaced with a faint, soothing calming fragrance.
Every time he wondered, “How did things suddenly become so comfortable?” and asked the servants, the answer was invariably, “It was ordered by the counselor.”
Aside from these imperceptible, subtle details:
Whenever the counselor proposed wanting to tinker with something and the prince let him have his way, it invariably yielded unexpected pleasant surprises.
For instance, one day the counselor casually remarked that the study’s feng shui was poor and he wanted to rearrange it. As a result, the prince’s desk was transformed into an extremely secluded layout filled with a strong sense of security. This space where he spent most of his day was converted into a cozy corner that offered total command over the surroundings while preventing anyone from easily launching a sneak attack from behind. The duration of the prince’s tense nerves was drastically reduced, allowing the entire cat ah, no, the entire person to relax considerably.
Furthermore, under the remodeling of this all-powerful counselor, similar wonderful developments were simply too numerous to count.
These changes caused the prince’s quality of life to skyrocket. He was living in extreme comfort these days, and his mood was through the roof.
So much so that while reviewing official documents, he would often unconsciously start emitting a rumbling purr from deep within his throat.
Naturally, falling upon the ears of the estate servants, this purring sounded like the low growl of a tyrant on the verge of fury, scaring them into tucking their tails and walking on eggshells even more…
Still, what business was that of the prince’s?
As expected, my eye for talent is infallible.
This new counselor was absolute timber of rare talent and had to be chained securely inside the estate; under no circumstances could he be allowed to resign and run off.
Take right now, for example.
“Your Highness, these are this month’s border defense inspection reports for Aorong.”
The prince was listening to a military general who had just returned from patrolling the frontiers report on military intelligence.
The general was speaking with spittle flying everywhere.
“Regarding the recent movements of the man-eating demons, the strategic passes that require special reinforcement are right here. Your subordinate has already marked them with a vermilion brush; please review them, Your Highness.”
Upon glancing at the military report, the prince’s face instantly turned as dark as the bottom of a wok.
What kind of ghost business was a vermilion brush?
Cats are naturally unable to distinguish between red and green. Whether you marked it with vermilion or green bean juice, in the prince’s eyes, it was all just a grayish-brown blob.
Seeing the prince’s sudden change in expression, the general broke out in a cold sweat, fearing he was about to be dragged outside and executed. Right at that moment:
“Your Highness.”
Yuchi Xiu walked over unhurriedly, pointing to a complete map of Aorong placed at the corner of the table as he said:
“If this subordinate remembers correctly, compared to last month’s report, the changes at Yanmen Pass, Tumenguan, and Feihukou on this map are quite substantial. Would you like to compare it with last month’s report?”
Using a moderate, extremely gentle tone, Yuchi Xiu unobtrusively helped the prince point out those marked locations whose colors he couldn’t distinguish at all. Then, he smoothly flipped open the previous month’s report and handed it over.
The prince stared at the face of Yuchi Xiu, who was placing the military report right in front of him.
This clever fellow, even while being stared at intensely by the prince, didn’t foolishly meet the prince’s gaze and court annoyance; instead, he obediently lowered his head, shifting his gaze away to avoid the sharp edge of his glare.
As expected…
This kid really knows how to play the game well.
All along, Yuchi Xiu had been like this: without the prince needing to open his mouth, he arranged whatever the prince needed with crystal clarity, like a roundworm in his stomach.
Moreover, he didn’t go claiming credit or demanding rewards after finishing his work.
Though he knew it was impossible, the prince sometimes even suspected whether this kid might also be some sort of reincarnated cat immortal.
The only reason he could generate such an absurd illusion was because the prince had never in his life encountered anyone who could serve him with such comfortable intimacy.
The prince simply adored this sensible, bookish-smelling, delicate-minded, and capable counselor.
All the favorable impressions accumulated over time, combined with the tacit rescue just now, flooded forth at this moment like a breached dyke, transforming into a surging wave of “I’ve got my eyes on you.”
The more he looked, the more pleasing that fair face standing beside him ready for orders felt, making his heart itch with fondness.
As expected, this fellow must remain by my side forever.
As my counselor.
My own personal counselor.
The prince felt that this exclusive title sounded exceptionally pleasing to the ear.
A cat’s moods always arrive without warning. And when a feline master wants to do something, they will never hold back.
The prince reached out directly and pinched the chin of Yuchi Xiu, who was standing right beside him.
From his fingertips came the rapid pulse of Yuchi Xiu, accelerated by sudden fright.
Feeling this fragile pulse, the prince brought his own handsome face right up in front of Yuchi Xiu’s…
Pressing his cheek against Yuchi Xiu’s, he rubbed fiercely and affectionately.
Holy crap.
Yuchi Xiu’s brain instantly short-circuited from being rubbed by this giant cat right on the spot.