Free Web NovelChapter 90: Chapter Ninety: A resounding Slap
The suffocating air pressure in the courtyard dropped to a freezing, lethal temperature.
Lady Hu Mei stood haughtily on the elevated wooden walkway, her crimson silk robes rustling elegantly in the sharp breeze as she adjusted her heavy, gold-trimmed sleeves.
Below her, the noble maids she had brought into the estate were already trembling on the polished stone floor, their knees knocking together in pure terror under the sudden weight of the supreme kings’ presence. Lin Wan, however, remained completely stoic.
Wrapped securely in her thick white fur mantle, her expression was entirely unreadable as she coolly calculated the annoying obstacle blocking the palace entrance.
"What are you all staring at like brainless sloths?" Hu Mei sneered, looking down her nose at the imperial vanguard before glaring directly at Lin Wan.
She waved a dismissive, hand toward her trembling servants. "Take this rural ground-beast female to the lowest servant quarters in the outer pavilions immediately. She shouldn’t be standing here ruining the elegance of the estate. The King has returned, and he does not need a muddy valley creature cluttering his courtyard."
Long Zhan threw his head back, a loud, booming laugh erupting from his massive chest as he pointed a mocking finger directly at Qin Mo’s rigid back.
He looked absolutely delighted by the sudden drama, his violet eyes gleaming with a malicious, fanning-the-flames satisfaction as he leaned down to whisper loudly in Lin Wan’s ear.
"Pfft! Hahaha! Did you hear that, Wanwan?" Long Zhan roared, his voice carrying effortlessly across the silent courtyard, desperately fanning the flames with all his might. "I told you! I told you this slippery, underhanded worm was completely unfaithful! His ’fiancée’ is already kicking you out of your own house!
Look at this weak reptile, Wanwan, he can’t even control his own backyard!
He’s got wild foxes running the place while he’s out there wearing a pink apron in our kitchen!
This lizard highly suggests you chase this unfaithful snake straight out of the city and come back to the Northern Peaks with me!"
"Shut your mindless mouth, brute!" Qin Mo hissed, his voice dropping into a low, terrifying whisper that rattled the wooden beams of the porch.
His silver silk robes rustled as he stepped forward, his silver eyes flashing with a predatory, murderous intent that made the surrounding air pressure drop even lower.
He completely ignored Long Zhan’s boisterous taunts, fixing his freezing gaze entirely on the red fox female. "Who gave you permission to step into my house, let alone speak to my female?"
Hu Mei blinked, her haughty smile faltering for a fraction of a second under his gaze, but she quickly forced her chin up. "Your Majesty, I only came to. . ."
Before she could finish, Lin Wan stepped forward, her leather boots clicking sharply against the heavy timber platform.
The sheer, cold calmness of her movement instantly cut through the shouting.
The exact second she moved past Qin Mo, his terrifying, murderous aura visibly softened, replacing itself with a tense, anxious focus as he watched her.
Long Zhan immediately stopped laughing, crossing his arms with a broad, eager smirk, waiting to see how she would handle the intruder.
Lin Wan stopped at the base of the wooden steps, looking directly up at the fiery red fox female.
Her voice was entirely flat and devoid of emotion. "Official fiancée? Qin Mo, did you sign a contract with this female, or have a verbal agreement with her?"
Qin Mo’s elegant face paled slightly, and his terrifying sovereign mask completely vanished for a split second in front of Lin Wan.
He frantically turned toward her, his hands extending slightly as if desperately trying to clear his name. "Never, Wanwan! I swear by my core, I have never touched her, nor have I ever agreed to such nonsense! Her family merely pushed the High Elders for a match while I was away! I have no contract with anyone but you!"
Receiving her answer, Lin Wan didn’t waste another second. She glided up the wooden stairs with terrifying swiftness. freewebnσvel.cѳm
Before Hu Mei could even register the movement or utter another syllable, Lin Wan raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face.
*Smack!*
The sharp, brutal sound echoed violently through the quiet courtyard. Lin Wan was utterly done with the mindless, entitled females of the beastworld always looking for ways to mess with her and her loved ones.
From the leopard tribe to the Orycto village and now to the capital, it was always the same repetitive, exhausting nonsense.
