62 Painful Choice II (1/2)

After a long silence, the citizens started whispering among themselves. Pressured to do something, Meng Fuyao used a hand to cover part of her face and the other hand to clap the gavel onto the table. Then, she cleared her throat and called out, ”Who are you and why have you come?”

She sneaked glances at Yuan Zhaoxu, unsure of what game he was trying to play as he simply smiled and answered slowly, ”Sir...”

Meng Fuyao shuddered.

Not retreating, Yuan Zhaoxu lifted his robe sleeve in preparation to get down on his knees.

Meng Fuyao leaped from her seat, wanting to stop him but his movement turned out to be a false alarm. He had simply bent his knees a little and straightened them right up. He smacked his head, laughing. ”Oh no, Sir, I've forgotten about my scholarly position. There's no need for me to kneel.”

Meng Fuyao glared at him, mouth twitching, all guilty conscience vaporizing into the air. What's there to feel guilty about? 'This fellow isn't even willing to give in at all and will come for me eventually. Why should I feel bad, then?'

She straightened her back, slapping the gavel on the table again but more viciously this time. ”Report what you have to now!” she shouted.

Smilingly, Yuan Zhaoxu retrieved a silk fabric from his robe. Yao Xun, the ad hoc master, stepped forward to receive it. Upon lifting the fabric and seeing what was inside, he pursed his lips, attempting not to laugh and then sending it forward with small steps.

Meng Fuyao took it over suspiciously. 'Does he really have something to report?'

She opened the folded fabric and saw in it a full set of fish bones.

As Meng Fuyao stared at it with a blackened face, she immediately recognized it as the bones she had spat out on Green Pearl Mountain.

Hadn't she thrown it away? How did he get it back?

What a unique 'report paper'...

Before she could organize her thoughts, she heard the man below saying, neither slow nor fast, ”I, Yuan Zhaoxu, am here to report a citizen of Taiyuan Nation for causing trouble and abandoning the scene, always acting against my wishes, lacking in emotions and loyalty, being fickle...”

Meng Fuyao was about to spurt blood.

'What is he yapping on about?'

'Mister Yuan Zhaoxu, we're in an official court, under the jurisdiction of Yaocheng, Wuji. How dare you say such things?'

'I... cause trouble and abandon the scene, act against your wishes, lack emotions and loyalty, am fickle?'

Her fingers were trembling, and she almost failed to stop herself from throwing the fishbones at him. They were in a court after all, and she had an image to maintain. Nevertheless, she couldn't help the redness that exploded in her face. She shot Yuan Zhaoxu a death glare, but he had on that usual honorable expression of his, as the white fluff sat unashamedly on his shoulder.

Meng Fuyao lowered her voice and said sternly, ”This report paper doesn't seem to fit the rules.”

”Is it? Yuan Zhaoxu asked with a slight smile. Pointing at his silk fabric, he continued, ”Show it to the audience, Sir. I do think it's appropriate to be used here. I have even placed a love token inside as proof.”

Gossiping was an instinctive behavior that did not discriminate. Upon hearing the words ”love token”, the citizens broke into a loud discussion and started nudging their way forward in order to have a closer look at the treasure concealed within the silk fabric. Sir Meng stared at the fish bones, about to break down. 'Alright... love token.'

She hurriedly wrapped the bones, while conveniently smashing them in her hand. ”You're making sense, and I have verified it. Since it has come to this, I'll take on your case, but you're reporting a Taiyuan citizen in Wuji border, which means it's not under my administration. It's better if you report the case to Taiyuan court.”

Having said that, she immediately felt satisfied and confident that he would have nothing more to add. She shifted her bum and got ready to end the court session when the man before her smiled again.

Her hair stood up, and she quickly settled back into her seat. He had more to say indeed. ”Sir, this lady might be a citizen of Taiyuan, but she enjoys roaming about. In fact, she's hiding within Wuji borders now, in Yaocheng to be exact. She's a con-artist who violates people's modesty and is after people's wealth. I can't be sure that she wouldn't harm anyone else after poisoning me with tea. Please seek her out and bring justice back.”

”After people's wea... wealth... violates... modesty...” Sir Meng stuttered. ”What wealth.... What modesty...”

”She stole a strand of fur that belonged to my pet. It's not just any ordinary fur, and each strand is worth a lot.” Yuan Zhaoxu expanded on his point, which excited the attention of his valuable pet which then turned his body around.

”As for modesty...” Yuan Zhaoxu trailed off, his long eyelashes drooping down but not concealing the light in his glistening eyes. ”I can't say it here, but you should understand, Sir.”

'Shameless. Beyond shameless. This duo is simply too much.' Meng Fuyao was in a quandary, but after some time she sprung up from her chair and slammed the gavel, shouting, ”Because this case is unique and personal, this trial will not be publicized. Men, close the door and release the dogs.”