Confession

Feng Zheng's anger flared instantly, his tone growing even more menacing: "Feng Manor is private property. What right do you have to barge in?! Do you really think you're that important?"

"Is this how Young Master Feng always behaves?" Su Chenyu asked: "Aren't you eager to clear your name? If you let us search the manor under everyone's watch, wouldn't that prove your innocence? Young Master Feng, aren't you hiding something by resisting so much?"

Stuck, Feng Zheng silently signalled his father to come to his aid.

Magistrate Feng's liver ached with anger at his son's actions. With matters this far along, and so many eyes on them, there was no way to order preparations ahead of time. All he could do now was plan for the worst.

CRACK!

Magistrate Feng slammed his gavel: "Feng Zheng, things have gone too far. As your father, protecting you now would only harm you. We have witnesses and evidence right here! It's time to confess. You should be grateful no one has come to harm."

A look of sheer disbelief crossed Feng Zheng's face, he was completely dumbfounded.

Magistrate Feng fought the urge to give his son a couple of hard slaps, instead sending him a meaningful look.

Feng Zheng wasn't too slow. He quickly understood what his father wanted him to do and began his show.

He dropped to his knees with a thud, covering his face with both hands. "It's all my fault." He sobbed: "I was attracted to Fen Tao and wanted to win her affection. When she ignored me, I got desperate and committed this outrage in my impatience. I admit my guilt. Father, please punish me."

After saying these words, he used his sleeve to wipe the non-existent tears from his face. He really wanted to cry, but he couldn't cry.

Su Chenyu laughed. He really wanted to give a thumbs up to the performance of this father and son.

The people outside the door were also stunned. Just moments ago, Feng Zheng was vehemently denying any involvement in the case. Now he suddenly admitted everything. At first, it seemed confusing, but when they thought about it, they understood.

"If Young Master Feng has confessed." Su Chenyu said: "This makes things easier. According to our country's laws, if the descendants of officials mistreat commoners or forcefully steal a woman, their punishment is increased by one degree. They receive fifty strikes, followed by five years in prison. Governor Feng, I leave this case to you."

When Feng Zheng heard this, he panic stricken at first, but then shrugged it off. Even if he got fifty lashes, it would be from his own people—just a show for others. They wouldn't really lay into him. As for going to prison, he didn't take that seriously either.

Magistrate Feng's face turned as dark as the bottom of a wok. He forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes: "Isn't fifty lashes a bit too much?"

Su Chenyu said: "This is the law set by our Dragon Soul Nation's founding ancestor. Does Governor Feng have any doubts about this?"

Magistrate Feng's face flushed with anger, but with so many people watching, he couldn't lose his composure. He took a deep breath and said: "Young master, I think you've misunderstood. This official would never dare to disrespect our founding ancestors. But if we put aside my position as the Prefect, I'm still a father—not a monster. I can't bear to see my son suffer like this."

Su Chenyu snorted coldly: "Your son humiliated someone else's daughter. Don't they deserve some suffering too? Magistrate Feng, your child may be precious, but are others' children mere straws worth nothing?"

"You! How dare you talk such nonsense! This official has already made numerous concessions. What more do you want?"

"I don't want anything." Su Chenyu said: "But with all these people watching, you should just get on with the punishment!"

Magistrate Feng held back his heartache and said: "Come here, drag Feng Zheng out, give him fifty lashes, and put him in jail."

"Yes sir!" Two guards pretended to force Feng Zheng out by his arms.

But Feng Zheng wasn't scared at all. He glared hatefully at Su Chenyu and, as he passed him, whispered: "Just you wait."

Feng Zheng lay sprawled on a wooden bench, and the two guards were about to strap him down when...

"Hold it!"

"What now?" Magistrate Feng could feel his rage burning up to the top of his head.

Su Chenyu smiled: "Don't be angry, sir! I was just thinking that the ones carrying out the punishment are your own guards, and they're going to beat your own son. People might suspect you're just going through the motions for show."

Magistrate Feng's face changed: "What are you trying to say?"

"How about this? We'll pick two people from the crowd to do the beating instead. That way, no one will suspect you of leniency, and it'll show everyone Xuanyang Town's citizens that you're a fair and strict official."

Magistrate Feng immediately objected: "No way! There's no precedent for this! It's our responsibility to carry out the law and handle cases, why should we let outsiders do it? It doesn't make sense!"

Feng Zheng, who had been lying on the bench, stiffened and gave his father a meaningful look.

Su Chenyu smiled: "There's no precedent for this because no official's son has ever been caught doing such a thing. Now, Young Master Feng has broken that record. Since the situation is different, we must handle it differently. This is just to silence the gossip."

Magistrate Feng was so angry he looked like smoke might come out of his nostrils. If not for the crowd watching, he would have gone down there and throttled Su Chenyu.

Seeing that Magistrate Feng hadn't spoken for a while, Su Chenyu suggested: "How about this? I won't participate in choosing the enforcer. Is that acceptable?"

Magistrate Feng let out a slight sigh of relief. For now, this was the best he could hope for. He thought, The sooner this is over, the better. If it drags on any longer, I might explode with anger.

Magistrate Feng stood up and walked towards the door. Many people lowered their heads as he passed. Most were locals from Xuanyang Town, and they dared not lay a hand on the governor's son for fear of secret retaliation. Some even stepped back several paces.

Magistrate Feng noticed this with some satisfaction. His eyes scanned the room, eventually landing on a man in black. He had a pale face and coughed every now and then.

The eyes of the man in black darted around restlessly: "Lord Feng," He said, coughing: "How could I bring myself to hit young Master Feng? No way, no way! cough cough" He ended with another fit of coughs.

"It's alright." Magistrate Feng said: "I won't blame you. After all, my son was in the wrong here."

The man in black hesitated for a long moment before saying: "Well... alright, Lord Feng. But I'm not very strong. I doubt I'll be much use."

Magistrate Feng replied: "That's fine. You don't need to hold back." Though he said this, he thought to himself: 'How strong could this sickly fellow be? I wouldn't have picked you if you were healthy.'

He didn't notice the corner of the man's mouth twitching upwards for a fleeting moment before vanishing as quickly as it came.

After choosing one person, they still needed another. Several others they considered shook their heads and scurried away in fright.

Magistrate Feng was smug. Who in Xuanyang Town would dare offend him?

"I'll do it!" A man in his early twenties called out from the crowd.

Hearing this, Magistrate Feng's good mood evaporated. He turned to look at the man who had spoken.

"Lord Feng, why don't I take it?" The man who spoke was tall and thin, with the unmistakable air of an intellectual scholar.

"All right." Magistrate Feng agreed: "It'll be you, then!"

With their substitute chosen, even Magistrate Feng couldn't bear to watch his son being beaten. He sat back down, his face a study in discomfort.

As the choice had been made, the crowd finally surged forward, drawn by the prospect of a public spectacle. Within moments, a circle had formed around the staging area, eager onlookers closing in from all sides.