Lose My Heart to the Lovely Kitten Princess - Chapter 21
Chapter 21 Linde Hall
“Chirp chirp!”
The baby bird was biting the curtain sash and having fun with it when Cheng Xiaoxiao suddenly crawled under the couch. It thought that Cheng Xiaoxiao wanted to play too, so it prodded the curtain sash by her mouth.
Cheng Xiaoxiao rubbed the baby bird with her head and told it to go on. She wasn’t in the mood to play now.
When Chu Yunshen stroked Cheng Xiaoxiao’s chin with his finger, she instinctively felt so comfortable and blissful that she couldn’t help wanting to rub her head in his hand.
Although Cheng Xiaoxiao was in control of this body, she couldn’t control what was within a cat’s nature.
Just like last night when Cheng Xiaoxiao almost perished from overeating human food!
“Master, the horse carriage is ready.”
Cheng Xiaoxiao carried the baby bird from the bed when she heard Xiaowu’s voice.
“Come over,” said Chu Yunshen as he handed the book in his hand to Xiaowu. Then he patted his thigh and gestured for Cheng Xiaoxiao to come into his arms.
When Cheng Xiaoxiao saw the book, ‘How To Make Your Cat Like You’, in Xiaowu’s hands, she turned and darted out the door!
Xiaowu hurriedly went chasing after her as he said, “Oh my! We are about to leave, so don’t go getting into trouble!”
Chu Yunshen’s hand froze in mid-air. In the past, the little fellow would leap into his arms immediately the moment he patted his thigh.
What happened today?
“Master, the cat has boarded the horse carriage. She gave me such a fright when she took off, so I went to chase after her, but she made a beeline for your carriage instead!” said Xiaowu as he wiped the sweat from his brow. Then he lifted the curtain for Chu Yunshen to get onto the horse carriage.
Chu Yunshen looked at the little fellow with his dark eyes narrowed. Cheng Xiaoxiao had huddled under the couch as she pretended to ignore him and played with the baby bird delightfully.
“My book,” said Chu Yunshen. After he got onto the horse carriage, he sat down and glanced at half the book peeking out of Xiaowu’s arms.
“Yes, Master!” replied Xiaowu as he took the book from his chest and handed it to Chu Yunshen. Then he pointed at an exquisite redwood box and continued, “Master, the rest of the books are in the box.”
“Okay,” said Chu Yunshen as he leaned against the couch. Then he glanced at the redwood box as he said, “Let’s go.”
“Yes, Master!” said Xiaowu before putting down the blinds. Then he turned to tell the entourage, which was all set to depart, “Let’s go.”
“Farewell, Your Highness!”
The officers from the post knelt and bade Chu Yunshen farewell in unison.
Chu Yunshen kept reading for the rest of the journey. He would use his newly found knowledge on Cheng Xiaoxiao every now and then. And every time he teased her, Cheng Xiaoxiao blushed crimson and exploded in embarrassment.
Chu Yunshen couldn’t help wondering if these books had gotten it wrong.
The book said that cats loved getting rubbed behind their ears. When he used his thumb and index fingers to rub the little fellow’s ears, she initially gurgled and curled up in his embrace with a look of satisfaction. But she howled and exploded before swiftly crawling under the bed later on.
Chu Yunshen opened the ‘Cats’ Encyclopedia’ to find out what this meant: Cats make gurgling noises out of satisfaction and howl in excitement or out of fear.
Chu Yunshen patted the bed and shouted under the bed, “Come out.”
“Meow,” the little fellow’s soft meowing came from under the bed.
Chu Yunshen had no idea what went wrong.
Before he started learning how to rear cats, he and the little fellow co-existed in harmony, but they seemed more estranged as he discovered more.
“Are you going to come out?” asked Chu Yunshen sternly.
“Meow.”
Then he saw a tiny kitten’s head came stuck out from under the bed.
Cheng Xiaoxiao meowed ingratiatingly towards Chu Yunshen, but she couldn’t help frowning when she saw the cup of water in Chu Yunshen’s hand. More water? Cheng Xiaoxiao had been drinking plenty of water for days, along with eating bland food.
