Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 650 The Exter

In the courtroom, the debate between the two sides grew increasingly heated, with Baron Trent speaking with his face flushed red.

"I demand that, according to tradition, the public service hours be reinstated on the Trent family's lands, so that these unruly people can return to the land and cultivate it! They have neglected and evaded their duties for far too long, which has seriously harmed my interests, my harvests, and will ultimately damage the South Bank Territory and even the kingdom..."

In contrast, his defense attorney, Slimani, spoke slowly and methodically:

"...In 661, the Duke of Lenster's Decree of Recuperation exempted lords and their people from many physical duties, including military service, patrol duty, agricultural labor, and construction work, which required the regular participation of every able-bodied adult male and female household. Losses incurred as a result were to be made up by quarterly settlements and cash payments to the lords' rent and taxes..."

"The cash they handed over, even with taxes included, wasn't enough to cover my losses!"

Baron Trent interrupted him with a roar, and the old judge Brennan had to strike his gavel several times, almost ordering the guards of the Palace of the Vault to come forward and "help".

In the VIP box on the second floor, Thales and Jann's conversation became increasingly serious.

“I rushed back to Everstar City, trying to gauge the situation and ease tensions,” Jann said gravely, “but the king refused to see me.”

"As the chief steward of the palace, Baron Quentin replied that His Majesty, having a rare opportunity to reunite with his son, should enjoy family time and not receive outside guests."

Thales swallowed hard.

"In fact, his reunion with me... well, it doesn't matter."

Jann ignored him: "That's when Anker Bairar came to me."

Thales frowned:
"So you gave him a sword and urged him to duel me at a royal banquet?"

Jenn does not deny:

“I said I had to do it.”

“First, once the conflict between the Western Wilderness and the Palace of Restoration breaks out, the Southern Coast Territory will no longer be your father’s priority,” he squinted, looking down at the trial. “Second, my gift will only be truly precious when he is overwhelmed with problems.”

Thales frowned.

"Your gift?"

Jenn nodded.

"Before the royal banquet, I wrote a humble letter to the king, supporting the reform of the royal standing army, offering him money and titles as he wished, hitting him where it hurt."

Jenn's letter to the King supported reforms to the standing army...

That letter?
Thales narrowed his eyes, a sudden sense of foreboding washing over him.

“Your father refused to see me before,” the Duke of South Shore sneered, “but once the Western Wilderness incident affects the kingdom, and his plans are thwarted and he is strapped for cash, then the value and weight of this letter will be different.”

“So,” Thales couldn’t help but ask, “and the result was?”

"The result, the result?"

Jenn's gaze froze, and he gave a cold laugh.

"After the royal banquet, the Western Wilderness people, who are always full of bad intentions, neither protested nor caused trouble. Under the leadership of Falkenhausen of the Wasteland, they actually surrendered to the Restoration Palace without any hesitation."

He scoffed, “It was even more satisfying than when the Liberal Alliance surrendered to the Exter.”

Thales listened with mixed feelings:
"Actually, the Freedom Alliance isn't all that great either—"

But Jann ignored his views on the war and shook his head to himself: "I guess your father must have found some leverage over the Western Wilderness people, rendering them powerless to resist—no wonder he is King Kessel V."

The Western Wilderness people's weakness...

Thales awkwardly began to speak:
"In fact, the reason why the Western Wilderness compromised so quickly... never mind, it's not important."

The two were silent for a while.

"And so, I failed to save the South Bank from disaster."

Jenn looked grim.

"Not only that, my gift—the letter that might have changed your father's attitude—has also gone unanswered. It disappeared into the Fuxing Palace without a trace, as if it had never existed."

That letter...

It sank without a trace...

Thales rubbed his hands together with a strange expression: "Yeah, why..."

“There is only one explanation,” Jann said sharply at this moment, “The Palace of Restoration has emerged from its predicament, so its vision has broadened. His Majesty is no longer satisfied with the conditions I offered; he wants more.”

Jenn gritted his teeth and said:
"More."

Thales had been holding back for a very long time, and finally couldn't help but speak:
"In fact, Jenn, the fact that your letter didn't get a reply is..."

Jenn's gaze fell on him.

Thales paused for a moment:
"It's a real shame... but oh well, it's not important."

Jan looked at him for a while, then sighed and nodded.

"Yes, times have changed, regrets are useless, and it doesn't matter anymore."

At that moment, both Thales and Janne fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

Boom!
Brennan's gavel rang again, drawing the attention of both men back to the courtroom.

