Kingdom’s Bloodline Chapter 149: The Exeter

Latest URL: In the trial court, the two sides argued more and more fiercely, and Baron Trent blushed.

"I request that, in accordance with the tradition, the old public service hours be restored on the Trent family's land, so that these unscrupulous people can return to the land to cultivate! They have neglected and evaded service for too long, and this has really damaged My interests, the harvest of my territory, will ultimately damage the South Shore Territory and even the Kingdom..."

But correspondingly, Srimani, the defender opposite him, was slow but organized:

“… In 661, the Duke of Leinster’s Recreation Order exempted lords and their subjects from many physical services, including military service, police patrol service and agricultural service, and Construction labor and other labor and work that require healthy adult men and women to participate in on a regular basis, the losses caused by this, are allowed to be charged to the lord's tax to make up for the losses caused by quarterly settlement and cash payment... "

"The cash they handed over, even with the tax, is not enough to make up for my loss!"

Baron Trent interrupted him with a roar, and the old judge Brennan had to strike the gavel several times before ordering the guards of Kongming Palace to come forward to "help".

In the box seats on the second floor, Thales and Jann's conversation became more and more serious.

"I rushed back to Eternal Star City, tried my best to grasp the direction of the wind, and tried to ease the situation," Zhan En said solemnly, "but the king refused to see me."

"As the head of the palace, Baron Quentin's reason for his reply is: Your Majesty rarely sees his father and son reunited, and he needs to enjoy family happiness and not see outsiders."

Thales swallowed:

"Actually, his reunion with me... Forget it, it's not important."

Jane ignored him: "At that moment, Anke Bailar found me."

Thales frowned:

"So you gave him a sword and urged him to fight me at the royal banquet?"

Jane does not deny:

"I said, I have to."

"First of all, once the conflict between Xihuang and Fuxing Palace breaks out, the South Bank Territory will no longer be your father's priority." My gift is so precious."

Thales frowned.

"Your gift?"

Jane nodded.

"Before the royal banquet, I wrote a humble letter to the king, in which I supported the reform of the royal standing army, asked for money and name, and hit his itch directly."

Jane's letter to the king, supporting the reform of the standing army...

The letter?

Thales narrowed his eyes, suddenly having a bad premonition.

"Your father refused to see me before," the Duke of Nan'an snorted coldly, "but once the incident in the West Wilderness affects the kingdom, and his plan is frustrated, the price and weight of this letter will be different."

"So," Thales couldn't help but said, "What's the result?"

"Result, result?"

Zhan En's eyes froze, and he sneered.

"After the royal banquet, the people from Xihuang, who have always been full of bad things, neither protested nor made trouble. Under the leadership of Falkenhauser in the ruins, they just surrendered to the Fuxing Palace just like that. .”

He said disdainfully: "It's happier than when the Freedom League surrendered to the Exeters."

Thales was in a mixed mood:

"Actually, the Liberty Alliance is not so happy--"

But Zhan En didn't want to pay attention to his views on the war, and shook his head: "I guess, your father must have caught some handle on the people of the Western Wilderness, making them powerless to resist—as expected of King Kessel V."

The handle of the Western Wilderness...

Thales said:

"Actually, the reason why Xihuang compromised so quickly... Forget it, it's not important."

The two were silent for a while.

"That's it, I failed to save Nan'an from disaster."

Jane looked ugly.

"Not only that, but my gift—the letter that might change your father's attitude—has never been answered, and it sank into the Fuxing Palace without any waves, as if it had never existed. "

The letter...

A stone sinks into the sea...

Thales rubbed his hands with a strange expression: "Yeah, why..."

"There is only one explanation." Zhan En's eyes were sharp at this moment, "Fuxing Palace has come out of the predicament, so his vision has risen. His Majesty is no longer satisfied with the conditions I offered, and he wants more."

Jen gritted his teeth:

"More."

Thales held back for a long time, and finally couldn't help but speak:

"Actually, Jen, your letter didn't get a reply, it was..."

Jane's eyes shot at him.

Thales' words stagnate:

"It's a pity...but forget it, it's not important."

Jane looked at him for a while, sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, time has changed, regret is useless, it's not important anymore."

At that moment, Thales and Zhan En had their own concerns, and both fell silent.

Boom!

