The Female Lead Brought Her Lover to the Wedding Banquet and Broke Off the Marriage; I Slaughtered Her Entire Family - Chapter 5:

Chapter 5: Imperial Power Pressing In, the Lin Family Will Not Retreat

Dong, dong, dong.

The golden-armored guards marched in perfect unison, the clash of their armor echoing through the hall as they stepped in, carrying an oppressive aura.

Imperial Concubine Liu wore luxurious attire and a phoenix crown. Surrounded by guards, she walked in slowly, exuding the dignity of royalty.

Lin Chen glanced over, quickly calculating in his mind.

Imperial Concubine Liu, the Emperor’s favored consort, but rumored to be ambitious, backed by the prominent Liu family from the eastern part of the Cloud Region.

Why did she come?

“Oh, the Lin family is quite lively today,” Imperial Concubine Liu’s voice was soft yet carried pressure. “Did I come at a bad time and disturb Young Master Lin’s mood?”

Gu Qingzhu stepped forward without showing any inferiority. “Imperial Concubine’s grand arrival brings honor to the Lin family. Unfortunately, our household is facing misfortune, dealing with some traitors and cleaning house. If we’ve disturbed the Imperial Concubine, I ask for forgiveness.”

Yue Huan, like grabbing a lifeline, immediately bowed. “Imperial Concubine, please see the truth clearly! The Lin family isn’t cleaning house, they are slaughtering the innocent! Li Feng is a royal reserve, and the Zhou family is a good and honest family. Young Master Lin is acting out of personal vendetta to kill them. I boldly beg the Imperial Concubine to uphold justice!”

Lin Chen sneered and also stepped forward. “Imperial Concubine, Yue Huan, as a Martial Lord, secretly aided his disciple in snatching a marriage and even launched a sneak attack during my Lin family’s wedding. Everyone saw this. Now he’s bringing you here, intending to use the royal authority to pressure the Lin family, or… does Li Feng have a special relationship with you?”

Imperial Concubine Liu’s expression darkened. “Lin Chen, watch your words! I merely happened to pass by and heard Elder Yue mention this matter, so I came to take a look. Whether Li Feng is a royal reserve or not can easily be verified. The Lin family should at least show some respect for the royal face.”

Lin Shan’s voice was low and carried a soldier’s killing aura. “Imperial Concubine, our Lin family guards the borders, shedding blood to protect the Cloud Region’s peace, not to let any riffraff act wildly on our land! Today’s matter is an internal affair of the Lin family. Right or wrong will be judged fairly, but anyone who dares offend the Lin family will not be spared!”

The air instantly became tense, the hall so silent that a pin drop could be heard.

At this moment, something seemed to connect in Lin Chen’s mind.

The Liu family? Seven Kill Sword Art? The shadow of Li Feng’s sword just now…

And that old fox Yue Huan suddenly going to fetch Imperial Concubine Liu?

Heh, so that’s how it is!

No wonder Li Feng was so fearless; he had quite the backer.

“Imperial Concubine, our Lin family has always respected the royal family, but for today’s matter, I’m afraid we can’t give you face,” Lin Chen paced forward, his voice not loud but spreading clearly throughout the hall.

“Li Feng dared to snatch my bride and humiliate my Lin family. By the rules, he deserves death. If the Imperial Concubine insists on protecting him, could it be… he’s your secret disciple?”

These words shocked everyone present.

Imperial Concubine Liu’s face visibly changed. “Lin Chen, what nonsense are you spouting!”

Lin Chen remained calm. “Li Feng practices the Seven Kill Sword Art, which is said to be a technique the Liu family never teaches outsiders. How did an outsider learn it? And that sword move he just used carried traces of the Liu family’s ‘Willow Leaf Flying Flower’ technique, though slightly altered. So many coincidences—how will you explain them, Imperial Concubine?”

Imperial Concubine Liu’s expression flickered. She hadn’t expected Lin Chen to have such sharp eyes.

“And furthermore,” Lin Chen pressed closer, “Li Feng’s aura has similarities to yours, Imperial Concubine. They share the same origin. This master-disciple relationship might fool others, but it can’t fool me.”

