CHAPTER 205: CHAPTER 171: THE EIGHT DELIBERATIONS

It was over.

Li Ang looked up silently at the clear sky.

Now that the evidence in the case was conclusive, there was no possibility of reversal. Even Commandery Prince Changxiang could not get his son out of this.

During this period, he had thought of countless ways to find evidence, but in the end, the only effective one was producing iodine and extracting fingerprints with iodine vapor.

To produce iodine, one first needed to dry kelp roots and seaweed. These were then fried in a large iron pot until they turned into black, charcoal-like substances. Next, they were boiled with water three times while stirring continuously. After filtering, the solution was heated to concentrate it. Sulfuric acid was added to lower the pH value, followed by manganese powder. Finally, the mixture was heated to sublimate the iodine vapor, which was then condensed using a spherical condenser.

Through this whole set of processes, one could obtain activated carbon, pure inorganic salts, iodine, potassium iodide, and other extra materials.

Among them, activated carbon is an excellent physical and chemical adsorbent that can purify water sources. Potassium iodide can treat chronic pharyngitis, mouth ulcers, gingivitis, and periodontitis, and also prevent and treat thyroid goiter caused by iodine deficiency.

But...

Li Ang listened to the mournful cries coming from the Ministry of Justice—Old Man Nie and Nie Yuhuan holding Nie Shilei’s body—and slowly exhaled a turbid breath.

Regardless of whether Li Shenbin acted on lust or went mad with drink on the night of the Dragon Boat Festival, his crime had already resulted in the death of two innocents and the shattering of two families.

He and those servants who had assisted him in covering up his crime would pay the price.

Price.

Everything comes at a price.

In Commandery Prince Changxiang’s Mansion, the emaciated Li Chenghe, who had nearly lost all human form, sat on a pavilion chair, staring blankly into space.

The result of the trial was that Li Shenbin was found guilty.

Given his heinous crime—premeditated murder, framing, and obstruction of justice—compounded by multiple charges, he was to be executed.

It might have been an illusion, but sitting in the pavilion, Li Chenghe could faintly hear children’s rhymes on the street, singing about Mr. Li’s fearlessness and divine ability in cracking cases.

Perhaps thousands of years later, I too will be written into plays as a character, playing the role of the clown in the "Mr. Li" drama?

Commandery Prince Changxiang slowly stood up and hoarsely called out, "Someone."

A long while passed, with no response.

It dawned on Commandery Prince Changxiang that he had asked his servants to go far away, not to disturb him.

Besides, there were not many servants left in the house anyway—they had either boldly asked to leave or had been taken away by the Ministry of Justice for interrogation.

The Commandery Prince’s mansion was dead silent and desolate, much like the scene decades ago when his own father died mysteriously.

Li Chenghe coughed painfully for a while. Supporting his sick body, he crossed the silent corridor alone to the bathhouse.

Years ago, his health had not been good. He had heard that bathing could strengthen the body, so he had set up an outdoor bathhouse in his residence. It was lined with top-grade porcelain tiles and specifically used for entertaining guests.

Now, because no one used or maintained it, the bath was filled with dead branches and leaves, and the water had dried up halfway.

Li Chenghe silently shook his head, picked up a pole by the bath, painstakingly removing the dead branches and leaves. Then he opened the valve leading to the Dragon Head Channel, filling the pool with water.

The water flowed slowly. Li Chenghe sat on the bottom steps of the bathhouse, letting the icy water envelop his feet, rising gradually.

Calves, knees, stomach, chest.

The cold water was bone-chilling. Li Chenghe gradually stopped feeling the pain in his body, his vision filled with flashing scenes.

He had accomplished much at a young age. His best cousin had become the Crown Prince and then Emperor Yu, while he himself had progressed from Commandery Duke to Commandery Prince. The only regret was the misfortune of his family.

All his children had died young, leaving only a single son.

He doted on that son, wanting to give him everything, even personally engaging in business and dealing with merchants, facing ridicule from other Imperial Family members behind his back.

He believed that as long as the family existed, there would be a chance for everything.

As long as the family exists...

The cold water rose above his face, and his vision turned pitch black.

It was still the East Market, under the locust tree.

Zou Han, a prison guard from the Ministry of Justice, and Wu Shiqi, a Wannian County constable, were sitting at a food stall, eating locust leaf cold noodles.

They had just helped Old Man Nie’s family bury Nie Shilei. Since the case was clear, Meng Chengye and Jin Wusuan had already promised not to trouble Old Man Nie’s family any further.

Zou Han raised his head and looked at the locust tree casting its green shade overhead, casually asking, "How old do you think this locust tree is?"

Wu Shiqi carelessly said, "It must be three or four hundred years old, right? It was said that when Dharma of Zen came to the Central Plains to disseminate Zen teachings, he achieved enlightenment under a locust tree near the East Market. There were also rumors that any wish made under this locust tree, if pious enough, would come true."

"Pfft, you believe that too?" Zou Han shook his head and poured some vinegar into his noodles. "It’s just those sellers of locust leaf cold noodles and wish cards using it as an excuse to jack up prices."

