Chapter 86: No Grief Is Greater Than a Dead Heart

The name "Lu Tingfang" made Lu Xin suddenly freeze. The murderous look on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by utter disbelief. A witness? Even if he had actually broken into the residence of Zhangsun Wuji, what could Lu Tingfang possibly prove? That he had committed murder, or that he had attempted to assassinate the esteemed Duke Qi, a first-rank official of the dynasty? Yet, judging from the tone of Li Jing, Minister of Justice, the person being summoned was clearly no friend.

Turning around, Lu Tingfang, dressed in black robes, stepped slowly out from the crowd. His eyes were lowered, his manner refined and scholarly. The young man before them seemed almost like an immortal descended from the heavens, untouched by worldly dust.

All eyes turned to him; the townsfolk fell silent, as if they were all lost within the depths of Lu Tingfang’s gaze.

A man such as this could never lie.

“Humble subject Lu Tingfang, greets the three lords.”

He approached the dais, first bowing respectfully to the presiding officials, then nodding courteously to the group from the Divine Temple. His gaze was clear, his lips gently upturned, his demeanor kind to all present—except that he did not glance once at Lu Xin.

“What have you come here for?”

“The court summoned me; I could not refuse.”

“I asked you—what have you come here for!”

Lu Xin shouted, repeating his question with bloodshot eyes. He didn’t know whether there were tears in them; he only wanted to know why this man had come. Perhaps there were many who wished him harm in this world. In a land where human life was as cheap as paper, perhaps anyone could be justified in hating or killing him. But not this man—never!

“Insolent accused! The officials are present. How dare you question so rudely?”

“Silence!”

The youth snapped his head around, his fierce glare making the Chief Scribe of Yongzhou tremble and instantly fall quiet. The three presiding officials sat in silence, as if by prior agreement.

After a brief pause, Lu Tingfang lifted his head, his face still expressionless.

“The court has its majesty. If all men were to rage in the court as you do, would there be any peace left in this world?”

“Lu Tingfang! Damn it, I’m asking why you’re here. Are you here to testify? Go ahead—kill me, kill me now! Then you can become your immortal, your Buddha, live forever, undying and eternal—how wonderful! Hahahahaha...”

Suddenly, Lu Xin threw back his head and laughed wildly, his tone filled with a chilling despair. In his eyes, this was the darkest moment of all. No one could understand the agony in his heart—no one could truly feel his despair.

The Chief Judge of the Court banged the gavel several times, but the youth’s laughter did not subside. Left with no choice, he ordered the bailiffs to restrain the youth. This time, however, the youth did not resist. With his head bowed, he let four bailiffs pin him to the ground, motionless.

The trial continued, but the previously noisy courtroom had fallen into utter silence. A suffocating gloom hung over the entire Yongzhou yamen. The common people below could not understand what was happening, and even the scholar and Yue Buhui exchanged anxious glances, their faces darkened.

“Is the witness from the Ministry of Personnel, the Duke Qi’s residence?”

“Yes.”

“On the twenty-second day of the sixth month, during the hour of the rooster, did this person enter the Minister’s residence?”

“He did. He was covered in blood, and came over the wall. I saw him with my own eyes. Fortunately, I have some martial skill and did not allow him to linger. As for what he did before entering or after leaving, I know nothing.”

“Good, the witness will wait aside for now.” The Chief Judge took a deep breath, rapping his gavel. “Insolent accused! You refuse the testimony of the bailiffs and the innkeeper. But what of this evidence from the Minister’s residence? Has it wronged you? Even if you did not kill anyone, the crime of trespassing alone is enough to close this case. For such a crime, the punishment ranges from exile to execution!”

At his words, the bailiffs all struck their rods in unison, sending a wave of fear through the onlookers. The scholar’s face grew pale as he pulled Yue Buhui aside.

“What do we do now? It looks like Xin has lost his mind. If he doesn’t answer, it’s the same as admitting to everything. If he’s found guilty, exile will be the least of his worries.”

“Hmph. Betrayed by his own cousin—anyone would be shaken. Xin always said Lu Tingfang was his only family in this world. Now it’s clear—he was far too naive!”

With a snap, Yue Buhui shut his folding fan, his eyes cold, his tone icy. He looked toward the Yang sisters, who all nodded grimly—they were clearly preparing for the worst.

“Very well. Since you have nothing to say, this court will now pronounce sentence. People of Yongzhou, bear witness! The lowborn Lu Xin: guilty of attempted murder, defying imperial command, trespassing upon an official’s residence, and disrupting the court. For these crimes combined, he is sentenced to death, execution to be carried out soon, as a warning to all!”

