Chapter 64

The catnip seeds Xia You planted sprouted rapidly. Simultaneously, he secured a proper place to plant more catnip because—

Xia You knocked and peeked inside, "Uncle Zhou, I'm coming in."

Uncle Zhou warmly replied, "Come on in, I've prepared some pomelo tea for you."

Xia You loved the scent of pomelo but preferred drinking it mixed with honey rather than eating the fruit. However, Uncle Zhou didn't make it for him every day.

In the elder's view, indulgence in anything is unhealthy.

Xia You nudged the door open just enough to slip inside. As he entered, he glanced back at Yuan Yuan, who had followed him to the corridor's edge but halted there.

The black panther gave Xia You's room a cursory glance, then chose a couch to recline on and remained still.

Ever since the three big cats came under Xia You's care, he had taken the time to chat with them, emphasizing repeatedly that if they felt restless, they should come to him. No hunting or fighting was allowed.

Companion beasts don't require sustenance. The Marshal's Mansion originally had hunting grounds to help the black panther channel its pain from excessive spiritual energy through eating. However, now that Xia You realized that blood heightened their symptoms, of course, measures would be taken.

While Latiao was still growing, the white tiger had grown accustomed to having a big meal every few days. Uncle Zhou made sure to prepare nutritious meals for both the tiger mother and her cub.

As for Yuan Yuan, apart from clinging to Xia You, he hadn't shown much of any other particular tendencies. Xia You didn't feed him meat, so he simply didn't eat. He might come across as aloof and proud, but he's easy to care for.

Seeing that Yuan Yuan was genuinely hesitant to approach Uncle Zhou's room, Xia You closed the door with an expression of astonishment on his face.

Uncle Zhou's room felt just like the elderly butler himself—filled with soft and plush items everywhere.

The room wasn't small, but unlike Xiayu's and Lu Yinghuai's rooms, it lacked a spacious terrace or even a balcony. Instead, it featured vast floor-to-ceiling windows that didn't open. Xiayu searched for a while before spotting a ventilation shaft, which she stared at intently.

Uncle Zhou handed Xiayu a cup of fruit tea, chuckling, "Elders tend to have their quirks."

Xiayu shyly curved the corner of her lips, taking the cup politely, "It just feels... different."

"Uncle Zhou, don't you like balconies?" Xiayu glanced towards the floor-to-ceiling windows, where two rows of plant stands were neatly arranged, displaying the catnip pots she had given to Uncle Zhou a few days ago.

Numerous trees, meticulously pruned, filled the outside view. Perched on a branch of one tree was a hawk, its gaze occasionally sharp, filled with untamed wildness.

"Terraces and balconies tend to attract little creatures. I'm a light sleeper and easily awakened," Uncle Zhou replied with a beaming smile. "Recently, after the master returned, many little beings unintentionally passed by here, causing quite the ruckus."

Xiayu: "…?"

A twinge in Xiayu's eyelid reminded her of the time right after their return. It seemed some spies or mercenaries had infiltrated the marshal's mansion. Of course... perhaps these individuals originated from the First Legion.

Yet, they prized their family lineage even more than their legion allegiance.

Xiayu never actually encountered any of these people. By the time she knew of them, they had been handed over to Wei Cheng by Uncle Zhou. She only heard of the incidents in the weekly mansion reports.

Reflecting on the location of Uncle Zhou's room, the windows here seem to be the most vulnerable entry points of the marshal's mansion, a potential breach in the defense...

Xiayu glanced at the kind-faced, white-haired old butler and sipped her tea obediently.

Her spiritual tendrils ventured out, busily and fervently stimulating the catnip. Under the sunlight, the normally transparent tendrils gleamed with a hint of golden hue.

Uncle Zhou also held a porcelain cup in his hand, observing the scene with twinkling eyes.

Xiayu had initially wanted to ask why Yuan Yuan didn't like coming here, but with a shift in her gaze, everything became clear.

Near the door, against the wall, a full-wall shelf drew all of Xiayu's attention.

"Incredible..."

Xiayu's gaze drifted over each and every felt panther on the shelf, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

These felt panthers varied in size and posture, the smallest being about half the size of a fist, while the largest measured almost a meter.

Lifelike in detail.

No wonder Yuan Yuan hesitated to come in; seeing such a vast collection of panther merchandise probably felt unsettling.

Xiayu crouched in front of the largest felt panther, locking eyes with its golden irises.

Drawing closer, Xiayu's sensitivity to energy stones allowed her to immediately discern that the eyes of these felt panthers were meticulously crafted from high-purity energy stones.

Xiayu let out a long sigh.

