After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

Those imperial guards each had a long sword at their waist, their faces were stern, and they exuded a fierce and bloodthirsty aura honed by long battles. Wherever they passed, even the air seemed to freeze.

The officials who had initially wanted to watch the spectacle were immediately silenced by the chilling atmosphere, no longer daring to whisper among themselves.

Immediately afterwards, a tall and graceful figure pushed through the crowd and walked out slowly.

The newcomer was clad in a light, jet-black armor, the plates conforming to every curve of his body, perfectly outlining his alluring figure.

Her shoulders were straight and neat, her waist was so slender that it could be grasped in one hand, and below that were her round and full hips and a pair of long, jade-like legs that were half-hidden by her armor skirt.

Her features were exquisite, with eyebrows like distant mountains, a high nose bridge, and a sharp, well-defined jawline. Her whole face exuded a heroic and sharp air that could only be honed by years of battle.

The black armor she wore did not make her look bulky at all; instead, it accentuated her capable and decisive demeanor.

A long sword hung at her waist, its scabbard engraved with intricate cloud patterns. It tapped gently against her side with each steady step, producing a crisp and rhythmic sound.

Her features exuded a dignified and authoritative air, typical of those who had long held positions of power, especially her beautiful phoenix eyes.

There's always an invisible pressure in its flow, as if it can see right through people's hearts.

That kind of look can only be forged by someone who has fought on the battlefield and personally taken the lives of the enemy.

The person who came was Qin Lan, the wife of Ling Yuanshan, the biological mother of Ling Yun and Ling Feng, and the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard of the current dynasty.

Empress Su Miaoyun's most trusted right-hand man, a ruthless general who commands half of the Fengming Kingdom's Imperial Guard.

As soon as Qin Lan appeared, her lightning-fast phoenix eyes swept across the entire scene.

When she saw her husband leading their two sons, aggressively pressuring and verbally abusing Lin Fengmian, the anger in her eyes almost materialized, and her entire aura suddenly turned cold.

When her gaze swept over Lin Fengmian and she saw the young man's calm and composed expression, as if nothing had happened,

She couldn't help but be secretly amazed—no wonder he was the man the Empress herself had chosen; his temperament and composure were far superior to those of many women.

"mother……"

Upon seeing their mother appear, Ling Yun and Ling Feng immediately wilted, looking like two eggplants that had been hit by frost, completely devoid of their previous arrogance.

The two brothers hunched their necks and called out cautiously, their voices barely audible, like the buzzing of a mosquito.

Ling Feng subconsciously took a half step back, shielding his younger brother beside him, as if to prove that he had not provoked any trouble.

Ling Yuanshan also had a furrowed brow and a rather unpleasant expression. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to explain something:

"Lan'er, this matter... please listen to me..."

"shut up!"

Qin Lan interrupted him without any politeness, not even giving him a chance to give a complete explanation.

She turned around, her gaze as sharp as a knife fixed on her husband's face, and coldly rebuked him:

"Did I ever say that in front of outsiders, please address me as Commander Qin? Grand Preceptor Ling, can't you understand human language?"

Ling Yuanshan's face stiffened, his lips moved a few times, but he ultimately couldn't utter a single word.

Qin Lan gave him no chance to refute, and continued to press him with rapid questions:

"You want to explain? What do you want to explain? Let me ask you, where did you get the audacity to publicly criticize Young Master Lin?"

"Young Master Lin is His Majesty's personally chosen husband, ranking first in the entire Phoenix Cry Kingdom. What right do you, a mere subject, have to point fingers at him?"

She turned her head sharply, her gaze sweeping over her two sons like lightning, her tone even colder:

"And what right do you two have to question Young Master Lin? Who taught you manners? Who gave you the audacity to shout and speak so disrespectfully to His Majesty's husband in the palace?!"

Ling Yun opened her mouth, then murmured softly, "Mother, it's him..."

"Shut up!"

Qin Lan's sharp shout cut off her youngest son's remaining words. Her face was cold as she spoke, each word deliberate and deliberate:

"Did I give you permission to speak? Who are you, and who is Young Master Lin? Even if Young Master Lin did hit you, His Majesty will decide. Who gave you the right to act so arrogantly here?"

After a barrage of harsh reprimands, the three members of the Ling family were thoroughly scolded, their faces flushed red, yet they dared not utter a single word in their defense.

After tidying up her husband and two sons, Qin Lan took a deep breath and turned around to face Lin Fengmian.

The fierce aura he had just exuded vanished as quickly as ice and snow melting the moment he met Lin Fengmian's gaze.

She lowered her head slightly, adopting an extremely humble posture, clasped her hands in a fist and bowed deeply, her voice carrying an unusual apology and respect:

"Young Master Lin, it is Qin Lan's fault for failing to manage the household properly. Just now, my two unworthy sons and my good-for-nothing husband offended you. Qin Lan apologizes to you. Please forgive them and don't hold it against them."

She bowed deeply, and her black armor made a soft rustling sound with her movements, outlining the smooth and powerful lines of her back.

This scene instantly plunged the surroundings into a deathly silence.

Everyone present, whether palace guards, maids, or court officials who came to watch, stared wide-eyed, their jaws practically dropping to the ground.

They looked at each other in disbelief—this Commander Qin was known throughout the entire Fengming Kingdom for her incorruptibility, cold-bloodedness, and iron fist. Even when a high-ranking official in the court made a mistake, she would never show her any mercy.

But now, she was being so polite to Lin Fengmian, even showing a clear sense of awe.

She was willing to publicly reprimand her husband and son in order to stand up for Lin Fengmian to the end.

What exactly is going on?

Why should Qin Lan protect a nobody who rose to power by currying favor with the Empress?

Those officials who were gloating earlier all froze with their smiles, shrinking back and not daring to utter another word.

Qin Lan, however, understood everything perfectly.

As the Empress's most trusted confidante and beloved general, she knew that Lin Fengmian's importance to the Empress was far more than just the title of "husband".

She had witnessed all the changes that had taken place in the Empress during this time.

That empress, who was always pure of heart and as cold as the moon in the heavens, who cared only for the common people but had almost forgotten herself...

Now, I sometimes smile gently at someone, and sometimes I drift off into thought while reviewing memorials late at night, and the corners of my mouth unconsciously turn up.

She had served the Empress for so many years and had never seen Her Majesty like this before.

Whenever Lin Fengmian was mentioned, a strange light would flash in the Empress's eyes, a light she had never seen since she began following His Majesty.

Moreover, after His Majesty's cultivation breakthrough that day, he had a rare and in-depth conversation with her.