Chapter 1: You Gotta Be Kidding Me, Officer, Arresting a Food Thief…

Perched atop the palace walls of vermilion and emerald tiles was a cat.

This was a spirited little feline with lush fur, an agile build, and slender limbs. Only the fur on its face puffed out, giving it an adorably round visage.

Oh, a stray cat, remarked passing palace staff who found it amusing, tilting their heads to tease it. But the cat paid no mind, continuing on its own path.

Who’s a stray?

Time was tight—she needed to reach the Imperial Kitchen for food and had no leisure to linger for random humans!

Yun Huan kept her gaze forward, quickening her pace toward the Imperial Kitchen. The walls were topped with glazed tiles, and the pathways wove through intersecting alleys, yet she knew them intimately. Her four petite paws moved with nimble speed, landing without a sound, leaving only rounded plum-blossom prints in their wake.

Even from a distance, she caught the aroma—today, the Imperial Kitchen was preparing red-braised pork! Joy!

The air also carried the scent of live fish, fresh and tempting. She wondered if they’d be serving fish tonight.

The kitten’s pink nose twitched in the air, her whiskers lifting slightly, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Just two courtyards away from the Imperial Kitchen, Yun Huan, confident in her route, leaped onto a windowsill as usual, planning to ascend to the eaves.

Huh? These two courtyards had people? They’d always been empty before.

Yun Huan intended to peek inside, but the moment her paws touched the window frame, her ears twitched. The few cat hairs she’d left by her bed before leaving had alerted her—someone had entered her room and was looking for her.

She wasn’t on duty today, hence her stealthy transformation into a cat to forage by daylight. To avoid appearing as if she’d vanished, she’d left a decoy on her bed, feigning sleep.

But if others couldn’t wake her, it’d turn into a horror story.

Yun Huan immediately dashed back. Fortunately, it wasn’t far, and she gradually awoke in time. What is it? she asked.

Are you feeling alright today? The palace maid who’d come to summon her sounded apologetic. It’s your time of the month—we shouldn’t be calling on you. But we’re short-handed, and the newer maids who joined last year don’t know their way around yet. Mo Gugu sent me to ask if you could guide them to the flower garden. She’ll compensate you with two days of Bathing Leave after today.

Mo Gugu is too kind. With His Highness the Crown Prince returning to the capital, it’s only right we work harder, Yun Huan replied. The woman before her was unfamiliar—likely one of Mo Gugu’s attendants. Yun Huan struggled to distinguish faces, but a calm downward glance revealed a peach-blossom embroidered pouch at her waist, identifying her. Thank you for making the trip, Bi Tao.

Not at all, Bi Tao said with a smile.

After exchanging pleasantries, Yun Huan changed clothes and headed out, a tightening, dragging pain spreading through her body.

It wasn’t her menstrual cycle, but she truly wasn’t in good condition.

The moon affected her Demon Power—it peaked during the full moon, but on new and dark moons when the sky held no moonlight, her power waned. As a half-demon, maintaining human form during these times was strenuous, and she feared exposure. Thus, she often used her monthly Bathing Leave on these days.

Today, the weakness felt particularly intense. She’d have to make this quick. Gritting her teeth, she tightened her grip on the white jade token hidden in her sleeve.

Leading the group to the gate, she presented her Waist Token to the guards. They meticulously recorded the number of people exiting and the reason, stamping the ledger with a vermilion seal before waving them through.

Thank you for your trouble, Captain. Yun Huan smiled, her cat-like eyes curving mischievously. Her pupils were unusually light, the color of honey-brown, exquisitely beautiful, as if hiding a mysterious swirling pattern that could draw one in if stared at for too long.

The guard couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze, flushing as he said, It’s our duty. His Highness the Crown Prince is returning to the capital, so we’ve tightened inspections. Your palace must be busy these days because of this too?

Quite so, Yun Huan replied with a light laugh.

Exiting the palace gate, they stepped onto the broad Palace Road. High walls topped with tiles rose on both sides, and looking up, one could see the imposing Arrow Tower in the distance. Beyond the Arrow Tower stood even larger palace structures, where distant upturned eaves were faintly visible.

The towering palace walls seemed endless when standing within them.

