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

He remained tight-lipped about Lin Fengmian's background and potential, but solemnly gave her a piece of advice.

"Qin Lan is a person whose fate is related to the Phoenix Cry Kingdom and even involves the future changes of the Spirit Absolute Land. She is no ordinary person."

If anyone in the palace is foolish enough to offend him, you must protect them with all your might, as if protecting me.

The four words "as if protecting me" weighed a ton, like a brand etched into Qin Lan's heart.

She would never allow anyone, not even her husband and her own son, to disrupt the glimmer of hope that had finally appeared in this sacred land after thousands of years.

Moreover, her husband and two sons were also a complicated matter... Over the years, Ling Yuanshan had become increasingly arrogant and disregarded the rules.

Ling Yun, relying on her mother's status, acted recklessly in the palace; Ling Feng even harbored inappropriate thoughts towards the Empress.

Qin Lan was aware of these things, but she turned a blind eye out of consideration for the family's reputation.

But today, they dared to lay a hand on Lin Fengmian, which has touched her sore spot.

"Ling Yun!" Qin Lan shouted sternly, "Apologize to Young Master Lin immediately! If you utter even the slightest lie, you'll be punished according to family rules when we get home tonight!"

Ling Yun trembled. No matter how unwilling he was, he dared not disobey his cold-faced, iron-fisted mother. He could only walk slowly to Lin Fengmian, head down, his voice strained as if squeezed out from between his teeth:

"Young Master Lin... I'm sorry."

"Ling Feng! And you too!" Qin Lan's gaze shifted to her eldest son, her tone even harsher.

"As the elder brother, instead of trying to dissuade your younger brother, you've stirred up trouble and provoked him! Go back and reflect on your actions behind closed doors. Without my permission, you are not to step out of your room!"

Ling Feng's fists clenched until they turned white, his knuckles cracking, yet he had no choice but to lower his proud head.

"...Yes, Mother."

Qin Lan finally fixed her gaze on Ling Yuanshan.

Her husband, the current imperial advisor, was pale and flushed, his lips tightly pressed together, his brows furrowed with suppressed anger and resentment.

Qin Lan stared at him coldly and spoke without any mercy:

"Ling Yuanshan, as the Imperial Advisor, you should be able to distinguish right from wrong. How can you listen to one side of the story and let them run wild?"

If today's events were to reach His Majesty's ears, how do you think he would handle the situation? Is your reputation as the Imperial Advisor more important, or the rules of Fengming Kingdom?

Ling Yuanshan was rendered speechless by her words, which were both dismissive and offensive.

He snorted heavily, turned his face away with a flick of his sleeve, and ultimately did not utter a single word in rebuttal.

After Qin Lan finished reprimanding her own family members, she turned around again to face Lin Fengmian.

When her gaze fell upon the figure in the green robe, the sharp, murderous aura she had just exuded instantly melted away, and a rare gentleness appeared in her phoenix eyes, which had witnessed countless battles and deaths.

She clasped her hands and bowed, her voice deliberately softened, a stark contrast to when she had reprimanded her family members earlier.

"Young Master Lin, are you satisfied with this solution? It's Qin Lan's fault for not managing the household properly, allowing these good-for-nothings to offend you. You've been wronged."

She stood quite close, and Lin Fengmian could smell the unique scent emanating from her, a blend of faint, cool fragrance.

The scent seemed to be the lingering fragrance of black armor blended with the man's natural body odor, clear and not overpowering. This deputy commander exuded a composed and decisive air of authority in every gesture.

Looking up at him, his neck was neat and graceful, and his chin was slightly raised, giving him a unique charm that was completely different from the delicate young girls in the palace.

Lin Fengmian was slightly surprised; it seemed that Commander Qin's protection of him was a little too sincere.

Her reprimand just now was a clear attempt to defend herself, even at the cost of publicly humiliating her husband and son.

While the Empress's instructions certainly played a part, the apology and self-reproach in Qin Lan's eyes when she looked at him just now didn't seem feigned.

His heart stirred slightly. This woman had a dashing temperament, completely different from the naive young girls in the palace. Her calm and capable demeanor possessed a unique charm that made him want to know more about her.

interesting.

Lin Fengmian's face showed a look of realization, then he waved his hand and his tone softened:

"Commander Qin, you flatter me. It's just a small misunderstanding. As long as your son is careful with his words and actions in the future, and the Grand Preceptor is fair and just, I, Lu, will naturally not bother to pursue the matter."

These words, spoken casually, made the faces of the Ling father and son burn, as if they had been slapped several times without their knowledge.

Ling Yun gritted his teeth, Ling Feng clenched his fists, and Ling Yuanshan's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

Upon hearing this, Qin Lan felt a heavy weight lift from her heart, and even the tension in her shoulders and back eased slightly.

She secretly rejoiced that this man was indeed not the petty, vindictive, and narrow-minded type.

Such magnanimity and grandeur revealed that she had previously judged him with the narrow-mindedness of a petty person.

A storm that was about to erupt into chaos was brought to a halt by the ruthless and decisive actions of this iron-faced female commander.

It was nipped in the bud and forcibly suppressed, like a boulder thrown into a lake, its ripples flattened before they could spread.

Only a group of ministers, palace maids, and guards remained, still in shock and looking at each other in bewilderment.

His face was a mixture of pale and ashen, and he was utterly silent, even unconsciously slowing his breathing.

Qin Lan did not rush to leave. Instead, she waved to the guards she had brought, signaling them to clean up the scene and tidy up the mess.

She then turned around to face Lin Fengmian and gestured for him to enter.

His posture was respectful yet measured, and his voice was lowered, carrying a rare touch of gentleness.

"Young Master Lin, this way please—I have a few things I'd like to discuss with you privately."

Lin Fengmian raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, before noncommittally taking a step forward and strolling leisurely ahead.

Qin Lan followed him quietly, maintaining a perfect half-step distance, neither too close to invite gossip nor too distant to be impolite. Her steps were steady and restrained, as if each step had been carefully measured.

"Young Master Lin."

Qin Lan spoke, her voice suddenly becoming extremely soft, like the dripping water of melting snow under the eaves in spring.

She possessed a gentle warmth that was completely different from the stern and ruthless demeanor she had displayed when reprimanding her husband and son; she was practically a different person altogether.

"Within the depths of the palace, human nature is unpredictable, and undercurrents run deep. As a newcomer, your position is not yet secure, so it is inevitable that you will attract jealousy and suppression from all sides."

She paused, her gaze lowered slightly, and her tone became even more sincere, as if these were words she had carefully considered from the bottom of her heart.

"If you ever encounter any trouble in the future and need someone to help you out or secretly support you, Qin Lan will be at your service at any time and will never refuse."

Her tone was steady, yet every word was sincere, without a trace of insincere politeness, and without any ulterior motives.