"I just made some pastries and thought I'd bring you some to try." Qin Hua smiled warmly as she gently placed the food basket down. Inside was a plate of dark green tea cakes, emitting a subtle yet enticing fragrance.
Seeing them, Ziyuan's mouth watered, and her eyes narrowed in delight. "Good Hua'er, you always know what I like! It's perfect; I was just wondering what to have for breakfast tomorrow."
"I noticed some bitter banana leaves in the right forest, so I picked some and tried making this pastry," Qin Hua said with a slight curve of her lips. "You should give it a try. If it doesn't taste good, don't be too harsh on me."
"Hua'er's skills are beyond reproach. The lotus cakes you brought me the other day, I can still taste their lingering sweetness," Ziyuan praised incessantly and sighed, "Although I have a mother who works in the kitchen, she can't match your exquisite craftsmanship. You can turn any flower or plant into delicious pastries."
Qin Hua responded calmly, "I'm only skilled at making some desserts."
"When I came in earlier... you seemed a bit down. Did something happen?"
Her eyes were like a calm lake, serene and gentle, yet with a profound depth, like the bottom of the lake.
Facing Qin Hua, Ziyuan couldn't help but feel an urge to open up: "You know I work by the Crown Prince's side and have always been diligent. His Highness has never found fault with me. But the new stray cat he brought back-"
Ziyuan was indignant and spoke with a harsh tone, "I don't even know where that little beast came from; it's utterly mischievous."
She only dared to say such things in front of Qin Hua, knowing full well that everyone else was aware of how much the Crown Prince adored that cat.
Over the days they had known each other, Qin Hua had come to understand that Ziyuan was someone who couldn't keep things to herself.
And whenever Ziyuan vented her frustrations, Qin Hua would quietly listen. As she swept her sleeve across the table, tidying up scattered objects, her fingertips lightly brushed over the incense box.
Ziyuan, in a fit of anger, exclaimed, "It ruins the incense I painstakingly make every time, forcing me to redo it..."
Qin Hua's fingers paused slightly, and for the first time, she interrupted her, "So, Ah Yuan, all the incense you've prepared has been wasted?"
"Exactly!" Ziyuan, still fuming, recounted everything to Yuan Hao, saying, "Every time that cat sees the incense burner, it causes trouble. Now it's even worse; the Crown Prince has started yielding to it... His Highness said that since the cat doesn't like it, I don't need to make incense anymore."
"Such bad luck." Ziyuan spat again. "I don't even know where that pampered stray cat came from."
After venting for a while, she felt her anger subside.
Ziyuan paused to take a sip of water, then casually glanced at Qin Hua, who was sitting with her head lowered.
The young woman before her, though dressed simply and of humble origins, carried an air of mystery in her every movement. Her features were soft and alluring, captivating even to another woman.
Moreover, she was the Crown Prince's savior.
That title alone was enough to make her worth currying favor with.
"If it were you, Hua'er, who could say a few good words for me in front of the Crown Prince, that would be wonderful." Ziyuan smiled suggestively, teasing.
"I'm hoping that after the war ends, I can secure a good position serving in the Eastern Palace again. We sisters can support each other, don't you think?"
"In fact, I've been here for days and haven't seen His Highness again."
Qin Hua smiled faintly, though the smile didn't reach her eyes. "If the opportunity arises, I would naturally want to mention your hard work to the Crown Prince...
But if you want to regain a position in His Highness's favor, I might have a suggestion for you."
"Good Hua'er, what is it? Tell me quickly!" Ziyuan's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but grab Qin Hua's hand.
"His Highness is very fond of that cat now." Qin Hua lowered her eyes and spoke slowly, "If you could win that cat's favor, wouldn't you have more chances to stand out in front of His Highness?"
**
At midday, the sunlight was soft and gentle, and the cat was sleeping soundly.
Ming Luomeng, as usual, lay beside Pei Shenyu's desk, her white fur rising and falling gently as she slept peacefully.
Suddenly, a voice as clear as a bell woke her from her sweet dreams.
"Qin Hua heard that His Highness is not at the training grounds today and should have some free time, so I came to presumptuously bring some newly made pastries to express my gratitude for these past days."
"These pastries are made with cattail leaves and have a calming effect. His Highness might want to try them."
Pei Shenyu nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for your efforts, Miss Qin."
Ming Luomeng opened her eyes, fully awake now.
