Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 31

After greeting the innkeeper, Liu Fenyun had not yet asked for a room when her sleeve was suddenly tugged.

“What are you doing here?” Lianyi scratched at her hand with a paw. “Hurry and go find your patients! You haven’t treated a single person today!”

Liu Fenyun caught her paw and gently rubbed the soft pads. “Today I want Your Highness to stay here. Traveling around treating patients is boring. I won’t make you follow me around every day.”

“But I never thought following you to treat patients was boring,” Lianyi said in surprise.

She couldn’t understand why Liu Fenyun would think that. Did Liu dislike how she slept the whole time and never helped at all, like a burden?

Seeing her favorability still at 75, Liu Fenyun paused and asked uncertainly, “Truly?”

“Would I lie?” Lianyi shot back, then urged her, “Go on, don’t waste time!”

The more she said that, the more panicked Liu Fenyun became. The proud are often contrary, and since the favorability really had dropped, she felt she couldn’t take Lianyi’s words at face value.

Thinking this, she didn’t dare leave. She turned to the innkeeper: “One top-tier room, please somewhere quiet, so even if there’s…noise, we won’t disturb others.”

She needed to figure out why the favorability had dropped.

Going upstairs, she began to reflect.

Did she wake Lianyi too loudly this morning, or pull the covers too hard, giving her morning temper and causing the drop?

But none of that happened. When Lianyi woke today, she’d affectionately rubbed cheeks with her and even asked for a morning kiss.

In the top-tier room, Liu Fenyun locked the door, sat at the desk, pulled Lianyi from the cat bag, and placed her opposite herself.

Seeing the serious posture, Lianyi shifted into human form, leaning on the table. “What’s so urgent that we need to discuss?”

Liu Fenyun hesitated, then said, “Your Highness, you should stay in the Saintess Hall and wait for me to return. You’ve worked hard accompanying me these days.”

She lowered her gaze, waiting for Lianyi’s agreement.

Her chin was suddenly pinched upward. Lianyi forced her to meet her eyes.

“I don’t feel tired at all.” After holding her gaze for a moment, Lianyi continued, “The one suffering is you, holding something in your heart. You paid for a top-tier room just to say this?”

Lianyi didn’t know about the system, nor that the drop in favorability had frightened Liu into wanting to “keep some distance.”

Liu wanted to explain, but didn’t dare. Their relationship wasn’t ordinary they were already intimately married. Words like “keep distance” were for breakups or quarrels, completely inappropriate now.

Besides… she didn’t fully understand the system’s advice, nor why “keeping distance” would stop the favorability from dropping.

After thinking hard, she said, “These days, wherever Your Highness went, I followed. Wherever I went, I brought you. If Your Highness is annoyed, you can just tell me don’t keep it in your heart.”

Lianyi raised a brow. “And what made you think I was annoyed?”

Liu froze.

She had clearly stepped into a death trap…

In panic, she pulled out her drama-queen skills, touched the mark behind her ear and calmly said, “It was mental resonance.”

Lianyi: “…”

She knew the mechanics of blood contracts very well. True, they could read each other’s memories, but without soul intertwining, emotional sensing was impossible.

Too lazy to expose her lie, Lianyi let go of her chin and admitted, “Fine, I do dislike having a human near me all the time, even if it’s you.”

“Lianyi’s Favorability restored to 80.”
The system updated in time.

Liu blinked, then doubted everything.

The system had said staying close would prevent further drops, so she had done exactly that—yet closeness turned out to cause the drop. Clearly, the system’s “hints” and “strategy” were only references.

She relied on it too much.

Now that she understood the reason, she quietly sighed in relief and smiled.

“Then Your Highness should stay here and enjoy your day. I’ll come fetch you later,” she said.

Lianyi nodded, waving her hand. “Go on, your patients are waiting.”

Once Liu left, Lianyi would be free to find Yu Qingyue.

But Liu didn’t hear the hidden meaning and happily skipped out the door.

She had barely been gone a quarter hour when Lianyi summoned a subordinate to fetch her a discreet mount and rushed full speed to the palace’s Priest Hall.

These days, with Yu Qingyue’s care, Luo Binglun had recovered much and no longer needed bed rest.

