Moonlit Reunion

"Are you feeling better?"

Wu Zhen nodded casually. "I'm fine."

Mei Zhuyu was still not entirely reassured. He took her wrist and carefully checked her pulse before tucking her arm back under the embroidered quilt. "You still need to rest and recover for a while."

As he spoke, he sat up and began dressing. Just as he was about to get up, Wu Zhen tugged at the corner of his robe. "Hey, where are you going so early?" she asked.

Mei Zhuyu replied, "Stay home and rest properly. I need to return to the Ministry of Justice for duty today."

Only then did Wu Zhen show a look of realization, remembering that her husband indeed had work to attend to. Thinking of the days he had missed, she reassured him, "It's fine. I can put in a word for you. Missing a few days of duty is no big deal."

But Mei Zhuyu shook his head. "It's alright."

The meaning behind this "alright" only became clear when Wu Zhen followed Mei Zhuyu out of the room for breakfast. In the flower hall sat a man who looked exactly like Mei Zhuyu—at first glance, they could have been twins. Wu Zhen paused mid-step, scrutinizing him before spotting the flaw. Raising an eyebrow in surprise, she asked, "Is this... Taoist Shuangjiang?"

The man with Mei Zhuyu's face, seeing the two arrive together, wore a slightly complicated expression. He addressed Mei Zhuyu, "Uncle-Master."

When it came to Wu Zhen, he hesitated over how to address her before finally closing his eyes and opting for the usual term: "Cat Official."

Wu Zhen laughed heartily and sat at the table. "We're all family now. No need for formalities like 'Cat Official'—that’s too distant. Just call me Sister Zhen."

Taoist Shuangjiang: "..."

Back in the day, when they had first met through a fight, this Cat Official had thoroughly humiliated him, pinning him to the ground. Though they had since developed something of a friendship, this was the first time she had addressed him with such warm familiarity.

Feeling conflicted, Taoist Shuangjiang couldn’t help but glance at his uncle-master. He suddenly had the bizarre sensation of being a bride’s family member meeting the groom—and being buttered up by said groom.

Mei Zhuyu didn’t catch his disciple-nephew’s gaze. Seeing him look over, he expressed his gratitude. "Thank you for your help these past few days. I’m fine now and can return to duty myself."

Shuangjiang immediately shook his head. His usually cold and handsome face broke into a rare smile as he wiped away the spiritual talisman disguising his features, revealing his true appearance. With great respect, he said, "It’s an honor to be of service to you, Uncle-Master."

Indeed, not just among the disciple-nephews, but even his own masters and grandmasters rarely had the chance to assist Mei Zhuyu. After all, his uncle-master was so capable that he could handle everything himself. To be asked for help was a once-in-a-decade opportunity. Though all he’d done was stand in for a couple of days at the ministry, it was already enough to boast about back at the temple.

Who else but me has ever helped Uncle-Master? No one!

Just as he was basking in this strange mix of pride and glee, Taoist Shuangjiang heard his uncle-master add, "You’ll be staying in Chang’an for a few more days, right? In that case, I’ll take the time to guide you in your studies."

At these words, Shuangjiang stiffened, the joy draining from his face. But he knew this was his uncle-master’s way of showing gratitude, so he couldn’t refuse—he had to accept it with thanks, even if this "reward" was the last thing he wanted.Heaven knows how much Priest Shuangjiang wished for an urgent message to arrive at this moment, so he could use it as an excuse to slip away. It hadn't been long since his junior uncle left the temple, and his fellow priests had barely begun enjoying their leisurely days—why did he have to volunteer to be tormented by his junior uncle again!

Priest Shuangjiang seethed with regret in his heart. Wu Zhen didn't speak, only observing the expressions of the two as they talked. Sensing the underlying tension, she couldn't help but burst into laughter. Mei Zhuyu had no idea what she was suddenly laughing about. Seeing her bowl of porridge empty, he scooped her another serving and added two pieces of honeyed date cake.

"Eat well, then go rest."

Wu Zhen lifted the bowl and took a big gulp, nodding absently. The thought of Priest Shuangjiang's stifled, aggrieved expression and her husband's utterly oblivious seriousness made her laugh again.

After the meal, once Mei Zhuyu had left for his duties and Priest Shuangjiang had also stepped out—having spent the past few days disguised as his junior uncle to handle his work, with some tasks still unfinished—he hesitated for a moment upon seeing the Cat Official leaving right behind him. "Cat... Sister Zhen..." He stumbled awkwardly over the address before continuing, "Didn't you promise Junior Uncle you'd rest at home?"

Wu Zhen smiled, hands clasped behind her back. "As long as you don't tell him, my husband will naturally assume I'm resting properly at home."

Priest Shuangjiang's face remained stern. "How can you go back on your word and deceive Junior Uncle? I won't cover for you."

Wu Zhen hummed. "Nephew Shuangjiang, do me this small favor, and I guarantee your junior uncle won't have time to bother you these next few days."

Priest Shuangjiang: "..."

Ahem. The stern-faced young priest coughed, turning away as he said flatly, "I saw nothing today. I have matters to attend to—I'll take my leave."

Wu Zhen waved. "Thanks, nephew."

As he walked down the street with his wooden sword strapped to his back, Priest Shuangjiang suddenly felt a pang of despair at the cheerful voice behind him— Women are the ruin of men! Look at how my once-wise and sharp-witted junior uncle has been completely blinded!

Wu Zhen wandered around for a while, checking in on Mei Si and the others before curling up in a music hall to listen to someone play the qin. A group of young men and women, surprised to see her there, crowded around excitedly, chattering complaints about how long it had been since she last came out to play.