She was dying to eat something more exciting.
Since they caught the problem and made Cheng Xiaoxiao supplement her diet with water in time, her fur had become fluffy again.
Yet she swiftly forgot the error of her ways.
Cheng Xiaoxiao stared at the osmanthus cake on the table and kept meowing nonstop.
But Chu Yunshen pretended he saw nothing and scooped Cheng Xiaoxiao into his arms. Then he placed the cup of water in front of her mouth and said, “Drink up.”
Cheng Xiaoxiao shook her head and meowed gently.
She didn’t want any more water!
Chu Yunshen stroked her fur, which had become smooth again. Then he moved the bowl of water closer to Cheng Xiaoxiao and said, “Drink this.”
Cheng Xiaoxiao couldn’t outdo him, so she could only lower her head and drink up obediently.
After she finished the big bowl of water, Chu Yunshen took a pinch of osmanthus cake from the table and said, “You can only have a tiny bit. The book says cats can’t overindulge on sweet food because it’s bad for your heart.”
Cheng Xiaoxiao looked at the osmanthus cake the size of a rice grain on Chu Yunshen’s fingertips and licked it boldly with her tongue. It was far better than going without any snacks at all.
Chu Yunshen instinctively shrank his hand back the moment he felt something warm at his fingertips.
Cheng Xiaoxiao let out a growl before swiftly lunging towards him. She wasn’t done licking the cake and wasn’t about to let the slightest morsel go to waste!
After Cheng Xiaoxiao was done licking Chu Yunshen’s fingertips and certain she finished every scrap, she smacked her lips and let go of Chu Yunshen’s fingers.
Chu Yunshen pulled out a handkerchief to clean his fingers. Then he picked up the ‘Cats’ Encyclopedia’ to find out what her growl meant.
The book said: Cats let out growls when they are trying to protect something precious to them.
So Chu Yunshen’s fingertips meant the world to the little fellow.
At the thought of that, a sense of warmth rose in the corner of Chu Yunshen’s heart.
The rest of the journey to the capital went on with Chu Yunshen and Cheng Xiaoxiao playing a hide and seek game.
“Master, we have reached the capital,” said Xiaowu from outside the horse carriage as it came to a halt, “Do you want to head to the residence or the place now?”
Chu Yunshen was stroking the cat in his embrace. He had finally managed to catch it after a long time. Chu Yunshen pressed the little fellow back into his arms with his large hands. Then he replied, “Go to the palace.”
“Yes, Master,” acknowledged Xiaowu. Then he told the rest of the entourage, “Go back to the residence.”
“Yes, Sir!”
The entourage split into two at a forked road. The rest of the people went back to Prince Jing’s residence while Chu Yunshen, Mu Bai, and Xiaowu headed to the palace.
The moment Cheng Xiaoxiao heard they had reached the capital, she leaped out of Chu Yunshen’s arms.
She leaned against the window and lifted the blinds with her paws to stare outside wide-eyed.
Many shops lined both sides of the avenue, such as teahouses, wine shops, pawnshops, and workshops. There were also a lot of small hawkers standing under huge umbrellas on spaces in the streets and peddling their wares.
The sun scattered gently onto the red brick and green tiles on the side and gave the capital’s prosperity a misty air.
The shops’ signboards or banners flew atop the eaves of these tall, vividly colored structures.
Cheng Xiaoxiao had always been living in a far-flung place since she transmigrated as a cat. This prosperous sight, along with all manner of cuisine floating across her eyes, left her itching to explore.
She touched the jade pendant that hung on her neck with her paw.
Cheng Xiaoxiao knew what she was going to save her last wish for now. She wanted Bai Wuchang and Hei Wuchang to let her sample every single cuisine in the capital in human form!
It was 29th February in the 20th year of Hongde in Chu’s capital. In the palace, in Linde Hall…
The gleaming ground was paved with the best white jade. Phoenixes that were about to spread their wings and fly were carved onto the sandalwood eaves of the building. Many red pillars supported the hall up from inside, and each pillar had a lifelike golden dragon carving twining around them.
