Ren stood up from his seat and all eyes were on him. He took in a breath to calm himself before facing the emperor and the mbers of court.
“I believe that the punishnt decided for the town of Amber Leaves is just and fair. The emperor who also approved it seem to share my beliefs. The people of the town had no knowledge of what was going on and did not benefit from the enemy. Because of this, I believe that they should not be punished. I spent more than three months fighting the war. Compared to soone who had never stepped foot on the battlefield or the town itself, I believe that it should be fair to say that I am more knowledgeable about the situation,” Ren said calmly.
“What about the punishnt for Lady White Lotus? It is indeed her town that rebelled against the empire,” a senior mber of court inquired sternly.
“The Lady White Lotus has failed to deliver a royal heir for this empire as well. It has been a very long ti and she is not yet with child,” the empress spoke up.
“For the Lady White Lotus’s punishnt, I did not overlook it. However, as per the emperor’s orders, she worked very hard as part of the dical team to help save the lives of the soldiers that fought in the war. That, I believe, is more than enough proof of her loyalty towards the empire. She has saved countless lives and her contribution are evident and well-known to all that took part in the war,” Ren replied evenly.
“Is that truly enough to free her from all bla?” Prince Kin quickly protested.
“That is up to the emperor and the high court to decide. I have said all that I wanted to say except for one thing. If the emperor and the high court decides to punish the Lady White Lotus, then I am willing to take the punishnt in her place,” Ren said before he bowed.
Ren’s proposal left the court mbers stunned and for a mont the emperor wasn’t sure how to respond.
“Are you trying to buy ti?” Prince Kin whispered to his brother.
“Of course not,” Ren replied with a smile.
“I will have a short discussion with the court mbers. The trial will resu after that,” the emperor said before standing up from his seat.
The other court mbers did the sa as they followed the emperor to the adjoining eting room to discuss their views on the trial at hand.
...
After convening for roughly twenty minutes, an agreent was finally reached on how to proceed with the trial. The emperor and the court mbers returned to the hall once more and took their seats.
“We have decided to summon the Lady White Lotus here for further questioning and to see if she has anything to say in her own defense before we decide on her punishnt,” the emperor said solemnly.
“There’s no need to do that,” Ren interjected sharply.
“We will summon the Lady White Lotus. Everyone will wait here in this hall until she arrives. That is final,” the emperor said firmly.
Ren clenched his teethed together tightly in frustration as he wondered how far Shin had succeeded in taking Rin away from the palace. He prayed that by the ti the officials arrived at Rin’s palace that she would be long gone.
“The Lady White Lotus has arrived!”
...
I could feel everyone’s eyes on , but I paid attention to only one man. Ren had an awfully scary look on his face and his eyes were wide with panic. I guess it wasn’t often that things didn’t go according to his plan.
“Rin...why are you here?” Ren asked and I could see him panicking for the first ti in my life.
His hand gripped my wrist tightly as he stared into my eyes. Ren must have thought that I had already escaped with Shin to sowhere safe.
“Didn’t you tell not to run away from you?” I said teasingly before I smiled reassuringly at him.
I wasn’t sure if this was going to go well but it was the only move that I had left and the only card in my hand that I could play.
“Rin...” Ren called out my na softly yet desperately.
“It’s ok. Everything will be ok,” I whispered to him as I slowly removed his hand from my wrist.
Proudly I turned to face the emperor and the mbers of the high court before bowing politely to them.
“Lady White Lotus, are you aware of why you were summoned here today?” the emperor asked sternly.
“Yes. The officials have inford that I must be punished for my town rebelling against the empire,” I replied simply.
“I already told you that there is no need for this. I will take her punishnt in her place,” Ren said desperately.
I knew it would turn out like this. If I did like he had planned, then Ren would be left here to take my punishnt in my place. I would rather stay and take my own punishnt than to have him suffer.
“That will be decided by the court. Lady White Lotus, the crown prince insists that you are loyal to the empire and that you’ve worked to save the lives of the soldiers during the war. What do you have to say to that?” the emperor asked.
“I am loyal to this empire. It is true that I worked to save the lives of many soldiers for more than three months while the war lasted,” I replied truthfully.
“Are there other solid proof that you are loyal to the empire?” a very old man asked. He must be one of the senior mbers of the high court.
I could feel Ren’s worried eyes on , and I apologized to him inwardly for worrying him again. However, this ti, I had to stand my own ground.
“I am loyal to this empire. I am also extrely loyal to the crown prince. So, if any punishnt may befall , please punish only and not the crown prince,” I bit my lower lip and paused to make sure that my voice didn’t shake.
--To be continued...
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