Brennan's gavel sounded again, drawing their attention back to the courtroom.

"Master Judge! In the past, after paying the offerings and goods, we could still make a living by doing some manual work, collecting some firewood, etc., but this year, the baron's butler said that we should do more Contribute to..."

Beside the plaintiff's seat, a farmer in ill-fitting clothes spoke under the guidance of the defender. He obviously came to Kongming Palace for the first time, stuttering and panicking:

"He didn't let us take the grain to the market to sell money. He said that we would collect rent on the spot. He said that such a tax increase is wrong..."

"That's not a tax increase!"

Baron Trent stood up from his seat again and spoke angrily.

"Prices are soaring year after year, even food prices have increased by 20%, and they pay the rent every year, and the cash they give is still only so much. This is tantamount to being robbed! Sell ​​the grain into the city, and make a living with the profiteers who speculate, and I, I still have a large piece of land to manage! Of course they have to increase the money to pay the rent to make up for the loss, or change it back to the original state, and provide food or use This is only fair!"

Amidst the roar of the audience, Inquisitor Brennan almost smashed the gavel.

Slimani's defender coughed and stood up politely:

"My lord judge, for the tax payable by each household, each person, and each field of a fixed size, my client has followed the rules for more than ten years. Lord baron, your land has not increased or become fertile , without changing the type and location, then the number should remain the same, no more and no less.

“As for the choice of paying in cash, in kind, or in the form of labor service—as I said earlier, this was stipulated when the Duke of Leinster was in office—it is my client’s freedom and rights."

Hearing this, Jen En hummed softly and whispered to Thales:

"You know, that guy, Slimani used to be a clerk in the police department, but he didn't even go out on the street. His best job is helping people write case reports and even quarterly summaries, especially those whose responsibilities are in the police department. The case on the side of the police department... Later, at the end of each year, every police department rushed to second him."

"This...is really not something that ordinary people can do, no wonder he became a defender later." Thales shrugged.

"As far as I know, Your Excellency," the defender of Slimani continued in court, "there have been no local wars, no serious natural disasters, no plagues, no large churches and For the castle project, the latest local bandit suppression was jointly carried out by the Emerald Legion and the New Suburb Security Office, but the Duke did not issue a call-up order, and the cost and personnel of the bandit suppression were independently supported by the Emerald City—that is to say, the Baron did not There is a higher level of lord tax, and there is no compulsory labor that must be responded to."

"And the Kingdom has not promulgated a new decree involving Fengpei Village to increase taxes. As for the living tax items, the baron's two sons have grown up and married, and his three daughters have also married. There will be no weddings in his castle within a year. There is no knight canonization, no funeral, and the only religious ceremony, the tax items of which have been handed over to the Church of the Sunset by the villagers... To sum up, Baron Trent has no reason and name to ask for redundant offerings, and without negotiation and the duke With approval, in-kind, cash, labor, any form of request outside the custom is an illegal tax increase!"

"Fart!"

Baron Trent started yelling again, and this time Inquisitor Brennan had to send guards to try to "calm him down".

On the other hand, Slimani became more and more courageous:

"Lord Baron Trent, the law allows exemption from service, but you force additional service, and the law encourages paying rent in cash, but you privately prohibit it. Then my client no longer recognizes your authority as a lord of a place, no longer Fulfilling the sacred agreement with the Trent family, not wanting to work and produce on your land, and even taking all your belongings—including this season’s harvest—to move to another place is a matter of course.

"And you restrict your people with absurd reasons without the kingdom's decree and duke's warrant: withhold their harvest, forbid them to move, forbid them to trade, forbid them to pursue a better life— —Your Honor, this is illegal robbery and unreasonable detention.”

After the defender's voice fell, thunderous applause was heard from the spectator seats behind, and many people cheered "pleading for the people".

The villagers around him felt hopeful and beamed with joy.

Old Inquisitor had to keep order again.

Baron Trent's hairstyle was not as neat as before. Seeing that the situation was not good, he took a deep breath, as if he had made some decision.

"Master Zhan En! Your Excellency the Duke!"

In the next second, the baron ignored the etiquette and rules, and shouted at the second floor in a gaffe:

"Exemption from service, tax payment with cash, these policies of the old duke are just expedient measures after the **** year! But this is not the kingdom's tradition! Now we have recovered from the war, as you vassals, I don't think we have reason to—"

Jen frowned.