Yue Huan was also stunned. Clearly, he didn’t know this layer of the truth either.

Imperial Concubine Liu was silent for a moment before suddenly chuckling lightly. “Young Master Lin does have keen eyes. Yes, Li Feng caught my eye, and I did give him some private guidance. But so what? The royal family cherishes talents and cultivates good seedlings all the time. Does the Lin family intend to estrange itself from the royal family because of this?”

Lin Chen sneered. “Imperial Concubine, the royal family cultivating talents is naturally done openly and aboveboard. But your secret cultivation, and letting your disciple snatch my bride at the Lin family’s wedding, is clearly a slap to our face and a provocation of our authority!”

“Insolent!” Imperial Concubine Liu’s voice suddenly rose. “I came today to give the Lin family a way to save face. If the Lin family insists on defying the royal family, you’d better consider the consequences!”

Lin Hai, who had the hottest temper, immediately laughed. “Imperial Concubine, your words are wrong. Our Lin family has been loyal for three generations, guarding the borders without a hint of disloyalty. Today’s matter is family business. If you insist on interfering, it makes people think otherwise. Could it be the Emperor no longer trusts the Lin family and is using this matter to give us a warning?”

Imperial Concubine Liu’s face changed again. Lin Hai’s words were too direct, escalating the matter to the level of the royal family.

Lin Chen seized the moment and followed up. “If the Imperial Concubine truly thinks for the royal family, you should discern right from wrong. Li Feng snatching a marriage, Yue Huan launching a sneak attack—this disgraces the royal family. If you shield such people and the Emperor finds out, it won’t look good for you either, will it?”

Imperial Concubine Liu remained silent, her fingers gently tapping the armrest, as if quickly calculating her next move.

At this point, Lin Shan spoke, his voice steady as a mountain. “Imperial Concubine, our Lin family has our own family rules. If you insist on intervening, then please return to the palace and report to the Emperor for a ruling. By then, my father and elder brother will also return from the border to explain everything to the Emperor personally.”

Though these words sounded respectful, they carried immense weight. If the Lin family’s patriarch and eldest son returned to the capital, it would cause quite a stir.

Imperial Concubine Liu’s expression turned completely gloomy.

Lin Chen understood well that Imperial Concubine Liu had come today mostly to test the Lin family’s strength.

“Imperial Concubine, how about this?” Lin Chen suddenly changed his tone, taking on a negotiating posture. “Since Li Feng is someone you favor, I will give you this face and spare his dog life.”

“But he must kneel and apologize to me in public and get out of the Cloud Region, never to return! Otherwise, don’t blame the Lin family for turning hostile.”

Imperial Concubine Liu looked at Lin Chen, seemingly surprised at his ‘compromise,’ then said, “Young Master Lin is indeed sensible. What about the Zhou family?”

“The Zhou family? They colluded with outsiders and deceived my Lin family. They cannot escape death,” Lin Chen’s voice was cold. “However, since the Imperial Concubine has spoken, I will only execute the main culprits, Zhou Changqing and his wife. The others will be exiled to the border to serve in the military.”

His words sounded like a concession but did not loosen up at all.

Imperial Concubine Liu pondered for a moment and finally nodded. “Fine, I will not meddle further. Li Feng, return to the palace with me. You are forbidden from stepping into the Cloud Region again.”

Li Feng’s face turned as pale as a corpse, but under the Imperial Concubine’s signal, he could only lower his head and submit in humiliation.

Zhou Wanqing completely broke down upon seeing this, crying and rushing forward. “No! Li Feng, you can’t abandon me!”

Li Feng didn’t even look at her, his voice as cold as ice. “Zhou Wanqing, from today on, we are no longer connected.”

Lin Hai took a step forward, his voice like a hammer striking from his chest. “Imperial Concubine, our Lin family has our own rules. If you truly want to intervene, bring the Emperor’s decree. Our Lin family will accept it.”

These words were hard as iron, showing no courtesy at all.