"Thank you, my lord, for pardoning your servant's breach of etiquette." The tabby cat scrambled nimbly to its feet, shook its fur like a dog, and said with a wag of its head, "To answer my lord, the General of Cavalry instructed you to prioritize your own safety. She will guard the Imperial Palace and await your command."
"You're creating your own official titles? Are you planning to rebel?" Xie Qingwu's face paled, her eyes wide with shock. 'No wonder this scoundrel is so audacious—he's a rebel leader!'
The next moment, she threw herself toward a pillar.
'If he were just a mountain bandit, she could have worked with him to survive. But a rebel? For her family's sake, she couldn't have anything to do with him, lest they be implicated and her entire clan exterminated. Under these circumstances, she would rather die.'
'Damn, this girl's ruthless!' Pei Shaoqing jumped. With lightning-fast reflexes, he stepped in front of her, catching her in his arms. His face darkened as he explained with a mixture of helplessness and exasperation, "The one who wants to rebel is that cat. It has nothing to do with me. It made up the official titles on its own. I'm just a law-abiding citizen who happens to rob people."
'That cat's head is filled with notions of helping me restore order to the realm. It's given every bandit an official title and even appointed itself Military Advisor and Grand General. Of course, no one pays it any mind.'
"My lord, since the secret is out, why not just kill her to consecrate our banner?" General Li scrambled up to him on all fours, then reared up on his hind legs, saying excitedly, "Your reputation is widespread! With a single call, every bandit for a hundred miles around will flock to you! We'll storm the Celestial Capital and seize that old Emperor's worthless throne!"
"Get lost! Your mouth is going to get me killed one of these days." Pei Shaoqing sent the cat flying with a kick, then looked down at the bewildered Xie Qingwu in his arms. "See? That cat is seriously unhinged. You can't take a word it says for real."
"Alas, alas! This pain is the death of your servant!"
"I can tell," Xie Qingwu muttered, nodding instinctively. Only then did she realize she was still in his embrace, and she flinched, struggling free.
Pei Shaoqing called out in a deep voice, "General Li."
"Your General, at your command!" The tabby cat, which had been rubbing its backside a moment ago, shot to its feet and scurried forward.
Pei Shaoqing pointed at Xie Qingwu. "From now on, you will pretend to be a normal house cat and stay by her side. Help me watch her like a hawk. I want to know everything she does each day, everyone she meets, and every word she says."
'Until this woman and I are irrevocably bound together, I can't fully trust her. She needs to be watched. But humans are easily turned. This cat, on the other hand, is completely loyal to me despite being crazy. It's perfect for the job.'
Xie Qingwu had been mentally prepared to be put under surveillance; she just hadn't expected a cat to be the one responsible.
"This... I beg my lord to retract this command!" General Li glanced at Xie Qingwu and refused on the spot, his eyes filled with solemnity and ambition. His multicolored whiskers twitched as he spoke. "Your servant must scheme for my lord's grand imperial destiny! My duties are far too numerous and complex. How can I possibly waste my time and energy on this woman?"
"Are you defying my command?" Pei Shaoqing's expression turned icy.
The tabby cat opened its mouth, but in the end, it slowly bowed and squeezed its eyes shut. "Your servant... obeys."
The onlooking Xie Qingwu: "..."
'The cat is insane, and the man is insane right along with it.'
"Do you know who she is?" Pei Shaoqing asked the tabby cat, pointing at Xie Qingwu. To ensure the cat took its duties seriously, he felt it was necessary to impress upon it the gravity, difficulty, and importance of the mission.
The tabby cat shook its head. The General of Cavalry had only told it to relay a message, not what had happened.
Pei Shaoqing said with a perfectly straight face, "She is the daughter of Uncle Anning. Her husband was the youngest son of Marquis Weiyuan, and he looked almost identical to me. I killed her husband and am now impersonating him, assuming his post as an ensign of the Jing'an Guard at the Tongzhou Hundred Households. Whether or not she behaves herself is a matter of my life and death."
"So that's how it is! Your servant understands! Your servant understands everything!" The tabby cat's round eyes widened, its chubby body trembling with excitement. It panted, "Rest assured, my lord! With your general keeping an eye on this dame, she won't stand a chance of ruining your grand plan!"
'So that's it! My lord hasn't abandoned his imperial ambitions, he's just taking another path! Truly brilliant! Such a masterstroke!'
"Good, as long as you understand," Pei Shaoqing nodded and said with a wave of his hand. "You're dismissed. Come back tonight."
"As you command! Your general takes his leave!" The tabby cat crossed its front paws in a salute before landing on all fours and trotting briskly away.
Only then did the previously silent Xie Qingwu speak up. "How do you have a demon by your side?"