"Silence!"

Boom!

The gavel was struck again.

"Forgive me to remind you, Lord Baron," Judge Brennan looked very angry, but he still maintained a steady tone, "Of course the opinions of the two dukes are very important, but I am the judge of this case. The chief judge."

Under the eyes of almost everyone in the court, Thales secretly poked Zhan En with his elbow:

"Ask you, why don't you respond?"

"As he said, we are just a jury." Zhan En remained calm, but sat a little further away from Thales.

"Of course, your status is distinguished and distinguished, and you are a guest from afar. If you want to express your opinions, Judge Brennan will not stop you."

Thales smiled:

"You want to trick me again?"

The two looked at each other and turned their heads.

On the other side, Baron Trent began to talk about the traditions of the kingdom and the laws of the South Coast Territory, crying about how he struggled to marry off his three daughters in exchange for the money to make his two sons knights.

"So, Thales, do you feel it?"

Jen En sneered.

"Since you returned to China, the series of changes in the situation between Eternal Star City and Emerald City... It's like someone in the dark, who always exerts force at key nodes, disrupts all deployments, and pushes the situation to an unforeseen direction. It is beneficial to my direction.”

Someone in the dark...

Thales sat more and more seriously.

"It also pushed your father to turn his eyes to Nan'an collar, and pushed him to send you over - what's wrong with you, why do you have a constipated expression?"

"Nothing, just..."

Thales held back for a long time, and finally sighed:

"Forget it, it's not important... So, have you thought about how to fight against my father?"

Hearing this, Jen paused for a while.

"The Arend girl from Cold Castle, and the little black lion from Hero Soul Castle, are they all in your team now?"

"Yes?"

"Your father just took over the Northern Territory and the Western Wilderness, and you took in the heirs of the princes in these two places. The signal you gave was very unfriendly-no wonder he didn't want to see you, and even wanted to exile you."

"Do you have an opinion?"

Jen En chuckled and glanced at the prince.

"No, I'm just thinking, if I were your father, I might as well make a secret plan with you, and let you pretend to take them in, wouldn't it be more convenient to wipe out political enemies and opponents?"

At that moment, Thales seemed to miss a heartbeat.

"It makes sense," but the battle-tested prince didn't change his face, he just gently stroked the Guertaxa in his pocket, feeling the hideous spikes on it, "I can't help but think so Suggested to my father."

The eyes of Thales and Zhan En met in the air, as if they wanted to see through each other.

A few seconds later, Zhan En smiled:

"But unfortunately, you are not him."

Thales frowned: "What?"

"I said, Thales Canxing, who can fight for the assassin who breaks into the banquet, hesitates, and is even willing to risk the end himself, turning the table against me at any cost," Zhan En showed a mysterious smile, with a look of apprehension. Set his appearance, "It is impossible to get together with a cold and capable person like the king."

Thales didn't speak, but just held the "covenant" tighter.

"He will never trust you."

Jen En looked at the chair he was sitting on, and there was frost in his words:

"You will never approve of him either."

What a lovely father and son.

At that moment, Thales didn't move.

He just watched the judgment below calmly.

Jane didn't turn his head either.

He stroked the back of the expensive chair patiently.

The air around them seemed to be frozen.

"Xiaohuahua, let's make a deal."

"Deal?"

Jen En smiled, but then his expression changed: "Okay——wait a minute, what's the matter?"

Thales suddenly reached out and clasped the hand of the Duke of South Bank on the back of the chair!

"You don't mention Anke Bailar less, and you don't mention the things you cheated on me before," the prince said coldly, "I will not mention your sister less."

Zhan En's expression turned cold instantly.

"And you don't mention Xiaohua—what's the name?"

The two looked at each other silently, their clasped palms pressed against each other, not giving an inch, and they confronted each other silently amidst the louder and louder quarrels in the courtroom.

A few seconds later, as if there was a tacit understanding, the two let go of each other's hands.

"Deal." Thales said unhappily.

"I don't expect to turn enemies into friends with you," Zhan En resumed his sitting posture, "but you are right, your father sent you here, maybe he used our enmity to get me and you into a life-and-death struggle In order to make a name for yourself, and profit from it.”

