Xiao Zhan's fur stood on end.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
His mother—the respected Empress Dowager of the Western Palace—was leaning in the Emperor's arms, their behavior unmistakably intimate.
The Emperor gently kissed her temple.
A chill rose from the depths of Xiao Zhan's heart.
As her son, seeing his mother like this filled him with both fury and shame.
When had his mother…
Did anyone else know?
The palace had always been full of disgraceful scandals. But she and the Emperor still held the title of mother and son.
This was utterly disgusting.
Xiao Zhan had grown up in the deep palace. He knew there were countless shameful secrets hidden there.
But he had never imagined such a thing would happen in his own family.
If his late father knew about this, he would probably climb out of his grave seeking vengeance.
Xiao Zhan's fur bristled uncontrollably. He almost leapt forward, wanting to scratch the Emperor's face.
That was the Emperor.
The entire world's beauties were at his disposal.
Why would he behave improperly with his own stepmother?
Empress Dowager Qi was indeed beautiful—but she was nearly fifty years old.
Even someone like that… the Emperor wouldn't spare?
"I will find a way, Mo'er," the Emperor murmured as he held her tightly. "Don't worry. I will save him."
Xiao Zhan's fur bristled even harder.
He was terrified the Emperor would add—
"…after all, he is my son as well."
Fortunately, he didn't.
Xiao Zhan had never even known that his mother had the nickname Mo'er. Yet the Emperor spoke it so naturally.
The thought stuck in his chest like a thorn. He wanted even more to scratch the man to death.
As a son, he instinctively sided with his mother.
Even a cold and distant mother was still a mother.
If she had done something wrong, he would naturally assume someone else had forced her.
Xiao Zhan tensed his back and restrained himself from jumping down to attack the Emperor.
If the guards caught him, the cat would likely be killed.
And if the cat died…
Would his soul die with it?
If his soul scattered, his body would probably stop breathing and begin to rot soon after.
The Emperor and Empress Dowager remained by Xiao Zhan's bedside for a long time.
At one point, the Empress Dowager even sat down and gently wiped his face with a handkerchief.
The cat lay motionless on top of the canopy bed.
Only after they left did Xiao Zhan's personal guard, He Fang, enter the room. He carefully checked everything to ensure the prince was safe before quietly leaving.
The room fell silent.
Cats could hear the breathing of ordinary people.
Xiao Zhan listened closely.
Sure enough—his body still had faint, intermittent breaths.
"How exactly did my soul leave my body?" he wondered.
"Could it really have been done by the Xiongnu shaman they brought?"
The cat remained still.
He listened to his own breathing.
"How can I return?"
Another thought came to him.
"How can I find Mingyu and ask about that sorcerer in his residence? Is the sorcerer's master even reliable?"
He didn't know the answer to any of these questions.
If only he could speak.
Then he could secretly tell Zheng Qian and ask her to help him.
Zheng Qian probably wouldn't be afraid.
After all, Xiao Zhan had seen her conjure things out of thin air.
Compared to his wandering soul, her abilities were far more terrifying.
"If there's anyone in this world who could return me to my body," Xiao Zhan thought, "it must be her."
With that thought, he stretched his limbs and prepared to leave.
He had been gone for a long time.
She was probably missing him.
He didn't know why he felt so certain.
But he just knew.
Without him, she would feel lonely.
If he disappeared, she would miss him.
Because he was her cat.
And also her life.
A faint warmth slowly spread through his usually cold heart.
As he ran back across the rooftops, the cat thought to himself—
"If I truly had to remain a cat forever… staying by her side wouldn't be so bad."
He had already grown tired of the coldness of human relationships.
Finding a peaceful place to spend this lifetime…
What would be wrong with that?
When he returned to Huining Courtyard, Zheng Qian was just about to go out searching for him.
Her face was full of worry.
The moment she saw him, her expression lit up with joy.
The maids also became excited.
"Ah Chou is back! See, we told you he wouldn't get lost."
"Ah Chou is clever. Of course he knows how to come home."
Zheng Qian picked up the cat and flicked his nose lightly.
"If you run off like that again, I'll lock you in the room. You made me worry."
Then she instructed the maids,
"Bring the braised beef from lunch for Ah Chou."
Xiao Zhan was a little hungry.
Cats couldn't taste flavors very well, but they could instinctively tell what was good for their bodies.
He quickly finished an entire bowl of braised beef.
While he was eating, Zheng Qian sat beside him watching with obvious delight.
