Chapter 1276: Chapter 1276 Public Trial
The four of them quickly flew back to Fengge Wang City on the "Shadowless" device, and upon receiving the news, Yun Cheng, Xiao Meng, as well as Qing Xun and Qing Rouhen, were already waiting at the palace gates.
Chen Song carefully carried Yi Rou off the flying device because all the guards of the Meilan Family had been killed. Yun Wang then prepared a room at the Panhu family’s residence for them so that Xiao Meng and Qing Rouhen could quickly heal Yi Rou’s body.
Yun Cheng led them to the Panhu family’s residence, where Qing Rouhen asked to prepare a large barrel of hot water. Xiao Meng added some herbs to it and let Yi Rou undress and soak in it.
Qing Rouhen’s character is kind and shy, not fond of killing, so she mainly practices healing magic within Water Magic, particularly skilled at detoxification, and hasn’t practiced many combat-type magic skills.
She and Xiao Meng sequentially wielded their magic powers, helping her heal the wounds and clear the remaining toxins from her body.
On the other hand, Ye You ordered Ge Lun to be thrown into the dungeon, and except for Ge Lun, all others who participated in attacking the Meilan family convoy were executed.
At the same time, everyone in the Qing Ming Family’s residence in Wang City was arrested and sent to the dungeon, awaiting judgment.
Far away in Crystal City, Ge Lanxue heard this news and was greatly shocked. She could imagine Ge Lun’s discontent and defiance, but never thought he would take such desperate risks, attempting to assassinate Qin Sisi, and moreover, make such enmity with the Meilan Family.
Such actions benefitted him in no way and would only push the entire Qing Ming Family to the brink of destruction.
After much deliberation, Ge Lanxue could only bring the remaining senior managers of the Qing Ming Family to Fengge Wang City to atone to Ye You, hoping to save the Qing Ming Family.
Three days later, Ye You publicly judged Ge Lun at the square at the entrance of the palace. The Nine Great Families sent representatives, and the commoners were crowded together, eager to know how Ye You would handle this relative, referred to as an "uncle."
Indeed, Ge Lun knew the evidence of his assassination attempt on Qin Sisi was ironclad and did not deny it, instead leveraging the family card, emotionally detailing the deep sibling bond between him and Ye You’s mother Ge Wan, and Ya Ning’s tragic death in saving Ye You.
As it were, Ge Lun’s eloquence was quite impressive, and he moved many people, who believed Ye You shouldn’t execute such a relative and meritorious minister. Otherwise, it would be burning bridges after crossing them, killing the rabbit and cooking the dog.
Ye You frowned deeply, saying in a stern voice, "Ge Lun, no matter how eloquently you speak, it doesn’t change the fact you attempted to assassinate my fiancée. For this, you must pay the price."
Ge Lun immediately kowtowed and replied, "This subordinate is willing to accept punishment, but my only daughter, Ya Ling, is not yet married. I beg the Sage Ruler for mercy, allowing me to live a bit longer until my daughter Ya Ling is married, after which I will accept the Sage Ruler’s disposition."
If Ge Lun stubbornly refused to confess, it would only anger Ye You further, and everyone would think he was ungrateful, but now that he admitted guilt and took a step back, it instead made Ye You have difficulty imposing severe punishment.
Even if Ge Lanxue had all sorts of dissatisfaction with this cousin, she didn’t want him to die, and everyone present from the Qing Ming Family knelt, begging Ye You to spare their clan leader.
Sitting sideways to Ge Lun, Qin Sisi observed with lowered eyes and saw a flash of triumph in Ge Lun’s eyes.
She couldn’t help but knit her brows; this man was not sincerely admitting guilt. Once he passed the current plight, he would continue to seek opportunities to cause trouble.
Furthermore, he was intent on supporting Ya Ling to become the Sage Empress. If he were forgiven just like that, it would pose considerable trouble for Ye You and herself in the future.
Ye You initially intended to impose heavy penalties, but Ge Lun, cunningly submissive, caught him off guard. Persisting in heavy punishment might cause resentment among many.
At this moment, a hoarse, elderly voice rang out: "Sage Ruler, my Meilan Family and the Qing Ming Family have always minded our own businesses, yet Ge Lun killed so many of my Meilan Family’s warriors, nearly leading to my daughter Yi Rou’s severe injury. My poor only daughter, who’s pregnant, is still in an uncertain condition. I plead the Sage Ruler for justice to ensure Ge Lun pays for his crimes!"
The speaker was none other than the Meilan Family Clan Leader, Chi Xun, who, upon learning of Yi Rou’s injury, hurried from Miaoyin City to Fengge Wang City, making trips back and forth, tiring his old bones.
In fact, Yi Rou had already been greatly improved under the combined treatment of Xiao Meng and Qing Rouhen, but they kept her resting in bed out of caution, unknowing to outsiders about the situation, allowing Chi Xun to say as he pleased.
Chi Xun could see that Ye You was in a dilemma, so he stepped in to help Ye You, also helping himself.
The Meilan Family had never provoked the Qing Ming Family, yet Ge Lun dared to harm his precious daughter, thinking they were easy targets?
Ge Lun nonchalantly said, "Chi Xun, my dozen men have already been executed by the Sage Ruler; it can be considered as avenging your daughter."
"Nonsense!" Chi Xun, trembling with rage, quickly retorted, "Your dozen men, what do they count for? Over a hundred of our magic warriors will never return home. They weren’t sacrificed on the battlefield but were slain by you, who claim loyalty to the Sage Ruler—such internal betrayal deserves execution."
Ge Lun was momentarily speechless; indeed, he was the one who initiated the trouble.
The interrogation seemed to have reached an impasse, with everyone’s gaze focused on Ye You.
Ye You’s intention hadn’t changed. Ge Lun could no longer serve as the Qing Ming Family’s clan leader. It wasn’t the first time Ge Lun had attempted to assassinate Qin Sisi; such a person would never repent. Previously refusing him assistance had left him in prolonged passivity.
However, Ge Lun still had significant prestige in the Qing Ming Family, so to completely remove him, at least his Magic Source needed to be abolished.
Ye You knew this decision might leave the Qing Ming Family and the public dissatisfied, as harshly punishing an old minister right after ascending was indeed inappropriate. However, he couldn’t let Qin Sisi face assassination attempts anymore; Ge Lun must receive heavy punishment.
As Ye You pondered momentarily and was just about to speak, Qin Sisi suddenly stood up and boldly said, "Chief Gelun and the Qing Ming Family indeed have great merit to the Sage Ruler. Please have the Sage Ruler deliberate carefully."
Ye You glanced puzzled at Qin Sisi, not expecting her to plead for Ge Lun.
Qin Sisi blinked at Ye You and continued, "The Sage Ruler is benevolent and just. Even if punishing Chief Gelun is necessary, it must be done to make everyone heartily and vocally convinced."
"What do you suggest?" Ye You gazed at Qin Sisi, a slight smile at the corner of his lips.
Qin Sisi turned to look at Ge Lanxue and loudly asked, "Teacher Ge Lanxue, may I ask, what should be the punishment for attempting to assassinate the Sage Ruler’s fiancée?"
Ge Lanxue’s face turned pale, hesitated for a long time before replying, "To rebel against superiors is unforgivable."
