Kingdom’s Bloodline

The latest website: Zhan En was very dissatisfied with being interrupted, and he immediately called someone to ask what happened.

A judge's assistant hurried over from the outer castle and told him that something had happened in the trial hall: a hereditary baron who was sealed was dissatisfied with the verdict and was protesting violently.

Kongming Palace is not a place for him to play rascals. Maybe it was Thales' eyes that made Zhan En very upset. The Duke of South Bank, who had always been gentle in front of outsiders, snorted coldly: Let alone the Judgment Hall.

However, the judge's assistant told him embarrassingly that the baron had invoked the Rodery Regulations of the Restoration King's period, requiring a noble with a high enough title to attend the jury, or even arbitrate, to cover the previous judgment.

How bold.

Jen sneered:

This is simply contempt of the trial court, and it is still at such a critical time as Queen's Day.

What's the matter? Although it was inconvenient to comment on the internal affairs of the Emerald City, Thales couldn't help asking: Is it related to what we talked about before?

Jann glanced at him, which was meaningful, and the Duke immediately ordered:

Then do it and invite him an honorary nobleman to be present. Although it is rare, it is his right after all.

But the judge's assistant was embarrassed.

Master Zhan En, the person closest to me was the Honorable Earl of Pintor, but he...

The assistant couldn't help but forget Thales with a complicated look:

The Earl is still recovering from his injuries at home and cannot come forward.

Thales was uncomfortable seeing him.

Huh? Count Pintor?

Why does this name sound so familiar?

Zhan En also took a look at Thales, and said with disdain: Maybe I feel ashamed recently, so I don't want to come forward. What about the others?

Several adults are reluctant to come forward for some reasons.

What's the reason? Zhan En was obviously dissatisfied, but his expression changed quickly.

But the assistant dared not answer.

What did Duke Iris wake up to,

Look at Thales.

What's wrong? What are you looking at? Thales touched his face, wondering.

The reason. Jann replied coldly.

Ten minutes later, when Thales walked into the Judgment Hall of the Emerald City in the Kongming Palace for the first time, he realized that it was more spacious and more spacious than any hall in the Kongming Palace or any hall of the Kevin Dill family. majesty.

An old judge with gray hair and wrinkled face, wearing thick glasses, sat in a position higher than other people in the hall. On both sides of his front were the plaintiff and defendant seats, while the outer seats sat The audience was full of guests, most of whom were well-dressed and dignified. Seeing the Duke in person, they couldn't help talking about it.

In the eyes of everyone, Thales and Zhan En, accompanied by their entourage, sat on the open box seat on the second floor—a little higher than the judge.

Then we might as well continue, the old judge adjusted his glasses, No. 680-10-0881, Mr. Slimani, the advocate, representing the farmers in Fengpei Village, sued Baron Elan Trent for illegal robbery and Case of unreasonable detention.

That's not robbery!

In the dock, a middle-aged nobleman wearing a luxurious coat and taking care of the ground immediately jumped up, dancing with his hands and feet, with a loud voice:

Those peasant households are my subjects! Those are the grains grown on my land! But they cheated and cheated. Not only did they default and refuse to pay rent and taxes for various reasons, but they also secretly transported away this year's harvest behind my back! Let's get together-

Boom!

The old judge ruthlessly knocked down the hammer, and the heavy sound echoed in the trial hall, making all other sounds disappear.

The hammer is made of alloy imported from Humble. Their pitch crystal formula is quite ingenious. The sounds they knock out range from deep and majestic to lively and bright. It is said that it also has the effect of cleansing the mood. The timbre of many instruments is as This has improved a lot.”

Zhan En explained to him in a low voice calmly, but he couldn't hide the meaning of I haven't seen it in the countryside in his eyes.

Thales pouted unhappily.

how? It's amazing to be rich.

quiet.

Although the old judge is old, his voice is still firm and powerful, which is awe-inspiring:

Or should I ask the guards of the Kong Ming Palace to help you silence, Baron Trent?

Baron Trent was still dissatisfied and wanted to say something more, but the servant beside him quickly persuaded him to come down.

Johnny Brennan, the oldest judge in Emerald City and even the entire South Bank, is highly respected, Zhan En whispered, Emerald City had a hard time hiring him from the Principality of Anrenzo.

What kind of case is this? Is it related to... what we said? Thales silently observed the surroundings.

You're asking me too much. Jen shook his head.

The old judge turned to the plaintiff's box:

Mr Slimani?

A shrewd and capable man with a simple hairstyle stood up from his seat. He first bowed to the two dukes, and then turned to Judge Brennan:

Dear Judge Brennan, as I have complained before, my clients, the two hundred and thirty farm families in Fengpei Village under the jurisdiction of the Trent family, do not accept the defendant's defense. That is illegal Robbery of property, and subsequent illegal detention.

