Mei Zhuyu didn’t notice her intentional behavior. Fearing the small pouch might be accidentally scratched off by the cat again, he tied it securely to his waist. He then stood up and walked to the writing desk, distancing himself from Wu Zhen.
Wu Zhen, of course, wouldn’t give up easily and followed him to the desk. Mei Zhuyu sat down properly at the writing desk and began grinding ink, preparing to write something. Seeing the cat follow him, he recalled the tabby cat that had previously dipped its paw in ink. Although unsure if it was the same cat, he moved the inkstone to the other side, away from the feline.
Noticing that he didn’t intend to chase her away, Wu Zhen jumped onto the desk. Her eyes fixated on the Immortal Bone pouch at Mei Zhuyu’s somewhat slender waist. After a moment, she suddenly realized what he was writing.
He was writing a birth date card, the kind with his birth date and time used for engagement inquiries. Wu Zhen’s emotions became complex as she glanced at the young lord’s waist and then at his face.
It seemed like only yesterday she had received news from her father and elder sister. How was it that today the young lord had already started writing such things? Wasn’t marriage supposed to be a slow process? Wu Zhen recalled her past experiences, confirming that it had never been this quick before. Perhaps her father and sister felt that time was of the essence and decided to settle the matter swiftly.
However, she hadn’t made up her mind yet. This young lord was four years younger than her and all alone in the world. As the mighty Cat Master, she couldn’t force him to marry her just because of her family’s power and her sister’s position as Empress.
Wu Zhen was well aware of the rumors about her in the city – wild and unrestrained, indiscriminate in her affairs, ignorant of etiquette, and uneducated. There wasn’t a single kind word. No suitable young lord of matching status was willing to marry her; most were too afraid. Judging by Mei Zhuyu’s behavior, it was clear they were not of the same ilk. He probably looked down on someone like her and was undoubtedly unwilling to marry her.
This situation had lost its appeal.
Wu Zhen had always enjoyed her peace and freedom, but for some reason, her father and sister were constantly anxious about this matter. Occasionally, she thought about simply marrying someone and being done with it. After all, most daughters would worry about being mistreated, but in her case, she would be the one doing the bullying. If she became unhappy, she could always kick her partner out and return to Duke Yu’s mansion.
Her lack of interest in marriage had always been due to her habitual laziness and disinterest in dealing with strangers. The biggest hesitation was that after getting married, it would be difficult to sneak out at night without her bedmate noticing.
It was all too troublesome.
Wu Zhen suddenly felt a headache coming on. Realizing she couldn’t obtain the Immortal Bone now and that staying here was futile, she jumped down from the desk, preparing to leave for the time being.
She silently exited through the window, landing on a stone by the outer water pool. To her surprise, she discovered several redfish in the pool, previously hidden beneath lotus leaves and water plants. Because of these redfish, the verdant courtyard suddenly seemed to come alive.
She couldn’t help but glance back at Mei Zhuyu inside the room. He was writing the birth date card with a solemn expression. She then turned back and leaped over the wall, running away.
Wu Zhen maintained her cat form in Pingkang Ward. Fortunately, Changle Ward wasn’t far from Pingkang Ward, and with her speed, she arrived shortly. Pingkang Ward housed many brothels, though it was quite quiet during the day. Wu Zhen’s destination, Huzhu, was located in the east of Pingkang Ward – a small but exquisitely decorated and lavish residence.
The Cat Master had two deputies under her command: one was a carefree and unrestrained mystic, while the other was Huzhu, a rising star. Huzhu was also a celebrity in Chang’an, the most famous courtesan in Pingkang Ward. Talented and beautiful, countless scholars and literati wrote poems for her. Noblemen’s sons often spent fortunes just to see her face or share a meal with her.
It was only fitting that such a captivating woman as Huzhu was a fox spirit. Ancient folklore often claimed that the most beautiful monsters were fox spirits. Most of the fox spirits Wu Zhen had encountered over the years were indeed attractive and naturally flirtatious, with Huzhu being a prime example. As long as someone caught her eye, she was always generous in sharing a night of passion.
