After Becoming Pregnant With The Empress Cat's Cub - Chapter 41.1

“Yes! I’ve gone to training, so I can’t accompany you today. This is a very high-level close combat practical course! I heard about it back in District 9, but I never thought I’d get to attend! I’m so happy! Can’t talk now, Lan Ye, I’m heading into the classroom!”

Little Landmine handed over her phone and entered the classroom excitedly. She had heard that getting into this training took at least three years of waiting after entering the palace.

Usually, being selected meant a promotion was coming. She didn’t expect to be so lucky to encounter a special training for newcomers right after arriving. She vowed to cherish this opportunity and learn everything she could so she could better protect the person she wanted to protect.

After listening to the message, Lan Ye narrowed her eyes. This was definitely Rin’s doing.

When she gets back, I need to have a talk with her. If she’s going to do something nice, why be so secretive about it? Is she planning to write it in a diary or something?

After replying to Little Landmine telling her to study hard, Lan Ye noticed another person standing beside Laura. This person wore a guard uniform with slightly different details, she wasn’t sure when they had arrived…

Lan Ye wasn’t very surprised, she was getting used to it. These beastmen walked without a sound…

Seeing Lan Ye look over, Laura introduced: “This is Lu Li, the Head of Guards for Her Highness’s palace. Whichever way Miss Lan Ye wishes to go today, she will accompany you.”

Lan Ye looked at the Head of Guards named Lu Li. Her face was upright and her features were stern. The guard uniform, which looked cute on Little Landmine, looked entirely different on her, it carried the aura of someone ready to slay enemies on a battlefield.

Lu Li gave a solemn bow: “Please give your orders.”

The thunderous voice made the two cats eating their breakfast puff up their fur at the same time.

Lan Ye’s lip twitched. I’ll have to tell her to speak less when we’re out…

“Please accompany me to the Vinatta Golden Hall.”

Hakimi was waiting, so Lan Ye wasn’t going to be picky.

Lu Li nodded, turned, and started walking, letting out a breath of relief where Lan Ye couldn’t see.

This morning, before leaving, the Princess had strictly instructed her to protect Miss Lan Ye. It was the first time the Princess had spoken to her. Lu Li regretted not recording it. The Princess was the person she respected most, whoever the Princess wanted protected, she would guard with her life.

She gripped her weapon, scanning the surroundings warily, treating the palace like a battlefield and entering a state of high alert.

Looking at her like that, Lan Ye’s footsteps faltered. What’s going on? Is there a wild beast where I’m going?

Even if there’s a wild beast, I have to go…

With a nervous heart, Lan Ye followed. Behind her, the two cats, fur still bristling, followed along.

Because of Hakimi’s emergency, Lan Ye walked quite fast. The little ginger cat was soon lagging behind, meowing anxiously in a high-pitched tone.

The tabby stopped to wait for the ginger one.

Lan Ye looked back at the two, debating whether to pick them up and carry them…

The situation with Hakimi was uncertain. If there was real danger… better not.

She squatted down and gave each cat a pat. “I have some business to attend to. Don’t follow me. If you want to play later, come find me at Rin’s palace at noon.”

She addressed the tabby, as Rin had said the little ginger was too young to understand human speech.

After speaking, she saw a flicker of hesitation in the tabby’s eyes, as if it didn’t want to leave her.

Lan Ye pursed her lips. This tsundere cat had clearly taken a liking to her after that rua session.

She thought of Rin, wondering if it was possible for her to turn into a full “Ginger” form like in the dream, so she could give her a proper rua.

That texture would surely be amazing.

With one last stroke, Lan Ye didn’t wait for the cats to agree. She stood up to say goodbye.

“Be good, I’m going.”

The ginger kitten tried to follow but was pinned down by the tabby’s paw on its head.

Then, Lan Ye saw the tabby very calmly let out a long string of “meow meow meow meow meow.”

“What does that mean?” Lan Ye asked curiously.

“It says, ‘Human, come back quickly’.”

“Huh?” Lan Ye’s eyes widened as she looked at the person who spoke. “You understand them?”

Lu Li nodded. She had attended a bilingual school and passed the Level 6 Meow Language Exam upon graduation.

