Chen Shuangbai took a few steps, sat upright in the main seat, and watched the clumsy performance with a half-smile.
Yuan Chongde did not straighten up, but remained bowed, while Yuan Jie, kneeling on the ground, stared at Chen Shuangbai with hatred in his eyes.
Time passed slowly, and the Zhao, Li, and Wang families gradually drew closer. The county government sided with Chen Shuangbai, while the Azure Flood Dragon Society and Rosy Clouds Abode Alliance seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold.
As for Compassionate Light Temple... no one came.
The " Moonlight Heart-Cleansing Instruction " operates silently, like the cold moonlight reflecting on a lake of the heart. All those emotions—whether observing, being wary, gloating, or feeling vaguely uneasy—are clearly discernible, like reflections in the water.
After a long silence, Chen Shuangbai suddenly spoke.
"Just opening the ancestral hall and using family law?"
Yuan Chongde's brows furrowed sharply, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and he straightened up slightly as he looked at Chen Shuangbai, saying, " Yuan Jie has offended you. Rest assured, he will be severely punished."
"What kind of severe punishment will be imposed?"
There was already some tea on the main seat, but Yuan Jie didn't touch it. Chen Shuangbai picked it up, blew on it, and took a small sip.
Yuan Chongde frowned immediately. One of the three people behind him stepped forward, bowed, and said loudly, " Yuan Jie's actions were truly inappropriate and offended you. In my opinion, it would be better to punish him by sending him to the mines outside the county town, and not allowing him to return for ten years."
There are indeed several copper mines outside the county town. The county government is in charge, while the four major local cultivation Lineage are mainly responsible for mining. Most of the profits must be handed over to the government.
But anyone with eyes can see that the place of punishment is not under their noses; it's called punishment, but they're probably enjoying themselves.
Chen Shuangbai still didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Who are you?"
The scholar in white robes said with considerable pride, " Liu Clan Yuanhao."
Chen Shuangbai nodded, then looked at the Zhao and Wang families behind the Liu and Yuan families—or more accurately, the Zhao Household.
According to Bi Sheng and Zhuang Wen, among the four families, the Zhao Household has the deepest foundation and is the leader of the four families, while the other three families have a vague intention to become vassals.
The man from the Zhao Household was a slightly burly, middle-aged man with a beard. He seemed to have noticed that Chen Shuangbai was looking at him.
Undeterred, he stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said, "I humbly request Your Majesty's judgment. This nephew of the Yuan Household has indeed committed an offense, but considering it is his first offense and he did not intend to offend, please grant him leniency and give him a chance to atone for his sins."
"This action, while punishing him, also demonstrates the majesty of the superior sect."
This burly man from the Zhao Household spoke quite tactfully, seemingly pleading for Yuan Jie, but in reality, he was passing the buck back to Chen Shuangbai.
Chen Shuangbai put down her teacup, her gaze sweeping over Liu Yuanhao and the burly man from the Zhao Household, finally settling on Yuan Chongde, who was still bowing, and she suddenly chuckled softly.
How should I address you?
Chen Shuangbai looked at the burly man and asked.
"My name is Zhao Yongkun, the third son in my family. I have met Garrison Commander Chen."
The burly man from the Zhao Household clasped his hands in a fist salute again, his posture neither humble nor arrogant.
"Good."
This single word brought a sigh of relief to all four families, but joy quickly followed.
Did you see that!
The disciple sent by the Jade Spring Sect also suffered a loss at the hands of our four families and had to admit defeat...
This only amplified the ambitions of the four families.
The representatives of the Azure Flood Dragon Society and the Rosy Clouds Abode Alliance frowned, thinking to themselves that Chen Shuangbai was indeed a coward.
But Chen Shuangbai's next words instantly reversed the situation.
Chen Shuangbai stopped looking at them and turned his gaze to the silent magistrate Chang Yuan, saying, "Magistrate Chang, according to the Jing Code, how should one be punished for trespassing into the garrison's office, overstepping one's authority, and uttering insults against the envoy dispatched by my Jade Spring Sect?"
