The sky was still sunny in the morning, but it gradually became cloudy as the case was being judged. When it was time for lunch, it began to drizzle.
Cheng Ling of the Supreme Court, Zhao Jiulong, and his entourage ate lunch in the kitchen of the Ministry of Justice, and then went to the second hall with Yang Fan to rest and chat.
At this time, the rain became heavier. Under the dripping eaves outside the recording room, a few yamen runners looked up at the sky in boredom. The rainwater gradually condensed into a curtain of rain, gathering from the eaves and flowing down the corridor. In a small puddle of water, it splashed like raindrops, appearing and disappearing as it went.
In the second hall, the three main judges, Yang Fan, Cheng Ling, and Zhao Jiulong, sat casually and chatted. Although they were at daggers drawn in the court, as long as it was beneficial to their position, even if it was a sentence or a word, they would fight back and forth, never giving way. But at this time, they were leisurely and carefree.
They talked about a wide range of topics, ranging from the revenue and expenditure of money, to the salaries of the officials in the various prefectures and counties, and even the customs of the local people. As they chatted, Cheng Ling and Zhao Jiulong talked about some of the major cases that they had handled over the years in charge of justice.
Yang Fan naturally couldn't join in on these topics, so he became an attendant who listened attentively.
After listening for a while, Yang Fan suddenly commented and then changed the topic to the military affairs of the Western Regions, His Majesty's plans for a western expedition, and how he had ingeniously planned to ambush the Turks outside the Great Wall, causing the 100,000 strong army of the Turks to give up halfway through. Cheng Ling and Zhao Jiulong naturally could not join in on these topics, so they also became accompanying guests.
So, Zhao Jiulong coughed and changed the topic to poetry, painting, and romance. Under the joint efforts of the three main judges, the so-called poetry, painting, and romance naturally focused on "romance". This topic was liked by all men, so the three men started to talk about women, chatting harmoniously.
The afternoon bell rang. Cheng Ling smiled, and a solemn look began to appear in her eyes, "Yang Langzhong, shall we enter the court?"
Yang Fan also smiled, but it was a fake smile, "The facts of the crime are clear. Next, you and I should discuss the sentencing and come up with a sentence that will convince the Emperor, the court, and the people. I suggest that we discuss it in the second hall, what do you think? "
Cheng Ling and Zhao Jiulong looked at each other and said in unison, "Of course, this is fine. So … we don't have to sit properly, we can relax, hahaha …"
The laughter stopped abruptly, and the three suddenly fell silent. The sound of rain seemed to come from outside the hall, pitter-patter …
The bailiffs who were watching the rain from the veranda seemed to sense the strange atmosphere in the hall. They turned their heads and glanced into the hall. They saw Doctor Yang of the Ministry of Justice leaning against a table. In his hand was a shining silver fish talisman. As his five fingers moved up and down rhythmically, the fish talisman nimbly jumped and rolled between his fingers. It flashed into his palm and then appeared on the back of his fingers.
Cheng Ling of the Supreme Court sat on a couch on the left, leaning against a round cushion. He lifted his robe and crossed his legs. Imperial Messenger Zhao Jiulong, who was on the right, did the same almost at the same time. Below, two yamen runners carried a table and quietly put it down. After placing the four treasures of the study, an official sat behind the table …
The hall was like a silent film, with only movement and no sound.
When all the movements stopped, Yang Fan flipped his palm and the silver fish talisman jumped from his fingertips to his palm. He put the fish talisman back into the silver fish pouch and sat up straight. He said to Cheng Ling and Zhao Jiulong, "Officer Cheng, Imperial Messenger Zhao, which one of you will speak first?"
Cheng Ling and Zhao Jiulong exchanged pleasantries, and then let Cheng Ling, the official from the Supreme Court, make the closing statement.
