The Villainess Cannot Escape — Five Beast Husbands Chase Her Madly-Chapter 57: Eating the Big Cat First

11:00 PM, inside the Golden Empire Palace.

Queen Jelena was dressed in a gold and red formal gown. A few loose strands fell from her half-pinned golden hair, but her expression was as cold as frost.

Su An’an dropped into a curtsy. "Greetings, Mother Empress."

"Anan, do you know what you’ve done wrong?" The Queen slammed her hand on the crystal table, making the teacups tremble slightly.

"I don’t know what I’ve done wrong," Su An’an replied, her expression composed.

"Conspiring with Jiu Su to deceive me... Did you truly think I wouldn’t punish you for it?" the Queen sneered.

"Mother Empress, please hear me out!"

Su An’an quickly explained, "I didn’t mention it before because I hadn’t formally become her student yet."

"It was only after she helped me improve my physical and spiritual power Levels that I accepted her as my mentor."

"Failing to inform you in a timely manner was my mistake."

She bowed her head, admitting her fault in a sincere tone.

Queen Jelena sized up her good-for-nothing youngest daughter.

She turned and ordered the Guard Commander:

"Test her spiritual power."

A guard officer brought over a measurement device.

Su An’an placed her hand on it, careful to hide her Snake Fang Tentacles and her ’charger’ tentacles.

Physique detected: B Level. Spiritual power detected: A Level.

"Not bad."

Queen Jelena nodded. "Jiu Su is indeed a talented individual."

"I want to adopt her as my daughter and grant her the title of Princess, same as you. What do you think?"

"Mother, she has her reasons for not revealing her identity. I’m afraid she will have to decline your gracious offer."

Su An’an said, steeling herself.

"Hiding on the Star Network, stirring up storms... In my view, she wants to destabilize the very foundation of the Empire."

Queen Jelena said coldly.

"Mother Empress, what is the foundation of the Empire? Is it built by climbing on the bones of low-class females?"

Su An’an met her gaze fearlessly.

"Jiu Su has always been supporting female independence and self-reliance."

"Just as you once did."

Don’t be fooled by Queen Jelena’s current prestige.

She was once a puppet controlled by powerful aristocratic clans.

She had to contend with the Beast Husbands sent to her by these tycoons.

All while secretly amassing a harem of her own on the side.

In the end, she tore out the Beast Husbands who controlled her—and their families—by the roots.

She ascended her throne of thorns over a path of blood and bones.

"And you trust her so completely?"

Queen Jelena frowned at Su An’an.

"Because the Rebel Army is our common enemy. Jiu Su won’t betray me,"

Su An’an stated.

"Your older sister once swore the exact same thing, that a certain male beast wouldn’t betray her."

"And then she tried to steal my throne to give to him as a bride price."

Queen Jelena sneered.

"You’re acting just like she did."

"Mother Empress, I’m not a lesbian." ’Much less a narcissist.’

Su An’an lifted her chin, declaring resolutely,

"If my older sister were still here, I would tell her straight to her face."

"Pity a male beast, and you’ll be cursed for life."

"Spend money on a male beast, and you’ll be cursed for eight generations!"

’When my older sister was banished, I was only eight.’

’I remember her as one of those naive, kind-hearted, holier-than-thou types.’

’One minute, she was deep in some angsty, star-crossed romance with the leader of the Rebel Army... ’

’...the next, she was trying to steal the throne to ’heal his broken soul.’ ’

’Love really does rot your brain!’

"Where did you learn such nonsense?"

"Honestly, where do you pick up all this twisted logic?"

Half-exasperated and half-amused, Queen Jelena waved her hand in resignation, dismissing her.

As Su An’an walked out of the Imperial Palace, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her.

Just as she was about to fall, the scent of Tequila wafted toward her.

An instant later, she fell into a warm, strong embrace.

"Big Cat, what are you doing here?"

Su An’an looked up abruptly, a delightful surprise twinkling in her eyes like starlight.

Ying Jiuyao’s breath hitched, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. "I heard at headquarters that the Queen summoned you," he said in a deep voice, "so I rushed right over."

His gaze was searing as he looked her up and down, his voice softening unconsciously. "The Queen didn’t punish you, did she?"

