Beast World: The Crazy Female Is Chased by Five Beast Husbands - Chapter 14

In any case, these were all her matters and had nothing to do with him.

Even if the poison this time wasn’t administered by her, but by Princess Qinghe, the role she played in it likely wasn’t that of a good person either.

It was better to keep his distance.

Li Xuanyue had no idea that her impression in the heart of this Jun Shijun would be so poor.

After leaving Junhe Hall, Yinxin quickly approached and whispered the information she had gathered last night into her ear.

It turned out that the clan elders and nobles, upon learning that she had dismissed many of her Shijun and attendants, had all rushed to Li Feng’s side to persuade and dissuade her, despite opposition.

The matter of heirs was a significant concern for the royal family.

If it were publicly announced, it would truly disgrace the royal family’s dignity.

Thus, Li Feng chose a win-win solution she shut her doors and refused to see anyone. No matter how much anyone argued outside the council hall, she simply pretended not to hear.

“Mother Empress’s method is quite ingenious.”

Li Xuanyue smirked.

The clan elders weren’t people anyone could easily deal with.

Indeed, it required some unconventional and unscrupulous methods to handle them.

“Yinxin, pass down the order say that this princess has been feeling unwell lately and needs to recuperate behind closed doors, unfit to receive visitors.”

To prevent those old fools, after failing to see Li Feng at the council hall, from coming to her instead, Li Xuanyue opted for the same shameless tactic as Li Feng.

“Princess, what about the remaining Shijun? How should they be arranged?”

For the dismissal of the Shijun, Li Xuanyue had given them three days to consider.

After just one night, five Shijun and three attendants had already left without hesitation or attachment.

As for the remaining seven, Yinxin truly didn’t know how to handle them.

Among them, five Shijun had only recently entered Li Xuanyue’s palace, while the other two had been abducted by Li Xuanyue from outside.

Having no family or connections, they had chosen to stay in the palace.

Li Xuanyue pondered.

“Leave it as it is for now.”

If they were unwilling to leave, she truly had no better solution.

“Let them remain in their original palaces, everything as usual. The rest can wait.”

Li Xuanyue’s palace soon felt much emptier with the departure of the Shijun and attendants.

Some maids who had previously served the Shijun and attendants were now relegated to menial tasks like cleaning the palace or tending to the gardens.

“Princess, rumors are spreading throughout Fenghua Palace that the Grand Princess is unwell and unfit to receive guests.”

Ruyue said excitedly, “It seems we’ll soon be reaping the rewards.”

The Soul Devouring Poison truly lived up to its reputation as a forbidden drug of the Hundred Clans.

After just one dose, the Grand Princess’s body couldn’t handle it.

If this continued for two or three more times, wouldn’t the Grand Princess’s health deteriorate completely?

By then, even without their intervention, the clan elders would surely recommend Li Qinghe as the Crown Princess of the Phoenix Clan.

Li Qinghe, however, remained calm, unlike Ruyue’s excitement.

“Don’t celebrate too soon.”

Even if Li Xuanyue had fallen into her trap, it didn’t necessarily mean anything.

Li Qinghe’s rationality told her that before acting, she must see things with her own eyes.

“Mother Empress refuses to see anyone, and now Li Xuanyue suddenly claims to be unwell and follows suit don’t you think all of this is too much of a coincidence?”

No matter how potent the Soul Devouring Poison might be, it couldn’t possibly show abnormalities on the very first day.

In her opinion, her dear elder sister wasn’t experiencing any physical issues.

Rather, she was worried that the old-timers in the clan, unable to see Li Feng, would come looking for her.

That was why she chose to shut herself away, just like the Empress, to avoid their admonitions.

Ruyue was taken aback.

She truly hadn’t considered all this.

“Enough. There’s no point in saying too much to you.”

Li Qinghe waved her hand dismissively. “You’d better think carefully about what we should do once we leave here.”

The three months of secluded reflection passed in the blink of an eye.

On the day Li Qinghe stepped out of Chaoren Hall, warmth had begun to seep into the sky.

Golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, bathing her in its glow, filling her with a sense of comfort.

It was the first ray of sunlight after mid-spring, the first clear day after a long stretch of gloom.

It filled her with inexplicable joy.

“Your Highness, Lord Lin has arrived.”

A figure in a blue robe approached slowly from a distance, and Ruyue hurriedly whispered the reminder into Li Qinghe’s ear.

During these three months of seclusion, Lin Yue had frequently visited Chaoren Hall to see Li Qinghe.

But each time, Li Qinghe had refused his visits, citing her need for reflection.

Today was the first day after her punishment had ended. Lin Yue had risen early, even skipping breakfast in his haste to come.

“Your servant greets Her Highness the Princess.”

The moment Lin Yue laid eyes on Li Qinghe, the joy in his eyes was impossible to conceal.

Unfortunately, Li Qinghe’s expression toward him was icy.

As if she were looking at a complete stranger.

“Is there something you need, Lord Lin?”

Li Qinghe’s tone was indifferent.

Those five short words carried an unmistakable sense of detachment and coldness.

It sent an inexplicable chill through Lin Yue’s heart.

To her now, Lin Yue was nothing more than a useless pawn.

Allowing him to remain by her side was already a mercy.

Naturally, her tone and attitude toward him had shifted.

Lin Yue’s forced smile faltered, revealing a flicker of panic he had never shown before.

“Your servant heard that today marks the end of Your Highness’s seclusion, so I came to offer my congratulations.”

“May Your Highness be blessed with good fortune and good health.”

He spoke with the respectful decorum befitting a subject, though he couldn’t understand why Li Qinghe was treating him with such coldness and distance.

But considering the three months of punishment she had endured, it was only natural that she might be displeased and distant toward him.

Thus, the earlier sting of humiliation and chill in his heart vanished entirely under this assumption.

“Lord Lin, Her Highness has no need for your presence. I am enough.”

Ruyue, sensing Li Qinghe’s impatience, stepped forward to speak on her behalf. “You still belong to Princess Xuanyue.”

“Though Princess Xuanyue sent you here in a fit of temper to serve Her Highness,”

“there’s no telling when she might regret it and demand your return. So, I advise you to know your place.”

“Ruyue.”

Though Ruyue had perfectly voiced her thoughts, Li Qinghe still pretended to scold her.

Pursing her lips, Ruyue reluctantly fell silent.

“Ruyue has always been blunt. Pay her no mind, Lord Lin.”

Only after Ruyue quieted did Li Qinghe turn her gaze to Lin Yue and speak slowly.

“However, there is one thing she said that was quite correct.”

“Lord Lin, I was wrong in the past. It was my fault for not recognizing my own position clearly, which led me to consider matters from your perspective as if I were your younger sister. This caused my elder sister to misunderstand the relationship between you and me.”