“Snap!”
Before the words of the people in the hall could fully settle, they were abruptly cut off by this sudden sound.
Cang Yan wore a careless smile on his face, his deep and unfathomable eyes gazing at the crowd standing below the dais.
“We are deeply ashamed!” The group below froze for a moment before immediately kneeling in unison to beg for forgiveness.
Yet Cang Yan’s tone remained indifferent as he said, “This lord merely dropped and shattered a cup. For the esteemed elders to react like this—have your nerves grown weaker, or are you simply making a mountain out of a molehill? Hmm?”
“This—”
The veiled implication in Cang Yan’s words was not lost on the elders below. Their sovereign was clearly rebuking them for overreacting to the matter of the Flower King remaining with the Beast Clan!
“Your Majesty’s status is exalted. Even the shattering of a small cup in your presence would make us worry that the fragments might harm you.” Elder Fox, believing himself quick-witted, mustered the courage to respond to Cang Yan. His underlying meaning was clear: We are absolutely loyal to you, the Beast King, and cannot tolerate anything that might harm you or the Beast Clan!
“Exactly!” Elder Lion boomed in agreement with Elder Fox. He hadn’t grasped the hidden meanings in either Cang Yan’s or Elder Fox Qingyuan’s words, but he felt Qingyuan’s response was brilliant—a perfect declaration of their loyalty to the Beast King and the entire Beast Clan!
Elder Leopard, however, remained silent this time. He had already said his piece. The thoughts of the sovereign before them were too difficult to decipher. As the saying goes, “The more you say, the more mistakes you make,” and the spear always strikes the bird that sticks its neck out! Only a fool like Elder Lion would rush to join Qingyuan in playing the role of the outspoken one.
“Oh?” Cang Yan’s gaze drifted over the assembled elders below. After a moment of contemplation, he raised an eyebrow and said, “This lord has only just learned that, in the hearts of the esteemed elders, I am apparently so fragile. If that’s the case, then I must truly thank you all for your diligent care in ensuring I can stand here safely!”
“We dare not! Please calm your anger, Your Majesty!” The elders below once again pleaded for mercy in unison. By now, they had finally sensed the dark aura emanating from the figure on the dais.
Unease began to creep into their hearts. Meanwhile, Cang Yan shifted his posture lazily on the throne, his star-like eyes fixed on them, exuding an invisible pressure befitting a supreme ruler.
Elder Fox Qingyuan kept his head lowered, his eyes darting restlessly. When he had arrived, he had been ninety percent confident he could persuade Cang Yan to send the Flower King away. But now? That confidence had evaporated. Worse still, the issue was no longer whether Cang Yan would expel the Flower King—it was whether he had discovered Qingyuan’s secret maneuvers!
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Elder Fox’s forehead.
“All of you, rise!” Cang Yan suddenly commanded, his voice icy. With a flick of his sleeve, an unseen force lifted the kneeling elders to their feet—all except Elder Fox Qingyuan.
Everyone stood, leaving him conspicuously alone on his knees.
This move by Cang Yan only deepened Qingyuan’s dread.
“This lord is well aware of the elders’ devotion to me and their concern for the Beast Clan. Such loyalty is indeed commendable. But if that loyalty blinds you to the point of being manipulated, then it becomes sheer foolishness!” Cang Yan’s lips curled into a faint smile as he spoke each word with deliberate clarity.
“This—” The elders exchanged uneasy glances. Their gathering in the palace tonight had not been coincidental—had the sovereign already uncovered something?
But as for being manipulated—they were no fools! How could they be so easily used? Their conclusion that the Flower King must not stay had been reached after careful deliberation, not just blind acceptance of someone else’s words!
“Elder Fox, why are you still kneeling?” Cang Yan asked, as if only now noticing the lone figure still on the ground.
“This old servant…” Qingyuan knew Cang Yan was singling him out. The tragedy was, he had no idea how to respond to the sovereign’s challenge.
“This old servant…” He stammered, unable to form a coherent reply. His heart sank further with each passing second.
Cang Yan observed Qingyuan’s reaction coldly before shifting his gaze away. “Since Elder Fox hasn’t yet found the right words, we’ll revisit this later. Since the elders have come to discuss the Flower King, let us address that matter first!”
“Your Majesty, what more is there to discuss? Anyone with eyes can see the Flower King is nothing but trouble!” Elder Lion, despite sensing the tense atmosphere, boldly stepped forward.
“Elder Lion.” Cang Yan’s lips parted slightly as he called the name, his calm gaze settling on the elder with an air of unshakable authority.
“Your servant is here,” Elder Lion quickly responded with a bow.
“Let us set aside the question of the Flower King’s stay for now. Since the elders fear a repeat of the united clans’ campaign against the Demon Clan a thousand years ago, let us analyze whether the present circumstances truly mirror those of the past.”
Cang Yan’s unhurried words left the elders exchanging puzzled looks. They had already deliberated extensively before coming to propose sending the Flower King back to the Flora Clan under Tongyun’s custody. For the sovereign to demand further analysis now seemed like a waste of time!
But objections aside, when Cang Yan ordered them to discuss, they dared not refuse. At worst, it would just delay things a little.
“Your Majesty.” Elder Deer, catching a glance from Elder Leopard, stepped forward and prepared to speak.
But Cang Yan raised a hand, signaling him to wait.
Elder Deer, though confused, obediently fell silent.
“Esteemed elders, let me ask you this: Before the late Flower King Lan Xuechen fell in love with the Demon King Yun Ye, what was her reputation in the Xuanling Continent?” Cang Yan inquired.
“Brilliant as ice and snow, peerless in beauty!” Elder Leopard answered promptly, though he couldn’t fathom the purpose of the question.
“Good. Next question: Who were Lan Xuechen’s admirers, and with whom did she have conflicts?” Cang Yan pressed.
“Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness, but what does this have to do with our current discussion?” Elder Lion couldn’t hold back, his gruff voice ringing out.
Cang Yan merely smiled and turned his gaze to Elder Deer.
Elder Deer blinked innocently. The sovereign clearly wanted him to speak. Though he, too, saw no connection, he complied.
“Your Majesty, the late Flower King was renowned across the land, with admirers as numerous as fish in a river. Even the one from the Ninth Heaven was once among Lan Xuechen’s devoted suitors!”
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