The Chief Judge slammed the gavel and threw down the command baton. Two bailiffs immediately dragged Lu Xin away. The boy’s eyes were already dull, his face lifeless.

No sorrow is greater than a dead heart.

From the moment Lu Tingfang took the stand, Lu Xin had lost all will to live. He had thought their differences were only a matter of belief and purpose, not enough to turn them into enemies, let alone to the point of killing each other. In the end, he had been gravely mistaken.

“Well judged! A life for a life—such is the law of heaven. Everyone, disperse. The court will still protect us common folk.”

“Indeed! I’ve lived in Chang’an for years, and this is the first time I’ve seen a joint hearing of the three departments. These officials judged with reason and order—a sign of true integrity.”

“Hmph, I thought he was wrongly accused. Who would have thought... Sigh, you can’t know a man’s heart. I even spoke up for him just now.”

The onlookers quickly dispersed, leaving only a handful behind. Watching the youth being led away, Wei Tun Yun burst into laughter and strode forward.

“How does it feel to be everyone’s target? Surprised, aren’t you? The one who truly wanted you dead was your only family. But you can’t really blame him—he and his master are ambitious people. Your existence only made them uneasy. Boy, do you know why you were sentenced to death? This is the power of the Divine Temple. We’ll meet again in the Ministry of Justice’s dungeons. Hahahaha...”

Having been outwitted in the Da Li Si dungeon, and beaten to the prize of the Yin-Yang Wandering Immortal Sword at the Qian residence, Wei Tun Yun’s hatred for Lu Xin had long festered. Add to that the insults he suffered in court today, and he was eager to kick a man when he was down.

“Heh, if the court truly wanted the Wandering Immortal Sword, why go to such lengths and play such games? Wei Tun Yun, even if you kill me, you’ll never get it.”

“Hahaha! Still stubborn at death’s door. Come, I’ll show you what’s worse than death!”

As Wei Tun Yun finished, the bailiffs brought Lu Xin to the prison cart. At that moment, three surges of magical power swept through the crowd, raising fierce winds outside the yamen. Wei Tun Yun, with his formidable cultivation, instantly located the sources.

“Perfect timing! Your friends are loyal, but unfortunately, this is exactly what I was waiting for!”

Wei Tun Yun sneered, watching as Yue Buhui and the others charged toward the prison cart. Just then, another group arrived outside the yamen. Leading them was a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties, clad in official robes, radiating authority—the Imperial Secretary on the Emperor Taizong’s orders, Wei Zheng. Behind him followed Qian Hai, Wei Qing, and a beautiful young woman.

As soon as they entered, Wei Zheng shouted at the three presiding officials who were about to leave, “Hold! This case cannot be closed yet!”

Wei Zheng’s voice was powerful, like rolling thunder, shaking the entire yamen. The three officials, seeing it was Wei Zheng, all froze, their faces darkening. Yet, clearly wary, they sat back down.

“What do you mean, Lord Wei? There are ample witnesses, and the accused has confessed. Why can’t the case be closed?” the Chief Judge said coldly. Then the Minister of Justice spoke: “Wei Zheng, as Imperial Secretary, you have no standing in this case. And this is the Yongzhou prefecture, not the imperial court. That His Majesty tolerates your repeated insolence is his benevolence. I, Li Jing, will not permit such arrogance!”

“Indeed! Wei Zheng, you’re always denouncing officials before His Majesty. All the civil and military officials have suffered your tongue. What, do you mean to challenge us here today?”

“Haha, such fiery tempers, sirs! I, Wei Zheng, have always served with uprightness, loyal only to His Majesty and the realm. Since His Majesty’s accession, he has instructed us to uphold the law, set an example, and prevent injustice. That is why he ordered this joint hearing—to avoid any miscarriage of justice. Yet you, with such reckless judgment, do you still have His Majesty in your eyes?”

“Insolent Wei Zheng! What rank are you, to speak so brazenly in court?”

The Censor-in-Chief, nearly sixty, had barely spoken during Lu Xin’s trial. Now, glaring at Wei Zheng, he could not restrain his fury. Li Jing also rose, his face flushed from years of battle, barely able to contain himself.

In the blink of an eye, the arrival of Wei Zheng’s party had turned the atmosphere in the court tense and volatile. At that moment, the young woman behind Wei Zheng stepped forward.

“Please, my lords, calm yourselves. My name is Ling Yu. I have something to say.”

As soon as she spoke, all eyes turned to her. Upon seeing her face, the three officials’ expressions changed without exception.