#147: The Law Shows No Mercy

“I understand, but…” Yunyi turned to Li Shimin. “I heard Second Young Master mention that we’re still short on conscripts. Why not spare their lives and allow them to serve the court instead?”

“Preposterous!” Magistrate Qin snapped. “The imperial decree clearly states that any soldier or laborer attempting to escape, regardless of reason, along with their families, shall be executed. If we were to pardon them as you suggest, tomorrow everyone would flee. After all, even if caught, they’d only face conscription.”

“But…” Yunyi tried to continue, but Li Shimin quickly pulled her aside and addressed Magistrate Qin. “Meixue knows the Fang family and couldn’t bear to see them executed. Her words were spoken out of emotion. I hope Magistrate Qin won’t hold it against her.”

Magistrate Qin clasped his hands. “I understand, but the Fang family cannot be spared. I ask for Second Young Master’s understanding.”

Li Shimin sighed softly and nodded. “I understand. Magistrate Qin, handle this according to the law.”

“Thank you for your understanding.” Magistrate Qin inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. If Li Shimin had insisted on pleading for the Fangs, it would have been difficult to handle.

“Take them away—execute them!” Magistrate Qin’s order sent a wave of panic through Yunyi. She pleaded, “Second Young Master, can’t you truly save them?”

Li Shimin closed his eyes briefly, then said helplessly, “It’s not that I refuse to save them—it’s that I can’t. They broke the law first. Meixue, the law cannot be violated!”

Meanwhile, Aunt Fang, being forcibly dragged away by constables, realizing there was no hope, shouted curses. “Damn the tyrant emperor! Ruthless and cruel, he treats our lives as worthless. He’ll face retribution one day—mark my words, he’ll suffer worse than us! Hahaha!”

Yunyi clenched her fists tightly. Three innocent lives were about to be extinguished, and she could do nothing. She hated this feeling of helplessness.

Even after they were taken away, Aunt Fang’s words continued to echo in Yunyi’s ears. If this continued, her father—the emperor—would lose all support from the people!

If Li Yuan didn’t rebel, someone else surely would. The Sui dynasty was on the verge of collapse!

Not long after the Fang family incident, Duan Zhiming entered. Due to Magistrate Qin’s presence, he said nothing, only nodding slightly at Li Shimin, who understood immediately. After asking a few more questions about the conscription, Li Shimin took Yunyi and left. Once outside the county office, he asked, “What did you find?”

“Your suspicions were correct, Second Young Master. As soon as Lu Sheng left, he met with someone you also know—Li Feng.”

Li Shimin was surprised. “Li Feng? The one dismissed and punished with flogging for forging evidence?”

“Yes. From what I overheard, Lu Sheng indeed forged the household registry. Besides changing Wu Laosan’s age from fifty to forty-nine, they altered a few others, making some younger and others older, allowing these individuals to avoid conscription while profiting from it themselves.”

Yunyi perked up. “So does this mean my father has a chance?”

Duan Zhiming shook his head. “What I overheard can’t be used as evidence. Even if we find the bribes they received, it proves nothing. To save Wu Laosan, there’s only one way—find the original household registry.”

“What if they’ve destroyed it?”

Li Shimin shook his head. “Unlikely. This registry involves more than just Wu Laosan, so Lu Sheng wouldn’t discard it—he’s just hidden it somewhere. For now, we don’t know where.” After pondering for a moment, he instructed, “Zhiming, continue monitoring Lu Sheng’s every move. Most importantly, find that ledger.”

“Yes, understood.” Duan Zhiming bowed and left. Li Shimin and Yunyi continued toward the Taishou’s mansion. Along the way, Yunyi remained silent. As they approached the gates, Li Shimin glanced at her. “Still thinking about the Fang family?”

Yunyi replied gloomily, “Uncle Fang and his family were good people. Every time I visited, Aunt Fang would bring delicious food. Now… in such a short time, all three are gone. It’s hard to accept.” Looking up at Li Shimin, she added, “The law exists for a reason, but isn’t it also said that the law accommodates human feelings? Why couldn’t Second Young Master help them? Even saving one person would have been something.”

“Magistrate Qin was right earlier. If I pardoned the Fangs today, tomorrow thousands would try to flee, plunging Honghua Prefecture into chaos. Then what? Should we execute them all or let them go?”

His words left Yunyi speechless. After a long pause, she finally asked, “So… Uncle Fang and his family must die?”

Li Shimin’s expression remained impassive. “Yes. I know they’re pitiful, but for the greater good, they must die.”

Yunyi fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Why does the Emperor keep attacking Goguryeo? From what I know, Goguryeo hasn’t invaded our borders in the past six months. Haven’t any ministers advised him against this war?”

Li Shimin was surprised by her question but ultimately replied, “The Emperor is stubborn and unyielding. And…” He wanted to say that Yang Guang was capricious, and any minister who spoke out of turn risked suspicion or even execution, but thought better of saying this to Yunyi. Instead, he changed tack. “In any case, as subjects, we follow the Emperor’s orders. Hopefully, after this war, peace will return, and the people can rest and recover from the turmoil.”

With complex emotions, Yunyi nodded. Together, they entered the Taishou’s mansion. Just inside the gate, they saw Steward Lin speaking with the gatekeeper. Upon noticing Li Shimin, he quickly bowed. “Greetings, Second Young Master.”

Li Shimin nodded casually and headed toward Jingji Pavilion. After taking a few steps, they heard Steward Lin scolding Yunyi. “You dare to return so late! You were supposed to return before nightfall after visiting home on the fifteenth. Look at you, dragging it out until now.”

“Steward Lin, please calm down. Something urgent came up at home, so…” Before Yunyi could finish, Lin interrupted. “So you think it’s acceptable to return this late? How presumptuous! Come with me to see Madame!”

Before Steward Lin could drag Yunyi away, Li Shimin’s voice cut in. “Steward Lin!”

Lin quickly turned. “How may I assist Second Young Master?”

“Yesterday, I instructed Meixue to handle some matters, which is why she returned late. With so many tasks recently, I forgot to inform Second Madam. It’s not Meixue’s fault.”

Stunned, Lin forced a smile. “Ah, I see—it was Second Young Master’s arrangement. My apologies for misunderstanding.”