Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 3

Catching sight of their clasped hands, an unusual light flickered in Luo Binglun’s eyes.

“Your Majesty, may I be permitted to speak with the Seventh Imperial Son-in-Law privately?” she suddenly bowed to the Sovereign.

The Sovereign nodded: “Granted.”

Suddenly being called out, Liu Fenyun’s heart tightened. She looked at Lianyi, seeing her tightly furrowed brow and a face full of reluctance. She couldn’t help but squeeze the small hand in her palm again, comforting her in a low voice: “Don’t be afraid.”

Lianyi glanced at her slightly trembling hand and didn’t speak.

The one who’s afraid is clearly her, her hand is shaking, yet she’s still thinking of comforting others.

The two followed Luo Binglun out of the banquet hall. When they reached a spot where the Sovereign couldn’t see them, two male disciples of the Priestess Hall immediately approached.

Lianyi’s eyes turned cold. She abruptly pulled Liu Fenyun behind her, and her other hand grew sharp claws, blocking in front of Liu Fenyun to prevent the two male disciples from coming closer.

After a moment of staring at Luo Binglun, Lianyi sneered: “So this is the Grand Priestess’s way of entertaining guests?”

“This Seat’s way of entertaining guests is not for a sick cat to point fingers at,” Luo Binglun also sneered.

Lianyi hated the words “sick cat” the most and was instantly enraged, clenching her teeth and raising her claws to scratch. However, before she could flare up, Liu Fenyun reached out and stroked her head.

“Be a good Princess, go back to the carriage and wait for me. I’ll be back soon.” Liu Fenyun finished soothing her softly, then deliberately added, “I’d like to hear what profound insights the Grand Priestess has regarding demons.”

Hearing the sarcasm in her tone, Lianyi finally let go and watched as she followed Luo Binglun away.

The main building of the Priestess Hall was a striking, vibrant crimson, which only made Liu Fenyun feel more anxious when she saw it. Yet, she maintained a smile on her face and calmly followed Luo Binglun into the Priestess Hall.

As soon as she took her seat, she heard Luo Binglun ask in a mocking tone, “Young Master Liu traveled thousands of miles to our tribe, yet married a cat demon as a wife. Don’t you feel wronged?”

Liu Fenyun thought: As expected, she’s here to talk about the demon.

She pondered for a moment and tested the waters: “Not wronged. The Seventh Princess treats me very well.”

Luo Binglun, however, smiled: “Is that truly a heartfelt ‘not wronged’?”

She had already guessed that Liu Fenyun was probably forced to side with Lianyi. Seeing Liu Fenyun’s silence, she continued, “Well, it is said that on the night of the wedding, that cat demon had already bled. I suppose Young Master Liu is satisfied with her body.”

Liu Fenyun sighed and said, “Grand Priestess, please don’t beat around the bush. I am impatient. Please speak your mind directly.”

“Young Master Liu is new to our tribe and probably doesn’t know about the Seventh Princess’s matter,” Luo Binglun then explained. “She was not born a demon, but was possessed by one. The cat demon who is married to you now has killed people and eaten people. Even if she spared your life last night, she might turn against you and eat you one day. If Young Master Liu has any regrets, do as this Seat says, and it’s still possible to escape the Seventh Princess’s Mansion.”

Liu Fenyun slightly frowned. She indeed did not know about Lianyi’s past.

Seeing her subtle expression, Luo Binglun instructed the disciples behind her: “Go and find the Demon Subjugation records from four years ago.”

The two male disciples agreed, but before they left, Liu Fenyun said, “I will inquire about this matter with the Seventh Princess myself, and I don’t need the Grand Priestess to worry. The Grand Priestess specifically sought me out for a private conversation, so there must be something else, right?”

While Liu Fenyun was studying medicine in the Liuzhi Kingdom, she had heard her master mention this young and powerful Grand Priestess. Moreover, her master and the Grand Priestess were old acquaintances.

Just now, the Grand Priestess told her to “do as this Seat says” and that it could help her escape the Seventh Princess’s Mansion. Perhaps she was entrusted by her master to arrange an escape route for her.

If she were to escape the Seventh Princess’s Mansion, she only needed to understand what this escape route was, without needing to know Lianyi’s past.

After locking eyes with her for a few seconds, Luo Binglun waved her hand, and the disciples beside her all retreated, leaving just the two of them.

