The rain poured down in torrents, bean-sized droplets hammering against the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City with a dense, rhythmic patter. The mournful sound of the rain mingled with the fierce argument inside the Fengtian Hall, echoing through the vast space as if the entire palace were trembling from the dispute. Shen Mingyue knelt on the icy, bone-chilling bricks, her knees long since numb. The Jade Pendant at her neck still carried the faint, lingering scent of blood from the Southern Frontier rainforest—a scent that would not dissipate, serving as a brand of the life-and-death ordeal she had endured. Before her, two factions of court officials were at daggers drawn, their faces flushed with rage, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder. The older ministers’ robes trembled with their agitation, while the young officials gripped their tablets so tightly that their palms were slick with sweat. The entire court felt like a powder keg on the verge of exploding.
"Your Majesty! Shen Mingyue is spreading heretical lies; her blood sacrifice has triggered the uprising of the Evil Specter. If this woman is not removed, the Capital will never know peace again!" The lead minister’s white hair shook with his vehemence, his cloudy eyes brimming with fury and fear. He pointed his tablet at Shen Mingyue as if it were a sword of judgment. "I implore Your Majesty to issue an edict immediately to hand her over to the Ministry of Justice for execution! This will appease the people and …
Chapter 40