“Your Honor! In the past, after we paid our tribute, money, and goods, we could make a living by doing some handicrafts and collecting firewood. But this year, the Baron’s steward says we should contribute more…”

Beside the plaintiff's seat, a farmer dressed in ill-fitting clothes began to speak, guided by his defense attorney. He was clearly visiting Kongming Palace for the first time, speaking haltingly and flusteredly.

“He wouldn’t let us take the grain to the market to sell for money, saying he wanted to collect rent on the spot, and if we didn’t agree, he would charge us more money or make us do more work for him! But I have a relative who is a grain merchant, and he said that increasing taxes like this is wrong…”

"That's not a tax increase!"

Baron Trent rose from his seat again and spoke angrily.

“Prices are soaring every year, even grain prices have risen by 20%, but the rent they pay each year is still only a small amount in cash. It’s like I’m being robbed! These swindlers can just sell the grain in the city and make a killing with the unscrupulous speculators, while I still have a large area of ​​land to manage! Of course, they should pay more rent to make up for the losses, or revert to the original state, pay grain tribute, or replace it with corvée labor. That’s the only fair thing to do!”

Amidst the uproar of the spectators, Judge Brennan nearly smashed his gavel.

Slimani's defense attorney coughed and stood up politely:
"Your Honor, my client has been following the established rules for over a decade regarding the rent and taxes payable for each household, each person, and each plot of land of a fixed size. Your Excellency, your land has not increased in size, become more fertile, changed in type, or been relocated; therefore, the amount should remain unchanged, neither more nor less."

"As for the choice of payment in cash, in kind, or by labor service—as I mentioned earlier, this was stipulated during the reign of the Duke of Leinster—it is the freedom and right of my client."

Hearing this, Jenn hummed softly and whispered to Thales:
“You know, that guy, Slimani used to be a clerk in the Security Bureau, but he never even went out on the streets. His best job was writing case reports and even quarterly summaries, especially those cases where the Security Bureau was responsible... Later on, every year-end, every Security Bureau was vying to borrow him.”

“This…is really not something an ordinary person can do. No wonder he later became a defense attorney.” Thales shrugged.

“As far as I know, Your Honor,” Slimani’s defense attorney continued in court, “there have been no wars affecting the local area in recent years, no serious natural disasters, no plagues, and no large-scale church or castle construction projects. The most recent local bandit suppression was a joint operation by the Emerald Legion and the New Suburbs Guard, but the Duke did not issue a conscription order. The cost and personnel of the bandit suppression were independently supported by Emerald City—meaning that the Baron has no higher-level lord tax, nor any mandatory labor that must be performed.”

"And the kingdom has not issued any new decrees concerning Fengpei Village to increase taxes. As for the living taxes, the Baron's two sons are already adults and married, and his three daughters are also married. There have been no weddings, knighthoods, or funerals in his castle in the past year. The only religious ceremony he held was taxed by the villagers themselves and paid to the Sunset Church... In conclusion, Baron Trent has no reason or pretext to demand any extra tributes. Without consultation and the Duke's approval, any demand in kind, cash, or labor, or any form of request outside of custom, is an illegal tax increase!"

"fart!"

Baron Trent started yelling again, and this time Judge Brennan had to send guards to calm him down.

Meanwhile, Slimani became increasingly formidable in battle:

"Lord Trent, the law allows for exemption from or substitution of service, yet you force additional service; the law encourages cash rent payments, yet you privately prohibit them. Therefore, it is only natural that my clients no longer recognize your authority as a lord of a land, no longer uphold the sacred covenant with the Trent family, no longer wish to labor and produce on your land, and even move elsewhere with all their possessions—including this season's harvest."

"And yet you, without the laws of the kingdom or the Duke's decree, restrict your people with absurd reasons: withholding their harvests, forbidding them from moving, forbidding them from trading, forbidding them from pursuing a better life—Your Honor, this is illegal robbery and unreasonable imprisonment."

As the defense attorney finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the spectator seats behind him, with many shouting "Speaking up for the people!"

The villagers around him felt hope and their faces lit up with joy.

The old judge had to maintain order once again.

Baron Trent's hairstyle was no longer as neat as before. Seeing that the situation was not good, he took a deep breath and seemed to have made a decision.

"Lord Janne! Your Excellency the Duke!"

The next second, the baron, disregarding etiquette and rules, lost his composure and shouted at the second floor:

"Exemption from corvée labor, cash taxes—the Duke's policies are merely expedient measures following the bloody war! This is not the kingdom's tradition! Now that we have recovered from the war, as your vassals, I believe we have no reason to—"

Jenn frowned.

