An Absurd Public Trial, Two Emperors Carrying the Palanquin

Under the blazing sun at Purple Gold Square.

As noon approached, the atmosphere in the entire square had reached its peak.

On the high platform, the Third Prince Zi Feng sat in the main seat of the executioner, surrounded by countless royal attendants. He squinted slightly, enjoying the awe-inspiring gazes of hundreds of thousands of cultivators below, feeling as if every pore on his body was opening up.

"This is what power tastes like..."

He was completely captivated.

The gloom of the previous destruction of the mine and the annihilation of the assassins seemed to vanish at this moment.

If today's "public trial" is handled well, not only can we save face, but we can also use the righteous cause of "eliminating evil and protecting the righteous" to completely overwhelm the eldest and second princes and secure our position as crown prince!

"Your Highness, the auspicious time has arrived."

An official from the Ministry of Rites cautiously offered this reminder.

Zi Feng suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with sharp light!

He abruptly stood up, waved his sleeve, and his voice boomed like thunder:

"Bring the prisoner--!!"

"Roar! Roar! Roar!"

Below, the Imperial Guards responsible for maintaining order roared in unison, their long spears striking the ground with a deafening roar!

All eyes turned towards the entrance of the square.

They eagerly anticipated seeing the legendary "witch" dragged onto the execution platform, her hair disheveled and covered in blood, wearing heavy shackles, to satisfy their twisted sense of "justice."

However.

As the entrance gate slowly opened.

The once bustling square fell silent instantly, as if an invisible hand had gripped its neck.

There were no prison vans.

There are no shackles.

There was no pushing or yelling.

On the wide imperial road, three figures walked side by side, slowly approaching.

Walking on the left, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, exuding unparalleled majesty, was none other than the Great Yan Immortal Emperor—Yan Nantian!

Walking on the right, dressed in a purple and gold nine-dragon robe, exuding an aura of power and majesty, is none other than the ruler of the Ziwei Kingdom— Zi Wuji!

And between the two...

It was a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in Flowing Clouds Brocade palace attire, with her hair piled high, her makeup exquisite, and her demeanor aloof and otherworldly...

She showed no signs of being tortured; on the contrary, she walked with composure and elegance. Even the two Immortal Emperor walking beside her seemed to subtly act as her "guards" and "supporting figures"!

"What... what's going on?!"

"That woman... is a criminal?!"

"What a joke! What prisoner is dressed more lavishly than a princess?!"

"Moreover... the two Immortal Emperor are actually personally accompanying them?! This level of prestige... even distinguished guests from superior Celestial Dynasties wouldn't be this impressive!"

The onlookers were completely dumbfounded, their eyes wide open, their minds completely blank.

On the high platform.

Zi Feng was also taken aback for a moment.

But he quickly "reacted," and his previously astonished face instantly lit up with an uncontrollable surge of ecstasy!

[Father and Uncle Yan... actually escorted them here personally?!]

[They're... endorsing me!]

[That must be it! To show their respect for this public trial, and to support me, the "demon-slaying hero," the two Immortal Emperor have condescended to personally escort the prisoner!]

What an honor!

What incredible trust!

Zi Feng was trembling with excitement! He felt that his previous guess was completely correct; his father indeed valued him!

He could no longer contain himself and leaped down from the platform to meet them.

"Father! Uncle Yan!"

Zi Feng's face was beaming with a bright smile. He bowed respectfully from afar, his voice booming as if he wanted the whole city to hear.

"It's such a trivial matter, why should Your Majesties have to personally handle it? Leave it to your son!"

As he spoke, he walked up to the three of them.

Zi Wuji and Yan Nantian stopped in their tracks, looking at Zi Feng who was rushing over excitedly. Their eyes became extremely strange, even... with a hint of fear.

But Zi Feng was completely unaware of this.

His gaze passed over the two Immortal Emperor and landed on Qingxue in the middle.

Looking at Qingxue's face, which was more radiant than ever before, and her magnificent palace attire, a lewd and cruel glint flashed in his eyes.

[You're dressed up so beautifully? Perfect!]

[It'll be even more interesting if they're stripped naked and paraded through the streets!]