After a light meal of porridge, she headed to Lock Moon Pavilion for her scheduled acupuncture when she suddenly heard a meow behind her. She turned and saw Lianyi standing nearby, eyeing her with disgust.

“How did the High Priest grow so weak?” Lianyi frowned as she approached. She disliked Luo Binglun, but she knew Zhuo Huang Kingdom couldn’t be without a High Priest, and since Luo Binglun was also the Seventh Princess’s master, she didn’t wish her to fall ill.

With no one around, Luo Binglun said coldly, “None of your concern. Why aren’t you accompanying the healer? What are you doing here?”

“I have urgent business with her master,” Lianyi said and walked straight toward Lock-Moon Pavilion.

During the previous “confinement,” she had already memorized the routes.

“Come back! You are not allowed to see her!” Luo grabbed her instinctively.

Lianyi hated that tone and snapped, “She is my wife’s master why can’t I see her?”

She shook Luo off, but Luo immediately twisted her arms behind her back. Her voice turned even colder. “Qingyue hates demons. If you want to stay alive, leave immediately!”

Lianyi snorted. She didn’t say the truth, only mocked, “Who knows if the High Priest is only using that excuse so she can keep her to herself!”

She didn’t realize that she had pierced Luo Binglun’s sore spot. For days, Luo had been tormented by this thought. Provoked, she gasped in pain and fell to her knees.

A faint scent of blood hit Lianyi’s nose, startling her.

Seeing the High Priest collapse pale as paper, she changed into her beast form and carried her on her back to the pavilion’s entrance.

Yu Qingyue, a demon herself, heard the noise and hurried to open the door. Lianyi followed her inside and gently laid Luo Binglun onto a fur mat.

Their eyes met. After suffering Yu Qingyue’s strength last time, Lianyi was far more polite now. “Is the High Priest sick? Or poisoned?”

“She was poisoned by Immortal’s Ruin,” Yu Qingyue replied as she wiped blood from Luo’s lips.

Lianyi was shocked. “The antidote’s ingredients all grow in the Demon Realm how could she be poisoned by this?! Which great demon did she offend?!”

Yu Qingyue gave her a long look. Seeing her clear eyes she wasn’t lying she placed Luo on the bed and began acupuncture. “I came to deal with this matter. If the Saintess doesn’t want to get involved, don’t ask further.”

“Hmph, I’m not interested in her problems.” Lianyi snorted, pulling a folded letter from her sleeve and placing it beside the pillow. “Here. I came for you.”

When she finished treating Luo, Yu Qingyue opened the letter.

Flowery phrases, neat handwriting but absolutely no point.

She refolded it and handed it back. “If the Saintess has something to say, say it plainly. Don’t go in circles.”

Her whole face said “Too long; didn’t read.”

Lianyi: “…”

Swallowing her irritation, she summarized Liu Fenyun’s “being a healer means grabbing herbs personally” situation in a few concise sentences.

Yu Qingyue said, “Isn’t that good? So she won’t forget the basics.”

Lianyi clenched the letter, gritting her teeth. “I don’t like her rubbing my fur with hands full of medicine smell!”

“Then tell Fenyun. She’ll listen.” Yu Qingyue couldn’t help smiling. “Complaining to me won’t help.”

“She didn’t listen, that’s why I came to you!” Lianyi protested. As her emotions rose, a pair of fluffy white cat ears appeared and twitched with her breathing.

Yu Qingyue couldn’t resist reaching out and patting her head.

Such a cute cat. No wonder her disciple liked her.

Before Lianyi could react, she withdrew her hand and rummaged through a medicine box. She pulled out a strange little transparent bottle containing a pale blue viscous liquid and handed it to her.

“Take this. Have Fenyun wash her hands with it she won’t retain any medicinal smell.”

Lianyi accepted it suspiciously. “Is it really that effective?”

“If the Saintess does not believe”

“I believe! Thank you. Goodbye.” Lianyi pocketed it and fled.

The door closed, leaving only Yu Qingyue and Luo Binglun.

