Chapter 1099

First Volume, Chapter 1099: Personal Trial

In Qin Feng's view, unless to prevent potential future harm, the death penalty was already the maximum punishment.

When Wang Yuanli was dragged out of the County Yamen, he made almost no sound—not even begging for mercy.

He had pointed his finger at Qin Feng's nose and cursed, yet in the end, only Wang Yuanli was punished. This was already extraordinary mercy.

If Wang Yuanli continued to pester us, he would implicate the entire Wang Family.

Moreover, for the Wang Family, removing the Prefect was already the harshest punishment possible; without the Prefect as their patron, their status would plummet, and even in Ming County, they could never again dominate as they once had.

At this moment, the other individuals involved in the case were successively brought to the County Yamen.

The Liu sisters had been delayed so long only because Liu Yunchun's whip wounds were too severe; before coming to the County Yamen, she had first been treated and carefully bandaged by the city's emergency physician, arranged by the Yamen Runners.

Compared to the emergency physician, Qin Feng's accompanying Military Doctor was merely a matter of "having or not having."

Aside from emergency treatment, final care still required an emergency physician with superior Medical Skill.

Liu Yunchun sat on a cart, pushed by villagers from Liu Family Village.

Liu Yunqiu walked beside the cart.

When they reached the entrance of the County Yamen and saw the crowd gathered around, Liu Yunchun and her sister exchanged a glance, and both grew tense.

Even though they knew Qin, the Marquis, would deliver justice, the oppressive weight of the County Yamen was still too great for ordinary commoners.

Moreover…

Their opponent was still the most powerful Clan in Ming County—and even in Ben Zhou.

In the past, they would have entered upright and exited lying down; that so-called upright magistrate was merely a dog raised by the Wang Family, too busy fawning on their master to ever defend a group of "lowly peasants."

Especially when they saw the crowd gathered at the County Yamen's entrance, their eyes betrayed varying degrees of tension and fear.

The entire County Yamen was utterly silent…

What was happening inside? Liu Yunchun couldn't help wondering—had Wang Dongjia arrived? Had County Magistrate Ma Fangyuan once again sided with the Wang Family, forcing Qin Feng into a corner?

If not for the terrifying black cavalry still standing at the entrance, Liu Yunchun would have already fled in panic.

At that moment, the crowd parted, and Sun Yi ran out, panting.

"Why haven't the Liu sisters arrived yet?!"

Under the Yamen Runners' guidance, Sun Yi finally spotted Liu Yunchun and Liu Yunqiu; he let out a heavy sigh of relief and immediately rushed to the cart.

His eyes widened, his voice trembling violently.

"Auntie, don't delay any longer—we've been waiting for you…"

"If you don't come soon, this case will be over already."

Sun Yi meant that if they delayed any longer, Qin Feng might have already executed every single person involved.

But to Liu Yunchun's ears, his words carried an entirely different meaning.

What do you mean "almost over"?

Was Qin Feng, under the combined pressure of the Wang Family and Ma Fangyuan, about to collapse—and did he need her, an implicated party, to arrive quickly to save the case?

If that were true, even if they won the lawsuit, what good would it do?

Once Qin Feng left Ming County, the Wang Family would still exterminate Liu Family Village…

Liu Yunchun felt a wave of despair, already considering retreating—but she had already revealed the hiding place of her second sister, Liu Yunxia; soon, Liu Yunxia would be captured and brought back.

Even if she ran now, where could she possibly go?

Thinking of this, Liu Yunchun couldn't help but burst into tears.

Seeing Liu Yunchun suddenly cry, Sun Yi froze in shock, then began stomping his feet anxiously.

"Auntie, why are you crying all of a sudden? Don't scare me like this!"

Hearing this, Liu Yunchun cried harder, lamenting: "It's you, Sergeant, who should stop scaring me—you just said it's almost over!"

Realizing Liu Yunchun had misunderstood, Sun Yi slapped his own mouth in frustration.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, what kind of time is this to be guessing riddles?"

"Relax your heart—once you enter the County Yamen, you'll understand: the feud between your three sisters and the Wang Family is completely finished. From now on, you can live in peace, without any more fear."

Liu Yunchun wiped her tears, unable to believe Sun Yi's words.

She spoke through sobs, trembling: "And after Qin Feng leaves Ming County? Who will stand up for us then?"

Hearing this, Sun Yi gasped, clamping his hand over Liu Yunchun's mouth, eyes wide with terror.

"Little Ancestor, watch your tongue—don't speak recklessly!"

"How dare you casually utter the Marquis's name?"

The crowd gathered at the County Yamen's entrance, having witnessed the entire scene, began explaining in unison.

"Liu girl, what are you standing there for? With the Marquis backing you, hurry inside and file your grievance!"

"Exactly! If you wait any longer, once Wang Yuanli the old bastard is beheaded and the case closed, what good will your grievance do?"

"Besides, the Marquis said anyone oppressed by the Wang Family can file a complaint—and even receive compensation."

"Relax—when the Wang Family ran into the Marquis, they cursed eight generations of bad luck."

Hearing the villagers' chatter, Liu Yunchun finally believed Qin Feng had not been crushed by the Wang Family.

Under Sun Yi's lead, Liu Yunchun and Liu Yunqiu finally entered the County Yamen, while the rest of the Liu Family Village villagers waited outside.

As they walked through the courtyard, Liu Yunchun instinctively grasped her sister's hand.

The entire County Yamen was eerily quiet; even though she knew Qin, the Marquis, was an upright magistrate, she still couldn't suppress her fear.

Only when she entered DaTang and saw Qin Feng seated behind the Shushu did she quietly exhale in relief.

When she turned and saw Ma Fangyuan kneeling on the ground, she froze completely.

"County Magistrate Ma… why is he kneeling?"

Before Liu Yunchun could make sense of it, that familiar, approachable voice came from above.

"Liu Yunchun, I ask you—who pinned the charge of escape on your younger sister, Liu Yunxia?"

Liu Yunchun lifted his head, gazing at Qin Feng; after a moment's hesitation, he finally summoned his Courage and spoke out.

"R-return, Your Lordship..."

"The Wang Family chased after my younger sister everywhere; when they couldn't find her, they went to Liu Family Village and arrested all of us, bringing us to County City."

"Before you came to Ming County, we had already been brought before the court..."

"Ma county magistrate himself said your younger sister was an escaped criminal, and ordered us to reveal her whereabouts—or else we'd be charged with harboring her and punished severely."

Hearing this, Qin Feng raised an eyebrow: "Are all these things you've said true?"

"If there is the slightest exaggeration, you will be punished severely."