My rigid, jealous husband has fallen for me, even though I'm a hopeless romantic.

Chapter 170 Buying a Cat

"There's nothing wrong with it. If you have nothing to tell me, I'll go and take care of my own things." Su Yizhuo put on the expression of an old man looking at his phone on the subway.

From what he said, it sounded like he really enjoyed his work.

If he hadn't been forced, he would have packed his bags and gone traveling long ago.

The crown prince looked him up and down and, seeing that he wasn't making excuses to slack off, didn't make things too difficult for him: "If you need any help, just let me know."

"Don't worry, this is a small matter, you don't need to get involved, I can handle it myself."

"Really?"

Su Yizhuo rested his chin on his hand, looked around at the palace maids in the hall, and a thought flashed through his mind: "It's not particularly real."

"tell me the story."

"That's right..."

The crown prince stared at him and added casually, "You're short of money. How much do you need?"

Actually, Su Yizhuo didn't mean to ask for money.

He thought that if the Crown Prince could help him find a reliable human trafficker, the people he could place on the estate would be much more reassuring.

Unexpectedly, he offered to provide some financial support.

Then he will.

I'd better obey your command.

Su Yizhuo extended his palm upwards in front of the Crown Prince: "One hundred or two hundred is not too little, three hundred or four hundred is also fine. Thank you, elder brother."

Su Yizhou was already used to his way of speaking, and waved to the eunuch standing at the door.

The eunuch quickly returned with a stack of silver notes and respectfully handed them to the crown prince.

Su Yizhou casually flipped open the stack of silver notes and pushed them next to Su Yizhuo: "Five hundred taels, be careful with your money."

"Alright, brother, if you have any orders, I will do anything for you."

"Just don't spill your brains all over the place, or I'm afraid you'll hurt your sister-in-law."

"Alright, then I won't get in your way anymore. I'm off to get busy." Su Yizhuo took the silver notes, got up, and left.

With a wave of my sleeve, I leave without taking away a single cloud.

Su Yizhuo didn't waste a moment after leaving the East Palace.

Back in his palace, he summoned his closest guard and took out two banknotes from his purse: "Go find a matchmaker and buy some people with clean backgrounds and efficient work. Try to get it arranged in the next couple of days."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Also, don't reveal your identity."

"Your Highness, rest assured, I understand." The guard carefully packed up the silver notes and slipped out of the hall.

After the guards left, Su Yizhuo began to ponder who he could entrust with the position of steward of the estate.

After Wei Dongning dumped this "troublesome matter" on Su Yizhuo, she felt completely relieved.

My steps were lighter as I walked home: "Xiao Fu, do you know where I can buy a raccoon dog?"

"I know. There are places that specialize in hiring cats in the north of the city. Would you like to go there, young mistress?"

"Let's go take a look. If we find something we like, it would be best to bring it back directly." Wei Dongning pulled Xiao Fu into the carriage.

Then he instructed the coachman outside, "Go to the north of the city."

There is a place in the north of the city that resembles a modern pet market.

Wei Dongning was almost unable to walk after entering.

This place is simply paradise for pet lovers like her.

Xiao Wu sensed a strong sense of crisis in Wei Dongning's mind: "Ningbao, you don't want to buy another cat and replace me as the only cat in the house, do you?"

Wei Dongning chuckled: "You're overthinking it. Don't worry, you'll always be the only little kitty in the house."

"That's good." Xiao Wu breathed a long sigh of relief. "Do you need me to help you pick one out?"

"That would be great."

Wei Dongning was hoping that Xiao Wu could help her, after all, you can only know a cat's face but not its heart.

In this day and age, the number of veterinarians is pitifully small, and even the imperial physicians in the palace only have experience in treating humans.

If the kitten you buy is unhealthy, it will be very troublesome to get it treated.

With Xiao Wu's help, she'll definitely be able to help Su Yizhuo pick out a kitten that's sweet-looking, gentle, and healthy.

Wei Dongning and Xiao Fu carefully selected among the kittens.

The cat seller diligently followed behind them, explaining the kittens' origins to them.

Wei Dongning finally found a kitten that looked very well-behaved, but as soon as she picked it up, she heard Xiao Wu remind her in her mind: "This is an actor cat. It looks well-behaved, but it actually has a complete plan to destroy the house in its head."

Animals with black and white colors seem to have some kind of story behind them.

Huskies with their ever-bright, intelligent eyes; pandas with incredibly advanced mental states; border collies with a mind full of tricks; and the most neurotic cats: the calico cat.

It just so happens that Wei Dongning chose this very man.

Upon hearing this, Wei Dongning immediately and gently put the kitten back into its own nest.