"And we can't let him succeed?"

Jane nodded:

"So, let's sort out the grievances now, and make sure there is no reason to cause misunderstanding and let us go to war with each other."

"Then," he said cautiously, "in the days of the Emerald City, we must be open and honest."

Thales exchanged glances with him.

"Very good, although it is not big, it is the first step."

Thales raised his eyebrows.

"Now, can we end the hostilities?"

Jane smiled:

"Can't."

Thales' expression froze.

"Why?"

Jane answered quickly this time:

"Because we have to be hostile."

"Since your father expected and expected us to be hostile," Duke Jann snorted coldly, "then it's best, let him continue to think so."

Thales frowned.

OK.

I see.

But...

"So, let's keep doing business as usual, and continue to kill each other and make trouble for each other during the day," Thales said with a strange expression, "At night, we hide in the bedroom to conspire and discuss, working together?"

"To confuse our enemies, wait for them to jump out automatically, and catch them in one go?"

Does it sound like...

Somewhat familiar?

Jenn showed a mysterious smile.

"I request a higher level of appeal! Even to the noble affairs court in the royal capital!"

Baron Trent's scream reached the ceiling of the hall, interrupting the conversation of the two dukes, Thales and Jannzi frowned.

But it's much more than that.

"Your Highness Thales! You come from the capital, you are generous, you are the hope of the kingdom, and you are here," Baron Trent stared at Thales, ignoring the judge's gavel , raised his hands, "Labour, taxation, the rule of the lord, the old rules of the kingdom, this is unreasonable! It is unreasonable! My subjects are getting richer, but I am getting poorer!"

Thales sighed lightly.

No.

The next second, the baron shouted in an almost fanatical manner:

"With the spirit of building a country with the stars, with the rights bestowed on us by the royal family of Canxing, I demand the arbitration of the jury nobles! Now, now!"

As soon as this remark came out, there was an uproar in the courtroom!

"This is the tradition of the stars! It is my power! The judge has no right to stop it!" the baron shouted.

"Silence! Silence!"

Inquisitor Brennan's hands were shaking with anger, but he was still dutifully maintaining order.

But it couldn't stop countless eyes from shooting at the prince.

"You already expected that, didn't you?"

Thales looked at Jann unhappily:

"This is also your plan, is it a part of acting for my father?"

But the latter just smiled lightly:

"Don't worry, this wasn't planned—although it's a good idea."

Duke Jann narrowed his eyes:

"But remember, you owe me one today."

The next moment, before Thales could react, Zhan En's expression became serious, and he stood up abruptly!

"Why, Lord Trent?"

The Duke of South Bank spoke loudly, attracting everyone's attention.

Jen took a step forward, leaned against the railing on the second floor, and blocked Thales from everyone's eyes.

Baron Trent looked up in doubt.

"The land in Emerald City is so tight, but even in the outskirts of the city, most of the land is not used for farming - we don't produce much food," Zhan En said blankly, "Then why, why are the fields outside Emerald City , the countryside, and the farmers and hunters on it, including the farmers in your territory, want to provide us with their crops, raw materials, and food production? Why do they feed the population that is increasing year by year in Emerald City so that we will not be hungry? dead?"

If I push from behind now...

Thales stared at Jen's back in front of the railing, and calculated the height from the second floor to the ground.

But then he shook his head.

No no no, don't think too much.

How is it possible!

"Your Excellency..." Facing Jann, Baron Trent seemed to be born short of breath, and was interrupted before he could speak.

"Did we force them? Or did we rob them? Or did I use my privileges, resort to tradition, brainwash them into slaves, and obediently confess to me?" Jann's voice echoed in the hall.

"Because the lord protects them! A lord like you and me, Your Excellency the Duke," Trent slowed down and said unconvinced, "This is a sacred contract and tradition, and it is their obligation to make offerings to the lord..."

"Then why, Baron Trent!"

Jane continued coldly:

"The coat you are wearing, what is it made of? Wool? No, it doesn't matter. Why do they have such good craftsmanship and shape? They are beautiful and convenient to keep warm? There are such coats in your manor Craft?"

I don't know if he didn't understand or reacted slowly, the baron was stunned and looked at his coat.