“You are Yu Qingyue’s only personal disciple. She hopes that even after you arrive in the Zhuohuang Kingdom, you can continue your practice in the Imperial Medical Academy,” Luo Binglun took out an opened letter and placed it on the table, saying, “But if you marry into the demon clan, you will inevitably neglect your medical studies.”

The latter half of the sentence left Liu Fenyun puzzled, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Why would marrying into the demon clan inevitably lead to neglecting medical studies? Is there any necessary connection between the two?”

Luo Binglun, however, said no more, only asking, “Does Young Master Liu genuinely intend to remain in the Seventh Princess’s Mansion?”

Liu Fenyun was silent for a moment. She picked up the letter, confirmed the familiar handwriting, and read it again. She said, “If Master hopes for me to go to the Imperial Medical Academy, I will go. But leaving the Seventh Princess’s Mansion is something I cannot do, I’m afraid.”

She paused, remembering Lianyi’s discomfort when coughing and experiencing motion sickness. She used this as a reason and stated solemnly, “I cannot abandon my patient.”

Her Master’s letter did not mention her gender to the Grand Priestess. Liu Fenyun was well aware of the consequences if her same-sex marriage was discovered. If she angered Lianyi, Lianyi might spread the news of her gender. This would be very dangerous, both for her and for the Liuzhi Kingdom that sent a female son-in-law.

After much consideration, she temporarily decided not to leave the Seventh Princess’s Mansion. Not only would she stay, but she would also treat the cat well, even if it was just acting to survive.

She didn’t want to lose her life over this.

“Very well, this is your own choice. Don’t regret it later,” Luo Binglun smiled faintly. “This letter will serve as a token. Whenever Young Master Liu wishes to take up a post, bring it to the Imperial Medical Academy. Someone, escort the guest out.”

Liu Fenyun carefully put away her Master’s letter, bowed to Luo Binglun, and rose to leave.

As she descended the steps, she suddenly saw a slender figure standing not far away.

She looked closely and saw Lianyi clutching her fox fur cloak, occasionally glancing in her direction. When she finally saw her, her eyes lit up.

She looked just like a cat patiently waiting for its owner to return.

Liu Fenyun quickly flashed her signature smile, hurried over, and embraced Lianyi, asking, “Why didn’t Your Highness go to the carriage? Aren’t you cold?”

“Not cold.” Lianyi smiled back at her, gave her hand for Liu Fenyun to support, and allowed her to help her find the carriage.

“What did Luo Binglun say to you?” she asked. “Did she teach you how to harm me at night?”

Liu Fenyun was startled for a moment, then shook her head: “She received a personal letter from my Master, advising me not to be hindered by affection and not to forget to focus on medical studies.”

Lianyi scoffed and clung to her arm even tighter.

“Don’t listen to her. She hates the demon clan the most,” Lianyi said indignantly. “She was attacked by a demon when she was little and almost died, so she thinks all demons are bad!”

Liu Fenyun recalled what Luo Binglun had just said, and hesitated whether to ask Lianyi about it.

Luo Binglun claimed Lianyi had killed and eaten people, yet Lianyi treated her very well, and was also kind to the servants in the Princess’s Mansion.

If Lianyi was truly an evil demon with a hostile nature, she should have killed her or dismembered her last night.

But Lianyi didn’t do that. She only made a small deal with her and was willing to keep the secret of her female identity.

After much thought, Liu Fenyun decided not to ask. If Lianyi was willing to tell her, she would find out eventually; if Lianyi was unwilling to say, asking would only add to her troubles.

Seeing that Lianyi was still angry, Liu Fenyun soothed her by stroking her back: “Don’t worry, I have my own eyes and ears, and I can distinguish truth from lies. Besides, I am already Your Highness’s Son-in-Law. I’m definitely on Your Highness’s side.”

Lianyi then brightened up, stood on her tiptoes, and rubbed her cheek against hers.

“That’s right!” Lianyi smiled. “If you don’t like Luo Binglun, you’d best be more intimate with me when we get back, just to make her angry.”

Liu Fenyun didn’t immediately grasp the meaning, but then recalled the Grand Priestess mentioning Lianyi’s bleeding, and instantly understood what she meant.

So Lianyi already knew there were Luo Binglun’s spies in the mansion.

As Lianyi led Liu Fenyun through the palace, they inevitably encountered officials, eunuchs, and maids. All of them bowed to her, unlike the Grand Priestess Luo Binglun, who spoke with nothing but mockery.