She lifted her head and saw Qin Hua carrying a food basket, gracefully walking towards Pei Shenyu with her eyes downcast. The woman was dressed in a light yellow embroidered dress, with a gardenia flower pinned to her hair, looking gentle and refined.
Pei Shenyu raised his head to respond, and the two of them happened to meet eyes.
Qin Hua was the one who had taken credit for her achievements, so Ming Luomeng naturally didn't have any good feelings toward her. However, she was just a cat who couldn't speak, so she quickly put the matter aside.
But now... seeing the handsome pair under the sunlight, as if they were made for each other, the cat felt a strange discomfort in her heart.
It was like biting into an unripe little red fruit-sour and bitter.
She couldn't help but let out a soft, pitiful "meow," which caught Pei Shenyu's attention.
The cat's cry was as delicate and plaintive as a young girl's.
Pei Shenyu paused, and his hand naturally fell on her head, gently stroking her. The motion was so familiar, as if it had been done countless times, a silent comfort.
Seeing this, Qin Hua covered her lips with her sleeve and laughed softly. "It seems His Highness gets along well with this cat now."
"This cat is rather close to me." Stroking the soft white fur under his fingers, Pei Shenyu's lips curled slightly. "If it were anyone else, she probably wouldn't be this well-behaved."
As the two of them continued discussing her, Ming Luomeng grew increasingly displeased.
The cat's whiskers twitched, but she unexpectedly caught a whiff of a delicious scent... Where was it coming from?
Ming Luomeng slipped out from under Pei Shenyu's hand, looking curiously at the plate of pastries Qin Hua had just placed on the table, and couldn't help but walk over with her dainty cat steps.
"As expected of a cat, her sense of smell is very sharp..." Qin Hua whispered, her gaze following the cat's movements, her eyes holding an indescribable emotion.
"She has a keen nose." Pei Shenyu's eyes softened slightly. "It must be the scent of the pastries Miss Qin made that attracted this little glutton."
At that moment, Ming Luomeng approached the pastries.
A hint of suspicion crossed her eyes as she lowered her head to sniff.
This scent...
A flash of shock passed through Ming Luomeng's eyes, and she couldn't help but glance up at Qin Hua.
But Qin Hua was already looking at her.
Her lips were still smiling, but her gaze was cold as the moon, making Ming Luomeng feel as if she had been doused in icy water in the depths of winter.
"I wonder if these pastries suit His Highness's taste." Qin Hua walked towards the cat and the plate, her voice gentle as she asked, "Would His Highness like to try them first?"
Don't eat it!
Panic flashed in the cat's clear eyes. Seeing Pei Shenyu's calm expression, as if he was about to agree, she grew even more anxious.
A sudden change occurred.
A white blur swept past. When the two looked closely, they saw the cat, as if she were stealing food, snatching a piece of pastry from the table and leaping down.
With a "clang," the sound of porcelain shattering echoed. The cat had knocked over the plate while jumping down, causing the dish to fall to the ground and break into pieces.
The pastries also fell and shattered all over the floor.
"She doesn't know any better. I'll have to apologize to Miss Qin for this cat later." Pei Shenyu's brows furrowed slightly, his expression darkening.
Noticing the implicit dismissal in Pei Shenyu's tone, Qin Hua's eyes flickered, but she maintained her impeccable smile. "It's no trouble. I'll make something else for His Highness next time. In that case, I'll take my leave now."
"Yuan Hao, see Miss Qin out." Pei Shenyu turned and walked back into the room.
Yuan Hao greeted her with a smile, "Thank you for your efforts, Miss Qin. In this hot weather, you still thought of His Highness. I'll take care of cleaning up here...
Pei Shenyu walked quickly and stopped in front of the cat's nest, where he indeed found a sneaky little white bundle.
"Don't eat it."
Pei Shenyu sighed softly and crouched down.
Ming Luomeng suddenly felt her chin being lifted by a slender hand and was taken aback.
Before she could react, Pei Shenyu's fingers gently but firmly pried open her mouth, inspecting her tiny pearl-like cat teeth inside and out.
"Meow meow-" Her face turned bright red as she jumped back like a firecracker, her tail puffed up.
Seeing the moisture on his withdrawn finger, Ming Luo Meng's cat ears twitched, feeling even hotter, her heart filled with embarrassment.
However, the usually fastidious Crown Prince didn't seem to mind at all. Instead, he visibly sighed in relief.
