Chapter 219 The People's Good Grandson (asking for monthly tickets)

In this era, what matters is filial piety.

For example, Wang Xiang lay on the ice to catch a carp. Although he was listed as one of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, most people sympathized with and affirmed him, while at the same time they also morally criticized Wang Xiang's stepmother.

But then again, Wang Xiang was born into the Wang family of Langya - those who understand will understand that it is the same routine as using fireflies to reflect the light of the snow, both of which are just for the purpose of spreading fame.

As the saying goes, if you select a filial and honest person, his father will live separately; if you select a scholar, he will be ignorant of literature. This was the situation in the Han Dynasty at that time.

But at the same time, both the common people and the bureaucrats were extremely critical of the vicious stepmother.

Therefore, Zhang Xi's tearful accusation immediately made everyone empathize with him.

This applies to both men and women, young and old. No one would put themselves in the shoes of the wicked stepmother, but rather the good child who is bullied by the wicked stepmother.

"Is there such a thing?" Li Xiang sat up straight and asked with a burning gaze, "How could this vicious woman be so vicious?"

"If that's the case, I won't say anything. After all, it's just a hard life." Zhang Xi said this, and pointed at Li with tears in his eyes: "This vicious woman is unfaithful to her husband and has ruined my father's reputation!"

"Huh?!" The onlookers gasped in unison.

This melon is so fucking explosive that the onlookers felt like they were fed a mouthful of big melon.

The people stood on tiptoe, you next to me, I next to you, and stretched their necks to look inside the yamen.

Now Li Xiang didn't need to maintain order at all. No one could bear to miss such a big melon. Everyone held their breath, unwilling to make any sound for fear of missing any details.

"Tell me in detail." Li Xiang's words were concise and clear.

The people couldn't help but give Li Xiang a thumbs up in their hearts.

Look, this is the good prince of the people, who thinks what the masses think and worries about what the masses worry about!
Know what everyone wants to see and hear!
"Zhang Xi!" Li, with her hair disheveled and looking like a madman, said, "Don't you have any shame?"

"Face?" Zhang Xi sneered, "When you were having an affair with a man, why didn't you think about the reputation of the Duke of Yun's Mansion? When you were having an affair with this fake woman, why didn't you think about the reputation of the Duke of Yun's Mansion? When you were flirting with other men outside, why didn't you think about the reputation of the Duke of Yun's Mansion? I... I can meet nine men you have had affairs with in the East Market Restaurant when I go out to eat! Nine!"

The momentum of the parallel sentences was overwhelming, suffocating Li.

It was not just Li, the crowd was even more so. Every time Zhang Yi said something, everyone gasped. In the end, they were all shocked by Zhang Yi's words.

Damn, there is such a silver woman?

And he is from the Zhaojun Li family?
Could it be that the family tradition of the Li family in Zhao County is to let daughters go out and have affairs with men?

Oh my god, that’s awesome.

Li knelt there, unable to utter a word for a long time.

What else can I say? Zhang Xi has already spoken out without caring about her dignity; what she did, not only the servants, but also many nobles outside the palace know about it...

"Zhang Shenji, is what Zhang Yi said true?" Li Xiang asked Zhang Shenji.

Zhang Shenji banged his head on the ground and begged for mercy.

"It's all because of this silver woman who seduced the common people. It's all because of this silver woman who seduced the common people!"

"You're a grown man, but you have no sense of responsibility at all." Li Xiang snorted coldly.

"Before my father adopted him as his adopted son, he had already been having an affair with Li." Zhang Yi said, "For some reason, my father not only did not hold him accountable, but also adopted him as his adopted son and changed his name to Zhang Shenji."

"But this guy not only does not take my father's kindness into consideration, but he is also arrogant and domineering. He simply... simply ruins the reputation of our family!"

"That's right, Master Zhang is right!" The onlookers shouted in support of Zhang Yi.

This melon is really huge and it’s very enjoyable to eat.

A dignified duke married a woman who was so unbearable...

Li Xiang lowered his eyes to look at Zhang Shenji who looked like a dead dog, and didn't know what to say.

It’s not about anything else, but Zhang Liang’s behavior is really difficult to comment on.

He should go to the Adventures of Little Carp, kick away the two-faced turtle that licked Xiao Meimei, and play the role of the two-faced turtle himself.

This is too much for a turtle man.

"Duke Yun was a hero all his life, but he never expected to end up with such an unvirtuous woman like you!" Li Xiang said with emotion.

He asked again: "Zhang Shenji, what is your original name?"

