The case was about to be solved, Wang Ye's illness was nearly cured, and I even got to witness him presiding over a public trial—how wonderful!
But... why was the courtroom Wang Ye set up so different from others?
There wasn't a single bailiff below the dais. Instead, a crowd knelt in neat rows. Looking closely, there were Wan Niang, Lord Tan, Lord Ji and Steward Wang, the five butchers who ran meat shops, and even Xiao Er—the one who had struck Wang Ye at Gathered Fragrance Pavilion—was kneeling among them.
Xiao Jin Yu didn’t even touch the magistrate’s gavel that Tan Zhang had polished smooth with his slams. His first words were clear and cold: "Those who believe themselves guilty, remain kneeling. Those who believe themselves innocent, rise."
The kneeling crowd froze. They had seen trials before, but never one like this...
"Cases I personally adjudicate cannot be appealed after closure. Think carefully before you move. There’s no rush."
After a long moment of exchanging wide-eyed glances, only the five butchers tremblingly scrambled to their feet. But the moment Xiao Jin Yu’s icy gaze swept over them, all five dropped back to their knees with a series of thuds.
"Y-Your Highness... We truly are wronged!"
Xiao Jin Yu’s voice deepened. "When did I say you were guilty?"
"No, no! We meant... we’re innocent! All innocent!"
His tone grew colder. "Then why are you kneeling? Mocking me?"
"We wouldn’t dare! Never dare!"
Watching the five clumsily rise and stagger to the side, Xiao Jin Yu waited longer, but no one else stood.
His eyes swept over the kneeling crowd before settling on one person.
"Xiao Er Shi Tou of Gathered Fragrance Pavilion, what crime do you believe you’ve committed?"
The named servant kowtowed frantically twice. "This lowly one deserves death! I was blind as a dog, failed to recognize Your Highness, and... struck you... I deserve death! I deserve death!"
Xiao Jin Yu listened quietly, his brow slightly furrowed. "That’s all?"
☆、39 Sweet and Sour Ribs (Nineteen)
Xiao Er froze, then kowtowed repeatedly. "That’s all! That’s all..."
"Think carefully before speaking... If you conceal anything, you’ll face additional charges for contempt of court and deceiving me."
Xiao Er stiffened. "This lowly one... wouldn’t dare deceive Your Highness!"
Xiao Jin Yu sighed softly. "Given your sincere admission of guilt, I will not pursue the assault against me..."
"Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness! Long live Your Highness! Long live Your Highness!"
If not for the Clerk from the penal department holding her back, Chu Chu would have rushed out from behind the screen.
Wang Ye was too kind! How could he let this scoundrel off so lightly?
Then Xiao Jin Yu’s voice turned grave again. "...But regarding other matters, I cannot show mercy."
Xiao Er’s heart sank. He looked up in shock at Xiao Jin Yu’s stern face. "Your Highness..."
"Shi Yi, former hall master of Tengyun Hall in Guanzhong’s Qinglong Stronghold. In recent years, led Tengyun Hall forces in pillaging and wreaking havoc across Guanzhong. Four months ago, after being expelled by the stronghold leader’s order, massacred the leader’s entire family in madness and fled Guanzhong. Responsible for countless lives..." Xiao Jin Yu’s voice was heavy and measured. "Coupled with obstinate refusal to repent, deliberate concealment, and contempt of court—you truly deserve death. To be escorted to the capital immediately and executed."
The crowd stared blankly at Xiao Er. This man... hardly seemed capable of such audacity...Chu Chu behind the screen also widened her eyes in shock.
Xiao Er broke out in a cold sweat, his face turning ashen. "Wang Ye... this humble one, this humble one doesn't understand what you're saying..."
Xiao Jin Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Don't understand? Take off your upper garment and look in the mirror—then you'll understand."
Xiao Er's face instantly turned deathly pale. He raised his hand to cover the front of his robe. "You... how did you..."
"How did I know there's a dragon-patterned copper ring from Qinglong Village nailed into your left collarbone?" Xiao Jin Yu gave a cold smile. "Next time you sleep on your right arm, make sure to cover the left side of your robe properly. And when someone pours cold water over your head, don't immediately adjust your collar in front of others. That would be safer..."
Xiao Er's expression changed completely. Deciding he had nothing left to lose, he sprang to his feet and pointed at Xiao Jin Yu, spewing curses. Before he could finish three sentences, and before the guards could rush over, a white marble paperweight flew out from the corner, hitting him squarely on the back of the head. With a loud "thud," Xiao Er collapsed to the ground, knocked unconscious.
From the corner came Jing Yi's furious and resentful voice: "Swearing in Guanzhong dialect—how am I supposed to record it when I can't even understand what he's saying!"
"..."
Just as the unconscious Xiao Er was dragged away, Tan Zhang prostrated on the ground, kowtowing rapidly like a chicken pecking at rice. "This official has failed in his duties! This official deserves death!"
Xiao Jin Yu looked at him coldly. "You do deserve death... Wanted notices have been circulated for three months, with every prefecture and county turned upside down in search, yet you've been keeping him safe and sound here. Tell me, how much money did you take from this criminal?"
Tan Zhang shuddered, his kneeling ball-like form trembling on the spot. "Wang Ye! This official was merely momentarily negligent! I would never dare to shelter a wanted criminal of the court!"
"Is that so... Guards, bring Shi Yi back. This prince wants to give him a chance to atone for his crimes through meritorious service..."
"Wang Ye! This official deserves death! This official was momentarily confused... This official... this official failed to properly investigate, mistaking him for another petty thief, so... so... I thought it would be better to reform him rather than punish him... This official was foolish! I beg for Wang Ye's mercy!"
Xiao Jin Yu shifted his gaze to Wan Niang. "Wan Niang, how did Shi Yi come to work in your establishment?"
Wan Niang remained remarkably composed, bowing gracefully. "Replying to Wang Ye, Wan Niang was previously unacquainted with this man. It's just that after the incident, no one was willing to work at my humble shop. This man happened to come looking for work, so Wan Niang hired him... As a woman with limited knowledge, I didn't know he was a wanted criminal of the court. I beg for Wang Ye's punishment."
Xiao Jin Yu gave a faint smile. "According to reports from this prince's guards, Shi Yi was brought to the Gathered Fragrance Pavilion by Tan Cishi in the middle of the night, and you even addressed him as Hall Master Shi... Could it be that this prince's guards were speaking nonsense?"
Wan Niang's body stiffened, her face pale. She instinctively turned to look at Tan Zhang.
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