Moonlit Reunion

Wu Zhen was never one to dawdle. Upon learning that Mei Jia Dalang possessed an Undying Bone, she immediately abandoned her entourage under the pretense of urgent business and rode off from the Jade Belt Pond without hesitation.

No matter what, she had to retrieve that Undying Bone first—lest Mei Jia Dalang accidentally get himself killed by the wretched thing.

Mei Jia Dalang lived in Changle Ward, his residence close to the eastern ward wall. Wu Zhen easily found his address and headed straight for the Chunming Gate before turning south toward the eastern wall of Changle Ward. She had a habit of taking unconventional routes, preferring to scale the ward wall rather than enter through the proper gate.

Tethering her horse beneath a locust tree by the roadside, Wu Zhen patted the chestnut steed’s head. The well-trained horse stood obediently in the shade, though its docile demeanor was reserved solely for her—any unfamiliar person who dared approach would face its vicious temper. Thieves who attempted to steal it had been trampled to death before.

Thus, Wu Zhen had no fear of her beloved steed, Red Tassel, being stolen. After a quick pat, she strode to the base of the towering ward wall, glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then planted her feet against the surface and scaled it in a few swift movements, flipping over the top in the blink of an eye.

Once past the ward wall, she still had to vault over the courtyard wall of Mei Jia Dalang’s residence. This wall was low enough that Wu Zhen didn’t even need to brace herself—she leaped straight up. Still, since this was someone else’s home, she first hooked an arm over the top and peered inside to confirm no one was around before dropping down.

Mei Jia Dalang, Mei Zhuyu, had arrived in Chang’an from Quzhou a year ago. With both parents deceased and no siblings, his closest relatives in the capital were Mei Si’s family and Consort Mei. However, according to Mei Si, this eldest son of the Mei family was not particularly sociable and rarely interacted with others, so he lived alone in this residence. From her perch on the wall, Wu Zhen took one look at the courtyard and immediately understood his preference for solitude—there wasn’t a single servant in sight.

To Wu Zhen, his residence was quite small—nowhere near as grand as Duke Yu’s estate—but more than sufficient for one person. She had landed directly in the master’s courtyard; whether there were people in the front yard, she couldn’t say. Pausing to listen, she detected faint rustling sounds from the rear courtyard, but she paid it no mind.

If Mei Zhuyu wasn’t carrying the Undying Bone on him, it had to be inside the house. She’d search here first—if she didn’t find it, she’d figure out another way to take it from him.

Despite being here as a thief, Wu Zhen moved with the confidence of a guest, even taking a moment to admire the courtyard’s scenery. Most people favored bright, vibrant flowers—peach blossoms, hydrangeas, roses, hibiscus—but Mei Zhuyu’s courtyard was a sea of deep and pale greens, devoid of any vivid hues.

Green vines draped over the courtyard wall, a few pine trees stood in the yard, a cluster of bamboo rustled by the window, and a loquat tree in the front courtyard bore unripe green fruit. A small pond had been dug before the veranda, where a few newly sprouted lotus leaves stood gracefully above the water. Between the large rocks lining the pond grew patches of calamus, their fresh green shoots just emerging.

Even the doors, windows, and pillars were all dark wood—not a single vermilion column in sight. The entire courtyard exuded an air of refined serenity and… chilliness.

In the already sweltering approach of summer, the cold austerity of the place sent an involuntary shiver down Wu Zhen’s spine."Damn, marrying a man like this would probably bore me to death," Wu Zhen muttered as she pushed open Mei Zhuyu's door.

She had already calculated that Mei Zhuyu should be on duty at the Ministry of Justice today, giving her plenty of time to rummage through his belongings. So she entered his room with confidence and ease.

The room was indeed empty. At first glance, the furnishings were simple. The bedroom contained only a bed, wardrobe, chests, and a small table—nothing extra. The study area wasn't fully partitioned off, just screened with bamboo curtains. This space held more items, especially books.

Wu Zhen browsed the bookshelf for a while before starting her search for the Undying Bone. Yet after some time, she still couldn't detect that faint trace of resentment.

Could it not be here? Did the young master really carry that thing around with him? What rotten luck.

Closing Mei Zhuyu's wardrobe, Wu Zhen was just considering whether to leave and check the Ministry of Justice when she heard footsteps outside. The sound was extremely faint—most people wouldn't have noticed—but her sharp ears picked up someone approaching the room. Unhurried, she moved to the window planning to slip out through the backyard. Before she could push it open, however, she heard rustling outside.

Peering through a crack, she saw an elderly servant sweeping fallen leaves. If she exited this way, she'd run straight into him. The study window wasn't an option either—she'd be spotted by the approaching person. The room's sparse furnishings offered no hiding spots, and even the ceiling beams couldn't conceal her... Tsk, no choice.

Wu Zhen began removing her clothes.

