Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Once I learned what cats were saying, I began to like some and dislike others.

In my opinion, Jade Lion of Yunxiao Palace was the worst-mannered cat in the entire imperial residence.

He was a large white longhair of a breed sent in tribute from a foreign kingdom, a great fluffy ball whenever he sat down. I had once thought him rather handsome—until he opened his mouth.

Jade Lion spoke with a foreign accent and even looked down on our native cats.

Beauty had reached adolescence, and I had occasionally heard her discuss what young female cats looked for in a mate.

They already tended to dislike white cats. Temperament mattered too; female cats preferred gentle, considerate males.

Jade Lion had tried to force himself on Beauty and then attacked her. That placed him firmly on the blacklist.

I wholeheartedly approved of my cat’s standards and intended to support them.

Beauty soon went into heat.

She stayed indoors, but nearly every tom in the palace prowled and fought on my roof each night. The noise kept me from sleeping.

Oddly enough, Beauty remained unmoved by every suitor. She spent her days meditating beneath my bed. When I questioned her, she said nothing, wearing the air of a grown daughter who no longer needed her mother.

She neither ate nor drank nor came out. When the noise became unbearable, she would unleash one piercing stream of abuse.

One night the toms were fighting as violently as ever, accompanied by a chorus of insults.

“Who do you think you are? Does your pee stink as much as mine?”

“Mine stinks worse!”

“I’ll spray you—”

The battle sounded fiercer than it had on previous nights. I heard Jade Lion and wondered if the little bastard had escaped, so I got up to look.

The strongest cat in the palace was Ink Pearl, the Crown Prince’s tom. He was black from head to toe except for a dash of white on his tail.

By my standards, he was an excellent specimen: glossy fur, powerful build. Ink Pearl was steady-tempered and quiet. Unless another cat provoked him, he rarely fought.

Yet tonight he and Jade Lion were locked in a ferocious battle. White fur drifted everywhere in the moonlight.

Jade Lion was even larger than Ink Pearl, especially with his fur puffed out. His immense shape made the other cats retreat instinctively.

Ink Pearl fought calmly, without haste. He did not even bristle or make a sound.

Jade Lion swung both forepaws until they were nearly smoking and still barely touched him.

“I’ll destroy you! Behold my might!” he shouted all the while.

The instant his guard slipped, Ink Pearl lunged and grappled him. The two rolled off the roof together, kicking at each other even in midair.

Ink Pearl landed lightly and sprang upright without a scratch.

Jade Lion was so frightened that he sprayed urine and began to howl. I could no longer make out what he was saying. Perhaps it was mindless screaming; perhaps his accent had become too thick.

The other cats, thoroughly intimidated, scattered without daring to challenge Ink Pearl.

Ink Pearl glanced at me, climbed back to the roof in a few quick bounds, and sat beneath the moon.

Magnificent.

Mother Consort returned first thing the next morning, angrier than before.

“Where is that beast of yours? Bring it out and beat it to death!”

I stared at her. “Why?”

What kind of mouth did she have, to say something so vicious without hesitation?

“You still ask why? That beast of yours is the reason Jade Lion was hurt!”

“Jade Lion fought the Crown Prince’s Ink Pearl last night. Beauty wasn’t involved.”

“Would those toms have fought if your beast hadn’t gone into heat?” she demanded. “Naturally, the source of the trouble must be removed.”

I frowned. “That’s absurd. No one is touching my cat.”

“You don’t get a choice. Search the residence! Find that cat!”

My servants did not move. Instead, they barred the way of hers.

Mother Consort looked stunned. “Have you all rebelled?”

It was the first time I had openly opposed her since receiving my own small residence.

“Fifth Sister never specifically demanded Beauty’s death,” I said. “There are other ways to appease her.”

I did not think it would be difficult. Mother Consort might live by attaching herself to the Empress, but she was still one of the Empress’s important confidantes. Surely the Empress would grant her this much face.

Mother Consort only stared at me. “Have you lost your mind over a worthless cat?”

“I love her,” I emphasized.

“Love is useless. She offended Yunxiao Palace.”

Disappointment settled over me. She simply could not be bothered to expend the slightest effort on my behalf.

“Take my advice and stop being stubborn. Look at your rank. How can you compare with Yunxiao Palace?”

“Because my mother is a coward.”

She froze. “What did you say?”

I smiled. “I said you were a coward.”

She tried to slap me. I stepped back, and her hand cut through empty air.

That seemed to bewilder her. My attendants and hers stood facing one another, and for the first time, I saw fear in her expression.

I gave a quiet laugh.

For years I had studied through bitter winters and scorching summers without ever relaxing. My schoolwork ranked first among all the princesses.

She did not care. Academic achievement was merely decoration for a princess.

At last year’s poetry gathering, I had won first prize and earned this small residence.

She could never have imagined that I had done it for only two reasons: no one would ever control me again, and no one would ever control my cat.

Mother Consort flew into a rage.

“Don’t think I can’t discipline you just because your wings have hardened! Tomorrow I’ll find you an ungrateful wolf of a husband!”

After a great deal of impotent fury, she left.

I knew she would not give up.

Sometimes I wondered whether I truly counted as her biological child. I had reincarnated into this body before birth. She had delivered me, but my soul belonged to me alone.

Over the years, I had felt a child’s attachment to her. Now, however, I saw straight through her bluster.

Her plan was obvious. Before Yunxiao Palace could say a word, I was supposed to kill my cat and go beg forgiveness.

The Empress would sigh, “Child, there was no need to go so far,” while feeling secretly pleased. Then the whole affair would be over.

If I refused, however, the Empress would not make a public issue of it. Should Father hear that they had created such a commotion over a cat, he would consider it ridiculous, and both the Empress and Fifth Sister would lose face.

Mother Consort had considered every angle. In a single phrase, she possessed a remarkable talent for groveling upward.

But her choices had nothing to do with me.

She had once used her daughter’s sacrifice to buy favor.

I would not allow her to use my cat the same way.