Sha Cheng, along with Xue Lin, Tong Aning, and others, hid in a secluded corner of his mansion.
All that could be seen was the orange cat lazily sunbathing.
So cute!
Tong Aning, who wasn't a cat lover, was almost unable to bear it. She went to look at Sha Cheng, and saw that this somewhat roguish Ministry of War had eyes that were practically sparkling. Just looking at the orange cat seemed to melt his heart.
He clenched his fist and muttered, "If anyone tries to tamper with my cat, I'll punch them to death."
Tong Aning had no doubt that what Sha Cheng said was true.
She said, "I support you."
Sha Cheng's gaze grew even more resolute.
You must understand, Tong Aning is the incarnation of a goddess. Having Tong Aning's support precisely proves that he is on the side of justice. Evil will soon have nowhere to hide.
Tong Aning had no idea that beneath Sha Cheng's seemingly resolute face lay such thoughts.
A figure slowly approached, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the person to appear.
He was an old man with a white beard, around fifty years old, dressed in a Daoist robe, holding a whisk in his hand. He looked like a sage, but his eyes were very sneaky, making people always feel that he was there to steal something.
... Isn't he here to steal?
He squatted down in front of the cat. Sha Cheng's heart was in his throat, and he had already gripped a dart in his hand. If this person dared to make any trouble for his cat, he would kill him on the spot!
After the man squatted down, he rummaged around in his sleeve with one hand.
Sha Cheng: It's the murder weapon, it must be the murder weapon!
The next moment, Qingfengzi placed the dried fish, which had become dry, fragrant, and crispy after baking, in front of the orange cat.
Everyone: "?"
The orange cat sniffed it, but remained unmoved.
Sha Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. Good cat, good cat.
Qingfengzi's expression turned a bit strange. He picked up the dried fish and tried to guide the orange cat, but the cat refused to follow him. Qingfengzi tried many times, but finally had to give up and turned to go into the inner room.
The group followed, Sha Cheng picked up the orange cat as he went.
When the orange cat saw it was him, it nestled obediently in his arms.
Everyone witnessed a strange scene--
Qingfengzi bustled about in the inner room, tidying it up spotlessly and even ironing Sha Cheng's clothes that he had hung up. He was incredibly thoughtful and meticulous in his work.
Sha Cheng: "..."
He was about to lose it; was this guy crazy?!
Xue Lin said, " Sichen, capture the man and bring him out."
"Yes."
Sichen rushed in, Qingfengzi cried out in panic. Soon, he was brought out by Sichen, looking disheveled.
Xue Lin asked in a deep voice, "Who are you, and why are you in Lord Sha's room?"
Qingfengzi, with the air of a reclusive sage, said, "Who I am will scare you to death if I tell you."
Tong Aning: "?"
She stepped forward, her beautiful features appearing somewhat eccentric. "Then tell me, you'll scare me to death."
Qingfengzi glanced at the courtyard, and seeing that the cat wasn't there, he straightened his back. "I am the incarnation of the Cat Fairy."
Tong Aning: "... How do you resemble a cat?"
"You're just pretending not to know the answer, miss."
Qingfengzi stroked his beard.
Sha Cheng was blocked behind them. Upon hearing this, he was about to step forward with the cat in his arms when Xue Lin shook her head at him.
Okay, Sha Cheng hugged the cat in his arms tightly, he endured it.
Tong Aning smiled slyly, "Since you say you're a cat, then turn back into a cat."
Qingfengzi: "... You mortals, what right do you have to see my true form?"
You call yourself a mortal? The one standing in front of you is a true god. This person is hopeless.
"Yeah?"
Sha Cheng came out carrying the cat, calmly stroking it. "Is this your true form?"
Qingfengzi: "..."
They were set up.
Qingfengzi's face turned pale and then flushed. He tried to calm himself down. "I am Qingfengzi, a reclusive master. I have come down from the mountain to save the people of the world."
[Is this because their lie has been exposed, and they're starting to take a more sophisticated approach?]
[Host, you don't need to believe him. He's not a Daoist at all. Qingfengzi, Xuanming, and Xuankong are names he made up for himself and his disciples to impersonate Daoists.]
[Wow, they're all prepared.]
Xue Lin asked, "How do you plan to save the people of the world?"
Qingfengzi looked at Xue Lin, his gaze revealing that only Xue Lin had any sense of value. He said, "Naturally, I'm referring to the Ministry of War."
Sha Cheng had a fiery temper. He kicked Qingfengzi, saying, "You dare to give me pointers? Do you even deserve it?"
Qingfengzi was kicked to the ground. He got up and suddenly became furious, "How dare you disrespect me! You'll be struck by lightning!"
Struck by lightning?
Sha Cheng looked up at the sky; Ruyun of clouds, the weather was beautiful. He gritted his teeth and said vaguely, "Just wait and see what happens to you."
When that Tong Aning makes a move, that's when she'll truly be struck by lightning.
If Xue Lin hadn't been there, he would have killed Qingfengzi long ago, given Qingfengzi's use of dried fish to lure his cat and his free access to his inner room.
The murderous intent in Sha Cheng's eyes was too obvious, and Qingfengzi awkwardly shut his mouth.
