Chapter 158: Beast Taming, An Imperial Edict Arrives Suddenly

As Shen Qianmo’s calm voice faded, a slender, light greenish figure silently swept out from a corner. At the same time, He Liancheng sprang up from his seat, rushing toward the furious, darting red shadow.

Although he despised this willful, brutal, and dim-witted crown prince, he had no choice. Protecting Wanyan Lü and Wanyan Ping was his duty on this trip. Now that Wanyan Lü was in danger, even the greatest reluctance required him to at least put on a show.

A cyan and a green figure landed side by side next to the fire beast. The ferocious crimson beast’s eyes were bloodshot and utterly devoid of reason, its bulging, circular eyes shooting out raging fires as if two burning blazes intended to consume everyone before it.

He Liancheng frowned. The fire beast before them was clearly abnormal and difficult to handle. He knew full well just how dangerous an untamed fire beast could be. Wanyan Lü was already poor at lightness skills, and having been chased by the beast for so long, his steps were thoroughly disordered, and his dodging grew increasingly strenuous.

Without intervention, if caught by the beast’s sharp claws or jaws, Wanyan Lü would be dead. Hesitating no longer, He Liancheng prepared to strike with a palm, only to be stopped by a deep, melodious voice beside him.

"Stop." Ye Qinglan uttered the single word in a flat tone, yet carried an unquestionable firmness that halted He Liancheng’s impending palm strike.

He turned his head to look at the woman, whose attire was simple and features exquisite yet expressionless, and raised a dark brow.

What extraordinary ability did this seemingly unremarkable woman possess that Shen Qianmo would send her out to subdue the fire beast?

Ye Qinglan ignored He Liancheng’s scrutinizing gaze—or rather, she had no time to spare for anything else. Fixing her eyes entirely on the short-tempered, thoroughly infuriated little beast before her, her mind held only a single thought: to calm it down first, and then subdue it.

She raised the white jade short flute in her hand to her lips. Then, a lingering, melodious tune resounded through the grand hall.

The flute notes were clear, distant, dreamlike, and possessed a seemingly soothing magic that gradually quieted the chaotic and noisy hall.

Yet, contrary to everyone's expectations, upon hearing the flute, the fire beast grew even more violent. It abandoned its relentless pursuit of Wanyan Lü, instead tracing the source of the music to fiercely pounce toward Ye Qinglan.

"Senior Sister Qinglan, watch out!" Baili Xiao cried out in nervous warning. The rest of the onlookers also broke out in a cold sweat for this poised, serene, and elegant woman.

Ye Qinglan remained entirely unflustered. Her posture was as light and nimble as a soaring swallow, allowing her to gracefully twist, turn, and dodge within the hall with effortless ease, while the flute music shifted into an inspiring and passionate melody.

Melancholy and passion alternated freely through Ye Qinglan's lips. To the audience, it sounded completely devoid of rules or logic, but gradually, the fierce glint in the fire beast's bulging eyes began to recede, and its frantic pacing slowed.

The moment had arrived. A slight smile touched Ye Qinglan's eyes as the flute notes abruptly shifted back to a gentle cadence, resembling soft, soothing strokes calming the beast's raging temper.

After about the space of a quarter of an hour, the ferocious-looking, baring-fanged beast finally grew quiet. It let out a listless, low growl toward Ye Qinglan, exhaled puffs of hot air from its nostrils, and collapsed crestfallen onto the ground, abandoning the chase.

Ye Qinglan lowered the short flute, a thin layer of perspiration glistening across her smooth forehead. She gave an expressionless, slight nod to Shen Qianmo, who understood and smiled faintly. "Someone, collect the Crown Prince of Wanyan’s gift and deliver it to Miss Ye’s courtyard."

"Yes, Princess Consort." Two shadow guards stepped forward side by side, effortlessly stuffing the dejected and powerless fire beast into a sturdy iron cage. Only then did everyone truly let out a breath of relief.

After the two guards carrying the cage vanished from the hall, Ye Qinglan followed suit, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.

Clearly, to Ye Qinglan, this fire beast held far greater appeal than a banquet of this scale.

He Liancheng watched Ye Qinglan's swiftly departing, slender figure, a flicker of surprise crossing his handsome face.

Never would he have imagined that this quiet, reserved woman could subdue the ferocious fire beast in just a few moves.

As he walked back to his seat, he overheard Murong Jing, the Prince of Yanping's heir from Xiliang, asking his father with curiosity, "Father, what method did Miss Ye just use to tame a notoriously fierce beast from Beidi into such complete obedience?"

Murong Zhao replied in a deep voice, "That is a very ancient beast-taming art, specially designed to subdue these ancient vicious beasts. Miss Ye’s mastery of the beast-taming art is quite remarkable. Shandong’s Mo Sect truly is brimming with talent..."

"So that's how it is..." The young and handsome Heir of Yanping, Murong Jing, gazed in the direction where Ye Qinglan had vanished, unable to pull his eyes away for a long time, his bright eyes filled with wonder.

Not only was Miss Ye a great beauty, but she also possessed formidable martial arts and a mysterious demeanor. Murong Jing suddenly felt as though he had fallen in love with her at first sight.

So she belonged to the Mo Sect, and even understood the beast-taming art. Hearing the conversation between the Prince of Yanping and his son, He Liancheng felt no particular emotion, merely raising a brow. Returning to his seat, seeing that Wanyan Lü had already resumed his place, He Liancheng gave him a symbolic cupped-fist salute and said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was startled."

