CHAPTER 116: 116: COURT TRIAL OF ZHU XINGFANG (2)_1

The next day.

Dong Huiying woke up early, and before dawn had broken, she had prepared a table full of food. She pocketed a few large pancakes for lunch and instructed her brother Liang Zhichen to carry a water bladder. Then, the two of them left the house, ready to head for town.

The town was a fair distance from Kaoshan Village; it would take half a day’s journey to get there. However, no sooner had they left the village when they heard someone catching up to them with quick steps.

"Haoming?"

Zhichen turned back to look and burst into laughter. Haoming looked as if he had just washed his face. Clutching the hat Dong Huiying had bought for him in town that day, he walked up silently with robust steps.

Dong Huiying was also taken aback. Why was Liang Haoming also coming along?

"Together," Liang Haoming said succinctly.

Zhichen weighed the idea for a moment and then agreed. "Well and good. After all, you fell down the cliff and are one of the involved parties."

So, following behind Liang Zhichen, Dong Huiying now had another tall tail behind her.

"Let’s go."

She went on ahead, her pace neither fast nor slow, but she felt quite ill at ease. Perhaps it was a matter of worldview. It was odd, a family traveling with the woman in front and the men behind—it gave her the uncanny sensation that she was an ancient mistress out for a leisurely excursion, with two guards following behind her?

Moreover, these guards each had their own unique charm and were extraordinarily handsome.

She couldn’t help but laugh in a snorting guffaw.

...

By around noon, one could see a petite young girl with her small hands clasped behind her back, striding with an air of authority and her chin tilted up, giving off the demeanor of someone on an official inspection.

To the unaware observer, she might even be mistaken for a high-ranking official—though, due to her small and slender stature, she had the misfortune of not matching the typical robust build of worldy officials. Dressed in respectable clothing, she might pass for an official’s darling daughter rather than the official herself.

Yet, the presence of two tall figures following her struck an odd note.

Officer Han was playing chess, holding a white piece. Sitting opposite her was none other than Official Pang from the Department of Surveillance.

Official Pang of the Department of Surveillance looked to be in his thirties or forties thanks to good maintenance, while Officer Han, though younger, seemed to bear the weight of years, as a flower on the verge of withering, exuding an aura of decline.

Upon seeing Officer Han’s melancholic disposition, Official Pang couldn’t help but sigh, "Has Mr. Yang’s illness worsened again?"

Officer Han offered a bitter smile, "He had another episode last night." Her husband’s illness hung over her like a guillotine, a source of distress she had been unable to let go of for many years.

Official Pang didn’t know how to comfort Officer Han. Such matters could only be resolved by Officer Han herself, who needed to come to terms and perhaps see things with a broader perspective.

All people must face birth, aging, sickness, and death, even high-ranking nobles are not exempt from worry.

Just then, Fang Lanshan reported to Officer Han that her visit to Kaoshan Village the previous day was specifically to inform Dong Huiying.

"The officer, Miss Dong from Kaoshan Village has arrived!"

"She has?"

Placing the white piece decisively, Officer Han straightened her sleeves and stood up, forcing a smile, "I have long been eager to meet Miss Dong after hearing of her reputation from Sister Pang."

Official Pang laughed, "She’s quite sharp-tongued and astute, you’ll know when you meet her."

......

Dong Huiying stood atop the court hall, and considering the men’s lower status, Liang Zhichen and Liang Haoming were left outside.

In the court hall, the government officials struck their sticks and bellowed ’The mighty cannot yield.’

The rhythmical striking of the sticks instilled a sense of urgency.

This practice, known as ’Hall’s Might,’ served a similar warning function as striking the wooden block. Its main purposes were identity affirmation, creating an atmosphere of solemnity, and producing sound effects.

State Officials taking their place in the hall could not indulge in the casual clamor found in the State Well Market; quiet decorum was required as a sign of respect.

The higher the official’s rank, the more resonant and impressive the sound, satisfying the common people’s inner image of ’upright authority.’

Beyond that, it was also a psychological tactic.

Due to the commanding nature of the cries of ’The mighty cannot yield,’ it could easily oppress those who had guilty consciences. Moreover, it stemmed from the proverb ’The mighty cannot yield,’ implying that good people should not succumb to power and engage in illegal and immoral acts.