Chapter 38: Petting the Cat
The winter days in Daying grew colder and colder, and the nights were even more frigid.
Tonight, Shizhu brought a small hot pot to the table, along with thin slices of beef and mutton, and several plates of fresh vegetables, filling the table.
Xiao Luohan had only seen such a spread around the winter solstice and asked in surprise, “Is there a special occasion today?”
“No, it’s just that it’s particularly cold tonight. Hot pot is warmer than regular dishes, and it’s good for Your Highness during your period.” Shizhu skillfully started swishing the meat slices in the boiling broth. “Don’t worry, Your Highness, I prepared all the ingredients myself. No one could have poisoned them!”
Xiao Luohan naturally trusted Shizhu, but looking at Shizhu’s smile through the rising steam, she regretted not asking that older sister earlier.
Before she left, she had to arrange a way out for Shizhu. But she was too inexperienced, and now in a foreign land, without power or influence, in Jiang Xue’s world’s terms, her “social experience” was far less than Shizhu’s. How could she possibly plan a future for her?
Moreover, Shizhu didn’t want to leave the palace. She was grateful and close to her precisely because her arrival had allowed her, someone about to be dismissed, to stay.
But if she disappeared, Shizhu would definitely be held accountable. She had heard about the royal family’s interrogation methods from her elder sister. If that happened, Shizhu would surely die.
“By the way, I also prepared a chili dipping sauce.” Seeing her worried expression, Shizhu produced a small dish filled with bright red chili oil, trying to change the subject. “Would Your Highness like to try it? But it’s extremely spicy. Your body is weak, and too much might upset your stomach. Shall I try it on a piece of meat for you first?”
Xiao Luohan came back to her senses. The chili oil looked fresh, and just the smell alone was appetizing. She couldn’t help but nod.
Soon, a slice of beef with a touch of chili oil was placed in her bowl.
At first, Xiao Luohan was a little apprehensive. Shizhu wouldn’t lie; if she said it was spicy, it must be extremely spicy.
But looking at the beef, she felt that it was just a little bit of oil and probably wouldn’t be too spicy, so she took a bite.
…It was so spicy it hurt!!
She felt a burning sensation explode in her mouth, but the following sense of exhilaration was something no other seasoning could match. She quickly took a few bites of rice, chewed it together with the meat, her cheeks puffed out, and finally swallowed!
Having tried it once, she wanted to try again, but Shizhu, who had been watching her closely, stopped her, even hiding the dipping sauce behind her on the counter.
“If Your Highness likes my chili sauce, start by trying a little bit like this with each meal, and gradually let your stomach get used to it before eating more,” she explained seriously. “Otherwise, your stomach and intestines will feel like they’re being churned!”
Knowing that she was being considerate, Xiao Luohan smiled and nodded, taking a piece of mutton without chili that Shizhu offered.
Even without the chili sauce, Shizhu had thoughtfully prepared other dipping sauces. Both the meat and vegetables were delicious when dipped in them.
Halfway through the hot pot, Xiao Luohan noticed movement from the open booklet beside her.
A porcelain bowl, the size of her palm, appeared, steaming.
Shizhu quickly went over and picked it up. Looking inside, she smiled. “It’s shepherd’s purse and tofu soup! Although shepherd’s purse isn’t a delicacy, it’s always fresh and tender no matter how it’s prepared.”
Xiao Luohan took the bowl, blew on the soup, and took a sip. It was indeed delicious.
“Does the ghost or spirit eat spicy food?” Shizhu suddenly had an idea. “My chili sauce is best eaten fresh…”
“Yes,” Xiao Luohan said without looking up. “She tries anything spicy. You can send it over without worry.”
Shizhu happily carried her homemade chili sauce over, carefully wiping the bottom of the dish before placing it on the booklet.
She couldn’t see the booklet, but having seen things appear out of thin air many times, she knew where to place things to send them over. That’s how she had sent the message written in blood last time.
After finishing the hot pot, Shizhu washed and returned the bowl of shepherd’s purse and tofu soup and started cleaning up the table.
Xiao Luohan had been thinking throughout dinner, planning to first understand Shizhu’s wishes before discussing the future with her.
She had to at least let Shizhu know what was going on… she didn’t want Shizhu, like herself, to be informed of a decision after it had already been made.
After the kneeling in the snow incident, the two had a life-or-death bond, and they could speak frankly about personal matters.
“Shizhu, if I have the opportunity to go to the ghost or spirit’s world, what will you do?”
When Shizhu returned after finishing her chores, Xiao Luohan sat up straight and asked directly.
She didn’t say “Do you want to come with me?” For so long, only she and Jiang Xue had been able to communicate and enter each other’s dreams. She probably couldn’t bring anyone else to that world. Since that was the case, she should tell Shizhu from the beginning.
Shizhu was stunned. After a long while, she finally spoke, but it was a question: “How will Your Highness go?”
“I’m not sure,” Xiao Luohan shook her head. “Perhaps only my soul will go, or perhaps my soul and body will disappear together.”
“Then I will go with Your Highness!” Shizhu’s answer surprised her. “Since your soul has to go, I can protect you along the way!”
“If any stray ghosts or evil spirits block our path, let them come at me!”
Xiao Luohan was stunned. Coming back to her senses, she grabbed Shizhu’s arm and shook her head vigorously. “You have to live, Shizhu!”
