Crown Prince's Mansion's Cat

Chapter 16: The Cat in the Crown Prince's Mansion

[Ding, Qian Renxue storyline stage mission completed.]

[Mission content: Assist Qian Renxue in safely returning to Heavenly Dou City.]

[Mission evaluation: Excellent.]

[Rewards: Meow Wish Value ×120, Heaven Dou Hidden Travel Gift Pack ×1.]

[Ding, detected host entering Heavenly Dou City for the first time.]

[Bonus reward: Heaven Dou Mark.]

The system chimes rang in Meow Meow's mind several times in a row the moment he passed through the city gate.

His ears twitched slightly.

Good.

Finally settled.

This trip to Black Marsh had been a hassle, but the gains were indeed substantial.

He'd bonded with Qian Renxue.

Picked up several gift packs.

And successfully slipped into Heavenly Dou City.

Now he'd gotten another Heaven Dou Hidden Travel Gift Pack on top of that.

By any measure, it was a win.

But they were still at the city gate, with people coming and going, and Qian Renxue right beside him, so Meow Meow didn't open the gift pack right away.

For now, he was just an "ordinary white cat."

At least on the surface, he had to act the part.

Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's return to the city was hardly the same as an ordinary person entering.

When the city gate guards saw his token, they immediately bowed.

"We pay our respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Qian Renxue's expression was gentle as she gave a slight nod.

"Rise."

Her demeanor was practiced.

Neither too cold nor too familiar.

Exactly what a Heavenly Dou Crown Prince ought to look like.

Meow Meow stood at her feet, looked up, and couldn't help muttering to himself.

"If this acting were in my past life, she'd definitely win an award."

"No wonder she's the young mistress who's been lying low in Heavenly Dou for years."

White Dew was hidden inside Qian Renxue's outer robe, only the tips of her fur showing.

Meow Meow, on the other hand, walked openly at her side.

The guards naturally noticed the white cat.

But no one dared to ask.

The Crown Prince brought a cat into the city—so what?

What was there to question?

It wasn't like a soul beast rampage.

Seeing that no one stopped him, Meow Meow breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good."

"At least for now, playing the ordinary cat is going smoothly."

Once inside Heavenly Dou City, Meow Meow truly felt the difference from Martial Soul City.

Martial Soul City had stricter rules and more soul masters; even walking down the street gave a sense of solemnity.

Heavenly Dou City was far livelier.

The streets were wide, the shops numerous, and the carriages plentiful.

On the roads were nobles, merchants, soul masters, and ordinary citizens alike.

All kinds of sounds mixed together—chaotic, yes, but full of life.

Meow Meow walked and watched as he went.

As he walked, his nose suddenly twitched.

There was the smell of grilled meat from a street corner ahead.

Very fragrant.

Qian Renxue looked down at him.

"Didn't you say you were just observing the environment?"

Meow Meow immediately averted his gaze.

"I am observing the livelihood of Heavenly Dou City's people."

Qian Renxue: "..."

She didn't call him out.

She simply shifted her steps slightly, leading Meow Meow away down another path.

Meow Meow glanced back at that barbecue stall, a hint of regret in his heart.

"Once I know the roads better, This Meow will come on his own."

"Heavenly Dou City is this big—there's no way I can't even get a bite of barbecue."

The Crown Prince's Mansion was located near the imperial palace within the city.

The mansion gates were large, and there were plenty of guards.

But as soon as Qian Renxue returned, the people inside quickly came out to greet her.

Leading them was a middle-aged steward, who hurriedly bowed upon seeing Qian Renxue.

"Your Highness, you've returned."

"Mm."

Qian Renxue's tone was calm.

"Has anything happened at the mansion these past few days?"

The steward lowered his head and replied:

"Reporting to Your Highness, Sect Master Ning sent a visiting card yesterday, saying that if Your Highness returned to the mansion, he wished to schedule a visit."

"Additionally, Prince Xue Xing also sent someone to inquire about Your Highness's whereabouts. This subordinate followed your previous instructions and only said that Your Highness had gone out to visit friends, with no fixed return date."

When Meow Meow heard the words "Sect Master Ning," his ears immediately perked up.

Ning Fengzhi?

The Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

That is, in the original story, Xue Qinghe's nominal teacher.

This man was no simple figure.

Compared to those nobles who only knew how to put on airs, Ning Fengzhi truly knew how to read people and how to conduct himself.

That Qian Renxue could lurk in Heavenly Dou City for so long without being seen through by Ning Fengzhi was itself a testament to her skill.

"For Sect Master Ning's side, send a reply tomorrow."

Qian Renxue said indifferently.

"As for Imperial Uncle Xue Xing's side, no need to bother with him."

The steward acknowledged.

"Understood."

Having said that, his gaze involuntarily fell on Meow Meow.

A snow-white, clean little cat, following beside the Crown Prince—it was hard not to notice.

The steward hesitated for a moment, then still asked:

"Your Highness, this cat..."

Qian Renxue glanced at Meow Meow.

Meow Meow looked up at her.

Their eyes met for an instant.

Qian Renxue's expression did not change.

"Picked up on the road."

