Chapter EightOld Fear
No one spoke.
The court had been loud moments ago — full of righteous anger, offended dignity, and sharp accusations wrapped in law.
Now, under Lu Si Cheng's gaze, even breathing sounded dangerous.
Yan stood beneath the golden tablets, her wrist still burning, her mind still broken into fragments she could not arrange. She did not remember this man. Not properly.
But her soul did.
Master.
The word remained inside her like a wound pressed by gentle fingers.
Lu Si Cheng did not look angry.
That made the silence worse.
Anger had shape. Anger could be measured. Anger could be provoked, dodged, survived.
Lu Si Cheng's calm was different.
It felt like standing beneath a sky that had not yet decided whether to rain or collapse.
He turned his gaze toward Official Song Byin.
"Repeat what you said."
Official Song's face tightened.
"My lord, this official only raised a reasonable concern."
"Then repeat it."
The golden tablets above the hall glowed faintly.
Song Byin swallowed.
"The timing of Goddess Yan's awakening is suspicious. A report accusing the court was submitted, then the mortal library burned, then Goddess Yan awakened before her remaining cycles were complete. The court has the right to question whether her allies disturbed the Heavenly Pact."
The last word barely left his mouth before the pressure in the hall deepened.
Several younger officials lowered their heads.
Lu Si Cheng nodded once.
"Good. At least cowardice has not stolen your memory yet."
Song Byin's face flushed.
Mo Zun's smile remained careful. "My lord, Official Song speaks harshly, but the concern is shared by many. The court cannot ignore irregularities."
"Shared by many?" Lu Si Cheng asked.
No one answered.
Then an elderly official from the second row stood, his beard trembling with restrained pride.
"My lord, the dignity of the divine court cannot be shaken by unverified accusations. If every report submitted in secret can be used to threaten ranked officials, then what remains of order?"
Another official rose beside him.
"Goddess Yan's condition is unstable. Her memories are incomplete. Her emotions are clearly affected. For her own safety and for the safety of the realms, court supervision is reasonable."
A third official stood, younger and bolder.
"The Heavenly Pact was disturbed. Someone must take responsibility."
Ran laughed softly.
The young official glared at her.
Ran's smile was beautiful. "Interesting. When children die in lesser realms, evidence is required. When Yan dies in a fire, suspicion is enough."
The official's face darkened. "Goddess Ye, this is not your family's private pavilion."
"No," Ran said. "If it were, you would not still be standing."
Jin Fen muttered, "That was merciful."
Yan almost turned to look at him.
Almost.
She needed the small absurdity more than she wanted to admit.
But the court was pressing closer now. Not physically, but with words. With rank. With the weight of people who believed numbers and procedure could make cruelty clean.
Her fear rose again.
Unstable.
Incomplete.
Supervision.
The words circled her like chains.
Then Huan Mei stepped forward.
Only one step.
The court noticed.
Of course it did.
The Goddess of Disaster did not need to raise her voice.
"You speak of Yan's instability as if this court did not help create it."
The elderly official stiffened. "Goddess Huan Mei, no one here wishes harm upon her."
Huan Mei smiled.
A few servants near the walls went pale.
"What a lovely sentence," she said. "I have heard it before. Usually from people standing beside a fresh grave."
Jin Qiang's expression darkened.
Ye Tianxin opened his fan, but this time he did not hide a smile. He looked almost bored, which somehow made him more dangerous.
Lu Si Cheng raised one hand.
The court quieted again.
"This court has a short memory," he said.
Several officials went still.
Yan felt Jin Liwei shift beside her. Not toward the officials. Toward her. Close enough that she could feel his presence, but not so close that she felt trapped.
Ran's sleeve brushed Yan's other hand.
Huan Mei and Jin Qiang stood behind her like a storm waiting for permission.
Ye Tianxin's fan moved once, slow and deliberate.
For the first time since entering the hall, Yan realized something.
They were not only angry.
They were protecting a line around her.
No one had asked her to trust them.
They simply stood there, as if her safety was already decided.
Her fear did not vanish.
But it had less room to breathe.
Lu Si Cheng walked to the center of the hall. The golden tablets followed him like obedient stars.
"The last time Yan was awakened before her cycles settled, it was also done in the name of procedure."
A cold ripple passed through the officials.
Yan's chest tightened.
She did not remember.
But her body did.
A pain bloomed beneath her ribs, old and deep.
Lu Si Cheng continued, his voice calm enough to cut.
"An official ceremony required the presence of the Goddess of Reincarnation. This court argued that her role mattered more than her condition. Her seal was not stable. Her soul had not recovered. Her body could not bear the summons."
His gaze moved slowly across the rows of white robes.
"She came anyway."
No one spoke.
"She stood where you demanded she stand. She gave the blessing you demanded she give. She completed the rite you said heaven required."
The golden tablets trembled.
"She collapsed before the final incense stick burned out."