After all, Su Yizhuo was already neurotic enough; if she got another equally neurotic cat, she worried that one of them in the family would eventually go crazy.

And the one who went mad, she worried, was the most innocent, Zhong Shuyue.

After walking a short distance, Wei Dongning took a liking to a round-looking tabby cat.

Even Xiao Fu thought this kitten was perfect: "Young Madam, how about we buy this one? It looks like it wants to be taken home by us."

“Ningbao, think this through first. The tabby cat is the strongest street urchin in the cat world. Other cats might be abandoned by their owners, but this one will actively abandon its owner.”

Wei Dongning quickly abandoned the idea.

What if Su Yizhuo raises the cat for only two days and it runs away?

The boss followed behind Wei Dongning and Xiao Fu, his smile growing increasingly stiff as they walked.

They had already selected several raccoon dogs, but hadn't made a final decision yet, and the owner was afraid that he wouldn't be able to close the deal.

"Madam, you can tell me your request, and I may be able to offer some suggestions."

“The raccoon dogs here are all very nice, but I always feel like something’s missing.” Wei Dongning shook her head wistfully.

Xiao Fu immediately completed her sentence: "May I ask if the boss has any other cats available for us to choose from?"

The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then slapped his forehead: "There is one more, but it's not as good-looking as these. I'm afraid it won't meet Madam's standards."

"Please take my young mistress to have a look first, boss."

"Alright, this way please, you two." The boss bowed slightly and gestured for them to enter.

Then they were taken to a corner.

In the corner, only a calico cat was curled up, grooming itself.

Although the owner said that the little thing was not sociable, Wei Dongning could see clearly that it was this little calico cat that was hiding from the other cats.

"Ningbao, trust me, this is the one!" Xiao Wu perked up the moment he saw the little three-flowered cat.

Wei Dongning held the little three-flowered flower in her arms, pretended to inspect it, and said to the shopkeeper with certainty, "This is it. Xiao Fu, go prepare the betrothal gifts."

"Yes, young lady."

When Gu Peiyan returned home, she was surprised to find a new member in her household. She paused for a moment, but quickly realized the purpose of the cat: "Is this the one we're going to give to the Second Prince?"

"Yes, isn't it cute?"

Gu Peiyan nodded and replied, "Yes," then continued, "Wasn't it said to be sent directly to the Second Prince?"

"I couldn't help it, this little guy is just too cute. I just couldn't resist, so I brought him back to play with Xiao Wu for a day, and I'll take him back tomorrow." Wei Dongning held the kitten's face in her hands, completely smitten.

Gu Peiyan walked over to her, squatted down, and looked the kitten over. Thinking of her own little one, she asked, "Won't Xiao Wu be jealous if you bring it home?"

"Don't worry, it won't happen," Wei Dongning replied confidently, waving her hand.

Xiao Wu, being very considerate, brought its favorite toy to the kitten, pawing at it to indicate that they could play together.

Gu Peiyan didn't originally have much affection for these little guys; her fondness for Xiao Wu was more of a case of loving the house because of the dog.

But the little guy who usually greeted him warmly as soon as he returned was now wholeheartedly devoted to the new little guy, which made him feel a little sour.

Wei Dongning looked at Gu Peiyan's tense profile with amusement, and suddenly felt an itch to touch her.

I really want to pet his head a couple of times, like petting a cat.

She remembered that his hair felt very nice to the touch.

By the time Wei Dongning realized what was happening, her hand was already on his head.

Gu Peiyan stopped reaching for Xiao Wu, and turned to look at her blankly: "What are you doing...?"

Wei Dongning subconsciously touched her hand twice before pulling it back: "If I said my hand had gained its own consciousness and was no longer under my control, would you believe me?"

She herself found the excuse somewhat absurd as soon as she uttered it.

Fortunately, Gu Peiyan chose to cooperate: "I believe you."

Then she stood up, coughed lightly, and said, "I'm going to the study first. You play with them."

"okay."

Until Gu Peiyan's figure disappeared through the doorway, Xiao Wu burst into a deafening laugh in Wei Dongning's mind: "Hahahaha, I can't take it anymore, you two are about to kill me with laughter. Ningbao, how did you come up with that excuse? The thing is, he actually believed it."

"Is it possible that he was saving face for me?"

Just thinking about what happened makes her want to disappear into the ground.

How could I have given in so easily and actually done it?

However, to be fair, Gu Peiyan's hair felt quite nice to the touch, like silk.

I didn't see any difference between the shampoo products he used and hers.

After a few minutes of calming down, Wei Dongning picked up the cat toy again and waved it in front of the new little guy: "The little guy is really good-looking."

