"Xuan'er, put the cat down first," Xin Zizhao walked over and asked Wei Shuxuan to put down the cat in her arms. "There seems to be something tied to this cat."
"Really?" Hearing this, Wei Shuxuan put down the tabby cat in her hand, exposing its soft belly. Sure enough, she saw a bamboo tube tied with a thin fishing line on it. "There really is something. What is it?"
"Let's open it and see."
Wei Shuxuan took off the bamboo tube from the cat's belly. When she opened it, she found a small piece of paper rolled into a ball. She frowned and opened it. There were just a few simple sentences written on it: "Zhang and Jin join hands, the Eleventh Prince agrees. Be extremely careful."
"What does this mean? I don't understand at all," Wei Shuxuan said. She couldn't figure out the meaning immediately, but Xin Zizhao beside her showed a solemn expression.
"It means that Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin are going to join hands against me, and the Eleventh Prince has also agreed to cooperate with them. It's a warning for me to be careful. Xuan'er, see if there's a signature?"
"There's no signature. Do you know who wrote this for you?" Wei Shuxuan looked at the bottom right corner. There was no name at all.
"I don't know. I have no idea who is giving me this tip-off."
Seeing Xin Zizhao's troubled expression, Wei Shuxuan smiled. "Don't worry. Let's investigate together. If the person who wrote this letter deliberately sent it to us, then the appearance of this tabby cat here is definitely not a coincidence. Moreover, judging from the fur color of this tabby cat, it seems to be well - taken care of. It doesn't look like a stray cat. Let's find the cat's owner."
"How can you find the cat's owner?" Xin Zizhao looked at Wei Shuxuan and raised a question.
The corner of Wei Shuxuan's lips curled up. She showed a mysterious smile. "I have my own ways."
Outside the Fenghe Palace, Xin Zizhao stood behind Wei Shuxuan. "Are you sure this way we can find the cat's owner?"
"Of course! Cats recognize their owners. By following this cat, we can find its owner. Xin Zizhao, just trust me."
Hearing Wei Shuxuan's confident words, Xin Zizhao had no choice but to follow her behind the tabby cat. Judging from the route the tabby cat was taking, it seemed to be heading towards the Qianyu Palace...
"Isn't this the way to the Qianyu Palace? Should we follow it there?" Xin Zizhao was thinking of a possibility, but after careful consideration, it seemed unlikely.
"Do you mean this cat might be raised by your father?" Wei Shuxuan turned her head and looked at Xin Zizhao. Xin Zizhao didn't say a word. His silence was a tacit agreement. "What? Aren't you quite sure yourself?"
"I don't know. I'm not very familiar with my father. I don't know what he likes, and he doesn't know what I like either."
"After all, you're still resenting your father. Even though you don't say it in your heart, your face gives you away. I can see it clearly. But actually, he does know what you like."
This remark piqued Xin Zizhao's interest. "Then tell me, what do I like?"
Wei Shuxuan gave him a bright smile and pointed at herself. Xin Zizhao was immediately amused by Wei Shuxuan. Seeing that the tabby cat was about to walk far away, he said, "Okay, okay, stop fooling around. Let's catch up quickly, or the cat will run away."
Watching the tabby cat nimbly slip through the crack of the door of the Qianyu Palace, Wei Shuxuan and Xin Zizhao quickly chased after it and also entered the Qianyu Palace. When they saw the cat, it was already nestled in Emperor Jinzheng's arms.
"Why did you come here?" Emperor Jinzheng slowly raised his head, with a kind smile on his weather - beaten face.
"Of course we came to visit you, Father," Xin Zizhao said.
Wei Shuxuan pulled at Xin Zizhao's hem. Xin Zizhao glanced at her and said, "Your son and Xuan'er came to see how you've been lately, Father."
"Very well, very well. I haven't lived such a comfortable life for a long time. I can raise some flowers and play with the cat when I'm free. It's very pleasant."
"Seeing that you're doing so well, I'm relieved, Father," Wei Shuxuan said.
"My daughter - in - law is still the most considerate one. Hahaha..." Emperor Jinzheng seemed quite happy.
Seeing that Emperor Jinzheng was in a good mood, Wei Shuxuan began to probe. "Father, is this cat yours?"
"Yes. Does my daughter - in - law like cats?" Emperor Jinzheng stroked the tabby cat lying comfortably on his lap.
"Yes, of course I do! Kittens are super cute! Father, you must have raised this cat for a long time, right? Its fur looks really good!" Wei Shuxuan got a little excited when talking about cats.
"Not for a long time. I've only raised it for two or three months. I picked it up when I was traveling outside. I thought it was pitiful. It became healthy after just over a month with me."
"So it's your cat, Father..."
If it was Emperor Jinzheng's cat, the handwriting on the note was completely different from Emperor Jinzheng's usual handwriting. So the person who wrote the letter was not the same as the cat's owner. If so, then who was the person who wrote the letter? Who was giving Xin Zizhao this tip - off?
"Father, do you know where this cat usually goes to play?"
"Um... I don't know. I'm old and don't have the energy to play with this little cat. Why? Did the cat bother you?"
Wei Shuxuan quickly waved her hand. "No, of course not. I like it so much that I couldn't possibly dislike it. I just want to know where it goes to play so that I can go and play with it."
On the way back to the Fenghe Palace, Wei Shuxuan pulled Xin Zizhao and walked while thinking with her head down. Xin Zizhao looked at her. "Well? Do you have any clues?"
"No. I'm thinking that your father has already abdicated. He shouldn't be concerned about these court affairs anymore. It can't be him who wrote the letter. You should recognize your father's handwriting."
Xin Zizhao nodded. "I do. The handwriting on the note seems a bit more childish. It doesn't look like Father's. It can't be him."
"So now we have to start all over again. Let's go back to the Fenghe Palace. Let's check the place where we met the cat."
"Okay."
They saw the tabby cat in the back garden of the Fenghe Palace. Wei Shuxuan found half a fishbone in the grass. She guessed that the person who sent the letter must have thrown the fishbone in to lure the tabby cat to jump into the room from the eaves so that they could receive that little note.
"This person is really smart. He actually used a cat to send us a letter."