Yu Qingyue inserted another needle and slowly infused demon energy, teasing the toxin outward. Human healers could do nothing about Immortal’s Ruin, but demons could purge it little by little. She just couldn’t reveal her identity yet.

Luo soon woke. Seeing Lianyi gone, she asked, “Where did the demon cat go?”

“I sent her away,” Yu Qingyue replied.

Luo assumed they had fought. Her expression changed. “She’s the Saintess of my clan, and frail please, be gentle with her. Don’t injure her!”

Yu Qingyue raised her eyes. “Four years ago, you came to Liu Zhi and offered me a fortune to kill her. I refused then. I certainly won’t harm her now.”

Luo relaxed and lay back.

“How goes the investigation of the demon clan matter?” she asked.

“We’ve found some clues, but confirmation must wait until the Spring Hunt,” Yu Qingyue said. “If the Fourth Princess brings her along, it’ll be easier. If she leaves her at home, also workable.”

“Need my people to assist?”

“No. The fewer who know the demon identity of the poisoner, the better. Don’t cause panic. Just rest, take your medicine, and don’t overthink.”

Her voice was still icy, yet Luo found it gentle.

“Understood, Doctor,” Luo joked softly.

After finishing, Yu Qingyue helped her back to her residence.

Luo intentionally leaned close at times. Yu pretended not to notice but caught her discreetly each time she stumbled.

Humans were reserved. Having learned her lesson before, Yu Qingyue didn’t plan to confess outright yet.

Returning to Kui Tian Residence, Luo glanced at the empty perch. “Qingyue, I haven’t seen Ah-Qing lately. While you’re out of the country, is someone still feeding it?”

She didn’t know the gyrfalcon sat nearby at that moment.

“It won’t starve,” Yu Qingyue said evenly.

That day was so busy that Liu Fenyun nearly forgot to pick up her cat-wife.

Lianyi sat on the bed with the little bottle. When Liu walked in, she immediately smelled faint medicine on her and shoved the bottle at her. “Here. A treasure I found use it to wash your hands.”

Liu stared at the bottle.

It looked exactly like the bottled hand soap from the modern world she came from just without a label.

Could there be another transmigrator in this world?!

“Where did Your Highness get this?” she asked, suppressing excitement.

“That’s a secret,” Lianyi said smugly. “Just know it works.”

Since it might be a future product, Liu didn’t dare use it outside. She hurried to the medicinal garden.

Because Lianyi’s favorability had dropped that morning, the garden had been affected. In the catnip field, water had pooled enough to rot roots.

She set the bottle aside and saved the plants. When she washed her hands in the creek, they now smelled of mud.

She tried a tiny drop of the “soap”with water, it removed all scent instantly. Even the system could detect nothing.

“Amazing! Can you analyze the ingredients?” Liu asked the system. “I want to make something similar.”

She needed a way to remove medicinal odor Lianyi hated it, and she wanted post-work cat-cuddles.

The system replied, “I can detect ingredients. Whether you can manufacture them depends on their composition. But Host, if you stay much longer, Lianyi’s favorability may drop again.”

Liu quickly dried her hands and left the bottle in the research facility for testing.

Back in reality, she went to call Lianyi only to freeze.

Lianyi’s clothes were neatly folded. Lianyi herself was under the quilt. When Liu approached, she threw the blanket aside and patted the pillow.

A soft, warm vision filled Liu’s eyes, and her cheeks flushed.

“Which book taught you this?” Liu coughed. “Cat Wife? Raising a Fox?”

Lianyi didn’t answer. She grabbed Liu’s hand, sniffed no smell and pulled her down with sudden force.

“Well? Coming or not?” Her blue eyes sparkled with expectation.

Mortified, Liu lifted her blanket and all and sat her upright, dressing her piece by piece.

“Let’s do this at home, alright?”

“No,” Lianyi said, shaking off the clothes again.

“We’ve been married so long, and you’ve never wanted me.” Her voice turned aggrieved. “I’ve decided if you don’t come today, I’m not going home.”

Liu felt her scalp go numb.

The room was isolated and quiet enough, but she absolutely didn’t want to rush into intimacy this early.

It wasn’t even end of Winter Moon they’d only been married for a month.

Her thoughts spun wildly.

