My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 132 - 96: Applying Their Methods to Themselves [10,000 Characters]_5

The Imperial Censor took advantage of the situation and said, "Although he has committed a grave crime, considering his significant contributions to the court, why not offset his crime with his merits, spare him the death penalty, and instead sentence him to three years of penal servitude and exile him three thousand leagues away? How about that?"

Three years of penal servitude and an exile of three thousand leagues were the most severe punishments below the death penalty.

But, at the very least, it temporarily saved his life.

Marquis Yongshou snorted coldly, "Aren’t you practitioners of Legalism? Taking a life for a life is natural and just. You are always the ones shouting the loudest on normal days; why are you silent today?"

An Assistant Imperial Censor stepped forward and retorted, "Taking a life for a life is natural and just, as Marquis Yongshou aptly put. Then may I ask, the son of Marquis Yunyang also killed a man half a year ago; has he paid with his life in these six months?"

Another noble countered, "Marquis Yunyang possesses a Death Exemption Token bestowed by the previous emperor, sparing him once from capital punishment. Imperial Censor Xu, are you daring to question the previous emperor?"

"I never said that."

"I see that’s what you imply!"

"Marquis Lantian, do not slander!"

"It was you who first questioned the previous emperor!"

...

The two groups had said only a few words when they started arguing again.

A peculiar situation had formed in the great hall.

Before, it was always the nobles fervently defending their offspring who broke the Law while officials from the Imperial Censorate insisted on prosecuting them.

Today, the situation was completely reversed.

Nobles were crying out for taking a life for a life, while the Imperial Censors were collectively trying to absolve the murderer of his crime.

If one did not know better, they might think they had taken up the wrong tablets.

However, no matter how fiercely they argued, the key to this case still lay with Marquis Yunyang.

It was his son who had died; if he insisted on sentencing the son of the Minister of Justice to death, unless Li Xuanjing also procured a Death Exemption Token, not even King Chun as the Regent this month could easily pardon him.

While everyone was arguing incessantly, King Chun walked up to Marquis Yunyang, personally helped him up, and said, "Ah, I can understand how Marquis Yunyang feels. Please get up; the ground is cold, and kneeling too long is bad for your health..."

King Chun’s gesture touched the hearts of the officials.

In recent years, King Chun’s favoritism towards Li Xuanjing was evident to all.

On this matter, he was undoubtedly on Li Xuanjing’s side.

While among all the princes, King Chun indeed had the least airs and was the mildest in his methods,

no one expected that he would be willing to humble himself as a king to implore a marquis to save the son of Li Xuanjing.

Atop the great hall, King Chun wore a pleading look on his face and was whispering something to Marquis Yunyang.

But due to the distance and King Chun’s soft voice, the specific content was unclear to the others.

It was not hard to guess that King Chun was pleading for Marquis Yunyang to spare Li Nuo.

King Chun’s face showed a beseeching expression, leaning close to the ear of Marquis Yunyang and softly said, "You have many sons; losing one or two means nothing. The title and position will still belong to your family. Xuanjing only has one son; if something happens to him, I will exterminate your entire family!"

Marquis Yunyang’s body trembled, and a chill ran through him.

He looked at King Chun in shock.

It was truly hard to imagine that someone could say such cruel words with a pleading expression.

King Chun bowed his fists to Marquis Yunyang and returned to the upper end of the great hall.

This scene, naturally, led the officials to reflect even more.

The current Li Xuanjing, although powerful, was still someone who could be restrained.

If King Chun were to ascend the throne in the future, with King Chun’s favoritism towards him, he would indeed be second only to none.

By then, the entire court might become a place ruled by his word alone.

King Chun returned to the top of the great hall, patted the armrest of the chair, and loudly declared, "Silence!"

Gradually, the court grew quiet.

King Chun looked at Marquis Yunyang and asked, "Marquis Yunyang, do you have anything to say?"

Marquis Yunyang’s complexion was pale, and after a moment of inner struggle, he bowed his head and said, "This minister has failed in his discipline, leading to such a grave crime by Li Yuan; he deserves death. I, I will not press charges..."

"What?"

"What did you say?"

"You’re doing what!"

The nobles beside him were taken aback, all speaking out.

The drastic change in Marquis Yunyang’s attitude also greatly surprised the courtiers.

Could it be that King Chun promised him some significant benefits?

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A feud as profound as killing a son should not be easily reconciled.

Unless King Chun promised him a huge benefit, how could Marquis Yunyang possibly relent?

Marquis Yongshou looked at him, astonished, and said, "Marquis Yunyang, you..."

Didn’t we agree that today in the court, we would present a united front?

The majesty of the nobles should not be challenged. Li Xuanjing’s son must die, or next time, it could be their sons.

They were fighting fiercely, and yet Marquis Yunyang capitulated first?

Marquis Yunyang kept his head bowed, saying nothing.

He had not expected that the usually kind-hearted King Chun could also be so ruthless.

He did not fear Li Xuanjing. Li Xuanjing, in his actions, at least followed some principles.

Although not many.

But King Chun was a first-class king, at the very pinnacle of Daxia’s nobles. If he decided to target the Marquis Yunyang Mansion, the Marquis Yunyang Mansion could truly be annihilated.

King Chun was right in one regard.

He had many sons; changing one still allowed the title to be passed down, and the family could at least continue for a hundred years.

But if King Chun was determined to kill him, it would not be long before Marquis Yunyang would cease to exist.

The grief and anger from losing his son were instantly washed away by King Chun’s words.

Atop the great hall, King Chun nodded in satisfaction and declared, "Marquis Yunyang has failed in disciplining his son, allowing him to commit murder; he should be sent to Zongzheng Si for questioning. But considering he lost his son, I will not pursue this further; Minister of Justice Li Xuanjing, for failing to discipline his son, will have his salary confiscated for one year as a punishment. His son Li Nuo, although committed a grave crime, has contributed services to the court; with merits offsetting the demerits, he will neither be rewarded nor punished..."