“Your Highness is quite popular!” Liu Fenyun observed all the way and couldn’t help but praise her. “If everyone hated demons, they would only avoid Your Highness, not greet Your Highness so warmly.”

Lianyi, however, snorted dismissively and sneered, “If it weren’t for the Seventh Princess’s noble status and position as the Saintess, I would have been bound by the Ta Yan Lock and thrown outside the city to feed the wolves long ago.”

The Ta Yan Lock was the Demon Catching Holy Artifact of the Zhuohuang Kingdom. Liu Fenyun had only seen it in the system’s database. Now that demons were gradually becoming extinct, it was rarely used.

“That won’t happen.” Liu Fenyun shook her head. “Your Highness doesn’t seem to have a nature that enjoys killing. There will always be people who genuinely respect Your Highness.”

“Smooth talk.” Lianyi pinched her hand. “Hurry up, this Princess is waiting to go back and drink your medicine.”

Liu Fenyun had promised to personally decoct the medicine for her, ensuring she would feel comfortable after drinking it. Lianyi, who usually hated taking medicine, was unexpectedly looking forward to it.

As they passed Lianyi’s Saintess Palace, Liu Fenyun couldn’t help but take a few more glances.

It was a milky-white building, full of exotic charm. From the walls to the pillars to the tiles, everything was milky-white, as if built from white chocolate, carrying a hint of sweetness.

“This is where I work,” Lianyi raised her chin toward the Saintess Palace. “Every summer month, I move in there to teach the believers the sacrificial dance.”

Liu Fenyun nodded. On her journey to the Zhuohuang Kingdom, she had already reviewed information about the Zhuohuang Kingdom in the system.

The Zhuohuang Kingdom was the most powerful country in the North. It was ruled by the Di tribe, who worshiped the Fire God and governed by the Fire God’s doctrines. Men served as the sovereign, and women served as priestesses and saintesses, with the entire nation being Fire God believers.

However, successive Saintesses only needed to preside over the annual Fire God’s Festival and related trivial matters of sacrifice. Political affairs, rituals, and so on were handled by the various priestesses.

The two got into the carriage and returned to the Seventh Princess’s Mansion in the afternoon.

Lianyi took the medicine Liu Fenyun gave her. When she got out of the carriage, even with the cold wind blowing, she didn’t cough incessantly as she usually did, which surprised her attendants.

Liu Fenyun kept her word. After Lianyi rested in her chamber until her breathing was stable, she took out a pulse-taking pillow and a thin piece of silk gauze, preparing to take her pulse.

Lianyi obediently placed her hand on the pulse-taking pillow, but pulled away the silk gauze covering her wrist: “You’re already my husband, you don’t need this.”

Liu Fenyun put away the silk gauze, used the auxiliary function in the system, diagnosed Lianyi’s pulse according to the situation of the demon clan, examined her tongue coating, and asked a few questions. She then had a clear idea and began to write a prescription.

Watching her scribbling like drawing a charm on half a sheet of paper, Lianyi fell into contemplation.

When Liu Fenyun finished writing, she snatched the prescription, scanned it, and asked, “What medicine did you write? Read it out for me.”

Liu Fenyun recited it truthfully. When she finished, seeing Lianyi still frowning at the prescription, she couldn’t help but joke with her: “Is Your Highness afraid I might harm you?”

“Would I be afraid of you?” Lianyi snorted lightly and handed the prescription back to her. “It’s just that I’m surprised by your handwriting.”

She’s a Princess after all. Her handwriting is way too ugly. I need to find some time to lock her up and make her practice her calligraphy.

Meeting her slightly disdainful gaze, Liu Fenyun smiled slightly, took another blank piece of paper, and transcribed the prescription again.

Her handwriting was neat, clean, free-flowing, and elegant. Compared to the “scribbling” from just now, it looked like it came from two different people, which made Lianyi stare blankly.

“What does Your Highness think of my handwriting?” Liu Fenyun deliberately asked after setting down the brush.

Lianyi snapped out of it. She had planned to compliment her but saw the corner of Liu Fenyun’s mouth about to reach the sky, so she merely gave a light compliment: “It’s not bad. It looks soothing.”

Liu Fenyun’s eyes curved into a smile. She handed the transcribed prescription to her: “Then please keep this, Your Highness. You can take it out to look at when you’re feeling unhappy.”