Having been chased about in such an ungraceful manner by a fire beast before dignitaries from various nations, losing face to such an extent, Wanyan Lü naturally wore a terrible expression. The people present, watching his flustered and blushing appearance, could not help but chuckle. Several Xiliang envoys laughed so hard they bent backward and couldn't stop, causing Wanyan Lü’s face to turn a shade of mottled green and white, growing even gloomier.

Shen Qianmo smiled lightly. "A minor accident just now, everyone need not mind. By the way, does the Crown Prince of Wanyan need to go down and change his clothes?"

Wanyan Ping rose, cupping his hands toward Meng Yuanheng and Shen Qianmo. "The Princess Consort is right. It was a lack of foresight and carelessness on the part of the Crown Prince and myself that startled Your Highnesses, please forgive us." Then, turning to Wanyan Lü before him, he added coolly, "His Highness should go change his attire first."

In truth, Wanyan Ping and Wanyan Lü had always been mortal enemies in Beidi, constantly at loggerheads and fighting tooth and nail. Therefore, Wanyan Ping had no intention of bailing him out, merely offering a cold, perfunctory reminder by virtue of his status before falling silent.

With an unsightly expression, Wanyan Lü cupped his hands toward Meng Yuanheng and Shen Qianmo, turned, and went below to change his clothes.

The small interlude did not dampen the guests' enthusiasm for drinking and merrymaking; instead, it elevated their recognition of the unfathomable depth of talent sheltered within the Prince Xuan’s estate to a whole new level. A moment later, the grand hall resumed its lively atmosphere.

Just as everyone was chatting, laughing, and toasting one another, an exceptionally sharp voice suddenly echoed from outside the hall.

"Imperial decree arrives!"

Everyone in the hall froze. How bizarre was this Great Sheng Emperor? Coming to deliver an imperial decree in the dead of night, right in the middle of someone's wedding banquet! Besides, at this hour, the city gates should have long been closed. How on earth did the decree-bearer get in?

Conversely, the two figures seated prominently at the head remained calm and undisturbed. Meng Yuanheng looked at Shen Qianmo with a smile at the corner of his lips, the two exchanging a light chuckle.

Meanwhile, the members of the Mo and Xie families seated further down appeared entirely composed and serene, showing not a shred of surprise.

Before long, the messenger crossed the threshold and stepped into the hall. Leading them was a man in official crimson robes of the second rank—none other than Yao Chong, the current Minister of Revenue. Following closely behind were several Ministry of Rites officials, trailed by dozens of majestic and imposing imperial guards marching in tight formation, creating a solemn and dignified spectacle.

Yao Chong held a bright yellow imperial decree high above his head with both hands, shouting, "Imperial decree arrives! Meng Yuanheng, receive the decree!"

Envoys from various nations exchanged glances in an uproar. This Great Sheng Emperor harbored ill intentions; was he here to ruin the celebration?

Unfortunately, the generals of the Meng Family Army and Cloud-Flying Cavalry, as well as various local officials from the Northwest, continued drinking and chatting among themselves, ignoring them completely. The envoys from Beidi, Xiliang, and Nanchan were even less inclined to humor the Great Sheng Emperor, simply watching with amused and theatrical expressions as Yao Chong held up the decree. Neither Meng Yuanheng nor Shen Qianmo showed any intention of standing to receive it.

Yao Chong had not expected Meng Yuanheng to be so audacious, causing his old face to flush with embarrassment. Looking down from his elevated, lounging position at the casual, white-haired man, Yao Chong was forced to raise his voice once more: "Meng Yuanheng, receive the decree!"

"Read it." Meng Yuanheng's posture remained completely unmoving. He merely parted his thin lips, casually uttering a single word.

Yao Chong's expression shifted, and he sternly rebuked, "Audacious Meng Yuanheng! To see the imperial decree is to see the Emperor himself. How dare you show such disrespect!"

Meng Yuanheng raised a brow slightly, straightening his upper body from the chair to gaze down at Yao Chong. His eyes were icy, his lips curled in a scornful smile, and he said impatiently, "Either read what is in your hands, or take what is in your hands and get out of Jingzhou City. This king is celebrating his nuptials today and has no wish to kill."

"Meng Yuanheng, you..." Yao Chong's face turned livid, the hand pointing at him trembling slightly as he was choked into speechlessness.

In his mind, Meng Yuanheng had long since been stripped of his title and stripped of power by imperial decree, reduced to a commoner. Yet looking at his arrogant demeanor now, it was clear he held neither the imperial court nor the Emperor in any regard.

Trembling for a moment, Yao Chong swept his gaze across the disdainful and playful expressions of the people in the hall, ultimately deciding to swallow his anger and read the decree first.

How could he not know that delivering an imperial decree to the Northwest should have fallen within the purview of the Minister of Rites? Yet the Emperor had specifically designated him, the Minister of Revenue, making it blatantly obvious that he was being sent to his death. Who asked him to have previously been a member of the First Prince’s faction? He should consider himself lucky the Emperor hadn't dismissed him from office entirely. But if he were driven out before reading the decree, the Emperor would undoubtedly use the failure as an excuse to execute him upon his return to the capital.

Yao Chong's chubby, elderly face twisted several times before he finally drew a deep breath, unrolled the imperial decree in his hands, and read aloud:

"By heaven's mandate, the Emperor decrees: The commoner Meng Yuanheng is unbridled and audacious, harboring an army in the Northwest and conferring upon himself royal titles—an act truly rebellious and treasonous. The Xie family of Suzhou and the Mo family of Shandong have colluded with rebels and aided treason; their crimes deserve capital punishment. Henceforth, Meng Yuanheng is stripped of the imperial surname and reduced to the status of a pariah. The Xie family of Suzhou and the Mo family of Shandong are to be executed to the last of their clans. This is the decree!"