Xie Guang was still drinking tea with the eleven elders of the Xie clan.
A messenger came from outside and told the two what had happened.
Upon hearing that it was Madam Si's order, Xie Guang reminded the Eleventh Elder, "That man is currently favored, Eleventh Uncle. You should think carefully. Shang Guang is already a close associate of Commander Xie before he even came of age."
The eleventh elder said, "I will handle this according to the clan rules! But my good-for-nothing grandson will have to be dealt with by you, my nephew."
Xie Guangdao said, "You can rest assured."
Xie Yongxin was pinned down in front of the two by Xie Shangguang, whose face was full of gloom.
Xie Yongxin quickly greeted the Eleventh Elder: "Eleventh Uncle, I am Yongxin. How have you been lately?"
The eleventh elder looked at him with a sinister gaze, but still responded in a kind tone: "I am fine, but what trouble have you caused that I have to clean up for you?"
Xie Yongxin looked pleased with himself and said, "Not at all, I confessed this time, and the mistress said she would treat me leniently."
The eleventh elder hesitated for a moment, then said, "So that's how it is."
Xie Shangguang's eyes dimmed upon seeing this. For the first time, he felt that the collusion within the family was truly a breeding ground for corruption. Even the matriarch...
Xie Guang said, "Since it is the lady's wish, the eleven elders shall be dealt with in accordance with the Xie clan's ancestral laws."
The eleventh elder then began to question Xie Yongxin about his crimes: "What crimes have you committed?"
“It’s just that I defiled a woman.” Xie Yongxin’s tone became weak.
Upon hearing this, the Eleventh Elder narrowed his eyes and immediately ordered his two personal guards: "Take the guilty Xie Yongxin to the next room and, based on his confession, give him a lenient treatment."
The guards seemed accustomed to enforcing the law: "Yes, sir! It will be done immediately."
Xie Yongxin immediately pushed Xie Shangguang aside and followed the two bodyguards, chatting and laughing with them. "After this is over, I'll treat you two to drinks."
Xie Shangguang almost fainted. He couldn't help but walk to a corner and kick the wall repeatedly.
"hateful!!"
"You brat, why are you kicking my wall?" Xie Guang couldn't help but ask.
Unexpectedly, Xie Shangguang turned his head, his voice filled with anger and resentment: "I didn't do anything! I'm in a bad mood! Second Uncle, leave me alone!"
Xie Guang was startled. That brat's eaten poison!
The eleventh elder also inquired with concern: "Was Shang Guang not dealt with strictly according to the Qi Sect's rules?"
"That's what my eleventh uncle thinks, not what I said." Xie Shangguang's eyes were full of anger, but he remained defiant.
Finally, the eleventh elder couldn't help but shake his head and say, "There's no need to be so angry. I think you don't understand the advantages and disadvantages of the clan system."
What's so great about it? It all comes down to whose relative has the most influence.
Xie Shangguang dared not say this aloud.
Xie Guang seemed to understand why his nephew was angry.
He immediately slapped Xie Shangguang on the shoulder. "Silly boy."
"Why are you scolding me, Second Uncle!" Xie Shangguang had just opened his mouth.
"Ahhhhhh!!!" Xie Yongxin's shrill screams came from the side room. First, there was a long howl, then intermittent gasps as if in great pain, and finally a rooster-like crow, until the sound weakened and then there was silence.
Then two bodyguards, wearing blood-stained white gloves, carried a small jar in a bag.
"The guilty son has already submitted to family discipline."
The eleven elders glanced at the altar and said casually, "Send it back to the Southern Region, so that the younger generation won't think that we old folks are being unfair in enforcing the law."
"Uncle, what does this mean?" Xie Shangguang sensed something was off about Xie Yongxin's voice, and the eleventh elder's words also had a hidden meaning.
Xie Guang then took the initiative to explain: "You brat, you haven't even memorized your own family's patriarchal rules, yet you're interfering with your elders' favoritism."
He slapped him on the head, and Xie Shangguang covered his head with a puzzled look: "What does Second Uncle mean by this?"
