Fang Yun used the power of legalism's codex to interrogate the four of them. Other than the eldest of the four who remained silent, the other three had already confessed and were willing to expose Young Master Gou's crimes.
Fang Yun slapped the gavel, and the codex was taken back.
The four suspects were in a daze, and it took a while for them to recover.
Fang Yun looked at the eldest of the four and said, "Ning An County's Zha Yue colluded with Gou Yu to kill Ai Weijiang. The evidence is irrefutable, and he doesn't repent. His crime will be increased, and he will be sent to the Dingyuan Army's death row prison camp for twenty years! Men, put shackles on his legs. When this case is over, he will be sent to the Dingyuan Army along with the next batch of supplies! "As he said that, Fang Yun threw out an order.
"Yes, sir!" Two yamen runners walked in and took Zha Yue away.
Zha Yue didn't say anything from the beginning to the end.
Fang Yun sighed softly and said, "Such a man should have a successful career. Even if he can't gallop on the battlefield, he should be able to move freely in the literary world. However, if this kind of person goes down the wrong path and isn't restrained, he will definitely cause more harm than normal people. In order to prevent more people from getting hurt, only severe punishment can show the power of the law and protect the people! Therefore, there is righteousness in love, but there is no righteousness in crime! "
Fang Yun's voice resonated with the county yamen's strange power, and his voice spread throughout the entire county yamen.
Many officials in the county yamen nodded, and they were convinced.
Ao Huang shook his head and said in a low voice, "Well said. No matter how good his relationship with Gou Yu was, he would be an unrighteous person if he killed someone. Although Ai Weijiang was guilty, he didn't deserve death. If Gou Yu only taught him a lesson, even if the beating was severe, it could be considered righteousness. However, if he killed him, no matter what, it would be unrighteous. If anyone thinks that Zha Yue is righteous, what if one day Zha Yue's knife is placed on their or their friends' necks? "
Fang Yun turned his head to look at Ao Huang and said with a look of praise, "You can be taught."
Ao Huang laughed embarrassedly. This was Fang Yun's recognition of his improvement. It was Xusheng's praise, which made him very happy.
Outside the hall, Hanlin praised, "My school of Legalism and the old rotten scholars of the Confucian Hall of Rites have never been on good terms, but Fang Xusheng used emotions, benevolence, and justice to discuss the law and prison. However, it is reasonable and makes one feel as if they are bathed in the spring breeze. This is the fortune of the school of Legalism and also the fortune of the Hall of Rites. "
Fang Yun smiled. However, he did not reveal that the reason why Hanlin of the Punishment Hall had praised him was because he had 'judged benevolence and righteousness based on crimes, not benevolence and righteousness based on crimes'. In essence, it was more like 'the law is greater than the etiquette'.
When Cha Yue heard Fang Yun's evaluation, his body trembled. His head, which had refused to lower, seemed to have become heavy. He slowly lowered his head.
"Guards, go to the Gou Family and arrest the suspect, Gou Gui! It will be personally led by Yu Bachi. "Fang Yun tossed the token into Yu Bachi's arms.
Yu Bachi immediately stood up and strode forward to arrest Gou Gui.
Half an hour later, Yu Bachi hurriedly escorted Gou Gui over. Because Fang Yun wanted to conduct the trial in secret, only the original people could participate in the trial. The other officials could not hear because they had been sealed by the power of the official seal.
Gou Gui was dressed in a child's robe. His face was slightly pale because of excessive alcohol and women. His expression was extremely calm, and his eyes flickered with unconcealable hatred.
When Fang Yun saw Gou Gui's gaze, he instantly understood everything.
