Chapter 60: So Fragrant!

Its eyes instantly gleamed, emitting a faint green light.

If being a tool wolf still gets this kind of treatment, it would gladly be a tool wolf for a lifetime!

So fragrant!

After finishing these, Ye Qingran stood on the high platform facing the crowd; behind her, the Xuan Yue Yinlang gradually shed its blood‑red hue, returning to pure silver, its agile body standing behind Ye Qingran like a small silver hill.

"Miss Ye, this Xuan Yue Yinlang…"

Dongfang Mo seemed to have noticed something.

"I've contracted it," Ye Qingran said without evasion.

Dongfang Mo smiled, not surprised.

Ye Li's eyes flashed, a look of surprise appearing in his gaze.

"What? Ye Qingran, you say you contracted this spirit beast? Are you kidding?!"

Ye Sisi seemed as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"So, you say it's contracted, then it's contracted? This princess even says this spirit beast belongs to the princess!"

Dongfang Ling'er wore a disdainful expression as well.

Although it's unclear why this Xuan Yue Yinlang stopped attacking Ye Qingran, that doesn't prove Ye Qingran has tamed it.

If it were Ye Huanhuan, she would believe it. But Ye Qingran is a mere waste; how could she possibly contract the Xuan Yue Yinlang?

Mu Qingrou and the others also began to mock.

"Don't believe it?"

Ye Qingran's gaze swept over those who had just mocked her, then she turned to the Xuan Yue Yinlang and said, "Little Silver, they don't believe I've contracted you; what should we do?"

Although the Xuan Yue Yinlang resented the name "Little Silver," which tarnished its imposing image, how dare anyone defame its owner?

Sick of it?!

"Awo~"

Heaving a long howl toward the sky, Little Silver made a leap, descended from the high platform, and with its agile body sprinted toward Ye Sisi and the others; in a flash, it appeared before her, baring its fangs, letting out a ferocious roar, and spitting a mouthful of saliva onto Ye Sisi.

"Help, help me~"

Ye Sisi shouted weakly, her voice trembling with fear, a faint whimper.

Little Silver, however, had no intention of harming her life; it turned, leapt, and landed in front of Dongfang Ling'er nearby, repeating the same act.

"Ah~"

Dongfang Ling'er screamed silently in terror, fell to the ground, and wet herself completely!

Afterwards, Zhao Ya, Mu Qingrou, and anyone else who spoke disrespectfully received the same treatment.

In an instant, a group of Xiliang city nobles—ladies and gentlemen—were terrified by a Xuan Yue Yinlang, their faces turning pale, their behavior turning comically disgraceful.

It truly was a terrible mess!

"Little Silver, come back."

Ye Qingran called softly, and Little Silver swaggered back to the platform, obediently lying down beside Ye Qingran, quiet as a dog—nowhere near the fierce, domineering look it had just shown.

After this uproar, how could anyone still doubt?

The Xuan Yue Yinlang was truly contracted by Ye Qingran!

"Crown Prince, you just said whoever can contract it, it belongs to that person; are you being serious?"

Facing Ye Qingran's smiling face, Dongfang Qingxuan felt his heart bleed.

A Spirit Beast of peak King Tier combat power, yet a Triple‑Star Bloodline (Dongfang Qingxuan didn't know that Little Silver is actually Four‑Star Bloodline)…

The reason he dared say that is simply because he knows none of those present are Beast Tamers!

Who would have thought they'd be outwitted by Ye Qingran.

Damn Ye Qingran, when did she learn to tame beasts?!

Even if he harbored great reluctance, as a member of the Imperial Clan and Crown Prince, a gentleman's word is hard to retract; to go back on it would make him a laughingstock.

"Of course." Dongfang Qingxuan forced down the bitterness in his heart.

"Then thank you, Crown Prince!"

After saying that, Ye Qingran turned and picked up a piece of Mystic Iron from the ground.

Lin Yue and Ye Huanhuan's expressions changed at the sight.

Ye Qingran weighed the Mystic Iron in her hand and immediately sensed something amiss.

"Xing Er, take this Mystic Iron and the dry spirit powder on my body to the Ministry of Justice; I want to see who is secretly being clever and trying to kill me."

Han Xing, with a cool pretty face, strode onto the platform to gather evidence.

"Ye Qingran, is there any misunderstanding here?"

Dongfang Qingxuan frowned and said.

Ye Qingran looked at Dongfang Qingxuan: "Crown Prince, what misunderstanding could there be? Someone applied dry spirit powder to me, the Mystic Iron cage—such a high‑strength metal cage—was easily broken free by the Xuan Yue Yinlang; it's clear someone is plotting against me."

Dongfang Qingxuan clearly didn't want to make a fuss of this, so he said, "Leave this matter to me; rest assured, My Palace will give you an answer."

