Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off

The three elders immediately began voicing their complaints as if they had finally found someone willing to listen to their endless grievances.

"Lady Qinglan, you have no idea how troubled we are by this matter!" Elder Lu said with a heavy, long-winded sigh.

The other two elders nodded their heads furiously like pecking chickens.

"Everyone in Fox Beast City knows that our future ruler is still only a cub," another elder added. "He is not even a year old, yet he was born with nine tails! Nine tails! This is a miracle that has not happened for generations!"

"And because of that, the entire city was overjoyed," Elder Lu continued dramatically.

"Everyone believed our Fox Beast City had finally received a powerful future leader! We were all looking forward to the day Ciao Ciao grew up and officially took his rightful position."

Ciao Ciao, who was sitting comfortably in Su Qinglan’s warm arms, immediately puffed out his tiny, furry chest.

He clearly liked this part of the story. His nine fluffy white tails swayed proudly behind him in a graceful fan.

Yes, his haughty little expression seemed to say. I am very, very powerful.

Su Qinglan almost burst out laughing at her son’s absurd pride.

However, the elders’ expressions soon turned dark and serious once again.

"But then this brat suddenly appeared out of nowhere!" Elder Lu’s face darkened completely. "He is only fifteen years old, yet he claims to be the hidden son of the previous city lord, Rong Yanchen. At first, we thought no one would take him seriously. He only has five tails, and there is nothing particularly remarkable about him."

"Yet people are suddenly supporting him!" another elder said angrily, his face turning red. "That is what we cannot understand!"

"Even some of the elders who used to stand firmly with us have changed their positions!" Elder Lu clenched his bony fists tightly. "That is what worries us the most!"

Su Qinglan’s expression slowly became thoughtful.

If only ordinary beastmen were supporting this mysterious boy, perhaps it could still be explained as clever manipulation or sympathy. But even some of the older, seasoned elders had suddenly changed sides?

That was strange.

"There must be something wrong with him," one elder muttered under his breath.

"We have known some of those elders for many years. They would never suddenly flip their positions without a compelling reason. Yet they now insist that this fifteen-year-old should become the next ruler!"

Su Qinglan narrowed her eyes into dangerous slits. She also felt that something was deeply off.

After all, this boy was claiming to be Rong Yanchen’s son. And Rong Yanchen... had already been killed by Rong Ye. So where had this secret son suddenly popped up from at such a convenient time?

Su Qinglan frowned, doing the math in her head. If the boy was fifteen years old, then Rong Yanchen himself would have been barely fifteen when the child was born.

Her expression became thoroughly strange. He couldn’t have fathered a child at fifteen, right?

Then she immediately shook her head. No. That would be completely disgusting.

But then she remembered exactly who Rong Yanchen was and how he operated. Actually... with that shameless man, nothing would surprise me.

Rong Yanchen had always been despicable enough to do things other people would never even consider. And now this mysterious son had suddenly appeared at the exact moment when Fox Beast City’s future ruler was still a tiny baby.

Coincidence? Su Qinglan did not believe in coincidences...especially when they involved her cubs.

She looked down at Ciao Ciao. The little fox was currently happily playing with the fluffy tip of one of his tails, completely unaware that adults were fiercely discussing his future throne.

Su Qinglan’s eyes softened with warmth. Whatever this mysterious fifteen-year-old boy wanted, she could not simply stand by and ignore it.

If he truly just wanted the position of clan leader, that was one thing. But if someone was using him as a puppet to target her, Ciao Ciao... then she would make them suffer.

After thinking for a moment, Su Qinglan suddenly looked at Elder Lu. "Then, Elder Lu, why don’t the three of you stay in Dragon Beast City for a little while?"

The three elders froze in place.

Su Qinglan offered them a radiant, gentle smile. "My younger sister is leaving for the East Sea soon. I have to see her off first. After she leaves, I can go with you to Fox Beast City and take a look at this matter myself."

For a moment, the three elders simply stared at her in utter disbelief. Then...

"Really?!"

"Lady Qinglan, you are truly willing to come with us?!"

"This is wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"

The three old foxes instantly exploded with wild excitement!

"Thank you, Lady Qinglan!"

"You are truly kind and noble!"

"We knew you were the only person in the world who could help us!"

"You are practically the living goddess of Fox Beast City!"

Su Qinglan’s smile slowly stiffened. These old men really know how to flatter people...

Ciao Ciao, however, looked extremely pleased with the praise. He immediately puffed out his chest as far as it could go.

"Yes! That’s right! My mother is amazing!" the little cub cheered, his big eyes glittering.

Su Qinglan glanced down at him. The little fox’s expression clearly said, See? I told you my mother is the best in the universe.

She couldn’t help but laugh softly. "Alright, alright. Stop flattering me, all of you."

After arranging a spare, comfortable house for the three elders, Su Qinglan personally made sure they were settled in properly.

Only after she walked out into the courtyard did she find Rong Ye leaning against a tree waiting nearby.

Su Qinglan walked straight over and suddenly grabbed his arm. "Rong Ye, I want to ask you something."

Rong Ye blinked, offering a bright, handsome smile. "Ask me anything, Lanlan."

Su Qinglan leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a low, intense murmur. "So... all the men in your Fox Beast City use that flower, right?"

Rong Ye froze instantly. "...What?"

Su Qinglan stared at him with utmost seriousness. "That flower. The one that allows a male beastman to have a casual relationship with a female without forming a permanent mate bond."

Rong Ye’s expressive face slowly changed. A big bead of cold sweat slid visibly down his forehead. He suddenly realized what she was driving at!

His father had used that flower. His eldest brother had probably used that flower. And now his wife was looking at him as if she were interrogating a hardened criminal with a long record!

"NO!" Rong Ye immediately shook his head so wildly he looked like a rattlesnake. "Absolutely not! Never!"

Su Qinglan raised an eyebrow, looking thoroughly unconvinced.

Rong Ye quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulders, putting on the most pitiful, innocent expression he could possibly muster. "Lanlan... do I really look like such a scumbag to you?"

Su Qinglan nodded without a single second of hesitation.

Rong Ye’s heart shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.