Mei Zhuyu entered his room. Having just returned from hunting geese in the suburbs, his clothes were soiled, so he opened the wardrobe to find clean ones. As he stripped down to plain white undergarments, something felt off. He turned to look at the bed.

The neatly made bedding appeared disturbed, slightly messy. Frowning, Mei Zhuyu sensed eyes on him and turned again—suddenly meeting a pair of golden yellow eyes.

A Tabby Cat perched atop his wardrobe, staring down at him imperiously.

Mei Zhuyu paused. The cat looked familiar, likely the same one he'd seen at the government office earlier. He assumed it must be someone's pet—a stray wouldn't have such glossy, clean fur.

But how had it gotten into his room? Mei Zhuyu gazed up at the feline for a long moment before calmly changing clothes under its watchful eyes. Then he walked to the window and opened it.

The old servant sweeping leaves in the backyard saw him and quickly set aside his broom. "Young master, you're back?" Noticing the clean clothes, he added, "Shall I fetch hot water for your bath?"

Mei Zhuyu shook his head silently. The servant, accustomed to his temperament, said no more and resumed sweeping.

Leaving the window open, Mei Zhuyu adjusted his outer robe and retreated to the study area.

Wu Zhen eyed the window, realizing Mei Zhuyu was giving her an escape route. Not bad—most people would scream and chase away a stray cat found in their room, but he remained composed and tolerant. Last time, he'd even washed her paws.Wu Zhen wasn’t about to leave so easily without getting what she came for. Besides, her clothes were still stuffed under the young master’s bed—she had to retrieve them. But the servants sweeping the courtyard were still outside. Being a cat had its inconveniences—why couldn’t her clothes just turn into fur? Every time, she had to take them off and put them back on.

Jumping down from the wardrobe, Wu Zhen made her way to the study. The large window on one side had been pushed open by Mei Zhuyu, and the bamboo curtain was drawn up. The bright sunlight streamed in, illuminating the room, while reflections from the pond outside shimmered on the walls, casting dancing patches of light.

Mei Zhuyu sat by the floor-to-ceiling window on a soft cushion, leaning against a crescent-shaped armrest. One hand rested lightly on his forehead as his gaze drifted absently toward the emerald-green pond outside, lost in thought. He had removed his headscarf, and his dark hair was tied into a loose bun, with a stray strand falling near his ear.

For some reason, Wu Zhen found the young master’s quiet demeanor rather alluring. Her white whiskers twitched as she padded over to stand behind him. Getting closer, she finally sensed the ominous aura of the Undying Bone—it seemed he really was carrying it with him.

Now, how was she supposed to get her hands on it? Wu Zhen walked in front of Mei Zhuyu and sat down, studying him while pondering her next move.

Mei Zhuyu’s gaze shifted back to her, this time with a hint of surprise. He had assumed the cat would leave on its own, but instead, it had followed him. This cat seemed unusually intelligent. A flicker of suspicion arose in Mei Zhuyu’s mind, and he scrutinized the Tabby Cat before him carefully. Yet, he detected no trace of a Demon Creature’s presence—this was undoubtedly just an ordinary cat.

Some creatures in the world were naturally clever. With that thought, Mei Zhuyu dismissed his lingering doubts.

Meanwhile, Wu Zhen, after observing the young master for a while, tentatively stepped forward and tapped his lapel with her paw.

Convinced that the Tabby Cat was harmless, Mei Zhuyu watched quietly, unsure what it wanted. When he didn’t react, Wu Zhen boldly leaped into his lap.

Mei Zhuyu had been sitting cross-legged, and now the cat curled up snugly against him. Wu Zhen nestled into the young master’s embrace, sniffing at his scent to locate the Undying Bone. Instead, she caught the fresh fragrance of grass and herbs. Distractedly, she thought, Ah, he must have been wandering in the fields earlier.

Shouldn’t he be on duty today? Why is he just lounging at home?

Mei Zhuyu was genuinely taken aback. He had never encountered an animal so eager to be close to him. The warm, furry weight in his lap made him slightly uneasy, but the sight of the soft, fluffy fur glowing in the sunlight was irresistible. Gently, he reached out and stroked the cat.

The cat didn’t resist, too busy sniffing around him. Encouraged, Mei Zhuyu rubbed its ears, the warmth and softness easing his expression. He had never been particularly fond of cats or dogs, yet for some reason, this Tabby Cat in his arms suddenly seemed utterly endearing.Wu Zhen finally found the Undying Bone. It was tucked inside a small pouch at her little husband's waist. She thought to herself, "Well, well, impressive. My little husband actually keeps this thing close to his body."

Pretending it was accidental, she hooked the small pouch with her claw and pulled it out, letting it drop onto the floor with a soft thud. Just as she was about to step on it with her paw, Mei Zhuyu suddenly scooped her up and moved her aside, picking up the pouch and reattaching it to his waist.

Wu Zhen: ...Hmph.