Ye Qingran naturally didn't trust Dongfang Qingxuan.

She even had reason to think Dongfang Qingxuan couldn't be unrelated to this matter.

Let the culprit investigate the case—what's the difference from a guard stealing?

"Qingshu, go fetch a piece of Mystic Iron."

The attendant named Qingshu obeyed without question, picked up a piece of Mystic Iron from the platform, and handed it to Dongfang Mo.

"The Mystic Iron had been smeared with aqua regia."

Dongfang Mo said, as gently as a spring breeze.

Aqua regia is extremely corrosive; even highly durable Mystic Iron will be eroded, making its texture porous and reducing its strength.

Crown Prince, this matter, I will handle it myself.

Lin Yue and Ye Huanhuan, after hearing, both changed their expressions.

How could the Ninth Prince get involved in this?

Their pleading gazes looked at the Crown Prince.

Ninth Prince Uncle, your health is poor; such a trivial matter, how could we trouble you…

Trivial? At the Crown Prince's Welcome Banquet, someone tried to frame the Dingyuan General's Daughter. Is that a trivial matter? Then Crown Prince, tell me, in your eyes, what counts as a major matter?

Dongfang Mo's tone was calm, yet somehow conveyed an undeniable deterrent power.

That innate nobility radiated from his very bones; even seated in a wheelchair, it did not diminish a iota.

Dongfang Qingxuan's lips twitched a few times, yet he was left speechless!

Since Ninth Prince Uncle insists, then I shall trouble you, Ninth Prince Uncle.

Miss Ye, regarding this matter, I will give you an answer.

Dongfang Mo's demeanor was solemn, his tone earnest.

Ye Qingran signaled Han Xing to step down.

Then I shall trouble the Ninth Prince.

You, in the West Suburb Annex, fell victim to such a plot; it was a failure on our part of the Imperial Clan, I apologize. To uncover the truth for you and bring the culprit to justice—that is what I ought to do; you need not thank me.

Ye Qingran nodded.

Looking again at Dongfang Mo, I finally understood why the late emperor favored only one Ninth Prince among his many offspring.

Probably because that streak of his spirit most resembled the late emperor!

As for why he did not inherit the throne, that must be a secret belonging solely to the Imperial Clan, right?

After the Xuan Yue Yinlang caused such a ruckus, everyone lost interest.

Huanhuan, is the rest of the plan still being carried out?

Lin Yue asked.

At today's Welcome Banquet, they set several traps, intending to embarrass Ye Qingran first, then use the Xuan Yue Yinlang to tear her soul apart at Phoenix Pavilion.

Who would have thought Ye Qingran's fate would be so dire!

The Ninth Prince's appearance was also beyond their plan.

Ye Huanhuan squinted.

Thinking of the Ninth Prince's attitude, her heart fluttered uncontrollably.

After a moment, she shook her head lightly: "Let's let her off this time!"

Lin Yue was still unwilling, but thinking that the Ninth Prince Dongfang Mo was present, she dared not act recklessly.

Lin Yue glanced around, and after confirming no one was there, lowered her voice: "About that volatile spirit powder and Mystic Iron…"

Don't worry, I'll take care of it; you won't be harmed.

Hearing that, Lin Yue let out a sigh of relief.

Ye Huanhuan glanced at Lin Yue, a calculation flashing in her eyes, but Lin Yue didn't look back.

The lively Welcome Banquet ended hastily.

It should have been a night for the Crown Prince and Ye Huanhuan to shine, but instead it became Ye Qingran's stage.

Watching Ye Qingran and the Ninth Prince depart together, with the majestic Xuan Yue Yinlang following, many felt a jealous itch in their teeth.

How did you get here?

I walked here.

Dongfang Mo's face first showed a hint of surprise, then softened into a smile.

You're certainly unique.

These noble ladies of Xiliang's prestigious families, not to mention attending banquets; even when they simply go out, each rides a jeweled carriage, surrounded by admirers, as if the whole world knows their splendor.

Tonight's Welcome Banquet was no different.

Only Ye Qingran walked over.

Truly, a breath of fresh air.

I'll see you back, it's on my way.

Ye Qingran lifted her eyebrows slightly, sizing up the jade-like man before her.

Even confined to a wheelchair, not a trace of decay was visible; instead, the radiance emanating from him was as brilliant as a cluster of stars.

She gazed into his eyes, where even the reflected starlight shone as bright as the night sky.

Yet after the brilliance, she saw loneliness.

Deeper still, layers of mist obscured a clear view.

The Ninth Prince lives in the northern part of the city, so it might not be on the way.

At that moment, a magnetic voice drifted in.

Oh, that damn voice familiar to the bone!