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

The Zhou family's blatant challenge to imperial authority truly crossed the line for everyone present.

Su Miaoyun nodded slightly and raised her hand to signal everyone to be quiet. The noise in the hall immediately subsided, and you could hear a pin drop.

She sat upright on the dragon throne, her sleeves fluttering slightly, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable chill:

"By imperial decree—all Phoenix Feather Guards must assemble immediately and seal off the inner palace. Without my written order, no one is permitted to set foot within the inner palace. Those who dare disobey—"

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the assembled officials like a knife, and spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Kill without mercy."

As soon as the words were spoken, the entire hall fell into utter silence. Every courtier was drenched in cold sweat.

The passionate echoes from before seemed to vanish under the weight of those four words.

The figure sitting on the throne seemed completely different from the aloof and ethereal empress of the past.

At this moment, Su Miaoyun had shed her usual calm and aloofness, and exuded a genuine imperial majesty.

Decisive and ruthless, with an imposing and awe-inspiring presence.

But only Su Miaoyun herself knew that in this great upheaval of various forces stirring and spiritual energy resurfacing,

Any wrong decision he made could plunge Fengming Kingdom into an abyss of no return.

What made her even more uneasy was

Ever since Lin Fengmian broke the seal within her, her heart, frozen for so many years, has stirred with long-dormant emotions. And the source of these emotions is entirely tied to that man named Lin Fengmian.

For some reason, an inexplicable impulse drove Su Miaoyun.

Instead of returning to her own palace, she transformed into a streak of light and sped towards Lin Fengmian's palace after the court session ended.

Meanwhile, inside his palace, Lin Fengmian was caught in a bittersweet and embarrassing predicament.

After her passionate encounter with Yu Chan'er yesterday, her cultivation improved and her spiritual energy became even more profound.

This was supposed to be a good thing, but the news got out by some unknown person and spread like wildfire among the palace women overnight.

This morning, the threshold of his palace was almost worn down by the crowds.

"Young Master! Isn't it my turn to serve you during your cultivation today?" A young girl in a pale yellow gauze dress, with spring-like eyes, boldly grabbed Lin Fengmian's sleeve, her voice so soft and sweet it could drip water.

"Nonsense! It was clearly agreed that we should go by seniority. I joined the sect the earliest, so I should go first!" The green-clad fairy next to her was not to be outdone. She puffed out her chest and squeezed forward, her beautiful eyes filled with resentment.

"Young master... does this mean we're... your Daoist partners?"

The younger girl blushed and stared at him expectantly, her voice barely audible, yet she asked the question that everyone present longed for most.

Lin Fengmian was surrounded by a group of beautiful women, some plump and some slender, all exuding a captivating fragrance.

The sounds of warbling birds filled my ears, and images of jade-like arms and pink legs intertwined appeared before my eyes.

It was as if I had fallen into a soft and warm land of women, where even the air I breathed was filled with a sweet fragrance.

These girls already admired and were close to him, and now that they had received a personal decree from the Empress, they had no more reservations.

They were all so passionate, they couldn't wait to pounce on him and claim him as their own.

"Ahem... Um, ladies, please calm down!"

Lin Fengmian was overwhelmed, frantically dodging the restless little hands while trying to maintain order.

"Could we... follow the schedule? One by one? Or, two at a time? If you all come at once like this, I really can't handle it all!"

He spoke until his mouth was dry and he inwardly groaned.

While being surrounded by flowers is a delightful and romantic experience, the flowers are so dense that they're really prickly!

Just as Lin Fengmian was racking his brains about which one to appease first and who to instruct in cultivation, the light at the palace gate dimmed slightly.

A figure, as serene and aloof as moonlight, had quietly appeared by the door, silently observing the scene before her.

Empress Su Miaoyun has arrived.

She immediately spotted Lin Fengmian, surrounded by women, looking embarrassed yet smiling, and also saw the undisguised admiration and longing in their eyes.

For some reason, her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and a barely perceptible blush flashed across her beautiful face.

And inexplicably, a strange bitterness and... displeasure welled up in my heart.

It felt like someone had secretly touched something that was his own personal treasure.

This feeling was completely foreign to her. Ever since Lin Fengmian broke the seal within her and her cultivation gradually recovered...

She felt herself gradually becoming less like that cold, doppelganger who existed only for a mission.

Some human emotions are quietly resurfacing.

For example, the inexplicable feeling of unease in my chest right now.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The women were startled to discover the Empress's presence and turned pale with fright. They hurriedly released Lin Fengmian and knelt down in unison to pay their respects.

Their lively and bold demeanor vanished instantly, and they all fell silent, not daring to even raise their heads.

Lin Fengmian also touched his nose, gave a slight bow, and said in a relatively composed tone, "Your Majesty."

Su Miaoyun's gaze swept coldly over the women, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger, yet carrying a faint air of authority:

"All of you, step back. In the future, you shall not disturb the young master's peace and quiet without being summoned, and you shall certainly not... be so rude."

"Yes, Your Majesty..."

The girls were filled with disappointment and resentment, but none dared to disobey the Empress's decree. They could only steal a reluctant glance at Lin Fengmian.

He lowered his head and hurriedly retreated.

The door to the bedchamber was gently closed, and the fragrance and noise that filled the room dissipated.

Lin Fengmian stood there, watching the group of graceful figures disappear outside the door, his smile slightly frozen.

Damn it!

I was just getting ready to savor this riot of colors, appreciating each flower slowly! Why is this woman here to ruin my plans?

Didn't she personally hand the girl to me? Why did she change her mind now?

Could it be... that she can't bear to part with it?

Only when the palace was completely quiet, leaving only the two of them, did Su Miaoyun raise her eyes to look at Lin Fengmian.

His tone remained calm and detached, yet unusually carried a hint of warning:

"Lin Fengmian, the Zhou family is still denying that you killed Zhou Ye. Zhou Shan has now rallied his old subordinates and could turn against you at any time."

Su Miaoyun's voice was softer than usual, carrying a hint of rarely shown concern. She paused, then added:

"You should stay in the palace for the time being and remember not to go out. Although I have already ordered strict precautions,..."

The patrols have increased by two shifts compared to usual, but the forces outside the capital are complex. Even as the ruler of a nation, I cannot mobilize the entire country's resources to protect you at all times.

Her tone carried a rare hint of guilt, like that of an ordinary wife powerless to protect her husband, rather than the lofty Empress Fengming.