He strode forward, reaching out to grab Qingxue's shoulder, while viciously cursing:

"You lowly servant! Before the two Immortal Emperor and this Highness, why don't you kneel down?!"

"You dare wear this outfit?!"

"Give this to Your Highness..."

"Take it off!!!"

Looking at his ferocious face, Qingxue subconsciously took a half step back.

This retreat was like lighting the fuse of a powder keg!

When Zi Wuji saw his son dare to lay a hand on this "that man" and even insult him, he felt a chill run down his spine and was so frightened that his soul almost flew away!

[If that lord finds out that his maid was stripped naked on my turf...]

[My Purple Star Immortal Dynasty... even nine generations of my family wouldn't be enough for him to kill!]

Fear!

Extreme fear instantly transformed into boundless rage!

"Evil creature!!!"

Zi Wuji let out a deafening roar!

Before Zi Feng's hand could even touch Qingxue, he had already raised his arm and, with all his might, slapped her hard across the face!

Smack!

A crisp, clear slap echoed throughout the entire Purple Gold Square via the amplification array!

"Puff!"

Zi Feng was spun around three times from the slap, and several bloody teeth flew out!

He covered his rapidly swelling cheek, staring blankly at his usually dignified and profound father, his eyes filled with confusion and grievance.

"Father... Father Emperor?"

Why... why did you hit me?

"That bitch..."

Shut up, you unfilial son!

Zi Wuji was so angry that he trembled all over, and his finger pointing at Zi Feng was shaking.

"Who gave you the audacity to be so rude to Miss Qingxue?!"

"Kneel down before me!!"

The roar echoed through the deathly silent square, lingering for a long time.

Zi Feng covered his swollen cheek, kneeling on the cold stone slab, his mind buzzing. He stared blankly at his furious father, then at the Great Yan Immortal Emperor beside him, whose face was indifferent, even showing a hint of pity.

He couldn't understand it.

Why?

Why is that?

"Father... I did it for the sake of the royal family's reputation..." he tried to explain, his voice trembling with tears, "This lowly servant is that devil's..."

"This is what you call... a public trial?"

Sudden.

A calm, gentle voice, yet seemingly containing endless chill, came from behind the crowd without warning.

The sound wasn't loud; it wasn't amplified using any magic.

But at this moment, it strangely drowned out all the noise in the square and clearly penetrated into everyone's ears.

The moment Zi Wuji and Yan Nantian heard that voice, their bodies stiffened abruptly, their straight backs hunched over, and cold sweat poured down their foreheads like a waterfall.

[Here... here it comes!]

[That gentleman... has arrived!]

Whoosh--!

The crowd automatically separated.

It wasn't that people voluntarily made way, but rather an invisible force that pushed aside the crowded masses, creating a wide Great Dao leading to the execution platform.

The end of the Great Dao.

A young man dressed in a blue robe walked slowly with his hands behind his back.

He walked very slowly, each step seeming to tread on the hearts of everyone present.

"Da, da, da."

The crisp sound of footsteps became the only melody in the world.

Zi Feng subconsciously turned her head to look.

The moment he saw that face clearly, his pupils contracted sharply, and he let out a piercing scream as if he had seen a ghost!

"East... Dongfang Yueming?!"

"A ghost! You're a ghost! Aren't you already dead?!"

His fear now was a hundred times stronger than when he had been slapped! How could someone who had been declared "dead" by the two Immortal Emperor possibly be alive and well here?!

However, Dongfang Yueming didn't even glance at him.

His gaze pierced through the layers of guards and landed on the woman dressed in magnificent palace attire who was gazing at him intently.

"Come over."

He waved gently.

For Qingxue, those two simple words were like heavenly music.

"Owner!"

Qingxue no longer cared about the two Immortal Emperor beside her, nor did she care about etiquette or rules.

She lifted her skirt and swooped down like a fledgling swallow, passing through the high platform and rushing directly behind Dongfang Yueming.

Then, amidst the astonished gazes of countless people, she stood respectfully with her hands clasped, her eyes lowered, as if it were the most glorious position of her life.

"This..."

All the cultivators present were completely dumbfounded!

That stunningly beautiful woman, personally escorted by the two Immortal Emperor and considered a thorn in the side by the Third Prince, was actually... just this man in blue's maid?!