Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 20

“So?” Recovering from her shock, Liu Fenyun asked in surprise, “What does this have to do with Luo Binglun?”

“As I said before, Luo Binglun probably regards you as a substitute for Yu Qingyue.” Lianyi lifted her hand and pinched Liu Fenyun’s cheek. “Don’t forget, in Luo Binglun’s eyes, you are a ‘man.’ Even though you’ve become the Seventh Prince’s consort, your relationship is still ‘permitted.’”

Liu Fenyun’s face flushed. She quickly stepped back and waved her hands. “I’m the Seventh Prince now. I have the Prince’s seal. I belong to him for life. I’m not going to be my master’s substitute!”

Shaking her head, she muttered, “This is way too messy! Liuzhi Kingdom would never allow this…”

Seeing her flustered, Lianyi’s irritation dissipated somewhat. She couldn’t help but wrap her arms around Liu Fenyun’s neck and smiled, “But here is the Zhuohuang Kingdom of the Di tribe you’ll need to follow local customs.”

“Th-then… was it really Luo Binglun who put medicine in our dinner that night?” Liu Fenyun recalled the incident and shivered. “No wonder all the food was Liuzhi style home cooked dishes, so bland. The Prince hates that the most.”

“I haven’t investigated that,” Lianyi blinked. “But let’s leave the past behind and deal with the matter at hand first.”

Liu Fenyun glanced at the crumpled letter in Lianyi’s hand. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Before the Prince recovers, I won’t act as a physician. According to Zhuohuang customs, how should I refuse Luo Binglun?”

“That’s easy,” Lianyi smiled. “I’m currently short a shaman-doctor, someone to treat the holy maiden and the common people. But you are the chief disciple of the Tian Medical Master. Your status is extremely prestigious. If you take the position of shaman doctor, your master would lose face.”

“It doesn’t matter. I can do it.” Liu Fenyun thought of her master’s teachings and agreed without hesitation. “A physician’s job is to save lives, and everyone should be treated equally.”

She looked at Lianyi again and added, “Including different races.”

According to Zhuohuang traditions, when the holy maiden reaches eighteen, she may appoint a shaman-doctor.

After Lianyi took over the Seventh Princess’s body, she still appeared as eighteen this year, meeting the age requirement to appoint a shaman-doctor.

However, physicians are one of the most prestigious positions. The kingdom’s doctors have long harbored prejudice against the demon race. Even if the ruler personally appoints a shaman-doctor for Lianyi, finding a suitable candidate is not easy.

So when Liu Fenyun approached the ruler and volunteered to be the shaman-doctor, the ruler approved without hesitation.

Shaman-doctors differ from ordinary physicians. Besides requiring medical skills, they must also master divination, exorcism, talismans, and most importantly perform the Fire God ritual dance.

Shaman doctors are ranked in four levels: Earth, Wood, Metal, Fire. Liu Fenyun is currently at the lowest Earth level. To rise in rank, she must master all four skills and pass the evaluation of the preceding shaman-doctor.

“Earth level shaman doctor sounds so unimpressive.”

On the day Liu Fenyun received her shaman-doctor badge, Lianyi complained several times while holding her hand. “Divination and exorcism are indeed difficult, but talismans aren’t hard, and the ritual dance isn’t either. I’ll teach you the dance so you can quickly rise to Wood-level.”

Just hearing the words “ritual dance” made Liu Fenyun’s scalp tingle.

“I’m stiff, I can’t dance…” she tried to refuse.

“You train in martial arts; how are your limbs stiff?” Lianyi immediately pinched her face. Liu Fenyun yelped, “Fine, fine. I’ll learn eventually. But for now, I’m exempt from rehearsal before the Fire God festival. One. Day. Only.”

She enunciated each word seriously. Her body fragrance was so strong that Liu Fenyun had to lean back.

“I’ll learn talismans. That I can learn.” Liu Fenyun changed the topic.

But Lianyi shook her head, took a book from behind the shelf, and pressed it into her hands.

“Learn divination first. Talismans later.”

Liu Fenyun: ???

“But you said divination is hard and talismans are easy!”

She stared at Lianyi’s pouting face, suddenly realizing her motive. She feigned compliance and prepared to open the book, when she sensed something tapping on the barrier outside the room.

“Li Hua is back.” Lianyi reminded her.

The leopard-cat had just been placed in the room when Liu Fenyun smelled blood. Alarmed, she quickly picked it up to check.

Xian Lihua leapt from her arms and placed a brocade pouch beside her. “Don’t worry, Liu Daren… it’s just a meddlesome exorcist we met on the road.”

Then she jumped onto the empty desk to catch her breath.

“But you’re injured!” Liu Fenyun noticed the wound on her back. She reached out but paused when touching the cat fur and asked Lianyi, “Prince, may I heal her injuries? She got hurt getting medicine for me.”

Lianyi didn’t answer. She picked up Xian Lihua, buried her face in the cat’s fur, and sniffed.

Xian Lihua stayed still. After a moment, Lianyi said, “Was this in the inner city?”

“Yes… yes.” Xian Lihua whispered. “But the attacker wore black and a black veil. There was a strong blood scent masking everything else. I couldn’t even tell their gender… I’m sorry…”

“Knowing to hide one’s scent is the mark of an experienced exorcist. Don’t blame yourself.” Lianyi ruffled her hair, placed her back on the desk, and told Liu Fenyun, “It’s probably someone from the Priest Hall. Heal Lihua first.”

Liu Fenyun’s heart sank. “Your spy was discovered by Luo Binglun?”

“We’ve been monitoring each other for years.” Lianyi smiled lightly. “She already knew and warned me.”

Liu Fenyun, inexperienced in political intrigue, didn’t know what to say. She quickly took out medicine and bandages to wrap Xian Lihua’s wounds.

Her medicine was special. When applied, it felt cool and pain disappeared quickly.

Xian Lihua lay on the desk, feeling the gentle hands massaging her back, almost unable to suppress a purring sound.

“Liu Daren is so gentle. No wonder Lianyi likes her so much!”

However, Xian Lihua knew Lianyi’s temper. As soon as Liu Fenyun finished bandaging, she jumped onto the windowsill and left without looking back.

“Hey, wait!” Liu Fenyun shouted, ready to chase her, but her wrist was grabbed.

“No need. She knows to come for medicine later.” Lianyi said calmly.

She released Liu Fenyun’s wrist, picked up the brocade pouch left by Xian Lihua, and asked knowingly, “What’s this?”

“I asked Xian to get medicine for you. It should already be inside. Since you dislike bitterness, this medicine will make it less bitter.” Liu Fenyun smiled.

Lianyi’s eyes shifted slightly. She knew Liu Fenyun had asked for medicine but didn’t know it was just to make it less bitter.

“No need to trouble her with trivial matters in the future.” Lianyi returned the pouch and said calmly, “I’m not that delicate.”

Seeing the “darkening value” on the system panel move slightly, Liu Fenyun realized she was actually jealous and quickly put the pouch away. “Understood, Prince.”

The sickly white cat is always right.