Beast World: The Crazy Female Is Chased by Five Beast Husbands - Chapter 17

“Very well, we shall proceed as you suggest.”

Yin Xin frowned, about to speak up in protest, but Li Xuanyue cut her off.

“Yin Xin, send someone to Wolf Fang Hall with a message. Tell Lord Lang that I wish to see him and that he is to come to Phoenix Harmony Hall at once.”

Upon receiving the summons, Lang Hua was naturally puzzled.

Yet he buried his doubts deep within his heart.

“Your humble servant greets Her Highness the Princess.”

As Lang Hua stepped into the hall, he was immediately struck by the heavy scent of medicine.

It was clear that Princess Xuanyue was indeed gravely ill.

“Lord Lang, I heard you showed disrespect to Princess Qinghe in the imperial gardens today?”

Li Xuanyue wasted no time on pleasantries and went straight to the point.

A flicker of confusion passed through Lang Hua’s eyes. “Who told Your Highness this?”

Had one of Li Qinghe’s maids personally reported it?

If so, it seemed Feng Yi had guessed correctly.

Wen Shuo, standing nearby, noticed Lang Hua’s bewilderment and stepped forward. “Who doesn’t know of Lord Lang’s blatant disrespect toward Princess Qinghe in the gardens today? The palace maids all witnessed it with their own eyes.”

“Did Lord Lang truly believe he could hide it?”

This palace was filled with spies.

Even if he hadn’t come to report it, someone else surely would have.

Only then did Lang Hua understand.

“Heh!”

He let out a cold laugh, twirling his black fan. “Since when has Lord Wen been so close to Princess Qinghe?”

“To personally come running to Her Highness to tattle?”

“To champion her cause?”

“It seems I’ve underestimated this Princess Qinghe.”

“To think she could even sway the confidants by Her Highness’s side to speak for her.”

Though his words dripped with sarcasm, every syllable insinuated an improper relationship between Wen Shuo and Princess Qinghe.

Lord Wen’s face paled. “L-Lord Lang, how dare you spout such nonsense?”

He was horrified.

“I merely couldn’t stand your arrogance and spoke up for Princess Qinghe. Don’t you dare slander me!”

Slander?

Lang Hua didn’t see it that way.

But watching the other man nearly jump out of his skin in agitation,

his irritation instantly turned to satisfaction.

“I was merely making an offhand remark. Why is Lord Wen so flustered?”

Lang Hua’s meaningful gaze lingered on Wen Shuo,

making the latter’s skin crawl.

“Could it be there truly is something between you and Princess Qinghe?”

By the end, Lang Hua’s voice had taken on a sinister edge,

as if he had genuinely uncovered some illicit affair between Princess Qinghe and Lord Wen.

Wen Shuo nearly collapsed in terror.

His legs gave way, and he fell to his knees with a thud before Li Xuanyue’s bed.

“Your Highness, don’t listen to Lord Lang’s lies! Your servant and Princess Qinghe are completely innocent! Lord Lang is slandering me you must uphold justice for me!”

Pathetic.

Watching Wen Shuo kowtow frantically on the floor,

a flash of contempt crossed Lang Hua’s eyes.

To think this spineless fool dared to plead for justice in front of Li Xuanyue.

How utterly disgraceful.

“If Lord Wen seeks my judgment, why remain on your knees?”

The pink bed curtains, with Yin Xin’s assistance, slowly revealed Li Xuanyue’s stunningly pure and elegant face.

Her pale pink lips were like jelly, inviting endless daydreams.

Her long lashes resembled a feather fan that gently brushed against one’s heart, stirring emotions.

Her large, bright eyes, black as grapes, were now fixed on Minister Wen, sending chills down his spine.

A voice in his head screamed:

He was done for!

“Princess, I, I, I…”

Faced with Li Xuanyue’s gaze, Minister Wen averted his eyes, stammering three times without managing to utter a complete sentence.

This only drew a cold snort from Lang Hua, who stood nearby.

“Enough, Minister Wen. If you truly have nothing to say, then shut your mouth and stop making excuses.”

Wasn’t he just speaking righteously and confidently moments ago?

Why was he suddenly tongue tied now that Li Xuanyue had lifted the curtains and sat before him?

“You!”

Minister Wen glared at Lang Hua, gnashing his teeth.

His eyes were icy, like frozen depths of a thousand winters, chilling to the bone.

Had he known Lang Hua was this sharp tongued,

He would never have foolishly stepped forward to defend Princess Qinghe.

He would have chosen a different approach.

“What do you mean, ‘you’? Think your big eyes make you special?”

Lang Hua had no patience for traitors and mercilessly retorted, “Save your breath. This isn’t something your big eyes can fix. You’d better think about how to explain yourself to the princess.”

Hmph. Trying to tattle on him?

As if he’d give him the chance to defend himself.

What a joke!

Serves him right!

“Princess, look! Minister Lang is still slandering me, staining my name!”

Minister Wen’s eyes reddened as he straightened his back and declared to Li Xuanyue, “If malicious rumors spread because of this, not only will Princess Qinghe lose face among the Phoenix Clan, but I too will have no dignity left to live. I might as well die!”

His impassioned words sounded stirring to the ears.

But Li Xuanyue was an exception.

Far from being moved by his speech, she appeared utterly indifferent.

“Then go die.”

Li Xuanyue tapped the table lightly with her finger, her tone breezy.

Everyone present froze, wondering if they had misheard.

Minister Wen’s face was blank with shock.

It took him a long moment to recover.

“Princess, you…!”

His expression was one of utter disbelief.

He couldn’t believe these words had come from Li Xuanyue’s mouth.

Ignoring him, Li Xuanyue continued coldly.

“A traitor who bites the hand that feeds him.”

Though her words seemed directed at everyone, they all knew she was referring to Minister Wen.

They lowered their heads, stifling laughter.

“You eat my food, wear my clothes, live in my palace, and are cared for by my maids yet here you are, throwing a tantrum for another woman. Do you think I’m already dead?”

By the end, her voice had turned icy.

Minister Wen’s face flushed crimson as he desperately kowtowed. “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare!”

Yet Li Xuanyue refused to give him any chance or time to explain, continuing coldly, “This princess doesn’t think you lack courage rather, you have the intention but not the nerve!”

“Time and again you’ve stood before this princess to defend other women, even going so far as to openly clash with Lord Lang. Do you truly believe this princess is so broad-minded as to tolerate you cuckolding me right under my nose?”