As long as I was still alive.
Wait, where did the system say I was?
The Crown Prince's bedchamber...
Shen Yangge's fur stood on end. His eyes snapped open, his paws kicked a few times, and he burst into frantic cries of "Meow, meow, meow!"
Impossible. This was absolutely impossible.
The moment his eyes met the Crown Prince's deep gaze, his entire feline body froze.
It really was this fucking Crown Prince. I was done. I couldn't live like this. Even as a cat, I still ran into this bastard. What kind of shitty luck was this?
Wait, now that I was a cat, if I bit him and got executed, would that count as dying normally?
System 615:
"Well, Host! Although the system would very much like that outcome, if you died during your punishment... the data would classify it as an accidental death and delete all information pertaining to you. You wouldn't be able to remain in this world or return to your original world."
Shen Yangge: ...So annoying! ヽ('⌒´メ)ノ
I didn't want to stay here. I wanted to go back to the Xue Residence!
Xue Pingyuan, your cat was here! Whatever you did, don't leave your cat behind and go home alone.
After that inward grumble, Shen Yangge failed to notice the Crown Prince's warm expression gradually cooling. He simply kept meowing.
"Be good. Settle down."
The Crown Prince stroked his little head, reining in his dangerous aura, though he couldn't suppress the chill in his voice. "Keep making a fuss, and I'll shave off all your fur."
What was wrong with you?!
A man could be killed, but never humiliated. Just try shaving me. I'd make you regret it!
"Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow..."
The Crown Prince pinched one of the chattering kitten's tiny fangs and fiddled with it. "Hungry? What would you like to eat?"
"Mice? Bugs?"
Shen Yangge: "Meow, meow, meow." Eat your own fucking bugs and mice.
I wanted to go home!
The Crown Prince's other hand rubbed the kitten's ears, not remaining idle for a moment.
"I'll have someone fetch you some mice."
Shen Yangge: I didn't want mice. I wanted dried fish, steamed fish, and braised pork.
"Meow, meow, meow..."
Why bother saying so much? You couldn't understand me anyway, you fucking Crown Prince.
Tired of shouting, Shen Yangge simply turned his head aside, no longer willing to bother with him.
By dinnertime, Shen Yangge was a thoroughly listless cat, radiating unhappiness from head to tail.
Just as he thought his dinner would consist of a dead mouse and a few nauseating bugs, a palace maid brought in plate after plate of fragrant dishes.
Before his momentary surprise had passed, the Crown Prince had already carried him to a seat. He picked up a piece of braised pork with his chopsticks and held it before Shen Yangge's mouth, his voice cold but coaxing. "Open up."
Shen Yangge's feline eyes widened. "Meow, meow."
Was I dreaming? Braised pork, steamed fish... dried fish, sweet-and-sour ribs... goat's milk?
Wait, why was this spread exactly the same as at the Xue Residence? Had the fucking Crown Prince already discovered that he was the cat Xue Pingyuan had taken in?
Then why wouldn't he send him back to the Xue Residence?!
He was Xue Pingyuan's cat now!
The Crown Prince rubbed the kitten's ears. "Not eating?"
"Would you prefer mice?"
Shen Yangge was so angry he almost laughed, but after going hungry all day, he had no strength left to keep arguing with the Crown Prince. Afraid that the mad Crown Prince would feed him mice, he bit down on the braised pork.
Grease smeared all around his mouth.
The Crown Prince picked up a piece of dried fish next.
The two coexisted peacefully for half an hour. Once Shen Yangge had eaten and drunk his fill, the Crown Prince took out a handkerchief, carefully wiped the greasy crumbs from his mouth, then squeezed his paw pads. Shen Yangge grew drowsy all over.
Before long, he could no longer hold out. His eyes closed, and he fell asleep. The Crown Prince lowered his gaze and watched his sleeping face for a long time.
Ever since learning that his cat had gone missing, Xue Pingyuan had looked even more menacing. He fiercely "scolded" the little prince to tears, though despite calling it "scolding," he hadn't breached a single rule of propriety.
As for why the little prince had cried, he had most likely been overwhelmed by the unexpected assignment to "recite and copy the Book of Songs." Unable to accept it yet unable to refuse, he had burst into loud sobs.
Consort Xue had also given the little prince a stern reprimand.
As for the palace maid named Shaoyao, she was punished for handing the cat to the little prince without permission and causing him to go missing. She had to kneel for an entire day and forfeited half a month's wages.
People couldn't be sent searching through the inner palace at will, either. Xue Pingyuan paced anxiously back and forth in Consort Xue's palace.
"Aunt, it's getting late. I should leave the palace."
Consort Xue said, "Don't worry, Yuan'er. The kitten went missing here with me, so I'll send people to look for him. As soon as he's found, I'll have him sent out to you."
"Sorry for the trouble, Aunt."
"Rest assured."
In the end, Xue Pingyuan had no choice but to leave the palace alone. Without the little kitten, he felt as though something was missing from his life. Although the kitten had only been with him a very short time, he was so humanlike that Xue Pingyuan sometimes even had the absurd thought that he was a person transformed into a cat.
Over the next few days, Xue Pingyuan frequently entered the palace for audiences with the emperor, then stopped by Consort Xue's quarters on his way out to search for his missing kitten.
Had the little kitten been eating and sleeping well these past few days? Was he huddled pitifully in some corner, gnawing on a dirty steamed bun?
Had some huge rat frightened him?
Xue Pingyuan worried himself sick. Finally, on the fifth day, he received news of the kitten: the Crown Prince had found him and taken him in.
Xue Pingyuan was stunned by the news. Not only was this kitten beautiful, but his luck was just as "beautiful." Why was everyone who found him someone of such high status?
And just how exalted was the Crown Prince?
Having spent years stationed at the border, Xue Pingyuan knew little of what had happened to the Crown Prince over the years. Still, he had always believed the Crown Prince possessed both virtue and talent, a distinguished gentleman of extensive reading and profound learning.
Now that he had news of his cat.
Xue Pingyuan breathed a sigh of relief, only to become troubled again. How exactly should he explain that the kitten belonged to him?
And how should he ask the Crown Prince to return him?
As he pondered this, the gates of the Eastern Palace were already before him.
After repeated consideration, Xue Pingyuan finally stepped across the threshold of the Eastern Palace.
At that moment, the Crown Prince was holding a strip of dried fish between his clean, slender fingers, waving it before the kitten.
As he watched the kitten bristle in helpless frustration, a trace of amusement lay hidden in his otherwise unruffled eyes.
"Your Highness, General Xue requests an audience."
A eunuch hurried inside and delivered the message.
The Crown Prince fed the dried fish into the kitten's mouth and raised an eyebrow. "Show him in."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The kitten chewed the dried fish in his mouth. "Meow, meow."
Xue Pingyuan, you'd finally come! Hurry and take me away!
I really couldn't stand this fucking Crown Prince anymore.
A finger scratched beneath his chin, and Shen Yangge immediately began purring in comfort.
Yet the words leaving his mouth were curses. "Meow, meow." You fucking Crown Prince, don't think you could keep taking advantage of me!
Still trying to work out what to say, Xue Pingyuan entered and saw this scene. He was at a loss. The Crown Prince liked the kitten so much-if he insisted on taking him back... would that make the Crown Prince lose face?
"Meow, meow!"
Xue Ping...
Halfway through his cry, the person behind him pinched his mouth shut with two fingers.
(P.S. The Crown Prince could only hear Shen Yangge's thoughts.)
Before you continue