Chapter 162: Chapter 145: Mother?
Yu Lan had little interest in watching the spectacle of Louisa’s downfall.
However, Huo Zhanting and the others had put their hearts into this, expending considerable effort to make it happen, so how could she simply ignore it?
Besides, before Yu Lan even had a chance to refuse, the men quickly ushered her to a prime viewing spot they had already reserved in a shop.
Just then, the procession escorting Louisa back to the Central Star was passing through Central Street.
But the first thing Yu Lan saw wasn’t Louisa. It was the man at the head of the procession—black-haired, green-eyed, his face a mask of wild, untamable arrogance.
He had sharp brows and piercing eyes. Compared to his subordinates, who were neatly dressed in black military uniforms, the man seemed exceptionally brazen.
His aura of arrogant, untamed wildness was completely undisguised.
Su Xingye leaned in and whispered in Yu Lan’s ear:
"That’s the Marshal of the Second Legion, Qi Jingshen."
"He’s always stationed on the Empire’s borders and rarely returns to the Central Star, so he can’t help but seem a little... unrestrained."
But it was undeniable that he was a top-tier genius, in no way weaker than Huo Zhanting.
This was true of both his leadership abilities and his top-tier 3S-level talent.
’But would someone like that really be willing to take orders from Belina?’
As Yu Lan lowered her gaze, lost in thought.
Suddenly, Qi Jingshen, who was leading the procession, seemed to sense their gaze from afar.
His head snapped around.
A gaze as sharp and aggressive as a hawk’s shot toward Yu Lan.
Upon seeing Yu Lan’s stunningly beautiful face, the corner of his mouth twitched before curling into a provocative, intensely aggressive smirk.
"Hello there, pretty little female."
Utterly insolent and arrogant.
Before Yu Lan could even react.
Huo Zhanting, seeing this, had already moved to stand in front of her.
His golden eyes met Qi Jingshen’s gaze directly, filled with undisguised challenge.
Jun Lin Yuan and Li Yucheng followed suit.
The oppressive aura unique to 3S-level individuals radiated from them without reservation.
The men locked eyes across the distance.
The smile on Qi Jingshen’s lips only widened. He was the one who had started it all.
And now, he was the one who shrugged as if nothing had happened and simply turned away.
The man glanced at the guards, who were trying to use the opportunity to slack off, and issued a cold warning:
"Look sharp, all of you. We can’t have anyone harming our dear Princess Louisa."
"Or you’ll answer with your own hides."
What Louisa had done on Garbage Star was known to all.
The men of the Second Legion couldn’t rack their brains hard enough to understand why Qi Jingshen, who despised evil and was notoriously hostile toward the Imperial nobility, would suddenly choose to wade into these muddy waters.
And not only that, he was now blatantly taking Louisa’s side.
’Can’t he see the looks of disgust the Imperial Citizens are giving us?’
’Some are even quietly calling us her lapdogs.’
The Second Legion guards just wanted to give up.
But with Qi Jingshen’s warning, they had no choice but to put on their stern faces, tighten their grips on their weapons, and shout a warning to the indignant citizens surging toward them:
"Back! All of you, get back!"
"And keep your hands to yourselves! Otherwise, don’t blame us for what happens next."
Once the warriors of the Second Legion—men who had truly seen blood on the battlefield—got serious, their fierce, formidable aura was unleashed.
It was far more than the ordinary citizens could withstand.
They were instantly intimidated, stumbling back a few steps.
They couldn’t throw things, but the hatred in their words and glares was impossible to hide.
"Scum!"
"Get out of the Royal Family!"
"Out!"
These hateful glares converged on Louisa from all sides.
Even though she had prepared herself for this.
When the moment finally came, she couldn’t stop her heart from trembling.
Her gaze shifted.
Especially now.
When Louisa saw Yu Lan standing on a high balcony, surrounded by exceptional men like Huo Zhanting.
The panic in her eyes instantly morphed into pure hatred.
’If Yu Lan hadn’t suddenly returned from Garbage Star... if she hadn’t become more and more exceptional to the point of threatening my future as Queen...’
’How could I have ever made such a huge mistake?’
’How could I have fallen this far?’
’It’s all Yu Lan’s fault.’
’It’s all her fault.’
Overwhelming hatred flooded her heart.
Louisa stared daggers at Yu Lan.
Especially now, with their roles so completely reversed.
The useless female everyone used to despise was now looking down from on high, while the exceptionally talented princess once adored by all was being scorned by the masses.
How could she not be filled with hate?
Seeing the hatred in Louisa’s eyes, Yu Lan’s expression remained unchanged. She met her gaze directly, her beautiful face etched with cold indifference.
"Even now, does she really think I’m the one who forced her into this?"
"How ridiculous."
’People who are experts at shifting blame are always selfish. They never look for fault in themselves.’
"Let’s go. To the judgment platform."
Yu Lan made her decision. She would witness Louisa’s final judgment with her own eyes.
Justice would be served.
The souls of the innocent dead would be put to rest.
When she and the men arrived, the viewing area around the judgment platform was already packed with citizens who had heard the news.
The Royal Family and nobility had their own designated section.
Yu Lan separated from Huo Zhanting and the others, heading toward the royal section.
She saw that Belina had arrived early. The Queen’s beautiful eyes were filled with worry as she watched Louisa make her way to the center of the platform.
Beside her stood a woman who strongly resembled her, but carried herself with a gentler, more noble grace.
Upon seeing Yu Lan, the woman gave her a slight nod.
Belina, however, shot her a look of disgust the moment she saw her. Her tone was equally harsh and full of accusation:
"What are you doing here?"
"Haven’t you done enough to Louisa? Did you come here to gloat?"
"If I’d known it would come to this, I would have left you to grow up on Garbage Star."
’Damn it all.’
’If only Yu Lan had killed that woman from Garbage Star on the spot, this whole thing wouldn’t have blown up to this scale.’
’It’s become a massive scandal.’
’The whole interstellar community knows about it now.’
’For days, the calls for my abdication at the Imperial Palace gates have felt like a series of slaps across the face.’
So, of course, she had no pleasantries for Yu Lan now.
Facing the reigning Queen’s harsh rebuke, Yu Lan did not apologize as everyone expected—even if she wasn’t at fault. Instead, she stood up straighter and retorted with biting sarcasm.
"Louisa did wrong, and now she is facing the consequences she deserves. What is there to pity? The innocent people who died on Garbage Star are the ones who were truly innocent and pitiful."
"If your conscience were clear, Your Majesty, why would you be so worried?"
"You think I’m only here to laugh at her."
"Does that mean the last time I was forced onto this platform for questioning, you and Louisa were here to laugh at me?"
"Mother?"
