Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 35

Facing Sha Rulang’s pleading gaze, Liu Fenyun pinched the blue-veined jade in her hand and said, “Whether I can make a house call, and whom I can save, depends on His Seventh Highness’s opinion. I can’t just casually accept your ‘consultation fee.’”

She returned the blue-veined jade and added, “If that person’s injuries are severe, Your Highness can seek help from the accompanying imperial physicians.”

“No, those physicians will never agree!” Sha Rulang shook her head, her expression darkening. “My friend… is of the demon race. If those physicians discover her, there will be another slaughter.”

“So only you, Lady Witch Doctor, can save her!” She grabbed Liu Fenyun’s sleeve, stubbornly trying to shove the blue veined jade back into her hand. “You and Seventh Royal Sister are together day and night just yesterday when you got off the carriage, you were even holding her! You will agree to treat demons!”

Liu Fenyun continued acting: “But I must ask your Seventh Royal Sister’s opinion first…”

“Just agree to whatever Little Fifteen asks.”

Lianyi’s voice sounded behind her, startling Liu Fenyun.

“Your Highness, why are you here?!” Liu Fenyun hurriedly turned around.

Lianyi patted her chest, indicating that she had sensed through their psychic link that her bait had indeed caught a fish, so she came over to join the act.

Liu Fenyun returned to retrieve her medicine chest, then followed Sha Rulang to the Shatang Hall.

Although Sha Rulang was young, she had long lived outside the palace with the Tenth Prince. Now that she was here, she still lived alone in the palace assigned to her, while the Tenth Prince lived in another.

As they walked, Liu Fenyun opened the system map and expanded the search radius to the maximum. Even before entering Shatang Hall, she already knew where last night’s demon was located.

“Master really acted?” Lianyi asked via their psychic link.

Liu Fenyun twitched the corner of her mouth and held her hand as they continued walking.

Sha Rulang led them around the guards and spies of Shatang Hall and stopped before a door thick with spider webs in the depths of the palace.

Lianyi noticed a bloody claw print on the door a “simple lock” used by demons.

She was about to tell Liu Fenyun when Sha Rulang already pressed her hand to the claw mark and pushed. With dust falling, the nearly rotten wooden door opened.

Knowing Lianyi would be frightened by the blood scent on the demon, Liu Fenyun had told her before leaving to wear a mask and veil.

At this moment, the mask and veil proved useful. Liu Fenyun coughed from the dust, while Lianyi felt nothing.

“Aran! I brought the witch doctor!” Sha Rulang hurried forward and gently pushed the black lump lying on the ground.

The system scanned the black lump and reported to Liu Fenyun: “Host, this is a female black panther demon.”

“Is it the one from Jiayao Hall last night?” Liu Fenyun asked.

“Judging from scent similarity, yes.”

Liu Fenyun had no idea how the system could distinguish anything in the room thick with the stench of blood from the panther. She couldn’t smell anything else, only that the panther was gravely injured.

Sharing a look with Lianyi, Liu Fenyun put on a mask and gloves, walked to the panther and Sha Rulang, and crouched down.

“How should I address you?”

“Aran. The ‘ran’ from ‘stained.’” The panther obediently gave her name, then looked at Sha Rulang. “I said the wounds aren’t serious. Why did you trouble the witch doctor?”

Sha Rulang’s eyes reddened instantly. Holding her paw, she said through tears, “How are they not serious! You bled so much! If you don’t see a physician, you’ll die!”

Aran blew a puff of air onto her hand. “I’m not that easy to kill.”

Liu Fenyun quickly checked her wounds. All were from blade like weapons of similar size. Her mouth also seemed stabbed repeatedly. But indeed, as Aran said, none were critical anymore.

“When did Aran get injured?” she asked Sha Rulang while cleaning the wounds.

“Last night? Yes, last night!” Sha Rulang wiped her tears. “Aran said she wanted to eat food from the human banquet. I brought her some and told her not to go, but I didn’t expect she went anyway!”

“I didn’t go to eat.” Aran swished her tail angrily. “I went to Hanyan Hall to cultivate. I met a great demon who chased me to kill!”

