He had ignored Deng Xiaoyan, who loved him, only to fall for a woman like Bai Rulian. He regretted it!
But whatever he said now, it was all too late!
Deng Xiaoyan was already dead!
Zeng Munan closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he said:
"My lord, I will answer for the wrongs I have committed!"
Lord Yang began delivering his verdict:
"The case of Deng Xiaoyan has been thoroughly investigated.
The entire affair was orchestrated by Zeng Munan alone, resulting in Deng Xiaoyan's accidental death. Zeng Munan is sentenced to beheading after autumn.
Kong Yangling and his men were directly responsible for killing Deng Xiaoyan. All of them are sentenced to beheading after autumn.
The maid Qingyou betrayed her mistress's trust and tricked her into leaving the residence. Her crime is unforgivable, but as she is a maid of the Deng Family, I will hand her over to them for punishment.
Bai Rulian did not participate in this affair, but she knew of it and failed to report it, making her guilty of concealing a crime. She is sentenced to three years of penal labor."
Upon hearing the verdict, Kong Yangling's father closed his eyes. His mother clutched her husband's arm and said:
"Husband, hurry and think of a way to save him! Our son has been sentenced to beheading after autumn!"
"What could I possibly do?
I may be a fifth-rank capital official, but here in Suyu City, where officials are as plentiful as hairs on an ox, a fifth-rank official is nothing.
I always told you to keep a low profile here beneath the emperor's feet, but you let my words blow past your ears like the wind.
Now that disaster has struck, you're panicking? I'm telling you, it's too late!
I'll act as though