Chapter 471: You Shall Not Covet the Throne
Yu Ling was displeased that as soon as she arrived, the Beast King asked for Qiao Xixi’s whereabouts.
"She didn’t come. She said if you want to see her, you’ll have to go in person."
The Beast King’s pupils contracted. A flash of fury crossed her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
Just as Yu Ling thought the Beast King would be furious, she heard her say, "Help me up."
Yu Ling’s eyes widened in shock. "Mother, what are you doing? You’re the Beast King! How can you go see her? She’s just the whelp of a Wandering Beast!"
The Beast King just frowned and repeated, "Help me up."
Yu Ling didn’t dare interfere too much with the Beast King’s decisions. Though she was unhappy, she still helped her up.
When the gate to Feather Palace’s courtyard was knocked on again, Qiao Xixi thought Xijing had returned.
She trotted over to open the gate, not expecting the visitor to be the Beast King.
Compared to the surprise of her arrival, Qiao Xixi was more shocked by her condition. It had only been a day or two, but she looked as if she’d suffered a severe illness. The circles under her eyes were dark, and her cheeks were sunken.
"What is it?"
"Qiao Xixi, don’t be so arrogant! This is still the royal palace! Do you really think there’s nothing we can do to you!?" Yu Ling snapped angrily.
Qiao Xixi ignored her, her gaze landing on the Beast King. "If there’s nothing, don’t disturb me."
The Beast King took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in her chest.
"Yu Ling, all of you wait outside."
"Mother!"
The Beast King waved her hand, leaving no room for argument. She looked at Qiao Xixi. "I have something to say to you."
Qiao Xixi raised an eyebrow. After a moment’s thought, she stepped aside to let her in.
The palace gates closed. When Qiao Xixi returned to the living room, the Beast King was already seated and waiting.
She walked over to a chair and sat down without a word. After all, she wasn’t the one who had something to say.
"I can let you and yours stay in the royal palace and enjoy everything the royal family has. But on one condition: you absolutely must not have any designs on the throne. It belongs to Yu Ling."
Qiao Xixi almost laughed out loud. "Has the Beast King condescended to visit me just to bestow upon me the charity of staying in the royal palace?"
The Beast King choked on her words, her hand tightening on the armrest.
"You’re still not satisfied? You still want to fight for the throne?"
Qiao Xixi crossed her arms and leaned back leisurely against the chair. "Don’t tell me you only have two children, Yu Ling and Yu Ye? That’s not very fertile. If they both died, wouldn’t the throne be mine?"
The Beast King’s face fell. She could no longer keep up the facade, her chest heaving with anger. The reason she had come today was that she had truly felt the threat Qiao Xixi posed to the throne, and she also sensed that something was seriously wrong with her own body.
Beastkin are sensitive to life and death. She knew she probably didn’t have much time left. She had to arrange the matter of the heir to the throne before she died.
Right now, her only worry was that Qiao Xixi coveted the throne. That was why she wanted to try a softer approach first, to negotiate with her and make her give up the idea.
"I have already made it clear to the clan elders that Yu Ling will be my heir. You... Don’t even think about it!"
Qiao Xixi leaned forward slightly, looking down at the Beast King with cold eyes.
"Since you’ve already arranged everything, what are you doing here? Isn’t it because you’re afraid?"
"You!"
Qiao Xixi straightened up and began to ponder a question.
’Yu Ling and the Beast King are on the same side. That means if she takes the throne, even if nothing happens at first, she might still cause trouble for me later. Her ascension is a threat to us.’
’So, before this threat has fully matured, couldn’t I just... nip it in the bud?’
’I don’t know much about the succession in Beast King City. I’ll have to wait for my father to get back and ask him.’
"Qiao Xixi, the throne... I will never allow you to covet it!"
After speaking, the Beast King forced herself to her feet and stormed out, huffing in anger. She seemed to be in a great hurry, probably rushing back to make arrangements for Yu Ling’s succession.
"Xixi."
The Beast King and her entourage had just left when Yaoxi arrived.
"Auntie Yaoxi, what brings you here?"
Yaoxi wore a gentle smile. She glanced in the direction the Beast King had left. "I just saw the Beast King. What did she come for? She didn’t give you a hard time, did she?"
Qiao Xixi shook her head and stepped aside to let her into the house.
"No. She doesn’t dare do anything to me right now."
’The Beast King knows that if anything happened to me in the royal palace, my father and the others would never let it go. It’s not that the Beast King has no way to deal with me, but for her, the most important thing right now is arranging for Yu Ling to inherit the throne.’
’She most likely doesn’t want me to cause any complications for this matter.’
’After all, I’ve heard that even when a new Beast King succeeds the throne, they must accept challenges from warriors.’
’Is the Beast King worried that my father and Sunxiao will challenge Yu Ling’s mate?’
"I came by today to bring you some fruit. I heard from your father that you like fruit."
Qiao Xixi opened the animal-skin bag and froze for a moment when she saw the fruit inside. But she quickly composed herself, took a few fruits, and put them in a wooden basin to wash.
"They’re all washed. Auntie Yaoxi, you have some too."
Yaoxi took the orange-colored fruit from her hand but didn’t eat it. "These Sun Fruits are too sweet. I don’t really eat them. You keep them."
Qiao Xixi smiled, took the fruit back, and handed her a green one instead.
"I like sweet things, so I’ll eat this one."
After a bit of small talk, Yaoxi asked, "So, the Beast King came in person just now. Was it about something important?"
Qiao Xixi thought for a moment, then smiled. "Her? She’s probably worried about me stealing her throne."
Yaoxi was taken aback. "This... Xixi, do you want to inherit the throne?"
Qiao Xixi looked up at Yaoxi and noticed her gaze was especially serious.
Instead of answering, she asked, "What do you think, Auntie Yaoxi?"
Yaoxi was stunned again. She lowered her gaze, concealing the strange look in her eyes. "Xixi, the throne isn’t such an easy seat to take. I heard from your father that you all lived very happily in the tribe. Why get yourself entangled in the conflicts of Beast King City?"
Qiao Xixi took a bite of the fruit. Mmm, this Sun Fruit really was fragrant and sweet, a variety she had never tasted before.
’Beast King City really is different. The resources are just so much better than in the tribe.’
"But everything in Beast King City is better than in the tribe, Auntie Yaoxi. You’ve never lived in a tribe, so you wouldn’t understand."
"Auntie Yaoxi, if I wanted to become the Beast King, would you support me?"
Yaoxi looked up and was suddenly met with Qiao Xixi’s sincere gaze, leaving her speechless for a moment.
"Auntie Yaoxi?"
Yaoxi frowned and shook her head. "No. I still believe you’re not suited for this place. When your father returns, you should leave as soon as possible."
After saying that, Yaoxi stood up. "I have other things to do, so I’ll be going now."
Yaoxi was at the door when she suddenly heard Qiao Xixi’s voice from behind. "Auntie Yaoxi... actually, your life all these years... it probably hasn’t been that hard, has it?"