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

"I second that!"

"I second that!"

"I second that!"

In an instant, seven or eight hands were raised in unison, like a reed that had suddenly fallen over.

Those aged hands were raised in mid-air, each with a different posture; some were decisive and swift, while others hesitated and trembled, but in the end, they all raised their hands.

Yu Changhe felt dizzy as he watched this scene.

He painstakingly managed the Yu family for decades, rising from a illegitimate son of a minor branch to the position of head of the family, enduring countless open and covert battles and life-or-death struggles along the way.

He expanded the territory of the Yu family, forged alliances through marriage, trained their children, and managed their businesses, transforming the Yu family from a third-rate clan into a powerful force.

They were brought to their current position as a second-rate family in the Phoenix Cry Kingdom. But in the end—

However, he was betrayed by his own younger brother and these clan elders.

"Good... very good." Yu Changhe's voice was squeezed out from between his teeth, hoarse and low.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and clenched his fists tightly on the armrest.

His knuckles cracked, and veins bulged on the back of his hand like earthworms.

"Brother, a wise man submits to circumstances." Yu Changkun leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and smiled smugly.

He is 42 years old this year, five years younger than Yu Changhe, but he is well-maintained and looks no more than 30.

Dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, with a jade pendant of pure green hanging from his waist, he exuded an air of wealth and nobility.

"The Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion has already announced that as long as Lin Fengmian is handed over, all past matters will be wiped clean."

Furthermore, Lord Zhou promised that as long as his elder brother abdicated and yielded the throne, the Yu family would still be able to preserve its wealth and fortune.

"Abdicate and hand over the position to someone more capable?" Yu Changhe opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Give it to you?"

"Brother, you are mistaken." Yu Changkun's smile remained unchanged, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"I'm only thinking of the Yu family."

My elder brother has indeed worked hard and made great contributions during his years in office, but now that the Yu family has encountered a great calamity, someone has to step forward and take responsibility.

If my elder brother continues to occupy this position, it will be difficult to explain to the Marquis's mansion.

"You—" Yu Changhe suddenly stood up.

"Patriarch." The First Elder, Yu Dechang, spoke slowly, his voice aged yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

He is ninety-seven years old this year, with white hair and beard. He is the most senior and most accomplished member of the Yu family, and his cultivation at the early stage of the Golden Core realm is second only to Yu Changhe in the clan.

"To be fair, the Yu family's misfortune was indeed caused by your daughter. Her entanglement with Lin Fengmian has provoked the fury of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion."

The Yu family has over three hundred members; they can't be sacrificed for her personal affair.

"The Elder is right!" someone immediately echoed.

"Exactly! That Lin Fengmian is only relying on the Empress's favor. Without the Empress, what is he?"

"Handing over Lin Fengmian in exchange for the Yu family's safety is a matter of course!"

Looking at these faces that had once groveled before him, now righteous and stern, kicking him when he was down, Yu Changhe felt nauseous.

He suddenly laughed, a hoarse and desolate laugh that echoed through the hall.

"Very well. What a perfectly natural thing to do." He slowly sat down, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

"When the Yu family was in dire straits, who was it that pleaded with the Empress? It was my daughter! And now you're turning your backs on her, trying to hand her over?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Just then—

"father!"

An anxious voice came from outside the palace gate, like a stone thrown into still water, stirring up a thousand waves.

Everyone turned around at the same time.

At the main entrance of the hall, Yu Chan'er was holding the arm of a young man in black, and the two stood side by side.

Today, Yu Chan'er wore a moon-white long dress with a light blue ribbon tied around her waist, which made her waist look so slender that it seemed impossible to hold it in one hand.

Her long, jet-black hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin, with a few stray strands falling beside her ears, showing a hint of disarray from her travels, but adding to her charming and delicate beauty.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed from rushing, her forehead was covered with a thin layer of sweat, and her chest was rising and falling gently.

Yu Changhe spotted his daughter at a glance.

His expression changed drastically, and he abruptly stood up, exclaiming, "Chan'er! Who told you to come! This is ridiculous! Let's go!"

His voice was urgent, even carrying a rare hint of panic.

At this moment, where was even a trace of the dignity of a clan leader?

He knew all too well the true colors of these elders. They dared to undermine even him, the head of the family, so how could they possibly be afraid of a junior?

Yu Chan'er felt a pang of sadness when she saw her father's anxious expression.

The father she remembered as spirited and upright was now filled with worry, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. His once bright and piercing eyes were now filled with helplessness and exhaustion.

She forced herself to keep a steady voice and softly comforted him, "Father, don't be afraid! Young Master Lin is here!"

As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes in the room instantly focused on Lin Fengmian.

Lin Fengmian was dressed in black, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

He stood there calmly, unassuming, yet an invisible pressure quietly emanated from him.

He had a handsome face with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. His features were deep and exquisite, and his eyes were particularly striking. His pupils were as black as ink, and his calm demeanor seemed to conceal a bottomless vortex. Just one glance was enough to send chills down one's spine.

He concealed his aura exceptionally well, appearing at first glance like an ordinary young man, but the more so, the more people dared not underestimate him.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Lin Fengmian!

This name is known to everyone in the Phoenix Kingdom today.

The Empress's male favorite favored him greatly, not only keeping him by her side but also bestowing upon him a large amount of cultivation resources.

Many of the clan elders had scrutinizing eyes, as if they were assessing the young man's worth.

Sitting below Yu Changhe, Yu Changkun's gaze was extremely gloomy. He coldly swept his eyes over Lin Fengmian, his hostility almost undisguised.

Is this Lin Fengmian?

Yu Changkun sneered inwardly.

He's just a good-for-nothing who climbed the social ladder by relying on women, and now he dares to offer himself up.

He sized Lin Fengmian up and down, and the more he looked, the more he felt that this person was nothing special. His aura was ordinary, without any sharpness, and he didn't have the slightest bit of the demeanor of a master.

Without the Empress's protection, such a person would probably not survive more than three days in this cultivation world.

However… the Empress truly dotes on him. If he were to openly harm him, it would be difficult to explain to the Empress.

Yu Changkun's mind raced, but his face remained impassive.

He tilted his head slightly and gave his trusted acumen a wink.

The confidant was a lean, middle-aged man who had been in charge of the Yu family for over twenty years and was extremely clever.

He immediately understood and quietly withdrew from the main hall.

After he went outside, he quickly found someone and whispered:

"Go to the Zhenyuan Marquis's residence immediately and tell him we ran into Lin Fengmian here. He's walked right into our trap. Tell the old Marquis to come over right away!"

The man accepted the order and quickly sped towards the outside of the city.