Chapter 110: Panic

Yun Qingxue’s bedchamber.

After a night of rest and recuperation, the injured Xiao Yao and Xiao Ling looked much better than they had the day before.

Though the two had been injured and spent the night recuperating in their own rooms, by morning, news of the Beast King stripping the Fox Elder of his authority in the council hall the previous night had already reached their ears.

Xiao Yao didn’t find it particularly surprising. When the Sovereign had first assigned her to Yun Qingxue’s side, though he hadn’t explicitly revealed Yun Qingxue’s identity as the Flower King, he had sternly instructed her to take good care of “Miss Yun”—or else face severe consequences.

Thus, Xiao Yao had long understood that this “Miss Yun,” suddenly brought back to the clan by the Sovereign, held special significance to him. This was further confirmed yesterday when the Sovereign personally punished Qing Mei’er. So, hearing that the Fox Elder had also been dealt with didn’t strike her as odd. She simply felt that, given the Sovereign’s regard for the Flower King, she would need to serve him with even greater care in the future.

Compared to Xiao Yao, Xiao Ling was far less composed.

She was guilty! Because when the Sovereign questioned her yesterday, she had hesitated and failed to stand firmly on the Flower King’s side.

Would the Flower King now think she was aligned with Qing Mei’er? Would he find a way to punish her? Xiao Ling had no idea, and the more she thought about it, the more terrified she became. In the end, she tearfully turned to Xiao Yao for advice.

Xiao Yao sighed inwardly, scolding Xiao Ling with a mix of frustration and disappointment. But despite her words, Xiao Ling had been her cultivation sister—they had attained human form together and entered the Beast King’s palace side by side. Now that Xiao Ling had offended someone important, Xiao Yao couldn’t just stand by and watch.

So, early in the morning, she brought Xiao Ling to wait outside Yun Qingxue’s bedchamber.

When they heard movement inside, Xiao Yao quickly called out respectfully through the door, “Has the Flower King awakened?”

“Mm,” Yun Qingxue responded.

“Does the Flower King require this servant to assist with washing and dressing?” Xiao Yao promptly asked, her tone deferential.

Yun Qingxue sat up in bed, frowning in confusion at the tightly shut door.

Ever since she arrived in the Beast Clan, Xiao Yao and Xiao Ling had served her with apparent respect, yet they had also watched over her like prisoners, never leaving her side.

Even last night, Yun Qingxue suspected that if the two hadn’t been seriously injured, they wouldn’t have stepped away from her for a moment.

Yet now, after just one night’s sleep, why had they suddenly become so polite? Knocking before entering? Respecting her privacy?

“No need,” Yun Qingxue refused outright, offering no explanation. She wanted to see how Xiao Yao and Xiao Ling would react.

“As you wish,” Xiao Yao replied, and then there was silence outside.

Yun Qingxue waited on the bed for a while, but Xiao Yao made no further attempt to enter under some other pretext.

*So obedient???* Yun Qingxue was baffled. Had Cang Yan issued some new order to the two girls outside?

“Come in,” she finally called out after another pause. There was no helping it—if she didn’t summon Xiao Yao and Xiao Ling, she wouldn’t be able to figure out how to put on these intricate robes herself.

Xiao Yao and Xiao Ling entered upon her command, diligently assisting Yun Qingxue with dressing and washing before kneeling before her in unison.

Their sudden prostration left Yun Qingxue utterly perplexed.

“What are you doing?”

“Flower King, please forgive this servant’s offense!” Xiao Ling kowtowed deeply, her forehead touching the floor.

“What’s wrong?” Yun Qingxue was still confused. *Forgive her offense?* What could these two have done overnight that required her pardon?

Xiao Ling raised her head, tears streaking her face. “Yesterday in the pavilion, when the Flower King was disturbed by the Qing family’s second young lady, and the Sovereign questioned us… This servant didn’t deliberately stay silent to side with Qing Mei’er. It’s just…”

She swallowed hard. “It’s just that Qing Mei’er’s usual behavior is so ruthless! This servant was afraid, so… so…”

She kowtowed again. “Please forgive this servant! This servant knows she was wrong!”

“Flower King!” Xiao Yao chimed in, also kowtowing deeply. “Xiao Ling has always been timid by nature. In her confusion, she failed to truthfully report how Qing Mei’er disturbed you. Please, Your Majesty, show her mercy this once!”

Yun Qingxue frowned at the two kneeling figures. She was just a captive Cang Yan had brought back to the Beast Clan—why were these maids acting so dramatically in seeking her forgiveness? Was there some scheme, or had something happened to make them so fearful?

“Get up first,” Yun Qingxue said coolly, still pondering.

But the two remained motionless.

“What? Are you trying to threaten me by refusing to rise?” Yun Qingxue arched a brow, her tone laced with displeasure.

“This servant wouldn’t dare!” Xiao Yao and Xiao Ling reluctantly stood, though Xiao Ling seemed even more uneasy without Yun Qingxue’s forgiveness.

“Did I permit *you* to rise?” Yun Qingxue suddenly glared at Xiao Ling, who had stood alongside Xiao Yao.

Under that sharp gaze, Xiao Ling’s knees buckled, and she dropped back to the floor. “Flower King, forgive this servant!”

“I’m hungry,” Yun Qingxue said coldly.

Xiao Yao glanced at Xiao Ling, then frowned. “This servant will fetch your meal at once. Please wait a moment, Flower King.”

Xiao Ling remained kneeling, her heart in turmoil, tears streaming uncontrollably. As Xiao Yao’s footsteps faded, her panic only grew, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Yun Qingxue observed all of this from her seat.

Yes, she had deliberately sent Xiao Yao away. After spending days with these two, she had realized that Xiao Ling was far simpler and easier to manipulate than Xiao Yao.

Noticing Yun Qingxue’s unwavering gaze, Xiao Ling trembled even harder.

*Such a bully I am,* Yun Qingxue thought wryly, though she maintained her icy demeanor. “Xiao Ling, do you want my forgiveness?”

“Flower King, please spare this servant!” Xiao Ling’s voice quivered with tears.

“Forgiving you isn’t impossible. But I have a condition.”

Xiao Ling shakily lifted her head. Yun Qingxue quickly hardened her expression, adopting an aloof and unyielding stance.

“W-what condition?” Xiao Ling whispered, her voice trembling.

Yun Qingxue smirked. “From now on, you must obey me in everything. Whatever I ask, you must answer truthfully. Can you do that?”

Xiao Ling’s eyes darted nervously. She didn’t dare agree lightly—what if Yun Qingxue forced her to do something beyond her capabilities?

“Hmph!” Seeing her hesitation, Yun Qingxue scoffed, her eyes flashing with anger. “If you can’t even promise that, how dare you expect my forgiveness?”

“Flower King, spare me!” Xiao Ling kowtowed frantically.

“If you want mercy, agree to my terms *now*!” Yun Qingxue pressed, resorting to outright intimidation. Xiao Yao would return soon—she had to secure Xiao Ling’s submission before then!