Green bricks were used for the walls while jade adorned its windows. A large marble inlaid table was placed next to the wall with ten inkstones and lots of official documents sitting on it.
Inside the hall, the emperor sat on a golden throne with dragons carved onto it as he towered over them loftily.
The man was dressed in a bright yellow emperor’s robe with dragons from the sea embroidered on it. A garment belt fluttered in the air from his robe, where gold waves embellished it. There was a slight frown on his masculine features as his dark eyes glinted warmly while the morning rays reflected off his handsome features. He seemed as dignified as the Gods and appeared noble to the core as the awe-striking aura of an emperor exuded from him.
This was the emperor of Chu, Chu Hongzhen, who ascended the throne at 26 years old and ruled as king for 20 years. Chu Hongzhen promoted their people’s welfare, reduced labor and taxes throughout the country. Also, he built strong political ties with other nations.
Chu Hongzhen wasn’t an ambitious emperor, so he was already satisfied with his contribution to the nation. He harbored no vain hopes of swallowing all the other neighboring states and uniting the lands.
He only wanted to groom Chu Hongyi into an outstanding Crown Prince and let him inherit the kingdom.
But that unfilial son of his, Chu Yunshen, had thwarted his plans.
Wu’s envoy came to Chu offering tribute, but Chu Yunshen disrespected the emperor and killed the envoy and his entourage because he commanded military power.
Chu Yunshen destroyed Chu’s friendly ties with Wu by killing the envoy from Wu.
Fortunately, Chu Hongzhen sent Li Sanchuan to negotiate peace. If Chu Yunshen continued with his militant ways, it would probably be disadvantageous to Chu Hongyi!
For time immemorial, princes often fought each other to the death and brought chaos to the palace and court.
Chu Hongzhen was hoping he could remain king for a year or two more, but after diligently ruling for over ten years, kingship was starting to take a toll on his health and left his hair white at the temples.
His deteriorating health kept reminding him that he had to think ahead and make plans for his youngest son, Chu Hongyi, while he still could now.
Chu Hongzhen had to crush his other sons’ desires for the throne. Otherwise, they were bound to stir trouble one day.
“Your Majesty,” came Yuan Qing’s sharp voice as Chu Hongzhen’s thoughts wandered.
Yuan Qing was the eunuch of the emperor, Chu Hongzhen. Yuan Qing had been serving Chu Hongzhen while he was still the crowned prince.
Now that Chu Hongzhen was the emperor of Chu, Yuan Qing’s status rose with the tides, and became promoted as one of the two internal palace supervisors.
Yuan Qing was now one of the most highly ranked and powerful eunuchs in the palace.
“What is it?” asked Chu Hongzhen.
“Prince Jing is waiting outside,” said Yuan Qing softly with his back still bowed.
Chu Hongzhen pondered briefly. Then he responded coldly, “Let him stand outside and wait.”
Yuan Qing couldn’t help twitching his brows when he heard the emperor. Then informed Chu Yunshen, “At His Majesty’s orders…”
He looked at Prince Jing somewhat sympathetically. The sun was at its hottest, and it looked like Prince Jing came to see His Majesty the moment he returned to the capital.
“What’s taking His Highness so long?”
The sky had started turning dark when Mu Bai got off the carriage. Chu Yunshen had been in the palace all day and ought to have left by now.
“Let me go find out,” said Xiaowu before walking over to an imperial guard standing guard outside the palace entrance.
The imperial guard instantly stopped him and said, “What do you want?”
“My friend!” said Xiaowu, “I’m Prince Jing’s guard, Xiaowu. His Highness has gone into the palace since midday. Can you help find out why he isn’t out yet?”
The imperial guard eyed Xiaowu. Then Xiaowu and said, “It’s been such a long day for everyone. Allow me to treat everyone to a round of wine.”
After weighing the purse in his hand, the imperial guard looked at Xiaowu satisfactorily before getting another imperial guard to go into the palace and find out.
“Thanks, my friend,” thanked Xiaowu quickly.
