"Stop!" Zhan Yin strode over with a group of ministers. They had just been discussing matters in the temple when someone came to report that the Empress had stormed off to Lingyue's palace with her sword drawn.
The senior officials urged Zhan Yin to stop it immediately to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. Zhan Yin, fully aware of the seriousness of the matter, immediately led everyone to the scene.
Seeing Luanfeng raise her sword to stab Lingyue, Zhan Yin's expression turned extremely grave. "Luanfeng, put down your sword. Let's talk this out! Lingyue was entrusted to you by the late God Emperor on his deathbed. Do you know the consequences of killing her?"
The old God Emperor was a benevolent ruler, and many ministers and subjects in the divine realm respected him greatly. In addition, the old God Emperor used his divine soul to forge the Pangu Axe, a favor that made all the gods even more grateful to him.
If Luanfeng were to kill Lingyue for no reason, Luanfeng might be forced to his death by the angry gods. In that case, even he might not be able to protect Luanfeng.
"Zhan Yin, my entire Qingluan clan, including my father, mother, and brother, were all killed by this vicious woman! Corpses littered the Qingluan Mountain, and blood flowed like rivers. She committed such a heinous crime, and just because she was entrusted with the care of the late God Emperor on his deathbed, does she think she can escape justice? I, Luan Feng, refuse to accept this!" Luan Feng was filled with grief and indignation, her eyes filled with determination.
"Sister! What nonsense are you spouting? I haven't been feeling well these past few days and have been staying in my own temple. All the maids and soldiers in my palace can testify to this. How can you make baseless accusations and accuse me like this?"
Lingyue's voice carried a hint of grievance as she curled up in the corner, looking like a pitiful little lamb.
Seeing Princess Lingyue, who was once full of vigor, reduced to such a subservient state, some veteran officials were filled with rage. An elderly man with white hair and a frail face stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, you must speak with evidence. We have watched Lingyue grow up. She is naturally obedient and kind, and would never do such a cruel thing. Please, Your Majesty, do not wrong an innocent person."
Luanfeng glared at the old man. "You say she's kind? Then how do you explain the annihilation of my Qingluan clan? My father said it himself before he died: it was Lingyue who sought revenge. How could that be false?"
Chu Wanwan stepped forward as well, “Ministers, everything Luanfeng said is true. We witnessed the tragedy with our own eyes at Qingluan Mountain, and we also heard Luanfeng’s father’s last words. All of this points to Lingyue.”
"You two are in cahoots. Who knows if you're deliberately framing me because you resent my master for becoming the God Emperor's concubine? These days, because the God Emperor has been favoring the Goddess, he hasn't come to my master's palace. He's been depressed and has been staying in his palace, grieving in secret. He hasn't gone out at all! Everyone in the palace can testify to this!"
The maidservant beside Lingyue was anxiously defending her mistress, her face full of worry and sincerity.
Luanfeng sneered, "So, everyone can testify? Everyone in this palace belongs to your master. What use are their testimonies?"
“If even the testimony of my mistress’s family is useless, then may I ask the Empress, what is the reason for you to slander my mistress here without any evidence?” The maid did not back down and continued to argue for Lingyue.
Luanfeng trembled with rage. Without another word, she drew her sword and prepared to slash at Lingyue.
With a "crack!", Zhan Yin shattered Luan Feng's sword. Luan Feng stared at Zhan Yin in disbelief, her eyes filled with shock.
"Zhan Yin, you actually shattered my sword for her sake? She killed my clansmen, my parents and my brother, and yet you still protect her?"
A complex expression appeared on Zhan Yin's face. He sighed slightly and said, "Luan Feng, I'm not trying to protect her, but I can't let you act impulsively before the matter is cleared up. Ling Yue is, after all, the person entrusted to us by the late God Emperor. If we kill her without solid evidence, the God Realm will surely be thrown into chaos."
Luanfeng's eyes were red, tears welling up in them. "Fine, fine, 'Don't act impulsively.' Then I'll wait and see what results you can find."
Luanfeng knew that if she acted rashly at this moment, she would not only fail to kill Lingyue, but might also anger the gods and have her imprisoned! Therefore, she had no choice but to stop for now!
Looking at Luanfeng's aggrieved expression, Zhan Yin felt a pang of guilt and helplessness. "Luanfeng, I know your pain, but we must prioritize the greater good. I assure you, I will give you a fair explanation."
Luanfeng bit her lip, glared fiercely at Lingyue, and then turned and left. Chu Wanwan hurriedly chased after her.
Back in her palace, Luanfeng collapsed onto her bed and wept bitterly. She felt incredibly wronged; her family had been brutally murdered, and the killer might be getting away with it because of his special status.
She felt so useless!
Chu Wanwan sat down beside Luanfeng, gently patting her back, trying to comfort her. "Luanfeng, don't be too sad. Zhanyin may have his difficulties, but I believe the truth will come out. We can't give up, we must avenge your family."
"Regardless of whether the truth comes out or not, I am going to kill Luanfeng. I haven't done it yet because, on the one hand, I can't kill her right now, and on the other hand, I don't want to put Zhanyin in a difficult position. But that doesn't mean I will let her go!"
Luanfeng sat up, her eyes revealing determination and resolve. "I will wait for the right opportunity. Once I have it, I will make Lingyue pay for her blood debt."
Chu Wanwan looked at Luanfeng, feeling both worried and admiring. She was worried that Luanfeng's obsession with revenge might put her in danger; she admired that even after suffering such a huge blow, she had not been blinded by hatred and could still maintain her rationality to wait for the right opportunity.
"Luanfeng, whatever decision you make, I will support you. But you must be careful not to put yourself in a desperate situation," Chu Wanwan said, holding Luanfeng's hand tightly.
Luanfeng nodded slightly, "Wanwan, give Zhanyin a few days. I hope he won't disappoint me!"
That evening, Zhan Yin came to Luan Feng's room, and Chu Wanwan wisely withdrew.
After an unknown amount of time, the sound of porcelain shattering and the uncontrolled roar of a phoenix came from inside the house.
"Zhan Ming, get out of here!"
"Luanfeng, calm down. Everyone is saying that Lingyue has never left the Divine Palace, not just the guards and maids in her palace. If I want to punish her, I need evidence!"
"Moreover, even if we find evidence, at most we can only imprison her in purgatory to be tortured. She is the only bloodline of the former God Emperor and God Empress, and the gods of the divine realm will not allow you to kill her!"
Zhan Yin stood outside the door, his face filled with helplessness and guilt. He stared at the closed door and sighed deeply.
At this moment, his heart was filled with contradictions and entanglements. On one side was his beloved wife, and on the other was the person entrusted with his care by the late God Emperor on his deathbed.
The former God Emperor and God Empress made such great contributions to the God Clan. No matter how big a mistake Ling Yue made, he could not kill her and sever the only bloodline of the former God Emperor and God Empress!
Inside the room, Luanfeng slumped to the ground, tears streaming down her face.
"Zhan Yin, do you know how tragically my mother and brother died? You grew up with Ling Yue, and the former God Emperor and God Empress were kind to you. I don't blame you for not killing Ling Yue!"
"But if I want to kill, you mustn't stop me, otherwise I will sever all ties with you!"
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