Wu Zhen shooed them away and, amid the lively noise, dozed off briefly on the couch. Though she appeared to have recovered, her injuries had been severe, and she hadn't fully healed in such a short time—she was still prone to drowsiness.

After making an appearance at the music hall and meeting with Huzhu, Wu Zhen transformed into a cat and headed to the Liu residence to visit her old friend, the Snake Lord.

Liu Taizhen usually spent her days at home, either meditating, playing the qin, or writing for amusement. When Wu Zhen arrived, she saw Liu Taizhen's two tabby cats sprawled lazily on the smooth bluestone slabs, yawning. Just as she leaped onto another slab, slow, deliberate footsteps approached.

It was Liu Taizhen. At a glance, she spotted three identical cats on three separate slabs but immediately fixed her gaze on Wu Zhen's feline form. "Recovered?"

"Mostly." Wu Zhen hopped down in front of her, slipping past to enter the house. She made herself at home on a soft cushion on the couch, tucking her paws under her head in a comfortable pose. "Little Snake, did you finish dealing with the remnants of that plague god?""If I hadn't handled it well, I wouldn't be here talking to you," Liu Taizhen said.

Wu Zhen had only asked casually and wasn't particularly concerned by her response, merely narrowing her eyes sleepily.

Liu Taizhen sat on the couch, leaning against the bed, and reached out to stroke a pure white gardenia outside the window. "Since you haven't fully recovered, you should stay home and rest. What are you doing running around?"

Wu Zhen: "I'm bored."

Liu Taizhen: "There's nothing here for you to play with. What, did your husband get scared off by you, so you're hiding here?"

Wu Zhen: "My husband isn't someone who scares easily."

After a moment of silence, Wu Zhen suddenly asked, "Little Snake, do you know anything about the previous Cat Official?"

Liu Taizhen glanced at her sideways. "No. Although my mother guarded the Demon Market alongside the previous Cat Official, their relationship wasn't close. She rarely spoke to me about such matters. If you really want to know, you should ask your two deputies—they were with the previous Cat Official the longest."

Wu Zhen then seemed to lose interest. "Never mind, can't be bothered to ask."

She often had sudden whims that she just as quickly dismissed, acting willfully and unpredictably. Liu Taizhen was used to it and didn't press her about why she'd brought up the previous Cat Official now.

After chatting idly for a while longer, Wu Zhen didn't stay long and soon left. However, before going, she plucked a sprig of gardenia and held it between her teeth, causing Liu Taizhen to raise her eyebrows in anger. But before she could scold her, Wu Zhen had already scampered off.

At the Ministry of Justice offices, Mei Zhuyu was conversing with a man in crimson robes. The two seemed to get along well. The crimson-robed man placed a stack of documents on Mei Zhuyu's desk, studied his expression, and smiled. "Finally in a better mood today?"

Mei Zhuyu: "Hmm?"

The man leaned against the desk, clicking his tongue and shaking his head. "The past couple of days, you claimed your throat was bothering you. You're already a man of few words, but this was something else—barely spoke a word in two days. Not to mention, that dark expression of yours was downright terrifying. What, has something been troubling you lately?"

Mei Zhuyu shook his head. "No. Thank you for your concern."

Seeing that he wouldn't elaborate, the man found it dull. His gaze then drifted to a cat that had just leaped inside and remarked in surprise, "Huh, a tabby cat? Quite adorable. Oh? It's even carrying a flower in its mouth?"

Mei Zhuyu had been reviewing case records but looked up abruptly at those words. He saw a familiar tabby cat nimbly dart past the crimson-robed man and pounce toward him. Quickly, he reached out and caught the leaping cat in his arms.

Wu Zhen nestled into her husband's embrace. Seeing the disapproval in his eyes—clearly thinking she shouldn't be out and about but resting at home—she spat out the gardenia she'd specially brought into his hand. The flower was meant to coax a smile from him and distract him from fussing over such trivial matters.

Though the effect wasn't immediate, holding the fragrant gardenia did soften Mei Zhuyu's expression. Gently, he stroked the tabby cat's soft ears.

The crimson-robed man watched in amazement and leaned closer. "It's so affectionate with you—is this your cat? How rare! I never took you for a cat person."His hand reaching out to pet the Tabby Cat was blocked. Mei Zhuyu glanced at him and said calmly, "She's not feeling well. Don't touch her."

The man in crimson robes: "...I never noticed before that this stern and impartial Lord Mei was such a cat person. And that wary look—it's just a cat. Anyone would think I was trying to make advances on his wife."

Finding himself unwelcome, the man in crimson robes left. Mei Zhuyu placed the slightly wilted gardenia flower into a water basin filled with fresh water to revive it. Then he picked up the squinting cat in his arms, stretching her into a long strip.

"Why didn't you rest at home?"

The Tabby Cat tilted her head and spoke in a human voice, her tone playful, "I missed you, my lord."

That sudden sweet talk shattered Mei Zhuyu's disapproval into pieces, forcing him to surrender completely. He settled his wife comfortably in his arms and stroked her fur for a while.

"Then rest here for now." Truthfully, he hadn't been entirely at ease leaving Wu Zhen alone at home. He'd only held back earlier, worried that being too overbearing might annoy his usually free-spirited wife. But hearing her say this, all his previous concerns vanished—he would have gladly carried her straight home right then.

However, glancing at the mountain of paperwork on his desk—most of it piled up by his incompetent junior—he buried himself in his work instead.