Little man!

Baron Trent's roar sounded again:

You will defend them, Slimani, just because you are the dedicated defender of the Grain Merchant Guild! They secretly negotiated the price with the grain merchants in the city, and they want to accept this batch of grain!

And you're still a former police officer! Look around, the people in this trial court are all your old colleagues, and they're all working together!

Boom!

Baron Trent, this reason is enough once, Inquisitor Brennan said solemnly, and the current trial court has also responded to your seemingly reasonable protest.

but--

You require nobles with status, prestige, status and character to attend the jury. This requirement has been met. Brennan stroked his gray beard, narrowed his eyes, and looked up at the second floor. Satisfied, since the Scarlet Year, the Judgment Hall has not welcomed such a distinguished guest for a long time.

The next second, the old judge stood up tremblingly, along with his deputy, assistant, scribe, and finally almost everyone in the courtroom stood up.

Duke Thales, Duke Jann, I welcome you on behalf of the court on duty today, Brennan bowed in the direction of the two dukes, Witness the setting sun, may your arrival make justice and the law more apparent.

Judge Brennan, Zhan En stood up modestly, and Thales had to stand up together and bowed to the old judge, The Kevin Dill family is a member of the Emerald City, and it is my responsibility to come here to judge Obligation, I just hope you don't mind: I have brought guests, and His Highness Thales also wants to visit the Emerald City.

My lord judge, please understand, Thales said with a smile, No matter when and where, as the royal family, the nine-pointed star is obliged to serve the entire kingdom, and as the bright star, I am even more duty-bound.

After the words fell, the two dukes looked at each other with bad eyes.

The entire trial hall was full of discussions.

Very well, dukes, Judge Brennan sat down again, with a normal tone, I just hope that you will keep the political disputes as a matter of words, and don't bring my court.

These words made Thales and Zhan En's expressions froze, and they sat down awkwardly.

He doesn't seem to give us face?

More than that, he didn't even give my father face, Zhan En said softly, It is said that when your grandfather was inspecting the South Bank, he was ordered to pay for it because the guards who followed him trampled on the stall.

Then what?

Your grandfather obediently lost the money and came back to reward him.

Thales raised his eyebrows.

The trial court reopened, and the defender and the baron went back and forth, arguing fiercely.

I am exercising the rights that the nobles and lords of the Star Kingdom should have! Baron Trent said angrily, They are farmers working on my land, I give them shelter, and they work for me, this is nothing more sacred relationship and contract!

Slimani's defender responded calmly:

They are indeed working on your land, but since Duke Josh Cavendill's Separation Order in 421, at least in the South Bank Territory, the relationship between most lords and farmers on the land has become rent. It is true that they work in your fields and pay part of the income, but before the payment, the food grown on it is the result of their labor and belongs to them, not to you.”

But it means that at least part of the crops in his field should be handed over to me naturally, as is the tradition! The baron became more and more annoyed as he said, This is the tax they should pay! And they are trying to avoid this. One point, making private deals with grain merchants is despicable theft and smuggling!

There was a lot of noise in the trial hall, some people supported it, and some people opposed it.

quiet!

Inquisitor Brennan had to bang his pitch gavel again.

My clients haven't paid their grain and crops, but that doesn't mean they are in arrears of tax - in fact they have paid the full amount of money. As for the way of paying the tax, as early as the Duke of Leinster - may the wise man Rest in peace—it has already been expanded during his reign: In addition to paying the quota crops in the field, it can also be replaced by full labor or money, Slimani's defender is polite, in contrast to the baron, If you have questions, I'll be happy to point you to the relevant Codex regulations, if that matters to you, of course.

Enough?

Baron Trent was furious: If the tax money they handed over to me is used to buy food at the market price, it is only 60% of the same period in previous years! I don't even have enough food for the guards!

During the back and forth debates, Thales and Jann were having another conversation in the box upstairs.

I trust you.

What do you believe? Thales frowned.

After hearing what you said just now, I believe that you and your father are not the same kind of people-for now believe it.

Thank goodness, Thales deliberately exaggerated, so we can let go of the past and start over?

Before that, let me clarify something.

Thales made a gesture of all ears.

I know, the Duke of South Bank said softly, I've known for a long time that you didn't take the initiative to write a letter to discuss marriage with my sister, let alone take the initiative to take revenge on me. I know that is just your father's wish-in fact , I knew it from before you returned home.

Very well, then it seems that at least you haven't been affected by your sister's affairs—no, if you thought it had nothing to do with me from the beginning, why did you want to take revenge on me at the royal banquet? Thales wondered.

