Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Pampering Will Do; No Need for Important Duties

An insider recounted Yu An’s story, leaving a crowd of Beastmen slack-jawed. Unaware of this, Yu An boarded the carriage prepared by Qiuyue and headed directly for the Imperial Palace.

Qiuyue held a very high status in the Imperial Palace. Even the princesses and princes had to address her as "Aunt Qiuyue" when they saw her.

Yu An had her Five Beast Husbands ride in the carriage behind, while she, her Zaizai, and Qiuyue rode in the lead carriage.

Along the way, Qiuyue discreetly sized them up. Yu An pretended not to notice, pointing out the window and describing the sights to her Zaizai.

The original Yu An had often left the palace when she lived in the Imperial City and knew it like the back of her hand. Having been away for only a year, those memories had not yet faded.

The Zaizai asked questions from time to time, which Yu An patiently answered. Watching from across, Qiuyue felt that Yu An was truly different from before.

But when she thought of the "rumors" that had spread from places like the exiled land, Quan City, and the Northern Land, Qiuyue grew wary.

If those rumors about the Beast God were false, Princess Yu An might be able to keep her life. But if they were true...

Anyone who threatened the Beast Emperor’s rule was doomed to die, regardless of whether they were an outsider or the Beast Emperor’s own child!

Soon, the carriage arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Palace. After it stopped, Qiuyue lifted the curtain and got out first.

Mo Yan and the four other Beast Husbands hurried over from the carriage behind to help Yu An descend.

"Careful, no jumping out. Let your Beast Father carry you down."

Feng Xuan quickly grabbed Da Hu, who had been about to jump, and placed him steadily on the ground.

His plan foiled, Da Hu pouted and obediently took his Beast Father’s hand, standing still.

Seeing their brother get thwarted, Xiao Yu and Xiao Hu instantly gave up on the idea and let their Beast Father carry them down.

Qiuyue found the three little ones quite amusing, and her lips curled into a slight, unconscious smile.

This scene fell upon the eyes of Yu Yun, who was standing not far away, and her palms instantly clenched.

’Yu An, why did you have to come back!’

However, she quickly composed herself and walked over, a brilliant smile on her face.

"Sister, you’re back!"

Before Yu An could react, she affectionately took her arm and said in an intimate tone, "I heard you were coming back, Sister. I’ve been waiting day and night, and now you’re finally here!"

In the original Yu An’s memories, Yu Yun had a naive personality and was doted on by the Beast Emperor and her Beast Husbands. Even their brothers were all very fond of her.

But compared to all of them, Yu Yun preferred her older sister, the original Yu An, and often clung to her. The original Yu An, however, had never shown her younger sister a pleasant expression.

For some reason, goosebumps broke out across Yu An’s skin. She discreetly withdrew her arm. "Yes, I’m back."

Yu Yun seemed not to notice her aloofness, her gaze falling upon the three Zaizai. "Little ones, I’m your Female Mother’s biological younger sister, which makes me your auntie."

Da Hu glanced at Yu An. Only after she nodded did he lead his brothers in calling out, "Auntie."

Yu Yun acknowledged them with a broad smile and had the Beast Husband accompanying her bring out the gifts.

Qiuyue cut in at the perfect moment. "Second Princess, this servant must take the Eldest Princess to see the Beast Emperor. We will take our leave now."

Yu Yun nodded reluctantly. "Then you should go on ahead, Sister. I’ll take some people to tidy up your old quarters and wait for you there."

From start to finish, Mo Yan and the other four Beast Husbands hadn’t said a word, their attention entirely focused on Yu An and the Zaizai.

Only Ao Wu threw a casual glance at Yu Yun, his brow furrowing slightly.

’This Yu Yun... why does she look a bit like my Beast Father’s enemy?’

But it was just a slight resemblance in her eyes and brows. He’d heard his Beast Father say that enemy had fallen in love with a certain female at first sight and still had no Female Master to this day.

Most of the buildings in the Imperial City were made of wood, decorated with floral carvings that made them exceptionally elegant.

After passing through a long palace path, Yu An met the Beast Emperor.