"Oh, because it wasn't produced from your manor and village," Zhan En suddenly said, "but you bought it from the Emerald City—maybe there are a lot of things in your house, from From the makeup and jewelry on your wife to the fine wine for your son."

"Because the Emerald City produces more things, more commodities, more resources, and more tools, which in turn are exchanged for them," Zhan En said coldly, "they, the farmers in your territory They will bring the grain produced in the land—the grain that originally only needs to be stored in the warehouse to wait for the winter—to go out of the countryside to the town, participate in the market, and finally sell it to us.”

"So, the people in Emerald City, a 'lord' like me, will not live on the little tax paid by a baron like you. Reverse."

The baron opened his mouth to speak, but could not speak.

"We, Emerald City not only protect them," Zhan En put his hands behind his back, showing his majesty, "but also supply them in exchange for their output, so both sides can benefit from the development of Emerald City. So that the whole South Bank will benefit.

"My father exempted them from redundant labor, and even regular military service? In this way, they will have more time, become more enthusiastic and efficient, and the output on their own land will increase year by year. Newcomers in your territory The number of people will increase, the reclamation of wasteland will increase, the mind will become more and more active, and the types of products will become more and more abundant. Only then can they sell more output to cities such as Emerald City, and obtain higher and higher income. More profit."

"But our tax—" The baron seemed to want to argue.

"As for the permission to pay taxes and rents in cash... Yes, in the taxes you receive, there are fewer physical outputs and more money, but it is in exchange for the cash for paying rents that the people on your land Only then will there be more need for the market, the need for transactions, the need to exchange goods for money, and make up for the tax."

Hearing this, Thales in the back couldn't help frowning deeply.

What Zhan En said made the originally noisy hall become silent, and he was the only one listening to the speech:

"More and more people will carry their produce to towns, come to Emerald City, sell grain and other goods that can be sold for money, so as to form large-scale specialties and attract merchants from far away, and they The arrival of the Emerald City - and even the South Bank Territory and the Star Kingdom - can bring things that cannot be produced by oneself.

"In this way, countless grains, agricultural products, and raw materials will flow into cities and towns to support the population, thereby driving commerce and trade, and connecting distances and distances. Only the goods crafted by craftsmen in cities and towns can also feed back to you and your land The people in the world, so that you can enjoy the products of civilization and the goods from afar, so that you don’t stay in the castle manor, guarding the shabby clothes and broken bowls and pots, don’t know the seven seas, don’t know the four directions, sit and watch the sky all your life until you die of old age—you still Need I remind you again, what are the raw materials of this luxurious coat, and where are they produced and made?"

Jane scolded:

"Baron, the reduction and exemption of service that you hate, the tax payment with cash that you are not interested in, they connect the city and the countryside, and maintain the economic operation of the entire South Bank area, this is the meaning of these laws!"

"But...tradition..." Trent was sweating coldly, but he still refused to give up. "So it wasn't like this...my grandfather..."

Hearing this, Zhan En didn't immediately refute like just now.

He showed hesitation and embarrassment, and was silent for a while before he let out a long sigh.

("It's really **** good to pretend." - Thales afterwards)

"I know your difficulties, baron, and I also know your plans, but the presence of Prince Thales is not the reason for you to take the opportunity to make trouble."

Duke Jann raised his eyes, his words were cold:

"It's not a tool for you to use the power of the royal family to exert pressure."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the trial hall was stunned.

"But don't forget, Baron Trent, your ancestor four generations ago was just an ordinary farmer, working and farming in the territory of the Kongming Palace," the owner of Iris gradually softened. "Yes, I remember your family. In fact, I know the origin and past of every vassal under my command."

Baron Trent looked at him blankly, trembling slightly,

"The Fourth Continental War gave your ancestor the opportunity to prove himself on the battlefield. He seized it and earned the surname of Trent and the title of Lord. His descendants went one step further, winning the fief and the responsibility of guarding the land , turning the title into a family hereditary glory, which will eventually be passed on to your generation.

"So, compared to ordinary people, Baron Trent, you have more opportunities: you were born in the care of servants and nurses, you received an education that ordinary people could not imagine since you were young, and you You have a large piece of land, you have family prestige, you have savings left by your ancestors, you have connections left by generations, you have castles that still have military significance.”

Jen En stared at him closely, with complicated eyes, which seemed to be pity, but also sullen.