After confirming that there were no food remnants in the cat's mouth, the stone in Pei Shen Yu's heart finally fell.
But he still couldn't help lightly reprimanding, "Am I not giving you enough food? So greedy-you're truly a little gluttonous cat."
"Meow woo-" She was not a gluttonous cat.
Ming Luo Meng wanted to argue back indignantly, but when she opened her mouth, all that came out was a soft, fluffy cat's meow, reminding her that she couldn't explain anything to Pei Shen Yu.
But clearly, it was she who had saved his life once again.
In his eyes, Qin Hua was probably the savior he treated with respect, while she was just a wild cat-greedy, lazy, and always causing trouble.
The more Ming Luo Meng thought about it, the more wronged she felt, her cat ears unconsciously drooping.
The little cat let out a pitiful "meow," turned away, her eyes reddening like a rabbit's, her tail sweeping the ground furiously.
Seeing the obviously sulking little cat's back, Pei Shen Yu couldn't help but find it amusing.
"Already upset?"
Ming Luo Meng thought angrily, yes, she was very upset. If he didn't come to coax her soon, she would never be kind-hearted again.
At least next time, she would let him suffer a bit...before saving him, meow.
"Alright, I won't scold you anymore." Seeing that if he continued teasing her, the cat might not be coaxed back, Pei Shen Yu walked over to the cat, squatted down, and picked up one of her little paws, giving it a shake. "Not angry anymore?"
Her little paw was held in his hand, Ming Luo Meng tried to pull it back, but couldn't. She stiffened her paw, her expression blank. When she looked up, she saw Pei Shen Yu thoughtfully say:
"Now that I think about it, I haven't given you a name yet. Since you don't like...let's change it then."
"How about I call you 'Little Darling'?"
Ming Luo Meng's cat eyes widened.
The young man's voice was like a clear spring flowing over stones, cool and bright, gently plucking the strings of her heart.
"Good kitty, what do you think?"
Thump.
Hours had passed, yet the little cat could still hear her own heartbeat.
Her mind was swirling with the strange fragrance from earlier, and also filled with Pei Shen Yu's gentle "good kitty," leaving her completely unsettled.
The little cat shook her ears, trying hard to calm herself down.
But a sense of lingering fear slowly rose in her heart.
So the one who cast that scent...was Qin Hua. She was now firmly established as the Crown Prince's savior, and with that status, people in the military treated her with respect. Ming Luo Meng originally thought she was merely using her leverage, but now it seemed things were not so simple.
But how could she tell Pei Shen Yu?
She was just a cat-who would believe what a cat said?
As soon as this thought came to mind, Ming Luo Meng froze.
Why did she know that others wouldn't believe what a cat said? Why did she instinctively feel that she was a cat who couldn't speak?
What if...she was actually a person?
"Kitty, kitty-"
Who was calling her?
Ming Luo Meng's thoughts were abruptly interrupted. She curiously raised her head and leapt to the window.
"Ah!" Zi Yuan, who had only half-heartedly called out to the cat, was startled by the sudden appearance of the cat at the window.
She patted her chest, originally intending to glare at the cat, but remembering Qin Hua's instructions, she adjusted her expression, softening her tone, "Kitty, look, I made these mung bean cakes myself and secretly brought them for you."
"Come, come, eat up."
There were many servants and soldiers at the camp, and seeing the cute cat, some occasionally crumbled their dry biscuits and threw them on the ground. But Ming Luo Meng, being fastidious, naturally wouldn't eat them, though that didn't stop people from trying to feed her.
The maid in front of her placed the dish on the windowsill. The cakes were neatly arranged, a bright green color, and looked soft and easy to eat.
Ming Luo Meng's paw twitched slightly, and she raised her head to scrutinize the person in front of her. However, Zi Yuan, though smiling, had impatience written all over her eyes.
Seeing the little cat remain still, Zi Yuan grew anxious and urged, "Kitty, eat."
Sensing something off, Ming Luo Meng suddenly felt a cool sensation, different from the eerie scent she had smelled before. She couldn't help but sniff the cakes in front of her. Unlike before, this time, she was immediately captivated.
It was...schizonepeta.
There were other ingredients too.
But she bit her tongue hard to stay alert, suppressing her primal urges, and glared fiercely at the cakes.
"Meow!"
She swatted the plate away and jumped down from the window.
