Although Xiang Minghou had seen it once before, he was still shocked by it. It was truly beautiful. The one in his memory wasn’t nearly as plump as the one before him.

"PFFT... COUGH, COUGH..."

Ye Qianning was drinking her soup when her eyes inadvertently glanced at the so-called White Spirit, causing her to choke and start coughing uncontrollably.

Xiang Minghou quickly set the cage down and gently patted her back with his large hand. "Slow down. No one’s going to steal it from you."

"Cough... Dad, this is the White Spirit?" Ye Qianning asked after catching her breath.

"That’s right. The White Spirit possesses a pair of blue eyes that seem to hold the colors of heaven and earth. There’s no mistaking it," Xiang Minghou said with high praise.

"..."

No matter how Ye Qianning looked at it, the creature before her was just a long-haired cat—and a modern Ragdoll at that. This particular one was exceptionally beautiful, soft, and cute.

It could be considered a top-grade specimen. In the modern world, its face and features would fetch over a hundred thousand, easily.

Not only was this cat beautiful, but its build was also incredible. It was very fat and so fluffy that one could fall for it at first sight.

The White Spirit stood up, arched its back, stretched its front paws, then its back paws, shook its entire furry body, and sat down, its blue eyes scanning its surroundings.

"Wow, it’s so beautiful," the butler exclaimed in amazement.

Xiang Minghou also stared at it intently.

’A bunch of ugly freaks, all coveting this princess’s beauty. Toads.’

"..."

The moment Ye Qianning saw it, she knew it was arrogant to the bone, but she hadn’t expected it to be even more conceited than she’d imagined.

"General, look, the creature is looking at me," the butler said excitedly.

’A withered eggplant spirit.’ The White Spirit cursed internally as it shifted its gaze, sweeping past Xiang Minghou before landing on Ye Qianning. Its blue eyes froze.

Ye Qianning sat back down and continued eating. It was just a Ragdoll cat, what was the big deal? Everyone was making such a fuss.

’This one’s looks are barely passable.’ The White Spirit tilted its head and let out a meow.

Its voice was delicate and soft, cute enough to melt anyone’s heart.

The butler was utterly smitten. Knowing how precious it was, he didn’t dare to touch it.

"It truly lives up to its name. Even its cry is so pleasant to hear." Xiang Minghou wasn’t fond of animals, but even he couldn’t help but praise it upon hearing its meow.

"...It’s alright, I guess. Dad, stop staring at it. The food is getting cold." No matter how nice it sounded, it was still just a cat’s meow.

’Cats are sneaky. Don’t be fooled by its soft cries; it’s either begging for food or cursing at you.’

"It’s quite pretty. You don’t like it?" Xiang Minghou sat down at the table.

"I don’t. I’ll have someone send it back later. I have no intention of raising it." ’Just one look and I can tell it’ll be a handful. Ragdolls are extremely picky eaters, and they get upset stomachs easily if their food isn’t right.’

She didn’t have the time to take meticulous care of it.

"I heard Gu Shuo nearly lost his life on this trip to Yu State. Despite the danger over there, he still remembered to bring you a gift. That’s quite thoughtful of him. You should accept it," Xiang Minghou said.

"Huh? Dad, why are you suddenly sticking up for him?" Ye Qianning tilted her head suspiciously.

"I just feel that this little creature is innocent." Xiang Minghou knew Gu Shuo very well. If Pangtuan were to send the White Spirit back, the little thing probably wouldn’t survive.

Ye Qianning recalled what Gu Shuo had said at Nianyunjian and instantly understood her father’s meaning.

’If she rejected it, Gu Shuo would never take back something he had already given away.’

"Then let the concubines raise it."

"Better not."

"Why?"

"Your Aunt Liu was never entered into the family registry, so she is a free woman. In my position, I can’t hold her back. I’ve already bought her a house and land and let her leave the estate. As for the other concubines in the rear courtyard, they still refuse to leave and have been causing a fuss these past few days. How would they have the mind to care for the White Spirit?" Xiang Minghou had a massive headache.

