The Daily Life Of Mei Furen Doting On Her Husband - Chapter 11

Mei Zhuyu entered his room. Having just returned from hunting a goose on the outskirts of the city, his clothes were soiled. He opened the closet in search of clean attire and, down to his last option—a plain white shirt—he sensed something amiss. Turning his head, he noticed the neatly-made bedding on his bed had been disturbed, appearing slightly disheveled. Mei Zhuyu frowned, feeling a presence behind him. As he turned, he was met with a pair of yellow eyes.

Perched atop his wardrobe was a tabby cat, peering down at him.

Mei Zhuyu hesitated, recognizing the cat from the government office. He surmised it must be someone’s pet; its bright, clean fur indicated it wasn’t a wild cat.

But how did the cat get into his house? Mei Zhuyu stared up at the tabby cat on top of the wardrobe for a while, then changed his clothes under its watchful gaze. He walked over to the window and opened it.

The old servant who had been sweeping leaves in the backyard spotted him and set down his broom. “Ah Lang, you’re back?”

Observing Mei Zhuyu’s change into clean clothes, he surmised Mei Zhuyu had likely soiled his attire. “Would you like some hot water for a bath?” 

Mei Zhuyu shook his head in silence. Knowing his temperament well, the old servant said nothing more and continued sweeping with bowed head.

Leaving the window open, Mei Zhuyu adjusted his outer robe and headed towards the study.

Observing from the window, Wu Zhen interpreted Mei Zhuyu’s gesture as a signal for her to escape through it. He was surprisingly considerate. Most people would react with alarm and try to shoo away a stray cat suddenly appearing in their room, fearing it might be unclean. Yet Mei Zhuyu remained composed and tolerant; he had even washed her paws during a previous encounter.

Wu Zhen couldn’t depart without her belongings still under the young man’s bed. However, the servant continued to sweep the yard, complicating her departure. Such were the inconveniences of being transformed into a cat. Why couldn’t her clothes transform into fur as well? She had to take them off and put them on every time.

After emerging from the wardrobe, Wu Zhen made her way to the study. Mei Zhuyu pushed open a large window on one side of the room and hung up the bamboo curtain. The sun streamed in brightly, filling the room with light. Outside, the sun’s reflection danced on the wall, creating a rippling effect from the pool.

Mei Zhuyu settled on a cushion near the window, leaning against a half-moon-shaped table. With one hand gently pressed to his forehead, his gaze rested lightly on the verdant pool outside. His thoughts remained a mystery. He removed his futou, gathered his black hair into a bun, a strand of which fell gracefully by his ear.

Wu Zhen suddenly felt drawn to the young master’s subtle energy. Her whiskers twitched as she approached Mei Zhuyu from behind. Coming closer, she finally sensed the ominous aura of the undead bone. It appeared Mei Zhuyu indeed carried the object with him.

How could she retrieve the undead bonenow? Wu Zhen moved in front of Mei Zhuyu, squatting down to contemplate her next move.

Mei Zhuyu’s gaze returned to her once more, mildly surprised. He had expected the cat to leave on its own, yet it followed him. Could this cat possess unusual intelligence? Mei Zhuyu harbored some suspicions but observed the tabby cat carefully for a while, sensing no abnormal monster aura. It seemed to be an ordinary cat after all.

There were indeed creatures in the world born intelligent. Considering this, Mei Zhuyu set aside his doubts.

After looking at the young man for a while, Wu Zhen tentatively stepped forward and touched his collar with her paw.

Mei Zhuyu was certain the cat before him was just ordinary and had no idea what it wanted, so he watched quietly. Wu Zhen persisted briefly, and when she saw no reaction from the young man, she boldly leapt into his arms.

Mei Zhuyu had been sitting cross-legged originally, with the tabby cat now nestled in his arms. Wu Zhen sniffed the young man’s scent upon jumping into his arms, hoping to locate the undead bones. Instead, she detected a fresh grassy aroma, leading her to casually think that he must have just came back from roaming the wilderness

 Shouldn’t he be on duty today? Why was he staying at home like he had nothing to do?

Mei Zhuyu was genuinely stunned. He had never met an animal that took the initiative to approach him. Feeling a little uneasy with the furry cat rubbing against his arms, he couldn’t resist reaching out to gently touch its soft, fluffy fur that seemed fuzzy in the sun.

The cat didn’t resist his touch, but continued to sniff him intently. So Mei Zhuyu touched the cat’s ears again, and the soft, warm sensation helped him relax. He wasn’t particularly fond of cats and dogs, but for some reason, he suddenly found the tabby cat in his arms very cute.

Wu Zhen finally located the undead bone tucked inside the young man’s inner waist pocket. She marveled silently, Wow, it’s incredible that he keeps this thing so close to him.

Feigning carelessness, she used a claw to nudge the small bag out, causing it to fall with a soft plop onto the floor beside her. Just as she moved to step on it, Mei Zhuyu abruptly picked her up and set her aside. He retrieved the small bag and securely reattached it around his waist.

Wu Zhen: …Hey.

Mei Zhuyu remained unaware of her intentions. Concerned that the cat might accidentally grab the bag again, he secured it with a knot around his waist, then stood up and walked over to the desk, putting some distance between himself and Wu Zhen.

Undeterred, Wu Zhen persisted and followed him to the desk.

Sitting down, Mei Zhuyu began grinding ink in preparation for writing. Observing the cat’s continued presence, he recalled the tabby cat that had gotten its paw stained with ink last time. Though uncertain if it was the same cat, he cautiously moved the inkstone aside, keeping it out of the cat’s reach.

 Seeing that he had no intention of chasing her away, Wu Zhen jumped onto the table, her eyes fixed on the undead bonebag hanging from Mei Zhuyu’s slightly thin waist. After a while, she suddenly realized what Mei Zhuyu had written.

He was composing a betrothal letter, detailing his birth date and horoscope, essential for the engagement process. Wu Zhen felt a mix of emotions as she glanced between the bag on the young man’s waist and his face.

She had just received news from her father and elder sister. How could the young man start to write about such things? Shouldn’t marriage be discussed slowly? Wu Zhen reflected on her past experiences, remembering that things hadn’t been so rushed before. Perhaps her father and elder sister felt that the longer they waited, the more challenges they would face, so they opted to resolve the matter quickly.

But she hadn’t made up her mind yet. The young man was four years younger than her and seemed helpless. As a lord, she couldn’t rely on her family’s power or her elder sister’s status as Empress to force him into marriage.

Wu Zhen was keenly aware of the rumors surrounding her—she was said to be unrestrained, indifferent to gender, lacking in etiquette, and ignorant. There were no flattering words about her, and men of suitable status were unwilling to marry her; most didn’t dare.