75: Chapter 75 tells Wilfrid Wesley that he needs more money! He absolutely needs more money!

[You stop in your tracks and turn your head.]

[The morning sun falls upon you, and the "Peerless Elegance" trait makes your smile at this moment appear incredibly gentle and serene, as if it possesses a magic that can soothe all panic.]

[You look at the anxious neighbors and say softly, "Uncle Zhou, Aunt Liu, it's alright, everyone, don't worry."]

[The neighbors are stunned. They look at your composed back, and an absurd sense of security inexplicably rises in their hearts.]

[At this moment, several bailiffs wave their sheathed waist sabers, roughly pushing the people crowded at the very front, cursing as they do so.]

[The leader of the bailiffs, Zhang Mazi, walks up to you with a sullen face, carrying his saber.]

["You killed an official and rebelled, yet you dare to stand before the Magistrate? Kneel for me!"]

[He shouts coldly, lifts his right foot clad in an official boot, and aims a fierce kick at the back of your knees.]

[You do not move, only slightly turn your head and look at him calmly.]

[Zhang Mazi's foot stops abruptly in mid-air.]

[He looks at your face, and his mind suddenly goes "buzz".]

[You are clearly wearing coarse prison garb with messy hair, yet those cold, clear eyes and skin so white it's dazzling exude an indescribable Peerless Elegance. It is a temperament that makes one feel unworthy just by looking at it, and even speaking loudly feels like a desecration.]

[Zhang Mazi's Adam's apple bobs violently, and a strong sense of pity and reluctance suddenly arises in his heart.]

["Such… such a beautiful girl, how could she kill someone? It must be a misunderstanding," he mutters to himself.]

[The raised foot is forcibly pulled back. He waves his hand impatiently and turns to walk aside: "Fine, stand if you want. Once the Magistrate holds court in a moment, you'll get what's coming to you."]

[Just then, footsteps are heard from the back hall.]

[Magistrate Lu Fengnian, wearing green official robes and sticking out his round belly, walks out with a strut.]

["Wield power—!"]

[The bailiffs on both sides uniformly strike the ground with their heavy staves, producing a dull, vibrating sound.]

[Magistrate Lu Fengnian walks to the main seat, sits down, and slams the gavel.]

["Who is that below the hall? Why do you not kneel when seeing this official!"]

[You remain standing straight, your posture like a pine tree, not even lifting your eyelids.]

[Seeing this, the neighbors outside the gate stamp their feet in anxiety. Old Man Zhou gathers his courage and shouts: "My Lord! Great honest official! Lass Shuang has always been well-behaved; she absolutely could not have killed anyone! We beg you to see the truth, My Lord!"]

["We beg for the Magistrate's mercy!" several familiar neighbors echo.]

[Magistrate Lu Fengnian frowns, grabs the gavel, and slams it heavily: "Silence! Making a racket in the courtroom—anyone who speaks out of turn again will receive twenty strokes first!"]

[Once these words are spoken, the area outside the gate falls instantly silent. Twenty strokes would strip the skin off a strong man; no one dares to touch this bad luck again.]

[Seeing no one dares to speak again, Magistrate Lu Fengnian sneers disdainfully, his gaze cold as he stares at you.]

["Lin Shuangwan, you used martial arts to violate the law and brutally murdered a court official in prison. Your methods were extremely cruel. How do you plead? Confess honestly!"]

[You look at his oily face and suddenly chuckle.]

["How do I plead? Magistrate Lu Fengnian, wearing those official robes, don't you feel constricted?" Your voice is not loud, but it clearly carries throughout the entire hall.]

[Magistrate Lu Fengnian is stunned.]

[You continue: "You corrupt official, exploiting the locals and treating human lives like grass—are you worthy of sitting up there to judge me?"]

[The entire hall falls into a deathly silence.]

[The commoners outside the gate widen their eyes; even their breathing stops.]

[Magistrate Lu Fengnian is stunned.]

[Lin Datong, hiding behind the crowd, almost laughs out loud. He curses inwardly: "This dead girl is crazy! She actually dares to insult the Magistrate in public; now not even the gods can save her!"]

[Magistrate Lu Fengnian is stunned for a full three breaths before reacting.]

[He has been the Magistrate of Yunjin City for ten years and this is the first time he has seen a prisoner dare to point at his nose and curse him in court.]

["You… you are presumptuous!" Magistrate Lu Fengnian is trembling with rage, his face turning the color of pig liver. "Audacious woman! You are at death's door and still dare to spout such wild words!"]

[He grabs the token cylinder on the table, pulls out a fire sign, raises it high, and is about to throw it down.]

["Give her fifty heavy strokes! I don't care if she lives or dies!"]

[The bailiffs on both sides immediately step forward, gripping their heavy staves.]

[However, Magistrate Lu Fengnian's hand is raised in mid-air, but it delays in falling.]

[He suddenly remembers the message sent by the Black Tiger Gang Protector last night: "Gang Leader Wei has taken a fancy to that girl; he wants her alive, and not a single hair can be missing."]

[If she is beaten to death or crippled, that madman Wei Feisen will absolutely skin him alive!]

[Furthermore, at this moment, Magistrate Lu Fengnian looks at you, and deep down, a strange, extremely intense feeling of pity suddenly wells up.]

[His hand is frozen in mid-air; that light fire sign feels as heavy as a thousand jun, and he simply cannot bring himself to throw it down.]

[The bailiffs who stepped forward look at each other, not knowing whether they should act.]

[You watch his stiff movements, the corners of your mouth curling into a mocking arc.]

["Why not throw it?" You mock, "Are you afraid? Or is it that you, as a Magistrate, don't even have the strength to throw a sign?"]

["You!" Magistrate Lu Fengnian furiously slams the fire sign onto the table, suddenly stands up, "Unreasonable! Simply unreasonable!"]

[He glares at you fiercely, flicks his sleeves, lifts the hem of his official robes, and walks directly toward the back hall.]

[Everyone inside and outside the hall is dumbfounded.]

[The smile on Lin Datong's face freezes. He rubs his eyes in disbelief, roaring frantically in his heart: "How is this possible? Last time, Wang Ermazi from the south of the city just cursed him as a corrupt official once and was beaten to death by Lu Fengnian. This girl cursed him so harshly, yet he actually ran away?"]

[You stand in place, not moving.]

[The hearing of a Great Grandmaster allows you to clearly capture the faint sounds coming from the back hall.]

["What did Wei Feisen's people say?" This is Magistrate Lu Fengnian's furious voice.]

["My Lord, Gang Leader Wei said he wants the person alive, and not a single hair can be missing," the advisor replies in a low voice.]

["Fart! This little wench insulted me in public and caused me to lose all face! Tell Wei Feisen, he needs to pay more! He must pay more!"]

[Listening to the conversation in the back hall, the corners of your mouth curl into an inexplicable smile.]

[Not long after, Magistrate Lu Fengnian walks out again. He adjusts the official hat on his head, his face still looking terrible.]

["This official is feeling unwell today, and I get a headache just seeing this audacious woman." He waves his hand impatiently, "No more trial! Take her back to the prison, and exile her to the border this afternoon!"]

[Having said that, he leaves without looking back.]

[The few bailiffs look at each other, all looking bewildered. The onlookers are even more confused—a sure-death capital case just ended so hastily?]