THE TRIAL 2

"Commander Wu Qi has committed a severe offense! Therefore, the punishment for him is... a death sentence."

A person screamed. Hu Nayin.

"No! Don't get him wrong! Commander Wu Qi doesn't have a fling with me, instead, he tried to save me!"

The judge frowned. "Why do you defend him? Then, that's true if you intend to have a fling with him?"

"For Heaven's sake... No way! How can you still incriminate me, after everything I've done for His Highness... as well as the baby whom I devote for him?!"

"Then, you mustn't defend him. Commander Wu Qi has committed a severe offense. Defending him will justify that you and he have an affair."

"You have no clue about what happened at that time, but soon accuses him offhand. You didn't see that I was tortured by these two Jun Zhus who intended to kill the baby in my womb. And, Commander Wu Qi saved me right then. If Commander Wu Qi didn't save me, then Prince Zhu Youjue will never be born in this world!"

"But, still, Commander Wu Qi was supposed to take you to Zhou Wang, and not taking you running away!"

"And all of you have no idea about it. Instead of negotiating properly with us, the San Hu Wei treated us as if we are enemies of the country. They attacked us brutally. They shot almost hundreds of arrows at us. Yan San also tried to stab me with his sword. If there was no Commander Wu Qi who protected me, I would have died, becoming a corpse in that deserted prairie. And Prince Zhu Youjue would not have been born into the world." Hu Nayin raised her voice. "The one to blame is Yan San! He almost made the Little Prince die! He's trying to exterminate the Ming Imperial Bloodline!"

The judge stared at other senior officials, then getting busy discussing it. The atmosphere was getting rowdy. After all, they never expected that they would hear such information.

"You should have made a thorough investigation before, not making such a careless decision. Well, since it has occurred, it's you who get troubled, right?" Zhu Su commented. "No worries, just review this case, and don't issue any sentence, especially the severe one. If I may suggest, I don't agree if Wu Qi is sentenced to death."

The officials were indeed thunderstruck by Zhu Su's statement, but they were still less shocked than Wu Qi. He really wanted to dig his ear because he thought his ears had failed him, unfortunately, his hands were tightly tied right now.

"But, Your Highness, he has brought Wang Fei away from the palace after all, and also cooperated with Bai Lian Jiao!"

"I never said that I would skip him from punishment. I am going to punish him."

Wu Qi's positive spirit which started to grow, promptly disappeared again. He bowed down, so low.

"The punishment is, he must serve me more earnestly as Chief Commander of San Hu Wei."

"Your Highness?!" Their tension sparked again. "That's not a punishment! You instead give Commander Wu Qi a gift of honor!"

"That's a punishment, anyway. I used to let him laze around and can relax at will in a peaceful era. Now he can't do that. He must fulfill his responsibilities and work extra hard even though in a peaceful era." Zhu Su raised his voice. "What Hu Wang Fei said is true. Wu Qi saved Wang Fei and the Little Prince from harm, twice! This is an act of heroism, it must be rewarded accordingly. Also, he saved my life when I was nearly killed by the Bai Lian Jiao. If he had intended to seize Wang Fei from me, then he wouldn't have saved me and just let me die of enemy attack. Is that right, Wu Qi?"

"Your Highness…" Wu Qi could feel that tears was welling up in his eyes. He had to admit that everything the officials accused him of was true. He had to admit it. And he was sure that Zhu Su agreed with them. But as it turned out, not only Zhu Su spared his life, he even did not punish him! How could he not be moved by Zhu Su's kindness? "Your Highness... I... I am indeed guilty! I... am indeed very grateful that you are willing to spare my life... however, I do deserve to be sentenced to physical punishment. Your Highness... I confess my guilt! Punish me, Your Highness!"

All officials shook their heads in annoyance. It was obvious that Zhu Su was controlling the steering of this court, they were clear about where this court headed to. Irritated, they scowled, "Well then, we won't impose the death penalty, but Wu Qi must be still penalized since he has violated the laws. He cannot officiate as Chief Commander of San Hu Wei, he can only become an ordinary soldier, at most can only be a subdivision captain. And he must still be subject to the corporal punishment of beating for ten times."

Zhu Su indeed realized that they would still stubbornly pass the sentence to Wu Qi. No matter how hard he argued with them, it was useless. Wu Qi had also committed an offense nonetheless, he could not defend him any further. The important point was, he was not sentenced to death. This corporal punishment would not be too painful for him since he was accustomed to rigorous training.

The judge now read out the sentences for the princesses, but he was pessimistic about whether the court would run as fair as they hoped.

"The Jun Zhus, did vigilante by torturing Lady Hu, and even almost killed the Little Prince. This was an act of premeditated murder. The punishment for Jun Zhus is to live the life of commoners in Yu Xi District..."

"This isn't necessary either!" Zhu Su interrupted. "Hu Wang Fei also confesses that she had made mistakes in this case. So, it is equitable. The punishment for both of them should be removed."

"Fu Wang?! Really?!" The elder princess shouted happily.

Zhu Su nodded. "Both of you also make me aware of an important thing. You can do such terrible things, because I fail to provide caring and love for you. As father, I've been irresponsible, and you are doing all this just to get my care... so, I am also guilty. It's not fair if I even punish both of you. If I want to educate you, I can educate you everywhere. And now... I promise, I will care and love you more than before."

"Thank you very much, Fu Wang! Thank you very much!..."

"It is Hu Wang Fei who makes me aware of this. And she is the first one who takes the initiative to cancel your sentence. Don't thank me. Thank her."

The two princesses turned to Hu Nayin. They also knew that Hu Nayin had stood up for them. "Thank you very much, Hu Wang Fei! We are truly sorry for what we did to you! We are so mean to you, however, you are very good to us! Once again, thank you very much!"

The judge returned to read out the court decision. "Regarding Deng Linping and Madame Deng..."

"Ah, stop that! I don't think that this trial needs to be continued. I decide everything in the end." Folding his arms, Zhu Su smiled in satisfaction.

You don't give the Judge any chance and steers this court instead! The officials almost shouted that sentence, yet they did not dare to do it anyway. Instead, a senior official exclaimed, "No, Your Highness. The trial still has to go on! We have reached the most sensitive part - these two members of Bai Lian Jiao!..."

"Former member of Bai Lian Jiao!" Zhu Su straightened out. "Deng Linping is even a member of the Team of Wellbeing."

"After all, they were once members of Bai Lian Jiao, and that is enough for them to be sentenced to death."

Mrs. Deng immediately screamed. "No! Please... don't kill my son! He is innocent, he just follows me! I am the condemned person, so please spare his life!..."

Zhu Su also said, "Deng Linping has cured Hu Wang Fei. At that time Hu Wang Fei fell ill, if Deng Linping hasn't cured her, then only Heaven knows what would have happened with Wang Fei and Little Prince. Besides, I need his intelligence for my project. And how dare you execute him?!..."

"Your Highness! There are so many talented people out there, and you can get them easily, so you mustn't include Bai Lian Jiao as your team member..."

"There are many talented people, but no one is as talented as Deng Linping!"

"Your Highness!..."

But their shout were all interrupted, by that more shocking exclamation afterward. Which was shouted aloud by a guardsman who came hastily and reported with voice full of horror.

"Bad news! The prisoners have all fled from prison!"