Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts
Chapter 480

Xu Ming stepped down from the high tribunal and looked at Mo Yuanshan.

Mo Yuanshan lifted his head and met Xu Ming’s gaze.

There was no trace of nervousness or fear in Mo Yuanshan’s expression—only the look of a man determined to deny all charges to the end.

“According to the laws of Wu Kingdom, all those under trial must kneel—except those with official titles,” Xu Ming said, smiling as he asked, “If our records are correct, I believe you hold no official title, do you?”

Mo Yuanshan raised his head arrogantly and declared, “None!”

Xu Ming’s smile deepened, his voice taking on a chill. “Since you have none, why do you refuse to kneel?”

Mo Yuanshan sneered. “I am the son of the Grand Pillar, the future Grand Pillar! Why should I kneel before you?”

“Oh? Because you’re the son of the Grand Pillar, that automatically makes you the Grand Pillar? You claim to be the future Grand Pillar—but are you one now?”

Before the words had fully settled, Xu Ming struck.

His foot landed sharply at the back of Mo Yuanshan’s knee.

With a thud, Mo Yuanshan was forced to kneel.

Seated to the side, the Grand Pillar gripped the arms of his chair tightly, his eagle-like eyes narrowing.

Outside the tribunal, the gathered citizens collectively drew in a sharp breath.

Did they just see what they thought they saw?

The top scholar of the imperial examination had just kicked the Grand Pillar’s son to the ground?!

And right in front of the Grand Pillar himself! Wasn’t this far too disrespectful to the founding general of the nation?

Wu Yanhan and Tang Ningzhi tensed.

To most people, Mo Yuanshan had merely been kicked down.

But in reality—his bones had been broken by Xu Ming’s strike.

Mo Yuanshan tried to rise but found it impossible.

He glared at Xu Ming, his eyes filled with fury.

The intense pain made him momentarily speechless.

He wanted to cry out, but he clenched his teeth and endured it.

Xu Ming was mildly surprised.

This man had more backbone than expected.

Even with his bones broken, he refused to cry out and disgrace the Mo family.

Zheng Qiu, watching from the side, swallowed nervously, feeling relieved.

See what happens when you refuse to kneel?

Now you look even more pathetic.

Good thing I knelt immediately.

Xu Ming returned to his seat at the high tribunal and began the interrogation.

“Zheng Qiu, a native of Huaibei, son of the Grand Justice. In a teahouse, you harassed a respectable young woman. When she refused, you attempted to abduct her by force. Do you admit your guilt?”

The once-arrogant Zheng Qiu had now completely caved.

He knelt and repeatedly kowtowed, even making sure to hit his head loudly against the ground to show sincerity.

“I admit my guilt! My lord, I admit my guilt! It was my own lust clouding my judgment! This is all my fault! I am willing to do everything in my power to compensate Miss Mang’er!”

His sudden obedience suggested that Zheng Liu had warned him beforehand.

That Zheng Liu and the Grand Pillar had been allowed to visit their sons in prison was entirely because Xu Ming had granted them permission.

After all, it was standard procedure—when a prisoner was detained by the Jinyiwei, their immediate family was granted one visit.

But one thing was clear: Zheng Liu had made the right choice.

At this stage, his background wasn’t powerful enough to protect his son.

Had Zheng Qiu continued to deny everything and act arrogantly, the consequences would have been far worse.

Xu Ming now turned his gaze to Mo Yuanshan.

“Mo Yuanshan, a native of Wudu, son of the Grand Pillar. You obstructed the Jinyiwei in the execution of their duty, even injuring two Jinyiwei officers, showing blatant disregard for the law. Do you admit your guilt?”

Mo Yuanshan glanced at Xu Ming with an indifferent expression.

“Guilt? What guilt?” He sneered. “Wasn’t it your Jinyiwei who deliberately attacked me first? I was merely defending myself. What, in Wu Kingdom, are we not even allowed to protect ourselves when facing danger?”

Xu Ming smiled and turned to Tang Ningzhi.

“Your Highness, may I trouble you to serve as a witness? Who struck first at the scene?”

Tang Ningzhi rose to her feet and spoke calmly.

“It was Mo Yuanshan who struck first. Inside the teahouse, he defied the Jinyiwei’s law enforcement and even injured two officers. I can testify to this.”

Mo Yuanshan glanced at Tang Ningzhi, a trace of surprise flickering in his eyes.

He hadn’t expected this woman to be the princess of Chu.

He had known the princess of Chu had come to Wudu, but he never imagined he would run into her at that teahouse, and that she would turn out to be directly involved in the case.

Xu Ming continued his questioning.

“Mo Yuanshan, do you have anything else to say?”

Mo Yuanshan merely chuckled.

“I’ll say it again—your Jinyiwei attacked first. What’s the matter? If you can’t admit it, are you planning to force a confession through torture?”

Xu Ming shook his head.

“The Jinyiwei do not force confessions. We always seek the truth.”

He then turned to the storyteller, Wang Han, and his granddaughter, Wang Mang’er.

“As for Zheng Qiu—do you two have anything you wish to say?”

Before they could respond, Grand Justice Zheng Liu suddenly stood up and bowed respectfully toward Xu Ming.

“Lord Xu, as this boy’s father, I feel deeply ashamed. I bear responsibility for his actions. May I first speak with these two?”

Xu Ming nodded.

“As his family, you naturally have that right.”

“Many thanks, my lord.”

Zheng Liu replied with the utmost humility before walking over to Wang Han and his granddaughter.

He bowed deeply.

“Sir, young lady, I have long served in Wudu, while my son was raised in Huaibei. Due to my neglect in discipline, today’s unfortunate incident occurred. I, too, bear some responsibility.

“But the boy is still young and ignorant. If you could find it in your hearts to forgive him, I would like to offer you some compensation—not much, merely five hundred taels of silver. I hope you will not find it lacking.”

As he spoke, Zheng Liu smiled and discreetly slipped the silver into Wang Han’s sleeve.

“This…”

Wang Han hesitated.

He wanted to refuse, but the amount was simply too generous.

Besides, when a high-ranking official personally stuffs silver into your hands, refusing doesn’t seem like much of an option.

Before Wang Han could protest, Zheng Liu swiftly turned away, leaving him no chance to decline.

Zheng Liu then returned to Xu Ming and bowed.

“My lord, I have finished speaking with them.”

Attempting to offer compensation in exchange for forgiveness was not a violation of Wu Kingdom’s laws.

In fact, Wu Kingdom actively encouraged it—the best resolution was always to turn major conflicts into minor ones, and minor conflicts into nothing at all.

Of course, this only worked if the victims were truly willing to forgive.

Xu Ming looked back at Wang Han and Wang Mang’er.

“And what is your stance on this case?”

Wang Han, now having accepted the silver, could only bow in return.

“My lord, we have nothing more to say. Since the other party has sincerely admitted their fault, we have decided not to pursue the matter further.”

The moment those words left his lips, Zheng Qiu’s eyes lit up with excitement.

I don’t have to go to prison?!