Meow Meow: "..."

Picked up again.

He'd been picked up once by Bibi Dong at Martial Soul Hall.

Now, arriving in Heavenly Dou City, he'd been picked up again by Qian Renxue.

So his whole life was just about being picked up everywhere.

The steward didn't think much of it, merely smiling:

"This cat is quite beautiful."

Meow Meow naturally sat up a little straighter.

Now that was something he liked to hear.

Qian Renxue said nothing more, only giving orders:

"Have the Clear Radiance Pavilion in the rear courtyard cleaned out. No one is to approach it without permission."

"Also prepare some milk and minced meat."

The steward paused for a moment.

"Yes."

He clearly hadn't expected that the Crown Prince's first task upon returning would be to arrange lodgings for a cat.

But everyone in the Crown Prince's Mansion knew the rules.

Whatever His Highness ordered, they carried it out.

No unnecessary questions.

The Clear Radiance Pavilion was in the rear courtyard of the Crown Prince's Mansion.

Its location wasn't remote, but outsiders wouldn't easily stumble upon it.

It was not far from the study, nestled beside a small bamboo grove, with a pond and a stone pavilion nearby.

The place was quiet, with a good view.

Meow Meow went in for a look around, growing more satisfied the more he saw.

"This place isn't bad."

"Much better than an ordinary cat bed."

Qian Renxue watched him.

"You'll stay here for now."

"There are many people in the Crown Prince's Mansion. Don't wander off."

Meow Meow nodded.

"Got it."

"I'm just an ordinary cat the Crown Prince picked up on the road."

Qian Renxue caught the resentment in his tone, and a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes.

"If I don't say it that way, how do you want me to explain?"

"Say you're a rare spiritual-type soul beast raised in the Martial Soul Hall's Pope's Palace?"

Meow Meow was silent for two breaths.

"Then 'picked up' it is."

At least an ordinary cat picked up on the road was far safer than a soul beast from the Pope's Palace.

Outside the Clear Radiance Pavilion, the steward had already sent someone with milk and minced meat.

Meow Meow sniffed it.

Not bad.

Though it couldn't compare to the spirit fruits at the Qian family's detached estate, at least it was normal.

As an ordinary cat, eating this was just inconspicuous enough.

Qian Renxue took White Dew out from inside her outer robe.

As soon as White Dew landed, it first looked around, then naturally trotted over to Meow Meow's side.

It wasn't as lively as the cats in the eastern side courtyard, nor as greedy as A Yu. It just sat quietly.

Qian Renxue looked at it and said softly:

"Will White Dew stay here normally too?"

Meow Meow thought for a moment.

"It can go with you usually."

"But if there are too many people in the mansion, it comes back here."

"One extra cat suddenly appearing by your side is fine, but two would easily draw attention."

Qian Renxue nodded.

"Alright."

She had clearly begun to get used to discussing these small matters with Meow Meow.

Meow Meow noticed this too.

That was good.

It meant Qian Renxue already saw him as a companion she could talk to and arrange things with, not just some strange soul beast.

Though this companion was still a cat for now.

After arranging for White Dew, Meow Meow finally had time to inspect the rewards just received.

He closed his eyes, sinking his mind into the system.

code
[Heaven Dou Hidden Travel Gift Pack: Mimicry Enhancement ×1, Cat Pet Skill: Crown Prince's Mansion Mark.]
[Heaven Dou Mark: Host has entered the main Heaven Dou storyline area. Subsequent encounters with key figures or events in Heavenly Dou City may trigger special missions.]

After reading through it, Meow Meow's eyes lit up.

Mimicry Enhancement was easy to understand.

What he needed most right now was to pass as an ordinary cat in Heavenly Dou City.

Especially since the Crown Prince's Mansion had no shortage of eyes and ears.

If some Soul Douluo, Soul Sage, or even a spiritually strong soul master saw through him, the trouble would be considerable.

"Use Mimicry Enhancement."

code
[Ding, Mimic Breath enhancement successful.]
[Current effect: Can more stably suppress beast soul aura, making the host appear closer to an ordinary cat in non-combat states. High-level soul masters without targeted investigation will find it difficult to detect anomalies.]

Meow Meow nodded in satisfaction.

This was good.

Perfect for Heavenly Dou City.

Next was [Crown Prince's Mansion Mark].

code
[Crown Prince's Mansion Mark: Host may set the Clear Radiance Pavilion within the Crown Prince's Mansion as a temporary foothold. After setting, the host can sense the state of the Sacred Flame Spirit Cat within the pavilion's range and locate the return direction within a certain distance.]

"Isn't this just a Heaven Dou branch nest?"

Meow Meow felt quite pleased inside.

With this mark, Clear Radiance Pavilion wasn't just a temporary place to sleep—it became his fixed stronghold in Heavenly Dou City.

The East Side Courtyard was Martial Soul City's cat nest.

The Qian Family Villa was Qian Renxue's secret base.

Clear Radiance Pavilion was the cat nest inside the Crown Prince's Mansion.

With these three points connected, his range of activity outside was much more stable.

