The young ladies were enamored with the kittens, all wanting to cradle them and pet them, but the mother cat watched over them, so they dared not reach out.
Fang Yuan then said to the maid specifically tasked with caring for Xiuhu, "Liuxiang, carry Xiuhu away."
Liuxiang responded with a "Yes," squatted down, and carefully picked up Xiuhu. Perhaps sensing a familiar attendant, Xiuhu nestled obediently in Liuxiang's arms. Liuxiang stood by the cat enclosure with Xiuhu, and Fang Yuan was the first to pick up a tiny kitten.
The kitten was soft and tender, its fur not yet fully grown, emitting soft "meows" that melted hearts.
Fang Yuan said to Wang Qingyao, "Sister Yaoyao, why don't you pick one up too? If you like it, you can adopt one to raise."
Wang Qingyao smiled, "One Shanyao is enough for me, where would I have the energy to raise another? I'll just watch." As she spoke, she walked over to Fang Yuan and began to play with the kitten with her.
Seeing this, the other young ladies also picked up kittens, forming small groups to play with them. Some who were particularly fond of cats had already instructed their servants to prepare the items for adopting a cat, planning to take one home that day.
Wang Qingzhen and Wang Qingzhu also picked one up to play with. Only Wang Qinglin stood far away, maintaining a dignified and graceful posture. It was as if everyone else were still children, while she stood out from the crowd, different from ordinary people.
Xiao Yun also did not approach. Since it was all young ladies, he had to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
Wang Qinglin was pleased to see that Xiao Yun, like her, was not playing with the cats. She secretly shifted her steps, intending to "accidentally" move closer to him.
Meanwhile, Liuxiang, holding Xiuhu, also "accidentally" walked over to Wang Qingyao's side.
She smiled and asked Wang Qingyao, "Does the Second Miss Wang not like cats?"
"It's not that I don't like them," Wang Qingyao explained, "I just fear the trouble. I used to have cats and dogs, but I gave them away later.
Speaking of which, as someone living alone, it's common to have pets for companionship or protection. That's what I initially thought, but I found I couldn't keep them. Besides taking care of myself, I have no patience for anything else.
Fortunately, with Yin Zhu and the others helping to care for Shanyao, there haven't been any problems."
Liuxiang let out an "Oh," her expression slightly off. After a moment, she said again, "Would the Second Miss Wang like to hold Xiuhu? Xiuhu is very well-behaved, and especially intelligent."
Her excessive eagerness drew the attention of the other young ladies. Some, disliking Liuxiang's behavior, secretly rolled their eyes.
Wang Qingyao also frowned slightly. Liuxiang seemed to be trying to curry favor, but it felt as though she was forcing herself upon her. What did this have to do with the bracelet?
She subtly moved to Fang Yuan's other side and said with a smile, "I dare not hold the big cat."
"It's alright, our madam has raised Xiuhu for so many years, and Xiuhu has never scratched or bitten anyone!" Liuxiang said, attempting to place Xiuhu in Wang Qingyao's arms.
Why was she so insistent that she hold Xiuhu?
The question flashed through Wang Qingyao's mind. Before she could ponder it further, Xiao Yun strode over. At that very moment, Wang Qinglin had just moved next to him and hadn't even opened her mouth to speak!
Xiao Yun immediately stepped between Liuxiang and Wang Qingyao, and Xiuhu was placed into his arms.
Liuxiang was startled, "Your... Your Highness."
Xiao Yun glanced at her, "It's nothing. I quite like cats."
He said this and reached out to pet the cat's back a couple of times.
Perhaps he was a bit too rough, for Xiuhu suddenly arched its back, let out a sharp hiss, and with a "meow," swiped its claws towards Xiao Yun's face.
Caught off guard by the cat's attack, Xiao Yun leaned back and forcefully flung Xiuhu away.
"Are you alright?" Wang Qingyao steadied him and asked.
Xiao Yun shook his head.
Xiuhu landed gracefully, its fur standing on end, glaring fiercely and defensively at Xiao Yun. The next second, it leaped again, pouncing at Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun kicked out, but Xiuhu bit down on his shoe and climbed up his leg, furiously scratching and biting.
From the shadows, a hidden guard was about to intervene, but Xiao Yun looked over and shook his head slightly. The guard then crouched back down.
Liuxiang's face had turned pale.
"Xiuhu, Xiuhu!" she called out desperately, but Xiuhu seemed deaf to her pleas, ignoring her calls.
The other young ladies were also frightened. They abandoned the kittens, placing them on the ground, and hid outside the corner door. However, they didn't go too far, peeking in with their heads to watch the spectacle.
Fang Yuan stood behind Wang Qingyao. After a moment of stunned silence, she called out to the onlookers, "Quick, go get someone!"
Only then did a maid react and rush out.
Wang Qingyao found a branch and began to lash out at Xiuhu. The cat yelped in pain, released its bite, and with a "wu," its claws raked across Wang Qingyao's hand before it leaped to a nearby spot.
Wang Qingyao looked down. A bloody scratch marked her hand. Her face turned pale. Would she contract rabies? In ancient times, vaccinations were not readily available!
"How are you?" Xiao Yun grabbed her hand to look, his own expression changing. He gave a signal to the hidden guard, and Xiuhu suddenly let out a pained cry and collapsed motionless on the ground.
At this moment, Madam Huang and several elders, accompanied by rough-looking maids, hurried over.
Fang Yuan immediately exclaimed, "Mother, Xiuhu, for some reason, suddenly attacked people!"
Madam Huang's eyes immediately fell on Xiao Yun holding Wang Qingyao's hand. She cried out dramatically, "The Second Miss Wang is injured! Someone, quickly summon a physician!" She then looked at the others, "Are any of you injured?"
The other madams and ladies went to their daughters' sides, examining them from head to toe for injuries.
"We're fine, only the Second Miss Wang is injured."
"The Prince might also be injured."
"It suddenly went mad, no one knows why?"
Bai Shi walked to Wang Qinglin's side and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"
Wang Qinglin shook her head.
Madam Huang ordered someone to remove Xiuhu. The maid touched it and discovered Xiuhu was already dead.
Madam Huang's face showed a look of grief, "How could this be? Xiuhu has always been docile and never attacked anyone before... Could it be... could it be..." She looked at Wang Qingyao, her words trailing off.
Bai Shi became excited. How could she miss this opportunity? She immediately asked cooperatively, "Could it be what?"
Madam Huang said in a very hesitant tone, "I've heard from the older generation that cats are the most spiritual. If one suddenly attacks a person, it means that person... carries a malevolent aura, an inauspicious person..."
Liuxiang desperately signaled to Madam Huang, but Madam Huang, engrossed in her performance, did not notice Liuxiang's unusual behavior.
Her voice grew softer and softer, her face showing guilt, "Ah, Second Miss Wang, I did not mean to slander you..."
Everyone here knew that Wang Qingyao's parents had both passed away, and she was known as the "lonely star of ill fortune."
Madam Huang's words were practically pointing a finger at her.
However, Madam Huang soon realized that after she finished speaking, the garden fell eerily silent.