The Prince Replaced by a Cat, Zhao Linchuan's Speechlessness

"You!" Qian Renxue watched him shamelessly play the rogue, so angry her teeth itched. Yet there was nothing she could do. In the end, she could only stomp her foot and mutter in annoyance, "Rogue!!"

She shot him one final glare, her expression complicated—both irritated and carrying a hint of indulgence she herself had not noticed—before turning and gracefully leaving.

Outside the manor, the night had already grown deep.

She Long waited beside the carriage like a ghost and silently lifted its curtain.

Before stepping into the carriage, Qian Renxue paused slightly. Without looking back, she calmly gave an order:

"She Long, in a few days, invite the Head of the Ye Family here for a visit."

"Do not alert anyone about this, and do not tell anyone."

She Long bowed and said in a low voice, "As you command, Young Master."

The curtain fell. The luxurious carriage slowly began moving, rolling over the silent stone road and gradually vanishing into the heavy night.

Time flew by, and six or seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Perhaps it was because he had broken free of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's restraints, or perhaps because he was far from Ning Rongrong's suffocating arrogance, but Zhao Linchuan felt more relaxed in both body and mind than ever before.

Although Qian Renxue could not come in person these past few days due to the limits of her identity, her consideration for him flowed on without pause like a gentle stream.

Fine wine and delicacies, ancient books and rare treasures—dedicated attendants respectfully delivered them every day, making the manor increasingly exquisite while silently declaring how highly its owner valued him.

Zhao Linchuan did not indulge in pleasure. Apart from cultivating, he spent most of his time bent over a desk in the Study Room, sorting through the threads of the future.

Yet the more deeply he considered things, the tighter his brows furrowed.

A grave problem surfaced: Qian Renxue's subordinates—or rather, Spirit Hall's hidden forces within the Heaven Dou Empire—were almost entirely focused on winning over and infiltrating Soul Masters and nobles.

But when it came to the civil official system necessary for truly governing a nation and administering its regions, there was nothing at all. It was rudimentary, like a makeshift troupe.

This meant that even if they conquered the continent through force in the future, they would still have to rely on those deeply entrenched old nobles, each with their own schemes, to govern the countless common people.

That was far removed from the blueprint for thorough reform he had envisioned.

With no other choice, he temporarily set aside his grand ambitions and picked up his pen, writing down in detail some preliminary ideas and proposals regarding official selection, assessment, and grassroots administration as preparation for the future.

Setting down his ink-scented brush, he rose and stretched his somewhat stiff limbs.

His gaze drifted casually out the window, only to see Qian Renxue entering the courtyard side by side with a graceful, charming young married woman.

"Auntie Shiyu?" Zhao Linchuan recognized the woman. She was the head of the Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family and Ye Lingling's mother.

He was full of confusion. Why was she here?

A quarter of an hour later, in the manor's main hall.

Zhao Linchuan looked at Ye Shiyu, who sat opposite him with a smile as she took his pulse, his face so cold it seemed one could scrape a layer of frost from it.

Meanwhile, Qian Renxue stood to the side, anxiously watching Ye Shiyu. Completely unaware that the other woman's earlier address of "Madam" was inappropriate, she hurriedly asked:

"Ye Family Head, Lin Chuan's body... is really all right, isn't it?"

Ye Shiyu withdrew the fingers resting on Zhao Linchuan's wrist and covered her lips with a soft laugh. "Madam, there is no need to worry. Your husband's body... is not merely fine. His qi and blood are abundant, his physique is strong, and he far surpasses ordinary Soul Masters."

She paused slightly, a teasing glint flashing through her eyes. "It's just that..."

"Just that what?" Qian Renxue's heart rose to her throat again, completely ignoring that form of address.

Ye Shiyu's gaze shifted between Zhao Linchuan and Qian Renxue, and her smile deepened. "It's just that... your husband's Original Yang has not been released. He is still a Pure Yang Body."

"As his wife, Madam, you seem... rather negligent in your duties."

Her tone was teasing. Then she looked at Zhao Linchuan, whose face was covered in black lines, and said half-jokingly, "Lin Chuan, if it is inconvenient for the two of you as husband and wife, taking a concubine would be perfectly normal."

"My Lingling mentions you quite often, you know."

Zhao Linchuan took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the urge to roll his eyes. Helplessly, he said, "Auntie Shiyu, please stop teasing me."

"Xue'er and I... are not husband and wife. We are merely friends."

The moment the words left his mouth, he felt an Icy Gaze shoot at him from his side like an arrow, carrying a silent warning.

Zhao Linchuan's mouth twitched, and he immediately changed his words smoothly. "Yes... friends with a very, very close relationship. The kind who can talk about anything."

"I understand, I understand." Ye Shiyu wore an expression of complete understanding as she chuckled and rose to her feet. "Since Young Master Zhao is in good health, I shall not disturb you 'good friends' any longer. I'll take my leave first."

Zhao Linchuan hurriedly stood. "I'll see you out, Auntie Shiyu."

"No need to be so polite. Please stay."

But Zhao Linchuan insisted on escorting her to the courtyard gate.

Once Ye Shiyu's figure disappeared around the corner, he immediately turned around and glared fiercely at the somewhat guilty Qian Renxue beside him.

"Tell me, Your Esteemed Highness, Young Master of Spirit Hall," he practically squeezed the words through his teeth, "if you are truly so bored out of your mind, could you go find something proper to do?"

"For example, go into a quiet chamber and cultivate in seclusion, maybe raise that Soul Power Level of yours that has been delayed by state affairs?"

"Instead of... pulling this kind of inexplicable nonsense here!"

"I... I was just worried about you." Qian Renxue lowered her head, her slender white fingers unconsciously twisting together. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's, carrying a trace of grievance.

Seeing her like this, all of Zhao Linchuan's helplessness eventually turned into a sigh. He waved his hand, too lazy to pursue the matter further.

"That Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud..."

"I brought it! I brought it!" Qian Renxue immediately lifted her head. As if trying to make up for her mistake, she swiftly took an ancient bronze box from her Soul Tool and offered it to him as though seeking praise. "Here, it's for you."

Zhao Linchuan accepted the box. It was slightly heavy in his hand and carried a trace of chill.

He lifted the box lid and saw a crystal-clear, perfectly conical sapphire-like object lying quietly upon the soft lining. Within it, it seemed as though vast sea waves were flowing, emanating a mysterious and boundless aura.

After only one glance, he closed the lid and said evenly, "Xue'er, rest here for a while first."

"Later, I'll take you somewhere."

"Where are we going?" Qian Renxue asked curiously.

"You'll know when we get there." Zhao Linchuan said no more. Holding the bronze box, he turned and left the main hall.

About an hour later, just as Qian Renxue was beginning to grow impatient and idly tapping the tabletop with her fingers, Zhao Linchuan finally returned at a leisurely pace.

He tossed the box containing the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud back to Qian Renxue and said casually, "I'm done looking at it. Find a chance to return it later."

"Now, come with me."

"Where exactly are we going?" Qian Renxue put away the box and hurriedly followed him.