"Set Clear Radiance Pavilion."

code
[Ding, Clear Radiance Pavilion has been set as a temporary foothold.]
[Current footholds: Martial Soul City East Side Courtyard, Qian Family Villa, Heaven Dou Crown Prince's Mansion Clear Radiance Pavilion.]

Meow Meow looked at this line of text, feeling great.

"This Cat's territory is growing more and more."

"Not that any of it's my property, but as long as I can stay, it's fine."

After finishing the setup, he gave the Calming Bell a light ring.

Ding.

A very faint bell tone spread outward.

The somewhat chaotic soul power fluctuations in Clear Radiance Pavilion gradually settled down.

White Dew looked up, then quickly lay down by the window.

Meow Meow also left a trace of Holy Fire Aura in a corner.

Not much.

Just enough for White Dew and himself to sense this place.

After all, this was the Crown Prince's Mansion—he couldn't set things up as openly as in the East Side Courtyard.

He had to keep a low profile.

Stay steady.

Qian Renxue watched from the side without asking questions.

She knew Meow Meow was arranging his own measures.

This benefited her too.

Clear Radiance Pavilion wasn't far from her study. If Meow Meow could truly settle here, she'd have a helper who could respond promptly, whether she was handling government affairs or resting at night.

Of course, that helper was a cat.

That fact was still a bit strange.

But strange as it was, she was starting to feel that this kind of strangeness wasn't so bad.

Just as the setup finished, footsteps came from outside.

The steward stopped outside the door.

"Your Highness."

"What is it?"

Qian Renxue resumed Xue Qinghe's tone.

"The palace sent word. His Majesty learned of Your Highness's return and commands you to enter the palace later this evening."

Qian Renxue's expression did not change.

"Understood."

The steward added:

"As for Sect Master Ning, shall we reply as usual tomorrow?"

"Mm."

The steward acknowledged and withdrew.

Meow Meow's ears twitched after listening.

"Just back and you have to go to the palace?"

"Normal."

Qian Renxue's tone was calm.

"I've been away from the mansion for a few days. If I don't enter the palace to explain the reason, it won't be easy to account to Father."

Meow Meow glanced at her.

That "Father" came so naturally from her lips.

But the more natural it was, the more it showed how deeply she had played this role over the years.

"What about me?" Meow Meow asked.

"You stay in the Clear Radiance Pavilion."

Qian Renxue didn't hesitate.

"The palace has too many rules. It's not convenient to bring you."

Meow Meow wasn't surprised.

"Fine."

"Then take care of yourself."

Qian Renxue looked at him.

Meow Meow continued matter-of-factly:

"Prince Xue Xing has his eyes on you, doesn't he?"

"And all those messy people in the palace."

"You just came back from the Black Marsh. Your soul power hasn't fully stabilized yet. Don't slip up."

Qian Renxue was silent for a moment.

Finally, she gave a slight nod.

"I know."

With that, she turned and left.

White Dew wanted to follow, but Meow Meow gently stopped her with his tail.

"You can't go now."

"The Crown Prince suddenly bringing two cats into the palace would be too conspicuous."

White Dew looked reluctantly toward the direction Qian Renxue had gone.

Meow Meow patted her head.

"Don't worry. She's not an ordinary person."

"If she's really in danger, I'll know."

Bell-Led Master Seeking was still active.

If Qian Renxue experienced any obvious dangerous fluctuations, he could sense it immediately.

Only then did White Dew calm down.

After Qian Renxue left, only Meow Meow and White Dew remained in the Clear Radiance Pavilion.

Meow Meow glanced at the milk and minced meat on the table.

Then looked out the window at the Crown Prince's Mansion.

Quiet.

Clean.

Lots of rules, too.

Not as lively as the east side courtyard, nor as hidden away as the Qian family's separate estate.

This place sat in the busiest part of Heavenly Dou City.

Yet it was also the place where you had to be most careful.

"White Dew."

Meow Meow spoke.

White Dew looked up.

"From today on, we're the cats of the Crown Prince's Mansion."

"Remember, first—don't run around."

"Second—don't meow randomly."

"Third—if you see anyone suspicious, memorize their scent first."

White Dew nodded seriously.

Meow Meow thought for a moment, then added another rule.

"Fourth—if no one's watching the grilled meat in the mansion, you can notify me."

White Dew: "..."

She clearly didn't understand why this rule was also important.

Meow Meow was very serious.

"This is a matter of livelihood."

"Very important."

White Dew didn't argue.

After all, she was still young and didn't know that sometimes her cat master was genuinely serious, and other times he just wanted to eat.

After giving his instructions, Meow Meow jumped over to the windowsill and lay down.

Outside was the back courtyard of the Crown Prince's Mansion.

Further beyond were the streets of Heavenly Dou City.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Blue Tyrant Academy, and all those people who would appear in the original story later—they were all in this city or nearby.

He had arrived here now.

From this point on, it was no longer just a story confined to Martial Soul Hall.

"Heavenly Dou City."

"Tang San."

"Shrek."

"Yu Xiaogang."

"And the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Meow Meow flicked his tail lightly.

"Hope you all don't run into me too soon."

"This Cat still wants to enjoy a couple days of peaceful eating first."