Without his notice, it's already been three months since he entered this world. He was busy sunbathing in his usual tree when he looked out in the distance. This tree was his usual spot to escape boredom, it was both tall and had a lot of sturdy branches.
It was actually quite fun to climb trees and since no one really cared for him, he was free to explore the entire area.
He was only a tiny kitten until recently so he never dared to step outside the courtyard, he could only climb this tree to survey what the outside looked like.
In the distance he could see the imperial garden, it had beautiful plants blooming even in the heart of winter. Most were shades of blue and shined in the winter sun, he could see a man slowly walking not even admiring the plants.
Swinging his tail in leisure, he continued to observe this man. Don't know if the man had a sixth sense but he suddenly turned his head to stare straight at Shuu.
Blinking his eyes, he let out a yawn then curled to go to sleep. That man was Emperor Wu full name Wu Cang, he had a harem of three thousand beauties (Metaphorically) and yet is said to spend no more then one night at each consort or concubines place.
Feeling especially bored today, he decided he would forego the nap and go explore outside the imperial consorts courtyard. Jumping from branch to branch, he reached the branch closest to the wall and jumped out.
No longer being confined in those walls, Shuu felt a lot more free. He kind of wanted to see the plants but knowing the emperor was there he didn't dare. Who knows if the emperor suddenly decides to kill a poor creature like him?
Strolling leisurely, he turned a corner just to witness a man slowly walking towards him. Turning back, he tried to escape but was captured by someone.
"Hissss"
Hissing in anger, he tried to scratch the hands holding him but was held tightly despite the pain.
"Your majesty"
Saluting the emperor, he held the enraged kitten for the emperor to see.
Calming down, he stared back at the emperor as if saying 'ha! What are you going to do!'
Not knowing why, the emperor chuckled and grabbed Shuu from the other man's hands.
"Please be careful your majesty! Such a creature could have a disease!"
The eunuchs by the emperor were all flailing in dismay, what if the emperor's dragon body was injured by this cat from unknown origins?
Completely disregarding his entourages worry, Emperor Wu held the cat and patted the small head. In three months Shuu had grown from the size of one hand to two hands.
His body was still pretty small but his fur had grown out beautifully with the help of the two chefs daily nutritious feeding, Shuu didn't forget to thank them by acting cute all day. In the emperors hold, Shuu only laid down and rubbed his head on the hand patting him.
"Mreow"
The hand was seriously quite comfortable, the chef were kind and always feared hurting him so they only patted his back lightly. The emperor was either confident in his strength control or just didn't care if he hurt Shuu but either way, it was quite nice.
Purring in enjoyment, he closed his eyes and continued rubbing.
"Your majesty... Should I call a physician to check on this cat?"
"Hmm"
Humming in reply, the man that previously grabbed him promptly disappeared.
So he was a shadow guard? Using a shadow guard to catch a kitten, the emperor must be pretty weird
After labelling the emperor as weird, his gaze became more empathetic.
"..."
Why is this cat looking at me as if I'm pitiful?
Wu Cang could feel his pride as an emperor crumble under the cats eyes.
"Hmm!"
Huffing in annoyance, he walked back to his palace with the kitten in his arms. Shuu wondered if he was being kidnapped? Or was this being adopted?
The Physician was already waiting at the palace with his medical box, he feared the emperor met with mishap and was about to start his examination when a kitten was given to him.
"..."
Me, a well known imperial physician had to examine a cat? That was simply bullying his pride as being number one.
Under the emperors glare, he could only begin his examination.
"No signs of disease, no broken bones, healthy teeth and gum..."
"The cat shows no sign of sickness, chances of disease seem slim"
Saluting the emperor, he withdrew from the room ready to go cry in shame.
"..."
"..."
Shuu stared at the emperor as the emperor stared at Shuu.
If someone walked in they'd probably think it created a funny scene except one is completely blank faced and one is cute as hell.
"Snow"
"Meow"
Swinging his tail once, he nonchalantly replied to the stiff rigid emperor.
At least it's better then Blinky and how did he know I'm a girl?
After pondering for a few moments, Snow just threw the thought to the back of his mind in favor of brushing the emperor's good will.
"Mreow"
As much as he wanted to approach the emperor, he could mentally feel a rejection coming from him.
Turning his head away, Snow ignored the emperor and relaxed on the blanket underneath him.
Wow, this is pretty soft
Kneading the fabric a few more times, Snow happily rolled back and forth before using his claws to create a little nest.
Yawning tiredly, he curled into a ball completely disregarding the man staring at his small body.
"..."
Was I ignored by a cat!!?
Huffing in indignation, the emperor stormed out of the room, he informed the guards to guard the cat and not let it escape before returning to the imperial study to check over some memorials.
When Snow finished her nap and getting ready to go explore some more, he noticed two maids sitting on the chair chatting merrily.