Huzhu was still catching up on sleep when Wu Zhen jumped through her window and onto the bed. Wrapped in the bedding was a… sleek-furred red fox. Wu Zhen jumped directly onto her, waking her with her paws. Huzhu slowly awoke, blinking as she transformed into a stunningly beautiful woman.
She sat up languidly, letting the brocade quilt fall, revealing snow-white skin marked with rosy traces. Gazing at the cat on the quilt with her long, watery eyes, she complained in a hoarse voice, “Little ancestor, your servant has just lain down!”
Wu Zhen paid no attention to her complaint. “Find me some clothes. I need to talk to you about something.”
Huzhu leaned back against several soft pillows, unconcerned about exposing her ample bosom. She smiled and picked up the cat, “Things have been quite peaceful lately. What’s the matter?”
Wu Zhen raised her paw, extending her sharp, glistening claws from their pads. Huzhu’s body stiffened as she covered her chest and quickly got out of bed, saying, “Alright, alright, right away, little ancestor. Why are you so impatient? You frighten me.”
Huzhu didn’t have any men’s clothing, only various beautiful dresses. Wu Zhen disliked wearing dresses as they weren’t suitable for horseback riding, and she hadn’t worn one in a while. However, she didn’t complain further and simply put on the dress. Then, she spoke seriously to the yawning Huzhu, “Snake Master told me they’ve found traces of the Immortal Corpse in Chang’an. We don’t know how many Immortal Bones it has scattered. We need to find them as quickly as possible.”
Huzhu sighed and folded her arms, “Alright, I understand. I’ll inquire about anyone who’s been particularly unlucky recently.”
People carrying Immortal Bones would experience extreme misfortune. Most would think it was just a streak of bad luck, unaware that it was caused by the Immortal Bone attracting malevolent entities. Huzhu’s extensive network made her the most suitable person to investigate these matters.
Having discussed the important issue, Huzhu looked her over and asked, “What happened today? Why are you in this state, without even your clothes?”
Wu Zhen replied, “My clothes are still under the Mei family’s eldest son’s bed.”
Huzhu’s eyes lit up, “Oh? Is this the young lord you mentioned last night? The one who’s supposed to marry you?”
Wu Zhen waved her hand dismissively, “Let’s not talk about that.”
Huzhu was very curious but knew she couldn’t get more information given Wu Zhen’s attitude. She could only secretly feel disappointed. Out loud, she asked, “We’ll need to scout around Chang’an tonight, right?”
Wu Zhen replied, “You and the mystic can go. I need to visit the Mei family’s eldest son. He has an Immortal Bone, and I need to get my hands on it.”
That young lord was carrying an Immortal Bone, and she had left another one under his bed. If left unattended, he might die in that room tonight.
Huzhu began, “So, about the Mei family’s eldest son…”
Wu Zhen gave her a look, and Huzhu reluctantly closed her mouth.
“Alright, pay close attention and find the other Immortal Bones as quickly as possible. I’m leaving now.” Before going to the Mei family’s eldest son, she needed to return home first to have dinner with her father.
Wu Zhen once again climbed out of the second-floor window. Huzhu heard a curse from outside; apparently, the Cat Master, unaccustomed to wearing dresses, had caught her skirt on a tree branch and nearly fallen.
Returning to Duke Yu’s mansion, Wu Zhen was surprised to see her father sitting in front of the hall with a beaming smile.
“Why are you smiling so happily? Has something good happened?” she asked.
Duke Yu stroked his beard and beckoned to her, “Come, let me show you something.”
Wu Zhen followed her mysteriously acting father to the back, where she saw a large goose in a wooden cage. Duke Yu pointed at the goose and said, “Today, for the betrothal gifts, the matchmaker brought this goose. It was personally hunted by the Mei family’s eldest son. I heard he specifically took leave to go outside the city to find a goose, just to come and propose marriage. Such sincerity is truly rare! Since he’s so earnest, he’ll surely treat you well in your life together.”
