The God of Destruction stopped in front of her.
For a moment, he looked like he wanted to say something loud and emotional.
Then the Goddess of Disaster lightly stepped on his foot.
He shut his mouth.
Yan stared.
The terrifying pressure around him weakened.
The woman in blue smiled gently at Yan.
"I am Huan Mei," she said. "Goddess of Disaster. Liwei's mother."
Yan bowed awkwardly. "Lu Tao Yan."
Huan Mei's smile deepened, but her eyes reddened.
"Yes," she said softly. "You are."
The simple words hit Yan harder than expected.
Jin Qiang, the God of Destruction, cleared his throat. "And I am Jin Qiang. If anyone in that court frightens you, point them out."
Huan Mei sighed. "Qiang."
"What? I am introducing myself."
"You are threatening officials before we have entered."
"They deserve preparation."
The man with the fan laughed.
Yan looked at him.
He gave her a graceful bow, elegant enough to be sincere and shameless enough to be suspicious.
"Ye Tianxin, God of Wealth. Ran's father. Also the only person here with a proper mind for politics."
Jin Qiang glared at him. "Old fox."
Ye Tianxin smiled. "Old sword."
"Money-grubbing peacock."
"Temperamental mountain."
"Schemer."
"Correct."
Yan blinked.
Ran leaned toward her. "They are friends."
"They sound like enemies."
"That is how old men show affection."
"I heard that," Jin Qiang said.
"You were meant to," Ran replied.
For one small moment, the group felt almost normal.
Not safe.
But warmer.
Yan looked at them — Ran standing close but careful not to touch her again, Jin Fen pretending not to hide pastries from his brother, Huan Mei watching her with restrained tenderness, Jin Qiang looking ready to break the court in half, Ye Tianxin smiling like he had already prepared three backup plans, and Jin Liwei silent at her side.
These people knew her.
Loved her, maybe.
And she remembered almost none of them.
That hurt in a way she had no words for.
Huan Mei noticed.
Of course she did.
She reached out slowly, giving Yan enough time to refuse. When Yan did not move, Huan Mei adjusted the edge of Yan's sleeve with a motherly gentleness that made her throat tighten.
"No one will force you to remember today," Huan Mei said quietly. "Remember only this. You are not walking in alone."
Yan's fingers clenched.
She nodded once.
"Thank you."
Jin Qiang looked away with suspicious suddenness.
Ye Tianxin opened his fan. "Good. Now that the emotional matters are settled, let us discuss the court."
Jin Fen groaned. "Must we?"
"Yes," Ye Tianxin said. "Because the officials inside are not merely stupid. They are stupid with procedure, which is far more dangerous."
Yan's attention sharpened.
Ran's expression cooled.
Jin Liwei looked toward the palace doors. "They summoned her under the disturbance clause."
Ye Tianxin's smile vanished.
"That is fast."
"Too fast," Huan Mei said.
Yan looked between them. "What is the disturbance clause?"
Ye Tianxin answered, "A legal excuse. If the Heavenly Pact senses disorder, the Official Palace may summon involved parties for immediate review."
"That sounds reasonable."
"It was meant to be." Ye Tianxin's eyes turned cold. "Unfortunately, laws are only as clean as the hands holding them."
Yan thought of the hooded intruder.
The stolen painting.
The burning library.
The pond mirror showing the man laughing under the rain.
"And if they decide I caused the disturbance?"
Jin Liwei's voice was low. "They will try to restrict your authority before it fully awakens."
Huan Mei added, "They may also argue that your remaining reincarnation cycles must continue under court supervision."
The words settled over Yan like frost.
Court supervision.
She did not fully understand the curse yet, but her body reacted to the phrase with deep, instinctive revulsion.
Ran's hand twitched as if she wanted to grab Yan's.
She stopped herself.
Yan saw it.
This time, Yan reached first.
Only slightly.
Her fingers brushed Ran's sleeve.
Ran went still.
Then she smiled, small and real.
Jin Liwei saw it too. His eyes softened for a moment before turning back to the palace.
The great doors of the Official Palace began to open.
Slowly.
Heavily.
The sound rolled across the courtyard like a verdict.
The laughter died first.
Then the warmth.
Then every servant, guard, and messenger lowered their heads.
Inside the palace, rows of divine officials waited beneath white banners and golden law tablets. Their robes were spotless. Their faces were solemn.
Their eyes were not.
Some stared at Yan with fear.
Some with calculation.
Some with hatred carefully hidden beneath courtesy.
Yan lifted her chin.
Her legs were still weak. Her memories were still broken. Her heart still hurt every time Jin Liwei stood too close.
But Huan Mei was right.
She was not walking in alone.
Jin Liwei stepped beside her.
Ran stood on her other side.
Behind them, the old gods followed.
Yan looked at the court waiting ahead and smiled faintly.
It was not a happy smile.
It was the kind of smile a cornered person wore after realizing fear was no longer useful.
"Fine," she murmured. "Let's see how heaven welcomes its dead goddess."
Together, they crossed the threshold.
The court doors closed behind them.