These were already treasured possessions of Uncle Zhou, and now with the addition of energy stones, it made them even more untouchable.

Uncle Zhou approached, gazing at the felt creations on the shelf, musing, “How time flies.”

Thinking of the panther fur she kept in her dimensional knot, Xiayu asked with a hint of envy, “Uncle Zhou, will His Highness have another shedding season?”

Uncle Zhou paused, amused that Xiayu wasn't thinking of obtaining one from this collection but rather of collecting more from Lu Yinghuai in the future. He chuckled, "The growth of companion beasts differs from regular wild beasts. They shed uncontrollably during times of emotional turmoil, like extreme excitement, happiness, or sadness."

"Most of these," he continued, "were collected when the young master was a child."

As Lu Yinghuai grew older, he became increasingly distant from his companion panther. The panther, in turn, grew aloof. Even Uncle Zhou found it difficult to approach. The once affectionate young panther now preferred the garden or hunting grounds, remaining elusive.

A blend of affection and nostalgia filled Uncle Zhou's eyes. Seemingly in high spirits, he patted Xiayu's shoulder, directing her attention to another side.

Xiayu turned her gaze deeper into the room, her pupils dilating in shock.

Uncle Zhou, it turned out, possessed an entire cabinet of white tiger felt figures!

"Is this... from my sister's shedding season?" Xiayu asked incredulously.

Uncle Zhou nodded, his once sharp hawk-like eyes now softened with age and laughter, “The young mistress, during her early days as the marshal, experienced significant stress, resulting in substantial shedding. We'd collect quite a bit daily.”

Xiayu began to ponder whether she should induce some stress in La Tiao, perhaps through lessons...

Not necessarily for the fur, but, as the crown prince, he ought to attend classes, right?

It's not ideal for him to cling to his mother daily.

As Xiayu secretly contemplated the potential of orange-black tiger felt figures, her face lit up with anticipation.

Observing her, Uncle Zhou smiled, “Do you have any commitments later, Xiayu?”

“Huh? No... Mech classes aren’t until tomorrow. Major General Wei has been quite busy, so other courses might be delayed.” Xiayu had quite a bit of free time lately.

"How about we craft some felt figures together?" Uncle Zhou proposed, producing a small pile of felting materials from his dimensional pocket.

Xiayu's response was enthusiastic and resounding, "Yes, let's!"

A tentacle busied itself near the flower shelf, channeling spiritual energy into the pots and simultaneously aerating the soil for the catnip sprouts.

The elder and the younger settled on the couch, each holding felting tools. Before them were two boxes filled with fluffy fur, evidently from the felt panthers.

With a look of concentration, Xiayu followed Uncle Zhou's felting method, poking carefully.

Uncle Zhou deliberately slowed his pace, inquiring softly as they worked, "What did you think of the civet from yesterday?"

Xiayu paused to think, then answered, "The civet itself was fine, just a bit troublesome."

After a brief silence, she added, "Uncle Zhou, I don't like politics."

Uncle Zhou chuckled, "Neither do I."

But Xiayu didn't share his amusement. Halting her actions, she gazed at the tuft of black fur in her hand and murmured, "Yet, it's something I ought to do."

Uncle Zhou glanced at Xiayu, a glint of understanding in his eyes. He continued crafting and said casually, "The young master used to despise lessons the most. However, over time, he realized he'd rather take action than engage in social maneuvering."

"And then?" Xiayu, always curious about Lu Yinghuai's past, hadn't expected to hear of his weaknesses. "How did His Highness overcome this?"

"He didn't," Uncle Zhou replied with a relaxed and cheerful demeanor. "Instead, he hired a deputy."

Xiayu, puzzled, echoed, "...Huh?"

The deputy to His Highness... Major General Wei Cheng?

Xiayu pondered momentarily, but it didn't take her long to piece things together.

Most of the external dealings from the Marshal's Mansion were indeed handled by Wei Cheng. Xiayu had assumed it was due to His Highness's ailment. But considering Uncle Zhou's narrative... could it be that His Highness simply preferred to avoid these interactions, delegating these tasks to Major General Wei instead?

Holding the black fur ball in her hand, Xiayu lost herself in thought.

While Xiayu's fur was still in its fluffy stage, the piece in Uncle Zhou's hand was beginning to take shape. He remarked casually, "The situation with the Fan family is both complex and simple. Fan Yu is keen on preserving his lineage amidst the impending changes. He's clear about which side to choose, but is currently wavering due to emotional ties."

"He's a clever man. While some in the Fan family might have aged with a narrowing perspective, they still understand the zeitgeist."

Uncle Zhou began crafting a black tail. His movements were both skillful and nimble.