A young eunuch hunched his shoulders and whispered, Is the Crown Prince truly returning? My fellow townsman in the Imperial Kitchen said the same. The scale of preparations these past few days is terrifying – even last year’s imperial coronation wasn’t this grand.

Zhao Liu! a young palace maid scolded him. Stop spouting nonsense! You might not value your life, but I do!

Enough, both of you, Yun Huan interjected. Do you want to be dragged to the Palace Justice Department?

Both fell silent, Zhao Liu shrinking his neck further as if wishing to vanish into the ground. After a moment, he hesitantly asked, Sister Yun, what did the previous dynasty’s Palace Justice Department really look like? Was it really as dark as the old-timers say, where people went in standing and came out lying down?

Being young and newly entered into palace service this year, he couldn’t help his curiosity.

Just shut up, Linglong cut in sharply. His Majesty has only been enthroned for a year, and you’re already mentioning the previous dynasty? If this were the previous regime, ten heads wouldn’t be enough to pay for your loose tongue!

Both of you, stop, Yun Huan said with a cheerful smile. The veteran palace servants from the previous dynasty had a saying… the more you know, the quicker you die. Everyone who knew what the previous Palace Justice Department looked like is dead. They say the resentment there runs deep. When the rebel army stormed the palace later, that’s where they went first. The stories say it was horrifying – even the high beams were charred black, and it’s still haunted now.

His Majesty had formally ascended the throne just last year, while over the preceding decades, the palace’s master had changed three times in rapid succession.

With each change, batches of palace servants would perish, giving rise to numerous long-circulated ghost stories.

Her tone remained light and smiling, yet an inexplicable chill settled in the air, making the young maid and eunuchs shiver simultaneously.

Having successfully frightened the four youngsters with her eerie delivery, Yun Huan finally enjoyed peace for the rest of the journey. Walking ahead, she stole a discreet smile when no one was looking.

Perfect – no more questions!

As a half-blood cat demon born within the palace walls, she had witnessed many events from the previous dynasty but couldn’t speak freely, fearing she might accidentally reveal her true nature.

As for whether the Palace Justice Department truly had ghost stories… well, as the most senior presence here, her word was final.

After collecting several new potted plants from the flower room, Yun Huan took a shortcut back to Danfeng Palace, quickening her pace. The small jade token in her sleeve burned as if on fire, while her body felt increasingly strong pulling sensations that made her sway slightly.

She needed to return quickly – her human form was becoming difficult to maintain.

After responding to Mo Gugu, she immediately turned back to her room. Seeing her pale face drenched in cold sweat, Mo Gugu concernedly instructed Linglong to help her return.

Yun Huan clutched the jade token tightly all the way. Upon hearing Linglong close the door behind her, she immediately cast an Obscuration Spell, placing a decoy on the bed so anyone entering would only see her sleeping with closed eyes.

In the next moment, the girl’s slender figure shrank and distorted like clay, leaping off the bed. In the blink of an eye, a cat appeared in the room.

With a clatter, the white jade token fell to the floor.

Yun Huan picked it up in her mouth and shook it. A faint glimmer flashed across the plain, unadorned surface of the token before it went completely still.

She spat the token onto the floor with a soft thud, a troubled expression faintly visible on the kitten’s furry face.

The Demon Power inside had been depleted.

That was close—she almost gave herself away in front of Mo Gugu. If she had transformed into a cat in front of others, it would have become a real ghost story.

Yun Huan subtly sighed in relief, then jumped onto the table and ate two pastries. With food entering her system, her depleted Demon Power finally recovered slightly. With a flick of her tail, the jade token on the floor transformed into a small jade bead, tracing an arc through the air before obediently settling into the collar around her neck.

Normally, when she transformed into a cat, the token would automatically change shape along with her. Today it hadn’t—clear evidence that her Demon Power was completely drained. Yun Huan felt somewhat troubled and let out a small sigh. Lately, for some reason, her Demon Power was depleting unusually quickly.

During previous months’ beginnings and ends, she would at most feel particularly weak, never to the extent of reverting to her true form before sunset and having to place a decoy on the bed.

What exactly was going on!

There were no other demons in the palace, so Yun Huan had no one to ask even if she wanted to. The small cat sat upright in place, tail neatly coiled around her front paws, her expression unusually serious as if pondering some major issue.