"My cakes!" Zi Yuan exclaimed, but could only watch as the plate fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
"Ancestor, where are you taking me?" Yuan Hao asked, puzzled but still following closely behind the cat.
The little cat had suddenly bitten the hem of his robe and dragged him towards the door. Afraid the little ancestor would hurt her teeth, Yuan Hao had no choice but to follow her.
The cat would walk a few steps, then turn back to check if he was following, as if she had a spirit of her own.
Yuan Hao followed the cat all the way to the back window, where he was surprised to see Zi Yuan kneeling on the ground, frantically cleaning up the crumbs in the grass.
"Sister Zi Yuan, what are you doing here?"
"Your Highness, this is what happened..."
After returning to the house, Pei Shen Yu noticed Ming Luo Meng curled up in her cat bed, looking listless and lethargic. He asked Yuan Hao what had happened while he was away.
Yuan Hao, recalling that the cat had become like this after Zi Yuan appeared, truthfully reported everything.
Pei Shen Yu frowned and said, "From now on, order that no one is allowed to feed her."
"Furthermore, from now on, she will dine with me."
"Meow!" As soon as the words were spoken, a small white furball leaped toward him, eyes gleaming, all four paws in the air, as if knowing that someone would surely catch her. He raised an eyebrow, but with a smile, he opened his arms and caught the cat in a full embrace.
"What, did you miss me?"
Prince Shen Yu stroked the white fur of the cat in his arms, speaking in a gentle tone.
It was the first time he had seen the little cat so affectionate, and as her caretaker, he couldn't help but feel a bit of joy in his heart.
Was she finally getting used to him?
"Meow, meow..."
The cat in his arms, as if cold and seeking warmth, kept nuzzling closer into his embrace. Ming Luomeng's front paws clung to Shen Yu's shoulder, and her head burrowed into the crook of his neck, emitting soft, weak purring sounds.
She couldn't explain how seeing Shen Yu suddenly made her feel so safe.
But she naturally couldn't express her fears to him either.
"Alright, Your Highness," Yuan Hao, stunned by the unexpected scene, finally responded after a moment. "I'll go give the orders right away."
"Go ahead," Shen Yu replied, his attention entirely on the cat in his arms now.
Rarely did the little cat show such closeness, so he couldn't resist petting her a few more times. After a moment of bonding, he returned to reviewing the military affairs.
However, what Shen Yu couldn't see was the fear hidden in the amber eyes of the cat.
If she truly were just a cat that knew nothing and only craved those pastries...
If she didn't recognize that scent, a deadly poison from the southern territories, which had a bean-like fragrance when ground. The pastries were laced with an aroma that irresistibly attracted cats.
Then by now, she would be cold all over, breathing rapidly, losing her appetite and vomiting, suffering a painful death after seven days. Even a skilled doctor would diagnose it as a pestilence from an insect bite.
But as a cat, she probably wouldn't last even that long.
Three days would likely be enough to end her life.
The wind vine, clear water root, and monkshood used earlier were slow-acting poisons. When burned, they caused people to become dazed, lose their senses, grow weak, and gradually lose strength... But this three-step peach now was meant to take her life immediately.
The night was silent.
Shen Yu took off his outer robe and extinguished the lights. Just as he was about to step inside, he suddenly stopped.
He moved silently, concealing his footsteps and presence, then swiftly reached into the curtains with a forceful hand-
But all he grasped was a warm, fluffy ball of fur.
"Little Darling?" Shen Yu's voice held a trace of surprise.
The white furball under his hand was also startled, giving a slight shake before slowly lifting its small head. Two eyes, like lanterns, looked up at him pitifully, and she let out a weak, soft meow:
"Meow..."
Ming Luomeng cautiously peeked at Shen Yu, afraid he might shoo her off the bed.
She curled herself into an even smaller ball.
Shen Yu couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the cat, curled up in a small corner at the foot of the bed, taking up less space than a pillow and trying to make herself as small as a cloud.
"What's gotten into you today, being so clingy to me?"
Ming Luomeng's eyes flickered, but she remained motionless.
That maid's reckless behavior likely meant the mastermind was still Qin Hua, but the target was her.
After failing several times, Qin Hua must have finally set her sights on her... After all, it was she who had repeatedly thwarted her plans. If she didn't find a powerful protector soon, who knows when her life would be quietly taken.
She had to cling tightly to the noble Crown Prince to secure some peace.
