CHAPTER 206: CHAPTER 172 DEMON

"From execution, to exile..."

In the hall of the Golden City Mansion, Li Ang’s hand clenched into a fist upon hearing the news, then relaxed.

"I’m sorry."

Li Leqing’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum.

"It has nothing to do with you."

Li Ang gave a wry smile and waved his hand.

Discussions of kinship, past conduct, virtues, abilities, accomplishments, nobility, diligence, and guests. This eight-deliberation system originated from the eight exemptions of the Western Zhou Dynasty and was formally codified and implemented in the New Law during the Cao Wei period, continuing to this day. After Prince Changxiang voluntarily accepted death, Li Shenbin, who inherited the peerage, had his punishment reduced, which was completely in accordance with Yu Law.However...

"Those servants who assisted him in committing the crime and covered up his wrongdoing were all convicted of serious crimes. The worst of them, the carriage driver who had given him the idea and found Nie Shilei to frame, was sentenced to hanging."

Li Ang fell silent for a while, then suddenly asked, "Leqing, have you ever heard of ’Journey to the West’?"

"Hm?"

Li Leqing was stunned for a moment. Although she didn’t know why Li Ang was asking, she still answered, "Is it that popular novel adapted from the ’Records of the Western Regions’ by the high monk Xuanzang of the early Yu Chu period?"

"Yes."

Li Ang nodded, speaking lightly, "The story is filled with all kinds of demons and spirits, each with different fates.

On Jingji Ridge, the harmless tree spirit was killed outright due to the baseless fear that ’it might turn into a Demon and harm people in the future.’

In the Tongtian River, the Great King of Numinous Power, who specifically ate young boys and girls, was spared because he was a goldfish in The Bodhisattva Guanyin’s lotus pond and was taken away following a plea.

In Lion Camel Country, the Great Peng with golden wings that devoured all the people in the city was spared because he was related to Tathagata.

In the Kingdom of Biqiu, the White Deer Spirit, which deceived the king into using the hearts and livers of eleven hundred and eleven young children as a medicinal primer, was taken back to heaven because it was the mount of the Antarctic birthday boy.

In addition, there was the Turtle Dragon of Black Water River, the Golden-haired Hou of Zhuzi Country, the Golden Horn and Silver Horn of Lotus Cave on Flat Peak Mountain...

The lesser demons and spirits, if killed, were simply killed. Conversely, the Great Demons, despite their heinous crimes, could escape punishment for various reasons and return to enjoy blessings in Heaven due to their connections with the Gods and Buddhas."

"..."

Li Leqing was at a loss for words. The Golden Horn and Silver Horn Kings of Lotus Cave were children serving under the Taiqing Daoist Venerable—Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, guarding his golden furnace. And one of the incarnations of Lord Lao Zi was Laozi, claimed as an ancestor by the Li Yu Imperial Family.

Li Ang’s words were so clearly directed. If someone in the palace heard them, he could be questioned: "What are you implying? Who are you ridiculing? What is your purpose in saying these things?"

"...Just take it as my rambling."

Li Ang smiled, stood up, and walked outside.

In the study, Chai Chai was still immersed in his studies. On the street, it was bustling with vehicles and pedestrians, a scene of prosperity.

The rich and peaceful Yu Country, and the Academic Palace dedicated to practical world solutions and exterminating demons, were real. The wrongful deaths of Nie Shilei and Meng Ying, and Li Shenbin’s escape from the death penalty, were also real.

"Once upon a time, on a mountain, lived the Kings Golden Horn and Silver Horn..."

Li Ang hummed a little tune that suddenly popped into his mind, leaning against the mansion’s courtyard wall, watching the scene on Chang’an Street.

DRIP—

At an angle where no one could see, a drop of Mo Si slowly seeped from his shoe sole and fell into the crack of the stone cover of the drain.

DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.

The Mo Si formed a continuous, thread-like line, drifting eastwards along the stream.

————

"Old Man Nie, why are you here in the East Market so early today?"

"Your Eldest Son only recently passed away, and now you’re already out here setting up your stall, isn’t that..."

"Everyone, please, let’s not say too much. Sigh, what a terrible state of affairs."

On the streets of the East Market, a group of familiar neighbors gathered around a stall displaying bamboo goods, casting sympathetic glances at Old Man Nie’s wife, who sat on a small wooden stool.

Old Man Nie’s expression was submissive as he hung his head low, mumbling something indistinctly.

"We need to survive."

"My son is gone, but I still have a daughter to support."

"Please make way, everyone, I still have business to attend to..."

In contrast, Nie Yuhuan’s expression was even more numb.

She sat on the small wooden stool, staring blankly down at her dusty shoe tips, the empty bamboo flower basket placed beside her foot.

TAP. TAP. TAP—

The sound of dense footsteps drew nearer from afar.

A group of constables from the Ministry of Justice, escorting a prisoner in shackles, headed towards the East Market.

These men saw Old Man Nie, and Old Man Nie saw them too.

Among the constables, Zou Han stood frozen. The command from above had been issued too hastily, requiring them to escort Li Shenbin out of the city by evening and travel day and night to the place of exile. Their current passage through the East Market was to allow Li Shenbin to proceed to Xingning Square, for a final visit in connection with Prince Changxiang, who had voluntarily accepted death, thereby fulfilling an act of filial piety.

However, Zou Han hadn’t expected Old Man Nie to appear here, especially so soon after Nie Shilei’s funeral.

"..."

Li Shenbin, wearing heavy shackles and slightly disheveled prison clothes, noticed Old Man Nie unconsciously standing up in the distance. His lips slowly curled into a victor’s smile.

"Haha, hahaha."

The smile turned into loud laughter, even bringing tears to his eyes.

Li Shenbin wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand, urging the prison guards, who had paused, in a cold voice, "What are you all standing around for? Hurry and take me to Xingning Square."

He no longer cared about the gaze of outsiders. After the death of Prince Changxiang, he had become known as an unfilial and unrighteous person who had driven his own father to death, leaving him with no standing even among his relatives in the Imperial Family. He would never return to the days of unrestrained luxury. But what did that matter? Even without the status of a noble, the substantial inheritance left by his father was still his. Even if he became a rich man in a remote State Mansion, it would be a hundred times better than penniless common folk, better than those dead.

Li Shenbin, with the constables guarding him, smiled as he stepped into the East Market.

Old Man Nie instinctively took several steps forward towards Li Shenbin but was blocked by the neighbors and by Zou Han and the other constables of the Ministry of Justice.

The exile punishment for Li Shenbin was personally decreed by the Emperor. To intervene at this time would be to defy the imperial command.

"Calm down, just calm down!"

Zou Han shouted loudly, trying to stop Old Man Nie from rushing forward.

Perhaps because Old Man Nie’s expression was too enraged, a constable took his scabbard and heavily struck his chest, knocking him to the ground where he lay groaning in pain.

The neighbors quickly bent down to check on Old Man Nie’s injuries, leading to a chaotic scene.

Li Shenbin, however, maintained a cold expression, striding forward as if this drama had nothing to do with him.

"..."

Nie Yuhuan looked up, watching Li Shenbin pass by. Her small fists clenched so tightly that her fingernails dug deeply into the flesh of her palm, drawing blood.

A breeze blew, stirring the locust trees in silence.