As a child and the son of a prominent family in Ning An County, Gou Gui could have easily become the patriarch of a prominent family … Thinking of this, Fang Yun suddenly looked at Gou Gui and said, "If you are the adopted son of Patriarch Gou, then you are Patriarch Gou's son. Logically and emotionally, everything in the Gou Family belongs to you. However, you are not Patriarch Gou's adopted son. You are not related to him by blood, so none of that belongs to you! Only after you tell Patriarch Gou about your past, and if Patriarch Gou still recognizes you as his son, will everything belong to you. You can only hate your father and your mother. You can't hate me! "
"Nonsense! If it weren't for you, if it weren't for that bastard Ai Weijiang, how could my past have been exposed? If you were me, what would you do? "
Fang Yun calmly looked at Gou Gui and asked, "If you were Patriarch Gou, what would you do?"
Gou Gui froze in place, speechless.
Fang Yundao said, "Although this county will inform Patriarch Gou of this matter, I will issue a gag order. No matter what happens in the end, no one will be allowed to spread your past. If others spread it, if there is evidence, this official will have the torture chamber prosecute them for the crime of cursing Gou. If there is no evidence, they will be punished for the crime of slander. If an official of the imperial court spreads it, they will be prosecuted for the crime of leaking secrets. "
The recorder of the Legalist High Scholar, Yu Bachi, and Han Lin of the Punishment Chamber were all stunned.
Everyone had thought that Fang Yun would use this matter to attack Ji Zhibai. After all, this was the only case that could implicate Ji Zhibai. Fang Yun had used such methods to protect Gou Gui, so it was clear that he wouldn't use such despicable or extreme methods.
At the very least, he wouldn't attack Ji Zhibai in a way that would harm Gou Gui.
Ao Huang looked at Fang Yun, his eyes filled with pure respect, without the slightest impurity.
This was Xusheng's breadth of mind and Xusheng's morals.
However, everyone then began to consider the crime Fang Yun had just mentioned.
Slander was a crime that had existed for a long time. Normally, it was only used for discussing the affairs of the imperial court or talking about the monarch. It was also used against non-scholars. Scholars would never be charged for discussing such matters.
Fang Yun had actually used the crime of slander in this situation to protect one's reputation. This was unprecedented.
As for the crime of "scolding", it had existed for a long time. Scolding was divided into many detailed crimes, such as insulting one's peers, insulting one's elders, and so on. Typically, the punishment would be a few lashes and not a severe punishment.
The punishment for slander was originally very heavy, but now that it was used against individuals, the punishment would be lighter, but it would still be heavier than scolding others.
As for the crime of "leaking secrets" against officials, it was extremely harsh. In any country's laws, leaking secrets was a serious crime, with punishments ranging from three years in prison to the death penalty.
In Fang Yun's view, the Ning An County yamens and the other yamens of the human race were already leaking information like a sieve. This situation had to be stopped, as the danger was too great. If the yamens couldn't even keep their internal information secret, then this regime would be a failure, and those in power would be incompetent.
Apart from Han Lin of the Punishment Chamber, everyone else's gazes were fixed on this case.
In the end, Gou Gui was still a scholar, a scholar. Even though his eyes were still filled with hatred, there was also a complicated look of gratitude. He lowered his head slightly and said, "This student thanks Sir."
Han Lin of the Punishment Chamber said, "If I may ask, Fang Xusheng, why did you take such measures?"
Fang Yun hadn't thought about this question before. After a moment of silence, his scholarly courage moved slightly. He said, "There is sympathy, there is etiquette, and in the end, there is law to stop it."
"I see. Thank you for your explanation."
Fang Yun smiled slightly.
Han Lin of the Punishment Chamber looked carefully at Fang Yun, his face full of shock. This was because a strange light had flashed across Fang Yun's face. He had only seen this kind of light on the faces of great scholars after a Dao discussion.
"Could it be that Fang Xusheng has comprehended something related to the Divine Path …"
While Han Lin of the Punishment Chamber was thinking, Fang Yundao said, "Qi Junchu and the other two have already confessed. What else do you have to say?"
Gou Gui was silent for a moment, then said, "This student only has one question. If you can answer, this student is willing to confess."
"Okay." Fang Yun only said one word lightly, but it had a strange majesty, as if it was not an agreement, but an order.
.
(To be continued.)
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