Lady, escort the emperor! 13
Chapter 13: Butterfly [Seeking Collections]
June 29, 2024
Chapter 13: Butterfly [Seeking Collections]
Chang’an County Yamen, back hall.
A constable strode into the room, excitedly saying, “Sir, Cui Ze has confessed! Zheng Yuanwai’s murder was a joint effort by him and Zhang Xiaoyun. They had a long-standing affair. According to Cui Ze, Zhang Xiaoyun orchestrated everything, and he was merely misled… After Cui Ze’s confession, Zhang Xiaoyun also admitted her guilt.”
None of this surprised the Chang’an County Magistrate.
He glanced at Li Nuo, who was across from him, perusing the *Da Xia Law*. He sighed inwardly. Like father, like son. Li Xuanying’s son couldn’t possibly be a fool. On the contrary, he was not only incredibly intelligent and observant, but his understanding and manipulation of human nature were truly exquisite.
Li Nuo had only tried a simple test; he hadn’t expected them to confess so quickly. He had been considering using a powerful memory retrieval technique if his strategy failed. Even if they were tortured, it wouldn’t be unjust, given the confirmed culprit.
The County Magistrate’s gaze was peculiar, but Li Nuo didn’t care. He was more concerned about how many extra days this case would add to his lifespan. He immediately asked, “Can these two be sentenced to death?”
Pei Zhe nodded, casually opening the *Da Xia Law*, pointing to a page, and saying to Li Nuo, “According to Da Xia Law, if a woman commits adultery and her lover kills her husband, even if the adulterous wife or concubine was unaware, they are equally guilty… These two conspired to murder Zheng Yuanwai, and both deserve the death penalty. However, Cui Ze is an accomplice and confessed willingly, so his punishment can be mitigated: one hundred strokes of the bastinado, three years of hard labor, and exile of three thousand li.”
Li Nuo examined the legal article. Compared to later generations, Da Xia’s laws in this regard were vastly different.
In Da Xia, if a lover murders a husband, the adulterous wife or concubine, regardless of their knowledge, is treated as equally culpable and may face decapitation or strangulation depending on circumstances. Cui Ze and Zhang Xiaoyun’s murder of Zheng Yuanwai was premeditated, thus deserving death.
However, officials have some leeway in sentencing. Given that Cui Ze was an accomplice and confessed, the punishment could be lessened. But this only temporarily spared him from death. Even without the three thousand li exile, the one hundred strokes alone could kill him – life or death depended solely on his luck.
The County Magistrate wrote the verdict, awaiting their signatures and seals. Li Nuo casually flipped through the *Da Xia Law*, suddenly noticing another article.
“Any servant or maidservant who plots the murder of their master will be decapitated. Plotting the murder of a master’s close relative results in strangulation; if injuries are inflicted, decapitation.”
In ancient times, people valued a whole corpse. Between capital punishments, decapitation was considered more severe than strangulation. This article stated that any household servant or maid plotting to murder a family member of their master, regardless of whether the family member was harmed, would be executed. Anyone plotting to harm their master, regardless of whether the master was injured, would be decapitated.
According to Da Xia Law, the female assassin, being a servant of the Li household, committed a crime of lèse-majesté (committing a crime against the sovereign or those in power), plotting to murder her master, and causing injury. She should be executed.
But the Chang’an County Magistrate only sentenced her to two years of imprisonment for intentional assault.
Li Nuo looked at the County Magistrate. Given his understanding of the *Da Xia Law*, this error seemed impossible. After all, he could accurately cite legal articles, finding the correct page effortlessly – this was equivalent to a veteran judge mistaking attempted murder for intentional assault. And in this case, there was no room for confusion.
But Li Nuo didn’t point it out.
He was trained under modern law. Under modern criminal law, she might receive a three-to-five-year sentence, but certainly not the death penalty. In the 21st century, everyone is equal; there are no longer servants and maids, nor the crime of lèse-majesté.
The *Treasured Tome*, however, seemed to endorse this verdict.
Sentencing her to two years imprisonment allowed Li Nuo two extra days to live; sentencing her to death wouldn’t add a single day.
It seemed the *Treasured Tome* didn’t adhere to current laws, possessing its own logic and ideas regarding sentencing.
