Chapter 60 The Poisonous Cat

Chapter 60: The Poisonous Cat

Black Panther clearly sensed the hostility around it. It arched its back, its fur standing on end, and let out a fierce hiss from its throat.

Jiang Shuning quickly stroked the fur on its back, trying to soothe its agitation.

Princess Ronghua was already frightened to tears, and no amount of gentle coaxing from the lady-in-waiting beside her could calm her down.

"Fifth Prince, please take Princess Ronghua away from here!" the lady-in-waiting pleaded with Xiao Huaijin for help.

Xiao Huaijin instinctively glanced at Jiang Shuning, but Princess Ronghua's piercing cries made it impossible for him to ignore the situation.

He had no choice but to step forward, pick up the trembling Princess Ronghua, and quickly leave to prevent her from seeing the black cat she feared.

Consort Rong hurried over. At first glance, she saw the black cat in Jiang Shuning's arms and also paled, exclaiming, "Miss Jiang, put that cat down quickly! Be careful, it might hurt you!"

"Your Highness, I know this cat. It won't hurt anyone! If it's to avoid frightening Her Highness the Princess, I'll take it away immediately!" Jiang Shuning said urgently.

"Miss Jiang, don't you know that all cats in the palace are poisonous?" Consort Rong's expression suddenly turned fierce as she sharply reprimanded the palace servants, "What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and kill that beast!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Several eunuchs, wielding wooden sticks they had produced from somewhere, menacingly approached Jiang Shuning, saying, "Miss Jiang, please let go of that cat! We really don't want to hurt you by mistake!"

Jiang Shuning stepped back one step at a time, fear spreading through her.

What were they saying?

How could cats be poisonous?

Behind her was a towering courtyard wall; she was cornered.

She had a sleeve crossbow concealed in her sleeve, but if she used it, she could never explain it away.

The palace was strict; how could a minister's daughter bring weapons inside?

Yet she couldn't bear to watch Black Panther be harmed either.

Just as she was trapped between a rock and a hard place, an announcement suddenly came from outside the hall: "The Fourth Prince requests an audience!"

Consort Rong was slightly surprised. "Why is he here?"

Before the words had left her mouth, Xiao Lingchuan, clad in a deep blue brocade robe, strode in briskly.

An icy chill emanated from his entire being, causing people to recoil. The palace servants dared not step forward to stop him.

Jiang Shuning could feel the black cat in her arms calm down the moment it saw him.

It knew its protector had arrived.

The tense, sword-drawn atmosphere dissipated with Xiao Lingchuan's arrival.

His gaze fell upon Jiang Shuning, trapped against the courtyard wall, holding the black cat.

She was slender and looked frail, her face pale, yet she pressed her lips together tightly, glaring sharply at the approaching eunuchs. Like a small beast defending its territory, she was stubborn and fearless, involuntarily stirring in him the impulse to protect her.

"Fourth Prince, what brings you to Fulu Palace?" Consort Rong's voice pulled Xiao Lingchuan's attention back.

Xiao Lingchuan bowed to her. "Your son pays his respects to Consort Rong. I have come to Fulu Palace to retrieve my beloved pet."

"Beloved pet?" Consort Rong's gaze fell upon the black cat in Jiang Shuning's arms, and her expression changed drastically. "This is your cat? How dare you keep a cat in the palace?! Have you forgotten how many palace servants were bitten to death by those poisonous cats back then?!"

"Please calm your anger, Consort Rong. Please take a closer look. This is a cat native to Daye, not one from Nanyue." Xiao Lingchuan's peerlessly handsome face remained unperturbed.

He walked slowly to Jiang Shuning's side, took the black cat from her arms, and held it up for Consort Rong to see, indicating she should look at the cat's tail.

"Look, Your Highness. Its tail is long and slender, with thick fur. It is a Daye cat and also my lifesaver. The Emperor granted permission long ago for me to keep it by my side."

Hearing this, Consort Rong's tense expression finally eased somewhat, though she still seemed somewhat displeased.

"Since it's your cat, then remove it at once!"

"Yes, Consort Rong!" Xiao Lingchuan placed the black cat on his shoulder and turned to look at the flustered Jiang Shuning beside him. "Aren't you coming?"

Only then did Jiang Shuning snap back to reality, looking somewhat flustered at Consort Rong. "Your Highness, this subject just now..."

"Enough, I do not blame you." Consort Rong seemed somewhat weary. "Rong Hua was frightened today and likely cannot continue learning archery. You may return."

"Yes, Your Highness." Jiang Shuning bowed to Consort Rong, a wave of guilt washing over her.

Although today's incident was not her fault, it had ultimately frightened Princess Ronghua.

She looked at Xiao Lingchuan, her gaze resentful.

She hadn't known Princess Ronghua was afraid of cats, but someone certainly did!

Jiang Shuning followed behind Xiao Lingchuan as they walked out of Fulu Palace.

Consort Rong watched the departing figures of the two, her expression darkened, becoming inscrutable.

Xiao Lingchuan's cat was so close to Jiang Shuning, indicating their private interactions were quite frequent.

It seemed her Jin'er likely didn't stand much chance.

Just then, Xiao Huaijin hurried over, looking slightly anxious.

"Mother, Rong Hua drank the calming draught prescribed by the imperial physician and has already fallen asleep." He instinctively glanced toward the rear garden. "Where is Miss Jiang?"

"She has already left," Consort Rong said calmly.

"Left?" Xiao Huaijin made to chase after her but was stopped by Consort Rong.

"No need to go after her. She left together with the Fourth Prince." Consort Rong's tone carried a hint of displeasure. "That black cat belongs to the Fourth Prince."

Hearing this, Xiao Huaijin's eyes suddenly dimmed.

The scene of the black cat leaping into Jiang Shuning's arms was still vivid in his mind.

He hadn't expected the two of them to be so familiar that even Xiao Lingchuan's pet showed her such affection.

Seeing her son like this, Consort Rong felt sorry for him and comforted him, "She's just the legitimate daughter of a chancellor's household. There are plenty of gentle, virtuous women skilled in the culinary arts in the world. Mother will find another one for you."

"What are you saying, Mother?" Xiao Huaijin smiled faintly, quickly regaining his usual gentle demeanor. "Miss Jiang has a gentle temperament. It's only natural for her to like small animals. If Jinghe Palace can keep pets, then Fulu Palace naturally can too."

Seeing him so persistent, Consort Rong sighed helplessly. "Mother is not opposed to you liking Miss Jiang. I'm just worried you might reach for what you cannot have, only to bring yourself heartache."

"How can one know the outcome without trying? Mother, rest assured. Your son has confidence in himself." Xiao Huaijin's tone was firm. Jiang Shuning had personally said she was fond of him. He didn't believe he would lose to Xiao Lingchuan!

"Aren't you going to explain yourself, Your Highness?"

Seeing Xiao Lingchuan walking straight toward Jinghe Palace with the black cat in his arms, Jiang Shuning couldn't help but ask.

Xiao Lingchuan paused, turned, and pinned her with his deep gaze. "What does Lady Jiang wish to hear?"

Jiang Shuning squirmed under his stare and averted her eyes. "There is much I wish to know. For instance, why did the black panther suddenly appear in Fulu Palace?"

Xiao Lingchuan looked at her, his gaze meaningful. "Then I would also like to ask Lady Jiang, why were you in Fulu Palace?"