"quiet!"

Boom!
The gavel was struck again.

"Excuse me, Your Excellency," Judge Brennan said, though he appeared very angry, he maintained his composure, "the opinions of the two dukes are certainly important, but I am the presiding judge of this case."

Under the gaze of almost everyone in the courtroom, Thales secretly nudged Jenn with his elbow:

"I'm asking you a question, aren't you going to respond?"

“As he said, we are just jurors.” Jenn remained calm, but simply moved a little further away from Thales.

"Of course, given your distinguished and extraordinary status, and the fact that you are a guest from afar, I imagine Judge Brennan would not prevent you from expressing your opinion."

Thales chuckled:
"Trying to trick me again?"

The two looked at each other, then turned their heads away.

On the other side, Baron Trent began to argue about the kingdom's traditions and the laws of the South Bank, lamenting how he had struggled to marry off his three daughters to lower social classes in order to earn enough money to knight his two sons.

"So, Thales, did you feel it?"

Jann gave a cold laugh.

"Since you returned to the country, the series of changes in the situation between Yongxing City and Emerald City... it's as if someone in the dark is exerting their influence at every crucial juncture, disrupting all plans, and pushing the situation in a direction unfavorable to us."

Is there someone in the dark...?

Thales sat up straighter and straighter.

"It also prompted your father to shift his attention to the South Bank Territory, and prompted him to send you here—what's wrong with you? Why do you look constipated?"

"It's nothing, it's just..."

Thales held back for a long time, and finally sighed:
"Never mind, none of that matters anymore... So, have you figured out how to stand up to my father?"

Upon hearing this, Jenn paused for a moment.

"The girl from Coldhold and the little black lion from Heroes' Keep, they're in your party now, right?"

"Yes?"

“Your father has just conquered the Northern Territory and the Western Wilderness, and you have taken in the heirs of the lords of these two places. The signal you are sending is very unfriendly. No wonder he doesn’t like you and even wants to exile you.”

"do you have any opinion?"

Jan chuckled softly and glanced at the prince.

"No, I was just thinking, if I were your father, wouldn't it be easier to secretly plan with you, with you pretending to take them in? Wouldn't that make it easier to wipe out our political enemies and opponents in one fell swoop?"

For a moment, Thales felt as if his heart skipped a beat.

“That makes sense,” but the battle-hardened prince remained unfazed, merely gently stroking the Gurtaksa in his pocket, feeling its menacing spikes. “I’m almost tempted to suggest this to my father.”

Thales and Jann's eyes met in mid-air, as if trying to see through each other.

A few seconds later, Jenn smiled wryly:
"But unfortunately, you are not him."

Thales frowned: "What?"

“I’m saying, that Thales Star, who would stand up for the assassin who stormed the banquet, hesitate, and even risk his life to confront me and turn against me at any cost,” Jann said with a mysterious smile, looking like he had him figured out, “is unlikely to get along with someone as ruthless and capable as the King.”

Thales didn't speak, but simply gripped the "covenant" tighter.

He will never believe you.

Jenn looked at the chair he was sitting in, his words dripping with icy coldness:

"You will never approve of him either."

What an adorable father and son!

At that moment, Thales did not move.

He simply watched the trial below with unwavering composure.

Jenn didn't turn his head either.

He patiently stroked the back of the expensive chair.

The air around the two seemed to freeze.

"Little Flower, let's make a deal."

"trade?"

Jenn smiled, but his expression immediately changed: "Okay—wait, what's 'small'?"

Thales suddenly reached out and grabbed the South Bank Duke's hand, which was resting on the back of his chair!
“Don’t mention Anker Bailar, and don’t mention the things you did to me before,” the prince said coldly. “I’ll just keep quiet about your sister.”

Jenn's expression instantly turned cold.

"And you should refrain from mentioning 'Little Flower'—that nickname?"

The two stared at each other silently, their clasped hands gripping tightly, neither giving an inch, their silent confrontation amidst the growing commotion in the courtroom.

A few seconds later, as if by unspoken agreement, the two simultaneously released each other's hands.

"Deal," Thales said unhappily.

“I don’t expect to turn our enmity into friendship,” Jann said, sitting up again. “But you’re right, your father sent you here perhaps to exploit our feud, to drag us into a life-or-death struggle, so that he could take advantage of the situation.”

"And we can't let him succeed?"

Jenn nodded:
"So let's sort out our grudges now and make sure there's no reason for us to go to war with each other."

“Then,” he said cautiously, “we must be completely open with each other during our time in Emerald City.”