"You have your surname...and the privileges it represents, taxation, conscripting, judgment...too many privileges, some visible, some invisible."

"However, you have ended up in such a land, financially distressed, with a penniless family, and even resorted to illegal means to exploit the people," he changed the subject, "and even reasoned that it was my father's decree, that the development of the Emerald City caused harm to the people." Have you fallen to this point?"

"No."

The Duke of Iris is categorical:

"You are like this, Baron Trent, because you are unwilling to open your eyes, accept reality, and make changes."

As he spoke, he suddenly stretched out his arms, signaling to the entire hall:

"This is my family's Kongming Palace, but it is also the Judgment Hall of the Emerald City."

"But you, baron, you can't leave your castle, your manor, and your steward," Jann said coldly, making the baron feel ashamed, "you can't leave Farmers whose status is lower than yours, you want to be your lord—not only because you need to rely on their labor and output to support yourself, but also because you need their status to be lower than yours, and when someone looks at you, their eyes are submissive and Fear."

"You can't live without the feeling of being bossed around by people around you since you were a child. You can't live without the sense of superiority that someone flatters you, someone flatters you, someone makes a sacrifice, someone bows your head, and someone makes you boss around."

Zhan En coldly said:

"That's what's really holding you back from living."

The courtroom was extremely silent, and everyone was thinking about the Duke's words.

Only Thales frowned.

"But we are the Kingdom of Stars! We are the descendants of the Empire!" The baron said sadly, "My ancestors protected his people, and his people were vassals of his rule. From the king to the people, we all perform our duties. From knights to merchants, this is the rule..."

"I am also proud of my surname and bloodline, and the long history of my family," Jann quickly interrupted him, "but I would rather keep this emotion in my heart than impose it on others , to cover up the essence with intoxication, but lead to disgust and self-deprecation."

"It doesn't matter if you are a family of four generations," the Duke of South Bank said softly, pacing to the side intentionally or unintentionally, revealing Thales' figure, "you are still a descendant of the imperial family."

Thales immediately felt a lot of eyes cast on him.

What a fuck.

"In terms of bloodlines, no one in this hall, even in this palace, in this town is more noble than His Royal Highness Thales next to me. That is the star royal family that has witnessed the glory of the empire."

As Jen said, he stretched out his hand from his pocket and flicked a silver coin downstairs, where the baron caught it.

"However, when you take out a silver coin, you will know that even they clearly know that the king is not respected by blood."

Baron Trent looked at the silver coin, then at Thales.

The prince pursed his lips unhappily.

"The Canxing royal family abides by the law and obeys the rules. They rule the kingdom wisely and with restraint. They come here with etiquette and respect. They come to our land and our city. They never rashly intervene in the affairs of their subjects. Life, will not grossly interfere in the internal affairs of the Emerald City, whether it is our way of governing, or our actual interests, because they are well aware of their responsibility-but you? What about when Inquisitor Lunnan is rude?"

The old judge coughed and sat up straighter.

"Emerald City is a city of justice and law. This is not just our boastful exaggeration." Zhan Enyang said, "Emerald City believes in justice, believes that there is no free reap, and believes that hard work must be rewarded. In order to ensure this, The Emerald City also believes in the law, and believes that the rule should not be chaotic and random, and the rules should be open and clear.”

"You think you are resorting to tradition, using the privileges given to you by your status, to discipline the territory and population under your jurisdiction, but if I support your appeal and tend to you to make an arbitration, that is to allow you to challenge the entire emerald It is irresponsible to destroy the ruling foundation of the city and even the South Bank Territory."

Zhan En slowed down and sighed:

"I know that the relationship between tradition and law is quite complicated, and sometimes even cause and effect each other. But one thing, the law cannot be changed arbitrarily because of the wishes of the superiors, because we believe that what we can see in this city Within the scope, there are certain rules that even I, the hereditary ruler surnamed Kevin Dill, cannot break, no secrets, no shady scenes, no exceptions!"

"Only in this way, the rules recognized and followed by all can in turn promote the well-being of all."

The duke came back to his senses, and his words were strict:

"Therefore, I cannot arbitrate for you, Baron Trent."

"I also advise you, take back the plan to force the prince to arbitrate for you in public - he has been forced to do too many things in his life, and you can't be in the team."

Thales' face darkened.

