After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

These words caused an uproar throughout the hall.

The Jiang family members were ashen-faced and powerless to refute.

After listening to Jiang Dusheng's piercing words, Emperor Cangqi fell into a brief silence.

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze, with countless gazes silently passing between Jiang Dusheng and the Jiang family members.

Just then, the National Preceptor Shi Qinglian, who had been sitting quietly like a lotus, slowly stood up.

He raised one hand to his chest, bowed slightly towards the throne, and his clear, cool voice broke the silence, "Your Majesty, may I have a word to say?"

These words shocked the entire hall.

Everyone knows that this national advisor is aloof and solitary. Apart from matters concerning the fate of the nation and celestial phenomena, he rarely comments on specific personnel matters in public, let alone such family affairs.

Everyone's curiosity was piqued, even Emperor Cangqi showed a hint of surprise before nodding: "Speak."

"Amitabha." Shi Qinglian spoke slowly, her voice not loud, yet it seemed to carry the lingering resonance of the bells and chimes of the meditation hall, clearly reaching the hearts of everyone present.

Of all the bonds in the world, none is heavier than kinship. However, the way of kinship is not only about blood ties, but also about thoughts and choices.

"Back then, Lord Jiang and his wife were filled with fear because of a decree, and chose to send their eldest daughter to a Buddhist temple. This was one of their options."

"For years afterward, they maintained their relationship solely through money, ignoring everything else and fearing the malevolent energy more than they cared for their own flesh and blood. This was their only concern."

"The thread of kinship has long been thinning and weakening in this choice and thought, almost to the point of non-existence."

He paused, then continued, "In the past, fear and gullibility sowed the seeds of alienation, and today we reap the fruit of breaking away and seeking liberation. This is the cycle of nature, which cannot be reversed by human power."

"Miss Jiang's request today may seem resolute and disobedient, but in reality, it is nothing more than gently letting go of the kinship ties that have long existed in name only."

"As she puts it down, everyone in the Jiang family can also put down the stone that was born of evil spirits and has been hanging in their hearts for many years. This is not rebellion, but mutual liberation, and everyone returning to their rightful place."

"Your Majesty," Shi Qinglian turned to Emperor Cangqi, her voice calm yet strangely persuasive, "Since you have already abandoned us because of the evil spirits, how can you bind us with filial piety? Such is the law of cause and effect; forcing it is useless. Letting nature take its course is true compassion."

These words, without directly accusing anyone of being right or wrong, caused many senior officials in the hall who believed in Buddhism to look thoughtful and nod slightly.

However, what shocked everyone even more was...

After Shi Qinglian finished speaking, she did not immediately return to her seat, but walked straight to Jiang Dusheng below the jade steps.

His snow-white robes remained spotless amidst the chaos of the hall. He stopped three steps away from Jiang Dusheng.

Those glassy eyes, which always looked down upon all living beings with compassion, now slowly revealed a hint of a smile.

"What I said today was not, in my capacity as Imperial Advisor, to interfere with Your Majesty's divine decision." His voice was soft and clear, with a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Instead, I am speaking up for my nephew, whom I have never met, as a fellow disciple of Huiming from Nanchansi Temple."

Then, he turned to look at Jiang Dusheng, "According to seniority, Miss Jiang, you should call me—"

He parted his lips slightly and uttered two words that shocked everyone present:

"Uncle-Master."

"boom!"

It was as if a silent thunderbolt struck the entire Chang Le Palace.

Martial Uncle?!

The Imperial Preceptor, Shi Qinglian, is actually Jiang Dusheng's martial uncle?!

Everyone's jaws nearly dropped in astonishment.

The gaze directed at Jiang Dusheng instantly shifted from sympathy, shock, and incomprehension to a reassessment.

If she were to leave the Jiang family, she would not only be a woman with some exorcism skills, but also have the Imperial Preceptor Shi Qinglian standing behind her.

