As Distant as Mountains and Rivers

In the depths of winter, heavy snow blanketed the entire capital.

Yue Zhongming wandered aimlessly through the streets, wrapped in an ink-black brocade robe. An exhaustion that would not fade hung over his brows and eyes.

He was a wealthy young prince in the capital, idle and languid since childhood, with no interest in power. The only one he held dear was his snow-white cat, whose soft fur was as fluffy as cotton. The cat had been with him for five whole years, curling up beside his pillow when he slept and winding around his knees when he was awake. It was the only living thing in that grand residence that neither cared about his status nor sought to curry favor with his power.

But a few days ago, the cat passed away without a sound.

Since then, the threshold of the prince's residence had nearly been trampled flat.

The servants searched the entire city, bringing him one white cat after another. Officials eager to curry favor with the old prince went to every length to collect famous cats with rare coats from across the land, piling them before him like snowballs.

But Yue Zhongming only felt irritated.

None of them were it.

None of them were his cat.

He couldn't be bothered to humor them. Casually claiming, "I'll go look for it myself," he left the residence alone and traveled from the Central Plains to the northern frontier, from towering mountain ranges to the waterways of Jiangnan. Anywhere would do. He just wanted some peace and quiet.

At last, in the depths of winter, he returned to the capital, lonely and desolate.

As the wind and snow blurred his vision, he suddenly stopped.

In a sheltered corner of an alley, a girl stood leaning against the wall, so frail she seemed liable to shatter at the slightest touch.

She wore a plain white fox-fur cloak, looking almost transparent against the heavy snow. Her raven hair was loosely pinned up, with a few fine wisps brushing her pale, jade-like cheeks. She seemed to be so weak that she could barely stand. Her head drooped slightly, her long lashes quivering, and she looked ready to collapse into the snow.

Yue Zhongming's heart gave a sudden thump.

Acting as if under a spell, he stepped forward and gently took her by the arm.

The girl slowly raised her eyes.

A pair of clear, spring-like eyes, veiled in a thin mist, met his gaze without a trace of wariness.

They were pure, soft, and innocent, touched by a hint of the bewilderment of someone in poor health. They looked just like his cat when it was startled awake from a dream.

At that moment, Yue Zhongming's mind went blank. Only one utterly absurd thought remained:

His cat had turned into a person.

Reader's Guide: 1. The second version of the blurb is scheduled for May 14, 2026.

2. The blurb presents only the characters' initial perspectives and does not confirm the male lead.

3. A scheming, strategic female lead, court intrigue, martial-world investigations, and revenge.

Theme: Love life.