While Yue Yunlan was lost in troubled thoughts, a sudden beam of light appeared above the dark dungeon.

A squad of armored guards descended with fierce expressions. They opened the cell door and roughly dragged Yue Yunlan, her mother, and the maid Qiao Qiao out of the cage while shouting impatiently.

"Hurry up. The Regent Prince wants to see you."

The Regent Prince was naturally Yan Jinghong.

After eliminating every opposing force within the imperial capital, Yan Jinghong had used the name of the Fourth Prince to appoint himself Regent Prince. He also granted high titles to several members of the Yan family, raising them to the highest ranks of the court. From that point onward, aside from a nominal emperor, all real authority within the Tianbai imperial family rested entirely in the hands of the Yan family.

Soon afterward, under the pushing and shoving of the guards, Yue Yunlan and the other two women were brought into a grand hall that remained relatively intact.

Inside the hall, Yan Jinghong sat high above on the sect leader's throne.

Kneeling below him were two of Yue Zhonglian's sons, the eldest Yue Chengjie and the third son Yue Tianqun. Both of them trembled as they knelt on the floor.

Several elder ministers were also present, including Wen Tingguang and Liu Hongzhang. Guards held them down by the shoulders.

Wen Tingguang still refused to kneel. He struggled stubbornly until a guard behind him kicked him viciously and forced him onto the ground. His cultivation had been sealed, so he could not resist. His eyes burned with unwilling fury as he shouted curses.

"Yan Jinghong, a scholar may be killed but never humiliated! If you want to kill me then do it. If I even blink, then I am the bastard you sired!"

"Insolence!"

"Bold fool!"

The guards on both sides immediately struck him with a barrage of slaps. Their blows landed mercilessly, leaving his face swollen and bruised as blood poured from his mouth.

"Old Wen, must you keep cursing at a time like this?"

Liu Hongzhang sighed and tried to persuade him.

"Why should I stop? We are going to die anyway. At least let me curse him a few times and vent my anger!"

Wen Tingguang spat out a mouthful of blood. He then noticed that Yan Jinghong had not even looked at him once. The man's gaze remained fixed toward the hall entrance.

Wen Tingguang turned his head and saw Yue Yunlan and the others being escorted inside. His heart immediately tightened.

What trick is that demon planning now?

"Uncle Wen, Big Brother, Third Brother?"

Yue Yunlan rushed forward when she saw them. Bloodstains covered their bodies and their appearances were miserable. It was obvious they had suffered severe torture.

"Yan Jinghong!"

Yue Yunlan clenched her fists and lifted her gaze toward him with blazing hatred.

"What exactly do you want?"

Yan Jinghong had completely restrained the demonic qi around him. He wore a golden robe that made him appear little different from before. Only his eyes had changed. They held a terrifying force that seemed capable of seizing one's soul.

Anyone who met his gaze felt fear rising from the depths of their soul.

The man resembled a living demon!

"Miss Yue, how could I bear to harm you?"

Yan Jinghong smiled faintly.

"I hear that your relationship with Ling Feng is rather close."

"That has nothing to do with you!"

Yue Yunlan bit her lip and refused to look at him.

"Is that so?"

Yan Jinghong smiled calmly. His gaze moved past Yue Yunlan and settled on Hong Lian, the sect leader's wife.

"You worthless servants. How dare you treat Madam Yue with such disrespect? Bring a seat for Madam Yue immediately."

Anger flashed across Yan Jinghong's face. The guards behind Yue Yunlan trembled in fright and quickly changed their attitude. They hurried to bring a chair and respectfully invited Hong Lian to sit.

Everyone's expressions shifted. None of them could guess what Yan Jinghong was planning.

Hong Lian quietly clenched her fists and said through gritted teeth, "This humble woman stands accused of crimes. How could I dare sit before the Regent Prince?"

"Madam Yue, that is not quite right."

Yan Jinghong smiled lightly.

"In the past, the Yan family and the Yue family could be considered long standing friends. My father even once visited your home to propose a marriage alliance. He hoped our two families could become relatives by marriage. At that time Miss Yue and I were both too young. Now, however, I believe the matter can be discussed again."

"Don't even dream about it!"

Yue Yunlan glared at him with burning hatred.

"I would rather die than marry you!"

"Miss Yue, nothing in this world is truly absolute!"

Yan Jinghong narrowed his eyes and looked toward Hong Lian with a faint smile.

"Madam Yue, I believe you are a sensible woman. If our two families become relatives through marriage, then Sect Leader Yue will become my honored father in law. Naturally he would no longer be considered a rebel and all criminal charges could be erased. The Cangqiong Sect would also remain the Divine Guardian Sect of the nation. Would that not be a good outcome?"

Hong Lian slowly shook her head.

"This humble woman may be lacking in ability, but I still possess a little sense of dignity. If Zhonglian were to learn that I sacrificed my daughter's happiness simply to protect myself, how could I ever face him again?"

"You should give up this foolish dream. My young miss will never marry someone like you!"

Qiao Qiao gathered her courage and glared fiercely at Yan Jinghong. Though she served as Yue Yunlan's maid, the two were as close as sisters. She could never bear to see Yue Yunlan fall into Yan Jinghong's grasp.

"It seems Madam Yue is not as sensible as I thought."

Yan Jinghong shrugged and did not continue pressing her. His gaze returned to Yue Yunlan.

"Miss Yue, I imagine you are a filial daughter."

"Lan'er, what are you still hesitating for?"

Not far away, Yue Tianqun, the third son of the Yue family, quickly spoke up from where he knelt.

"Prince Yan is now the Regent Prince. His strength is unmatched and his status is unmatched as well. What part of him is not worthy of you? Marrying him would be the wisest decision!"

"Third Brother, you..."

Yue Yunlan clenched her fists in disbelief. She never expected her own brother to lack even the slightest bit of integrity.

"Third Young Master, what are you saying?"

Wen Tingguang immediately shouted in anger.

"Do you even understand the words coming out of your mouth?"

"You old fool, shut your mouth. This is a matter of the Yue family. Since when does a servant like you have the right to speak?"

Yue Tianqun shot Wen Tingguang a cold glare before turning back to Yue Yunlan.

"Lan'er, even if you refuse to think about yourself, you should think about Father and the entire Cangqiong Sect. Do you understand how many people will suffer because of a single refusal from you? Stop being stubborn. This is the only way to save Father and the Cangqiong Sect."

"Well said! Truly well said!"

Yan Jinghong clapped his hands in approval.

Seeing this, Yue Tianqun believed he had gained Yan Jinghong's favor and continued speaking with even greater enthusiasm.

"Lan'er, think about how Father raised you. All it requires now is a small sacrifice from you and Father can be saved. What is there left to consider? Do you truly want to watch Father suffer unbearable torture day after day?"

"Ah..."

Beside him, the eldest son Yue Chengjie clenched his fists and spoke with difficulty.

"Little sister, your big brother knows he has no right to ask anything of you. But for Father's sake..."

"Yes, you should think carefully!"

Yan Jinghong let out a cold, sinister laugh.

"Not only for your father. You should also think about everyone else here!"

He raised his hand casually.

A deafening explosion echoed through the hall.

Yue Tianqun's head burst apart instantly. Blood splattered across the floor as the thick scent of blood filled the entire grand hall.