“Meow Mrow”
“Meeow”
Wave after wave of cat cries came from inside the room, sounding utterly miserable and indignant.
Even though he couldn’t understand cat language, Shen Shi felt these cries must contain some very foul language.
Recalling the scene from earlier, Shen Shi could barely suppress his laughter, patting Zi Shi beside him while trying to keep his amusement from being too obvious.
“This is just too funny. So animals hold grudges no less than we humans do. A Fu caught those golden carps, which are practically its brethren, yet those fish actually sought revenge for their boiled brother.”
Zi Shi remained expressionless, coldly pushing away Shen Shi’s hand. “He Lao said fish have very short memories.”
Shen Shi: …
Inside the room, the thoroughly drenched Yun Fu was meowing furiously.
After falling into the water, her appearance had suffered greatly, completely lacking its usual cute and fluffy charm.
Sitting in the wooden basin, Yun Fu looked at her reflection in the water. Her fur was all matted together in clumps, resembling a drowned rat. With her facial fur wet, her eyes appeared unusually large.
She was so ugly that Yun Fu couldn’t bear to look a second time.
“Meow~~ Mrowr~~” Damn that fat fish! Boil it! Boil it!
Wei Rong had removed his outer robe, revealing a violet-blue long gown underneath. He had applied soapberry to his hands, working up a rich lather as he bathed A Fu in the water basin.
Hearing her continuous “wails,” Wei Rong knew she was absolutely furious.
Though she looked quite pitiful, he couldn’t suppress the smile at the corner of his lips when he remembered what had happened earlier.
He comforted her softly, “Alright, I know, it was that fish’s fault. I’ve already had someone catch it and send it to the kitchen to be boiled.”
The gentle consolation from the beautiful man gradually dissipated the fire in Yun Fu’s heart.
Once her anger subsided, Yun Fu became aware of Wei Rong’s hands moving over her body.
Realizing what was happening, Yun Fu instinctively tried to leap out of the basin.
“Meow!!!” Let me go!
Even though she was currently a cat, at her core she remained a living human being – an unmarried young woman at that!
How could she let Wei Rong, a man, bathe her!
Not even if he was an absolutely stunning beauty!
Water splashed continuously from the basin due to Yun Fu’s struggles, even sprinkling onto Wei Rong’s clothes.
Wei Rong used one hand to restrain the struggling cat trying to jump out of the basin, while speeding up his washing with the other hand.
“Be good, we’re almost done~”
Yun Fu continued to struggle – this had nothing to do with being good or not
Suddenly, a gentle scrubbing motion touched her chest area.
That particular spot was boldly contacted by the man’s fingertips.
Yun Fu froze as if someone had hit her pressure points, losing all strength and resistance. The entire cat went limp, her glazed tile-like eyes instantly dimming.
She was done for… her body… was no longer pure!!!
Wei Rong didn’t understand why A Fu, who had been struggling so fiercely moments before, had suddenly gone limp and become completely still and obedient.
Not dwelling on it further, he took advantage of A Fu’s lack of resistance to speed up his movements, thoroughly washing the cat from head to tail.
After the bath, Wei Rong wrapped Yun Fu in a soft blanket and carried her out of the side room.
A servant had prepared dry towels and was about to step forward when the Heir took the towel from his hands.
“You may leave now.”
His tone was flat and detached, bearing no resemblance to the gentle whispers he had used while bathing Yun Fu.
Yun Fu’s mind was currently filled with the memory of being thoroughly touched by a handsome man.
Every part that should and shouldn’t be touched had been touched.
She was no longer a pure, untouched maiden…
A clear tear slid from the corner of her eye, only to be immediately absorbed by the fur on her face, vanishing without a trace.
Wei Rong dried A Fu’s fur until it was mostly dry, then placed the cat along with the blanket into its small bed on the pearwood cabinet near the window.
The bed was a small bamboo basket lined with a soft cushion and smooth silk.
It was already evening, and compared to the daytime sun, the light was no longer scorching but warm and cozy.
Perfect for drying A Fu’s half-damp fur.
Yun Fu was placed in the soft little bed, and with a roll, the entire cat sank into it.