"And did you know? I heard Concubine Fu tried to get the emperor's attention by falling into the lake! It was so funny to watch her cry out while soaking wet, luckily she didn't put on makeup if not she would've scared all of us half to death"
The other maid just sighed at the chatty maids enthusiasm for gossip.
"How many times have I said Riri.."
"I know I know, never gossip because the walls have ears"
"You know how dangerous the palace is"
"But~~"
The enthusiastic maid pouted unhappily, Snow could see her face was pretty decent, black eyes black hair with pale skin.
"Yuyu! Don't you think it's funny? I mean, all the concubines strive for his majesties favour yet he doesn't even give them a glance"
"It may be funny, but don't forget they are still the emperors wives even if they are unfavoured"
Choosing to interrupt their session, Snow meowed loudly to tell them 'hey I'm awake now, so please stop talking'
Frightened by his sudden cry, Riri the chatty maid dropped the porcelain teacup in her hand spilling it all over her clothes.
"It's awake! Yuyu you go report to the emperor, I need to change out of these clothes"
Going their respective ways, Snow was left alone in the room before he could tell them what he wanted.
I'm hungry...
Jumping out the open window which they kept open for some reason, he followed the path and searched for the kitchen.
Unknowingly, when the chatty Riri returned to find the cat missing, she freaked out loud while wailing for her fate.
Snow had fun exploring this large palace since the antiques and decorations were definitely more precious and expensive then the ones in Imperial concubine courtyard.
When Snow passed by a table with some vases on top of it, he had the urge to send it flying which he did.
The vases had some carnations placed in it yet it smelled very... weird.
As if someone mixed bleach and chocolate together, it smelled fairly nice yet horrible.
Hearing the crash, some eunuchs came running to the crime scene and Snow was caught red-handed.
Oops
His fight or flight instinct kicked in and he ran away, who the hell would wait for them to catch him after destroying some expensive stuff?
Climbing a tree, Snow hid between the branches to hide from the searching eunuchs.
"Why did you destroy it?"
Ignoring the person who appeared next to him, Snow just began climbing higher.
Watching the cat ignore him, the shadow guard only silently followed as it climbed to the top branches.
"His majesty wants to see you"
Flicking his ears, Snow brushed off the shadow guard and layed in the sun. His instincts as cat clouded his thoughts as the sun shone on his pure white fur, the warmth slowly lulled Snow back into a catnap ready to rejuvenate himself for more exploring.
"Your majesty"
Another shadow guard appeared in front of the emperor and reported the cats misdeeds and current hiding spot.
"It broke the vase Imperial Concubine Shi sent?"
His face scrunched in thought at the cats sudden actions, Snow had passed by many vases with flowers yet only this one was destroyed. There must've been something different about it.
"Ask the imperial physician to check the vase"
"Yes your majesty"
Placing the memorials down, the emperor began walking to the tree Snow was sleeping in.
When he arrived, a shadow guard appeared in front of him kneeling in respect.
"Your majesty, Snow is sleeping on the toppest sturdiest branch in this tree"
Looking up, Wu Cang couldn't see the cat with all the foliage in the way.
"..."
Does that cat want me to climb the tree to get it?
"Bring it down"
"Yes your majesty"
Disappearing, the shadow guard was about to grab Snow when the cat suddenly lunged and hit behind his knee, he could feel his legs completely losing strength so he tried to grab the tree but the cat hit something on his arm and he started plumating downwards.
Landing with a thud, the shadow guard found himself paralyzed on top of some shrubbery, a little more to the left or right and he would've hit solid ground.
"..."
Glancing at the shadow guard lying on the ground, the emperor looked up through the nearly dispersed foliage to the see the cat swinging its tail merrily while giving him a smirk.
Don't ask how he knows it's smirking, he just does.
"This shadow guard apologises your majesty!"
He tried moving his arm but he felt like a few hundred tons were weighing him down. He could only watch quietly as the emperor chose to climb the tree himself to retrieve the cat.
Have you ever in all history seen a ruler climb a tree to get a cat? This is definitely one of the most weirdest things in all the world.
When the emperor climbed to the top branch, he saw the cat lying comfortably on the branch as it gazed into the emperor's eyes.
"You made me climb a tree you lazy cat"
Grabbing Snow by the scruff, he sat down on the sturdy branch and placed the placid cat on his lap.
"Ai, I haven't seen a sunset in a long time"
The emperor could already guess from the cats proactive gestures that he wanted him to come up there. The sunset was truly beautiful, the once blue sky was now bleeding into orange as the sun set beyond the horizon.
The hand patting Snow never stopped as he admired the sunset, Snow thought maybe he was lonely? The imperial palace was always nothing but battles and the only option was to win.
Sitting on the emperor's throne was not something anyway could bear, the responsibilities the throne gave you was capable of squishing half the people in this world to death.