Ye Qianning knew the concubines were all good people, and the General’s estate certainly had room for them. She just didn’t understand why these women, all beautiful and in the prime of their lives, would want to hide away in the General’s rear courtyard.

"Dad, do the concubines have any enemies?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Minghou lowered his eyes and thought carefully, then shook his head. "Their backgrounds are all clean. We didn’t find any enemies."

"Since the concubines don’t want to leave, Dad, don’t make things difficult for them. They rarely step outside the main gate, let alone their own courtyards. Just let them stay."

’To willingly hide in the rear courtyard, they must be hiding from someone.’

Xiang Minghou sighed helplessly. They were all shrewd women. Fortunately, since entering the estate, they had never stirred up trouble, weren’t competitive, and were also quite good to Pangtuan.

Otherwise, he would have thrown them out one by one long ago.

"General, Young Miss, Dean Chen has arrived," a servant reported.

"Quickly, invite him in." Xiang Minghou stood up.

Ye Qianning was also delighted and hopped down from her chair.

A moment later, the servant led Dean Chen into the main hall.

"Dean, please take the seat of honor," Xiang Minghou said, clasping his hands in a formal gesture.

"We’re not strangers. There’s no need for such formalities," Dean Chen said with a laugh.

"Master, what are you doing here?" Ye Qianning ran over happily.

"I heard you had returned to the estate, so I came to see you." Dean Chen chuckled and stroked his beard. ’It’s only been a few days. How does the little girl seem to have gotten even chubbier?’

"Master, since you’re here, you should stay. After the Emperor’s birthday banquet, we can return to the academy together, alright?" Ye Qianning pulled him to a seat. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Hehe, your master hadn’t even said anything, and you’ve already guessed my intentions." That was exactly what Dean Chen was thinking. He turned and said, "It seems this old man will have to impose on the General’s estate for a few days."

"Dean, what are you saying? Your presence brings light to my humble abode."

"I didn’t expect you, kid, to have learned to speak the language of officialdom," Dean Chen teased.

"Dean, please don’t make fun of me."

’This old coot looks like an ancient ginseng root.’ The White Spirit’s dark blue eyes swept over him.

Ye Qianning couldn’t help but glare at it.

’Meow~’ Noticing the little girl staring at it, the White Spirit tilted its head, blinking its eyes. ’This little brat’s gaze is quite sharp.’

Hearing the meow, Dean Chen noticed the fluffy white ball in the cage. "Oh, is this the White Spirit?"

"It’s just a cat."

"No, this is the White Spirit. Its voice is like a cat’s, but it isn’t a cat. I’ve heard they are the guardian spirits of the mountains. It can’t be easy to catch one. Where did you get it?" Dean Chen reached out to pet it.

The White Spirit shrank its head back, its eyes filled with disdain.

"A gift from Boss Gu," Ye Qianning said.

Dean Chen tactfully withdrew his hand. "The Gu family is truly generous. This creature is a treasure from head to toe. You must hide it well, lest someone with ill intentions captures it."

"A treasure how?" Ye Qianning asked, confused.

"Its heart, liver, and eyes are all great tonics for humans. And rumor has it that eating the heart of a White Spirit can cure all diseases."

"..."

’Cure all diseases?’

’What is it, the elixir of life?’

Ye Qianning couldn’t help but crouch down to take a closer look, her small hand stroking its fur. It looked so much like a Ragdoll cat, but upon closer inspection, its mouth was indeed a little different.

A cat’s mouth has a cleft connecting to its nose, but the White Spirit didn’t have one. Moreover, its nose was round.

’Hmph, brat. Seeing as you’re so plump from eating well, this princess will permit you to touch me.’ The White Spirit lay in its cage, meowing at her with its blue eyes fixed on her.

Outwardly, it just looked like it was fawning over her and trying to be cute.

"It seems the little thing has taken a liking to you." Dean Chen hadn’t even been able to touch it a moment ago.

Ye Qianning gave it a couple of strokes and then, just as the White Spirit was clearly enjoying it, withdrew her hand. "It’s just a fat cat. If you like it, Master, I’ll give it to you."