At that moment, Jiang Dusheng suddenly recalled the look of disappointment on his master's face whenever he mentioned his junior brother.

"Your good-for-nothing junior uncle actually left the monastic life! Your Uncle Huiqing is practically crying his eyes out..."

Junior Uncle... it was actually him?!

Xie Jinchen, who had always seemed like an outsider, suddenly straightened his back slightly upon hearing the words "Uncle-Master."

His narrow eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on Shi Qinglian's smiling profile.

The more I looked at it, the more I found that the snow-white clothes...an eyesore.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Cangqi's eyes flashed with surprise. He leaned forward slightly, the gold threads on his dragon robe shimmering in the candlelight: "Qinglian, is this truly the case?"

Shi Qinglian turned around and faced the throne again, her expression returning to its usual calm. "Your Majesty, this matter is indeed a matter of fate."

"When I was young, I was homeless and almost froze to death in the snow. Fortunately, Master Liaowu happened to pass by and saved me. Seeing that I had potential, he made an exception and took me in as his last disciple."

"But at that time, my master was over ninety years old and his energy was failing. So he entrusted me to his two outstanding disciples."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "My eldest brother, Huiming, is now the abbot of Nanchansi Temple. My second brother, Huiqing, is free-spirited and often travels around."

Shi Qinglian's voice was calm and unhurried, "Master instructed Senior Brother Huiqing to impart to me the foundation of Buddhist principles and methods of practice, while Senior Brother Huiming will provide guidance from the side."

"Therefore, although I am nominally a disciple of Master Liaowu, I am actually taught and nurtured by my two senior brothers, and we are like half-teachers."

Shi Qinglian's tone remained calm, but when she mentioned her two senior brothers, a warm glint flashed in her light blue eyes:

"After I turned six, I traveled with my senior brother Huiqing and never saw my senior brother Huiming again. Therefore... I had never met this junior brother before, but I was able to recognize him by the bone flute I heard earlier."

He raised his fingertip slightly, pointing to the jade flute in Jiang Dusheng's hand, "This is a birthday gift that my senior brother Huiqing and I specially found for our junior nephew a few years ago."

"In recent years, due to some personal circumstances and a change in my mind, I felt that my worldly ties were not yet severed, and that my path of spiritual practice was gradually becoming at odds with the temple rules. Therefore, I bid farewell to my senior brother and returned to secular life. I am fortunate to have been entrusted with the position of National Preceptor by His Majesty, which I still hold today."

"I see!" Everyone suddenly realized.

Emperor Cangqi's gaze shifted slightly, and the last trace of doubt in his heart dissipated.

He was already swayed by Jiang Dusheng's resounding words, and now that Shi Qinglian had personally acknowledged their relationship as uncle and nephew, it added even more weight to Jiang Dusheng's position.

Weighing the pros and cons and going with the flow is the way of an emperor.

Emperor Cangqi slowly exhaled, sat up straight, and his imperial majesty once again enveloped the hall.

"Since the Imperial Preceptor has explained the cause and effect, I also understand the intricacies of the matter."

"Jiang Dusheng, your request to break away from the Jiang clan is against common sense, but there are reasons and extenuating circumstances, and the Imperial Preceptor has witnessed the origins of this matter. I hereby grant your request."

"From this day forward, Jiang Dusheng and the family of Jiang Mao, the Minister of Rites, are no longer related and are no longer connected. The Imperial Clan Court and the Ministry of Rites shall handle this matter in accordance with the law, removing their names from the family genealogy and establishing a separate household register."

Then, he looked at Jiang Mao, whose face was ashen: "Minister Jiang, you have failed to manage your household properly and have easily believed falsehoods, which has led to the estrangement of your family and resulted in today's situation."

"A year's salary deduction is hereby imposed as a warning. I hope you will be careful in your words and deeds in the future and take good care of your family."

The dust has finally settled.

Jiang Dusheng bowed deeply, his voice clear and steady: "Jiang Dusheng thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."