"Are maidens that cute?" Jiang Liu said with a frown on his face."Compare to them, isn"t this brother more precious? What thing do they have that I don"t?!" Jiang Liu whined but stopped immediately after looking at his chest.
"Alright, maybe they do have something that I don"t... But still! How could Big Sister accompany them while she forgets about me?! Mao"er! Answer me!"
Jiang Liu shooked the big chubby black cat he stolen from his second brother"s courtyard.
"Meow," Mao"er answered him just as he wanted.
"Mao"er! This prince is so lonely! Those consorts are so cunning as ever!" Jiang Liu hugged the cat and rubbed his cheeks on its fluffy fur.
The empress rarely goes out of the palace. He only heard she tried "escaping" one time but after getting caught, didn"t repeat the same act anymore.
Thus, having this rare chance, excitedly plan for their adventure for a whole week. Of course, he did his own preparation in his own way.
But who would have thought that Consort Xie was able to beat him into it! He went to Wei Yi Yi"s courtyard as early as he could but Consort Xie was already there from who knows when! She calmly sips tea and eats snacks while waiting without budging even a little bit!
Jiang Liu, with smoke coming from his mouth, glare with intensity at Xie Yu from the back of the tree he was hiding into.
He could only curse under his breath when the other consorts pop out one by one.
"Bunch of poisonous snakes! Get away from my sister!"
When Wei Yi Yi showed up, Jiang Liu hoped that she would at least ask for his whereabouts. But she did not. And she just proceeds to have a meal with them.
"What about your cute brother?!"
Jiang Liu was almost crying as he runs his nails on the trunk of the tree. The poor tree who was just a bystander all along become a victim.
In the end, the sixth prince could only retreat and went to find comfort with Mao"er. Not only he dare not meet with the emperor"s other consorts, he practically didn"t like any of them from the start.
Su Mei Fan might be a cute hamster but he bet this small furry pet have hidden fangs!
Jiang Liu sniffed and stroked Mao"er. He inhaled and sigh a relief within its embrace.
"Animals are better than humans," he thought to himself.
But Mao"er had enough of it and thought the same, "Humans are no better!"
The annoyed cat drew its mouth back in a snarl and show its teeth. With seething anger, Mao"er took out its well-polished claws.
Just like that, it went and scratch a prince!
"Waah!" Jiang Liu let go of Mao"er and dodge its claws. "Princess! I know my wrongs!"
After missing the target, Mao"er elegantly landed on the ground and as if giving Jiang Liu a snort, turn her head away.
"Dear Mao"er, are you mad?" Jiang Liu tried to touch her again but she hissed at him and her furs stood at its end.
"Please don"t get mad anymore," Jiang Liu coaxed the cat as if she is the king. Which indeed, she is.
Jiang Liu took out his snack pouch and opened it. With a fawning look, he offered them in both hands and said, "Look, this small one will offer you everything I have."
A high born prince almost kowtow to a cat! And this is the reason why he can"t keep pets! He"ll end up giving up the last bit of dignity he has to the animals.
A small servant boy came running out from the Luminous Courtyard. He swept his gaze around and saw the sixth prince squatting by the wall and kneeling next to a cat. The prince was very polite as he tested the personal s.p.a.ce of the cat. He dare not move closer and remained in a comfortable distance according to the mood of the furry fellow.
"Ummm... Your Highness?" The servant wasn"t sure anymore.
Jiang Liu jerked his head to the direction of the sound and the servant almost dropped to the ground in fright.
"Is the empress going out by now?" Jiang Liu asked in one breath.
"Y-yes, she is, your highness," the servant replied with shaking voice.
"Just about the right time!"
All this while, Jiang Liu have been laying in wait outside the Luminous Courtyard. He was ready to ambush Wei Yi Yi at any given time.
The truth is, he wanted to a.s.sign a shadow guard near the empress so he won"t need to act so shameless. But then, he would be easily caught by the emperor and the others. Unlike them, he doesn"t have that many skillful servants.
Jiang Liu stood up and entered the Luminous Courtyard. By this time, Mao"er is no longer that grumpy and jumped to his shoulder. The cat brushed off her tail on Jiang Liu"s face a few times in a very rude manner. But the prince was not mad, instead, he worried Mao"er might fall and plan to carry her into his arms instead.
The cat, as Wei Yi Yi would claim as a btch, obviously wanted to be the one in rule and thus, slapped the prince"s hand away.
After his goodwill was rejected quite fiercely, Jiang Liu only rubbed his hand and proceed to navigate inside the courtyard without commenting.
He came near the eastern courtyard exactly when Wei Yi Yi was hurriedly walking away.
"Brother! What nice timing you have!" Wei Yi Yi praised him intimately, something she only does when she have plans that could spell both of their doom.