“Your Highness… compared to normal animals, are demons more affected by heat cycles?” she blurted.

Lianyi frowned this was clearly a deflection but still answered, “Normal beasts, of course. Demons have heat cycles, but we’re nearly the same as humans. We don’t need relief unless born very…enthusiastic.”

Liu thought for a moment. Good Lianyi wasn’t acting on instinct just curiosity.

And she had already asked Xian Lihua. Lianyi hadn’t entered a beast heat cycle since taking a human body.

So Liu said, “How about this: it’s inconvenient here. Come home with me. I swear to the Fire God I’ll fulfill Your Highness’s wish today.”

And then she’d find a way to make her cat-wife reconsider…

Lianyi grumbled but climbed into the cat bag.

Back at the Saintess Hall, Liu ordered hot water and lubricants.

The attendants well-read even if unmarried knew exactly what was going on and left giggling.

Lianyi spread the bedding on the mattress, then put more on the floor just in case she kicked Liu off in the middle and ruined the mood.

Seeing this, Liu realized the cat was truly determined.

Neither ate much at dinner. Afterward, the items Liu requested were delivered.

Scanning them, Lianyi frowned at the lubricant. “Useless. Take it away!”

The maids were confused until Liu explained, “I’ve never seen such a thing. I was just curious. Whether the Princess uses it doesn’t matter. You may go.”

Steam filled the bathing chamber.

Liu undressed while recalling the system’s “mirror-grinding” tutorial. Lianyi soaked alone, brown curls floating in the water. She twirled a few strands thoughtfully.

“Are you not going to ask me why?”

When Liu entered the water, Lianyi suddenly asked.

“Ask what?” Liu blinked. Did demons not just…seek intimacy whenever?

“You said today that you sensed my emotions through mental resonance.” Lianyi touched the mark behind her ear. “Do you know how mental resonance forms?”

Liu froze. She had used that as an excuse she didn’t expect it to be real magic.

“For two people bound by a blood contract, only by intertwining souls can they sense each other emotionally,” Lianyi explained slowly. Seeing Liu’s stunned expression, she added softly, “Next time, find a better excuse.”

Liu was completely stunned when Lianyi suddenly pulled her close.

Lianyi kissed her lightly each touch soft as a dragonfly on water yet making Liu tremble.

Usually Liu initiated now caught off guard, she melted helplessly.

“Your Highness! Mercy!” she begged, clinging to Lianyi’s wrist. “I was wrong Your Highness!”

Her submissiveness only fueled Lianyi. Soon, Liu was pinned to the wall.

“If you know you were wrong, surrender properly,” Lianyi laughed. Her hand under the water lifted Liu

but at the last moment, Liu broke free and scrambled to the edge, fleeing behind the screen.

Water dripped everywhere.

“Ah-Yun, why run? Come back!” Lianyi called.

Wrapped in a towel, Liu crouched behind the screen, mind blank.

She wasn’t ready.

If Lianyi wanted soul-intertwining, it meant giving her whole life away.

Demons considered it a vow of lifelong devotion.

Was Lianyi doing this out of curiosity or sincerity?

The favorability wasn’t even full. Liu didn’t dare decide.

A soft “mrrrow” sounded, and a white cat leapt into her arms, damp fur pressing against her.

“What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly so scared?” Lianyi, in cat form, tugged at the towel with a paw. Her blue eyes were puzzled. “I was only teasing. I wasn’t going to actually take you.”

Getting no answer, she tapped Liu’s arm. “Are you listening? Come back into the water you’ll catch a cold!”

When Liu still didn’t respond, Lianyi puffed up. “Do I have to carry you?!”

That snapped Liu out of it. She picked up the cat and returned to the water.

Before the towel could soak, Lianyi slapped it aside.

Sitting opposite each other again, Lianyi scooted closer and held her hand.

“You promised me before we came home,” she reminded softly. “We’re a pair we’ll live together for a long time. Demons may not be ruled by heat cycles, but we still… look forward to things like this.”

She paused, rubbing Liu’s fingertips, then asked cautiously:

“I can promise not to touch you. But…could you indulge me, just a little?”

If Ah-Yun still refused, she wouldn’t force it.