TAP TAP TAP.

The sound of footsteps approached. A little beggar ran over in a hurry, whispering a few words into Wu Shiqi’s ear.

Wu Shiqi’s expression changed abruptly. "Commandery Prince Changxiang is dead?"

"Yes, he’s dead. Fell in the bathhouse, drowned." The little beggar wiped away his trickling snot, then spread out his palm toward Wu Shiqi. "Money."

"Here." Wu Shiqi pulled two folded five coins from his bosom and tossed them to the little beggar, watching as the boy’s hopping and skipping figure disappeared around the street corner.

At the Wannian County government office, he had been ostracized by other constables. To investigate cases, he had been forced to develop his own intelligence network. These beggars in Chang’an City were his best sources of information.

"Commandery Prince Changxiang is dead..."

Wu Shiqi furrowed his brow. Suicide out of fear of punishment? That doesn’t make sense. He was already dying from illness; even the Ministry of Justice couldn’t be bothered to investigate his crime of harboring a criminal or imprison him. Could it be to accompany his son in death? No, that’s not right either. His son won’t be executed until after autumn. If he dies now, there will be no one to arrange his son’s funeral.

"Maybe he felt life was hopeless and decided death was the only way out," Zou Han said absent-mindedly. "He only had that one son. With his son dead, his line would be extinguished, and all his wealth would be for nothing. No one could accept that, especially not someone of the Imperial Family. Heh, this can be considered just deserts. Who knows what other heinous deeds his son committed before this case..."

Suddenly, Wu Shiqi’s expression changed drastically. He stood up, nearly knocking over the bowl of locust leaf cold noodles on the table. "Wait, what did you say?"

Zou Han looked puzzled and subconsciously lowered his chopsticks. "Uh? Who knows what other heinous deeds his son committed before this case..."

"No, the sentence before that."

"His son is dead, so his family line is now extinct?"

Zou Han watched as Wu Shiqi’s complexion turned from pale to a livid hue. An uneasy feeling rose within him. "What’s wrong?"

"The ’Yu Law Explanations,’ the eight deliberations..." Wu Shiqi’s eyes lost focus, and he said hoarsely, "According to the Yu Law, for eight categories of individuals—kin, old acquaintances, the worthy, the virtuous, the able, the meritorious, the diligent, guests of the state, and the nobility—their criminal sentences could be reduced. For sentences lighter than exile, reduce the severity by one level. For capital punishment, it may be waived. After Commandery Prince Changxiang’s death, his Secondary First-rank Commandery Prince title would automatically pass on to..."

"...to his son, Li Shenbin," Zou Han finished, his face ashen.

"Is this His Majesty’s decree?"

"Yes."

In the Ministry of Justice, Yun Hanchi, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, clenched his fist, watching the yellow-robed eunuch from the palace before him—Yang Enchao, Assistant Director of the Imperial Eunuch Department.

"Commandery Prince Changxiang once saved His Majesty’s life, earning the merit of a rescuer. He willingly took his own life to save his only son, further depleting His Majesty’s circle of old friends." Yang Enchao lowered his eyelids as he delivered the message. "In consideration of Commandery Prince Changxiang, the Ministry of Justice should alter Li Chenghe’s death sentence."

"...Altered to what?"

"Exiled four thousand miles, never to return for all eternity."

"...Very well."

"I demand to see His Majesty!"

SLAP!

The resounding slap echoed through the secret room of the Liu Guang Bank.

Jin Wusuan expressionlessly withdrew his stinging palm, looking at Meng Chengye, whose eyes and one cheek were flushed red. "What do you expect to do by seeing His Majesty? Hm? Seek justice? Complain? Do you have a waist token? Are you qualified to enter Chengtian Gate? Do you think just because you saw His Majesty from afar at the Great Ming Palace Han Yuan Hall during the Lantern Festival, representing Liu Guang Bank, that he remembers who you are?"

Meng Chengye hung his head, covering his reddened cheek, his teeth grinding audibly.

"Commandery Prince Changxiang, a Commandery Prince of Secondary First-rank, has taken his own life," Jin Wusuan said, his voice more forceful as he spoke to his friend. "Li Shenbin has been sentenced to exile four thousand miles, likely to some island in the Ten Thousand Desolate Mountains or the Endless Sea. In such a barren and treacherous place, even if he practiced Body Refinement martial arts, he wouldn’t live for many years. He will still die."

"How many more years?" Meng Chengye still had his head lowered as he retorted. "Are changes of court orders by nightfall really that rare nowadays? The Crown Prince’s wedding, the birth of a royal grandson, the establishment of an empress, victories in great battles, changing of the era name, expanding territories, encountering natural disasters... Any single one of those reasons is enough to issue a general amnesty. Eldest Son, are you suggesting I sit in Chang’an and wait for Li Shenbin to return?"

"..."

Jin Wusuan was silent for a moment, then spoke somberly, "All under heaven is the King’s land. Within its shores, all are the King’s ministers. All of Yu Country belongs to the Li Family."