The baron shuddered and sat down on his seat.

Jen En smiled slightly, and also sat back in his seat, receiving Thales' supercilious glances.

One, two, three... Countless applause sounded from the audience one after another, and Zhan En waved his hands modestly in response.

Boom!

"Quiet."

The judge brought back the order in the court with a blank face.

"I'm sorry, Judge Brennan," Zhan En smiled apologetically at the old judge, "I took your case by stepping on my behalf. In fact, maybe I should focus on the case itself."

"Not only that, kid," Brennan said bluntly, "you have also turned the occasion of the courtroom into a place for you to expound your political ideas and show off, and even compete with the royal family."

Jane's face froze.

Thales frowned.

"Therefore, this court will impose a fine of three hundred Tormund gold coins on you, Lord Jann," Judge Brennan said coldly, "Do you have any objection to this, or do you want to appeal?"

Jen En frowned fiercely.

Wait, how much?

Thales was taken aback.

The owner of the iris sighed:

"No. I respect the Inquisitor's decision."

Judge Brennan stroked his beard and nodded in satisfaction.

"Three hundred..." Thales lowered his voice and asked in surprise:

"You just accepted the punishment like this? Do you really don't want to appeal, or are you too rich and don't care?"

Jen En's brows twitched imperceptibly.

"Because I don't want to be punished more by him."

"How do you know there will be more fines?"

"Experience." Zhan En said unhappily.

Tellston immediately gloated.

Three hundred gold coins, haha...

"Also," the Duke's next sentence dampened Thales's interest, "I'm indeed rich."

"But other than that, I have to say..." Judge Brennan's words drew the attention of the entire courtroom.

"Although you did not cite specific laws, Mr. Zhan En, nor did you give a practical answer, but you have described the way of survival of the Emerald City for us from the unique height of a ruler—why is this so? Paying taxes, why you can be exempted from labor, why cities and towns don’t have to cultivate, why goods have to be circulated in this way, why are laws and regulations arranged in this way, you explained the whole set of operation methods of the rule and the spirit and principles behind it, and told the story in this What do we believe in and what we want to achieve in this piece of land.”

The judge sighed a little:

"In the age of the empire, a scholar once said: Tradition creates law, and law responds to tradition. In this alone, you are better than many. Sticking to the law, but completely ignoring the spirit behind it, ignoring the foundation of our legislation and law enforcement, colleagues who know what it is but don't know why it is."

Thales looked at Zhan En with strange eyes.

"You are overrated, Inquisitor Brennan."

Jen stood up and bowed at the right time:

"When my father was around, he often mentioned your knowledge and conduct to me, and appreciated your experience and professionalism. You set the rules and pointed out the direction for everyone in Emerald City and even the South Shore Territory. Compared to me, the Duke of Rausch, You are the jewel of the Emerald City."

Brennan nodded, obviously enjoying it.

"I'm going to fine you a hundred gold coins," but the judge's next words were not so friendly, "because you are in the trial court, using the sacred duty of noble arbitration, to flatter and climb the judge's ass. Pull the relationship."

Jane's smile froze.

Thales suddenly felt that the judge was pleasing to the eye.

"Baron Trent, the defender of Slimani, and the village head of Molina," the judge returned to the current state, "Because of the baron's special request, we have gone through this process for two It’s been over, so I believe that you should have no more evidence and arguments, so this case will be decided at an optional date. Of course, Lord Baron, you are a nobleman, so you can also exercise the noble’s right of review and appeal three times—but that’s This is the last time."

He took off his glasses:

"And before that, I suggest you hire a defender. Their guild is in the Glory Zone, and it's better than you coming all the way from the castle, in front of His Royal Highness in Kongming Palace It's better to yell loudly."

Baron Trent trembled:

"It costs money to hire a lawyer?"

"Yes, it will cost money again," Judge Brennan sighed, "but it will be less troublesome."

He knocked on the gavel: "The court is closed."

There was a lot of discussion in the courtroom again.

"But my lord, my lords," said the village chief's voice tremblingly, "our food is still being withheld. It's going to be winter, we can't drag it on..."

The Srimani defender next to him stretched out his hand and pulled him, preventing the village chief from continuing.