His long fingers gently grazed the top of her head, then slid down her neck and shoulders, all the way to her waist.

He was checking to see if she was hurt.

"The Mother Empress didn’t punish me. I’m just tired."

Su An’an’s voice was soft and sweet, like a kitten asking for affection, and she melted into his embrace.

Big Cat’s Tequila pheromones and body heat enveloped her.

She could clearly feel his racing heart.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. The sound made the tips of her ears burn.

"You should have waited for me before condemning the Rebel Army tonight."

Ying Jiuyao pulled her tighter into his arms, draping his warm military jacket over her shoulders.

"How could you shoulder something so huge all by yourself?"

With Big Cat’s unique scent filling her nose, Su An’an wheedled softly,

"It was just a war of words. Nothing I can’t handle."

"They’re a pack of rabid dogs."

Ying Jiuyao gently gripped her chin, his voice laced with worry.

"You slapped them in the face publicly. I’m worried they’ll bite back."

His thumb caressed her lower lip, his warm breath nearly brushing the tip of her nose.

"Next time... don’t make me worry."

"I know, I know. My head hurts, so stop nagging me."

Su An’an wrapped her arms around his neck.

Her soft breaths carried a faint, sweet scent.

She clung to him like a piece of mochi.

Ying Jiuyao’s Adam’s apple bobbed hard. His voice was so husky it sounded like it was dripping with honey. "I’m taking you home."

As he carried her to the hovercar, his arms tightened unconsciously, as if he were holding a fragile, precious treasure.

"Your Highness, you need to recharge, and quickly!" Little Pink’s voice chimed in her mind.

’I know.’

As soon as Su An’an got into the hovercar, she deftly pressed a hidden latch on the side of her seat.

CLICK. A hidden compartment popped open, revealing rows of various little toys.

’Imperial marriage law dictates that a Beast Husband’s vehicle must be stocked with his Female Master’s personal items.’

’All the better for doing naughty things whenever the mood strikes.’

Her fingertip hooked a pink silk ribbon adorned with a tiny golden bell. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

She raised an eyebrow with a grin. "Big Cat, is this a surprise you prepared for me?"

"No."

Ying Jiuyao remained expressionless, but his fluffy ears twitched nervously.

Su An’an hung the bell around Big Cat’s neck and whispered, her breath fragrant,

"Let’s play a little game!"

"What game?" Ying Jiuyao’s gaze dropped to her, his Adam’s apple bobbing reflexively.

"An upgraded version of ’Statues’!" Su An’an said, dangling the pink silk ribbon.

"You hold out your hands like posts. No dodging, okay?"

Her voice was honey-sweet, yet it made the tips of Ying Jiuyao’s ears flush red.

It was just a simple command, but it inexplicably made his heart skip a beat.

He pressed his lips together and held out his wrists, his knuckles slightly bent.

He allowed Su An’an’s nimble fingers to wind the ribbon around his wrists, tying knots.

The faint floral scent of her hair wafted over.

The occasional brush of her fingertips against his skin felt like a jolt of electricity.

It made him tense up, his breathing becoming shallow and quiet.

Once the knots were tied, Su An’an gave his shoulder a playful shove.

Ying Jiuyao played along and fell back, his solid back sinking into the plush seat of the car.

He tilted his head back to look at the girl beaming down at him.

The moonlight cast a soft glow on her, making her almond-shaped eyes shine even more brightly.

"Next up..."

Su An’an’s fingertip hovered over a button on his military uniform, and she paused deliberately.

Ying Jiuyao’s throat tightened as he watched her reach out to loosen his tie.

With every button she undid, he could feel her warm breath ghosting across his skin.

It felt like countless feathers tickling him, making his fingers twitch.

"It tickles..."

he mumbled, a hint of helplessness coloring his amber eyes.

But Su An’an just gave a sly smile and tapped his collarbone. "The game isn’t over yet!"

Suddenly, Ying Jiuyao tensed his wrists and used the tension in the ribbon to flip them over.

Their positions were instantly reversed, with Su An’an now gently pressed against the soft seat.

His voice, tinged with laughter, came from above her. "Now it’s my turn to be the hunter."