plumnovel Chapter 112 Law of the Song Dynasty
Chapter 112 Law of the Song Dynasty
In the back hall of the yamen, Li Chong flipped through the "Song Dynasty Criminal Code," his expression somewhat grave.
The full name of the Song Dynasty Criminal Code is the Song Dynasty Jianlong Revised Criminal Code, which was formulated in the fourth year of the Jianlong reign of the Northern Song Dynasty under the supervision of Dou Yi, the Minister of Works and the Judge of the Court of Judicial Review.
At that time, it was the end of the Five Dynasties period, and the people were known for their fierce and unruly nature. In order to stabilize the people's hearts, the Song Criminal Code was revised based on the Tang Code and the Xiande Criminal Code of the Later Zhou Dynasty.
Subsequently, Zhao Kuangyin issued an edict ordering the Dali Temple to carve and print the code, which was then promulgated throughout the country, becoming the first legal code in Chinese history to be printed.
Of course, Li Chong was unaware of the background and consequences of the creation of the "Song Criminal Code".
However, if he wanted to perform his duties properly, he would certainly need to be thoroughly familiar with the laws of the Northern Song Dynasty.
Now that the Zhu family had killed their maid, Li Chong brought it up again, intending to find the corresponding legal provisions, but the result was not satisfactory.
"So, how about it? Can we kill that纨绔 (playboy) openly and honestly, and avenge Aunt Zhang's daughter?"
Zhong Mei looked somewhat anxious.
But Li Chong shook his head: "It's hard to say. According to the law, even if Zhu Bingzhong killed someone, it seems he wouldn't be sentenced to death. Let alone the death penalty, even exile would be difficult."
"Look here."
Pointing to the record in the law book, Li Chong shook his head.
Zhongmei eagerly peeked out and saw that it was written clearly on it.
The Song Dynasty Criminal Code, in its section on litigation, stipulates: "If a slave is guilty and his master kills him without seeking legal recourse, he shall be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane; if he kills an innocent slave, he shall be punished with one year of penal servitude."
Even if a master kills a servant innocently, the maximum penalty is only one year of penal servitude. To exchange a human life for a year is utterly despicable.
Zhong Mei, her face flushed with anger, slammed her hand on the table and exclaimed, "Isn't it supposed to be 'a life for a life'? What kind of ridiculous law is this?!"
Li Chong waved his hand, signaling her to lower her voice, then turned a few more pages and placed the book in front of her.
"Anything else?"
Zhong Mei picked up the book and looked at it; another law was written on it.
"Any master who beats a servant to death shall be sentenced to one year of penal servitude; if he intentionally kills him, the sentence shall be increased by one degree. Those who commit offenses punishable by death, or who kill by mistake, shall not be punished."
Zhong Mei, filled with righteous indignation, said, "So, according to that logic, if Zhu Bingzhong insists it was an accidental killing, you can't even punish him?"
Li Chong was also very angry, but he had no choice but to nod.
This era was a cannibalistic era; slaves had no human rights.
Murderers are punished with their lives, but in the eyes of the imperial court, they were not even human, so naturally the murderers would not be made to pay with their lives.
"Looks like my method works!" Zhong Mei suddenly stood up. "You don't need to worry about this. I'll go find Wu Er and have him send a message to the mountains. It's time to avenge my father."
"Come back!"
Li Chong grabbed Zhong Mei and pulled her back.
Because of the excessive force, Zhongmei stumbled and fell directly into Li Chong's arms.
Li Chong was knocked backward by the impact, and the two ended up embracing each other, the atmosphere freezing for a moment.
"this……"
Li Chong was embarrassed and didn't know what to say. He had wanted to stop her from fooling around, but it turned out like this. Would Zhong Mei think that he was deliberately taking advantage of her?
Zhong Mei's face was flushed, and her mind was filled with all sorts of wild thoughts.
"What does he mean by this? This is a government office, could he be...?"
Just as the two were lost in thought, footsteps sounded.
