Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 13

Liu Fenyun could not believe her ears.

“What do you mean, stand-in?” she asked, utterly confused. “No one I know has any strange connection with the High Priestess…”

“But your master, Yu Qingyue, seems to have some old grudge with her,” Lianyi reminded her. “This place Shuo Yue Pavilion Shalanyi once brought me here before. It wasn’t called that at the time, but four years ago, after Luo Binglun returned from the Kingdom of Liuzhi, she changed the name.”

Liu Fenyun felt as if thunder had struck right over her head and shot up in shock.

“Because ‘Binglun,’ the ice wheel, in your Hua people’s poetry, is another name for the moon,” Lianyi continued. “Everyone thinks this pavilion is a quiet retreat for Luo Binglun’s self-reflection. But if there’s someone whose name also contains the word Yue ‘moon’…”

“That’s truly terrifying when you think about it,” Liu Fenyun murmured. “Four years ago, the High Priestess did visit my master. I poured tea for her, then went to help in the pharmacy. I don’t know what happened between them, but my master looked terribly pale that night.”

She paused. “But if they really argued back then, why would the High Priestess later be so kind to the ailing you well, technically, the ailing me? She gave ‘me’ ginger tea and even tucked in my blankets. Since when is the High Priestess such a warmhearted person?”

“Of course she isn’t.” Lianyi blinked. “That’s exactly why I found it so strange.”

The more Liu Fenyun thought about it, the eerier it seemed. She even considered sending her master a message to ask.

It was already afternoon. Having slept till then and traveled a long way, Liu Fenyun’s stomach growled. She decided to set the matter aside for now, opened the food box, and ate lunch with Lianyi.

“So plain again!” Lianyi grumbled, eyeing the dishes. Still, she picked up her chopsticks and started eating.

Liu Fenyun laughed. “Once Your Highness’s stomach is fully healed, you’ll be able to eat stronger flavors again.”

Lianyi huffed, but when she noticed a slice of meat in Liu Fenyun’s bowl, she promptly reached over and plucked it into her own.

“When you went back to the palace disguised as me, no one asked questions?” Lianyi propped her chin on her hand after the meal, studying her little consort curiously.

“No.” Liu Fenyun shook her head. “Only the attendant lady gave me a few reminders.”

“What did she say?”

“Nothing much just the usual ‘Please take care of your health, Your Highness.’”

“Hmph. And no one questioned why we didn’t return last night?” Lianyi smiled faintly. The loneliness in her eyes flashed and disappeared. Then she changed the subject. “Ah Yun, would you rather live in the Princess’s Residence or move into the Saintess Hall in the palace?”

Liu Fenyun paused mid-motion while cleaning the dishes.

“You’ve experienced how far it is between the Princess’s Residence and the Imperial Medical Institute,” Lianyi said. “If you lived in the Saintess Hall, you could sleep in until nearly dawn and still make it to morning roll call.”

Liu Fenyun wasn’t sure why she was asking. “Then why does Your Highness live in the Princess’s Residence instead of the Saintess Hall?”

“The Saintess Hall faces the Temple of Priests directly. I don’t want to see Luo Binglun or her disciples every time I step outside,” Lianyi said with a frown. “If she ever tries to harm you, at least I’ll be nearby. That should give you some peace of mind.”

Liu Fenyun was deeply touched. “So that’s why… thank you, Your Highness. But I think I can handle”

“Lianyi’s corruption value has increased by 30 points! Host, do not court death!”

The system’s sudden warning made Liu Fenyun freeze.

Corruption value? What’s that supposed to mean?!

“I mean I can handle her disciples! But not Luo Binglun herself,” Liu Fenyun corrected quickly. “I’ll rely on Your Highness’s protection!”

Lianyi: “…”

She lifted her chin slightly, looking at Liu Fenyun.

She never liked meddling in others’ affairs even her husband’s.

This was a test. If Liu Fenyun had rejected her help, she would never again show her any care.

Liu Fenyun held her breath. Then Lianyi’s lips curved; she raised her brows and smiled. “Of course I’ll protect you. Tonight, I’ll confront Luo Binglun about this. Once you’ve ‘recovered,’ we’ll move into the Saintess Hall together.”

“Lianyi’s corruption value has returned to zero,” the system promptly reported.

Liu Fenyun finally relaxed.

After reading with Lianyi for a while and giving her medicine, Liu Fenyun asked the system, “What exactly does ‘corruption value’ mean?”

“The literal meaning,” the system replied. “Whenever you make decisions that displease Lianyi, or when others harm you to a certain degree, her corruption value rises.”

“It maxes at a hundred points, right?”

“Yes.”

When Liu Fenyun checked the affection meter again, a new number had appeared beneath it. Since Lianyi’s corruption was now zero, that number was 0.

It really looked like some kind of yandere-raising system…

“So, to keep Lianyi from going dark, I just have to keep her corruption at zero?” Liu Fenyun asked.

“And make sure her affection doesn’t drop too low,” the system added.

Liu Fenyun nodded. She glanced at Lianyi’s cat tail poking out from the blanket, caught it gently, and stroked it with a smile. “So you really do care about me.”

In her sleep, Lianyi turned over, and the fluffy tail slipped from Liu Fenyun’s hand.

That night, when the disciples came with dinner, they found a large white cat crouching at the gate of Shuo Yue Pavilion.

“Greetings, Saintess!” they said, bowing to the cat.

The cat Lianyi in her beast form nodded and then arched her back, radiating pressure.

“Someone dared to poison last night’s meal,” she said coldly. “It made my consort faint for an entire day his mind is still hazy. What’s this, then? The High Priestess’s puppet couldn’t take root, so she wants to silence him instead?”

The disciples stared at each other in panic. One finally fell to his knees, and the rest quickly followed.

“Forgive us, Saintess! The food all came from the Hundred Delicacies Hall it has nothing to do with the High Priestess!” one stammered.

Lianyi sneered and suddenly leapt forward, slashing the food trays from their hands.

Of course she knew Luo Binglun hadn’t been the one to poison the meal but she wanted to make her know about it.

The commotion was soon loud enough that Luo Binglun herself arrived, her face dark as she surveyed the shattered dishes and injured disciples.

“Has the Saintess gone mad?” Luo Binglun asked, struggling to contain her anger.

“Yes~,” Lianyi purred, padding toward her. “But my illness will be healed by my consort’s hands. No need for the High Priestess to bring her Cloud Turning Powder to join the fun.”

Luo Binglun’s expression changed instantly. She glanced at the mess on the ground, then back at Lianyi, understanding her meaning.

“The Saintess jests. There is no such vile thing in my temple,” Luo Binglun said coolly. “As for this ‘poisoner,’ I just caught an apothecary from the Herb Hall he abused his position and poisoned Concubine Rou. I haven’t searched him yet. Would the Saintess care to interrogate him with me?”

Luo Binglun had long been at odds with Lianyi, and knowing how much Lianyi despised her, this invitation was pure mockery.

To her surprise, Lianyi shifted back into human form, brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled sweetly. “Gladly. Lead the way, High Priestess.”

Luo Binglun: “?”

Did the sun just rise in the west?