The Beast Emperor sat high upon her throne, and there was a slight resemblance to Yu An in her eyes and brows. Several males stood by her side—her Beast Husbands.

One man stood closest to the Beast Emperor, and Yu An’s gaze swept over him.

’Ah, the original Yu An’s Beast Father in name only.’

There wasn’t much strict etiquette among Beastmen. A simple greeting upon meeting was sufficient. Even before the Beast Emperor, there was no need for the three kowtows and nine prostrations one would perform for a human emperor.

Kneeling and kowtowing was reserved for when one was begging for mercy; it wasn’t necessary at other times.

"You’re back?"

The Beast Emperor was exceptionally majestic, and an invisible pressure bore down on them. Yu An replied without a change in expression, "I’m back."

"Mm," the Beast Emperor said, looking at her—or more accurately, at her face. "Let bygones be bygones. Now that you’ve returned, just live quietly as a princess. I will ensure you lack for nothing."

"As for the heir, I have already decid—"

"Just a princess?"

Yu An suddenly cut in, "I remember Mother Empress once said that I would be your heir."

"Besides, I am now the Beast God Envoy. Compared to Yu Yun, I am more qualified to be the heir, am I not?"

"Insolent!"

The Black Panther Beastman—Yu An’s Beast Father, Cui Su—scolded, "It is not your place to interrupt when your Mother Empress is speaking!"

"Furthermore, the heir has already been decided—it is your younger sister, Yu Yun! You rebellious daughter, you not only harmed your own sister, but you also fabricated lies about being the Beast God Envoy. You are not qualified to be the heir!"

Yu An ignored him, her gaze burning as she stared at the Beast Emperor. "Is that what Mother Empress thinks as well?"

The Beast Emperor was silent for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yun’er is indeed more suitable than you."

"Even though I now have Divine level fertility and am the Beast God Envoy?"

The Beast Emperor said calmly, "Since you have your Zaizai now, you should focus on taking good care of them. Don’t let other matters distract you."

"As for being the Beast God Envoy... that is baseless nonsense. Your Mother Empress can forgive you for telling a little white lie in order to come home."

Cui Su subconsciously glanced at the Beast Emperor, utterly astonished.

’To be so lenient with a bastard of unknown origin... just who in the world is this Yu An?’

No one knew better than Cui Su that Yu An was not the Beast Emperor’s child at all. That year, the Beast Emperor had given birth to only one female child—Yu Yun.

But on the day of the birth, Qiuyue had brought over an infant who was several days old, and it was announced to the world that the Beast Emperor had given birth to twins.

Only a handful of people knew of this, and Cui Su was one of them.

At the time, Cui Su had asked the Beast Emperor how to treat Yu An. The Beast Emperor was silent for a long time before saying just one thing.

"Just raise her indulgently. There is no need to be overly strict."

Seeing that the Beast Emperor herself didn’t seem to care for Yu An and showed no familial affection to speak of, Cui Su never allowed Yu An to lack for anything in terms of food, clothing, or expenses—her provisions were even better than Yu Yun’s. Emotionally, however, Cui Su only cared for his own biological child.

Children are very sensitive to emotions. Sensing the cold indifference from her Female Mother and Beast Father, the young Yu An had certainly acted out before.

But no matter how she acted out, her Female Mother and Beast Father were always indulgent with her. It was different for her younger sister, Yu Yun; if she made a mistake or performed poorly, her Beast Father would scold her harshly.

It was strict, but ultimately, it was for the child’s own good.

It wasn’t until the Beast Emperor expressed her intention to name Yu An as the heir that Cui Su realized it wasn’t that the Beast Emperor didn’t care about Yu An, but that her feelings were just incredibly complex.

She didn’t want to invest any emotion in Yu An, yet she wanted to give her the very best. Cui Su simply could not understand it, nor could he figure out why the Beast Emperor behaved this way.

So he decided to solve the problem once and for all: he poisoned Yu An and manipulated her into making mistakes, causing the Beast Emperor to reject her and stripping Yu An of her right to be the heir.

What Cui Su himself had never expected, however, was that the Beast Emperor would banish Yu An directly to the exiled land.

It was as if she wanted to give Yu An both extremes: the very best and the very worst.