I Got Cheated On and Ended Up in A Beast World

Chapter 177: Chapter 177

The little blue bird flew higher and higher, disappearing beyond the towering walls of the Supreme Citadel. No one noticed it, not even the Shadow Guards. It was an ordinary spirit messenger, one of countless birds that traveled freely between the mountains every day. Only its destination was anything but ordinary.

Back in the western gardens, Lin Wan slowly stood up from the lakeside. The cold stone had numbed her legs, causing one of the younger Shadow Guards to step forward instinctively. "Lady, the ground is slippery."

Lin Wan looked at him in surprise, and the young guard quickly lowered his head. "I only meant that you should be careful."

She gave him a small nod. "Thank you."

The guard blinked, having not expected an answer. He hurried back into formation, his ears turning slightly red beneath his helmet while the other guards exchanged silent glances.

She really was different. Most nobles treated palace guards as if they were invisible, yet this woman thanked everyone, even those who merely did their duty.

They continued walking deeper into the gardens. A narrow stone path wound through blooming spirit plum trees, their pale pink flowers drifting through the air like soft snow. Lin Wan reached out without thinking, and one tiny blossom landed in her palm.

She smiled faintly. "It smells nice."

A breeze swept through the trees, and for a brief moment, the scent reminded her of the valley where she had first met Wang. She remembered sitting beside a small fire while he awkwardly roasted fish. The outside was completely burnt, while the inside was still raw.

She had laughed until tears filled her eyes. Wang had looked so embarrassed that he secretly buried the remaining fish before anyone else could see it. The memory warmed her heart, but the warmth slowly faded. She didn’t know where Wang was now, and she could only hope he was alive.

Far away at the White Tiger military camp, the tiny blue bird landed on the arm of a scout. The young beastman immediately hurried toward the command tent, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, the messenger has returned."

Wang looked up from the military map spread across the table. The scout gently removed the tiny jade tube tied beneath the bird’s wing and handed it over. Wang broke the seal, finding only a short report inside.

The note stated that the female left the tower today to walk in the western gardens under heavy guard. It mentioned she appeared weak but unharmed, and that the Supreme Sovereign personally watched her from nearby. Wang’s jaw tightened as he read the final line twice.

His fingers slowly crushed the jade slip into powder. One of his generals stepped forward and asked what they had reported. Wang answered quietly, "She’s alive."

A heavy silence settled over the tent. That should have been good news, yet none of them smiled because she was still inside the Supreme Citadel, far beyond their reach.

Back at the palace, the afternoon passed quietly. Lin Wan had nearly completed a full circle around the western gardens when she suddenly stopped ahead of an enormous spirit tree. Its trunk was so wide that several adults could not wrap their arms around it, and golden ribbons fluttered gently from its branches.

Curious, she looked toward Sister Yun. "What is this tree?"

The older maid smiled. "It is the Heart Tree. Every generation of the royal family has protected it, and they say it is older than the Citadel itself."

Lin Wan tilted her head. "It looks lonely."

Sister Yun blinked. "Lonely?"

Lin Wan nodded. "It stands here all alone. No other trees grow close enough to touch it."

Sister Yun looked at the ancient tree for a long moment. She had walked past it for decades, yet she had never thought of it that way. "Perhaps," she murmured softly, "it is."

Lin Wan reached out and gently placed her palm against the rough bark. The tree was warm, almost alive. A faint breeze stirred the golden ribbons above her head, and for just a heartbeat, the ancient tree released a single glowing leaf.

It drifted slowly through the air before landing at Lin Wan’s feet. Everyone froze, including the gardeners, the guards, and even Sister Yun. One of the older servants gasped quietly. "The Heart Tree... it acknowledged her."

The whispers spread quickly among the staff, with some calling it impossible since it had never done that before. Sister Yun immediately turned toward the servants and said sharply, "Enough. No one repeats what happened here."

The servants hurriedly lowered their heads. "Yes, Elder Sister."

Lin Wan picked up the glowing golden leaf, not understanding why everyone looked so shocked. "It fell because of the wind," she said, gently placing it back beneath the tree. "I shouldn’t take something that belongs here."

She smiled softly before continuing down the path. Behind her, the ancient Heart Tree rustled once more, its branches swaying peacefully despite the complete absence of wind.