Cheng Ling coughed and said, "Pan Junyi came to collect a debt, and Chang Lin was unable to repay it. Both sides quarreled, and a fight ensued. During the fight, Chang Zhiyuan helped his father to kill Pan Junyi. The facts are clear, and the person involved has confessed. According to the laws of the Zhou Dynasty, if a father is beaten, and the son tries to save him, causing him to be disabled, the crime of fighting will be reduced by three levels. If the victim dies, he will be executed according to the law! Therefore, I believe that Chang Zhiyuan should be sentenced to death! "
Zhao Jiulong glanced at Yang Fan. Seeing that Yang Fan was sitting still, he knew that Yang Fan was waiting for him to speak. If he were to speak, he would definitely refute the Supreme Court and suggest a reduction of the sentence. Although it was still a step away from Yang Fan's acquittal, there were still similarities between the two. It would be equivalent to helping Yang Fan.
But since Yang Fan was not speaking, he could only speak. In his opinion, a reduction of the sentence was morally acceptable. As for acquittal, it was too lenient. Right now, he might as well refute the common enemy of the Imperial Messengers and the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, before arguing with Yang Fan. Having made up his mind, he said,
"The purpose of the law is to prevent violence. The purpose of filial piety is to enlighten. When Chang Zhiyuan saved his father, he was showing filial piety, not violence. Chang Zhiyuan was young, but he could understand the principles of filial piety. Isn't this due to the efforts of the imperial court? "The Royal System" states that the principles of the five punishments must be based on the relationship between father and son. "The Spring and Autumn Annals" means to convict from the heart!
Today, Chang Zhiyuan was born in the imperial style, and the young talisman shows filial piety! We, the Imperial Court, should punish evil and promote good! Although Chang Zhiyuan deserves to die for killing, he is still a child and understands the relationship between father and son. If we sentence him to pay with his life, I'm afraid it will go against the imperial court's principles of filial piety. Therefore, I believe that his punishment should be reduced by one level. This way, we can both uphold filial piety and punish the lawless. It's the best of both worlds! "
At the side, the scribe was writing furiously, writing down the basis of the officials' punishments.
Cheng Ling retorted, "Chang Lin owed a debt first, so it was not righteous. Pan Junyi demanded a debt, but Chang Lin refused. Another argument ensued, but it was just an ordinary fight. Chang Lin's son assisted his father in committing a crime. If we use filial piety as a cover and reduce his punishment, then wouldn't the son of anyone who commits a crime be assisting his father in committing a crime? "
Zhao Jiulong raised an eyebrow and said, "Minister Cheng keeps saying that Chang Lin owed a debt first, so it was not righteous. Have you forgotten that on the night of Chinese Valentine's Day, Pan Junyi was lustful and deliberately set up a bet to lure Chang Lin? If we're talking about unrighteousness, then Pan Junyi was unrighteous in the first place. How can he blame Chang Lin alone? "
A hint of a smile flitted across Yang Fan's lips. He knew that when the two of them argued, they would definitely talk about who was at fault first. The Imperial Messenger Station had set a trap for him. As long as he sympathized with the Chang family and wanted to reduce the punishment of the Chang father and son, he could only be used by the Imperial Messenger Station. Now, he was one step more radical than the Imperial Messenger Station, and the Imperial Messenger Station had set this trap for themselves. As long as they persisted with their own opinions, they would inevitably stand with Yang Fan on this point.
The rain outside the hall continued to fall, and it was getting heavier. In the hall, the debate between Cheng Ling, who represented the Supreme Court, and Zhao Jiulong, who represented the Imperial Messenger Station, became more and more intense. The two of them stated all the reasons they could think of, and in the end, there was nothing new to say. They could only repeat the same old arguments over and over again.
At this time, Yang Fan, who had been sitting quietly all this time, suddenly interrupted, "I think that the Imperial Messenger Station's words are reasonable! The law is broken by emotion. Pan Junyi was tempted by lust and conspired against the law. Pan Junyi cannot absolve himself from the blame for the death of the wife of the Cheng family. After that, he set up a gambling scam and deceived others. Such evil deeds are abhorred by the gods and abhorred by the ghosts. He naturally deserves to die! "
Zhao Jiulong said, "In that case, does Yang Langzhong agree with the Imperial Messenger Station's opinion?"
