“Go!” Yun Qingxue laughed, pushing Liu Ying away with her hand and turning her gaze elsewhere. Neither the Beast King Cang Yan nor the Phoenix King Feng Zihuang would ever be the right match for her, Yun Qingxue!
They stood too high above her! And though she held the title of Flower King, her strength was far too weak. They might be willing to offer her protection for the benefits her status could bring, but such protection was built on an extremely unstable foundation—one tied to mere interests. The moment she could no longer provide them with advantages, the moment she lost her usefulness, she would undoubtedly be cast aside!
So she refused to rely on anyone. After all she had been through, she had come to understand one thing clearly: in this world, the weak were either exploited or crushed by the strong. Only by becoming powerful herself was the true path to survival.
Liu Ying, however, mistook Yun Qingxue’s reaction for shyness. She leaned in with a grin and said, “Men must marry, and women must wed! You and our Phoenix King—one the ruler of the winged tribes, the other the sovereign of the floral clans—are a perfect match in both status and appearance!”
“Liu Ying!” Yun Qingxue frowned. “If you keep spouting nonsense, I won’t speak to you anymore!”
“Alright, alright, I’ll stop,” Liu Ying conceded, though her eyes flickered with mischief. “But Qingxue, you still haven’t answered my earlier question. Were you really abducted by the Beast King? I just heard him call you his fiancée—is that true?”
“Do you have a way to get me out of here?” Yun Qingxue countered instead of answering. Cang Yan was clearly no easy opponent—how foolish would she have to be to willingly become a pawn in his hands?
Liu Ying’s expression shifted briefly before she forced a relaxed smile. “So, it’s true then? You were taken against your will by the Beast King Cang Yan? You don’t actually want to marry him, do you?”
“Mmm,” Yun Qingxue responded vaguely. She had no desire to be Cang Yan’s pawn, nor did she want Liu Ying playing matchmaker—whatever her motives might be. But she did need Liu Ying’s help.
If Liu Ying was willing to assist, she might soon escape the Beast King’s palace—and Cang Yan himself.
After a moment’s thought, Liu Ying said, “This is still Cang Yan’s territory. Even if he seized the throne through treachery, he now holds absolute power over the beast tribes. Everything has stabilized under his rule, so getting you out won’t be easy.”
Seeing Yun Qingxue’s frown, Liu Ying quickly added, “But I can try asking the Phoenix King. Maybe he can find a way to take you away from here. Our Phoenix King is very kind.”
Yun Qingxue smiled faintly. Liu Ying never missed a chance to praise her Phoenix King. But would Feng Zihuang truly be willing to help her?
“Wait here, Qingxue. I’ll go consult the Phoenix King,” Liu Ying said impatiently. Without waiting for a response, she transformed back into her true form and fluttered out the window on swift wings.
Left alone, Yun Qingxue stared blankly out the window. The image of that crimson-robed figure from earlier had left a deep impression on her.
The Phoenix King, Feng Zihuang—he seemed gentle. But would he really help a stranger like her, a fallen Flower King?
The sun slowly dipped toward the horizon as Yun Qingxue sat by the window, lost in thought. Outside, vast fields of peonies swayed in the breeze. Occasionally, butterflies flitted among the blossoms, dancing gracefully.
Another gust of wind stirred the flowers, and the playful breeze slipped through the open window, causing the gauzy curtains to flutter and her long hair to tangle in the air.
A warm cloak was draped over her shoulders from behind. Startled, Yun Qingxue turned abruptly—only to meet Cang Yan’s piercing blue eyes.
Those eyes, cold and still as an autumn lake, concealed unseen turbulence beneath the surface.
“Surprised?” Cang Yan took in her startled expression, his gaze darkening slightly.
Yun Qingxue composed herself quickly, her initial shock melting into calm. “Having someone suddenly appear in my room isn’t a surprise—it’s a fright!”
“So it’s my fault, then? I’ve startled the fair lady,” Cang Yan said with a faint smile, though his eyes remained icy and unreadable.
Yun Qingxue studied him, finding only deep coldness in his gaze. His smile never reached his eyes.
“Does the Beast King not have official duties to attend to?” she asked lightly, though inwardly she wished he would vanish immediately. If only Cang Yan had the decency to appear when needed (like when Qing Mei’er had caused trouble earlier) and disappear when unwanted (like now)—how wonderful that would be!
But reality was cruel. No sooner had she spoken than Cang Yan leisurely took a seat across from her.
“The wind is picking up. You’re not in good health—don’t catch a chill,” he said, waving a hand. The windows snapped shut, cutting off the view of flowers and butterflies. The door, too, had been closed when he entered.
Yun Qingxue rolled her eyes inwardly. The injuries she’d suffered from Chen Qing had healed on their own after just one sleep—where had this man gotten the idea she was frail?
Really, if he was going to close the windows, he could’ve at least left the door open! Shutting everything so tightly, leaving them alone together—how improper!
Did the Beast King have no shame? Couldn’t he at least consider her reputation? Even if they’d been forced into this sham engagement, she had no intention of actually marrying him!
“The Beast King worries too much,” Yun Qingxue replied with a forced smile, her distaste for their solitude barely concealed.
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