Lose My Heart to the Lovely Kitten Princess - Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Prince Jing’s residence
When Cheng Xiaoxiao sensed Chu Yunshen carrying her off the horse carriage, she opened her eyes in a daze and suddenly saw a luxurious residence.

There was a huge imposing red door before her with an exquisite gold-trimmed plaque hanging over its door, which read ‘Prince Jing’s Residence’.

Cheng Xiaoxiao craned her neck up to look at the huge building before her. The door was ornately carved, and its roof was even more intricately carved. Cheng Xiaoxiao could sense a royal aura exuding from it as she looked up at it from below.

Even though Prince Jing wasn’t well-loved by the emperor, he lived in such an opulent residence, so she couldn’t imagine what the residences of the emperor’s favored sons appeared.

A whitewashed wall encircled the property as an impressive decorative gate towered at the entrance and was paired with veranda wings on both sides.

Cheng Xiaoxiao couldn’t stop looking at the lovely residence as she snuggled in Chu Yunshen’s arms.

The moment they entered the door, there were welcomed by charming corridors and cobblestoned walkways that transformed into pavements.

Then those pavements connected each building, and the place was adorned with rockeries.

The entire estate appeared so grand and elegant and was filled with so many gardens that it seemed absolutely poetic.

Chu Yunshen brought Cheng Xiaoxiao to a room that appeared like his bedroom.

It was covered with snow-white glazed tiles, and the corners of its eaves were speckled with black paint. And there was a square stage at the center of the room.

After going up the steps, they caught sight of the tall and grand entrance. Its arched windows and stonemasonry made it particularly elegant.

Cheng Xiaoxiao felt like sleeping the moment she saw the silk bed linen on Chu Yunshen’s bed after they entered Chu Yunshen’s room.

She was exhausted and wanted to sleep desperately…

“Master, the hot water is ready,” came Xiaowu’s voice from outside.

“Enter,” said Chu Yunshen as he looked at the white kitten in his arms. She was lethargic ever since they left the palace and seemed to have suffered a shock.

Cheng Xiaoxiao obediently curled up in his arms ever since he carried her. At first, Chu Yunshen noticed nothing, but she didn’t wake up after the baby bird prodded her either.

“Little fellow?” asked Chu Yunshen after lifting her up and swaying her before his eyes.

“Meow.”

Cheng Xiaoxiao looked at Chu Yunshen with her head feeling dizzy.

She felt so giddy!

When Cheng Xiaoxiao charged into the palace looking for Chu Yunshen, she encountered a black man unknowingly. Then she blacked out the moment she smelled something in his hand.

After Cheng Xiaoxiao smelled something pungent, she woke up to discover herself next to a flower bush while the imperial guards searched for her nearby.

Cheng Xiaoxiao heard Chu Yunshen’s voice just as she was at a complete loss.

When she turned her head and saw that it was truly Chu Yunshen, she leaped towards him. Then she caught the scent in the air again.

It was a faint sweet scent.

And it made her feel heavy headed.

After Chu Yunshen shook her for a long time, she continued to be exhausted. He carried her to the bathtub and let her go.

The weary cat suddenly became lively instantly. Chu Yunshen watched as Cheng Xiaoxiao paddled in the water. The little fellow was out running around in the palace earlier and was covered with dirt and leaves, so it was unimaginable that Chu Yunshen had carried her all the way home.

“Meow.”

Cheng Xiaoxiao was unable to breathe and felt as though water was filling her lungs!

“Meow!”

Help Cheng Xiaoxiao!

She couldn’t swim!

She was about to drown to death!

A pair of hands pulled her out of the water suddenly while Cheng Xiaoxiao waved her paws desperately.

“Are you awake now?” asked Chu Yunshen with a mischievous smile on his face as he looked at the soaking wet kitten. Chu Yunshen caught an odd scent on Cheng Xiaoxiao. Then his eyes turned dark as he turned to tell Xiaowu immediately, “Get Mu Bai to come over!”