Zhang Xi glanced at Zhang Shenji, who was as weak as a dead dog, and answered for him: "Your Highness, his real name is Ji Song, and his courtesy name is Bo Chang."

As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers laughed again.

This name...

Li Xiang almost burst out laughing, and it took him a long time to suppress his smile.

Seeing everyone laughing, Zhang Yi quickly explained: "Ji, it's the Ji in Benji."

"You... Ji Bochang." Li Xiang didn't know what was wrong with him. He suddenly subconsciously had a strong desire to touch his forehead. He couldn't help but wiped his forehead: "But, you won't live long!"

He drew out two command arrows and threw one out first.

"Zhang Shenji had an affair with his stepmother, ruined the family tradition, and ordered his family members to beat public officials, causing serious injuries. The circumstances are extremely bad! Now the following judgment is made, multiple crimes are punished together, and he is sentenced to immediate execution!" Li Xiang announced loudly.

"Good! Well done, Your Highness!" The people outside cheered.

To be honest, people are all made of flesh and blood.

Those sanitation workers sweep the streets outside every day, helping everyone with cleanup, taking out the garbage and transporting it. Everyone loves them so much.

What's more, they were once warriors who fought for their country and were brave warriors who conquered Goguryeo, and they deserve respect.

Now someone actually dares to hurt them. How can this be tolerated?

But then again, even if the execution was to be immediate, a memorial had to be submitted to Li Shimin for approval first. This was the rule.

After hearing that he was sentenced to death, Zhang Shenji was completely stunned.

All he relied on was Li's favor and Zhang Liang's power.

This kind of useless person who relies on others for power and bullies others will naturally become a dead dog once he loses what he relies on.

“As for Li…” Li Xiang called out Li’s name as if the god of death was calling out his name.

"Li's armed resistance to arrest is tantamount to treason! Moreover, he has the heart of a viper and the nature of a jackal. He is close to evil and perverse. He killed his stepson and had an affair with his fake child. He is fickle and is hated by both humans and gods, and cannot be tolerated by heaven and earth!"

"The following judgment is now made! According to the Wude Code, multiple crimes are punished together and the sentence is immediate execution!" Li Xiang still felt a little regretful. Even if these two people were adulterers, the government would not sentence them to be thrown into a pig cage.

The punishment of immersion in a pig cage was generally carried out by the rural self-government. It meant that if a woman was found to have an improper relationship with another man, or if a woman was flirting with other men behind her husband's back, she could report it to the village or other grassroots elders' council, or a very prestigious elder. Once confirmed to be the fact, the man would be beaten to death with sticks, and the woman would be put into a pig cage and thrown into the river to drown.

In ancient times, there was always a clan leader or village chief who was highly respected and elected by everyone in the village. When any disputes or conflicts occurred in the village, these so-called village chiefs and clan leaders would stand up and act as judges. They could decide who the property belonged to, who should be punished, and even have the power of life and death.

In fact, it stands to reason that there should be a village treasurer at the township level, but Lao Li felt that the financial expenditure was a bit high. Based on the principle of economy, he abolished the system of village treasurer, that is, the township head.

From the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Sui Dynasty, there were township heads, who were officials appointed by the imperial court. In other words, the imperial court could directly govern the township level.

In order to save financial expenditure, Lao Li abolished the village headman, which was also one of the reasons why the imperial power did not extend to the countryside.

Power hates vacancy. When the imperial court gave up the countryside, local tyrants came to take over, and slowly the imperial court lost control of the county and below.

It can only be said that Li Shimin also has limitations.

Thinking of this, Li Xiang planned to talk to Lao Li, should we pick up the system of township officials again? Or establish a system that is more suitable for the physique of Datang babies.

While he was distracted, the onlookers were still cheering.

Although everyone thinks that Li Xiang has upheld justice, in fact, more people are just watching the fun.

It is human nature to watch the fun, to gloat over other people's misfortunes, and even more so to gossip and eat melons.

Li had completely lost her initial arrogance. Her hair was disheveled and she knelt there for a long time, unable to speak.

Li Xiang didn't care about her. He waved his hand and asked someone to take her away.

This kind of roast chicken is eye-catching.

Seeing everyone being taken away, Li Xiang also glanced at Li Jingren.

Li Jingren shouted sensibly, "Adjourn the court!"

As the yamen runners struck the water and fire sticks, the people left one after another, feeling satisfied.

What else is there to be dissatisfied about? Justice has been served, the adulterer and the adulterer have been dealt with according to law, and I have also eaten such a big piece of melon, how can I not be happy?