"Ahem, that's right." Xie Guang's legs suddenly trembled, and he lowered his head and whispered, "Castrated."
Xie Shangguang's pupils dilated in shock! So this is what "leniency for confession, severity for resistance" means.
Soon, a group of soldiers from Shuntian Prefecture arrived at the gate of Prince Dun's mansion carrying Xie Ji's token.
"General Right, you are hereby ordered to immediately arrest the criminal Xie Yongxin and bring him to the Shuntian Prefecture for joint trial in the three courts!"
The servant informed Xie Guang.
Xie Guang then let the officers and soldiers in.
Soon, Xie Shangguang saw that Xie Yongxin was still unconscious, his wounds had been treated, and he was being dragged away by the soldiers.
At the same time, Wu Qiu was also in Shuntian Prefecture. He was standing next to Xie Ji when the words of the lady in the back hall suddenly came to mind.
After Xie Yongxin was taken to Prince Dun's mansion by Xie Shangguang.
Si Xitong initiated the final trial, his righteous voice resounding throughout the inner hall: "All those who commit adultery and corruption shall be punished according to the laws of Jin, ranging from castration to beheading. The Xie Yongxin case has had a terrible impact and aroused public resentment; there is no room for leniency."
"After the guilty son has been punished, he shall be immediately taken to the three courts of Shuntian Prefecture for joint trial. None of the Xie family members are allowed to plead for leniency, otherwise they will be punished as well!"
Wu Qiu thought to himself, "The handling is based on evidence and will also silence any criticism."
That's really impressive.
Xie Yongxin was dragged to the courtroom like a dead dog. Along the way, strange liquid kept flowing down his pants along with his blood, leaving long streaks of blood.
While Xie Yongxin was being restrained by the red wooden staffs of the constables, the others had already woken up.
Hai Yun's eyes were bloodshot. He was a short man, about 1.6 meters tall, but he was always recognized as a good official by the people and the court.
"Xie Yongxin, you have defamed and insulted a woman's innocence. Do you know your crime?" When Hai Yun slammed the gavel, a wrongful conviction was finally overturned, and justice was served for his wife and daughter.
Why couldn't Lü escape this time? Xie Yongxin's eyes were filled with regret and despair, and he no longer had the strength to speak.
......
Noon, 3:45.
Xie Yongxin was pushed to the entrance of the vegetable market, and the person supervising the execution was Xie Ji.
The onlookers clapped and cheered, saying, "That's the beast!"
"It almost caused the death of a family unjustly."
"Heaven has eyes! The wicked have finally received their retribution!"
Xie Ji took a command arrow from the tube, threw it into the air, and the arrow landed on the ground. The executioner sprayed wine from his mouth onto the sharp, gleaming broadsword. As the sun became blinding, he raised the broadsword and swung it down.
A head rolled off, and the body slumped onto the guillotine.
The criminal was executed.
In the afternoon, Si Xitong left the mansion and gazed at the bright, golden sun in the sky. Though dazzling, it was indispensable to the world. All things grow towards the sun, just as people cannot lose their sense of justice.
To establish a moral compass for heaven and earth, and to establish a destiny for the people.
A galloping sound of hooves echoed through the street, first fast and then slowing until it reached the gate of the mansion. The white horse's owner stopped; she wore a long, dark robe with dark gold orchid patterns, and sunlight seemed to slant down her shoulders, gilding her silhouette with a golden glow.
Her eyes were full of concern: "Everything has been taken care of."
Si Xitong stared blankly at her, her soft eyes shimmering as if they held all the beauty in the world. She raised her slender hand, and she quickly rode up to her, grabbed her hand, and lifted her onto the horse.
Si Xitong sat down in Xie Lanzhi's lap, the fragrance of her herbs filling her nostrils, making her feel at ease.
"Lanzhi".
Xie Lanzhi believed in her abilities and said, "Fu Feng, I want to thank you. If this injustice is not resolved, then all the rules I established when I entered the capital will become a laughing stock."
