Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 10

“It’s still early. Is there any way to increase favorability?”

Unable to sleep, Liu Fenyun stared at the canopy and asked the system, “Preferably something that works in the short term.”

The system was silent for a few seconds. “There is but I’m afraid it will take you a long time to accept it.”

Liu Fenyun said, “That’s fine, tell me first.”

“The demon clan has a strong sense of possession and conquest. The host could try being the ‘zero’ in a pair.” The system’s tone seemed to carry a hint of amusement.

Liu Fenyun: …

Okay, she got it.

That was indeed something she couldn’t accept yet.

Even though she had come to terms with her own orientation, psychological acceptance and physical acceptance were two very different things. When she pleased Lianyi, she had never ventured into that forbidden territory let alone let Lianyi explore hers.

Even if… even if she was starting to feel desire now.

A cool sensation brushed her neck, carrying a faint cold fragrance. Liu Fenyun didn’t need to look to know that it was Lianyi’s arm.

Cats always slept in strange positions and cat demons were no exception. She’d already witnessed it last night. She carefully straightened Lianyi’s arm and pulled her back into her embrace.

Before she transmigrated, Liu Fenyun would play with her phone when she couldn’t sleep. Now, she toyed with the system instead.

The system had many functions, but before her marriage alliance, most of them were locked. Only after Liu Fenyun entered the Seventh Princess’s residence were new functions unlocked.

“You say you’re a ‘Divine Doctor System,’ but you can’t even provide emotional support why are there so many bizarre tutorials in here?” she muttered after browsing through the tutorial library, completely bewildered.

“I am not a ‘Divine Doctor System,’ but a ‘System of the Physician God,’” the system corrected her.

“I don’t see much difference. Either way, you’re not a proper system,” Liu Fenyun pouted, closing the data window and setting an alarm. “I’m going to sleep. Wake me in half an hour.”

Lianyi never expected that in the freezing month of winter, she would be awakened by heat.

She pushed away the woman hugging her tightly and stared at Liu Fenyun’s slightly upturned lips for a moment then pulled her back into her arms.

What dream was she having, to be smiling so happily?

Stroking Liu Fenyun’s face, Lianyi got up and lifted the red canopy. After glancing at the sky outside, she abruptly pinched Liu Fenyun’s cheek hard enough to make her yelp in pain.

“Time to get up.” Lianyi tossed her clothes onto her and, after a brief pause, leaned down to press a light kiss to her lips while she was half-asleep. “Good morning, A-Yun.”

Lianyi had just finished dressing when she suddenly sensed a familiar aura. She hurried to the window and opened it. A calico cat was crouched on the windowsill. Upon seeing her, it raised its paw to its chest and respectfully saluted.

“Any news from the Skyscrying Residence?” Lianyi asked.

“No. But last night, Concubine Rou of the Fragrant Splendor Palace died.” The calico cat reported, “It was said to be illness, but rumors say she vomited blood right after taking her medicine and died within half an hour. The Priests’ Hall investigated and found that the medicine was prepared by Lady Liu. There was deadly poison in the dregs. Sister Xian feared Lady Liu would be in trouble, so she sent me to inform you.”

Upon hearing this, Lianyi snorted coldly.

“Thank you. You may go.” She rubbed the cat’s head and watched it leap over the wall before closing the window.

The demons had their own language for communication, but thanks to the system’s automatic translation, Liu Fenyun heard every word. Her heart tightened.

Her master had trained her to record every patient and prescription. The medicine for Concubine Rou was perfectly normal in both ingredients and dosage so if the patient died after taking it, the prescribing physician could not be blamed.

And she couldn’t possibly have come into contact with poison while preparing it. Someone must have tampered with it someone who wanted to frame her right after she entered the palace.

A familiar old trick.

The best way to clear her name was to find the real culprit. Just as she was about to discuss it with Lianyi, the princess suddenly grabbed her arm and pushed her back onto the bed.

With her hands braced on either side of Liu Fenyun, Lianyi leaned close and said, “I should have warned you not to become an apothecary. One day on the job and you’re already in trouble.”

Liu Fenyun froze, then smiled bitterly. “If someone really wants to cause me trouble, they’ll do it even if I’m sitting quietly at home.”

“‘Trouble will fall from the sky’?” Lianyi didn’t understand.

“It means getting blamed for something you didn’t do being framed!” Liu Fenyun explained, then asked with feigned innocence, “Could Your Highness tell me what exactly happened this time?”

Seeing her pleading expression, Lianyi pressed her lips together, feeling a pang of guilt.

She had noticed yesterday that High Priest Luo Binglun held hostility toward Liu Fenyun. Yet she’d still provoked Luo Binglun during the audience with the emperor, leading to Liu Fenyun being implicated now.

After Lianyi repeated the news about Concubine Rou’s death, Liu Fenyun rested her chin in her hand, thinking.

“Then let’s go to the Imperial Medical Bureau first and examine the body,” she said. “The palace’s power web is as tangled as a spider’s web. From the information you’ve gathered, Concubine Rou had plenty of enemies. It’s possible one of them is using this to frame me.”

Her tone was calm, which made Lianyi frown. “You still dare go to the Bureau? Aren’t you afraid they’ll arrest you?”

Liu Fenyun shook her head. She was afraid but she wanted to understand the situation and clear her name as soon as possible. Otherwise, how could her colleagues and superiors ever trust her again?

She estimated that she would likely spend most of her life working at the Imperial Medical Bureau of Zhuo Huang Kingdom. Physicians and apothecaries especially couldn’t afford a tainted reputation. Whether for herself or for Lianyi, she couldn’t let someone else’s filth stick to her.