"If one cannot escape the family, then one must become the most influential voice within it."

Xiayu gently tightened her fingers, clutching the black fur ball in her palm for a moment before releasing it. She then resumed her felting with her other hand, diligently crafting her own panther accessory.

It suddenly dawned on Xiayu. After the Highness's long slumber, the ideal teacher for courses on noble circles and vested interests had always been right here in this mansion.

"What I offer him isn't just the tangible benefits before us," Xiayu murmured after pondering for a moment. "Neither the current emperor nor the future crowned prince, by emotion, reason, or interest, would rashly harm those close to me."

"My very existence is the greatest reciprocation of benefits I can provide him."

Only if Xiayu thrives and holds a distinguished status, can Fan Yunew and the Fan family secure the future they desire.

This forms the most stable community of mutual interests.

Uncle Zhou set down his needle, refilling Xiayu's glass with water, and smiled, "Well said."

"Two days ago, he requested all his accumulated family leave at once to return to the Imperial Star."

Given Fan Yunew and Cheng Zhiyear's unique health conditions, they should not have left the Lanxing Base. Yet this time, Fan Yunew, through Wei Cheng, submitted the highest level of request, which was approved by the emperor, allowing a month-long stay in the Imperial Capital.

Xiayu's lips curled into a mischievous smile, a certain thought crossing her mind.

Uncle Zhou eyed her curiously.

Unable to contain her amusement, Xiayu chuckled, "I recalled my teacher's words, that Colonel Fan would certainly be very useful."

This thought immediately led her to the Highness's universally capable deputy, Major General Wei.

After this brief interlude, the elder and the younger delved sincerely into the felting process, one mentoring and the other learning.

It wasn't until the mini black panther took shape that Xiayu, using tweezers, cautiously inserted an energy stone where the panther's eyes should be. Seeing that the stone remained intact, she sighed in relief.

But as she admired her creation, Xiayu pinched the felt panther's belly and started rummaging through her dimensional pocket.

Uncle Zhou, who had been momentarily called away, returned to find an array of gemstones scattered around Xiayu. After a glance, he inquired, "Xiayu, are you searching for gemstones of a different color?"

Caught off guard, a faint blush appeared on Xiayu's ears, yet she admitted softly, "... I was hoping for a deep purple one."

However, most gemstones in her dimensional pocket didn't quite match her vision.

Uncle Zhou's eyes twinkled with amusement. After pondering for a moment, he said, "I don't have many gemstones on hand, but I do know a place that certainly does."

Xia You: "?"

Uncle Zhou approached Xia You, leaned in, and whispered something into her ear.

Xia You: "!!"

"Really?!" Xia You looked at Uncle Zhou with wide, disbelieving eyes, her features, which had always been distinct, now appeared even more endearing. "Is the prince really... truly going to...?"

"Indeed," Uncle Zhou replied, blinking softly. "Just as the gentleman didn't know I was aware of the secret wine cellar he dug underground."

Xia You chuckled heartily, her eyes shining like stars as she gazed at the plush toy in her hand, "Once the prince awakens, I must ask him!"

The prince had promised to show her the wine cellar earlier. Perhaps adding one more room to the collection wouldn't hurt?

*

The panther waited outside for over an hour before Xia You emerged. Upon seeing her, he instinctively began to follow, only for Xia You to suddenly sit on the stairs.

The panther immediately halted, turning to look at her.

Xia You wrapped her arms around the large panther, allowing her upper body to drape over him, fully trusting him with her weight.

The ever-stable and reliable panther tensed its muscles to support her, then let out a soft growl, as if inquiring what was amiss.

Xia You giggled and pulled out a black plush toy from her pocket, proudly showing it to the panther.

The panther's pupils contracted momentarily, and its limbs instinctively moved backward.

Xia You: "Hahahaha!"

"Oh, come on, don't be shy! Look how cute it is!" Xia You, hugging the panther, enthusiastically showcased the plush toy right in front of him.

The panther halted its retreat, stared intently at Xia You, then raised a paw to press down on the hand that held the plush toy.

—Don't look at this, look at me.

Xia You: "!!"

Xia You's heart skipped a beat from the panther's endearing gesture. She lunged forward, wrapping her arms around the panther and nuzzling its soft, triangular ears with her nose.

The black panther's ears twitched repeatedly as if they'd been tickled.

Xia You always felt a tad awkward around Lu Yinghuai, but when it came to Yuan Yuan, she had no idea what shyness even meant.

He lowered his voice and chuckled, "Anything associated with Yuan Yuan is the cutest! Uncle Zhou had plenty of plush toys of other characters earlier, but to me, ours looks the best..."

