The Golden Throne

Chapter 275: Finding the real priests

“You came here to sell your produce and you were put in the dungeons? I would ask you why you didn’t appeal your imprisonment but I am guessing that there isn’t even a system like that here. Release these two immediately. I know that they are not the priests that I want to meet, so they are not guilty of anything. We must find the real priests immediately. Send a notification to every major city. The priests of Jerusalem are wanted fugitives for going against the king’s order. And I want these two poor men out of the cell within the hour. Give them ten silvers each for their troubles. I cannot believe that my men are so incapable, causing such problems to poor farmers.” Liu Feng shook his head as he walked away from the scene.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I will make sure that all of that is done. I shall bring the money from the treasury immediately. But for that, I am afraid that I will need a royal insignia. Twenty silvers is a large amount to give out at once, so there needs to be a reason to take it out.” the guard said.

“Twenty silvers is a large amount? The capital really is in a dire status. For that small amount to be considered a lot. Even Dilheim can take out a few golds easily without batting an eye, now that it has an established trade route.” Liu Feng scoffed.

“Well, that is because you have been growing up in riches, and you do not know the value of ten silvers. Even giving ten coppers would be enough for these poor folks.” the guard wanted to say, but if he did, then his head would come out as soon as those words did.

And Liu Feng knew what others would think when he said this out loud, but this was a genuine concern that he had. After taking care of Dilheim, he found that good management of a city would rake in money. But that money would only come to the pockets of the treasury if the city lord was giving a portion to the king. Bit Liu Feng highly doubted that that was the case. He knew that corruption was abundant in this kingdom. And he wanted to start tackling it soon enough as well. 

He left the dungeons and came back to the light.

“I need to make a jail of sorts for the more average criminal. And a change in dungeon management was in order. This is getting outrageous. Crimes against humanity are rampant here, and everyone looks at those like they are a common occurrence and a normality in life. I need to start strictly enforcing a set of rules. But first things first. I need to get to those priests. And I need to start visiting the churches around to make sure that they are not planning a revolt against me. Let us just hope that a few priests will not be able to convince the churches in Aegon to revolt against their king.” Liu Feng started making mental notes as he walked by the hallway towards the throne room.

He continued walking and went to the throne room through his personal entrance. Surprisingly, a lot of sounds came from the throne room, and it was clear that there was something happening here. The guards opened the door, and he entered the hall.

The hall was full, and every throne except his and his mother, his queen, was full. They were seemingly discussing something, and there was an old man with a young girl, possibly a grand daughter standing there, along with a lavishly dressed man a few meters apart. 

Liu Feng raised his eyebrows as he took a few steps to come into the limelight, and he sat on the throne. The moment that he entered, everyone who was seated got up, and they bowed, while the three in the center kneeled.

“What is happening here? Brief me on the proceedings.” Liu Feng asked.

“Your Majesty. This man, named Hashings Reed claims that the lord here, Lord of Overhord, Baron Jedur, was responsible for killing his son and daughter in law. We were just about to give away his judgment. This was just a waste of our time, and the time of the Baron.” an attendant was standing right at the edge of the platform that Liu Feng was elevated upon, and the normal ground itself. He briefed Liu Feng on what exactly occurred. 

“I see. But I have just arrived. Let me hear their arguments. Go on, Hashings Reed. Tell me why you think that this Baron killed your son and daughter in law. I assume that this little girl here is widowed because of this tragic event. Why is she here, however? An atmosphere like that of the throne room is not fit for a young girl who should be naught but playing.” Liu Feng said.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but she has no other family. I have no one to entrust her to while I beg for justice.” the old man, Hashings, said.

“She has no other family? That is truly tragic. But time is wasting. Tell me what your argument is. Tell me the story.” Liu Feng said.

“Your Majesty. The land that we own has been passed down by generations. Me, my father, and his father before him, all grew up in this estate. Although we weren’t nobility, this was land that was granted by the crown to us generations ago. But now, the Baron claims that the crown gave the land to him, and that we needed to vacate it so that the new church can be built.” Hashings said.

“A new church to be built? And when did this order come through? Baron of Overhord. What is your explanation?” Liu Feng looked at the other man in the center.

“Your Majesty. What this man spouts are all lies. The land has been given to me because of the contributions that I have given in the army. And now, he says that I killed his son and that man’s wife just because they opposed me. I have no need to do that! I was simply trying to convince them to move out of my property, and someone else must have killed them.” the Baron shook his head.

“That is not what I am curious about, Baron. What I do not understand is what contributions have you given to the war for you to gain that land as a reward? Do you think that I am stupid? I was there myself! I killed more demons in a minute than you might have killed ever! And I still do not know whether you were truly there. I have already given the order that only those who have truly shown valor will be given the land as a reward. All you did was point the gun that I put in your hand and pull the trigger. What do you think has earned you any reward at all?” Liu Feng thundered. 

“Yo-your Majesty. I was- I-” Baron Jedur shook his head. He was faltering. His argument falling apart. 

Liu Feng then looked at the attendant.

“What was the verdict that the ministers here have come up with? Tell me every single opinion that they had. I truly want to know why you thought that this man here, who has clearly stolen that girl’s dreams, was innocent. I want to know why you thought that his time was so valuable, that staying here, on this king’s court, wasted his time. This is truly ludicrous. I have already come out of the dungeons with such incompetence shown by my men, and I see more right here, among the most important people of my counsel. What is this?!” Liu Feng raged. He was not at all happy with what had taken place in front of him. If he hadn’t intervened at the right time, then that girl and her grandfather would have lost their home, and might even have been punished.

“Forgive us, Your Majesty.” the attendant said while clenching his teeth. He did not expect Liu Feng to suddenly intervene with the judgment that was about to be passed. 

“Well then. Time for the judgement, is it not. I will not be harsh, because I know that there is no proof that you have killed the two that this man claimes you did. But you have just lied about a word that I gave! Ten years in the dungeons. Make sure that he is in that first cell with that deplorable man. He will surely teach the Baron some manners. This matter is settled now. Let the next one come in.” Liu Feng said coldly.

“Your Majesty. You are staying? You can rest! Why let you take all of this work on your shoulder? We shall share that burden.” the attendant said in a hurry.

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