Whoever did the dirty deed should take responsibility. Using others to do your killing was the most cowardly of tricks.

After breakfast, they set off.

Lianyi was distracted and forgot to take her motion-sickness medicine. Before long, her stomach churned so badly that she had to order the driver to stop. After taking her medicine and resting her head against Liu Fenyun’s shoulder for a bit, she finally allowed the journey to continue.

By the time Liu Fenyun arrived at the Imperial Medical Bureau, carrying the cat in her arms, it was already a quarter past the fourth watch.

Luo Binglun had been waiting, surrounded by her subordinates. As soon as she saw Liu Fenyun, she looked up and asked, “Concubine Rou died last night. The cause was the medicine prescribed by the Seventh Prince Consort. When the Prince Consort prepared the medicine yesterday, was there anyone else present?”

“I was beside her,” Lianyi replied coldly before Liu Fenyun could speak. “My wife did not harm Concubine Rou”

“This matter has nothing to do with the Saintess. Please step aside,” Luo Binglun interrupted, her tone laced with mockery. “The Saintess’s health is fragile; she cannot stay long in the apothecary and cannot testify. Moreover, now that you are married, who’s to say you wouldn’t cover for her?”

Sensing Lianyi bristle like a cat ready to pounce, Liu Fenyun quickly smoothed the fur on her back and smiled gently at Luo Binglun. “High Priest, please continue your questioning. The sooner this is resolved, the sooner the Bureau can return to normal.”

“If the Prince Consort is so cooperative, then please accompany us to the Priests’ Hall,” Luo Binglun said as she stood. Two male disciples immediately came forward and gripped Liu Fenyun’s arms firmly from both sides.

“Hiss this scene feels strangely familiar,” Liu Fenyun muttered through clenched teeth, wincing in pain but still joking.

Lianyi couldn’t stand it. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, and she raised her paw to strike but the disciples were prepared. One of them said apologetically, “Forgive us,” and delivered a precise chop to the cat’s neck.

“Hey! I’ll go with you willingly no need to hit the cat!” Liu Fenyun cried, shielding Lianyi despite the pain in her arm. She pulled her outer robe open and stuffed the white cat inside, glaring at the men. “She scratched the wrong person, didn’t she? Do either of you have wives? If someone bullied your wife, wouldn’t you fight back?”

The two disciples: “…” Well… when you put it that way, it does make sense, but something about it feels off.

Liu Fenyun obediently followed Luo Binglun. On the way, Lianyi peeked out from her robes, glanced at her, then nestled back against her chest, pressing her ear to Liu Fenyun’s heart.

Her heartbeat was so fast clearly nervous yet her face remained calm.

Was she just putting on a brave front?

Feeling the soft fur rubbing against her, Liu Fenyun thought Lianyi was frightened and gently stroked her twice in silent comfort.

The Priests’ Hall was heavily guarded and somber, but Liu Fenyun had already been there once. She kept her expression steady as she followed.

They were brought to a quiet chamber for questioning. Luo Binglun motioned for her to sit, then dismissed the others.

“There are no outsiders here. You can speak freely,” Luo Binglun said.

Liu Fenyun was baffled. “Speak about what? Should I just say this has nothing to do with me?”

She was only half joking but Luo Binglun nodded. “Those words are enough.”

Liu Fenyun blinked, more confused than ever. Luo Binglun didn’t look like she was joking.

“The death of Concubine Rou truly has nothing to do with you,” Luo Binglun continued. “You are the direct disciple of Yu Qingyue and new to the Kingdom of Zhu Huang. There is no way you’d risk ruining your own future.”

“If you trust A-Yun, then why were you so rough with her earlier?!” Lianyi demanded angrily, emerging from Liu Fenyun’s robes and glaring fiercely.

“It was just an act to make the real culprit lower their guard, so the investigation can proceed faster,” Luo Binglun said with a faint smile. “To make the act convincing, however, I’ll have to trouble the Prince Consort to ‘stay in prison’ for a few days.”

“Luo Binglun, you dare touch her?!” Lianyi growled, about to leap forward, but Liu Fenyun held her back.

“Of course I dare,” Luo Binglun said lightly. “But there’s no need. The Prince Consort is Yu Qingyue’s prized pupil I won’t mistreat her. Even the ‘cell’ has been cleaned and prepared. If the Saintess doesn’t believe me, she can see for herself.”

Liu Fenyun kept smiling throughout. Luo Binglun couldn’t read her emotions she was both impressed and irritated.

No wonder she was Yu Qingyue’s disciple just like her master, she remained calm even with the sky falling down.

Before long, Liu Fenyun saw the so called “cell.”

When the door opened, she could hardly believe her eyes.

Luxurious decorations, screens and drapes, expensive incense burning in the air this wasn’t a prison cell. It looked more like a five star guest room!

“This place is called the Moonlock Pavilion,” Luo Binglun said, ushering her in. “Until we find the true culprit, the Prince Consort shall reside here.”

She had other suspects to interrogate, so after leaving them there, she departed.

Liu Fenyun had never seen such a lavish “prison.” Holding the cat, she took a tour, then looked out the window at the sky. Curiously, she asked, “Your Highness, this place is called ‘Moonlock’ do you think it’s because the moonlight is especially beautiful here at night?”

Lianyi simply looked up at the sky and said nothing.

After yesterday’s confrontation with Luo Binglun, and learning she seemed to have a history with Yu Qingyue, Lianyi suspected this place had once been meant to imprison Yu Qingyue herself.