As the Crown Prince, Shen Yu was surrounded by multiple layers of security, and all his food was tested with silver needles. With Shen Yu by her side, Qin Hua would not dare to act rashly against her.
As long as she stayed vigilant and didn't leave Shen Yu's side.
Thinking this, Ming Luomeng glanced at the young prince again and started to act coquettishly, meowing sweetly.
Her voice was almost sugary.
Shen Yu chuckled, lifting the cat and placing her in the center of the bed before pulling down the bed curtains. "Alright, I won't send you away."
"Meow..."
Ming Luomeng settled by Shen Yu's pillow, her heart finally calming down as she drifted into sleep.
However, after that day, the little cat grew more and more anxious and thin.
At first, Yuan Hao joked, "What's wrong? With the battles intensifying, are you empathizing with His Highness?"
Ming Luomeng weakly meowed in response.
In reality, it was the constant vigilance and prolonged tension that had exhausted her, leading to her weakened state. She knew something was wrong with her condition but couldn't do anything about it.
Seeing the cat's appetite declining and her becoming jumpier by the day, Shen Yu grew concerned as well. Watching the cat he had just nursed back to health, with her once sleek fur now dull and her body growing thinner, his heart tightened.
Even though he had the military doctor examine the cat, enduring the doctor's strange looks, nothing was found.
Yuan Hao, noticing Shen Yu's worried expression, racked his brain to come up with a solution. "Your Highness, could the cat be feeling stifled?"
"Stifled?" Shen Yu looked at him seriously.
"Yes, Your Highness. The wild cats in my hometown call out to each other every day, roaming freely and happily. But this little cat is too quiet, and without any companions, she might be getting sick from being cooped up indoors."
"Some cats and dogs can get depressed, just like people."
"Can a cat really feel lonely?"
Shen Yu murmured, looking down at the soft, limp white furball on his lap.
The cat was fast asleep, her long eyelashes casting shadows, her tiny body rising and falling with her breath, though the movement was so faint it was almost imperceptible. The more he looked, the more alarmed he became, his brows furrowing.
As his fingers brushed over the cat's body, Shen Yu could clearly feel that even her fur was no longer as soft and smooth as before.
Although the cat clung to him every day, showing no desire to go outside... perhaps taking her out to breathe some fresh air might be a good idea.
A few days later, at the time of Chen.
Ming Luomeng awoke to a gentle rocking motion. She drowsily opened her eyes, only to find herself on horseback. Shen Yu had one arm wrapped around her, while the other held the reins as the horse moved forward slowly.
The sound of hooves clopped softly, and with the early autumn, a cool morning breeze blew past.
Ming Luomeng looked down to glance at the ground below-the horse's back seemed very high from her perspective. The cool wind ruffled her fur slightly. She squinted her eyes, feeling more awake, and then buried her head in Shen Yu's arm.
Shen Yu felt the warm movement in his arms and glanced down. The cat was awake but very well-behaved.
He couldn't help but feel a pang of tenderness in his heart, gently stroking the cat's back in silent comfort.
Ming Luomeng's paws twitched, but she remained quietly nestled in his arms.
Behind Shen Yu were two vice generals, one dressed in white and the other in black.
Curious, she looked at them, only to meet the sharp gaze of the black-clad guard. The intensity of his stare startled her, and she quickly shrank back into Shen Yu's embrace.
The horse trotted leisurely for a few hundred meters before they gradually approached the bustling county.
The sun began to rise, warming the air.
"The Crown Prince is here!" "Good morning, Your Highness."
Among the crowd, someone recognized Shen Yu and warmly greeted him. Some even offered fruits as gifts. Shen Yu responded kindly but politely declined each offer.
Ming Luomeng lay quietly in his arms, gazing up at the sharp lines of his jaw.
So, he was so revered and loved by the people... She could see that the genuine warmth and sincerity in the eyes of the commoners were unfeigned.
And indeed, since the rebellion, the surrounding counties had all been affected. It was only after Shen Yu led the troops to victory that this area could return to peace.
The people were genuinely grateful to the one who had protected their homes.
"Jingle, jingle, jingle..."
Suddenly, from an alley on the left, the sound of a clear bell rang out.
Ming Luomeng's mind went blank, as if drawn by the sound of the bell. Shen Yu, always expecting her to be well-behaved, only loosely held the cat in his arms, which gave her the opportunity. Struggling a few times, she leaped down from the horse.