However, she had only barely passed the line, so she wasn’t proficient, she could only understand simple things.

Lan Ye looked at this upright Head of Guards in awe and gave a thumb’s up: “As expected of the Head of Guards, so impressive!”

Lan Ye’s sparkling eyes were full of genuine admiration, making Lu Li’s face turn bright red.

“No… it’s nothing.”

Lu Li had never been looked at like that. She had always been ordinary and dreamed of being a powerful beastman like the Princess.

“My position as Head isn’t… isn’t based on strength.”

Lu Li felt embarrassed receiving such high praise and wanted to come clean, but she was interrupted by Lan Ye.

Lan Ye patted Lu Li on the arm, signaling her to be quiet. She waved goodbye to the cats.

“Got it! I’ll be back as soon as I’ve handled things.”

With that, Lan Ye pulled Lu Li along, quickening their pace. Only when she felt they were far enough that the cats couldn’t hear did she speak again.

“Are you silly? Why are you telling everyone everything? Cats have ears! What if they overhear and spread it? You’re not the only one who understands cat-speak.”

Lu Li was momentarily stunned, then realized Lan Ye was looking out for her. She felt a warmth in her heart, but actually, it was fine, everyone already knew…

“By the way, what kind of connections do you have?” Lan Ye asked in a low voice.

“Eh?” Lu Li didn’t react for a moment.

Lan Ye: “Didn’t you say you didn’t get the Head position based on strength?”

If it wasn’t strength, it had to be connections.

It was unexpected that such an upright-looking person was a “nepotism hire.” Best to understand the relationships involved.

After a moment, Lu Li understood. She shook her head repeatedly.

Lan Ye patted her again with a ‘you can trust me’ look. “Don’t worry, look at our relationship. I definitely won’t tell anyone.”

Lu Li: “No, I don’t have connections. It was purely luck.”

And not very good luck at that.

“Luck?”

Seeing Lan Ye’s disbelief, Lu Li hurried to explain: “Really! Because Head Si was demoted, the position became vacant. A new Head had to be selected, and we were told to recommend a name. Everyone knew Head Si was favored by the Princess and that she’d surely be brought back once the Princess returned. No one wanted to be the temporary Head, so… we drew lots.”

Lan Ye finished for her: “And you drew the short straw?”

Lu Li nodded.

Lan Ye laughed: “Then your luck is actually pretty good.”

Lu Li: “Huh?”

Lan Ye wore a profound ‘I alone see the truth’ expression: “Head Si… that’s Si Qing, right?”

Lu Li nodded: “You know her?”

Lan Ye nodded. More than just knew her. “Don’t worry. She’s not coming back. You can be the Head of Guards with a peaceful mind.”

“Ah? Why?” Lu Li was confused. The Princess was back; surely she’d reinstate Head Si soon.

“Have you heard of the Cat Person Justice League?”

“No.”

“Well, you have now.”

“Huh?”

“Si Qing is now a member of the Cat-Person Justice League. She carries the heavy responsibility of protecting the safety of the entire kitten world. She is the incarnation of love and justice, she won’t be coming back just to guard one Princess anymore.”

Lu Li: !

She didn’t quite understand, but it sounded incredibly impressive!

Far away in the Central District, Si Qing, who had just stepped into the police station, suddenly sneezed. She felt a bit of a chill. She looked up at the sun, why wasn’t it warm today?

Speaking of which, since the Human wasn’t around, her phone didn’t ring in the morning anymore. It was quite lonely…

Rubbing her arms, Si Qing walked toward her office. Since the Human was away, she had to investigate the case of the missing cat food from the stray cat shelter by herself today.

Good. That Human was always making fun of her. This time, while the Human was gone, she would catch the suspect and clear her name!

Her confident steps grew wider.

She sat down and was about to research how to recover surveillance footage when she received a video call from Lan Ye.

When she picked up, unexpectedly, it wasn’t Lan Ye’s face on the screen.

“Head Si, I am so proud of you!” Lu Li spoke rapidly into the camera. “I will definitely work hard too! I’ll strive to join the Cat-Person Justice League as soon as possible!”

The booming voice echoed through the office.

Si Qing: ?