"Found him," Pei Shaoqing replied offhandedly. 'If he hadn't personally encountered a demon, he'd have thought all the legends about immortals, ghosts, and monsters were just stories.'
According to legends and ancient records, a thousand years ago and even earlier, demons ran rampant, and Qi Cultivators were a common sight. But later, for some unknown reason, the world's Spiritual Qi suddenly vanished. One by one, Cultivators and demons reached the end of their lifespans and passed away. All manner of Secret Manuals for Magic became worthless paper. Only Martial Arts, a path where power is derived from one's own body, was passed down. Yet, while Martial Artists could still shatter stone and walk on air, they no longer had any hope of attaining true longevity.
"Why don't you find one for me, then," Xie Qingwu said, clearly not believing him. "Are you aware that, aside from beasts that have merely gained Spiritual Wisdom, the number of Great Demons in the world today that can speak human language—let alone achieve Transformation—can be counted on one hand?"
'That cat may be crazy, but it's still a Great Demon that can speak human language! How terrifying is that?'
"Ah... you may have misunderstood," Pei Shaoqing explained, shaking his head. "General Li just happened to eat an Exotic Fruit in his youth, which awakened his Spiritual Wisdom and gave him the ability to speak. He doesn't have any actual skills or special powers. If I had a Great Demon like that at my side, why would I be stuck leading a band of thieves in the mountains?"
Xie Qingwu froze. 'Oh, right.' Then, her tone a mixture of envy and regret, she said, "To stumble upon an Exotic Fruit, something one might see once in a century... that cat is incredibly lucky."
'Exotic Fruits... ever since the Spiritual Qi suddenly vanished, rare flowers and fruits like that have become fewer and fewer in this world, almost impossible to find anymore.'
"I'm going to take a quick nap." Pei Shaoqing yawned, walked over to the bed, and flopped down onto it.
Xie Qingwu came back to her senses, stepped forward, and reached out to tug at him. "If you sleep here, where am I supposed to sleep tonight?"
"Here, of course. We're husband and wife, aren't we? Are you suggesting we sleep in separate rooms? What would people think if that got out?" Pei Shaoqing said, opening his eyes.
Xie Qingwu let go of him and said with a stern face, "I agreed to cooperate with you, but I will absolutely not share a bed with you. You also promised not to touch me."
"Who said sleeping in the same room means we have to share a bed?" Pei Shaoqing retorted, and before she could answer, he added, "One sleeps on the bed, one sleeps on the floor."
Seeing how frank he was, Xie Qingwu felt a little embarrassed, as if she had unfairly judged a gentleman by her own petty standards. "Isn't it a bit much to make you sleep on the floor?"
"Of course it's not good!" Pei Shaoqing shot bolt upright, staring at her and declaring self-righteously, "So, obviously, you'll sleep on the floor, and I'll sleep on the bed. Me on the floor? What were you thinking? Do I look like the kind of person who'd put himself out for others?"
'The nerve of this woman.'
"You..." Xie Qingwu seethed, her chest heaving. She took a deep breath to calm herself and said through clenched teeth, "Fine! I'll sleep on the floor!"
'This bastard was more courageous, more resourceful, and more decisive than her late husband, but he was also infinitely more shameless and despicable!'
"Mm-hmm." Pei Shaoqing lay back down to sleep, adding a reminder, "You'd better stay far away from me."
"Why?" Xie Qingwu asked with a frown.
"I have a habit of killing people in my sleep."
Xie Qingwu was skeptical. 'Is he serious?'
.............
He woke to find it was already dark. Just as Pei Shaoqing was about to ask Xie Qingwu the time, there was a knock on the door.
"Sir, Hundred Households Commander Zheng has sent someone to escort you to the banquet."
It was Chen Youfu's voice from outside the door.
"Tell him to wait," Pei Shaoqing replied domineeringly, then added, "Have someone bring water so I can wash up."
"Yes, sir."
Xie Qingwu put down her book and shot Pei Shaoqing a sidelong glance. 'This scoundrel's arrogance is so natural, he doesn't even have to act to impersonate my husband. In fact, he probably has to tone it down.'
A short while later, Cui'Er and Liu'Er came in with a basin of water and a towel to help Pei Shaoqing wash up.
After dismissing the two maids, Pei Shaoqing turned to Xie Qingwu with a faint smile. "My dear wife, do wait patiently at home. If you grow hungry, just have the servants prepare a meal. Your husband will be back before you know it. I certainly won't let you spend the night in an empty room alone."
"I'd rather be a widow tonight," Xie Qingwu said, rolling her eyes at his teasing tone.
Pei Shaoqing shook his head. "My dear wife, you're already a widow. How could I possibly let you become one again?"
He then let out a loud laugh and walked out the door. As he did, General Li leaped into the doorway from out of nowhere. After a single "meow," he puffed out his chest, held his head high, and strode elegantly into the room.