Chapter 38 All on Conscience

"Natural disasters and man-made calamities, in troubled times with no food, some people would trade their children for food, pawn their wives and sell their children just to survive. But now that times are peaceful and prosperous, they are sending their daughters to hell just to find a wife for their sons. Isn't that illegal?"

Zhang Qingyuan: “…”

Isn't this a dandy prince? How come he is so righteous?

Zhang Qingyuan sighed, "Not really. I've already said that the grace of giving birth to a child is greater than heaven. Parents don't impose a sentence even if they kill their own children, let alone their daughters."

"Whether parents treat their children well or badly, and whether a husband treats his wife well or badly, all depends on conscience."

All on conscience...

Four light words can decide someone's life or death.

And women...are the ones who are more likely to be abandoned and harmed.

Xiao Ning clenched the whip in his hand.

"Why doesn't the court legislate sentencing to prevent this kind of thing from happening?"

Zhang Qingyuan: "...It has been like this since ancient times. Even after the founding of the Great Yong Kingdom, no relevant laws or regulations were issued."

Zhang Qingyuan's matter-of-fact tone made Xiao Ning very angry.

"Does it mean it's right just because it's always been like this?"

Zhang Qingyuan: “…”

Why are you angry with him?

He was the Jingzhao Yin who had only been in office for two years...

He was a man of conscience. He never beat or scolded his wives or concubines for no reason, and he treated his children equally.

Of course, boys will definitely hold on tighter, after all, they will have to support the family in the future.

Xiao Ning loosened his grip on the whip.

In this case, it is certainly impossible to punish these people with the law, let alone take this opportunity to educate them.

Those in power all speak in a matter-of-fact tone.

Not to mention these ordinary people with low education levels.

Xiao Ning suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

Since she came to this world, she only felt that the world was peaceful and the sunshine was gentle, but she didn't expect that hidden under the sunshine was a deeper quagmire.

And she has no way to change the status quo for the time being.

Xiao Ning quickly calmed down and said to Zhang Qingyuan, "Sir, Lin Wu owes a debt and refuses to pay it back. This..."

Xiao Ning looked at the short and fat Manager Zhao, thought for a moment before saying, "Manager Zhao, right? He ordered the guards at home to beat me, and then incited the villagers here to beat me up. Please, sir, make the decision and give me justice."

When Manager Zhao heard this, he ran over and knelt on the ground, kowtowed, "Your Excellency, please be magnanimous and spare me!"

"Yes, it's because I'm blind and don't know you, sir, that I did such a stupid thing!"

Xiao Ning ignored him and just looked at Zhang Qingyuan.

Zhang Qingyuan raised his hand, and the yamen runners behind him scattered to arrest people.

Soon, Lin Wu and his wife were brought in front of Zhang Qingyuan, and the men who had previously beaten Xiao Ning were now kneeling on the ground in an orderly manner.

Wang Cuihua's face turned pale.

She didn't expect that this person would actually call the police.

It's all that damn girl's fault. Why did she run away when she just married him obediently? She even scared the horse!

This unlucky star is about to kill the whole family!

Zhang Qingyuan looked around and asked, "Where is Lin Wu?"

"I am..."

Lin Wu looked up nervously, his body trembling slightly.

"Why are you in debt?"

Lin Wu wanted to cry but had no tears. "It's unfair, sir. I really don't owe him any money. It's..."

Lin Wu secretly glanced at Xiao Ning, shrugged his shoulders, and whispered, "It was my third daughter who frightened this gentleman's horse... My wife has left the third daughter with you as an apology..."

As soon as these words came out, Xiao Ning chuckled: "Your girl can't afford to compensate me for my frightened horse."

Zhang Qingyuan was a little overwhelmed. This prince consort was lying with his eyes open. Wasn't her horse here safe and sound?

But he still cooperated with Xiao Ning in the performance.

Although the law does not stipulate this, he also looks down on people who sell their daughters for ghost marriages, and he believes that such people should be punished.

"Lin Wu, since it was your daughter's fault, it's only natural for her parents to bear the responsibility. Just return the money and the matter will be over. I won't make things difficult for you."

Lin Wu: "...but he wants one hundred taels! Even if I sold all my children and wives, I'm afraid I still wouldn't be able to get that much!"

Zhang Qingyuan: “…”

Wow, this guy really dares to ask for such a high price.

Zhang Qingyuan touched his forehead and said to Xiao Ning: "Look at this..."

Xiao Ning flicked his whip, his face full of impatience: "What bad luck!"

"How about this? Leave these two girls of yours to me to pay off the debt. I'll calculate it based on the price you sold them to the Zhao family, 25 taels each, a total of 50 taels, and you can give me 30 taels."

When Manager Zhao heard this, he panicked.

The young master was the beloved one by the master and his wife. Now that he is gone, the master and his wife are heartbroken. They specially picked out a bride for their ghost marriage and even asked someone to read her horoscope.

If this thing goes wrong, his job as a manager will be over!

Finding a new person requires matching their horoscopes, which is another hassle.

We can't keep the young master's body at home forever.

"Your Excellency! You...you are so generous. The Zhao family will pay for the hundred taels. Could you please keep the girl from the Lin family?"

Manager Zhao forced a smile on his chubby face.

Xiao Ning looked at Zhang Qingyuan and said, "Master Zhang, what is the punishment for instructing others to beat up the prince of the Marquisate and the current imperial consort?"

Zhang Qingyuan: "It depends on the severity of the offense. For someone like you who didn't sustain any serious injuries, the principal offender will receive 40 strokes of the cane, and the accomplice 20 strokes of the cane."

Xiao Ning nodded in satisfaction: "Then please have someone take him down for execution."

"Two hundred taels, my Lord, I will give you two hundred taels, please spare me this time..."

"I won't take Miss Lin with me either..."

"My Lord..."

"Master Zhang..."

Manager Zhao struggled and was dragged away.

Several guards from the Zhao Mansion who had previously fought with Xiao Ning were also dragged away.

As for the villagers who were instigated later, Xiao Ning didn't bother to care about them. Firstly, there were many of them, and secondly, this incident was mainly caused by the Zhao family. Every grievance has its perpetrators.

I watched Manager Zhao and others being dragged away, and then I heard the sound of a board hitting flesh.

Lin Wu was so frightened that his face turned pale.

I originally wanted to bargain again, but now I didn't dare to do so and just agreed.

He and Xiao Ning first signed the indentures of their two daughters under the witness of Zhang Qingyuan.

Then he and Wang Cuihua supported each other and went home to get the money, accompanied by the yamen runners.

Because of the twenty-five taels of money given by the Zhao family for selling her body, the thirty taels were collected quite quickly.

As for how to repay the Zhao family's twenty-five taels later, that is a matter for the future. The most important thing now is to deal with this plague god!

Xiao Ning held the two indentures and thirty taels of silver, and smiled, "That's right, if you had just done it earlier, there wouldn't be so much trouble."

Lin Wu Ai Ai responded hesitantly, the forced smile on her face uglier than crying.

Only after Manager Zhao and his men finished the execution did Xiao Ning let Lin Wu and his wife leave.

Forty strokes of the cane.

Manager Zhao started out crying and screaming, and ended up groaning weakly.

Lin Wu only felt fear and terror.

Manager Zhao, who used to be high and mighty and always spoke to them with his chin raised, was now no better than an ant in front of these true nobles.

Just start beating me.