Thales met his gaze.

"Very good, although it's not big, it's at least a first step."

Thales raised an eyebrow.

"Now, can we end the state of hostility?"

Jenn smiled:
"No."

Thales' expression froze.

"why?"

Jenn answered very quickly this time:
"Because we must be hostile."

“Since your father anticipates and expects us to be hostile,” Duke Jann scoffed, “then let him continue to think that way.”

Thales frowned.

Ok.

I understand.

but……

"So, we continue as usual, fighting and causing trouble for each other during the day," Thales said with a strange expression, "and at night, we hide in our bedrooms to plot and scheme, colluding with each other?"

"To deceive our enemies, wait for them to come out on their own, and then capture them all at once?"

Doesn't that sound...?

Does that sound familiar?

Jann gave a mysterious smile.

"I demand a higher level of appeal! Even all the way up to the Noble Affairs Bureau in the capital!"

Baron Trent's scream reached the ceiling, interrupting the two dukes' conversation, and both Thales and Jann frowned.

But that's far from all.

“Your Highness Thales! You come from the capital, you are magnanimous and benevolent, you are the hope of the kingdom, you are right here,” Baron Trent stared intently at Thales, ignoring the judge’s gavel, and raised his hands. “Labor service, taxes, the rule of lords, the old customs of the kingdom, this is not right! It is not right that my people are getting richer and richer, while I am getting poorer and poorer!”

Thales sighed softly.

Not really.

The next second, the Baron roared in an almost fanatical manner:
"With the spirit of establishing our nation on the stars, and with the rights bestowed upon us by the Radiant Star Royal Family, I demand the arbitration of the noble jury! Now, now!"

These words caused an uproar in the courtroom!
“This is a tradition of the Star Covenant! It is my right! The judge has no right to stop it!” the Baron shouted.

"Silence! Silence!"

Judge Brennan was so angry that his hands were trembling, but he still dutifully maintained order.

But this couldn't stop countless eyes from turning to the prince.

"You expected this all along, didn't you?"

Thales looked at Jenn with displeasure:

"Is this also part of your plan, a staged performance for my father?"

But the latter simply smiled:
"Don't worry, this wasn't planned—though it's still a good method nonetheless."

Duke Janne squinted:

"But remember, you owe me one today."

The next moment, before Thales could react, Jann's expression turned serious, and he abruptly stood up! "Why, Baron Trent?"

The Duke of the South Bank spoke loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

Jann stepped forward, leaned against the second-floor railing, and shielded Thales from everyone's view.

Baron Trent looked up in confusion.

“Land is so scarce in Emerald City, yet even on the outskirts, most of the land isn’t used for farming—we don’t produce much food,” Jann said expressionlessly. “Then why, why do the fields, villages, and the farmers and hunters outside Emerald City, including the farmers in your territory, supply us with their crops, raw materials, and produce? Why do they feed the ever-growing population of Emerald City so that we don’t starve?”

If I push you from behind right now...

Thales stared at Jann's back as he stood before the railing, calculating the height from the second floor to the ground.

But he immediately shook his head.

No, no, no, don't overthink it.

How can it be!

"Your Grace..." Baron Trent seemed to be naturally short-tempered when facing Jann, and he was interrupted again before he could speak.

"Did we force them? Or did we rob them? Or did I use my privileges and appeal to tradition to brainwash them into slaves, making them obediently pay tribute to me?" Jann's voice echoed in the hall.

“Because the lords protect them! Lords like you and me,” Trent said, recovering his composure, “it’s a sacred covenant and tradition; offering tribute to the lords is their duty…”

"Then why, Lord Trent!"

Jenn continued coldly:

"What's the lining of your coat? Wool? No, that doesn't matter. What matters is the craftsmanship and design—why are they so beautiful, practical, and warm? Does your estate have such craftsmanship?"

Whether he didn't understand or was just slow to react, the Baron paused for a moment, then looked at his coat.

“Oh, because this wasn’t produced in your estate and village,” Jann said with a sudden realization, “but rather you bought it from the Emerald City—and perhaps a whole host of things from your home, from your wife’s cosmetics to the wine for your son.”

“Because Emerald City produces more things, more goods, more resources, and more tools, which in turn are exchanged with them,” Jann scoffed. “That’s why the farmers in your territory bring the grain produced on their land—grain that was originally meant to be stored in warehouses for the winter—out of the countryside to the towns, to participate in the markets, and finally to sell it to us.”

