Chapter 390: Black Raccoon

Chapter 390: Chapter 390: Black Raccoon

"It’s Mother’s handwriting! This really is something of Mother’s!"

Although she had never seen Shen Siyi’s handwriting before, she recognized the words Shen Siyi had left behind!

This letter was written in the characters of Hua Country.

Just a few short sentences—

"The first year after the failed Moon Landing Project, I arrived in this strange place with supplies and a natural disaster. Current objective: survive."

The ink characters on the yellowed paper had been worn by the passage of time, becoming slightly blurred.

Fortunately, Shen Ningning had studied written records for so long that recognizing these characters wasn’t difficult!

The little one was extremely excited, her tears falling with soft sobs. Afraid they would dampen the letter, she quickly wiped her eyes dry.

’The Immortal Realm must be the ’supplies’ Mother mentioned, right? But what’s the ’natural disaster’?’

’Could the current natural disasters be related to Mother? And what is the Moon Landing Project?’

Shen Ningning left the Immortal Realm and padded over to the window on her small feet.

She looked up and saw the bright, distant moon, hanging in the sky like a white jade plate.

Confusion filled the little one’s eyes.

’The moon is so far away. Could Mother really go there? Maybe she failed in the end, and that’s why she fell from the sky?’

"Wow, if she can go to the sky, my mother must be an immortal!" Shen Ningning hugged the Black Wolf King, crossed her little legs, and sat down before the window.

She pointed a small finger at the moon. "Langlang, did you know? My mother can go to the moon!"

Confusion flickered in the Black Wolf King’s eyes as it, too, looked at the round moon.

It couldn’t help but let out a howl.

Howling at the moon was a wolf’s instinct.

Shen Ningning burst out laughing.

"AWOO~" she mimicked the Black Wolf King’s howl, her milky voice sweet.

Her mood brightened, and the little one recalled the Jade Rabbit Pendant that Shen Siyi had given to the palace maid, Wenxiu. The two words "Moon Landing" were carved on the bottom.

’So, that must be related to the Moon Landing Project Mother mentioned, right?’

’Maybe that Jade Rabbit was something Mother intended to bring to the moon from her hometown.’

’But because the moon landing failed, it fell here. Then she met my father, and they lived a good life together and raised a family.’

From that night on, whenever Shen Ningning saw the moon, she felt a sense of fond connection.

「A few days later.」

The plague afflicting the commoners in the city was brought under control.

The Emperor widely publicized Shen Ningning’s contribution, and the common people began to worship her as a deity.

Unfortunately, although the plague could be cured, the disease was highly contagious. As soon as one group of people recovered, another would fall ill.

Every day, the Emperor would look at the submitted memorials and get a headache just from seeing the number of infected people.

That night, a bright, clear moon illuminated everything.

Within a remote and gloomy palace path, Pei Yin led a team of imperial guards on patrol.

Suddenly, Pei Yin’s ear twitched. He heard the SQUEAK SQUEAK of a rat in the darkness.

He immediately raised a hand, his expression turning frigid as he gripped the saber at his waist with one hand.

The imperial guards went on alert, drawing their bows and arrows, preparing to shoot the vermin.

Pei Yin lowered his voice. "This is near the Cold Palace, and the rats are rampant. The Emperor has ordered the extermination of all rats in the palace to eliminate the threat of the plague. The moment you see one, shoot without hesitation."

"Yes, sir," the imperial guards acknowledged.

Since the plague began, several of the first Palace Attendants to fall ill were interrogated, and all said they had been bitten by rats.

The palace rats used to fear humans, but now they dared to bite them on their own initiative. It was truly strange.

That was why the Emperor wanted to completely eradicate the rats. Unfortunately, these creatures hiding in dark corners seemed to have gained sentience and were extremely difficult to catch.

They would smell the rat-killing powder prepared by the Imperial Hospital and flee. As for luring them with food, they wouldn’t fall for it at all.

Suddenly!

The SQUEAK SQUEAK sound in the darkness abruptly drew closer.

An imperial guard thrust his torch toward the source of the sound, revealing four or five adult palm-sized rats scurrying along the base of the wall.

