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

He raised his head and struggled to meet Su Miaoyun's phoenix eyes, which were filled with undisguised murderous intent. He felt a chill run down his spine and straight to the top of his head.

Originally, he had imagined Lin Fengmian to be nothing more than a dispensable male concubine, someone insignificant in Su Miaoyun's heart.

If she killed him, the Empress would at most be angry and say a few words, but she would never completely turn against this powerful marquis for the sake of a man.

But now he finally understands—he was completely wrong.

This Lin Fengmian is no male concubine; he is clearly the Empress's Achilles' heel!

Dragons have scales that cannot be touched; to touch them is certain death!

"Your Majesty the Empress..."

Zhou Shan no longer dared to be arrogant. He forced his swaying body to kneel on one knee, his voice unusually dry and hoarse.

"This old minister...this old minister was only momentarily anxious, blinded by hatred...I beg Your Majesty...Your Majesty, please show mercy..."

His voice carried an unprecedented humility and submission. This Marquis of Zhenyuan, who had fought on the battlefield for decades,

At this moment, all arrogance and conceit were completely crushed, leaving only endless fear.

Before he could finish speaking, Su Miaoyun interrupted him indifferently, her voice carrying an undeniable air of authority:

"Very well. Considering that your Zhou family has guarded the border for many years and made meritorious contributions in suppressing the Demon Abyss, I will consider this a moment of confusion on your part and spare your life."

She leaned forward slightly, her gaze like two invisible swords piercing straight into the depths of Zhou Shan's eyes.

He felt as if his very soul was being ripped away:

"But if there's a next time, then you'll only have one path to choose from—"

Her voice suddenly turned icy cold, like a chilling wind sweeping through the entire hall: "That is—to die."

When the last word "death" fell,

Su Miaoyun exuded a faint yet incredibly pure aura of power.

This sent Zhou Shan and the twelve Mountain-Shaking Guards behind him plummeting into an icy abyss.

His whole body stiffened, and he even stopped breathing for a few breaths.

Zhou Shan looked utterly defeated; all the arrogance he had displayed upon arrival had been completely shattered.

All that remained was a complex mix of lingering fear and resentment.

He lowered his once proud head, forcing out words of submission through clenched teeth: "...This old minister...obeys the decree."

Inside the main hall, many senior officials witnessed everything, their hearts filled with astonishment. They had initially expected this to be a tense and potentially tumultuous political storm.

Marquis Zhenyuan, accompanied by twelve members of the Hanshan Guard, stormed into the main hall to demand an explanation. If the Empress does not compromise, it could even trigger a significant upheaval.

But who would have thought that with the Empress's casual wave of her hand, everything would be settled without even causing a ripple.

That nonchalant, effortless demeanor left everyone with nothing but awe.

Of course, Zhou Shan's deep-seated hatred and resentment could only be suppressed deep within his chest, and he dared not reveal it in the slightest.

He struggled to his feet and, with the help of two Mountain Guards, staggered out of the main hall.

As he was leaving, he glanced at Lin Fengmian standing beside the Empress out of the corner of his eye.

The hatred surging in his eyes was like an undercurrent.

But he suppressed it in an instant.

He knew that he had no choice but to swallow his anger for the time being.

But he remembered this grudge.

Once the palace doors closed again, only Lin Fengmian and Su Miaoyun remained in the empty palace.

The officials and guards who were kneeling on the ground had already wisely retreated and dared not stay any longer.

The awe-inspiring imperial aura surrounding Su Miaoyun slowly receded like the tide.

She turned around and looked at Lin Fengmian.

A rare, almost imperceptible tenderness appeared in those beautiful eyes that were always as clear and cold as a deep pool.

"My husband," she said softly, her voice three degrees softer than usual, carrying a rare hint of apology.

"sorry."

Lin Fengmian's heart skipped a beat.

Husband? She called me husband again? And she even apologized?

His mind raced, and Aquaman's intuition told him—stay calm, you must stay calm!

At this moment, it would be beneath him to appear flattered. His face remained calm and composed.

With a perfectly measured hint of doubt, he raised an eyebrow and said:

"Why are you apologizing to me? You were the one protecting me just now; I should be thanking you."

Su Miaoyun lowered her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes, revealing a rare hint of unease and anxiety.

She paused for a moment before speaking softly:

"I didn't execute Zhou Shan on the spot, to prevent future troubles for you." Her tone was serious, as if this were an extremely important matter.

"The Zhou family has guarded the border for generations and has made great contributions in suppressing the Demon Abyss and resisting the savage beasts."

The situation is currently unclear, and all eyes are on us. If I rashly execute a high-ranking official out of personal resentment, it might discourage other meritorious officials... which would be detrimental to the overall situation.

She raised her eyes, her clear, beautiful eyes looking earnestly at Lin Fengmian, her gaze filled with a cautious pleading:

"Therefore, I could only temporarily repel him, and I'm sorry you had to suffer. Please forgive me, my husband."

After Su Miaoyun finished speaking, Lin Fengmian's laziness caused by watching the play was instantly dispelled by a strange warmth.

Was this woman... explaining things to him? Was she considering his feelings? Or perhaps... cautiously seeking his understanding?

She is a ruthless empress who is decisive in killing and whose thoughts are unpredictable!

But now she acts like a little wife, worrying about him, afraid he'll misunderstand, and concerned that he might be wronged? It would be a lie to say she's not moved.

Lin Fengmian felt his Sea King Dao Heart waver slightly. A strange warmth flowed through his chest.

He discovered that the sense of accomplishment from conquering such an empress was far more intoxicating than casting a wide net.

Hmm, maybe that's the fun of high-quality exclusivity?

Looking at her rare, almost clumsy sincerity, he suddenly felt a mischievous urge to tease her.

So, he waved his hand dismissively, adopting an exceptionally magnanimous posture, a slight smirk playing on his lips, and deliberately drawing out the syllable:

"Oh dear—I thought it was something serious! It's nothing, just a small matter! Your husband forgives you!"

Su Miaoyun suddenly froze: "...?"

She stood there, a rare look of blankness flashing across her stunningly beautiful face, like an ice queen who had suddenly turned to stone.

A hint of innocent confusion flickered in those beautiful eyes that always seemed to see through everything, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

She blinked, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, as if trying to digest the meaning behind Lin Fengmian's words.

Lin Fengmian looked at this stunningly beautiful empress who appeared unapproachable and infallible to outsiders.

At this moment, however, he showed such a blank, almost pure white expression because of his own words, and an indescribable sense of satisfaction and wicked pleasure arose spontaneously.

People revered her, looked up to her, and worshipped her as a deity.

But who would have thought that this aloof and complex empress would have such an unguarded side in private?