Pleading Guilty If Kneeling Worked, Why Would We Need the Law

Sadly, once the chance is missed, it's gone for good. No matter how much he regrets it, Ninth Royal Uncle will never take Serena Feng out for another run and risk an assassination.

Third Young Master Lewis tried to calm his anger, straightened his clothes, and went back to the inner courtyard to invite the Lewis Patriarch. He was preparing to go to Blossom Garden to plead guilty, but Nolan was one step ahead. Before the Lewis clan could even leave, Nolan sent them a grand gift—a gift so heavy it left the entire house restless and sleepless!

The events at Serena Feng's birthday banquet were investigated by Ninth Royal Uncle that very night. But to him, punishing the masterminds behind the attack was far less important than rescuing Serena. As long as she was unharmed, he had all the time in the world to settle scores with the rest.

As for the Assassin Alliance, Nolan had all the killers who tried to murder Serena Feng at the banquet skinned alive, leaving them barely breathing, and dumped their bodies—skins and all—at the Alliance’s commission hall.

If you want to kill Serena Feng, go ahead—just make sure you’re confident you won’t end up in his hands. This is the fate that awaits you.

Nolan’s methods were bloody and violent, making the Assassin Alliance furious and feel their dignity was insulted. But he did manage to intimidate many, causing those who had designs on Serena Feng to immediately drop the idea.

Hundreds of thousands of taels in gold is tempting, but only if you live long enough to enjoy it. These killers decided to stick to ordinary jobs—for now, at least they won’t have to worry about dying horribly.

A lot of assassins started thinking this way. After all, the Assassin Alliance is just a loose organization—its members have never been fully united. Even the few arrogant ones who still wanted to challenge the top bounty on the list had no plans to act in the near future.

As for the Empress... that’s a bit more complicated. Since she’s not in the capital, and with the Ministry of Revenue case still unresolved, Nolan had no intention of stirring up Eastlyn’s court politics for now. He would let the Empress off temporarily, but he fully intended to settle that score later.

There were four groups involved in the attack that night. Tyre City had already been taught a lesson, so only House Lewis remained. As the ones who started the trouble, Nolan was never going to let them off the hook. As soon as he arrived at Blossom Garden, he sent over the heavy gift he’d prepared in advance.

“Nolan, you’re so wise,” Serena said, her tone mockingly flattering.

“I’m not wise. If I were, I wouldn’t have been played by House Lewis. Today, I intend to see for myself what kind of people they really are.” Nolan’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing within.

Serena was puzzled at first, but then her eyes lit up as she understood: “So you sent the maids’ bodies to House Lewis to force their true leader to show himself. Still… Lord Chen is clever too—he figured out your plan and brought his whole family to plead guilty. House Lewis, as the rebuked party, will have to at least match that gesture, even if they’re unwilling. They’ll have to kneel with their entire clan outside Blossom Garden.”

“Yes, Lord Chen’s move fits my intentions perfectly. I’ve been in Shandong so long, yet I’ve never met the true leader of House Lewis. Their ways are unlike any ordinary merchant family—I’m very curious about their real head.” Nolan had only meant to use the maids’ bodies to force Lewis’s leader to appear, but Lord Chen’s actions made things much easier.

Lord Chen is a remarkable man; he’s saved me a lot of trouble.

“House Lewis is certainly cautious and ruthless, no less than Prince Rowan’s faction—maybe even more so. But will they really kneel outside Blossom Garden with their whole clan, just like the Chen family?” Serena was skeptical.

A family bold enough to challenge a royal prince must be proud. Would such people really bow their heads and do something so humiliating?

“Those who can endure what others cannot are able to do what others cannot. House Lewis has big ambitions, and those who achieve great things must be masters of endurance. If Lewis doesn’t come to plead guilty, I won’t bother with them.” Ruthless people aren’t the scariest—the ones who know when to yield are far more dangerous.

After what happened at Little Crest Mountain and Tyre City, Nolan was convinced House Lewis was the latter. Given the chance, they’d attack him again.

“In that case, I’m looking forward to seeing House Lewis come to plead guilty.” Serena’s lips curled in anticipation, her striking beauty flashing with intrigue.

“Very soon…” Nolan had just spoken when a servant outside announced, “Prince, the Lewis Patriarch and the entire Lewis clan are kneeling outside, asking for your forgiveness.”

“That was fast.”

“Looks like House Lewis was prepared for this.”

Nolan and Serena spoke one after the other, then exchanged a knowing smile, mysterious light flashing in their eyes.

Nolan’s eyes flickered as he composed himself, then stood up and said to Serena, “Come, accompany me to meet the Lewis clan. They hurt you—it’s only right that they kneel at your feet to ask forgiveness.”

“Ask forgiveness?” Serena said sarcastically. “If kneeling could solve everything, what use would laws be? But since House Lewis likes to kneel, let’s go see for ourselves…”

House Lewis had endured so much—Serena was determined to see what kind of person their true leader was, especially the Lewis Patriarch who had indirectly caused her father’s death…

The heavy gift was none other than the remains of the two maids who attacked Serena Feng that day—maids planted in Blossom Garden by House Lewis.

Sending the bodies to House Lewis was Nolan’s way of letting them know he was aware of their involvement and wouldn’t let it go. It also publicly exposed their actions at Serena Feng’s birthday banquet to all of Shandong.

Not long after the maids’ bodies were sent out, Lord Chen arrived at Blossom Garden with his entire family—young and old. They didn’t ask to see Nolan; instead, they knelt at the gate to plead guilty.

From eighty-year-old elders to infants less than a year old, sixty-five people knelt humbly outside Blossom Garden…

The Chen family was the most anxious after the incident at Serena Feng’s birthday banquet, since all the servants at Blossom Garden were arranged by them—including the two maids who attacked Serena. The whole family had been on edge, fearing Nolan’s wrath but not daring to visit. After the “grand gift,” Lord Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief and brought his family to plead guilty.

“The Chen family really is clever,” Nolan said, completely unsurprised by the news. Serena, lying in bed, was puzzled: “Didn’t you send the bodies to House Lewis? Why is the Chen family pleading guilty?”

“If you don’t vet your servants, shouldn’t you be held responsible?” Nolan replied. “If it weren’t for those two maids, Tyre City wouldn’t have kidnapped Serena, and she wouldn’t have suffered like this.”

“You’re just venting your anger. If we’re being fair, the Chen family isn’t really to blame.” Serena actually admired Lord Chen—he was resourceful, perceptive, and steadfast. In chaotic times, such a person was a true hero.

“Royal clans are masters at venting their anger on others. Otherwise, why would there be punishments like ‘Nine Familial Exterminations’? Still, since they know how to act wisely, I’ll let the Chen family off this time.” The main reason was that Serena spoke up; otherwise, Nolan wouldn’t have spared them.

To him, the Chen family in Shandong wasn’t of much use.