Noticing Li Nuo’s gaze lingering on a section of the *Da Xia Law*, the County Magistrate glanced over, seeing where his eyes were fixed. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Could it be? Those legal articles, composed of simple, common characters, were likely readable to him. This meant he knew that the Magistrate had intentionally given a light sentence in a previous case?
Pei Zhe was uneasy. Only when he saw Li Nuo finally turn the page, without comment, did he wipe the sweat from his brow, burying himself in writing the verdict.
Meanwhile.
Deep within Chang’an Street, behind a high gate.
The sun blazed, shade covered the ground, cicadas chirped incessantly, and silence reigned.
In a quiet inner chamber, incense burned in a censer, filling the air with a calming and soothing scent.
A figure rushed through the shade, shattering the quiet, entering the room, taking a deep breath to compose themselves, before speaking, “Sir, the Butterfly has been caught…”
In the tranquil room, a figure seated cross-legged on a straw mat, eyes closed, slowly opened their eyes, saying, “Continue.”
The person said slowly; “Zheng Tianxing is dead. Everyone in the Zheng household was arrested in the Chang’an County Yamen this morning. But shortly afterwards, everyone except the Butterfly and Cui Ze was released. Their fate is likely grim…”
Pausing, he continued, “Cui Ze’s death is death, but the Butterfly has been cultivated for over a decade; she can be used again. Sir, should we send someone…”
The man called “Sir” looked at him, coldly saying, “Fool, if we could have made a bigger scene, why would we have gone to such lengths to arrange her proximity to Zheng Tianxing?”
The man’s lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing.
The man fell silent for a moment, asking, “With the Butterfly’s skill, killing a defenseless merchant, even with an accomplice, wouldn’t leave any clues or flaws. How could she be discovered so quickly?”
At this, the man angrily said, “It should have been impossible to discover. Last night, many people were in the Zheng residence. No matter how suspicious the Chang’an County Magistrate was, he wouldn’t have suspected the Butterfly. The case would have likely been dropped like the others. Unexpectedly, someone interfered, helping the County Magistrate solve the case…”
The man sipped his tea, saying, “It doesn’t matter. It’s only one person lost; as long as it doesn’t affect the larger plan.”
The man still couldn’t swallow his anger, gritting his teeth, “The Butterfly is one of their most talented. It takes over a decade to cultivate someone like her, originally meant for something bigger later on. To be lost on the Zheng Tianxing case…I can’t stand it! I won’t rest until she is torn to shreds!”
The man didn’t want to cause further trouble, but seeing his subordinate’s obvious rage, to calm him down, after deliberation, he promised, “Go. Remember to be discreet, avoid suspicion.”
The man was instantly delighted, bowing, “Thank you, Sir!”
The man waved his hand, casually asking, “By the way, what is this person’s identity?”
The man said as he left, “Li Nuo, son of the Dali Temple Minister, Li Xuanying…”
“Come back!”
Hearing a sharp shout from behind, the man turned, puzzled, “Sir, what is it?”
The man’s eyelids twitched several times. He rebuked, “Damn it, I avoid the Li family like the plague, yet you seek them out? Are you tired of living?”
The man was stunned, uncertain, “Sir, is Li Xuanying really that terrifying?”
The man took a deep breath, calming himself before saying, “You’re not in the court, you don’t know how powerful he is. This matter ends here. Don’t even think about bothering his son again!”
The man could only bow his head, whispering, “Yes…”
At this moment, the man stood from his mat, pacing the room, occasionally rubbing his temples, muttering, “Li Xuanying…Did he find something out? Impossible, this matter is so secretive. It must be a coincidence…”
After a long time, he looked at the person behind him, asking, “Is the Butterfly reliable?”
The man nodded, “Sir, rest assured, even in death, she won’t reveal anything about us.”
“I don’t know if Li Xuanying’s appearance was accidental, but we can’t let the Butterfly fall into his hands. Otherwise, Chang’an will be a bloodbath. Even you and I will not survive…” The man considered for a moment, gently made a throat-slitting gesture, saying, “Just in case…you understand?”
“Understood.”
The man nodded, asking, “Then Cui Ze, should we…?”
The man waved his hand, “No need for that. He knows nothing. If anything happens to him, it will arouse suspicion. This case involves Li Xuanying; we must be extremely careful, not showing any clues…”
(End of Chapter)
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