Yun Qingxue stared out the window, her thoughts churning incessantly. A full day and night had passed, and Liuying still hadn’t found a way to contact her. Could it be that Feng Zihuang refused to help her?
*Creak~* The open window suddenly closed on its own right in front of Yun Qingxue.
“Yesterday you had a headache, yet today you dare to sit by the window and catch the wind again. Could it be that Qingxue particularly enjoys my massage techniques?”
Cang Yan’s teasing voice sounded from behind her.
Yun Qingxue turned her head, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. It was almost dark—what was the Beast King doing here now?
The thought crossed her mind, and without hesitation, she blurted out, “What are you doing here?”
The moment the words left her mouth, Yun Qingxue regretted them. The entire Beast King’s Palace was his domain, and even she herself was merely a pawn in his hands. Showing such obvious unwelcoming attitude was practically asking for trouble!
Cang Yan’s deep blue eyes seemed to darken slightly at her words. Yun Qingxue’s gaze flickered, wondering if she should say something to smooth things over. Though she disliked Cang Yan, she didn’t want to antagonize him at this stage.
“Qingxue seems rather unwelcoming,” Cang Yan remarked, a faint smile suddenly appearing on his face, though his blue eyes remained as cold as winter seawater. He admitted to himself that he had developed feelings for the Flower King. In all his long years, this was the first time he had ever taken a liking to a woman. He despised unrequited affection—since he had fallen for her, Yun Qingxue *had* to like him in return, whether she wanted to or not!
Yun Qingxue forced a stiff smile, sensing a dangerous aura emanating from Cang Yan. She quickly explained, “No! I’m not unwelcoming! I was just… surprised.”
“You’d best get used to it. After all, our relationship is far from ordinary,” Cang Yan said, his words laced with implication as he gazed at her.
Yun Qingxue smiled and chose not to respond. There was no good way to answer Cang Yan’s remark. If she refuted him, he’d be angered—though he might not harm her outright given her usefulness, she feared her days in the Beast Clan would become far less comfortable. If she agreed, it would only make her feel even more uncomfortable. Who wanted to have an “unordinary” relationship with this scheming Cang Yan?!
She hadn’t forgotten that his true form was a white wolf. A beast was still a beast—no matter how handsome the human skin he wore, his savage nature remained! She had no intention of developing any “special” relationship with such a cunning creature!
“Freshen up. Tonight, I’m hosting a banquet for *two distinguished guests*, and I may need you to accompany me in greeting them,” Cang Yan said, his expression softening slightly.
Yun Qingxue lowered her head. The tone of Cang Yan’s voice made her suspect that the so-called “distinguished guests” were more like adversaries. She really wanted to ask, *Can I not go?*
But she had already misspoken earlier when Cang Yan arrived, nearly provoking his anger. Now, the awareness of her status as a hostage surfaced just in time to remind her—she had no right to refuse.
*When under someone else’s roof, one has no choice but to bow their head.*
“Alright. But may I ask who these distinguished guests are, to warrant your personal hospitality… Cang Yan?”
Cang Yan smiled mysteriously. “You’ll find out when we get there. However…”
He leaned in, lifting her chin with his fingers and forcing her to meet his gaze. “Qingxue is so beautiful—I’m truly tempted to hide you away where no one else can see you.”
Goosebumps instantly prickled across Yun Qingxue’s entire body. *What kind of grudge is this?!* Out of nowhere, Cang Yan had to spout such nauseatingly sweet words!
“Haha, being beautiful isn’t my fault,” Yun Qingxue retorted, suppressing the urge to shudder.
Cang Yan suddenly released her chin, his mood seemingly brightening in an instant.
Yun Qingxue rolled her eyes inwardly. *What a moody lunatic!*
“You may not necessarily need to attend tonight, but do dress up anyway.”
The maids who had accompanied Cang Yan stepped forward, holding clothes and jewelry. Yun Qingxue was ushered to the vanity table and seated.
With an air of arrogance, Cang Yan instructed Xiaoyao and Xiaoling, who stood nearby, “Attend to the Flower King properly,” before turning to leave.
Surrounded by the maidservants, Yun Qingxue was fussed over endlessly—all for a banquet she might not even attend. For as long as they primped and preened her, Yun Qingxue spent the entire time mentally cursing Cang Yan.
By the time the maids were finally done, night had already fallen. Stars dotted the sky, and the faint sound of music—strings and flutes—drifted in from afar.
Yun Qingxue guessed that Cang Yan had already begun entertaining his guests in the main hall.
Just thinking about how she had been subjected to hours of grooming for a banquet she might not even attend made Yun Qingxue curse Cang Yan all over again in her heart. *May he choke on his wine! May his food get stuck in his throat! May he trip and lose all dignity—may his embarrassment know no bounds!*
“I’m hungry.”
As the maids who had been sent by Cang Yan to torment her finally left, Yun Qingxue rubbed her stomach and spoke up.
“Your Majesty, didn’t the Lord say you were to attend the banquet tonight?” Xiaoling frowned, implying that Yun Qingxue should hold off and eat later at the event.
“Please wait a moment, Your Majesty. This servant will fetch you a meal,” Xiaoyao said respectfully, bowing to Yun Qingxue.
Yun Qingxue waved her hand, signaling Xiaoyao to hurry.
Xiaoyao turned away, shooting Xiaoling a helpless glare. *This foolish girl! When the Flower King gives an order, just follow it—why all the unnecessary comments?* A more perceptive servant would have prepared some food for her without being asked. After all, no matter how exquisite the banquet dishes were, such formal occasions were hardly the place to eat one’s fill—one could only manage a few elegant bites at best!
Sharing Xiaoyao’s sentiment, Yun Qingxue couldn’t help but worry about Xiaoling’s intelligence. *If she served a less tolerant master, she’d definitely be punished for such behavior.* The fact that the first person she had managed to win over in the Beast King’s Palace—through a mix of intimidation and coaxing—had such *questionable* wit left Yun Qingxue utterly exasperated. She even wondered how Xiaoling had survived in the palace for so long!
Before long, Xiaoyao returned with a spread of dishes.
The table was laden with fragrant delicacies.
The aroma alone made Yun Qingxue’s mouth water. She picked up her chopsticks, about to pop a stir-fried shrimp into her mouth when—
“Qingyan has been sent by the Lord to escort the Flower King to the banquet!”
A guard’s stiffly respectful voice rang out from outside before the shrimp could reach her lips.
“It’s Lord Qingyan, the Lord’s attendant,” Xiaoyao informed Yun Qingxue softly.
“Oh.” Yun Qingxue ate the shrimp anyway.
“Your Majesty, please hurry and accompany Lord Qingyan. We mustn’t keep the Lord waiting,” Xiaoyao urged politely, her meaning clear: *Since the Lord has sent someone to fetch you, you really shouldn’t be eating now!*
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