"I sympathize with you, Molina Village Chief, but since you have accepted the suggestion of the backer and appealed the matter, you should consider the risks involved," Brennan looked at Sri Manny looked at the auditorium at the back again, with a bad look, "And maybe you should think about it: Those who fund you to go to court, what they care about is your food and your interests—or if they get dragged into the court, they really care about you. After a long trial process, what can they get from a group of desperate poor and a piece of desolate land?"

Hearing these words, Thales' eyes moved.

The village chief was confused, but was soon dragged away by Srimani.

Judge Brennan seemed to hesitate, he turned around again, and sighed to the whole hall:

"To be honest, as a judge, I am not happy to see this trial."

"As a judge, I should try to restore justice, restrain the strong, and protect the weak. But the fact is that the real strong in this trial hid in the dark and continued to benefit, while the bright ones Both sides suffered heavy losses.”

Thales and Jann looked at each other.

The old judge looked at the baron and the village chief on both sides:

"But since the rules are like this... forgive me for one more sentence: laws and regulations are just dead words, and what flows outside the words is the real power, and if you continue to be confined to the former and ignore the latter ..."

Inquisitor Brennan sighed and remained silent.

Zhan En frowned on the seat, and he recruited his subordinates:

"Order to allocate part of this year's disaster relief funds to make up for the difference in grain sales lost by those farmers."

His eyes turned cold:

"At the same time, send a message to the Grain Merchant Guild: I'm watching."

Thales, who was deep in thought, snorted softly: "I can't think of it."

Jane glanced at him.

Boom.

"The next case, No. 680-10-0882," Judge Brennan put on his glasses again, "Three merchants of the Wool Guild sue Lord Bedren for default of debt..."

In the middle of his words, he looked to the second floor:

"Why are you still here? Two dukes?"

Huh?

Thales and Zhan En were taken aback.

"Don't you know that the arrival of the big man will seriously divert people's attention, take away my authority, and affect the work of the court?"

Brennan's tone is bad:

"Still think the fine is not enough?"

The next second, Thales and Zhan En jumped up from their seats with a whoosh, and disappeared in front of everyone.

Thales and Zhan En both walked out of the courtroom.

"Very well, at least we know now," Zhan En sneered, "This trial is just a case of a brainless nobleman rushing to the doctor."

He glanced at Thales:

"Not a tool for someone to reach out to the Emerald City."

Thales frowned: This is the beginning of the show?

Jenn, who came back to the public, had a cold attitude towards Thales, and left without even a few simple greetings. Ashford bowed to Thales, and left with his master with a smile.

Thales looked at Zhan En's back, then at the location of the trial hall, and finally at the Kongming Palace built on the Ancestor Rock, lost in thought.

"My heart is busy." He said quietly.

Miranda, who had been waiting at the door, came to Thales, and nodded her chin to Zhan En who left:

"He still doesn't want to see you?"

Thales shook his head, but his expression became serious.

"Mira, do you know why, after the Exeters invaded the stars in the Year of Blood, they couldn't stay and continue to occupy the northern border?"

Miranda was taken aback for a moment.

"Northern people have been in the royal line for a long time," the Neverwinter sword in the fortress reacted very quickly, "also respect the rule of Coldhold, and there are constant struggles and uprisings."

Thales smiled.

"This is certainly one of the reasons."

"But when I was in class before, there was another saying that the people of Exeter were not capable of governance and management. If you don't catch it, if you are far away, you will find it difficult to look at the beginning and the end, and if it is mixed, you will lose sight of the other."

Miranda's eyes moved.

"So once there is no army to suppress, they will either be angry with the people and resent the officials to force the people to rebel, or they will retreat in a dismal business. The stars have become accustomed to the rule and way of life."

The Boundary of Dominion~IndoMTL.com~ Thales said silently, thinking of his long-lost classmate from Dragon Clouds City.

"What do you mean?" Miranda asked carefully.

Thales let out a breath and smiled wryly.

"My father has favored the Emerald City for a long time, so we came here from the capital. But look around, Mira, look around."

Thales turned around, glanced at the ancestral rock of the Kevin Dill family, and at the trial hall where the hammer still sounded.

Finally, he faced the direction of Emerald City, feeling the hustle and bustle outside Kongming Palace.

He spoke calmly:

"Now, we are Exeters."

Looking at the preoccupied prince, Miranda was stunned.