Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 22

This was the first time Liu Fenyun had ever seen her wardrobe. Even though she had seen her roommate showing off her closet more than once before crossing over, Liu Fenyun was still taken aback.

She had never paid much attention to clothing or appearance, so she looked a little embarrassed and admitted honestly, “I… I can’t choose. I think all of them are fine.”

Lianyi blinked, picked out an orange red cloak, a long skirt of pale lotus-pink rabbit fur, and a forehead ornament inlaid with red agate, then slipped behind the screen.

“A-Yun, what about you? Do you have formal men’s attire for the banquet?”

Liu Fenyun did have one a ceremonial robe her master had commissioned for her. She had received it and put it away without taking more than a glance at it.

While Lianyi was changing, Liu Fenyun pulled out her own chest, quickly found the robe… and saw that it was wrinkled into a sad ball.

In the modern world, there were electric irons; in this ancient one, irons needed to be filled with burning charcoal a troublesome business.

Liu Fenyun sighed helplessly and called out, “Your Highness, where can I iron clothes?”

“Iron them? For what?” Lianyi leaned half her body out from behind the screen, her fingers still tying the sash of her undergarment. The delicate skin of her neck and shoulders was completely exposed.

Liu Fenyun froze, then hurriedly dropped the robe, ran over, and draped her own outer coat over Lianyi.

“It’s cold inside, Your Highness don’t catch a chill!”

Holding the still-warm black coat, Lianyi leaned into her arms, then glanced toward the chest of wrinkled clothes. “Is that the robe for the banquet that’s all wrinkled?”

Liu Fenyun nodded awkwardly.

Lianyi studied her for a moment, casually tied the sash of the coat, and went to pick up the robe.

“Tsk, this one’s for a state banquet. Didn’t your master tell you?” She folded it neatly but didn’t put it back. “I’ll have a maid press it later. Tonight’s just a simple dinner wear something else.”

Liu Fenyun answered dully, still staring at the chest of clothes with mounting confusion.

Lianyi, however, had a mischievous idea. She turned, took out a set of women’s garments, and handed them to Liu Fenyun. “Since the dinner’s at the ‘Night-Without-Return’ Tavern, why don’t you wear this?”

Liu Fenyun: ?!

“Your Highness,  that’s improper!” she stammered, waving her hands. “If my colleagues notice my figure, then…”

“What are you panicking for? Have you forgotten your disguise spell?” Lianyi shoved the dress into her arms and smiled slyly. “Disguise yourself as a man, then wear this. If anyone asks, just say this is what happens to men who anger their wives.”

Liu Fenyun held the skirt, torn between laughter and tears.

Lianyi pushed her behind the screen. Stripped down to her underclothes, she changed into the elegant gown and fastened the cloak.

Lianyi always perfumed her garments; as Liu Fenyun faced the mirror, the soft fragrance filled her nose.

Wearing this skirt felt as though… Lianyi were embracing her…

The thought alone made her face burn red. She quickly tugged at the sash.

“No, this won’t do! They’re planning to harm you tonight I can’t move easily in this!” she lied, trying to sound righteous. “I… I’d better change back into men’s clothes!”

“Why are you blushing?” Lianyi pierced right through her, pressing a cool hand to her cheek it felt like holding a warm hand warmer. “What’s this? Does wearing my clothes stir your wicked thoughts?”

“I’m not” Liu Fenyun protested weakly, her voice losing confidence.

In truth, she was nearly certain now: she was definitely not straight. Just a teasing word from Lianyi could make her blush and her heart race.

Lianyi, teasing her for amusement, saw her lower her head, lips pressed tight, shoulders shrinking in embarrassment. The mood between them turned a little stiff, so she helped loosen the sash of the dress.

“Guess what tricks the humans used against me before?”

Her azure eyes gazed into Liu Fenyun’s : her tone was calm and faintly amused yet filled with killing intent.

Liu Fenyun gathered herself and guessed, “Poison? Knives? Spells?”

“All of them,” Lianyi replied. “Some idiots even waited on rooftops, trying to drop flowerpots on me as I passed.”

“First, Luo Binglun led the priests from the Exorcist Temple to kill me. They failed I tore apart quite a few of them. She listened to the Sovereign’s persuasion and quieted down, but her defeat only fanned the flames of their fury.”

Liu Fenyun said nothing, quietly listening.

“They cursed me for ‘defiling’ their saint. But they didn’t know I never wanted to be anyone’s saint. I stayed in the Seventh Princess’s mansion only because I wanted hot meals and a warm place to sleep.”

Her voice turned faintly bitter. “If I hadn’t meddled that night if I hadn’t mistaken the princess’s soul for a vengeful ghost and swallowed it I could’ve stayed a wandering cat, free and easy, instead of being trapped in this frail human shell.”

When she finished, she started to fold her cloak again, but Liu Fenyun suddenly caught her hand, warmth seeping into her skin.

Then that same hand pulled her into an embrace soft warmth enveloped her whole.

Liu Fenyun couldn’t truly understand what Lianyi had gone through, and empty comfort or loyalty would be meaningless.

She felt the cat demon shift in her arms, gently pushing her away.

“I lost my composure. You must think me ridiculous.”

After a long pause, Lianyi sighed softly, then smiled again. “I only meant to say don’t worry about me tonight. Wear whatever you please. I’m not afraid of exorcists; what can a few powerless humans possibly do to me?”

Liu Fenyun thought, Don’t say things like that… when suddenly, something soft and fragrant brushed against her lips.

“Is that a promise?”

At that same time, Luo Binglun had just learned of the apothecaries’ plot.

“It’s true, Great High Priest,” her shadow guard reported. “This subordinate heard it clearly. Tonight, during the hour of Xu (around 7–9 PM), those apothecaries will hold a banquet at the ‘Night Without Return’ Tavern in the outer city, inviting both the Saint and Young Master Liu.”

The guard hesitated, then added, “They even tried to ambush Young Master Liu on her way back to the Saint’s Palace with a sack.”

“Heh. Such arrogance from mere apothecaries.” Luo Binglun sneered, retrieving a token from a hidden compartment behind her bookshelf and tossing it to the guard. “Go with Luo San and Luo Jiu at the hour of You (around 5–7 PM) to scout the tavern. If there’s any conflict, protect Young Master Liu at all costs.”

“Yes, my lady.” The guard accepted the token, bowed, and withdrew.

Watching him leave, Luo Binglun rose and approached the perch in the hall.

A gyrfalcon stood there proud and sharp eyed gazing out the window. Seeing her approach, it lowered its head and nudged her hand affectionately.

Her eyes softened at the sight.

This was Aqing, a gift from Yu Qingyue four years ago something to “keep her company.” Through Aqing, she could exchange letters with Yu Qingyue.

Those two handwritten letters from before had been delivered by this very bird.

Luo Binglun stroked its feathers with a sigh. “Qingyue asked me to protect her beloved disciple… but she doesn’t know how disobedient that disciple is.”

“No matter how smooth the road Qingyue laid out for her, the girl insists on suffering beside that sickly cat.”

“Aqing, tell me if I truly turned a blind eye, let that fool sink into danger and die from some hidden arrow, would Qingyue blame me?”

Thinking of Liu Fenyun being named Chief Healer, the High Priest sighed again, her hand on the falcon growing gentler.

“Ah, Qingyue… if you’re still worried about your dear disciple, why not come watch over her yourself?”

She murmured with a strange, knowing smile. “I’ve already prepared a place for you to stay…”

The gyrfalcon lifted its head to look at her and in its sharp eyes flickered a glint of something unearthly.