"Master, Wu Tou is back. He brought Young Master Zhu the Second. Look..."
Upon seeing the two embracing, the yamen runner who came to deliver the message paused for a moment, then quickly retreated.
This is not something he can see.
However, deep down, he couldn't help but feel a little contemptuous. In broad daylight, he was mingling with maids in the yamen. Was his master just like everyone else?
"ah!"
Upon hearing the voices of outsiders, Zhong Mei jumped up, nudged Li Chong, and quickly stood up.
"You, you, you..."
Li Chong awkwardly straightened his clothes: "Ahem! Well, don't overthink it, I just wanted to tell you not to be so impulsive."
When the conversation turned to business, their expressions gradually returned to normal.
Zhong Mei turned her back: "So we're just going to let him get away with it?"
Although, according to the law, Zhu Bingzhong is not exactly out of the loop.
However, the law is not without human sentiment. Emotionally, neither Li Chong nor Zhong Mei could accept that Zhu Bingzhong could kill someone and get away scot-free.
"Don't worry." Li Chong pressed down on Zhong Mei's shoulder, looking at her earnestly. "As an official, I act with conscience. If he wants to live a carefree life, he'll have to see if I give him the chance! I will definitely find a way. Even if I can't kill him, I'll make him suffer enough!"
After a moment of eye contact with Li Chong, Zhong Mei avoided his gaze.
She said in a low voice, "The person who came just now said that the person has been brought back. It's time for you to go to court. I'll go get your official robe."
Li Chong nodded with a smile.
Soon, Li Chong, dressed in his official robes, turned and left the inner hall to begin his court hearing.
"So majestic!"
Li Chong sat upright in the hall and ordered in a deep voice, "Bring the man up to me!"
The Zhang family of three, led by the yamen runners, entered the courtroom. On the other side, Zhu Bingzhong, led by his elder brother Zhu Binghe, also came before Li Chong.
"Recorder Zhu?" Li Chong looked up and asked in surprise.
Zhu Binghe bowed and clasped his hands: "Your Excellency, I have failed to discipline my younger brother properly, and he has committed a crime. I am truly ashamed. I have brought this boy to court today to demonstrate justice."
Zhu Bingzhong, standing to the side, scoffed, his face full of disdain.
Li Chong looked over and said, "But to this official, it seems your younger brother has no intention of repenting."
Zhu Binghe patted his younger brother, Zhu Bingzhong, who then reluctantly bowed to Li Chong and said, "Greetings, County Magistrate."
Their attitude was extremely perfunctory.
Seeing the two brothers' appearance, the family of three standing nearby became even more nervous.
The three plaintiffs knelt down to respond, while the defendant stood nonchalantly to the side. It's hard to tell who is in the right.
But what's done is done, and there's no turning back for them.
The woman steeled herself and kowtowed, pleading, "Please, Your Honor, do justice for my daughter!"
Her sudden words not only attracted the attention of everyone present, but also startled Zhu Bingzhong.
His eyes flashed with a fierce light: "So you're the one who wants to sue me? That wretched wretch drowned himself, and my family not only helped bury him but also paid him a sum of money. You're still not satisfied; you're truly insatiable!"
Zhang's husband, Zhu Li, stepped forward to protect his wife and child, and argued, "Second Young Master, my daughter has always been a good swimmer, how could she possibly have accidentally drowned?"
"Then what do you mean by saying that? Are you saying I'm spouting nonsense?" Zhu Bingzhong asked in a sinister voice, "But why didn't you mention it when your family was collecting money? Did you think the money wasn't enough?"
With a sob in her voice, Zhang said, "It's less than a string of cash in total, I'll give it back to you. My daughter may be worthless, but she's still a human life, we can't just let it go like this!"
"You're talking nonsense!" Zhu Bingzhong retorted, jumping up and down.
"Snapped!"
Li Chong slammed his hand on the court table with a grim face: "This is the main hall, not the execution ground! Listen to my judgment!"