High above the gardens, standing alone on a distant palace balcony, Cassian had witnessed everything. His golden eyes remained fixed on her retreating figure before his gaze slowly lifted toward the ancient tree. For hundreds of years, the Heart Tree had never responded to anyone, not even to him.

Yet today, it had bowed its branches to Lin Wan. For the first time in many centuries, a question appeared in the Supreme Sovereign’s mind: just who are you, Lin Wan?

Far beyond the Upper Realm, in a place no one in this world even knew existed, an ancient man seated upon a throne slowly opened his eyes. A faint smile touched his lips as the stars above that forgotten realm shimmered quietly. "My daughter is so beautiful, so beautiful that I fear, she’s a calamitous beauty, well, that’s her future husband’s problem, not mine, I can barely handle the one I have at home"

The first thing Lin Wan noticed when she woke was the silence. It was not the peaceful kind; the palace had always been quiet, but this silence felt different. She sat up slowly on the spirit jade bed, her hand instinctively resting over her lower abdomen where her child was resting.

A tiny smile almost appeared on her lips before it faded again. Outside the crystal windows, snow drifted lazily through the mountain air, covering the palace roofs until the entire Supreme Citadel looked like it had been carved from ice.

Three gentle knocks came from the door. "Lady Lin," Elder Sister Yun called softly. "May we enter?"

Lin Wan cleared her throat. "Yes."

The doors opened, and six maids entered carrying silver trays. Lin Wan frowned almost immediately because yesterday there had been twelve. Today, only six remained, and none of the younger maids from before were among them.

Instead, unfamiliar faces quietly lowered their heads with no whispering, no mocking glances, and no hidden resentment. Sister Yun directed them calmly, telling them to place the porridge by the window and remove the fruits.

One maid immediately took the expensive spirit fruits back off the tray. Lin Wan blinked. "They’re gone?"

Sister Yun looked at her respectfully. "The royal physician ordered them removed. He believes the scent is upsetting your stomach."

Lin Wan stared at her. "He noticed?"

"Yes," the older woman offered a small nod. "He has personally revised your meals."

Soon the table looked completely different. Gone were the rich soups swimming with spiritual herbs, the sweet pastries, and the fragrant fruits. Instead, there was plain rice porridge, warm water, simple steamed buns, and a bowl of lightly cooked vegetables.

Nothing smelled overwhelming. Lin Wan hesitated before sitting down, then picked up the spoon and slowly took one bite. She waited as her stomach tightened, but the violent nausea never came.

She blinked in surprise and tried another bite, yet still nothing happened. Across the room, the maids quietly exchanged relieved glances while Sister Yun smiled. "Very good."

Lin Wan finished nearly half the bowl before putting the spoon down. "I could actually eat."

"It seems simpler food suits you better," Sister Yun noted.

Lin Wan lowered her eyes. "Thank you."

Sister Yun bowed slightly. "There is no need."

One of the younger maids suddenly entered carrying several folded robes, unfolding them carefully. Every dress was soft, loose, and flowing, without a single tight belt or heavy corset. Lin Wan frowned. "I didn’t ask for new clothes."

"The royal tailor delivered them this morning," the maid explained. "They’re from His Majesty."

The room became quiet as Lin Wan looked away. "Take them back."

Every maid froze in place, and Sister Yun hesitated. "My Lady, these garments are more comfortable."

"I already have clothes," Lin Wan replied, her voice tired rather than loud. "I don’t want them."

Sister Yun sighed inwardly and told the maids to leave them in the wardrobe anyway, promising they would not force her. Lin Wan didn’t answer, and the maids quietly arranged the robes before stepping back.

Just then, another much heavier knock sounded at the door. The guards outside immediately bowed, announcing His Majesty. Lin Wan’s fingers tightened around her spoon as Cassian entered, his long black robes sweeping quietly across the polished floor.

His golden eyes immediately searched the room, landing on the empty bowl. His gaze paused, and something invisible relaxed inside him. He looked toward Sister Yun. "She ate?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Nearly half."

Cassian gave one slow nod. "Good."

The maids quickly bowed, announcing their withdrawal. Within moments, the room became silent once more, leaving only the two of them. Lin Wan kept staring at the table while Cassian walked closer, his eyes briefly sweeping across the new robes lying neatly inside the wardrobe.