As Xia You spoke, her warm breath tickled the inside of the panther's ears, causing the soft fur within to flutter, and the black ears to tremble uncontrollably.

The sharp claws, which had been retracted, uncontrollably extended, scraping the floor with a grating sound.

Xia You playfully tugged and massaged the panther's ears, babbling, "Actually, I wanted one eye to be gold and the other deep purple. That version of Yuan Yuan would be irresistibly charming..."

"I even drew it once before, but back then I didn't really understand all of this..."

"Sigh, if I can't finish the Yuan Yuan plushie, I won't be able to sleep tonight... I should ask Uncle Zhou to help me look for more materials later."

The panther steadily supported Xia You's body, its tail twitching so fast it almost seemed to blur.

Out of Xia You's sight, the golden pupils of the beast momentarily revealed threads of subtle purple, reflecting a depth of thought typically seen in humans.

*

After lunch, Wei Cheng sought Xia You, and the two retreated to the small lounge.

The panther listened for a while, seemingly finding the conversation boring, and for the first time, took the initiative to leave Xia You's side, heading outside.

Xia You was surprised, but she knew Yuan Yuan typically wouldn't stray too far. If any of the three large cats left the marshal's mansion's vicinity, the computer system would send out an alert. Thus, Xia You didn't dwell on it and continued her conversation with Wei Cheng.

Yuan Yuan, now alone, closed the door of the lounge behind him, stood in the corridor for a moment, then turned and went upstairs.

With familiar ease, he arrived outside Xia You's room but paused, deciding against entering. Instead, he continued a few steps further, stopping before Lu Yinghuai's door.

Both Xia You and Lu Yinghuai's rooms were private sanctuaries, access to which required special permissions. The rooms were self-cleaning, meaning even Uncle Zhou didn't have direct access to Lu Yinghuai's room.

The panther circled in front of the door for a bit, then raised a paw, placing it against the doorknob.

"Authentication successful."

As the system's voice rang out, the door to Lu Yinghuai's room clicked open.

The panther's pupils gradually constricted as it gracefully pushed the door open with its paw and then securely shut it with a kick of its hind leg.

Lu Yinghuai's room layout and decor were almost identical to Xia You's, except for the plush carpets and soft bedding that Xia You favored.

The panther circumvented the bed draped with silky black sheets, heading directly towards the walk-in wardrobe.

It opened the wardrobe with a swipe of its paw, the massive form of the panther moving past rows of meticulously arranged uniforms and ceremonial dresses, observing the organized badges and medals before finally halting in front of a glass cabinet.

The panther's deep purple eyes reflected off the cabinet's glazed surface.

In a moment of lucidity, Lu Yinghuai felt a brief daze and turned his gaze to the dressing mirror in the wardrobe.

Astonishingly, he had awakened once again within his bonded beast.

A torrent of complex emotions surged through those deep purple eyes.

Clearly, Xia You had granted him another miracle.

A miracle he had never dared to hope for.

Yet, it wasn't long before Lu Yinghuai felt his consciousness waning, realizing that this awakening would be brief.

He should have immediately informed Xia You, informed Meng Wenxuan, or even Uncle Zhou. However, after some thought, Lu Yinghuai tilted his feline head with a playful glint in his eye, refrained from triggering the wardrobe's alarm system, and instead opened a secret door to his private collection.

Accompanied by the voice prompt, "Password Correct," the black panther delved into the slowly rising secret passage.

Minutes later, the golden-eyed panther emerged, holding a dark red velvet pouch in its mouth, its stride light and purposeful.

The second it departed, the secret door behind it sealed, reverting to its initial glass cabinet appearance.

……

After seeing off Wei Cheng, who had come to discuss a collaboration with the hibernation center, Xia You rubbed her throbbing head and groaned while sprawling out on the sofa.

What a hassle.

Ideally, Xia You would re-enter other protected areas to gradually approach the incredibly insular bonded beasts.

However, due to Lu Yinghuai's current slumber and the presence of the White Tiger and Latio, both the hibernation center and the Emperor made it clear they preferred Xia You to focus on the three large cats in the Marshal's Mansion.

Counting the Snow Leopard, Xia You had nearly consumed all the available gray matter. Though there's plenty left inside the White Tiger, Xia You's psychic tendrils clearly show signs of exhaustion, seemingly overburdened due to insufficient psychic levels.

While a significant portion of stubborn gray matter remains in the Snow Leopard's brain, Xia You tried to penetrate Cheng Zhinian's core psyche but found no trace of this gray substance within Cheng's mental realm.