Liu Fenyun froze. It seemed wise they had moved out of Hanyan Hall there truly was a great demon living there!

Lianyi thought of the same thing. Both tacitly avoided guessing that it was Yu Qingyue who attacked.

Aran’s wounds covered nearly her entire body. While applying medicine, Liu Fenyun had the system record Aran’s full demon body information and mark it. Should they meet again, the system would give a special alert.

Watching Liu Fenyun meticulously handle the panther’s whole body, Lianyi frowned. If not for needing the trust of Aran and the Fifteenth Princess, she would’ve dragged Liu Fenyun away.

“How strange,” Aran suddenly said. “Why is Lady Witch Doctor hiding her aura?”

The aura concealment came from the white jade pendant Yu Qingyue had given her. Liu Fenyun thought a moment, then mysteriously asked, “Does Aran wish to know?”

“Of course.” Aran stared at her.

Liu Fenyun conjured a fluffy cat paw from demon energy and waved it before her. “Now do you know?”

Sha Rulang stared wide eyed, then realized, “So Lady Witch Doctor is also a demon! No wonder she’s so loving with Seventh Royal Sister!”

The words “loving” made Lianyi’s heart bloom. Her earlier jealousy vanished entirely, and her gaze toward Sha Rulang softened.

Aran suddenly exposed her lie: “You’re not a demon.”

Liu Fenyun’s heart jolted. “How am I not a demon?”

Aran refused to reply and looked away.

After Liu Fenyun finished treating her wounds—before she even began bandaging—Aran stood, retreated, and shrouded herself in black demon mist.

“Thank you.” Leaving these words, her form turned into a whirlwind and disappeared.

Left in her wake was a small bottle.

Liu Fenyun picked it up, glanced at the label, and nearly cried out.

“This is the antidote to Xian-Yun!” she told Lianyi through their psychic link.

Lianyi was shocked too but reminded her, “Are you sure it’s genuine?”

“I can confirm it in the herb garden.”

Holding back her excitement, Liu Fenyun told Sha Rulang, “We must go. Remember not a word of what happened today. Don’t tell anyone human or demon. And never let anyone know you’re keeping Aran.”

Sha Rulang nodded vigorously.

After escorting them out, she suddenly said, “Lady Witch Doctor, if you ever need my help, please command me freely!”

Treating the panther and gaining the trust of both the panther and the Fifteenth Princess Liu Fenyun felt the morning had yielded quite a harvest.

Lianyi had long been hungry. As soon as they returned to Morning Star Hall, she still hadn’t removed mask or veil, already clinging to Liu Fenyun for food.

While Lianyi enjoyed a lavish breakfast, Liu Fenyun with a meat bun in her mouth went to the herb garden and rushed to the research room.

She finished the bun quickly, didn’t even change into her lab coat, took some of the antidote, and ran the component analyzer.

The results appeared soon the formula matched exactly with the system’s antidote recipe.

Closing the analyzer, Liu Fenyun calmed down and stored the antidote.

She couldn’t understand why Aran gave her the antidote to Xian-Yun.

“Xian-Yun” was a lethal poison demons used against humans especially demon hunters. After thinking for a long time, she could only assume Aran had recognized she was human and, knowing some demon in the palace possessed this poison, gifted her the antidote as a precaution.

As a human, Liu Fenyun couldn’t understand demon motives. Unable to figure it out, she turned to Lianyi.

After thinking, Lianyi said, “Is it possible Aran is the one who poisoned her?”

Liu Fenyun didn’t understand.

“Xian-Yun doesn’t affect demons, and its antidote is extremely difficult to make. If a demon only intended to poison someone to death, they would never carry the antidote. But if the demon regretted it… they would prepare one.”

“So Aran didn’t want to kill the High Priest?” Liu Fenyun widened her thoughts.

“That’s one interpretation.” Lianyi nodded. “But another problem what excuse do we have to hand over the antidote? If we tell the truth, both Aran and Little Fifteen will die.”

Liu Fenyun fell silent.

She knew the High Priest hated demons most of all. After almost dying, she certainly wouldn’t spare the demon who nearly killed her. As for the Fifteenth Princess who sheltered the criminal she would face punishment.