Whenever she reverted to her original form, her thinking and behavior patterns would involuntarily shift toward feline tendencies. After pondering for a while, her focus gradually drifted as the tantalizing aroma of pastries wafted into her nostrils.

Never mind—she’d already eaten two earlier, might as well finish them all.

Well, if her roommate asked, she’d just say it wasn’t her who ate them—it was the cat.

After all, it really was the cat who ate them.

Having reached this conclusion in two seconds, Yun Huan finished all the pastries on the plate, then jumped to her cup and drank the warm tea. She even dipped a paw in water to wash her face, finally alleviating that burning hunger sensation.

Whenever her Demon Power was suppressed, she would become ravenously hungry—something her meager cultivation as a young cat demon couldn’t control. After all, there were only two ways to replenish Demon Power: eating or cultivation.

Compared to those great demons who were thousands of years old, Yun Huan was far too young without any efficient cultivation methods, leaving only eating as an option. Coincidentally, with insufficient Demon Power to maintain human form all day, she would be human during daytime and transform into a cat at night, secretly sneaking into the Imperial Kitchen for extra meals.

Lately her hunger had become particularly intense, and ghost stories had begun circulating in the Imperial Kitchen about a deeply resentful evil spirit visiting every night. One evening, all eighty fish kept in the water tank had mysteriously disappeared.

That was eighty live, flopping Yellow River carp! Even a master thief couldn’t have transported them without alerting anyone, so after private discussions, everyone unanimously concluded—it couldn’t have been an inside job, it must be the work of evil spirits. Rumor has it the palace is taking this seriously and has already dispatched investigators. Recently, a squad of Imperial Guards has been stationed near the Imperial Kitchen, though Yun Huan hasn’t seen them yet.

Whether it’s evil spirits or not, Yun Huan is certainly starving every day… She works hard all day, so it’s only normal to have a midnight snack, right?

Yeah, that’s it.

Yun Huan licked her lips, flicked her tail, and decided to make another trip to the Imperial Kitchen. At this hour, dinner should be freshly prepared—hot braised pork belly tastes much better than when it’s cold.

As for Demon Power, she could worry about that later. First, solve the immediate problem: eating!

She slipped out through the window with practiced ease, leaped onto the wall, and followed it to the vicinity of the Imperial Kitchen. Originally, this was just a small kitchen closest to Danfeng Palace. Because the Emperor and Empress were deeply devoted to each other and there was only one consort in the rear palace, the original Imperial Kitchen gradually fell into disuse, while this small kitchen rose to prominence and became the new Imperial Kitchen.

The advantage was that it benefited Yun Huan—it was very convenient for her midnight snacks.

Even if someone investigated, they wouldn’t suspect her. No palace servant would care about a little cat. Yun Huan confidently jumped down from the wall, planning to take a shortcut through this narrow alley. She extended her thick paw pads, landing without a sound. The little cat shook her ears and proudly raised her tail.

The next second, the kitten stepped on something cold on the ground, immediately slipped, and not only that, a loud clang echoed in her ears, sharp as thunder.

Stumbling, Yun Huan looked up, her fur bristling in fright.

Why were there so many people suddenly in this narrow Palace Road?

And all of them were Imperial Guards in red robes and black armor, imposing and majestic. So many of them were crouching or sitting on both sides of the alley, all turning their heads in unison to silently stare at her.

She had accidentally stepped on an overturned shield on the ground, slipped, and the shield clashing against a sword had made that terrifying noise.

Seriously, officer? Such a big production just to catch a fish thief?

Yun Huan put on an innocent and adorable expression, letting out a soft meow. I’m just a cute little cat passing by, nothing unusual here. Yeah, that’s it.

Hey, it’s a cat.

Such a tiny cat.

The Imperial Guards whispered among themselves, causing a slight stir.

The kitten’s big eyes darted around, her large ears perked up beside her face, occasionally twitching toward sounds, the clever fur at the tips quivering as if identifying the source. Someone chuckled softly and reached out a hand toward her, while another clicked their tongue with interest, trying to catch her attention.

Yun Huan understood. Human, you think cats are adorable too, don’t you?

