Yun Qingxue didn’t notice the subtle exchange between Xiaoyao and Xiaoling. Hearing Xiaoling say she needed to relieve herself, Yun Qingxue naturally waved her hand. “Go ahead.”
“Thank you, miss,” Xiaoling said gratefully before turning to leave.
The woman sitting in the pavilion, however, lightly flicked her peach blossom fan, and Xiaoling’s departing figure was instantly frozen in place.
Seeing Xiaoling immobilized, Xiaoyao panicked and immediately formed a hand seal to send a message. The pink-clad woman in the pavilion was someone Yun Qingxue didn’t recognize, but Xiaoyao and Xiaoling knew her well—she was Qing Mei’er, the second daughter of the Fox Elder Qing Yuan of the Beast Clan.
Qing Yuan, the Fox Elder, was one of the most influential figures among the Beast Clan’s elders. He had no sons but three daughters. The eldest, Qing Wu, and the second, Qing Mei’er, were already adults, while the youngest, Qing Rao, had yet to come of age.
It was common knowledge throughout the Beast Clan that Qing Wu and Qing Mei’er, the two elder sisters, were both secretly infatuated with the Beast King, Cang Yan. However, their approaches differed vastly. Qing Wu’s affection was reserved and subtle, reflecting her gentle and introverted nature.
Qing Mei’er, on the other hand, was the polar opposite of her sister. She was capricious and domineering, and her obsession with Cang Yan could hardly be described as mere “infatuation.”
Over the years, everyone in the Ten Thousand Beasts Palace, from top to bottom, had witnessed Qing Mei’er’s relentless pursuit of Cang Yan. What was even more appalling was her tendency to harm—either openly or covertly—any woman who dared approach the Beast King.
Once, a palace dancer had been casually praised by Cang Yan for her exquisite performance. When word of this compliment reached Qing Mei’er, it wasn’t long before the dancer was accused of offending her. The dancer’s legs were broken, her cultivation was destroyed, and she reverted to her beast form. Soon after, she was found dead.
Since then, Qing Mei’er had made it a habit to eliminate any woman she deemed a threat to Cang Yan’s attention.
Now, in this pavilion, the girl personally brought back by the Beast King had encountered Qing Mei’er, and Xiaoyao’s heart immediately tensed with alarm.
She had intended for Xiaoling to slip away and inform Cang Yan, but before Xiaoling could move, Qing Mei’er struck first.
The moment Qing Mei’er acted, Xiaoyao realized she had deliberately appeared in the pavilion. With Xiaoling immobilized, she had no choice but to attempt contacting Cang Yan through a spell.
Inside the pavilion, Qing Mei’er gazed at Yun Qingxue with a faint smile in her eyes.
Yun Qingxue, in turn, studied Qing Mei’er—a stunning beauty with captivating eyes, though the smile in them carried unmistakable sharpness and jealousy.
“Swish!” Qing Mei’er lazily flicked her peach blossom fan again. Just as Xiaoyao was about to cast her spell, a surge of pure energy struck her chest. Before she could reach Cang Yan, she was sent flying backward.
“Thud!” Her body collided heavily with the ground, a dull thud echoing through the air. Xiaoyao’s delicate features twisted in pain.
Yun Qingxue’s expression shifted from cautious observation to outright wariness. Without a single word, this woman had attacked Xiaoling and Xiaoyao. Even a fool could tell she harbored ill intentions.
What worried Yun Qingxue even more was that Qing Mei’er had dared to harm Xiaoyao without hesitation. This could only mean one of two things: either the woman didn’t know Xiaoyao was Cang Yan’s subordinate, or she knew and simply didn’t care.
If it was the latter, then this woman’s status and background were anything but ordinary!
“Forgive my offense, Lady Mei’er,” Xiaoyao pleaded as she struggled to her knees. “I beg for your mercy!”
Xiaoyao’s plea confirmed Yun Qingxue’s suspicion—this woman knew exactly who Xiaoyao served, and she didn’t care in the slightest!
“Hmph!” Qing Mei’er sneered, her gaze darkening. “Wretched servant, how dare you play tricks right under my nose?”
Xiaoyao bowed her head. “This servant wouldn’t dare!”
“Thud!” Before Xiaoyao could finish, Qing Mei’er flicked her fan again, sending Xiaoyao crashing to the ground once more. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
After striking Xiaoyao, Qing Mei’er turned her murderous gaze toward Yun Qingxue.
Yun Qingxue frowned, sensing the undisguised malice radiating from the other woman. With Xiaoling and Xiaoyao both incapacitated in an instant, she was clearly next.
Qing Mei’er advanced step by step, her cold laughter sending chills down Yun Qingxue’s spine. Ever since she’d heard that Cang Yan had brought a woman back from outside, she had been itching to storm into the Ten Thousand Beasts Palace and see just who this shameless harlot was, daring to seduce her beloved Cang-gege.
Now, face to face with Yun Qingxue, Qing Mei’er felt an overwhelming surge of threat. This woman was too beautiful—so beautiful that even she, hailed as the Fox Clan’s most stunning beauty, felt a pang of inferiority in her heart.
A woman like this shouldn’t exist in this world. Such beauty was a sin… and so—
Qing Mei’er’s steps grew closer, her eyes burning with jealousy and murderous intent.
Yun Qingxue instinctively retreated. She knew she was no match for this woman, not after seeing how effortlessly she had subdued Xiaoling and Xiaoyao.
Seeing Yun Qingxue in danger, Xiaoyao ignored her injuries and crawled forward, placing herself between Yun Qingxue and Qing Mei’er.
“Lady Mei’er, Miss Yun is an honored guest invited by His Majesty. Please do not trouble her!”
Qing Mei’er halted, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “Who are you to tell me what to do?”
With another flick of her fan, she sent Xiaoyao flying once more.
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