Help!

He could not let them shave off any more fur. Any more, and he would be completely bald.

He still had a few days before he could turn human. Going bald would be utterly humiliating.

Physician Liu said, "He has burns in too many places. I recommend shaving off all his fur. What does Your Highness think?"

"Meow, meow."

[-I object!]

[-Absolutely not!]

"Is there any other way, Physician Liu?"

"Well... if his dressings are changed frequently, there will be no need to shave him. But I have many duties to attend to, and I fear I cannot always reach the Eastern Palace promptly. I also sent away the young assistant who knows how to change dressings a few days ago."

Physician Liu looked troubled.

"In that case, explain the steps for changing his dressings and treating his wounds to me. Then I will demonstrate them for you. If I do it correctly, you need only leave the necessary supplies here. Would that work?"

The Crown Prince spoke as casually as if he were discussing an everyday meal, but to the physician, his words were like a bolt from the blue!

"Your Highness, I would never dare! Forgive my offense!"

How could he let His Highness do such a thing? He would not dare even if he had a hundred times the nerve!

Physician Liu lowered his head, wishing he could tuck it into his robes. The white hairs of his beard trembled slightly.

"There is no need for that, Physician Liu. I merely wish to do it myself."

"Meow, meow?"

So his fur was safe?

Shen Yangge blinked his blue eyes. As he relaxed, the tail wrapped around the Crown Prince's arm slipped into his palm.

The Crown Prince lightly closed his fingers around it without a change in expression and continued calmly, "What do you think of my suggestion, Physician Liu?"

With things having gone this far, refusing again felt as though it really might constitute an offense. Left with no other choice, Physician Liu nodded and replied, "If Your Highness wishes to do it yourself, please listen carefully."

"You must wash your hands before treating the wounds."

"You cannot simply part the fur and apply the medicine. Examine the area carefully before proceeding."

"If you find any pus, you must deal with it promptly-in other words, send someone to inform me."

The instructions that followed made Shen Yangge's head buzz. Resting his little head in the crook of the Crown Prince's arm, he began grumbling inwardly.

[-Is this physician treating me like a human patient?]

[-You're telling him so much. Can he even remember it all?]

[-...Just shave my fur off, thanks.]

By the time Physician Liu had explained all the precautions, it was completely dark outside. He hastily bade the Crown Prince farewell, gathered his things, and hurried back to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

What followed was sheer torment. Shen Yangge was turned this way and that and "manhandled" all over. Every time he was about to fall asleep, the pain jolted him awake again. He dared to feel angry, but not voice it, because the goddamn Crown Prince was wholeheartedly "taking care" of him.

If he scratched the Crown Prince out of displeasure, he would look like an ungrateful wretch who repaid kindness with hostility!

Late that night, while he was sleeping, Shen Yangge suddenly heard sounds of fighting. After a moment of confusion, he opened his eyes. Reflected in his blue pupils were three figures battling the mad Crown Prince.

The four fought fiercely, evenly matched. "He really is strong. No wonder Seven and Eight died at his hands. They must have underestimated him."

"He has to die here tonight."

"Kill him!"

The Crown Prince was strong, but the three assassins had managed to enter his bedchamber, so they certainly were not weak either.

As the fight continued, the Crown Prince gradually began to lose ground.

Shhk-

A longsword pierced the Crown Prince's arm. Shen Yangge's eyes widened; even he did not realize just how tense he had become.

Seeing his strike land, the assassin immediately moved to deliver a second blow. "Watch out!"

Another longsword shot out from beneath the sleeve of the Crown Prince's pierced arm, instantly severing one of the assassin's hands.

"Aaargh-"

The assassin's eyes bulged with fury. He stared in disbelief at his severed arm, then raised his head in rage. "I'll kill you!"

The assassin beside him hurried forward to stop him, but it was already too late.

The assassin who had lost his arm was killed on the spot by the Crown Prince.

This was not the outcome the assassins had expected. They had all believed that even if they failed to kill the Crown Prince tonight, they could still escape unscathed. But reality was telling them otherwise.

If they did not kill the Crown Prince, they would be the ones to die here.

The two remaining assassins exchanged glances, raised their swords again, and charged at the Crown Prince!

The fighting grew increasingly fierce. Shen Yangge hardly dared breathe as he watched. Only when he finally saw the Crown Prince, breathing slightly harder, sever another assassin's arm did his expression ease a little.

[-This bastard really won't die.]

[-Is this the protagonist's plot armor?]

System 615: [Plot armor is only a supporting feature. The male lead seems to have been really powerful all along |ω・).]

Shen Yangge: ...Nobody would mistake you for mute if you kept quiet.

Once the shadow guards summoned by the Crown Prince carried away the bodies, silence returned to the bedchamber. Shen Yangge slowly looked the Crown Prince over.

Hadn't that sword pierced his arm? How had he still used that same arm to cut off his enemy's?

Wait. Shen Yangge's gaze fell on the slit in the sleeve of his underrobe, and he seemed to understand something.

He could not help thinking, [-This bastard's a damn good actor.]

"Hmm?"

As the Crown Prince changed out of his slashed underrobe, he noticed that the kitten was awake. He casually picked him up and held him in his arms, ready to apply another round of medicine.

Terrified of being "manhandled" again, Shen Yangge struggled with all his might. But he was far too weak to be any match for the Crown Prince.

Two more days passed. As the day he would turn human drew closer, Shen Yangge grew anxious. The system had said he could not transform back into a human right in front of someone, and he remembered that perfectly well.

The problem was that he had to get away from the Crown Prince before he could turn back. Otherwise, if he suddenly became a living, breathing human before the Crown Prince's eyes, he might be executed on the spot.

Though being executed by the Crown Prince was something he had always dreamed of...

That would not count as a genuine "normal death."

Because the data would classify it as an accidental death.

He was anxious. He was frantic. He scurried back and forth on his four stubby legs like a tumbleweed.

The palace maid cleaning the room followed behind him, wiping the floor in great distress.

Why was there mud on this cat's paws? He was getting everything dirty...

Halfway through wiping the floor, she suddenly realized the cat was gone.

The palace maid panicked.

Where was the little master?

Since Shen Yangge was tethered, he naturally could not simply vanish. He had merely pulled off a little escape trick, pacing back and forth until his tether loosened, then slipping out of the chain in keeping with the invincible legend that cats were liquid.

To his surprise, it worked.

Delighted, he put his hiding skills to use and crawled out of the Eastern Palace through a rat hole.

But before he could cheer himself on or celebrate, two hands suddenly grabbed him!

An exceedingly nasty voice sounded above his head. "You little beast, I've finally caught you. You got me scolded so many times. I'm not letting you off."

"Hmph, I'll skin you!"

Fuck, why was this fucking idiot here?