The governor sent the body for an autopsy then started asking what exactly had happened. This case could only be closed once the autopsy results were revealed. The only problem now was that someone had indeed died, and nothing good would come out of offending the Fengs, an important aristocratic family.
When he thought about this, the governor felt his head spin. He had just told himself to serve the people and never forget why he had become a governor in the first place. But, he now realized that this was impossible.
Feng Xiang could see that the governor was having difficulty, so he magnanimously proclaimed, “My Lord, do not worry. Everyone should pay the price for their crimes regardless of who they are. The Fengs are citizens, like everyone else. Please go ahead and hand down a punishment that fits the crime. Only then will you be fit to wear this governor’s hat and answer to the citizens.”
Suddenly, an old lady dashed in, knelt, and kowtowed while crying out, “My Lord! Your Honor! You must make a decision today! I have been a widow for decades, and I only had this one son, who has now been murdered! You must seek recourse for me!”
“Who is this boldly interrupting the court? Drag her out!” the governor shouted in response. This was a courtroom, and he would not tolerate any nonsense.
Suddenly, another five or six older men and women appeared. They protected the old lady, and challenged the governor: “Your Honor, are you going to use your authority to chase her out?”
“My Lord, that is the victim’s mother, and the rest are relatives.”
The governor frowned and looked toward Feng Tianlan. This matter could still blow up more, and he couldn’t tell what she was thinking about. She hadn’t said a single word. He was hoping that she would at least look at him so that he could ask her what ought to be done.
This woman was protected by his superiors, and they’d made it very clear that she wasn’t the killer.
“You despicable woman, why did you have to kill my son? My son never offended you!” The old lady looked at Feng Tianlan, then screamed, and ran over to her along with the other elderly relatives. They tried to grab her.
“Quickly, separate them,” the governor hastily ordered. He feared that Feng Tianlan might be hurt.
But these were elders, and it was hard to retaliate against them because they could be injured easily or even die. If they had been young, they could have at least taken a beating.
So, the guards decided to stand in front of Feng Tianlan to block them, but the elders continued pushing, scolding, and crying.
“You little lowlife! My son hadn’t even married yet! After you die, I’ll make you marry him in the underworld so that he can rest in peace. This situation is so hard for an old lady, Your Honor! You must help me, and make sure this lowlife pays for taking the life of my poor, poor son!”
“…”
The large court had turned into a riot thanks to the cries and shouts of a few old people.
“Silence!”
The old people were stunned into silence; then, they quietly shuffled to the side.
“If you continue, I will drag all of you out to be caned!” shouted the governor, angry at this disregard for the court.
The old lady was stunned for a while before sitting down on the ground, continuing to cry. “My son is dead, but My Lord doesn’t care. He doesn’t want to take care of this matter. I may as well die with my son!”
“The truth of the matter is still not clear. How do you expect me to make a judgment?” shouted the governor gravely. Young people were not scary at all. It was this sort of old people who were the worst because they were not afraid to say whatever they wanted and could not be hit because their bodies could not take it.
The old lady stopped crying and pointed straight at Feng Tianlan. “This is the despicable woman who killed my son! If you wish to protect her life, then rule that she must marry my poor short-lived son and serve me until I die.”