“In this human city, demons have no right to survive,” Lianyi murmured. “If not for the human body Seventh Princess gave me, I might’ve been expelled four years ago when I revealed my demon form in public.”

Liu Fenyun hugged her tightly.

“Your Highness… do you want to leave the Candle Blaze Kingdom?” she whispered.

Lianyi froze, then sighed. “How could I not? But Seventh Princess was kind to me. Her soul was accidentally eaten by me and remains trapped within me, unable to enter reincarnation. I must find a way to free her first.”

After more discussion, they decided not to speak of the antidote for now.

“With your master around, Luo Binglun will be fine,” Lianyi assured.

For once, Liu Fenyun agreed to such “throwing the ally under the bus.”

Three days of free time had only half passed. Lianyi felt better recently and didn’t want to stay inside.

After lunch, she dragged Liu Fenyun to the racetrack to continue bonding with Wangyunzhu.

Today the racetrack was lively several princesses, princes, and officials were practicing riding with their attendants, shooting arrows occasionally.

Lianyi didn’t like humans, but she maintained good manners and greeted those nearby.

With riding and archery skills unlocked, Liu Fenyun rode two laps, checked her gloved hands, and thought she could start trying to shoot at moving targets when a whooshing sound came from the far side.

Next moment, someone galloped toward her.

“Seventh Brother, good afternoon,” the Tenth Prince, Sha Yunhuan, reined his horse before her.

Sha Rulang poked out her little head behind him. “Good afternoon, Lady Witch Doctor.”

Liu Fenyun greeted them with a smile. Before she could chat, Sha Yunhuan’s expression darkened, and he said quietly, “I heard Fourth Highness is coming to ride here. He comes with ill intent. Avoid him if you can.”

Without waiting for a response, he rode off and disappeared.

Liu Fenyun looked around blankly. No one else seemed to be leaving.

Had the siblings come just to warn her?

Lianyi, resting at the edge of the field, had sharp ears and heard everything from a distance. As soon as Sha Yunhuan left, she came over, mounted the horse, and wrapped her arms around Liu Fenyun.

“Don’t rush off yet you haven’t met the Fourth Princess,” Lianyi said as she rested against Liu Fenyun’s back, smiling. “She’s been holding a grudge ever since you married me. Today, let her see how loving we are let her choke on her jealousy!”

Liu Fenyun couldn’t help laughing and sighing, but she had long wanted to meet this so-called shameless Fourth Princess. So she didn’t leave. She let Wangyunzhu carry her and Lianyi as they continued circling around the racecourse.

The Fourth Princess didn’t make them wait long. She actually arrived by carriage more than ten attendants in jade-green riding gear rode alongside, holding several large flags. The display was extravagant.

Sha Xiaoman lifted the curtain gracefully. The moment she saw Seventh Princess and her newly wedded prince consort in the racecourse, her face darkened instantly, her brows twisting.

But when she entered the field and met them face to face, she was polite and composed.
“Seventh Sister, your health must be much improved. It’s rare to see you coming out for a stroll.”

Lianyi smiled. “Fourth Royal Sister shouldn’t coop herself up in her princess manor either. Staying stuffed inside too long isn’t good for your recovery.”

Sha Xiaoman curled her lips slightly, then looked to Liu Fenyun.
“So you are Seventh Princess’s prince consort? The Hua people truly are born delicate and handsome. My Seventh Sister likes men like you. Now that you’re married, you ought to treat her well.”

With that, she squeezed her horse’s sides and left with her followers.

“She… doesn’t seem that difficult to get along with?” Liu Fenyun asked Lianyi softly after Sha Xiaoman rode off.

“Anyone who plays tricks knows how to wear a gentle mask,” Lianyi sneered. “Don’t be deceived by her politeness. Don’t forget who smeared your name who poisoned me.”

Liu Fenyun nodded. Holding the reins, she thought aloud, “The Tenth Prince said she came with ill intent. But the hunting competition hasn’t begun; she shouldn’t know we’re here. If she truly came with malice… who is she targeting?”