Villain : I reincarnated as a Prince! Shouldn't I have a Harem?

Chapter 157 Trial-3!

Shang Long questioned the princess: "Princess Lianhua, please answer the court, did you find Ashen's question an attack on your honor? And if not, was your guard's action as per your wishes or did he act out of his own volition?"

This question was harmful to her either way.

If she were to reply with yes, then she'd have to justify how petty she was that she found a simple question of Ashen an attack on her honor. It'd also justify that she was weak and couldn't defend her honor herself.

If she were to reply with no, then that would mean that the old man acted out of his own volition and that Ashen was innocent and he was attacked without any fault.

Both options were going to her doom.

The first option would harm her reputation and also make her look like a fool who finds just anything an attack on her honor.

The second option would mean abandoning the old man to his fate. Atleast, if she went with the first option, she'd be blamed and the old man's punishment wouldn't be execution since he carried out his duty as her guard because the princess he served was a petty, weak, and fool princess.

Both were unacceptable to her.

The guard was an emperor realm expert and losing him would mean a huge loss to her faction. Also, he was influential and handled almost everything related to the princess, she could never lose him.

On the other hand, her reputation would take a huge hit and she'd become a joke among the masses.

Just what's happening? How did the situation end up this bad?

And since when did Ashen become this terrifying?

The last time I saw him, he was gloomy and underconfident.

I could never have imagined that he could speak this well.

Sigh, though it's regrettable, I can only choose to look like a fool.

I can't lose the first elder of the clan just because he tried to make Ashen kneel.

Hearing the question, he was jolted awake as he said with a flustered voice: "I-I only carried out my duty as the princess's guard!"

"Doesn't matter!" Shang Long said before narrowing his eyes: "You dared to attack my grandson on the property of the Shang Clan. This is an indirect attack on the clan's dignity and my reputation. You will atleast lose an arm here!"

Hearing this, the old man turned to his only hope — The princess!

As soon as the princess tried to speak, Shang Long stopped her as he warned: "This isn't a matter of brother and sister anymore! If you tried to say that this was your order, then I won't have any other choice but to take this matter to the royal court. You should be aware of what would happen if I were to do that, right?"

The princess hesitantly sat back down after hearing Shang Long's warning.

"I'll now announce the defendant's punishment!" Shang Long announced before,

"Wait! My lord!" Ashen's voice reverberated in the courtroom.

"What is it Ashen?" Shang Long asked with a displeased expression and tone.

"I'd like to mention another crime that he has committed, however, if you were going to announce the punishment as execution then there is no need!"

"Hmm, Go Ahead!" Shang Long gave his permission since he was only going to cut both his hands as punishment.

Ashen displayed three fingers as he said: "His third crime, daring to challenge the Shang Clan! He mocked the Shang Clan as a clan that is afraid of his own clan! He said that the Shang Clan wouldn't 'Dare' to make an enemy out of his clan solely due to 'me', the young lord of the Shang Clan!"

"I ask the court, is the Shang clan afraid? I'd like to give a suggestion that'd make it clear that the Shang clan isn't afraid of the defendant's clan and no one from the outside can act out of line here!"

Ashen looked at Shang Long for his approval. "Go ahead, speak your mind."

"My lord, I suggest public execution of the defendant. This would be a display of power where an emperor realm expert would be executed for acting out of line in the clan! This would solidify the powerful image of the Shang Clan in everyone's mind!"

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(A/N - Thanks for reading. ^..^)