This gray matter, which seems to materialize symptoms, appears only detectable by Xia You when in the bonded beast's state.

Xia You now needs more absorbable gray matter to elevate her psychic level, to continue the treatment of the house cats. Yet, both the Hibernation Center and the Emperor would rather she prioritizes the currently bonded creatures, achieving success before venturing into the protected zones.

Xia You contemplated entering the protected zones with the large cats, but Wei Cheng dissuaded her even before she could propose.

Given the Emperor's daily urgency to arrive from the Capital Star, he would likely never consent to Xia You once again bringing two tigers into the protected zone.

Additionally, Lu Yinghuai's condition remains erratic. Xia You is genuinely concerned; should she leave and Lu's condition abruptly deteriorates, she may be the only one capable of a specific remedy.

Xia You buried her face into the sofa pillow. Seizing the moment of solitude in the small living room, she lamented without restraint.

Suddenly, a familiar plush touch graced her fingers. Lifting her face from the pillow, she found the black panther, clutching a velvet bag in its mouth, gazing at her with concern.

Xia You hastily got up, ruffling her hair.

The panther pushed the pouch it held in its mouth into Xia You's hands.

Xia You: "??"

What's this?

Xia You pinched it, feeling something granular inside.

It felt a bit sharp.

Not paying it much mind, she quickly loosened the drawstring of the pouch and emptied its contents onto her palm.

A cascade of...

To Xia You's mounting astonishment, a small bag's worth of gem shards spilled from the velvet pouch, sliding through the gaps of her fingers and pooling on her lap.

Xia You remained frozen for several seconds, then slowly turned her gaze towards the panther, oblivious to the dazzling array of gems on her, she fixated on its golden pupils, holding its head.

"Your Highness?"

The panther's gold eyes remained indifferent and straightforward, bearing the cool clarity typical of beasts.

Xia You took several deep breaths to compose herself. She crouched beside the sofa, picking up the gems that had scattered earlier.

Then, noticing the predominant shades of gold and purple, her eyes narrowed.

Was it mere coincidence?

Or was it...

*

Marshal Mansion: Underground Resting Chamber.

Having passed numerous security checks, Xia You entered the resting chamber. She walked to the central sleep pod and gently touched its surface.

The once-clear circular cover was obscured by thick mist, hiding its contents. She looked closely for a long time but couldn’t spot even a strand of Lu Yinghuai’s hair or a corner of his clothing.

The sleep pod could detect the mental activity of its occupant in real-time. Once the person inside reached a certain level of consciousness, it would shut off the sedative gas and open the cover.

An adjacent panel would display the mental activity graph of the person inside.

Xia You specifically checked Lu Yinghuai's mental activity for today.

Everything was stable, showing no unusual signs in the sleep data.

Xia You's fingers lingered on the clear pod cover for a while, and she let out a sigh of mild disappointment.

Leaning against Lu Yinghuai's sleep pod, Xia You began recounting recent events, mentioning snow leopards, lynxes...

So much had happened, and so many thoughts she could only listen to, not share. The only person who unconditionally stood behind and protected her was now asleep here.

Many people kept an eye on the Marshal Mansion, but the only place without surveillance was here.

—Only Xia You had visitation rights to this resting chamber.

—Where Lu Yinghuai was in deep slumber.

Xia You spoke at length, standing quietly beside the medical pod. After a while, she looked down and took out a plush toy of a black panther, one eye gold and the other purple, placing it carefully atop the clear pod cover.

Making sure the plush toy faced Lu Yinghuai's direction, Xia You chuckled at her own childish gesture.

"Goodnight, Your Highness."

After Xia You left, a small tentacle awakened from the dense white mist inside the pod. It tested and found that it could actually pass through the transparent cover. Elated, it eagerly tried to pull in its favorite black panther plush toy.

But it couldn't pull it inside.

After struggling for a while, the little tentacle became frustrated. Releasing the toy, it turned around and began tapping on Lu Yinghuai's chest in annoyance.

Yet Lu Yinghuai remained deeply asleep, offering no response. He didn't comfort the tentacle with a gentle squeeze and a smile as he used to.

The little tentacle lay still on Lu Yinghuai's chest for a moment before poking out of the pod to realign the plush toy it had disturbed. It then returned, burrowing into Lu Yinghuai's clothes to be close to his warm skin and drifted off to sleep.

The white mist continued to envelop the inside of the pod, and the monitor displayed steady data.

However, a slight frown appeared on Lu Yinghuai’s forehead, as if he was struggling, but he soon fell back into tranquil slumber.

Meanwhile, the cute little tentacle, once plump and round, seemed to have slimmed down a bit.