"You're not planning to leave it at home, are you?" Xiao Wu stopped halfway through her stretch.

Wei Dongning used one hand to flick its little head: "Don't worry, it won't happen."

She kept Xiao Wu because Xiao Wu had special significance for her.

Although she likes small animals, if she were to actually keep one, she would have to be prepared to part with it.

And what she dislikes most is parting.

"Hehehehe." Xiao Wu jumped into Wei Dongning's arms and nuzzled her chest twice with its little head: "I knew that your favorite kitten is me."

As Gu Peiyan slipped into the study, she could still feel the warmth emanating from her ear.

Unconsciously mimicking Wei Dongning's actions, she reached out and touched her hair twice. Realizing what she was doing, she quickly withdrew her hand.

It seems he was really influenced by her.

And he really liked this influence.

Wei Dongning and Xiao Wu's fondness for this new little guy was obvious.

When Gu Peiyan returned from the study to prepare for bed, she saw Wei Dongning curled up on the couch reading a storybook, with the little one still lying on her lap.

Xiao Wu lay down next to them, tenderly licking the little guy's fur.

When three pairs of eyes fell on him, he felt like an intruder who had suddenly barged into their little world.

It made him think, "Maybe I should just sleep in the study tonight."

Qian Rong, carrying a basin of hot water, popped his head out from behind him: "Young Master, why don't you go inside?"

Gu Peiyan glanced at him indifferently, then calmly walked over and sat down next to Wei Dongning under the watchful eyes of everyone and the cat.

It silently asserts its sovereignty.

Sleeping in the study is impossible.

Those two little guys are the "intruders," so why should he give up his spot?

Xiao Wu glanced at Gu Peiyan, noticed the jealousy behind his calm demeanor, pouted, picked up the little guy by the scruff of his neck, lightly jumped to the ground, and swaggered back to his own nest with the little guy.

The cat bed that Wei Dongning prepared for it is large enough to comfortably accommodate two cats.

Sleeping a little one in bed is absolutely no problem.

Wei Dongning looked at Gu Peiyan, who was putting her feet into the hot water, with amusement: "What are you doing?"

"It's time to sleep."

What if I said I wasn't sleepy yet?

"Sleeping too late is bad for your health. Qianrong, go and see why Xiaofu hasn't brought over the water for the young mistress to soak her feet yet."

Before Qian Rong could reply, Wei Dongning jumped off the couch: "I'm not soaking my feet today, I'm taking a bath. You can soak here by yourself."

After saying that, she gave him a sincere smile, and under his gaze, she walked out of the room with her hands behind her back.

Even without turning around, she could guess how interesting his expression would be.

She really didn't do it on purpose; the decision to take a bath was made when she brought the kitten home.

Gu Peiyan just happened to be back at that time.

When Wei Dongning walked briskly to the bathroom, Xiao Fu was adjusting the water temperature in the bathtub for her.

She habitually dipped her hand into the water to test it: "The temperature is just right. I'll go in and soak first. Go and make me a cup of herbal tea."

"Alright, if Madam finds the water too hot, there's cool water right next to you." Xiao Fu wiped her hands clean, turned around, and walked out.

Wei Dongning deftly took off her clothes, stepped into the wooden tub, and completely immersed herself in the water.

She absolutely loves taking baths.

The most comfortable time is when you soak until you sweat slightly.

Sleep quality will improve several times over.

Wei Dongning leaned against the tub, scooping water and pouring it over herself, humming a tune: "I love taking a bath, my skin feels so good~"

When Xiao Fu brought back the brewed flower tea, she almost fell asleep comfortably.

“You’re back just in time; I was thirsty.” Wei Dongning reached out her hand to Xiao Fu.

I took the cup of flower tea at the perfect temperature and finished it in two gulps.

Standing up from the bathtub, Wei Dongning was reluctant to leave: "It felt so good. I wish I were a mermaid so I could stay here forever."

"Then Xiao Wu will probably be very happy to treat you as her delicious meal." Xiao Fu took the dry cloth hanging next to her and wrapped it around her body.

Although it's spring, the nights are still quite cool.

If you don't dry yourself off, you'll easily catch a chill when you go outside.

"Xiao Fu, you've gone bad now. You're even teasing me now, aren't you?" Wei Dongning smiled and glanced at Xiao Fu.

What I received was a soft laugh from Xiao Fu, who covered her mouth.

When they returned to their room, Xiao Wu was already asleep, cuddling with the new little guy.

Wei Dongning tiptoed to the bedside, but before she could lift the curtain, someone sitting inside pulled her in around the waist.

The sudden feeling of weightlessness almost made her scream, but her voice was silenced by warm, moist lips.