“Yes, Your Highness!” replied Xiaowu. He saw the prince frowning hard, so he hurried over to get Mu Bai as quickly as he could.

“His Highness’s pet seems to have fallen ill again!”

Mu Bai came out of his room, looking angry that someone disturbed his rest again. Also, he was needed because of the prince’s cat once again.

“Mu Bai,” said Chu Yunshen sternly. Mu Bai hastily trembled as he stiffened his body. Then he stepped forward and asked, “Your Highness, what did you bathe the little fellow with? Why does she smell so good?”

This scent left them uncomfortable.

“Just water,” replied Chu Yunshen coldly.

Mu Bai took the kitten and examined her for a long time. Then Mu Bai frowned as he said, “Your Highness, someone poisoned the little fellow again.”

“Did someone hatch another plot to murder His Highness again?” asked Xiaowu furiously as he stood by the side.

“No, they were targeting the little fellow this time! They applied chronic poison powder to the little fellow’s paws. But even if she licked her paws, she would only get dizzy, and it won’t kill her!” replied Mu Bai as he pinched the white cat’s paws and studied her claws, which had started to turn black.

“Did they give the cat chronic poison…” asked Xiaowu quizzically, “… so that they could poison His Highness?”

That sounded illogical!

They finally had the chance to poison the cat unknowingly but used chronic poison instead. This dose wasn’t even enough to kill a cat, far less a human being!

“No, I don’t think so. This person might be using His Highness’s cat as a warning to him,” said Mu Bai as he started to neutralize the poison in the white cat’s paws.

Then he stood up and bowed to Chu Yunshen before he said, “Your Highness, this might be related to County Magistrate Cai. I checked, and it’s the same poison that he died from. The magistrate just had a much larger dose, while they only gave a little to the little fellow.”

“How could they be so impatient to poison the cat the moment His Highness returned to the capital? We haven’t even investigated him yet, but here he is getting so antsy!” said Xiaowu angrily, “Master, it’s most likely that someone in the palace poisoned the lion cat. That was the only time they could have touched her!”

Chu Yunshen’s eyes turned as he pondered about something.

Xiaowu gnashed his teeth as he continued to say, “Also, the paper used by County Magistrate Cai’s co-conspirator can only be found in the palace, so the culprit must be in there. It’s a pity the magistrate was poisoned to death!”

‘Heh,” laughed Chu Yunshen as he narrowed his eyes. Then he stroked the little fellow who had climbed onto his thighs on her back as he said slowly, “He is monitoring my every move.”

It appeared Chu Yunshen ought to use the opportunity to punish the spies he was surrounded with.

“Your Highness, shall I keep investigating County Magistrate Cai’s case?” asked Xiaowu as he bowed worriedly, “They are hiding from us. This time they poisoned His Highness’ cat, but who knows what they are capable of next time.”

“Check it!” said Chu Yunshen airily without raising his head. He kept stroking the cat in his arms. Did they think Chu Yunshen would let them off for harming his cat?

“Yes, Your Highness! I will check on the paper’s source right away,” replied Xiaowu as he left the room.

“Allow me to take my leave, Your Highness,” said Mu Bai, who bowed and left after Chu Yunshen didn’t reply for a long time.

“Little fellow!” said Chu Yunshen with a look of anguish in his eyes. The kitten suffered this mishap because she entered the palace looking for him.

Chu Yunshen lifted the kitten’s paw. Although Mu Bai applied medication for Cheng Xiaoxiao, her chubby paws were festering badly after coming into contact with the poison.

Chu Yunshen caressed Cheng Xiaoxiao’s injured paw.

“Meow!” Cheng Xiaoxiao suddenly woke up from the pain and glared at Chu Yunshen in agony.

“Does it hurt?” asked Chu Yunshen with a hoarse voice.

“Meow,” replied Cheng Xiaoxiao as she shook her head. Then she snuggled into Chu Yunshen’s arms.

Was he feeling pitiful about her?

The first thing the next day, the emperor sent someone to send Chu Yunshen the government offices.