Xue Lin asked, "You need to save the people of the world, so you must need help, right?"
"Yes."
See? There are still some sensible people out there.
"Ideally, it would be your apprentice?"
Qingfengzi eagerly replied, "Of course."
"Does saving the world require a specific location? Or is it enough for the three of you, master and disciples, to be together?"
Qingfengzi straightened his chest and said, "The three of us together are fine..."
By the time Qingfengzi realized something was wrong, it was too late.
Xue Lin raised his hand. "Then send him to reunite with his disciples. I hope you will do your best to save the people of the world."
Qingfengzi: "... You... you... you."
He has been taken away.
Tong Aning looked at Xue Lin, [I never expected that Heir Xue had such a cunning side.]
This is nothing. Back when the prince and princess were alive, he was always being tricked by the heir apparent. But, Sichen thought, he could hardly remember the last time the heir apparent was like this.
Since the death of the prince and princess, the young master has become a different person. Despite being a young man, he is lifeless and only shows signs of anger when he is with Tong Aning.
Xue Lin coughed lightly and said, " Lord Sha, we'll be taking our leave now."
Sha Cheng nodded, "Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness."
Xue Lin and Tong Aning left together.
Three days later, Qingfengzi confessed that he had originally intended to bewitch the Ministry of War's cat and have him pretend to be a ghost, but unfortunately the orange cat was clever and sometimes worked and sometimes didn't.
Tong Aning: "..."
[I'm sometimes hungry, sometimes not.]
Qingfengzi had no choice but to take matters into his own hands and wait for the right moment to use the orange cat's spirit to rescue his two good-for-nothing disciples.
[What a joke, a huge joke.]
After Xue Lin finished speaking, he said, "That's it."
Tong Aning, resting her chin on her hand, said, "Like master, like disciple."
[I don't know how their brains are structured.]
Xue Lin remained noncommittal; in his opinion, neither the master nor the disciple seemed particularly bright.
"Lord Mo, you've arrived. You're here again to buy pastries for your wife, aren't you?"
A remark from the waiter caught Tong Aning's attention.
Tong Aning looked over and saw Mo Leshan dressed in casual clothes.
Mo Leshan never expected to meet Tong Aning and Xue Lin here.
He strode up to Tong Aning and Xue Lin, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, " Lord Tong Heir Xue."
The two nodded.
Tong Aning asked curiously, "What kind of pastry is it?"
Mo Leshan knew that this Lord Tong was the fourth daughter of Marquis Tong and also the head of the Ministry of Ministry of Rites. At first glance, there seemed to be nothing special about her, but during the days when Tong Aning attended court, Mo Leshan gradually discovered that the court, the public, and even His Majesty respected Tong Aning very much.
He dared not be negligent.
"It's hawthorn cake. My wife is pregnant and craves sour foods."
Tong Aning's eyes lit up. "Congratulations! But remember to eat less."
"I've got it. Then I'll take my leave."
Tong Aning: "Okay."
After Mo Leshan left with the food box, Tong Aning also went to ask for two servings of hawthorn cake.
He took one copy back and gave one to Xue Lin.
No matter what Tong Aning gave him, Xue Lin accepted it all.
He first escorted Tong Aning back to the Marquis's residence before returning to the Prince's residence.
The hawthorn cake was perfectly sweet and sour, and as Xue Lin ate it, a smile appeared on his lips.
*
The next day at court, Tong Aning encountered Mo Leshan again at the palace gate.
He looked rushed and absent-minded, and didn't even hear Tong Aning speaking to him.
" Lord Tong."
"What's wrong? You look terrible."
Mo Leshan raised his hand and rubbed his forehead. "It's nothing, I just didn't sleep well last night."
Tong Aning nodded, guessing that it was probably to take care of his pregnant wife.
Before entering the palace gate, Tong Aning saw Mo Leshan talking to a servant.
She was too far away to hear anything clearly.
Tong Aning didn't take it to heart, but the next moment Xixi started sharing with her--
Mo Leshan's first wife ran away with their daughter.
Tong Aning: "?"
It was court time, and civil and military officials were entering the palace one after another. Upon hearing this explosive voice, everyone unconsciously stopped and glanced in Mo Leshan's direction. Before Mo Leshan noticed, they looked away and continued walking as if nothing had happened.
Liu Hui, walking with his friend, looked grim; he was Mo Leshan's father-in-law.
[He also has a first wife; isn't this marriage fraud?]
[It wouldn't be considered marriage fraud. He told his current wife that he had been married before and had a daughter, but both of them had unfortunately passed away. His wife was even more fond of him because of his deep and unwavering love for her.]
Tong Aning felt a little nauseous.
[So he didn't die, he was just locked up.]
[To be precise, it was imprisonment, for over a year.]
More than a year later, Liu Hui stopped. Wasn't that the time for his daughter's wedding?
[That beast.]
Yes, that beast!
Liu Hui asked a friend to ask for leave on his behalf, and he went to his daughter's house.
Seeing this, Mo Leshan felt a pang of anxiety. Had his father-in-law discovered something?
That's impossible.
Worried, Mo Leshan also took leave and rushed home.