"No. I won't let that happen." As soon as she finished speaking, a dark undercurrent rose in Si Xitong's eyes, and an unstoppable aura surged through her body like a tidal wave.
Xie Lanzhi smiled slightly, spurred her horse to speed up, and the two galloped together in the empty street.
The people who made way for them all witnessed a unique scene.
The white horse gallops swiftly.
A dashing woman in a black robe embraced a delicate woman in a pale silver dress. The two were like two butterflies fluttering together, their black and white colors blending harmoniously in the scene.
The wrongful conviction was resolved the following day. The public resentment in Tianjing subsided.
Hai Yun's resignation was presented to Xie Lanzhi, who had it returned to him, and also gave Hai Yun a parting gift: "An official should speak out for the people and restore peace and tranquility to the region."
"Hai Da's heart is as pure as water, he is devoted to public service and self-disciplined, and he is deeply loved by the people. I hope that the righteousness and integrity of Shuntian Prefecture will shine on thousands of households in the future."
The Xie family also compensated Haiyun with a large sum of money to ease his financial straits. This would improve their lives and prevent them from having to buy inferior items.
Because of its poor quality, the broken needle remained on the sinner, becoming indelible evidence of his crimes.
Xie Lanzhi privately worried that Miss Hai and Mrs. Hai might still be troubled, since a woman's chastity was more important than life in this era, and there were few enlightened people.
At the same time, Haifu received a sum of money. For the first time, Haiyun kept the money for household expenses and gave it to his wife and daughter to buy fertile land and set up an embroidery workshop.
As long as there is hope in life, there is hope for people to live.
Si Xitong held the tea tray in both hands and walked gracefully to the table to pour Xie Lanzhi a cup of tea: "Running an embroidery workshop has always been Miss Hai's wish. With an embroidery workshop, she has the confidence to live, and Madam Hai will also live because of her daughter."
"I'm relieved now." Xie Lanzhi felt relaxed as she smelled the aroma of the tea.
But this world is not only unfair to women, but also to many other injustices. Only after the chaos is quelled can the flaws caused by human nature be gradually repaired.
Somewhere in Tianjing, Xie's seventh uncle had just arrived in Tianjing when he heard that Xie Yongxin had been sentenced to death by Hai Yun the day before, and Xie Ji was the executioner. The people of Tianjing were all watching the market and cheering.
Enraged, Xie's seventh uncle led a group to raid Haiyun's house, but they were stopped by Xie Ji halfway there.
Seeing that he was an elder and held a high position, Xie Ji gently advised him, "This case is closed. If you were to storm into Hai's residence today, how would you be any different from a criminal!"
Uncle Xie glared at him and said, "That child really defiled?"
"With both witnesses and physical evidence, even the most powerful figures cannot cover it up. Moreover, what Yongxin should have done most was to undermine public morale. This is what Commander Xie values most," Xie Ji said.
Uncle Xie was unmoved. Veins bulged on his forehead as he roared, "What bullshit about popular support? You've only been in Tianjing for a few days and you've already picked up all that hypocrisy from those lousy nobles. Do you still remember the martial spirit of the Xie family! To bring glory to our ancestors!"
Seeing that he couldn't reason with him, Xie Ji gave up and stopped trying.
Uncle Xie insisted, "It was that woman who did this!"
Upon hearing this, Xie Ji immediately looked at him sternly and reminded him: "Seventh Uncle, be careful with your words! This is no longer the Southern Region but Tianjing! On the first day the Grand Marshal entered the capital, he issued a strict order not to disturb the people. When passing through the Emperor's Gate, the Xie family all dismounted and obeyed the kingly way."
"And everything the Grand Marshal did was for the future of the Xie family, in order to transform the Xie family from a local powerful clan into a noble and aristocratic family. This is the true way to bring glory to the family."
Having said all he could say, Xie Ji ordered his men to take his seventh uncle to live at Xie Guang's residence.
He hadn't expected Uncle Xie to be so unreasonable; as a result, Madam Si might incur Uncle Xie's wrath.