Yang Fan immediately shook his head. "I agree with the Imperial Messenger Station's view that Pan Junyi was unrighteous in the first place, and that he deserves to die. However, in terms of punishment, my view is different from the Imperial Messenger Station's!"
He looked at Cheng Ling and Zhao Jiulong, and said in a clear voice, "The law is nothing more than reason. Emotion and the law are both heavy and heavy. Which is light and which is heavy? When is it light and when is it heavy? When is it not because of the strict enforcement of the law that ethics and morals are violated? When is it not because of the emphasis on ethics and morals that the country's criminal laws are ignored? "
He looked to his left and right, and said, "This is the responsibility of us judges. Depending on the situation, the law may be based on emotion, or emotion will yield to the law, or emotion and the law will both take a step back in order to achieve harmony. "
Zhao Jiulong immediately interrupted, "This is exactly what the Imperial Messenger Station is thinking in recommending a lighter sentence!"
Yang Fan immediately responded, "I, Yang Fan, agree that the Imperial Messenger Station can consider a lighter sentence based on this point! However, I have my own reasons for insisting that Chang Zhiyuan should be acquitted! "
He slowly stood up and said, "The law of the Imperial Court has always been about righteousness. Therefore, when there is a conflict between an elder and a junior, such as scolding, beating, injuring, or killing, the junior has to bear more responsibility! If parents beat and kill their children, the children cannot report it to their parents! If parents kill someone, the children cannot report it either.
But if the mother kills the father, what will happen according to the law of the Imperial Court? Both of you are familiar with the law, so you should know that at that time, regardless of whether it is the legal mother, the stepmother, or the loving mother, as the children, they will no longer be bound by the prohibition that the children cannot report their grandparents or parents. They will also no longer have to fulfill the duties of a senior, and can and must report it to the authorities!
The father is also a senior, and the mother is also a senior, so why is this so? Because they are both relatives, the father is more important than the mother. Therefore, in filial piety, there is a consideration of seniority. The relatives of the father are more important than the relatives of the mother. Therefore, if the mother kills the father, it should be reported to the authorities. Cheng Sizhi, Imperial Messenger Zhao, am I right? "
Cheng Ling and Zhao Jiulong hesitated for a while, then reluctantly nodded their heads. This was the law of the Imperial Court, and they could not refute it.
Yang Fan continued, "The law of the Zhou Dynasty states that if the grandparents or parents are beaten, the children should immediately attack the other party. If the other party is injured, the punishment will be reduced by one class compared to a normal assault. I would like to ask the two of you, if someone beats up their own parents, the authorities can naturally punish them. Can't they just report it to the authorities? Why does the law state that the children should immediately attack and save their elders? "
Zhao Jiulong said, "This is because the children have the duty of filial piety to their elders. Seeing their elders being beaten up, but not doing anything to save them, and only waiting for the matter to be reported to the authorities, where is the filial piety of children? If filial piety is abandoned because of the protection of the authorities, is the purpose of the law to corrupt morality? But … "
Zhao Jiulong frowned and said, "But what does this have to do with our discussion? Saving one's father is something that we, the Imperial Messenger Station, believe is natural. However, although saving one's father is out of filial piety, it does not mean that one must kill to save one's father. Killing is illegal, but saving one's father is filial piety. Therefore, the Imperial Messenger Station has taken a compromise and suggested reducing the sentence. What's wrong with that? "
At this point, the two of them had unknowingly thrown the matter of the Court of Judicial Review to one side. Originally, it was a matter of capital punishment, reduction of sentence, and innocence. Under Yang Fan's clever guidance, the matter of capital punishment was thrown to one side, and it became a matter of commutation and innocence.
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