How could she let a living person die for her?!
“But I have nothing to live for anymore!” Shizhu said with a smile. “I used to work tirelessly, never complaining, because of my daughter. I worked hard so that she could have a better life, marry a good family, and if not enjoy a life of luxury, at least not suffer like me.”
“But after my daughter passed away, I lost half my soul, living in a daze, until I met Your Highness…” She sighed softly. “It seems people need something to hold onto to live. Otherwise, it’s better to die!”
“Besides, Your Highness going to that world is a great blessing, but I’ve often heard that the journey is fraught with troublesome spirits. If you go alone, you might be entangled and lose your way!”
In Jiang Xue’s world’s terms, Shizhu, who believed in ghosts and spirits, had her own “worldview.” Hearing this, Xiao Luohan wanted to correct her, to tell her that she had a “divine messenger” to guide her and that no little ghosts would dare interfere.
But she only opened her mouth before her vision blurred.
Seeing her tears, Shizhu panicked and hurriedly wiped them with a handkerchief. “Look at what I’ve said, Your Highness, I’ve frightened you! Just ignore my words, don’t be afraid!”
“You really scared me, I might fall ill from fright!” This was a good opportunity. Xiao Luohan’s heart pounded. She immediately softened her voice and acted pitiful, “If I can take you, I’ll take you with me. If I can’t, you must remember—live well, for my sake too! Otherwise, I won’t be at peace there either! Do you understand?!”
Shizhu readily agreed.
She had managed to persuade Shizhu for now, but she still had no idea what to do about Shizhu’s future.
Xiao Luohan had no other choice but to consult the Jiang sisters.
Jiang Xue was also stunned. Although she knew that ancient people could be incredibly loyal, this was the first time she had heard such a story firsthand, and she immediately felt that this was a tricky situation.
“Sis! What should we do?” She could only look at Jiang Mei. “If the Third Princess really leaves, Shizhu might follow…”
“It’s not that difficult,” Jiang Mei said. “Those were her heartfelt words, but if the Third Princess wants her to live and find a way out, she’ll listen.”
“Since Shizhu sees the Third Princess as her new emotional anchor, it proves the Third Princess’s importance in her heart. She’s a loving mother and will definitely prioritize her ‘daughter’s’ wishes.”
“Like this time, when she said she wanted to protect the Third Princess, it’s because she cares about her so much, afraid that something might go wrong during the crossing, and her letting go would lead to the Third Princess’s death.”
Jiang Xue suddenly understood. After some thought, she shared her idea: “Then let the Third Princess frequently hint at it to her. When I go over there through dreams, I’ll also try to make some noise in Wangmei Pavilion to let Shizhu know that I’m always there, just invisible to her. Would that work?”
“It’s feasible, let’s try it,” Jiang Mei nodded.
Jiang Xue went to tell Xiao Luohan.
She had already planned to investigate in the dream, so this was just something she could do on the side, to make her presence felt by Shizhu.
But for some reason, she didn’t dream for two consecutive nights at home, and didn’t go to Wangmei Pavilion in her dreams.
Instead, Xiao Luohan could still come over normally, sometimes in human form, sometimes deliberately transforming into a cat.
On Sunday afternoon, while Jiang Xue was taking a break after studying, she heard a cat hissing. Going over, she saw the Ragdoll cat squatting in front of the large white cat, its back arched, but curiosity in its eyes.
Since there was no one around, and Xie Xitong could also see Xiao Luohan, she picked up Xiao Luohan and asked, “Do you want to pet Xixi?”
“Yes.”
Jiang Xue held her above the large white cat and tried to place her paw on it.
But before the Ragdoll cat’s paw could touch the white cat, the white cat turned and ran.
Jiang Xue, holding the Ragdoll cat, chased it from the study to the living room, then to the courtyard.
“Oh dear, why are you running so frantically?”
She heard Ms. Wei’s voice and looked over. The unapproachable white cat was rubbing against Ms. Wei’s leg, meowing pitifully.
“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Ms. Wei bent down, picked up the white cat, and spun around like she was comforting a child. “There are no bad guys chasing you. Auntie will protect you.”
Feeling the Ragdoll cat tense up in her arms, Jiang Xue hesitated to approach.
That was, after all, the mother of Xiao Luohan’s “counterpart”…
“Let’s go back inside, Jiang Xue,” she heard Xiao Luohan say.
Jiang Xue didn’t ask why and turned to leave.
But Ms. Wei, holding the white cat, quickly caught up, saying with a smile, “A-Xue, Mommy caught Xixi! Xixi never scratches or bites Mommy. Quickly, pet it.”
“Pet it?” Jiang Xue whispered into the Ragdoll cat’s ear.
“…Okay.”
Having received confirmation, Jiang Xue turned back.
Perhaps because it had found a safe “haven,” this time, the white cat didn’t hiss at Xiao Luohan in her Ragdoll cat form, only lying lazily in Ms. Wei’s arms.
Jiang Xue symbolically stroked the cat’s fur, her gaze on Xiao Luohan’s paw.
The very human-like paw gently patted the white cat, stroking its fur.
The white cat glared at the Ragdoll cat, but still allowed Xiao Luohan to pet it for a long time.
Leave a Reply