The sound of footsteps approaching from afar shattered the solemn silence of the surroundings. Qing Mei’er was escorted into the front hall under guard.
“Your Majesty!”
The moment she saw Cang Yan, Qing Mei’er’s face, which had been numb from the sudden turn of events, instantly transformed into a pitiful expression. Tears streamed down her delicate cheeks.
“Your Majesty,” Qing Mei’er took a step forward, longing to approach Cang Yan. During her days of confinement, this man had been all she could think of. Now, he sat before her, his demeanor cold and regal.
“Kneel!”
The moment Qing Mei’er took a single step toward Cang Yan, a guard immediately kicked her knees with a threatening force. She gasped in pain, stumbling forward and falling to her knees in a humiliating heap.
Hatred flared in her heart toward the guard, but in front of Cang Yan, she naturally refrained from revealing her vicious side.
“Your Majesty~” Qing Mei’er gazed at Cang Yan with teary eyes, her voice dripping with a mix of coquettishness and grievance.
Qing Wu, kneeling nearby, observed her sister’s antics with disdain. Though they were blood-related, Qing Wu couldn’t help but mentally label Qing Mei’er with one word: “Idiot!”
The fact that His Majesty had mobilized forces to surround the Qing residence and carried out a massacre should have made it obvious to anyone with half a brain that he was here with ill intent. Yet this fool—her father’s most beloved daughter, her own sister—was still shamelessly flirting with His Majesty!
“Qing Yuan! Do you admit your crimes?” Cang Yan didn’t even spare Qing Mei’er a glance. Instead, his icy gaze fixed on Qing Yuan—the fox elder who had once aided him in overthrowing the previous Beast King.
“This old servant knows not of what crimes,” Qing Yuan prostrated himself on the ground, his expression sorrowful yet composed.
Cang Yan smirked coldly. Even now, this old fox still dared to play dumb!
“You know not?” Cang Yan sneered. “It seems you won’t confess until faced with undeniable proof!”
“Your Majesty, this old servant—”
“Qing Yan, bring in the traitors!”
Before Qing Yuan could attempt another plea, Cang Yan, clearly out of patience, cut him off.
At his command, Qing Yan immediately ordered several guards to drag in a group of bound men dressed in servant attire.
They were thrown roughly onto the cold floor of the front hall, right before Qing Yuan and his two daughters.
“Audacious Qing Yuan! Will you still deny your crimes?” Cang Yan’s eyes narrowed dangerously, his voice carrying an oppressive weight despite its calm tone.
“Your Majesty, this old servant truly knows not what crimes I am accused of!”
Qing Yuan glanced at the bound men before him, his heart sinking. These were all the spies he had planted within the Beast King’s palace.
Now, they had been captured and presented before him. Qing Yuan knew his schemes had been exposed.
For a vassal to plant spies near the king—such an act, once revealed, would undoubtedly lead to dire consequences.
Yet even now, Qing Yuan refused to admit guilt. These men were his loyalists. As long as they didn’t betray him, he still had a chance to fight back.
After all, without concrete evidence, Cang Yan wouldn’t dare punish him rashly. He was one of the key figures who had helped Cang Yan overthrow the previous Beast King! Executing a meritorious elder without cause would surely alienate the other old retainers who had once supported Cang Yan.
Thus, Qing Yuan clung to hope. As long as these men stayed silent and he denied everything, Cang Yan would at most execute a few of his servants in frustration. To move against him directly, Cang Yan would have to think twice!
“What a fine fox elder you are,” Cang Yan murmured, his azure eyes glinting coldly. He flicked a glance toward Qing Yan.
Taking the cue, Qing Yan stepped forward, grabbing one of the bound men and demanding coldly, “Speak. Who sent you into the palace?”
Qing Yuan watched calmly as the man was hauled up. He was one of his most trusted spies—a man who would never betray him.
“It was…” The man hesitated, then spoke weakly, “It was Elder Fox.”
“Which Elder Fox?” Qing Yan pressed.
“Elder Fox Qing Yuan!” the man blurted out, naming him outright.
Qing Yuan’s composed expression shattered instantly. “Your Majesty! This old servant is wronged! I don’t even know this man!”
“Qing Yuan!” Cang Yan’s patience had run thin. He sneered, “Still lying even now? Do you truly think me a fool you can deceive at will? Hmph! Did you believe your past contributions would shield you from punishment?”
“Your Majesty!” Qing Mei’er interjected, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at Qing Yan. “My father has always been loyal to you! How could you doubt his devotion?”
Cang Yan’s lips curled into a bloodthirsty, mocking smile. “Your so-called loyalty is something I can hardly bear!”
“Qing family, hear the decree!” Seeing Cang Yan’s patience exhausted, Qing Yan stepped forward, his voice icy as he addressed the father and daughters.
“Your Majesty, this old servant is innocent! I truly don’t know these men, nor why they would slander me! I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!” Qing Yuan continued to plead desperately.
A flash of azure light shot from Cang Yan’s palm, striking Qing Yuan squarely in the chest.
The elder was thrown backward, a trickle of blood seeping from his lips. His organs churned, his qi in disarray.
“Unrepentant even at death’s door!” Cang Yan spat the words coldly before striding toward the exit. He had no more patience for Qing Yuan’s lies. In fact, he regretted not eliminating this treacherous elder sooner. Did the old fool truly think his schemes had gone unnoticed?
“By His Majesty’s decree!” Qing Yan announced emotionlessly, “The Qing family of the fox clan has committed treason by defying their sovereign! However, in light of past merits, mercy is granted: only Qing Yuan, Qing Wu, and Qing Mei’er shall be executed. The fox clan shall elect a new elder to replace Qing Yuan in due time.”
The moment the decree was pronounced, Qing Yuan’s face turned ashen. He turned toward Cang Yan’s retreating figure and kowtowed desperately. “Your Majesty! This old servant is wronged! Will you truly disregard my years of unwavering loyalty and condemn my entire family?”
“Your Majesty, how could you do this to me?!” Qing Mei’er shrieked, unable to accept that the man she had adored for years would now order her family’s execution.
“Your Majesty!” Unlike her father and sister, Qing Wu remained eerily composed. She turned and kowtowed deeply toward Cang Yan, who had not yet left the hall. Then, in a calm voice, she said, “We admit our crimes.”
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