"Therefore, the people in Emerald City, 'lords' like me, are not so poor that they have to rely solely on the meager taxes paid by a baron like you to survive. Otherwise, they would either starve to death or be forced to revolt by raising taxes."

The baron opened his mouth as if to speak, but could not utter a word.

“We, the Emerald City, not only protect them,” Jann said, his hands behind his back, exuding authority, “but also supply them in return, in exchange for their output. Thus, both sides benefit from the development of the Emerald City, thereby benefiting the entire South Shore Territory.”

"My father exempted them from excessive labor and even regular military service? This way they will have more time, be more enthusiastic and more efficient, and increase their output on their own land year by year. This will increase the number of newborns in your territory, make more and more wasteland, make them more and more resourceful, and make the variety of products more and more abundant. This will allow them to sell more of their output to cities like Emerald City and obtain higher and more profits."

“But our taxes—” the baron seemed to want to argue.

"As for allowing taxes and rent to be paid in cash... Yes, the taxes you receive will have less physical output and more cash, but it is precisely to obtain cash to pay rent that the people on your land will need markets, trade, and exchange goods for money to make up for the taxes."

Upon hearing this, Thales, who was standing behind, frowned deeply.

Jenn's words silenced the previously noisy hall, leaving only his voice to be heard:
"More and more people will carry their produce to towns and come to Emerald City to sell grain and other goods that can be sold for money, so as to form a large-scale specialty product and attract merchants from further afield. Their arrival can bring Emerald City—and even the South Bank Territory and the Star Kingdom—things that they cannot produce themselves."

"Thus, countless grains, agricultural products, and raw materials will flow into towns, supporting the population and thus driving trade and connecting near and far. In turn, the goods carefully crafted by the artisans in the towns will benefit you and the people of your land, allowing you to enjoy the products of civilization and goods from afar, instead of being confined to castles and manors, wearing tattered clothes and with broken bowls and pots, ignorant of the world, living a life of limited perspective until death—do you need me to remind you again what materials this magnificent coat is made of, and where they are produced and made?"

Jenn angrily rebuked:
"Baron, the exemptions from corvée labor that you despise, and the cash taxes that you are not interested in, connect the city and the countryside, and maintain the economic operation of the entire South Bank region. This is the meaning of these laws!"

“But…tradition…” Trent was sweating profusely from his words, but he still refused to give up. “It wasn’t like that after all…back in my grandfather’s time…”

Upon hearing this, Jenn did not immediately refute as he had before.

He looked hesitant and troubled, remained silent for a while, and then let out a long sigh.

(“What a fucking charlatan.” — Thales afterward)
“I know your difficulties, Baron, and I am aware of your plans, but Prince Thales’ arrival is not a reason for you to make trouble.”

Duke Jenn raised his gaze, his words chilling:
"It is not a tool for you to use the power of the royal family to exert pressure and run rampant."

These words sent a chill down everyone's spine in the courtroom.

“But do not forget, Baron Trent, your ancestor four generations ago was just an ordinary farmhand, working and cultivating the lands of Kongming Palace,” the owner of the Iris said, his tone gradually softening. “Yes, I remember your family. In fact, I know the origins and past of every vassal under my command.”

Baron Trent stared at him, his voice trembling slightly.

"The Fourth Continental War gave your ancestor the opportunity to prove himself on the battlefield, which he seized, earning the Trent surname and the title of Lord. His descendants went a step further, winning fiefdoms and the responsibility of defending them, turning the title into a family hereditary honor, which eventually passed down to your generation."

"Therefore, compared to ordinary people, Baron Trent, you have more opportunities: you were born under the care of servants and wet nurses, you received an education that ordinary people could not even imagine from childhood, you have a large land, you have the prestige of your family, you have the savings left by your ancestors, you have the connections and networks passed down through generations, and you have a castle that still has military significance."

Jann stared intently at him, his gaze complex, a mixture of pity and anger.

“You also have your surname…and the privileges it represents: taxation, conscription, trial…so many privileges, some visible, some invisible.”

"And yet you've fallen to this state, financially strapped, destitute, and even forced to resort to illegal means to exploit your people," he changed the subject, "and you still claim it's my father's decrees, the development of Emerald City, that have brought you to this point?"

"Do not."

The Duke of Iris's decisive tunnel:
"The reason you are like this, Baron Trent, is because you are unwilling to open your eyes, accept reality, and make changes."

As he spoke, he suddenly stretched out his arm, gesturing towards the entire hall:

"This is my family's Kongming Palace, but it is also the courtroom of Emerald City."

