Yun Fu’s living environment underwent a dramatic transformation, moving from a dilapidated, drafty earthen-brick house to an elegant courtyard adorned with antique charm, carved railings, and painted walls.
Even her “new home” was more beautiful than the small courtyard she had lived in at the Prime Minister’s residence!
Green bamboo, a pond, and a waterside pavilion…
The pond was stocked with many beautiful fish, which were not only a feast for Yun Fu’s eyes but also made her drool with temptation.
Under the scorching afternoon sun, and with Yun Fu’s thick, fluffy fur, even though Wei Rong’s room had ice to cool the air, she disliked staying indoors. In a flash, she dashed out of the room and headed to the waterside pavilion, crouching by the pond with her eyes fixed intently on the fish swimming freely in the water.
Nearby, the bamboo grove blocked the blazing sunlight completely, leaving only patches of cool shade. The breeze carried moisture from the pond, refreshing and cool.
The pond was serene, the bamboo grove lush and verdant, and the colorful fish in the clear water seemed to float as if suspended in emptiness.
The little cat crouched gracefully by the pond, her fur trembling slightly in the wind.
The scene was as beautiful as a painting.
It captivated Shen Shi, who had come looking for A Fu, making him reluctant to approach and disturb the moment.
Just then, the cat, which had been crouching by the water, moved. With lightning speed, her fluffy paw darted into the water and scooped out a pure yellow fish in an instant.
The fish flopped vigorously on the shore, nearly jumping back into the water, but the cat moved again, pressing a paw firmly on the fish before lowering her head and clamping her mouth around it.
The fish struggled even more fiercely, and Yun Fu bit down harder in response.
Holding the fish in her mouth, Yun Fu lifted her head high, her tail raised proudly behind her. She strutted like a general returning triumphantly from battle, marching boldly toward the courtyard where Wei Rong resided.
Witnessing the entire scene, Shen Shi stared wide-eyed, his mouth agape enough to fit a goose egg.
Not far away, the steward saw the cat carrying away the prized koi fish the lady of the house had raised. Horrified, he was about to intervene when he remembered that this cat was kept by the Heir. Hesitant to approach, he could only rush off in a panic to report the incident.
Yun Fu carried a fish nearly half her size in her mouth. Because the fish was so large, its tail dragged along the ground.
As she passed the stunned Shen Shi, her pride became even more evident. She lifted her chin slightly and thought, “Hmph~ captivated by me, aren’t you? It’s only natural!”
Shen Shi glanced back at the pond, then at the cat walking away with the fish in her mouth.
“This… this can’t be right!”
Zhanmo Courtyard
Wei Rong was dressed in a violet silk robe with faint embroidered ink-bamboo patterns at the hem, draped in a dark blue sheer cloak. A lustrous jade hairpin adorned his ink-black hair, giving him the aura of an immortal from a painting.
Seated by a low table near the round window, he held a paintbrush in his slender, well-defined hand, idly sketching on paper while the aroma of tea filled the air.
Just then, a commotion arose in the courtyard, and Wei Rong lifted his gaze to look.
He saw his A Fu leaping energetically over the courtyard’s threshold, a gleaming yellow fish held firmly in her mouth. The fish’s vibrant color complemented her own fur perfectly.
The little one’s eyes sparkled brightly, and her upright tail swayed gently in the air.
As if noticing his gaze, the cat, who had been heading for the main door, turned and made her way to the window instead. Then, with the fish still in her mouth, she leaped gracefully inside.
She leaped effortlessly onto the windowsill, then released her mouth, letting the large golden fish fall with a soft thud onto the low table.
Instantly, a fish appeared on the drawing paper, still twitching sporadically.
Shen Shi, who had followed her in, turned pale at the sight and hurriedly cried out to stop her.
“A Fu! Stop—don’t do it~~”
Their Heir was extremely particular about cleanliness, especially when painting.
On ordinary days, when the Heir was painting, everyone would keep their distance, afraid of accidentally “contaminating” his work.
But now, A Fu had actually thrown a fish directly onto the Heir’s drawing paper!!!
Hearing the panicked shout, Yun Fu had already jumped down from the windowsill, landing on all fours.
The sensation under her paws felt strange. Lowering her head, she realized she was standing on a half-finished painting.
Though only half-completed, the outline was already visible.
In the painting, a plump little cat was crouched on a beam, peeking out with half of its head.
It was clearly Yun Fu herself.
But now, the painting had been ruined by the fish she had brought back and by her own paws.
The dust beneath her feet and the slippery slime from the fish.
For a moment, Yun Fu felt a pang of guilt—so that was what the shout to “stop” had meant.
Unfortunately, it had come too late; she had already thoroughly destroyed the painting.
Not daring to look up at Wei Rong’s expression, Yun Fu sat up straight, extended a paw, and nudged the half-dead fish. “Meow, meow, meow~” I caught this for you, to nourish your health.
Shen Shi watched as his master’s face showed not a trace of anger but instead held a gentle softness in his eyes. Wei Rong reached out to stroke A Fu’s head, his voice as soothing as a spring breeze, incredibly tender.
“Is this for me?”
There was no reprimand; his voice was so gentle it nearly overwhelmed Yun Fu.
Feeling the gentle kneading on her head, Yun Fu leaned into it, rubbing her head against the man’s palm.
As she rubbed, she let out soft, sweet meows.
“Meow~~” Yes, yes, I caught it just for you!
“Meow?” So? Aren’t I good to you?
Wei Rong felt the soft, fluffy texture under his palm and saw his own reflection in those sparkling cat pupils. His heart melted completely.
He picked up the cat sitting on the table and cradled her in his arms, stroking her all over.
“A Fu is so amazing~ Whose cat is this talented?”
“Meow~” I suppose I’m yours for now~
A gentle touch brushed between her brows, fleeting yet distinct.
The handsome face magnified before her eyes confirmed it—the touch had been from the man’s lips.
For a moment, Yun Fu froze in shock.
She… she had been kissed… by a handsome man?!!!
Was this person really Wei Rong, the Heir of Wei Guogong Manor, the emperor’s own cousin, the unapproachable Jade-Faced Yama?
How was he so different from the rumors circulating in the streets?
Yun Fu had only learned about him after Wei Rong brought her to the Guogong Residence. From their conversations, she discovered that this handsome man who had “kidnapped” her was actually the Heir of the manor, the head of the Ministry of Justice—the stern, ruthless Jade-Faced Yama, Wei Shizi!
Before turning fifteen, Yun Fu had lived on a mountain with her master. After her relatives from the ministerial residence found her, she came to Jing An. For a month, she was placed in a remote courtyard, where she occasionally overheard the young maid serving her mention this Wei Shizi.
Sometimes, when she sneaked out of the ministerial residence to visit a tavern, she would also hear the patrons there talking about him.
Therefore, Yun Fu never connected the ethereally beautiful person she had saved with the vicious and ruthless Wei Shizi they spoke of.
But now, after spending these past few days with Wei Rong, her perception had been completely overturned.
All she could say was that rumors were truly destructive!!!
How could such a beautiful, gentle, and considerate person bear any resemblance to what they described?
Slander! This was pure slander!!!
Shen Shi watched as the Heir gently cradled the cat in his arms, not minding the dirty paw prints A Fu left on his clothes. His face was as warm as the sun, his voice as soft as water, and he even lowered his head to kiss A Fu’s head!!!
Outwardly calm, inwardly, screams erupted in her mind!
The Heir must have been possessed by a ghost!!!