He didn't understand what was so interesting about watching him eat.
But Zheng Qian simply liked it.
Whatever he did made her happy.
If he showed even the slightest bit of cleverness, she could stay excited the entire day.
"She's really easy to please," Xiao Zhan thought.
If he ever returned to his body…
He might as well marry her and make her his princess.
After all, she liked him so much.
"Finished eating?" Zheng Qian asked.
She picked him up again and rubbed her cheek against his fur.
"Ah Chou is such a good boy."
She took several deep "cat sniffs," unable to stop praising him.
A cat this beautiful and this clever—
she wouldn't mind praising him a hundred times a day.
She felt lucky she had come to this ancient world.
If she were still in her old life, she would definitely be posting pictures of her cat on social media every day—until her colleagues and commander blocked her.
Thinking about it made her giggle.
Xiao Zhan meowed softly at her.
Just then, Hongluan returned.
She sneaked in like a thief, lowering her voice as she whispered to Zheng Qian.
The cat could hear everything.
"I spent two taels of silver. I bribed some beggars near our residence."
Beggars?
The cat became curious and focused on their conversation.
But the two of them suddenly stopped talking.
Zheng Qian waved her hand at Hongluan.
"Alright, go back to your duties. Don't let Nanny Dai scold you."
Hongluan grinned and left happily.
Zheng Qian pressed her lips together and smiled, clearly in a good mood.
For most members of the Zheng family, today was just an ordinary day.
But Zheng Yutan was in a very good mood.
The Wen family had sent her a special invitation.
Only her.
That meant she was placed above all the other young ladies.
She had secretly instructed her maid to hint to Wen Zhao to arrange it this way.
Zheng Qian couldn't easily contact Wen Zhao.
But Zheng Yutan could.
The man was handsome and generous with money. Several pieces of jewelry from Jade Pavilion that Zheng Yutan owned were gifts from him.
Naturally, she treated him kindly.
She had sent word to him through a servant:
"If your family doesn't send me a separate invitation, I won't attend."
Wen Zhao had done exactly that.
Of course, Zheng Yutan hadn't done this because she wanted to attend the Wen family's banquet.
Nor was it because of Wen Zhao.
She simply wanted to disgust Zheng Qian.
"If she hears about it, she'll definitely be furious," Zheng Yutan thought.
Anyone who dared oppose her never had a good ending.
Madam Wen, on the other hand, hadn't objected at all.
She had even warmly invited Zheng Yutan.
It was obvious the Wen family wanted to curry favor with the Zheng household—and especially with her, the Second Miss.
But Zheng Yutan didn't care.
If it weren't for humiliating Zheng Qian, she wouldn't even want that invitation.
What was the Wen family worth?
Who cared about their respect?
A mere imperial merchant family—how could they possibly deserve the favor of Miss Zheng?
She had her maids spread the news so the entire household would know.
It was purely to embarrass Zheng Qian.
Yet the eldest sister showed no reaction at all.
That made Zheng Yutan feel slightly disappointed.
"Shouldn't she be crying in anger? Then running to Grandmother to complain about unfairness—and getting scolded?" she thought.
Looking at the invitation now, she felt bored.
Her maid Lanpei flattered her.
"Second Miss, the Wen family only sent one to you. Everyone can see who the most respected young lady in this household truly is."
Zheng Yutan smiled.
Everyone already knew.
All the friends she associated with were noble ladies.
Her social connections were something the eldest sister could never compare with.
"Still," Lanpei suddenly added, "our eldest miss's future husband is truly handsome."
Zheng Yutan immediately thought of Wen Zhao.
Truthfully, she had once been slightly tempted by him.
He was extremely handsome—more beautiful than any man she had ever seen.
And he treated her with constant devotion.
Naturally, she had felt a little moved.
But Wen Zhao's status was far too low.
How could he possibly support the grand ambitions of Miss Zheng the Second?
The next morning, Zheng Yutan went to Jade Hall Courtyard to greet the Old Madam.
She accompanied her grandmother for breakfast every day.
But on the way there, she overheard several young maids whispering.
They seemed to be talking about… the Second Miss.
Usually there were far more rumors about the eldest miss.
Yet today they were discussing her.
Zheng Yutan had sharp ears.
She said coldly to Lanpei,
"Go ask what they're saying about me."
"If it's idle gossip… beat them and sell them off."
Lanpei replied obediently and walked toward the young maids.