Believe it or not, Zhan En's face remained unchanged, I gave Bailar the sword at the royal banquet, not because of any personal grievances with you - that was something that had to be done.

It has to be done, Thales frowned, Explain?

Only by detonating the conflict between Xihuang and Fuxing Palace, Zhan En looked calmly at the two quarreling parties below, can your father have no time to care about others, and no time to reach out to the south bank.

What?

Duke Iris looked at him:

What your father wants to do is no secret to every guardian duke.

Jen said solemnly:

At the National Conference seven years ago, His Majesty was very dissatisfied with me due to the 'New Star' plan to force the palace, even though the territory I ceded afterwards and the asphalt mine made up for it...

Those compensations? You mean, you instigated the blood race to murder my compensation? Thales snorted softly.

But that didn't feed your father, Jen En didn't deny it, but he didn't apologize to Thales either. On the contrary, it expanded his appetite and allowed him to see the wealth and prosperity of the South Bank.

The riches and prosperity of the South Shore...

Thales touched the precious leather of the chair under him, and sighed:

I don't want to say that, but when I entered the palace last time, my father was indeed reading the port tax report of the Nan'an leader, and listened to Chief Qiu Ke yelling at you for your accounting skills.

Jen was silent for a long time, and he looked at Judge Brennan who was beating the gavel again.

I know. I originally hoped that after Val Arend was imprisoned, the internal and external troubles in the north would become your father's biggest constraint, which would take him a long time to digest, and he would have no time to take care of the South Bank Territory and Kongming Palace.

but?

Zhan En's eyes showed vigilance, as if he was facing a big enemy:

But your father's courage and ability—whether he dared to sacrifice his son as a hostage, or Charmain Rumba's strange move to squeeze out Nun to be crowned king—frustrated such expectations: you keep Dragon Cloud City, Rumba Withdraw the fortress, and the threat of Exeter disappeared overnight.

Your father's courage and ability...

Thales looked strange.

The owner of the iris flower continued: There is no duke in the north, and there is no foreign invasion. It is a golden opportunity. Your father reached into the cold castle and swallowed the vacuum left by Arend in just a few years.

Thales hesitated for a while:

Actually, the fact that Charmain squeezed out Nun and was crowned king is...well, forget it, it doesn't matter.

You're right, your father won't spend too much on the relationship between father and son, Zhan En didn't pay attention to his words, and said to himself: So when I learned that the royal standing army went to Xihuang to rescue When you were there, you realized that something was wrong—with the power of the kingdom’s secret science, he had ten thousand efficient ways to rescue his son, but he chose to use the army, which cost the most and caused the most trouble.”

Thales couldn't help frowning.

Then, I received the news that the Saber Camp was under attack and the Legendary Wings returned to rescue them.

Jen raised his head, his eyes heavy:

At that time, I probably understood what your father wanted to do.

Thales couldn't help but said:

real?

Jen snorted softly:

It's not difficult to guess, especially when you know the history of the establishment of the Emerald Legion.

Damn.

He really guessed it.

Thales frowned and thought.

But then, you returned to China, Zhan En said with burning eyes, it was sent back to the capital by the three major families of Xihuang. I heard that the four-eyed skull and even the family heirloom sword were given to you?

Thales hesitated, wanting to make one or two excuses but finally gave up:

The fact that Falkenhauser wasn't...well, never mind, doesn't matter.

Jen was a little strange, but he still nodded:

From then on, I knew that something was wrong: things in Xihuang must not have gone according to your father's wishes. According to His Majesty's temperament, even if you can't make up for the loss this time, you will definitely make up for it elsewhere.

Hearing this, Thales hesitated to speak again:

Actually, the reason why he didn't get what he wanted in Xihuang was... well, forget it, it doesn't matter.

Jen is preoccupied:

The next step is that I receive a letter from the Fuxing Palace: it is you who signed the letter, with an ugly portrait, asking about the possibility of marriage between Prince Thales and Hilley.

Thales frowned:

Is the portrait ugly?

Jen didn't answer, he let out a long sigh:

Your father, after all, he still set his sights on Nan'an, and that's when he started.

Thales held back for a while.

Maybe... think about the good? The prince said cautiously, You are not the only family that has received the letter.

But we're definitely up front, it's not about Hilley, it's about Kevin Dier.

Zhan En sneered and shook his head, his eyes were cold and severe:

I figured it out later, this will happen sooner or later: if you are a girl and a princess, then I have no doubt that Your Majesty's marriage target is me.

Thales paused upon hearing this.

If I were a male...can't you change the subjunctive conditional?