Hu Mei stumbled backward, her hand flying to her stinging, rapidly reddening cheek. Her charcoal-rimmed eyes were wide with absolute shock and wild humiliation.
"You... you crazy lowly beast! How dare you strike me!" She trembled with rage, turning her tear-filled, frantic eyes toward the silver-haired King while pointing a shaking finger at Lin Wan.
"Your Majesty! My father is the High Minister! You would let this common, uncultured lowly beast strike me and insult the entire Red Fox Clan inside your own courtyard?!"
Qin Mo’s face went completely blank, a dark, brutal side of him unleashing that Lin Wan had never witnessed before.
He stepped over the wood of the railing, his silver eyes narrowing into two razor-thin, venomous slits.
His gaze was unblinking and purely predatory as he stared down at the weeping fox female, his voice dripping with an ancient, terrifying malice.
"Since when have you forgotten what I’m capable of, to embolden your insolent behavior?" Qin Mo whispered harshly, the sheer psychological weight of his voice making Hu Mei’s knees buckle instantly. He stepped closer, towering over her like a shadow. "Your Red Fox Clan is nothing but dust before my female. You dare bring your father’s trivial title into my house to justify your arrogance?"
Hu Mei gasped, a cold sweat breaking out across her forehead as she realized she had completely miscalculated.
The doting, soft male she had seen looking at Lin Wan a moment ago was gone; before her stood the ruthless, cold-blooded Sovereign of the Teng Snake Clan.
Qin Mo turned his chilling gaze toward the imperial guards standing at the perimeter, his command cutting through the air like a blade. "Guard! Drag this delusional creature and her entire entourage out of my sight immediately. Throw their belongings into the lowest, muddiest dirt paths of the common city below the canopy. If she or any member of her family sets foot on my porch again, execute them on the spot without trial."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the Grand Commander roared in acknowledgment.
The guards didn’t hesitate for a single fraction of a second.
They violently marched up the steps, seized the screaming, loudly weeping Hu Mei by her luxurious robes, and dragged her down the stairs alongside her panicked, sobbing maids.
Her screeching protests faded rapidly as they were forcefully carted away toward the lower platforms of the city.
The entire courtyard cleared out in absolute, breathless terror. The remaining palace servants bowed flat to the wooden ground, not daring to lift their heads or make a single sound. Lin Wan didn’t spare them a second glance.
Turning on her heel, she walked past the shattered railing and pushed open the heavy, reinforced wooden doors of the main pavilion, eager to get inside, lock out the outside world, and access The space to check on her triplets and ensure Lanying was resting comfortably. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
The moment the massive doors slammed shut behind them, cutting them off from the political tension of the capital, the heavy atmosphere completely evaporated.
Qin Mo immediately dropped his ruthless King persona, turning into a deeply anxious, doting partner.
He hovered over Lin Wan’s shoulder, his hands twitching as he tried to look as pleasing and helpful as possible, his voice laced with frantic worry. "Wanwan, please do not be angry with me. My home belongs only to you, I swear it. The mountain march was so long and exhausting for you. Please, let me carry you to the master bedroom so you do not strain your body."
Long Zhan instantly shoved his massive, armored arm between Qin Mo and Lin Wan, growling aggressively as he blocked the snake king’s path. "Get your slimy, ’unfaithful’ hands away from her, worm! I’m going into the bedroom first to set up the thickest mountain furs so she doesn’t catch a draft on these drafty wooden branches! Go find your pink apron and start cooking some hot soup for her, you lying snake!"
"I am the master of this house, you oversized lizard!" Qin Mo hissed back, his fangs flashing in frustration as he tried to maneuver around Long Zhan’s giant frame. "I know exactly what my female needs to eat!"
Lin Wan stopped in the middle of the grand wooden hallway, turning around to give both of them a sharp, freezing glare that instantly silenced their bickering.
"Both of you, be quiet," Lin Wan commanded, her voice dropping into a firm, no-nonsense tone. "We are going inside to see the cubs and show Lanying some decorum. If I hear one more word about aprons or fortresses before I see my babies, both of you are sleeping on the porch."
Qin Mo and Long Zhan instantly closed their mouths, bowing their heads submissively as they followed her quiet steps toward the inner chambers.