The previously struggling Yun Fu instantly flattened into a pancake, allowing the warm sunset glow to bathe her body.
Ah Life, with all its ups and downs~
Recalling earlier times, she had been exposed to the elements, relying on acting cute and even fishing in rivers to barely get by.
But now…
From afar, there was a beautiful man to feast her eyes on, she slept on fine silks, ate delicacies, and aside from occasionally having her paws squeezed, her forehead kissed, and her ears stroked by that fellow Wei Rong, life couldn’t be more carefree.
Wei Rong changed his clothes and looked at the little creature occupying the bed completely, his eyes unconsciously softening.
Her half-dry fur, warmed by the sunlight, had already regained its usual fluffiness, even more so than before her bath.
Her little head hung over the edge of the bamboo basket, making one’s heart melt with tenderness.
Yun Fu was sleeping soundly in her comfortable little bed when she felt her paw being grasped, as if someone were playing with a fine piece of jade.
She reached out to press down on the restless hand, signaling not to disturb her.
However, as if all her strength had been drained, her paw was soft and weak, not only failing to push the hand away but instead being kneaded even more firmly.
Yun Fu drowsily opened her eyes to find an enlarged, handsome face before her, the visage like a landscape painting striking her with considerable impact.
The sensation in her paw snapped Yun Fu out of her admiration. Looking down, she realized it wasn’t a dream—her paw was truly held in Wei Rong’s palm, being kneaded incessantly like dough.
Well, it seemed beauty wasn’t so easily admired; there was a price to pay.
Once she accepted this, Yun Fu’s body relaxed even more completely, unconsciously exposing her belly and stretching lazily.
Come on, man, knead away~
On Wei Rong’s end, the emperor had just issued a decree seeking renowned physicians from across the land, healers capable of curing the Thousand Threads Bone Poison. For several consecutive days, the emperor had raged in court, even going so far as to behead an official in the Xuanzheng Hall who urged him to reappoint the head of the Ministry of Justice.
His words, both explicit and implicit, proclaimed that Wei Shizi, Wei Rong, was not long for this world.
The more the emperor ignored advice and even executed court officials, the more Prince Cheng became convinced that Wei Rong’s days were numbered.
But after years of scheming, Prince Cheng dared not take risks. Without witnessing Wei Rong on the brink of death with his own eyes, he wouldn’t make his next move easily.
Ji Chenghe was waiting, and Wei Rong was waiting too, for Prince Cheng’s next move.
~
“Open your dog eyes wide and see clearly! I am Fengyang Princess! A princess personally enfeoffed by the Late Emperor! Ziyang Gege’s cousin! You worthless servants, hurry up and announce me!”
Outside the gates of Wei Guogong Manor, an extravagant carriage had come to a stop at the entrance.
Standing at the entrance was a young woman dressed in a crimson gold-woven peony high-waisted pleated skirt, her hair adorned with jeweled hairpins, a begonia blossom painted on her forehead. Her entire appearance was dazzlingly ornate and flamboyant.
Her makeup was strikingly vivid—beautiful, yet somehow excessive.
This was none other than Hua Yuxi, the Fengyang Princess, daughter of Princess Hongyu. Doted on since childhood, even her title “Fengyang” had been bestowed by the Late Emperor.
Many noble daughters from prestigious families vied to flatter and curry favor with her, which had fostered her willful and domineering temperament.
Especially toward her cousin Wei Rong, who was as sublime as a celestial being—she had resolved since childhood to marry him.
Yet, while the flower was willing, the stream was heartless. Hua Yuxi could count on one hand the number of times she had interacted with her cousin Wei Rong growing up, but that did nothing to diminish her affection for him.
Only a figure as radiant and transcendent as her cousin Wei Rong was worthy of her.
Now, upon hearing the news that Wei Rong was critically poisoned and might not live long, Hua Yuxi felt as if her world were collapsing.
She rushed immediately to Wei Guogong Manor, hoping to see for herself whether her cousin’s condition was as dire as people claimed.
To her dismay, not only could she not see him—she couldn’t even get past the main gate of the manor.
“Well, well~ What’s this, little sister Hua?”
A lazy, teasing voice rang out, deepening the irritation on Hua Yuxi’s delicate face.