Because she takes her villainous supporting character's life lightly, Zhan Xinjia is actually hard to anger, provided that her family members are not targeted.

At this moment, she tried her best to suppress her rising murderous intent, and instead of being angry, she smiled.

"So all you can do is play that lousy flute, huh? Fine, playing through the cage is so boring, why don't we open the cage and have some real fun!"

Upon hearing Zhan Xinjia's words, everyone gasped, and the scene descended into chaos.

"Is he crazy?! This, this won't do. The cage contains a ferocious beast in a frenzied state. If the iron gate is opened, all of us here will probably be in trouble."

"Absolutely not! Besides, Princess Caixia is so close to the lion cage. What if something unexpected happens..."

"What exactly is he trying to do? Even the Zhan family can't be this arrogant! Who will take responsibility if something goes wrong?!"

The civil and military officials turned pale with fright and hurriedly tried to stop him, fearing that this reckless young man would actually open the lion cage.

The Emperor looked bewildered, while the Empress, overwhelmed with worry for her daughter, could barely sit still and could only look helplessly at the Emperor beside her. The Emperor frowned, but did not immediately stop them. Instead, he stared intently at the young man in the round-necked robe, seemingly weighing something carefully.

Mu Yunlan's delicate brows furrowed slightly, a silent worry etched on her face. Yan Wuju, sitting beside her, maintained his usual cold and unpredictable expression, seemingly uninterested in anything.

The person who reacted the most was Yan Huishi.

His expression was solemn as he looked at the boy in the center of the field with disapproving and questioning eyes, desperately trying to understand what the other party was trying to do.

He could indulge his sister in most things, but only if it didn't involve A-Yue. He was first and foremost A-Yue's brother, and only secondly an admirer who couldn't have her. He would never joke about A-Yue's safety.

Amidst the chaos and noise, Liu Ruyan gently tugged at Zhan Yue's sleeve.

"What exactly is Xiaozhi trying to do? This is no joke! She's incredibly audacious; is she trying to climb onto the roof and tear down the tiles?!"

The old father was also nervously sweating, unsure of what his usually unruly and rebellious daughter meant. Zhan Yue gripped the wine glass in her hand tightly and chose to speak up to stop her.

"...Aiming for the top? Don't be ridiculous!"

However, Zhan Xinjia once again chose to be selectively deaf, or perhaps everyone's opinions and views were actually unimportant to her.

Under a clear blue sky, the sun shone brightly on the silver crown tied high on her head, making it gleam. She looked down at Liuyu with disdain, her narrow peach blossom eyes half-closed, and approached her step by step.

"If Princess Caixia can successfully tame the white lion without the flute, what should the princess do?"

"How...how is this possible?!"

Overwhelmed by the boy's aura, Liu Yu instinctively staggered backward as he walked forward.

Although the boy's sharp, eagle-like gaze sent a chill down her spine, after thinking of Wan Jun, she still steeled herself, raised her face, and retorted loudly with eyes full of resentment and unwillingness.

"This white lion was captured with great difficulty by dozens of warriors of my tribe after several days of risking their lives. It is intelligent and will only submit to those with pure hearts. You can't force it!"

Liu Yu became more and more confident as she spoke. After all, who in the world could defeat a ferocious beast that was as tall as two people when it stood up? No matter how powerful this young man was, he was still just a mere mortal.

She herself had undergone hypnotic training with this white lion for a year before she could barely control it briefly with flute music.

Wu Lanlian, standing to the side, remained indifferent, letting out a few cold laughs.

"Are you sure you really want to open the cage? If anything goes wrong after the cage is opened, my Southern County will not be held responsible."

Zhan Xinjia ignored her and paid no attention to the doubts. Instead, she looked down at Yan Xiyue, who was filled with anxiety.

Her voice was exceptionally soft, and her gaze was as gentle as a spring stream where ice had just melted, as she asked the same question again.

"Ah Yue, do you believe me?"

In fact, she didn't need to ask at all. From childhood to adulthood, even when she said she wanted to go blow up a cesspool, Yan Xiyue never asked why. She would happily follow behind her with firecrackers.

Sometimes, the boundless trust between the two of them was so strong that even Yan Huishi could only remain an outsider.

Even when it was a matter of life and death, Yan Xiyue could still answer instinctively and confidently without even thinking.

"certainly!"

Just as she would do everything in her power to protect Meibao, Meibao would never let her be in danger. The two of them were always in a relationship of mutual protection, without distinction of priority or hesitation.

Thinking of this, Yan Xiyue felt a warmth in her heart.

She turned around gracefully, her brows haughty. Her plain white palace dress embroidered with lotus flowers accentuated her fair skin and clear, pure features. The glass hairpin in her hair swayed gently, creating ripples of light on her face.

She stood ramrod straight and spoke in a stern voice.

"That's exactly what I was thinking. Since Princess Liuyu is so curious, as the host and as a princess of Dasheng, I should naturally satisfy her curiosity so that she has no regrets!"

Upon receiving Yan Xiyue's affirmative reply, Zhan Xinjia's chill vanished, and a smile appeared on her lips.

She raised one hand high and shouted at the crowd.

"Qiaoqiao!"

Meng Qiao understood immediately and drew her long sword from her waist, throwing it directly towards the boy.

The longsword swept through the air, its blade gleaming with a dazzling silver light under the scorching sunlight. It was then caught firmly by the spirited young man, who gripped it tightly in his palm.

"Open the cage!"

The white lion in the cage seemed to sense that something interesting had happened outside. It assumed an attack posture and lurked in a corner of the iron cage, its sharp teeth dripping with saliva. It frantically and restlessly dug its claws deeper into the ground, its golden vertical pupils fixed on the boy walking towards it.

The low growls in its throat grew heavier with the boy's approaching footsteps. When Zhan Xinjia reached the cage door, it was completely enraged and roared to the sky, becoming even more sensitive and furious.

A lion's roar was almost deafening, causing green leaves to fall from the trees and even making the earth tremble as if by illusion.

"Protect the Emperor!!"

The other guards hurriedly protected the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince on the safer second-floor viewing platform, so that even if the white lion went berserk and out of control, it would at least not harm the nobles. The ministers also left their seats and hid behind the Imperial Guards who had been temporarily dispatched.

The Imperial Guards, clad in iron armor, each holding a shield in one hand and a spear in the other, were fully armed and ready.

Just then, the guards from Nanjun who were carrying the cages stepped forward tremblingly and opened the hidden latch on the cage door. When they heard the "click" of the lock being opened, they shuddered and hurriedly found a place to hide, as if fleeing for their lives.

For a moment, only Zhan Xinjia, Yan Xiyue, and the mother and daughter remained on the field.

Zhan Xinjia released Yan Xiyue's hand, her eyes crinkling slightly as she silently comforted her with her lips.

Don't be afraid.

She has no intention of letting the white lion out of its cage.

Even if she were incredibly naive, she wouldn't joke about the safety of so many people. What Zhan Xinjia really wanted to do was go inside. After all, the iron cage was huge, more than enough to accommodate several people, and there was even room for a fight.