The Jing Kingdom's royal family has been able to maintain its current position by clinging tightly to the Jade Spring Sect.
Therefore, the Jing Code contains many laws that favor the Jade Spring Sect.
Chang Yuan understood immediately, and a low-ranking official in blue robes stepped forward and announced loudly, "According to the Jing Code, all officials, cultivators, and citizens of our Jing Kingdom shall treat the celestial officials, such as garrison commanders, inspectors, and envoys dispatched by the Jade Spring Sect to various regions with courtesy and respect, as if they were superiors."
"Anyone who trespasses into his official residence or mansion shall be considered to have attempted assassination, and shall be punished three times more severely; anyone who oversteps his authority or decorum shall be considered to have shown contempt for the court, and shall be punished as if he had deceived the emperor."
Zhao Yongkun's expression changed slightly. He took a few more steps forward and called out loudly, "Commander Chen..."
But Chen Shuangbai ignored him and continued asking questions.
"What law did this Yuan Household violate? How should he be punished according to the law?"
The official in blue robes added, "According to the law... he should be executed."
Yuan Chongde could no longer continue acting and stood up to say something, but he was not as quick as Yuan Jie, who was kneeling on the ground. Yuan Jie sprang up like a carp, his face ashen, and pointed directly at Chen Shuangbai's nose, cursing her.
"You, surnamed Chen, who do you think you are, to dare to lay a hand on me!"
" The Jade Spring Sect is indeed powerful, but you're just an outer disciple. What makes you think you can act tough here?"
"My elder brother is a disciple of a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Profound Firmament Sect, and has been accepted as his heir. How dare you harm me!"
There are three sects within the Zhao Kingdom. The Profound Firmament Sect is the most powerful of the three and has clashed with the Jade Spring Sect before. However, it still cannot defeat the current sect leader of the Jade Spring Sect, True Person Qingchen.
Bi Sheng Zhuang Wen had previously said that these four families had unclear ties with the Zhao Kingdom, and now it seems that this is indeed the case.
Chen Shuangbai looked at Yuan Jie, whose face was full of pride, with a hint of mockery in her eyes. She then turned to Yuan Chongde beside him and asked, "What does the Yuan Household mean by this?"
Yuan Chongde's tone was harsh, and he abandoned the formalities, coldly saying, "Sir, you are pressing us so aggressively; we are merely trying to protect ourselves."
"Self-preservation?"
Chen Shuangbai's lips curled into a cold smile as she said, " Foundation Establishment cultivator... or rather, Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Profound Firmament Sect... Heh, so your Yuan Household —no, I mean, your Zhao, Yuan, Li, and Wang families—are so arrogant and domineering because your backer is the Profound Firmament Sect within the Zhao Kingdom, is that it?"
"You four families... do you intend to betray your country?"
Like a thunderclap, it startled everyone.
"Commander Chen, please be careful with your words!"
Zhao Yongkun said sternly, " Wind Howling Ford is within the territory of the Jing Kingdom, so our four families are naturally citizens of the Jing Kingdom. However, it seems that the Jing Code does not prohibit citizens from taking disciples of immortal sects within the territory of other kingdoms."
"We did not mean that."
"Please guard this place and do not slander our four families."
"Taking on a master is naturally not prohibited."
Chen Shuangbai's eyes, like poisoned ice blades, pierced directly at the four families, her voice chillingly cold.
"But seeking apprenticeship and learning skills are two different things from secretly colluding with foreign enemies and harming one's own country's interests!"
" Yuan Jie is nothing but a spoiled brat. How dare he openly invoke the names of the Profound Firmament Sect and Foundation Establishment cultivators in front of me, a disciple of the Jade Spring Sect, on the Jing Kingdom's territory? This is..."
"How do your four families protect themselves?"