“But you, Baron, you can’t leave your castle, your manor, your steward,” Jan said coldly, making the Baron feel ashamed. “You can’t leave the farmers who are lower in status than you and have to call you sir—not only because you have to rely on their labor and produce to support yourself, but also because you need them to be lower in status than you, and you need someone to look at you with eyes of obedience and fear.”

"You can't live without the feeling of ordering people around you around you from childhood, without the sense of superiority that comes from having people flatter you, fawn over you, offer you tributes, bow down to you, and let you boss them around."

Jann said in a cold voice:
"That's what's really preventing you from living."

The courtroom was completely silent, everyone pondering the Duke's words.

Only Thales frowned.

“But we are the Kingdom of Stars! We are descendants of the Empire!” the Baron said sadly. “My ancestors protected their people, and his people were subjects of his rule. From the king to the common people, we each have our own duties; from knights to merchants, we each have our own place to belong. This is true rule…”

“I am also proud of my surname and lineage, and proud of my family’s long history,” Jenn interrupted him quickly, “but I would rather keep these feelings to myself than impose them on others, to indulge in self-indulgence and cover up the truth, which would only lead to disgust and self-degradation.”

“Whether you’re from a fourth-generation family,” the Duke of South Shore said softly, casually pacing to the side to reveal Thales’s figure, “or a descendant of the imperial family.”

Thales immediately felt many eyes on him.

So fucked.

“In terms of lineage, no one in this hall, this palace, or this town is more noble than His Highness Thales beside me. He is a member of the Radiant Star Royal Family, who witnessed the glory of the Empire.”

As Jann spoke, he reached into his pocket and flicked a silver coin downstairs, which the Baron caught.

"However, when you take out a silver coin, you will know that even they clearly understand: a king is not respected by bloodline."

Baron Trent looked at the silver coins, then at Thales.

The prince pursed his lips in displeasure.

"The Starry Sky Royal Family upholds the law and follows the rules. They rule the kingdom wisely and with restraint. They come here with courtesy and respect to our land and our cities. They never rashly interfere in the lives of their subjects, nor do they rudely meddle in the internal affairs of the Emerald City, whether in our methods of governance or our actual interests, because they are well aware of their responsibilities—but what about you? When you claim to invoke the orthodoxy of the stars, thus being disrespectful to Inquisitor Brennan?"

The old judge coughed and sat up even straighter.

“The Emerald City is a city of justice and law, and this is not just an overstatement of our own words,” Jann declared. “The Emerald City believes in justice, in that there is no such thing as a free lunch, and in that hard work will be rewarded. To ensure this, the Emerald City also believes in the law, in that governance should not be chaotic or arbitrary, and that rules should be open and clear.”

“You think you are appealing to tradition, using the privileges granted to you by your status to govern the territories and people under your jurisdiction, but if I support your appeal and favor you in making the arbitration, that would be allowing you to challenge the very foundation of the rule of the entire Emerald City and even the South Bank Territory, which would be irresponsible.”

Jenn paused for a moment, then sighed:
“I know that the relationship between tradition and law is quite complex, and sometimes they are even mutually causal. But one thing is certain: the law cannot be arbitrarily changed according to the wishes of those in power, because we believe that within the visible scope of this city, there are certain rules that even I, the hereditary ruler of the Kevin Deer family, cannot break. There are no secrets, no shady dealings, and no exceptions!”

"Only in this way can rules that are recognized and followed by everyone contribute to the well-being of everyone."

The Duke regained his composure and spoke with righteous indignation:
“Therefore, I cannot arbitrate for you, Baron Trent.”

"I also advise you to reconsider your plan to force the prince to arbitrate for you in public—he's been forced to do far too many things in his life, you're not even in his place."

Thales's face darkened.

The baron shuddered and slumped into his seat.

Jann smiled slightly, sat back down, and earned a glare from Thales.

One applause, two applause, three applause… countless applause rang out from the audience, and Jan En humbly waved in response.

Boom!
"quiet."

The judge, with a blank expression, brought order back to the courtroom.

“I apologize, Judge Brennan,” Jenn smiled apologetically at the old judge, “I have overstepped my bounds and steered your case astray. In fact, I should perhaps have focused on the case itself.”

“Not only that, lad,” Brennan said bluntly, “you’ve turned the courtroom into a place for you to expound your political ideas, show off, and even gamble with the royal family.”

Jenn's face froze.

Thales' brow relaxed.

“Therefore, this court hereby imposes a fine of three hundred Tormund gold coins on you, Lord Jann,” Judge Brennan said coldly. “Do you have any objections, or do you wish to appeal?”

