Chapter 87: Chapter 72: An Interstellar-Wide Apology

When the ironclad facts were laid out before everyone.

Now, as they looked at Yu Lan standing on the dais, her expression as frosty as ice without a hint of a smile.

An overwhelming sense of shame arose in everyone’s hearts.

It was like a heavy slap across the face, leaving a fiery, stinging pain.

A tingling, itching sensation rose from the soles of their feet, making them desperate to say something.

But at this moment, both at the trial venue and in the livestream’s comment section...

There was only silence.

Not a single sound.

No one uttered a word.

It was quiet, deathly quiet.

Even their breathing slowed until it was nearly imperceptible.

At the same time, everyone’s gaze was fixed on Yu Lan, who stood on the dais, anxiously watching her every move.

Within their gazes was a guilt and fervor they hadn’t realized was there.

Just then, Yu Lan, the focus of everyone’s attention, moved. She took a few more potions from the lab bench, handed them to the staff beside her, and gestured toward the males in beast form locked in the iron cages not far away.

"Take this and give it to them. It might help a little."

Of course, seeing the staff member frozen stiff, Yu Lan quietly added another sentence.

"If you don’t trust it, then never mind."

Before the staff member could speak...

...the people kneeling before the iron cages in the distance hurriedly kowtowed several more times, shouting frantically:

"We believe you! We believe you! I believe you!"

"Yu Lan, I’m so sorry! I misunderstood you just now."

"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry."

"Please forgive my ignorance! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I was wrong! It was all my fault!"

One after another, they slammed their foreheads against the ground.

Soon, the person’s forehead was bruised and bleeding, but not a single person would blame Yu Lan for standing on the dais without any reaction.

If they put themselves in her shoes, they probably would have stormed off in anger after proving their innocence, never to formulate a potion for anyone ever again.

’Let them all die for all I care.’

But Yu Lan had gone and formulated yet another potion for the males in the iron cages.

There was no female more gentle, kind, and generous than her.

The billions of viewers watching this scene were overcome with incredibly complex emotions.

Their guilt and remorse instantly reached a peak.

Especially when they thought about how they had nearly driven Yu Lan to her death—a female so kind and generous, who cared so much for all males.

Everyone who saw this felt as if their hearts were being twisted by a knife.

No one knew who started it.

By the time everyone else realized what was happening, the entire trial venue was filled with a chorus of apologies to Yu Lan.

On the Star Network, the various comments that had just been insulting Yu Lan were being deleted at an astonishing speed.

The post "#YuLanWeAreSorryWeWereWrong" was quickly pushed to the very top.

In a frantic mess, unable to find Yu Lan’s personal account on the Star Network, the public flocked to the Science Research Institute’s official account to leave a flood of apologies.

Like children who had done something wrong, they used every method they could think of, desperately offering up everything they had in a frantic plea for the beautiful young female’s forgiveness.

If Yu Lan were willing to share her personal account’s payment code right now, she would probably become the wealthiest female in the Empire in an instant.

Huo Zhanting and Su Xingye, who were standing there watching the scene unfold, gazed intently at the crowd’s guilt-ridden state. The anxiety that had plagued them since seeing Yu Lan arrested and sent to trial finally eased slightly.

’They knew it. They knew Lanlan would never do something like this.’

’Lanlan was just that dedicated, thinking only of the well-being of all males. To think she would be framed after developing the Hope Potion...’

’Thank goodness her name has been cleared now.’

After instructing the staff to administer the Hope Potion to the males in the cages, Yu Lan looked up at the Chief Justice, who was seated on the high platform.

Being watched by the beautiful female’s crystal-clear, amber eyes, even the perpetually stern and solemn Chief Justice felt a rare pang of guilt, making him squirm in his seat.

After all, just moments ago, he had been one of those who had silently condemned Yu Lan.

Then, Yu Lan, still standing on the dais, spoke:

"Excuse me, Chief Justice, may I go back now?"

"I have other things to attend to shortly."

The instant the words left her mouth, the Chief Justice’s voice rang out, tinged with a certain eagerness and caution.

"Yes, yes, of course. You may leave right now."

"Do you need me to arrange a car to escort you?"

To this, Yu Lan simply shook her head. She walked alongside Shen Zueran toward Huo Zhanting and Su Xingye, who were waiting nearby, a trace of exhaustion on her face.

"Let’s go. We can go back now."

"Yes, Lanlan. We will always be by your side."

Huo Zhanting and Su Xingye immediately stepped forward, joining Shen Zueran to form a protective circle around Yu Lan as they escorted her away.

The cautiousness on the faces of this group of powerful, tall, and handsome young elites was plain to see.

But seeing this, the crowd felt that they and Yu Lan were a perfect match.

’They believed in their Female Master from beginning to end, without wavering.’ 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

’Such good males.’

A glimmer of envy even flashed in some people’s eyes.

They were envious that those men could stay by Yu Lan’s side, sharing such a gentle, kind, soft, and beautiful female.

Just as the four of them were about to leave the trial grounds...

...the staff member, following instructions, took the Hope Potion to feed to the irrational, beast-form males in the iron cages.

A flash of white light erupted.

After drinking the Hope Potion, the males in the iron cages instantly transformed back into their human forms.

Just as everyone was marveling at the power of the Hope Potion, one of the males, who was clearly more talented and physically stronger than the others, suddenly opened his eyes from his unconscious state and shouted:

"It was Princess Louisa who harmed us so she could frame Yu Lan!"

"It was Princess Louisa who harmed us..."

The person shouting was none other than Durant.

To have reached the rank of Lieutenant in the First Legion at such a young age, Durant’s abilities were undoubtedly outstanding.

When the excessive dose of the induction agent appeared near him, he had reacted immediately.

Compared to the others whose spiritual power had collapsed while they were still confused, he had remained conscious for a moment longer, and was therefore lucky enough to see the mastermind behind it all.

He had thought this secret would die with him, never to be spoken, but he never imagined there would come a day when he would regain his sanity.

The moment his mind cleared, under the watchful eyes of the crowd and with billions across the Empire as witnesses, he shouted out the culprit’s name.

As his words fell, everyone present was instantly captivated, and Louisa’s face turned deathly pale.

[What does he mean? Why is he saying Louisa is the mastermind? Why would Louisa do this? Why target Yu Lan?]