Was she hallucinating? Why was Lan Ye’s video call showing Lu Li’s face?

“Alright, let me say a word.”

Lan Ye’s voice came through, and soon the screen switched faces.

Lan Ye smiled at her, looking bright and mischievous.

Si Qing’s intuition told her something was wrong.

“What’s going on? What happened to Lu Li? What ‘joining the Cat-Person League’?”

Lan Ye, holding the phone, burst out laughing at the question.

She laughed while continuing to rush forward.

On the way, she had told Lu Li about the deeds and vision of the Cat-Person Justice League. Although she had “beautified” it a bit, it was all based on a factual foundation. She didn’t expect this righteous beastman to get fired up and demand to join immediately.

Well, she couldn’t just say yes. Once an organization passed its initial chaotic stage, it had to move toward formalization. As the founder, Lan Ye had given herself a title. Honorary Chairperson of the Cat-Person Justice League.

“It’s nothing. Lu Li wants to join the League too. I told her that since you’re the Executive Chairperson, she has to pass your evaluation.”

A question mark slowly formed in Si Qing’s mind: “League Chairperson?”

Lan Ye straightened her expression to look serious: “Don’t doubt your own abilities. Even though you were demoted from the palace, the League doesn’t care about that. From now on, anyone who wants to join must pass your test. How about it? Do you feel the weight of the responsibility on your shoulders?”

Si Qing’s expression became awkward at the mention of being “demoted,” but she was also surprised. She thought the Human would mock her, but not only did she not, she had actually appointed her as Chairperson.

And saying Lu Li had to pass her test… Si Qing hadn’t told anyone, but seeing Lu Li replace her as Head of Guards had hurt. Now, this Human was saying she still had the authority to evaluate Lu Li.

She suddenly felt a bit better.

Then, she sensed something was off.

“You’re actually letting me be the Chairperson?”

This Human… knowing her, she clearly wanted to be the boss.

“Yeah.”

Si Qing: “Then what about you?”

Lan Ye smiled: “Me? I am too. I’m the Honorary Chairperson, and you’re the Executive Chairperson.”

Si Qing frowned, sensing a trap, but couldn’t help asking: “What’s the difference between these two?”

“The difference is like heaven and earth.” Lan Ye winked at Si Qing. “Your power is huge. You manage the whole League.”

Si Qing: “And what do you manage?”

Lan Ye laughed: “I manage you.”

Si Qing: …….

She knew there was a trap!

What kind of Chairperson was she? She was just a laborer for the Human!

Si Qing wasn’t going to do it, absolutely not. She was just about to refuse when she saw the smile on the Human’s face vanish completely.

It was replaced by a serious expression she had never seen before.

“What’s wrong?”

Lan Ye hadn’t expected that the first thing she’d see upon entering this magnificent studio would be this scene.

“Something’s up. Hanging up.”

“What happened? Hey!” Si Qing saw the Human’s grim face before the screen froze and cut off. Her heart skipped a beat. She had never seen the Human look so solemn.

Surely something hasn’t actually gone wrong? She hurriedly called back.

But it was immediately declined.

Lan Ye silenced her phone and shoved it into her pocket, her gaze sharp as she looked toward the center of the hall, onto the stage under the spotlight.

Hakimi was kneeling alone on one side, while a group of people stood on the other, each wearing a mocking sneer.

The one leading the group was actually poking Hakimi’s forehead with a finger!

The hall was too large for Lan Ye to hear what they were saying.

But it certainly wasn’t anything good!

Hakimi was here for a singing competition, not to perform a play. Her current state of fearful sobbing definitely wasn’t a stage effect!

How dare they bully her Hakimi!

Lan Ye quickly measured the number of enemies versus herself, and the apparent gap in strength.

She patted Lu Li beside her: “Shout something for me.”

Lu Li: “Eh?”

After hearing what Lan Ye wanted her to shout, she was stunned: “Ah?”

Lan Ye: “Don’t worry about it. Just shout it as loud as you can!”

Seeing the serious look on Lan Ye’s face, Lu Li hesitated but complied.

Using a booming voice that rang through the entire auditorium, she roared…

“THE PREGNANT LADY HAS ARRIVED!”