Jann frowned deeply.

Wait, how much?
Thales was taken aback.

The owner of the iris flower let out a long sigh:

No. I respect the judge's decision.

Judge Brennan stroked his beard and nodded in satisfaction.

“Three hundred…” With this number, which would probably give the logistics officer of Stoddarts a heart attack, Thales lowered his voice and asked in surprise:
"Are you just going to accept the punishment like this? Is it because you really don't want to appeal, or are you just too rich to care?"

Jenn's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Because I don't want him to punish me any more."

How do you know the fine will be even higher?

“Experience,” Jenn said unhappily.

Telston immediately gloated.

Three hundred gold coins, haha...

“And another thing,” the Duke’s next words unfortunately dampened Thales’ enthusiasm, “I am indeed very rich.”

“But apart from that, I must say…” Judge Brennan’s words drew the attention of the entire courtroom.

"Although you did not cite any specific laws, Lord Jan, nor did you provide any practical answers, you stood at the unique height of a ruler and described to us the way of life in the Emerald City—why taxes are paid in this way, why there is exemption from corvée labor, why towns do not need to cultivate the land, why goods circulate in this way, and why the laws and regulations are arranged in this way. You explained the entire operating method of the rule and the spirit and principles behind it, and told us what we believe in and what we strive to achieve on this land."

The judge sighed somewhat:
“In the imperial era, a scholar once said: tradition creates law, and law responds to tradition. In this respect alone, you surpass many of my colleagues at Dragon Kiss Academy who studied law but became mere legal craftsmen, only knowing how to recite from the book and rigidly adhere to legal provisions, completely ignoring the spirit behind them, ignoring the fundamentals of our legislation and law enforcement, knowing what but not why.”

Thales's gaze toward Jenn became strange.

“You flatter me, Judge Brennan.”

Jenn stood up and bowed at the opportune moment:
“When my father was alive, he often spoke of your knowledge and character to me, praising your experience and expertise. You set rules and directions for everyone in Emerald City and even the South Bank Territory. Compared to me, this worthless duke, you are the true gem of Emerald City.”

Brennan nodded, clearly pleased.

“I will fine you an additional one hundred gold coins,” but the judge’s next words were not so friendly, “because in the courtroom, you used your sacred duty as a noble arbitrator to flatter the judge and curry favor.”

Jenn's smile froze.

Thales suddenly found the judge quite agreeable.

“Baron Trent, Slimani’s defense attorney, and this Mayor Molina,” the judge returned to his present state, “because of the Baron’s special request, we have already gone through this process twice, so I believe you have no more evidence or arguments to offer. Therefore, the case will be decided at a later date. Of course, Your Excellency, you are a nobleman, and therefore you can exercise your noble right of appeal and appeal a third time—but that will be the last time.”

He took off his glasses:
"Before that, I suggest you hire a lawyer. Their guild is in the Glory District. It's better than you coming all the way from the castle and making a scene in the Sky Palace in front of His Highness."

Baron Trent shuddered:
"Hiring a defense lawyer will cost money?"

“Yes, it will cost money again,” Judge Brennan sighed, “but it will save us some trouble.”

He struck the gavel: "Court adjourned."

Discussions broke out again in the courtroom.

“But sirs, gentlemen,” the village chief’s voice trembled, “our grain is still being withheld. If he appeals again, if he delays any longer… we’ll miss the market, and winter will be here in a few months. We can’t wait any longer…”

His lawyer, Slimani, reached out and tugged at him, stopping the village chief from continuing.

“I sympathize with you, Mayor Molina, but since you accepted the advice of your backers to appeal this matter, you should have anticipated the risks,” Brennan said, glancing at Slimani and then at the audience behind him, his gaze unfriendly. “And perhaps you should consider this: are those who funded your case truly concerned with your food supplies and your interests—or what they can gain from a group of desperate poor people and a desolate land once the trial drags on?”

Thales's eyes flickered at these words.

The village chief was completely bewildered, but was quickly pulled away by Srimani.

Judge Brennan seemed hesitant, then turned back and sighed to the entire hall:

"To be honest, as a judge, I am not happy about this trial."

“As a judge, I should have tried to uphold justice, restrain the powerful, and protect the weak. But the truth is, the real powerful in this trial continued to benefit from the shadows, while both sides in the open suffered heavy losses.”

Thales and Jann exchanged a glance.

The old judge glanced at the barons and the village chief on either side:
"But since the rules are like this... forgive me for adding one more thing: laws and regulations are just dead words; the real power lies in what flows beyond the words. And if you continue to be confined by the former and ignore the latter..."