Wu Zhen responded, “… Isn’t this moving a bit too fast, Father?”
Duke Yu humphed, “If we don’t move quickly, it might fall through again.”
Seeing her old father’s delighted and gratified expression, Wu Zhen’s heart softened. She didn’t want to keep disappointing him, and after all, getting married was just a small matter. Perhaps she should go along with his wishes this time to stop him from worrying. However, there was one question she had to clarify.
Wu Zhen asked her father half-jokingly, “Is the Mei family’s eldest son truly willing to marry me, or is he being forced due to pressure from you, Her Majesty the Empress, and Consort Mei?”
Duke Yu replied, “Haven’t I told you? This marriage was first proposed by the Mei family’s eldest son to Consort Mei.”
“He proposed it himself?” Wu Zhen was genuinely surprised. Even as she finished dinner and snuck out to the Mei family’s eldest son’s residence, she was still trying to recall if she had ever met Mei Zhuyu before.
After pondering for a while without remembering anything, Wu Zhen temporarily set the matter aside. She sat on the wall, concealing herself behind a large tree, watching the window lit by lamplight. She planned to wait until Mei Zhuyu fell asleep, then sneak in quietly to retrieve the two Immortal Bones.
However, as the night deepened, the lamp remained lit. For some reason, Mei Zhuyu hadn’t gone to sleep. Outside, the night watchman’s calls could be heard. Wu Zhen, crouching on the wall, felt her feet going numb.
She stood up to stretch on the wall. Suddenly, she sensed something and turned to look into the courtyard. A dark shadow had appeared, twisting and finally transforming into a pitiful-looking young woman.
The young woman raised her hand to coquettishly arrange her hair, then suddenly turned towards Wu Zhen with a smile. Her lips moved silently, forming a few words, before she stepped forward to knock on Mei Zhuyu’s door.
Wu Zhen could certainly tell that this young woman was Huzhu in disguise. The words she had mouthed were: “Your servant is here to help you.”
When someone knocks on the door late at night, and upon opening it, one finds a fragile and beautiful young woman claiming to be escaping from bad people and seeking shelter, most men, even if suspicious, would likely be moved by her beauty and vulnerability and be unwilling to turn her away.
But the Mei family’s eldest son, after frowning and listening to the young woman’s story, remained completely unmoved. He directly called for an old servant of the household, and together they escorted the pitiful young woman out the main gate. He then summoned the patrol guards from the street corner, stating clearly that this woman had trespassed into a private residence late at night with unclear intentions, and asked them to take her away and detain her according to the law.
The two patrolling soldiers recognized Mei Zhuyu. Previously, when there had been a murder case in the ward, it was this Mei doctor who had led people to solve it. Whether facing a horrifying corpse or witnessing an old woman’s heartbreaking grief over losing her beloved son, he had maintained this cold and indifferent demeanor throughout, solving the case efficiently without uttering a single unnecessary word, appearing utterly heartless to onlookers.
So, although they saw how fragile and pitiful the young woman looked, under Mei’s doctor’s gaze, they dared not say anything and obediently took her away.
Wu Zhen watched as Huzhu was led away by the soldiers, her expression bewildered. She thought to herself, “You’ve suffered for nothing,” as she slipped into Mei Zhuyu’s room, retrieving her clothes and the Immortal Bone she had left earlier. However, she couldn’t find the other one on the bed, assuming it was still on Mei Zhuyu’s person.
Mei Zhuyu returned too quickly. While Wu Zhen was still debating whether to leave or hide in the room to wait for an opportunity, the door was pushed open. Now Wu Zhen did not need to hesitate further; she quickly ducked under the bed.
She was very confident in her ability to conceal her presence without being discovered, planning to wait until the young lord fell asleep to take the Immortal Bone from his body.
However, she hadn’t anticipated that as soon as this Mei family’s eldest son approached the bed, he would coldly shout, “Who’s hiding here!” Then he swiftly reached out and grabbed her arm, dragging her out from under the bed.
With one hand restrained, Wu Zhen lay on her back thinking: This is bad, I’ve been caught off guard.