Chapter 363: Losing Favor
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After being glanced at by the cat, everyone fell silent like mutes.
The noisy hall immediately fell silent.
Everyone, including Xiao Shoufu, looked at the kitten squatting on the ground with a burning gaze, as if there was nothing more important than cats in this world.
One by one, they showed their loyalty to the cat. “Little Fox Slave, my house has a big courtyard. You can run and jump anywhere you want. ‘
“My yard is bigger than his. Not only is it bigger, but I also raise countless birds.”
“Birds are nothing. There are hundreds of carps in my lake. Every one of them is fat and tempting.”
The officials became more and more enthusiastic as they spoke. They wished they could pour their hearts out to the cat so that it would like them.
As they spoke, they became more and more agitated. Some bowed, some squatted, some knelt, and some pushed each other. They surrounded the cat in a circle, wishing they could worship it.
This scene stunned the Emperor, Eunuch He, and the other palace servants. Even the censor, kneeling on the ground, raised his head in shock.
Gu Yanfei touched her chin in satisfaction. She smiled and sighed. “It’s really beautiful.”
“They’d better play with the kitten. Don’t keep fighting. It’s too noisy.”
She turned to look at Chu Yi, who was standing beside her. She tilted her head and asked slyly, “Right?”
She smiled like a triumphant cat.
Chu Yi lowered his eyes and stared at her. A smile gently appeared on his lips, and a warm smile spread from the corners of his mouth to his eyes.
His gaze on her was even gentler than the spring breeze blowing between the flowers.
“Yes.” He nodded, his tone filled with joy and indulgence.
Gu Yanfei smiled even more happily. She pointed at Censor Lian, who was kneeling on the ground, and said, “His life is saved. After this matter is over, ask him to look for me.”
Since she had promised to treat his wife, she would naturally keep her promise. Chu Yi nodded again.
There was nothing else for her to do here. Gu Yanfei waved her hand casually. “Then I’ll go to Jingren Palace to take a look.”
She went forward and bowed to the Emperor to say goodbye. Then, she called out to the cat, ‘Qing Guang, let’s go.”
The cat that was surrounded by the crowd responded with a meow and jumped out of someone’s head. In the blink of an eye, it jumped back onto Gu Yanfei’s shoulder.
Its beautiful figure and agile movements attracted cheers from its fans. Some even applauded enthusiastically.
“Little Fox Slave is really good at fighting!’
“It’s simply as graceful as a swan and as majestic as a dragon.’
“Little Fox Slave, not only do I have a lake of fish, but I also have birds and flowers… You can come and play anytime!’
The officials threw out “bait” one after another, trying to seduce the cat.
However, no matter how tempting it was, it couldn’t make the cat turn around to look at them. Gu Yanfei held the cat on her shoulder and walked away.
Everyone in the hall followed the cat with burning eyes. They watched the cat leave in a daze.
When the cat walked away, Xiao Shoufu, w.a.n.g Kangyin, and the others in the hall couldn’t help but shiver.
The infatuation in their eyes dissipated, and they returned to normal.
There was a strange silence in the hall.
“Meow, meow…”
A soft meow came from outside again. Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat, and they couldn’t help but crane their necks to look.
In the sky, a group of sparrows spread their wings and flew past, dropping one or two bird feathers.
“Miwu!” The cat that was squatting on Gu Yanfei’s shoulder was instantly excited. It changed from squatting to standing, and its back drew an arch, eager to give it a try.
“Stop fooling around.” Gu Yanfei patted the cat’s head perfunctorily and pushed it into the hood of the cloak. The cat crawled in comfortably and curled up into a ball, rolling restlessly in the hat.
On the way to Jingren Palace, Eunuch He couldn’t help but turn to look at Gu Yanfei as he walked. From time to time, he would look at his right hand. Until now, he seemed to be able to feel the heat of the talisman paper burning.
Aiyo, Second Lady Gu was really amazing!
“Second Lady Gu, this way.”
Eunuch He smiled even more eagerly and respectfully. He led Gu Yanfei east briskly, pa.s.sed through the Jinghe Gate, and walked in the direction of Jingren Palace.
From afar, Gu Yanfei saw a wheelchair parked at the entrance of Jingren Palace. A ten-year-old girl in a red cloak was sitting in the wheelchair and waiting in the cold wind.
An Le had long since received a report from the palace staff. He knew that Gu Yanfei was coming to Jingren Palace and especially came out to pick her up.
As soon as Gu Yanfei approached, An Le held Gu Yanfei’s hand affectionately.
His clear eyes were filled with an innocent smile as he called out sweetly, “Sister.’
The little girl smiled like a flower, her eyes turning into two crescent moons.
Gu Yanfei rubbed the top of her soft head. The calico cat in her hood yawned lazily and stuck its head out. Its green cat eyes glanced sideways at her, not interested in the child at all.
“Kitty!” An Le’s eyes lit up.
Gu Yanfei handed the cat to An Le. “It’s called Qing Guang!”
As if she had obtained a treasure, she held the cat with both hands and rubbed her face happily. She said happily, “Qing Guang, I like you!”
The quiet and introverted little girl suddenly became pa.s.sionate and unrestrained, rubbing against the cat repeatedly.
At first, the cat was a little disdainful. Gradually, it narrowed its eyes and let out a meow. It even licked the little girl, making her chuckle.
The palace maid in charge pushed the wheelchair forward and led the way for Gu Yanfei at the same time.
Amidst the laughter of humans and cats, they arrived at the warm pavilion in the east side hall of Jingren Palace.
Gu Yanfei let the cat play with An Le. She sat on a circular chair by the window and looked around leisurely.
The lighting in the warm pavilion was excellent. The windows were embedded with transparent gla.s.s, and one could see a few green bamboos, plum trees, and a small pond planted in the courtyard outside the window. The lotus leaves in the winter pond were dry, and only the carp wagged its tail as it swam in the pond.
The warm pavilion was very s.p.a.cious, and the decorations were extremely simple. There were only some necessary tables and chairs, multi-treasure pavilions, coffee tables, beauty couches, and so on. Comfortable cushions and pillows were placed everywhere.
It was obvious that all the arrangements here were for comfort.
“Meow! The cat suddenly jumped excitedly and pointed in a certain direction with its claw.
An Le stroked the cat and said with a smile, “Qing Guang, do you like this lantern too?”
It was an ordinary white round lantern with no pattern. A string of red ta.s.sels hung under the lantern.
Gu Yanfei recognized it at a glance. She had given it to him last night. Because the “b.u.t.terfly Pursuing Fragrance Talisman” in the lantern had already lost its effect, it had become an ordinary lantern.
“Meow, meow, meow!” The cat was still meowing excitedly, not because it recognized the lantern, but because it recognized the drooping red ta.s.sel.
This… this… this is clearly mine!
I only left home for a few days, but I’ve already fallen out of favor?!