Judge Brennan sighed and remained silent.

Jann, sitting in his seat, frowned and beckoned to his subordinate:

"Give the order to allocate a portion of this year's disaster relief funds to compensate those farmers for the price difference in grain sales they suffered as a result."

His gaze turned cold:
"At the same time, send a message to the grain merchants' association: I'm watching."

Lost in thought, Thales chuckled softly: "Oh, who would have thought that the Duke, who doesn't care about human life, would actually have compassion for farmers."

Jann glanced at him and scoffed dismissively.

thump.

“The next case, number 680-10-0882,” Judge Brennan put his glasses back on, “is a lawsuit filed by three merchants of the Wool Guild against Lord Bedren for default on debts…”

He glanced down at the second floor halfway through his sentence:
"Why are you still here? Two dukes?"

what?
Thales and Jann were taken aback.

"Don't you know that the arrival of such an important person will seriously divert people's attention, diminish my authority, and affect the work of the court?"

Brennan's tone was unpleasant:
"Still think the fine isn't enough?"

The next second, Thales and Jann sprang up from their seats and disappeared from everyone's sight.

Thales and Jan walked out of the courtroom together.

“Very well, at least we now know,” Jann sneered, “that this trial was just some brainless nobleman grasping at straws in desperation.”

He glanced at Thales:
"Instead of being a tool for someone to take advantage of Emerald City."

Thales frowned: They're starting to act already?
When Jenn returned to the public eye, he was cold to Thales and left without even exchanging a few simple pleasantries. Ashford bowed to Thales and left with his master with a smile.

As Thales watched Jann's retreating figure, he glanced at the location of the courtroom, and finally looked towards the Empty Palace built on Ancestral Rock, falling into deep thought.

"My mind is in turmoil," he said softly.

Miranda, who had been waiting at the door, came to Thales' side and nodded her chin at the departing Jenn:

"He still doesn't like you?"

Thales shook his head, but his expression turned serious.

“Mira, do you know why the Exter people couldn’t stay and continue to occupy the North after invading the stars during the Crimson Year?”

Miranda was taken aback.

“The people of the North have long been under royal rule,” the Fortress’s Neverwinter Sword reacted swiftly, “and also respect the rule of Coldhold. They are unwilling to submit to the savage dragons, hence their constant resistance and uprisings.”

Thales smiled.

"That's certainly one of the reasons."

“But when I was teaching, there was another saying that the Exter people lacked the ability to govern and manage. They could only take care of their own small plot of land. If they went beyond that, they would be overwhelmed. If they went too far, they would be unable to manage everything. If they went too far, they would be unable to manage everything. If they went too far, they would be unable to manage everything.”

Miranda's eyes flickered.

"So once there is no army to suppress them, they are helpless. Either the people are angry and resentful, and the officials force them to rebel, or they suffer a dismal loss and slink away. In short, the rule of the Exter people has its limits—they cannot understand, and are not adapted to, our way of life, and cannot be ruled in the way that the Star People are accustomed to and subservient to."

The limits of rule.

Thales muttered to himself, while thinking of his long-lost classmate from Longxiao City.

"Your Highness, what do you mean?" Miranda asked cautiously.

Thales let out a breath and gave a wry smile.

“My father has long favored Emerald City, which is why we came here from the capital. But look around, Mira, look around.”

Thales turned around, his gaze sweeping over the ancestral rock of the Kevin Deer family and over the courtroom where the gavel still rang out. Miranda followed him, looking puzzled.

Finally, they faced the direction of the Emerald City and felt the hustle and bustle outside the Kongming Palace.

He spoke calmly:
"Now, we are the Exter people."

Miranda was taken aback when she saw the prince looking so preoccupied.

Main references for this chapter:
Marc Bloch, *Feudal Society*

Bloch, M., Manyon, LA, & Koziol, G. (2014). Feudal society. Routledge.
Henry Pirenne, *Medieval Cities*

Pirenne, H. (2014). Medieval cities. Princeton University Press.
J.W. Thompson's *A History of Economic and Social Development in the Middle Ages*

Thompson, JW (1928). Economic and social history of the Middle Ages. The Century Co.
J.W. Thompson, *The Economic and Social History of Late Medieval Europe*

Thompson, JW (1960). Economic and social history of Europe in the later Middle Ages (1300-1530). Burns & Oates.
(I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed lately, my biological clock is all messed up, I'll probably need to rest tomorrow.)
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(End of this chapter)