"Does everyone still remember the last time a Demon Beast tried to assassinate His Majesty the Celestial Emperor?" Lucia Lu asked.
Everyone remembered vividly and nodded in agreement.
"That Demon Beast’s attempt on His Majesty’s life was a capital crime, but it had its reasons. It was framed for a city massacre and hunted by divine soldiers—only then did it become desperate. His Majesty showed mercy and let it go, and since then, it hasn’t harmed anyone!"
Lucia paused, then continued, "Now Lord Noctis has killed someone—shouldn’t we first ask why, before passing judgment? Especially since this involves every Demon Beast in the world. We ought to be extra cautious."
Bang! Lady Wynn Drake slammed her cup down on the table. "Divine Lady Lucia, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Lucia glanced at her, answering calmly, "What I mean is, most Demon Beasts these days only carry a trace of demonic qi—they’re still rational. When they’re not provoked, they’re no different from ordinary people. Shouldn’t we be less prejudiced and focus more on the facts?"
"The facts are, Noctis killed my son! And wounded the Second Prince!" Lady Wynn Drake suddenly stood up. "What facts do you want? Are you trying to say my son said something he shouldn’t have? But he’s just a child! Does saying the wrong thing mean he deserved to die?"
"Shane was already four thousand years old!" Snow Yuan cut in, her face twisted in a cold sneer. "Four thousand and still a baby? Maybe we should all go back to drinking milk!"
"You—"
"All right, all right!" Lady Mae Azure—the Celestial Empress’s mother—stepped in to mediate. "Don’t get worked up over children! They’re still so young, just trying to show off by arguing with adults and pretending they’re wise beyond their years!"
"Lady Mae Azure," Lucia said, "I wasn’t just arguing for the sake of it. I was repeating the principles His Majesty the Celestial Emperor taught us."
"Exactly!" Qi Xiaowu chimed in from the side. "Those words came straight from His Majesty—the only thing Sister Lucia did was repeat them!"
"That’s right! His Majesty said it!"
"We all think His Majesty is especially wise and always seeks the truth!"
...
There were quite a few comrades present today, and they all spoke up in support.
Lucia shot them a grateful smile, then sent Snow Yuan a sound transmission: "Lady Snow, I never thought you’d speak up for me."
"Who said I was speaking up for you?" Snow Yuan shot back. "I just can’t stand their faces! They never admit their own mistakes, only blame my super handsome, super adorable Lord Noctis!"
Lucia just smiled faintly and said nothing.
"Lucia Lu, you must be pretty scared this proposal will pass, huh?" Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from an inconspicuous corner.
Lucia stared in surprise—and saw Tanya Lu.
Her Divine Vein had been abolished, and the aura of a goddess was gone. All her former radiance and allure had vanished—she looked utterly ordinary. Lucia hadn’t even noticed when she’d entered.
"Huh? Aren’t you Tanya Lu?" The Celestial Empress looked just as surprised. "What are you doing here?"
At that moment, a young woman stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, she came here with me."
"And you are? You look unfamiliar," said the Empress.
No one else recognized her either.
"I am Winnie Leshan of the Lieshan Clan," the young woman answered.
"Oh... a Lieshan clanswoman!" The gods suddenly understood.
There are plenty of minor Divine Race families on the Ten Wilds Continent, but only those with some real connections or strength can regularly visit the Three Divine Realms.
The Lieshan clan, though, has never had much power or ties to the upper echelons.