Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 1385: They Shed Tears of Joy

Lu Nianxin drove her sword into the ground, the fierce wind whipping around her, causing her robes to billow dramatically. Her imposing presence and undeniable authority commanded unwavering respect from all who beheld her.

The ministers who remained loyal to the Yue Family gazed upon Lu Nianxin with profound reverence. Tears welled in their eyes once more, but this time, they were tears of sheer elation, a stark contrast to the earlier despair.

With a slow turn, Lu Nianxin directed her gaze toward the members of the Wu Family.

"Empress Dowager, we implore you to recognize the truth! This rebellion was orchestrated solely by the traitor Wu Tianxiong. We were unaware of his wicked schemes. We beg for your forgiveness, Empress Dowager," an elder of the Wu Family was the first to prostrate himself, and a flood of others followed suit, falling to their knees.

"Please, Empress Dowager, show us mercy! We were all manipulated by the traitor Wu Tianxiong and had no alternative but to yield to his tyranny," those who had previously sought refuge with Wu Tianxiong and lauded his name now knelt as well, their pleas for absolution desperate. They kowtowed with such ferocity that their heads began to bleed, yet they seemed utterly oblivious to the pain.

Lu Nianxin cast a frigid glance in their direction but remained silent. She then turned to Yue Fanchen, instructing, "Take their corpses outside and exhibit them to the City Guard and the Imperial City Guards who dared to defy us."

Yue Fanchen responded with swift obedience, gathering the bodies of Wu Tianxiong, Lin Weicheng, and Mo Yunhai before swiftly departing the Imperial Garden.

Before long, the cacophony of battle from outside gradually subsided. With the mastermind vanquished and the crisis averted, none dared to sustain their futile rebellion.

Even now, the members of the Wu Family and the treacherous ministers continued their penitent kneeling and kowtowing, their faces a ghastly spectacle, streaked with blood.

However, no trace of pity stirred in the hearts of the onlookers. Despite their ostentatious display of remorse, had the Empress Dowager not reclaimed her power, the Yue Family would have faced annihilation within mere days, even if they had willingly relinquished the throne. What cause was there for pity?

"Mother, how should these traitors be dealt with?" Yue Fanyi inquired, casting a look of disdain upon the kneeling figures as he respectfully sought guidance.

"You are the sovereign of this nation. This decision rests solely with you," Lu Nianxin replied.

Her purpose was to defend the Yue Clan with her formidable martial prowess, not to interfere in matters of state. She had no desire to undermine Yue Fanyi's legitimate authority as ruler. She clearly understood the dichotomy between familial obligations and national governance.

"Confine them to the Heavenly Prison, maintain strict surveillance, and await their decreed punishment," Yue Fanyi commanded with unwavering resolve to the leaders of the Imperial Guard who had just arrived, a fierce glint momentarily flashing in his eyes.

Swiftly, the cultivation of the Wu Family members and the few rebellious ministers was sealed, and they were escorted away.

Han Yan understood that the fate of the traitorous ministers was sealed. The Wu Family, however, due to the historical ties between their ancestors and the Yue Family, might possess a sliver of hope for survival. Naturally, those among them possessing any degree of cultivation might succumb to illness in prison due to their grave transgressions, perish in accidental incidents while attempting to evade the prison's confines, or perhaps face exile to the harsh frontiers, relegated to obscurity and forgotten.

Nevertheless, these were not concerns that occupied Han Yan's mind. The struggle for imperial power was inherently a merciless affair, and having harbored ambitions for the throne, the Wu Family had to be prepared for the most dire of outcomes.

"Today's palace banquet concludes here, as I find myself quite weary," Lu Nianxin announced to the assembled ministers.

Though the final outcome was precisely as she had wished, following such a tumultuous event, the continuation of the banquet was, understandably, out of the question.

The ministers collectively rose, offering respectful farewells to Lu Nianxin and the others. When it was Han Yan's turn, he conveyed an even greater degree of deference.

It was widely acknowledged that given Han Yan's youth and burgeoning capabilities, his future accomplishments were immeasurable, and it would be no surprise if they eventually surpassed even Lu Nianxin's. Should Lu Nianxin, for any reason, no longer be present in the future, as long as Han Yan remained, the Yue Family's dominion over Shangyue Country would remain unshakeable.

She was, in essence, the new Protector of the Yue Family, succeeding Lu Nianxin.

As the attendees exchanged their final goodbyes and began to depart, Tian Annan, whose body had appeared unnervingly still as if deceased, suddenly sprang to life. He erupted through the palace wall and ascended into the sky, making his escape.

A collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the assembly; the old man had been feigning death all along. Earlier, observing Tian Annan without a breath and utterly motionless, everyone had presumed him to have perished from the combined assault of Lu Nianxin and Ye Lanfeng. Little did they know he was merely simulating death until all vigilance had waned, only to execute his audacious escape!

This turn of events caught even Han Yan completely off guard. While he harbored the intention to pursue, it was unfortunately too late.

"What a pity, letting him escape like that," Han Yan commented with regret.

Although Tian Annan had disguised himself, Han Yan’s sharp Six Senses recognized the aura shift when he moved and identified him. Han Yan finally guessed how Jing Jianjue and others came to have their sword array. In fact, the old fellow’s sword array was derived from the Divine Hall Secret Technique he had privately studied, which was strikingly similar to Jing Jianjue’s group. Han Yan had suspected this but was unsure of Jing Jianjue’s connection to him, hence the hesitation.

The old man was too formidable, and cunningly resourceful—his skill in feigning death to escape was so profound that letting him go was not ideal.

"Forget it, let him be. Just now, with Grandma’s knife added to my sword, even if he’s not dead, he’d be gravely injured. It would take him decades, possibly a century before he could recover his strength," Ye Lanfeng said casually, confident in his cultivation at that moment.

With Ye Lanfeng’s reassurance, she finally felt relieved.

The ministers departed individually, leaving only a few Yue Family members and Ye Lanfeng, Huayue, and others beside Han Yan, all of whom were their own people.

"Mother, when did you break the prohibition and regain your strength? Why didn’t you tell me in advance? I was so worried," Yue Fanyi said, only now smiling bitterly towards Lu Nianxin.

"I was almost scared to death earlier, Mom. Next time something like this happens, can’t you give us a heads up? This kind of thing could be terrifying, you know?" Yue Fanchen said, still visibly shaken.

Han Yan was taken aback; it turned out they genuinely did not know. Earlier, Han Yan thought his two uncles had surpassed their teacher and even outperformed their grandmother with their acting skills.

"If I had said something, given your careless personalities, how could you possibly have kept it from that old fox Wu Tianxiong?" Lu Nianxin said disapprovingly.

Indeed, she was a real old fox, deceiving not only outsiders but even her own family. Han Yan looked at her grandmother in admiration.

"My dear granddaughter is the best, the most composed. No surprise, she is truly mine," Grandmother, after scolding Yue Fanyi and Yue Fanchen, habitually praised Han Yan, casually giving herself credit as well.

Han Yan wiped the cold sweat off her forehead, speechless as she looked at her grandmother: Please, it wasn’t that I’m composed. I was too engrossed in appreciating your brilliant acting and lost sight of everything else. Besides, am I the only one who is truly yours? What about them? Do you know how much this might hurt them?

Sure enough, Yue Fanyi and Yue Fanchen were on the verge of tears.