Chapter 13: Crown Prince

"It is important," Lin Qingyue said. "Even if you are a cat now, your soul is human, and your humanity has not been extinguished. Therefore, how you appear on the outside is merely a leaf obscuring your vision. I can see a very dense golden light of merit on you, and also... imperial destiny."

Imperial destiny was also present on Dongfang Yan, but it was very faint, nowhere near as dense as it was on this cat.

Lin Qingyue stated with certainty: "You must be of imperial lineage, and a direct descendant at that."

In that instant, amidst Lin Qingyue's smiling gaze, he felt a sense of embarrassment at being seen through completely.

But since he had been seen through, he simply stopped trying to hide or conceal anything.

The tabby cat stood up on its hind legs and bowed solemnly toward Lin Qingyue: "Dongfang Qi thanks the young lady for saving my life!"

Dongfang Qi!

It really was him!

The current Crown Prince of Da Qi, the Emperor's only son.

A year ago, he went on an incognito inspection tour and met with an accident, his life or death unknown.

The Qi Emperor was tight-lipped about the Crown Prince's situation; rumors in the streets claimed the Crown Prince had passed away, while others said he was merely critically ill.

It wasn't until half a year ago that the Emperor summoned the eight princes to the capital and entrusted them with heavy responsibilities. The outside world then solidified the rumor that the Crown Prince had met with misfortune and the heir apparent was about to change.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince Dongfang Qi had actually turned into... a tabby cat.

Lin Qingyue looked at the cat before her—its fur dull and lusterless, its head wrapped in bandages, yet it was bowing solemnly in a human-like manner—it was truly comical.

Just then, a maid reported from outside the door: "Princess, Xie Shouzheng of the Xuanjing Division requests an audience. Shall we see him?"

Princess?

The tabby cat's hind legs lost their footing, and it tumbled off the couch.

He ignored the pain, flipped over to stand up, and looked around with full vigilance: "You are a Princess? Which prince's Princess?"

He had been too severely injured and unconscious last night, so he hadn't seen Dongfang Yan.

At this moment, his mind had already rapidly cycled through the names of the eight princes, but no matter which one it was, if they discovered his identity as the Crown Prince, they would surely eliminate him as quickly as possible.

After all, only if the Crown Prince were dead would those princes have the qualifications to sit at the table.

"Have Xie Shouzheng wait in the front hall." After Lin Qingyue gave this instruction to the person outside, she glanced at the cat indifferently and opened the door to leave.

The cat stepped cautiously out of the room, looking left and right, only to see that this small courtyard was quiet yet somewhat remote. There were neither guards nor maids.

From no angle did it look like the proper standard for a Princess.

He raised his eyes, looking at the figure about to walk away in front, and quickly made up his mind. He moved his four legs and followed rapidly.

"Why are you following me? Aren't you afraid I'll harm you?"

"If you were going to harm me, you wouldn't have waited until now. I was uncomposed earlier, my apologies."

"Heh..."

At this time, Dongfang Yan was not in the mansion, and the Wangfu steward had intended to turn Xie Shouzheng away when he arrived uninvited.

Lin Qingyue's maid came over to instruct: "The Princess invites Magistrate Xie to meet in the front hall."

The steward was still hesitating, wanting to send someone to ask the Prince for instructions, but Xie Shouzheng had already cheekily squeezed his way in:

"I am here to see the Princess; it is no matter if the Prince is not here. Please, Steward, step aside."

After waiting in the front hall for a short while, Lin Qingyue arrived.

Xie Shouzheng had been in and out of many high-ranking households and had seen the entourages of many noble ladies.

Yet, none were like Lin Qingyue, who held a high position but had only one small maid by her side; it was practically worse than a merchant's household.

Oh, wait, she also had a cat.

Xie Shouzheng's gaze shifted downward, landing on the tabby cat.

The cat was extremely thin, to the point where its spine was faintly visible; its fur was dull, and a circle of bandages was wrapped around its head.

Even though it was already in such a miserable state, those large, round cat eyes were crystal clear and exceptionally spirited.

He was looking at the cat, and the cat was also looking at him.

It lacked the timidity and cowardice of an ordinary cat, instead carrying a sense of disdain. It was like the demeanor of a high-ranking person looking at a subordinate.

It even gave one the illusion of wanting to kowtow to the cat.

Xie Shouzheng couldn't help but find it strange: Why would I, an official, have such... an utterly absurd thought about a cat?

After Lin Qingyue sat down, seeing that the steward had no intention of leaving, she couldn't help but question: "Zhao An, do you also monitor the Prince like this when he receives guests?"

Steward Zhao was just about to say that for the Princess's safety and reputation, he had to serve by her side.

But before he could speak, he heard Lin Qingyue coldly bark: "Get out."

Steward Zhao was startled and hurriedly bowed and retreated.

As he walked outside the hall, he still felt strange: How was I intimidated? Isn't it said that the Princess is a girl from the countryside who hasn't seen much of the world? Then where did that soul-stirring aura just now come from?

Xie Shouzheng stopped looking at the cat, composed his expression, and bowed to Lin Qingyue: "The Princess truly has good methods; you have managed everything in the Prince's Mansion in an orderly fashion only a few days after marrying in."

Lin Qingyue said indifferently: "Speak your mind; there is no need to waste time."

Xie Shouzheng said: "Something strange has happened at the Changning Hou Fu. The eldest young master of the Hou Fu, who is also your brother, Princess, did not return all night. Early this morning, he was found on the street, acting crazed and begging people to beat him. Does the Princess know of this matter?"

Lin Qingyue raised an eyebrow and chuckled: "Is that so? I didn't know my brother had such a tendency to be abused. I have let Magistrate Xie see a joke."

Xie Shouzheng asked straight to the point: "Do you really not know about this, Princess?"

Lin Qingyue shook her head: "I do not."

Xie Shouzheng said: "I heard that yesterday, when you returned to your maiden home, the second young lady of the Hou Fu developed sores on her mouth and tongue, and even the imperial physicians were helpless. Not long after, the Hou Fu's young master also met with trouble. Don't you think everything is too coincidental, Princess?"

"Within the vermilion gates, there are many sordid dealings; who knows when retribution will come? As for me..."

Lin Qingyue laughed heartlessly, "It was just a coincidence."

Xie Shouzheng said: "What a coincidence! Princess Jin, let us speak plainly. I went to your maiden home today to check on your brother's situation; he is indeed possessed by an evil spirit."

"I only want to know, does this evil spirit have anything to do with you? Or is it like the Princess Qing'an incident, where it only had the opportunity to cause trouble because you fanned the flames?"

"The capital is under the Emperor's feet. Although my cultivation is shallow, I cannot stand by and watch demons and monsters cause trouble!"

He spoke righteously, but Lin Qingyue's tone was dismissive: "If I wanted to cause trouble, I wouldn't be here listening to your nonsense."

Xie Shouzheng added: "I heard that you are not on good terms with your family. If it were just ordinary bickering and quarreling, I naturally wouldn't interfere. But the Hou Fu second young lady's mouth sores and the eldest young master's possession clearly exceed the norm. As an Evil-Appraising Envoy of the Xuanjing Division, I..."

"What happened to the Hou Fu second young lady?" Accompanied by a cold question, Dongfang Yan strode in.

The chill of the night was still soaked into his dark purple official robes.