Author’s note:

———————-

New story launched! Chapter comments are open—everyone, comment harmoniously and play freely calico cat emoji

Please check out these two upcoming novels and add them to your collections pleading

The Silent Miss Second Chance Romance
The Jiang and Wen families were about to unite through marriage, but the elder sister suddenly fled the wedding. Wen Yu was forced to step in, wearing the bridal veil.

On the day of the engagement ceremony, the young woman in her early twenties had a slender figure and cool porcelain skin. The pearl-white cocktail dress accentuated her tiny waist, so delicate it seemed she might dissolve into the mist-like white gauze curtains.

Jiang Zheng spotted that silhouette from afar, immediately stubbed out his cigarette, and asked hoarsely, Who is that?

That’s… Miss Wen Yu’s younger sister, the staff member whispered, assuming Jiang Zheng was displeased.

After all, Wen Yu was an illegitimate daughter only recognized two years prior. Though well-educated, notoriously gentle and low-key in temperament, with devastatingly beautiful features—

She was, unfortunately, both illegitimate and mute.

Jiang Zheng was the most unruly second-generation heir in the capital, yet formidable enough to have founded his own AI company at eighteen. By graduation, he’d become a dazzling tech prodigy.

This young, arrogant golden boy had shown nothing but open contempt for the arranged engagement.

The staff member expected an outburst and tried steering him toward another lounge, but Jiang Zheng brushed off the hand and strode forward.

As the makeup artist dusted powder over Wen Yu’s flawless face, she chatted casually: You’re so beautiful, Miss Wen. Do you have a boyfriend?

No, Wen Yu signed. My ex-boyfriend died.

Jiang Zheng rapped twice on the open door without sincerity, sneering, Really? How come I didn’t know I was dead?

#My ex dumped me and tells everyone I died

Later, Jiang Zheng embraced Wen Yu from behind, pressing against her abdomen.

In the dim room, sheets crumpled under grasping fingers, Wen Yu sank her teeth into his forearm.

The man’s muscles were iron-hard. Jiang Zheng relaxed and let her bite, using his other hand to smooth her damp hair as he whispered, Harder.

If you disappear again… I’ll track you down by these toothmarks.

You’ll acknowledge me this time, won’t you?

Gentle yet resilient mute beauty × Unruly dazzling tech prodigy
Put Your Tail Away Now

When Liu Shanshan ascended Luoxia Mountain bearing that heavy longsword, she was determined to become an emotionless female cultivator.

With blood debts unpaid, ambitions unfulfilled, and her half-demon blood constantly reminding her to focus on cultivation and form her golden core without exposing her identity—

Who had time for romance?

But life is long, and hearts will stray.

Before the century-old Joy Union Ceremony, several men intercepted her on the path to her cave dwelling.

The jade-cold sect leader asked, Did Yingniang ever hold me in her heart?

The stern Discipline Chief glared coldly: I’m giving you this one chance. Later, even if you come begging, I won’t see you.

The bright-eyed young talisman master from a noble family reddened: Sister Liu, won’t you look at me?

Liu Shanshan: Everyone, calm down… I don’t wish to form a cultivation partnership with anyone. Absolutely no one.

Someone indignantly pointed behind her: Then what’s he? A male vixen?!

The renowned top sword cultivator Jiang Zhuo simply stood behind her, holding his sword with downcast eyes, silent.

Liu Shanshan:…

Honestly, I think you’re all prejudiced against fox spirits

Rounding a corner, whoosh—Liu Shanshan found herself encircled by a giant fluffy tail.

Quick, put your tail away! she hissed in a hushed shriek.

No, said Jiang Zhuo, his ears twitching slightly—even the most aloof and self-possessed half-demon hybrid still had fluffy ears.

Your ears… seem to be showing, Liu Shanshan poked Jiang Zhuo’s pale gray wolf ears.

Unable to resist, she stroked his tail—fluffy and delightfully soft to the touch.

…Yours are too, Jiang Zhuo murmured softly.

Liu Shanshan gasped as Jiang Zhuo gently caught the ears that had unknowingly sprouted on her head between his slightly pointed teeth, nibbling them tenderly.

#I really don’t want to form a cultivation partnership with anyone, but he’s not human

#Neither am I

#Who could resist something so fluffy

Possessive, aloof, and innocent young wolf pup VS outwardly warm but inwardly cold, heart-unmoved fox enchantress

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