Each had a hairless, thick, long tail.

"There! Nock your arrows!" Pei Yin commanded.

The rats sensed the torchlight and ran even faster, but their direction was straight toward the imperial guards.

Pei Yin’s expression changed. "Careful! Don’t let them bite you!"

The imperial guards retreated repeatedly while drawing their bows.

Several rats died under a volley of arrows.

However, one still slipped through the net. It was about to pounce on an imperial guard’s boot.

All of a sudden, a sharp meow rang out, and a black shadow leaped down from the top of the wall.

The rat was pounced upon, letting out a wretched squeak.

When the rat went still, an imperial guard shone his torch over and discovered that it was an enormous black cat, its sharp teeth clamped around the fat rat.

Pei Yin did not lower his guard, but the black cat, carrying the rat, leaped effortlessly back onto the wall and walked away with elegant strides.

It seemed to be heading in the direction of the Cold Palace.

Pei Yin frowned and made a mental note of it.

The next day, he reported the matter to the Emperor.

"Your humble servant questioned several palace maids from the Cold Palace. They can all testify that the black cat was originally a stray in the palace, but it has been fed and cared for by Abandoned Princess Consort Qi for nearly half a year."

"Furthermore, while the plague has been rampant in the palace, the Cold Palace alone has not had a single case."

This was the strangest part.

Because the Cold Palace was situated in the most remote and gloomy part of the Imperial Palace, it was a place where mosquitoes and vermin could easily breed.

Yet the plague had not affected it. Moreover, the fleeing rats Pei Yin had discovered last night had apparently been chased by the black cat, running right into them by chance.

The Emperor was somewhat surprised and pleased. "Why didn’t We think of it? Cats are the natural enemy of rats. Someone, summon Abandoned Princess Consort Qi."

Finally, the Emperor added, "And bring her cat with her."

Before long, Qi Jingchun, dressed plainly with a gaunt but calm face, entered the hall with a black cat in her arms, following Pei Yin.

"Your sinful consort pays her respects to the Emperor." She knelt on the ground to greet him, her posture as serene as ever.

The Emperor’s gaze was fixed on the black cat in her arms.

"This cat of yours, how many rats can it catch?"

Qi Jingchun lowered her head and glanced at the black cat in her arms.

She gave a faint smile. "Replying to the Emperor, his name is Li’er. When your sinful consort first arrived at the Cold Palace, I was terrified by the room full of rats and insects, but this little cat was not afraid."

"So, your sinful consort began to share a little food with him each day and has kept him by my side ever since. Wherever this little cat goes, insects and rats disappear. However, I have not yet tested his limits."

"Given his ferocity, I’m sure catching rats is no difficult task for him."

The Emperor narrowed his eyes. "Release him. We want to see just how many rats he can catch in a single day."

"If he can render a great service, We will give you a chance to be reinstated. It all depends on whether this cat can earn you that honor."

Qi Jingchun lifted her gaze. "The Emperor flatters this sinful consort. If he can be of help to you, what does it matter whether this sinful consort is reinstated or not?"

As she spoke, she bent down and placed the black cat on the floor.

The cat was not one to sit still. The moment it entered the hall, it began looking all around, its gaze wild and vigilant.

The moment its four paws touched the ground, it shot out like a black shadow.

The Emperor immediately waved his hand.

Pei Yin understood and immediately gave chase, taking several imperial guards skilled in Qinggong with him.

The Emperor wanted to know just how capable this cat was at catching rats.

During this time, Qi Jingchun remained kneeling on the floor. She kept her head lowered and said nothing, showing not the slightest ambition to curry favor.

The Emperor glanced at her twice, then ordered the Chief Eunuch to grant her a seat.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Qi Jingchun rose and, after sitting in the chair, waited quietly.

It was not until evening that Pei Yin returned with hurried steps.

"Your Majesty."

"Well? How many did it catch?"

"No fewer than a hundred, and that Black Raccoon is still running wild through the palace." Pei Yin had seen with his own eyes just how ferocious this black cat was.