Chapter 11：Conclusion (1/2)
Yuan Tu had many thoughts about what would happen today but being imprisoned was not one of them. Looking at the direction the day was heading, it seemed like that would become reality soon enough.
Yuan Tu had been holding his breath, in the dread of the judgment that was about to come upon him.
Li Peng declared,
”Yuan Tu, you have falsely accused Lin Mu of theft and have attacked him along with other peasants which were also incited by you. You have but one chance to speak in your defense.”
”I… I… I'm innocent sir supervisor, I was only trying to protect the mayor's property and not let the boy steal any spirit apples.”
”I yelled at him because he came back to the town sir when you exiled him and attacked him so he would learn his lesson and not come back.”
Li Peng raised his eyebrows and stated,
”I never said I exiled him, did I? I had him thrown out of the town, but he was not explicitly exiled. His punishment was for his property to be confiscated and be thrown out of the town by the guards, but not exile.”
”But...but sir supervisor, I thought you meant to exile the boy when you threw him out, I just assumed.”
With an amused tone, Li Peng spoke,
”Oh, since when can mere peasants assume the judgments of officials? Hmm, have you lost sight of your standing?”
Yuan Tu's back was covered in a cold sweat upon hearing the supervisor's words. Feeling as if there was a lump stuck inside his throat, Yuan Tu could not speak.
Looking at the frozen face of Yuan Tu, Li Peng continued,
”Well then that settles it, now hear your crime.”
”Yuan Tu was found to be guilty of falsely accusing Lin Mu of theft, inciting a crowd to attack Lin Mu, and delaying the process of harvest which was of the utmost importance.”
”I order Yuan Tu to receive twenty lashes and to be imprisoned for a month.”
”Guards, take him away.”
Upon hearing the supervisor's orders, the guards promptly held Yuan Tu, who had a dumbstruck expression, and then pulled him away to receive his punishment.
Lin Mu was a little surprised at hearing the supervisor's judgment, he had intended to only save himself from false accusations but did not expect for Yuan Tu to be punished instead. He turned to the three mercenaries, not knowing why they would change their stance so fast on seeing the plate which Li Peng had shown them. Still, he was joyful that they had acted as the witnesses and told the truth.
After declaring his judgment, Li Peng shifted his gaze towards the peasants that were standing around. Gathering strength in his voice the supervisor shouted,
”WHAT ARE YOU ALL STILL DOING STANDING AROUND, GET BACK TO WORK IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE PUNISHED AS WELL.”
With frightful expressions, the peasants rushed back to their work, no longer having any intention of bullying Lin Mu.
”Tell the village head to speed up the mercenaries' security checks and let them pass, they're disturbing the work here.” Li Peng said to a guard, who then dashed in the direction of the town to let the village head know the supervisor's orders.
The leader of the mercenary trio nodded his head in a gesture of thanks and walked away towards the mercenary caravan. Thinking in his head that they at least got some benefit in coming here and testifying.
Once everyone was gone the supervisor looked at the boy who was dressed in brown hemp robes with patches all over showing the age of the garment. The boy had a skinny physique seemingly because of a lack of proper nutrition, and his hair short and messy.
”Go away now, your presence will only further disturb the peasants working here.”
Said the supervisor with a hint of impatience in his voice. Hearing the supervisor's voice, Lin Mu who was looking at the mercenaries turned back and cupped his hands in salute. Bowing his head, Lin Mu spoke,
”Thank you, sir supervisor, in upholding justice and freeing me from false accusations.”
Li Peng nodded his head in response and went back to his work, not wanting to linger here anymore. Seeing the supervisor walking away, Lin Mu thanked his stars in surviving this conflict. Lin Mu took a moment to think before walking towards the trio of mercenaries.
Seeing the boy approaching them, the mercenaries had a puzzled expression. Lin Mu faced the three mercenaries who were standing beside the carriage, which had the steel-back wolf carcasses in it.
”Thank you for testifying and helping me prove my innocence kind sirs.”
On hearing the boy's words their puzzled expression resolved and the mercenary who had talked to Lin Mu before spoke.
”We only did what was asked of us by that official, no need to thank us.”