"Brother," Li Jingren looked at Li Xiang with reverence and praised, "Brother is so majestic! In the hall, you are so majestic and domineering that people who don't know you would think you are a saint in person."

"You." Li Xiang nodded at him with a smile and asked, "What about Zhang Yi?"

"Zhang Xi has already returned to the Duke of Yun's Mansion. He asked me to bring you a message, saying that from now on the Duke of Yun's Mansion will be under the command of your brother." Li Jingren replied.

Li Xiang smiled and shook his head, "Let me drive him? Don't be ridiculous. He is just Zhang Liang's son, not even the Duke of Yun. Moreover, Zhang Liang is my second uncle's man, and my father doesn't like him very much. How could he let me drive him?"

"If this road is blocked, then we can take another one." Li Jingren said with a smile, "I think Zhang Yi is very sincere."

"Let's put this aside for now. Since he has the intention, don't hurt his feelings." Li Xiang said, "Make more friends and fewer enemies. This is what we need to do."

"I understand!" Li Jingren nodded.

Li Xiang added, "Prepare the carriage. I need to go to the palace to find the Saint first and ask him for instructions on these two death penalty cases. I want him to give his instructions."

"Yes, brother." Li Jingren replied.

In fact, at least since the Han Dynasty, death sentences had to be approved by the emperor before they could be executed, which was the so-called "reporting prisoners."

During the Three Kingdoms period, Emperor Ming of Wei stipulated that except for treason and murder, all other death penalty cases must be reported to the emperor.

During the Northern Wei Dynasty, the imperial court became more cautious in sentencing people to the death penalty. Emperor Taiwu Tuoba Tao stipulated that all death penalty cases in various places should be reported to the emperor for personal investigation, and the death penalty could only be executed when there was no doubt or injustice.

During the Sui Dynasty, the imperial court formally established the death penalty review system, which required three requests for approval from the emperor before execution. Because each death penalty case had to be reviewed three times, this system was also called the "three reviews."

The "Kaihuang 15th Regulations: For death penalty, the sentence must be decided after three reports" mentioned in the "Book of Sui" refers to the death penalty review system at that time.

The establishment of the death penalty review system strengthened the emperor's control over judicial trials and embodied the traditional spirit of "cautious punishment."

Li Xiang naturally understood this rule. He first had to report the matter to Li Shimin and let him make the final decision.

Of course, the exception is extremely serious cases such as treason, which will directly take the green express channel and be given the green light to move forward rapidly.

Today is not a day off, so Li Shimin is still reading in the Liangyi Hall.

In fact, Mr. Li is not always tense all the time. He also knows how to combine work and rest. This is better than Mr. Zhu.

It’s better not to mention people like Lao Zhu who have the Terminator physique.

Seeing Li Xiang coming, Li Shimin quickly put away the book in his hand and tucked it away carefully.

Li Xiang looked at Li Shimin suspiciously. Why did this old man move so quickly?
The last time this happened was when Li Xiang was watching evening self-study. A classmate was looking at Xiao Liu Bei, but when he saw the teacher come in, he immediately stuffed him back.

Could it be that...Aung is also watching Little Liu Bei?
"Uncle." Li Xiang greeted with a smile.

"Hmm, here we go again?" Li Shimin snorted, and tapped the tea bowl beside him with his hand: "Have some tea, it's something new developed by the Food Bureau recently, you can try it too."

Li Xiang picked up a piece and took a bite.

It's a bit doughy, not tasty, and a bit sweet.

"You shouldn't eat such sweet food on a normal day." Li Xiang said seriously, and moved the bowl of pastries aside.

"It tastes so sweet!" Banana echoed from the stand not far away.

Li Shimin ignored the parrot and looked at Li Xiang unhappily and asked, "Don't I even have the freedom to eat a bowl of cake?"

"Well, you said that as if I was controlling you and not letting you eat." Li Xiang curled his lips and pushed the bowl of cakes back: "Anyway, your body is your own. If you get sick from eating, just give yourself six in your left hand and seven in your right hand in advance. That's it."

Li Xiang said this and made a classic gesture of Alzheimer's disease.

“Look, that’s Alzheimer’s.”

Li Shimin was about to reach for the bowl, but after hearing Li Xiang's words, he shrank back as if he had been electrocuted.

I want to be a hero all my life, but I can't become suffering from Alzheimer's disease when I grow old...

Thinking of this, Li Shimin raised his head and asked fiercely: "Tell me, what else do you want?"

Li Xiang chuckled and said to him, "It's nothing serious. I just sentenced two people to death. I came to see Aung to review it."

Having said that, Li Xiang handed over the prepared memorial.

(End of this chapter)