Xiaowu stared at the official robe for the commandant of justice on the table with his fists clenched tightly. How could the emperor do Prince Jing such injustice when the prince was his flesh and blood after all?

How could he demote the prince to a lowly commandant of justice?

“Master!” said Xiaowu indignantly as he helped Chu Yunshen put on his official robe, “How could His Majesty do that to you?”

“Xiaowu!” warned Chu Yunshen as he stopped changing and glanced coldly at Xiaowu.

“My apologies, Your Highness,” said Xiaowu as he instantly shut his mouth. He clean forgot about the spies in Prince Jing’s residence in his fit of anger.

“Go get the little fellow and come to the justice department with me.”

After Chu Yunshen changed into his official robes, he glanced at the white kitten curled up and sleeping soundly in bed. Then he walked over to pull it into his arms.

“Meow.”

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t even open her eyes. Instead, she flipped over and continued to snuggle into Chu Yunshen’s embrace as she slept.

“Get someone to take care of the little guy,” said Chu Yunshen as he turned to tell Xiaowu after he glanced at the baby bird that was sleeping in bed too.

Xiaowu bowed respectfully and replied, “Yes, Your Highness. I’ll send for someone right away. ”

“One second,” Chu Yunshen called for Xiaowu. Then he glanced at the cat books lying on the table and continued, “Bring those books along too.”

“Yes, Master!” replied Xiaowu as he eyed the white cat in Chu Yunshen’s arms and went into a daze for a long time until Chu Yunshen glared at him after noticing he was still standing there. Then Xiaowu asked warily, “Master, are you going to bring her along?”

Prince Jing was going to the justice department to investigate cases. Wouldn’t it invite gossip if he brought a cat along?

“Do you really think I’m going to handle cases?” sneered Chu Yunshen. Then he carried Cheng Xiaoxiao in his arms as he strode out of his room and continued, “Send for the carriage.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” replied Xiaowu before he immediately picked those books up. Xiaowu hurried to send for the horse carriage. Then he instructed a maid to place the baby bird in a cage and keep a close eye on it before he left.

Chu Yunshen’s horse carriage stopped right outside the justice department, where the supervisor had led everyone out of the office and stood awaiting Prince Jing at its entrance.

“Your Highness!”

The moment Chu Yunshen got off the carriage with Cheng Xiaoxiao, she caught sight of a 40 to 50 year old man rushing towards them. He was dressed in blue official robes with a peacock embroidered on its chest while a sapphire and blue glass official cap adorned his head.

“I, the supervisor of the justice department, Di Yangze, welcomes Your Highness!” said the man as he knelt and paid respects to Chu Yunshen.

“Sir Di, please spare the formalities. I’ll be counting on you for help from now on,” said Chu Yunshen lukewarmly.

Di Yangze hurriedly bowed and replied, “It’s my honor to help.”

Then Di Yangze reached his hand out and invited Prince Jing into the office as he said, “Your Highness, this way, please.”

Di Yangze introduced the officials working at the magistrate’s office and its furnishing while leading Chu Yunshen in.

Cheng Xiaoxiao realized that the justice department was comprised of dozens of courtyards.

These courtyards were laid out following the traditional north-south axis symmetry, which consisted of three courtyards for every three axes.

Rooms like the granary and the county magistrate assistant’s office were laid out from the south to the north on the eastern side at the center of the axis.

On the western side of the axis center, it consisted mainly of rooms like the prison, offices for officials and their assistants from the south to north.

In between the three axes were stables, rooms for clerks, and offices.

And right at the center of these buildings was the courtyard with its doors facing south, followed by its main, secondary, third halls and finally its inner courtyard.

And Cheng Xiaoxiao was now in the main compound in the magistrate’s office, which was located at the heart of the structure. It consisted of the largest section and came fitted with everything needed to carry out tasks at the justice department.

Chu Yunshen carried Cheng Xiaoxiao and walked behind a wall where a grand and stately room appeared. All six doors in the room were open, and rows of people were standing within the government office.