Ever since South Winds Nation had gained independence, the Fengs had been one of the country’s top aristocratic families. This was the first time they’d ever appeared in court. Worse still, the entire family was present, and the father had dragged his own daughter to face judgment.
Even more ridiculous was the fact that the Fengs seemed determined to convict Feng Tianlan of murder, regardless of whether or not she had done it.
This society respected fighting skills and techniques, but everyone had to respect the law’s jurisdiction, and the law protected the commoners from harm. If someone were killed, then the law would deliver justice for the victim. If the killer tried to run, the law would hunt down the killer.
It was an even more severe crime for a person who was in training to kill a commoner. Once such an accusation was confirmed, the supreme penalty was death!
And so, Feng Xiang was really as good as…
“Kill Feng Tianlan to compensate for the life she took!” the people continued to shout loudly but were stopped by the court.
The governor had not even started inquiring about what had transpired, but Feng Xiupei was already kneeling pitifully on the floor and crying until her voice became hoarse.
“My Lord, this commoner died from eating a pill that I brought back. The pill passed through my sister’s hands, but this has nothing to do with her. If I hadn’t taken out that Marrow Cleansing Pill, then…So, you see, all of this is my fault. Please convict me!”
“My sister was kind enough to give Feng Tianlan a Marrow Cleansing Pill, but she laced it with poison and ended up killing someone and framing my sister! Convict Feng Tianlan!” Feng Xiuyu quickly added, afraid to miss her chance to get back at Feng Tianlan.
Feng Xiang continued to look as impartial as possible. “Both girls are my daughters. No matter which one is guilty, I hope that My Lord will be fair and not exonerate a murderer.”
Xu Jiayi clutched a handkerchief and wiped away crocodile tears from the corner of her eyes. She spoke incoherently: “Regardless of who is really the killer, since Pei’er is willing to take the blame, then…But I am also Tianlan’s mother, and both are equally precious to me. No matter whom you convict, it will still break my heart. Therefore, I’m ready to take the fall for them.”
The governor watched the four family members saying different things and couldn’t help but open his eyes wide. It was as if they had agreed to make sure that Feng Tianlan received the death penalty—like she wasn’t a member of the family. This was definitely a top-notch drama!Read more chapter on NovelFull
“Feng Tianlan, what do you have to say to all of this?” the governor put aside his feelings and looked solemnly at Feng Tianlan.
Some people wanted her dead, but others wanted her to live. Someone had come from the palace to specially instruct him to act as naturally as possible, but he must convict Feng Xiang and the other accusers of some crime or another. As for what crime, that was up to the governor.
In other words, the governor had to play it by ear, but he had to secretly help Feng Tianlan and even accuse the rest of the Fengs of some sort of small crime. Basically, he was supposed to stand up for Feng Tianlan.
Feng Tianlan looked at the four of them, then replied by placing her faith in the governor: “I trust the governor’s judgement. Your pronouncement will be fair and just. Certainly, you will neither malign a good person nor exonerate a criminal.”
The governor felt his passion for his vocation stir when he heard what Feng Tianlan said about how she believed that he would be fair and just—never maligning the innocent nor letting off the guilty.
“Well said. I will most certainly be just and fair. Fairness is what I ask of myself, and it is what the people need. Most of all, it is what the emperor wishes.”
Long ago, he’d wanted to become the governor to serve the people and be a righteous official. However, politics was a dangerous game in which you might get killed at any time without even knowing what hit you. So, in order to survive, he had done many things against his conscience, which had caused him many sleepless nights. Today, he was determined to return to his original motivation for becoming a governor in the first place.
To serve the people!
He must never forget his original motivation!
