Great Yin Dynasty: 5+1 Palace Intrigue · Chat

[Imperial Selection Site] The square before the Hall of Supreme Harmony was paved with white marble tiles. The midday sun beat down, making the stone surface scorching hot, heat rising in waves that blurred the palace walls in the distance. The selection queue stretched long, from before the hall all the way to the palace gate—at least a hundred people. Everyone was dressed immaculately, the mingled fragrance of rouge and powder so thick it was hard to breathe. You stood in the third row, your palms slightly sweaty. Something stirred in your sleeve. A tiny fluffy head poked out from your cuff. Round golden eyes blinked, then a voice whispered: "Ding-dong~ System Cat 002 at your service, meow!" You quickly pushed it back down with your hand. It wasn't happy, squirming inside your sleeve, its voice muffled: "Hey hey hey, don't squish this cat's ears! This cat is here to save your life, you know!" It poked half its head out again. Its snow-white fur gleamed blindingly in the sunlight, pink paw pads resting on your wrist, while the tuft of silver-gray fur at the tip of its tail swayed back and forth at your cuff. "Alright, alright, this cat will keep it brief, meow." It cleared its throat, lowered its voice, and spoke at lightning speed: "Your situation now, in simple terms, is—you've transmigrated into a book, meow. Which book exactly, this cat isn't too sure either. Anyway, it's a palace intrigue gladiator pit. Your mission is: win over at least one male lead, achieve a true-heart ending, and rack up 500 points, then you can go home, meow." It tilted its head and added: "...Of course, if you die more than three times, this cat will lower the difficulty as appropriate. But this cat suggests you don't try that, meow. Dying once is painful enough." Before you could respond, its ears suddenly perked up and its fur bristled all around. "Wait—multiple targets detected approaching ahead! This cat will give you a rundown first, meow!" It shrank back into your sleeve, only its two pointed ears sticking out, and recited rapidly: "Twelve o'clock direction, center of the elevated platform—Crown Prince Xiao Heng, danger level ★★★★, current affection: 0. Don't be fooled by his good looks; the way he's looking at you right now is about the same as the way he looks at memorials, meow." "Three o'clock direction, on the right—Third Prince Xiao Yi, danger level ★★☆, affection: ??? He just raised his cup to you. This cat isn't sure if that's affection or if he's just had too much to drink, meow." "Nine o'clock direction, behind the colonnade—Second Prince Xiao Yan." Its voice suddenly grew small, trembling: "...Danger level ★★★★★. Last time this cat got within three meters of him, he kicked this cat flying, meow. Be careful, meow." "Six o'clock direction, the one running this way right now—Fourth Prince Xiao Ce, danger level... uncertain. The sweeter he smiles, the more scared this cat gets, meow. Naive on the surface, but this cat can't see through what's inside." "And one more—" The sound of the palace hall doors being pushed open came through. It shrank its entire cat body into the deepest part of your sleeve, its voice shaking badly: "P-Pei Jin is here, meow!!! The prince of a different surname! Danger level ★★★★★★—off the charts! This cat's rating system only has five stars, and he somehow squeezed out an extra one!" "This cat strongly suggests you run—" Xiao Heng spoke first. He sat at the center of the elevated platform, tea cup in hand, his gaze sweeping over from the front of the queue. When it reached you, he paused for a moment. The tea cup was set back on the table, making a faint clink of porcelain. "The Prime Minister's daughter." His voice was neither loud nor low, just enough for everyone around to hear. From your sleeve came 002's muttering: "Affection unchanged, meow... He's observing you, meow... Don't move, meow..." Xiao Yi stood up from the right side. He was dressed casually, the collar of his robe not even fastened properly. He raised his wine cup toward you, the corner of his mouth curving up. "You came too?" 002 whispered from inside your sleeve: "His affection is fluctuating, meow... but this cat can't tell if it's for you or for the wine, meow..." Behind the colonnade, Xiao Yan's figure stirred. He didn't walk over, just turned his head, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing on you. 002 went silent instantly. After several seconds, it spoke in a barely audible breath: "...He's looking at you, meow. This cat doesn't dare make a sound now, meow." "Big sister!" Xiao Ce squeezed out of the crowd, trotted all the way to you, and grabbed your sleeve with one hand—precisely the one where 002 was hiding. 002 let out a screech: "Mew—! My tail is being squished, meow!!!" Xiao Ce's hand paused. He looked down at your cuff. He smiled, didn't say anything, but his eyes flickered. 002 froze inside the sleeve, its voice nearly inaudible: "...Did he notice me, meow? Did he just see me, meow? It's over, it's over, it's over, meow..." The hall doors were pushed open. Pei Jin walked out. Deep purple python robe, ink-black jade thumb ring, unhurried steps. He walked up to you, looked down at you, the corner of his lips slightly curved. "An imperial selection, hm... I am curious, the jewel of the Prime Minister's household—how is it that all five princes know you?" 002's fur began turning from white to black—not out of anger, but sheer terror. In a voice only you could hear, it said shakily: "This cat will say one last thing, meow..." "Current point balance: 0." "Item inventory: empty." "Life-saving pills: none." "Good luck, meow." The wind blew across the front of the hall, carrying the cloying sweetness of incense. You stood where you were. Xiao Ce gripped your left sleeve, Pei Jin stood at your right side, Xiao Heng had already risen on the elevated platform, Xiao Yi in the distance had set down his wine cup, and the black figure behind the colonnade was silently walking toward you. The little ball of fluff in your sleeve curled into a stiff, hard sphere, half white and half black, like a startled tangyuan. The sun blazed high overhead. Your shadow was encircled by the shadows of five people, unable to move an inch. The head eunuch's voice rang out in the distance, trembling badly: "Th-this... does the selection still continue?" No one answered him. 002 squeezed out one last line: "...This cat thinks you could consider spending 20 points right now to buy an Hourglass of Time, meow." "Oh wait, you don't have any points, meow." "Then... may fortune favor you, meow." ┌───────────────── 🐾 System Cat 002 · Initial Status Panel ├───────────────── Host status: Alive (for now) Current points: 0 Item inventory: empty Life-saving pills: 0/3 Death count: 0 ├───────────────── 📊 Affection Overview: Xiao Heng　 ████░░░░░░ 0 Xiao Yan　 ████░░░░░░ 0 Xiao Yi　 ████░░░░░░ ? Xiao Ce　 ████░░░░░░ ? Pei Jin　 ████░░░░░░ 0 ├───────────────── ⚠️ Current danger level: Extremely high 📍 Location: Hall of Supreme Harmony · Selection Square 🎯 Main quest: Survive and win them over 💡 002's advice: First, survive today, meow └─────────────────