Tai Shang Yu Ling Palace, Ming Zhi Hall.
The celestial general who had been ordered to investigate returned to the Mingzhi Palace. He presented Sun Wukong with a scroll and a spiritual mirror, saying, "Your Majesty, the Holy Buddha Emperor, I have thoroughly investigated the Xiangjiang River and have found the Xiangjiang River God's claims to be true. Here are the Xiangjiang River Water Palace's account books and the confessions of the Xiangjiang River demon cultivators. Please review them, Your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately swept his mind over the scroll in his hand, and then projected the spiritual mirror, which showed the spiritual image of the heavenly general investigating the demon cultivators in the Xiangjiang River.
"Xiangjiang River God, it seems that it is just as you said." said Sun Wukong.
Madam Xiang immediately bowed and said, "I am the water deity of the Xiang River. For the well-being of all living things on both sides of the river, I dare not slack off for a moment."
Sun Wukong nodded, but then Erlang Shen asked, "Who is the owner of Xiangxiang Pavilion?"
Li Hong quickly responded and bowed, saying, "Little Immortal Li Hong, I pay my respects to the Benevolent and Holy Emperor."
Erlang Shen said, "Bring up all the account books from the day Xiangxiang Pavilion opened to today."
This time, Mrs. Xiang could no longer remain calm. She suddenly raised her head and looked at Li Hong who was standing beside her. Li Hong was also sweating profusely at this moment.
At this time, a heavenly general had walked in front of Li Hong and looked at her with a majestic look.
Li Hong swallowed hard, then took out the account book from the Sumeru magic weapon with trembling hands and handed it to the heavenly general.
The heavenly general reached out to take the jade account book, then turned around and flew directly to Erlang Shen's throne and presented the account book in his hand to Erlang Shen.
Erlang Shen took the account book and scanned it with his divine consciousness, immediately drawing a conclusion: "Xiangjiang Water God, your Xiangxiang Pavilion has earned a total of 34 million Jieyu jade from selling these obscene items over the years, 8 million of which were sold in Tianhefang. However, according to your Xiangjiang Water Palace's account books, the total Jieyu jade you have distributed to Xiangjiang demon cultivators over the years is only 9 million."
Madam Xiang defended herself, "I've already distributed half of the Jieyu to them. I only kept the other half to circulate the Xiangjiang Water Palace."
Erlang Shen didn't listen to her explanation, but directly asked Jian He, "Prime Minister Jian He, how should the old law deal with the sale of such spirit shadows?"
Upon hearing this, Jian He immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the old laws do not contain any provisions regarding such spirits. However, they do stipulate that if immortals or gods spread obscene things to the mortal world, they will be severely punished according to the laws of heaven."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xiang's delicate body trembled, and she quickly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the Benevolent and Holy Emperor, I have not spread this deity to the mortal world. I only sold it to cultivators. Moreover, even if the Spiritual Mirror fell into the hands of mortals, they would not be able to use it."
Jian He bowed to Erlang Shen and said, "Your Majesty, the benevolent and holy emperor, what the Xiangjiang River God said is indeed true. Most of the laws in the old heavenly code do not apply to the mortal world. The only laws in heaven that fully concern the mortal world are the laws of the underworld."
"What Jianhe Shangxiang means is that there is no law in the old law that can clearly convict Xiangxiang Pavilion?" Erlang Shen asked.
Jian He said, "Replying to the Benevolent Emperor, Xiangxiang Pavilion cannot be punished by law, but moral punishment can be imposed. The old law clearly stipulates that Celestial Officials must not do anything that would insult the majesty of Heaven. Xiangxiang Pavilion has violated this law by producing and selling this obscene spirit shadow to cultivators."
When Erlang Shen heard this, he nodded in satisfaction, and then he stopped talking.
Sun Wukong then took over Erlang Shen's words and said, "Judge according to the law."
Jian He bowed and said, "I will obey the order."
Jian He then turned to Madam Xiang and said, "Water God of the Xiang River, you, as a Celestial Official, have produced and sold lewd spirit images. This act is an insult to the majesty of Heaven. As the Supreme Minister of the Taiyi Thunder Division of the Ministry of Thunder, I, by order of the Emperor of the Jade Palace, the General Director of the Divine Sky, pronounce judgment upon you: Xiangxiang Pavilion must be closed immediately and never reopened. All those involved in the production of spirit images must be dismissed, all completed but unsold spirit images must be destroyed, and all robbery jade obtained through illegal means must be confiscated. You must not commit this offense again. If you do, you will be severely punished according to the old laws and regulations."
Upon hearing this verdict, Madam Xiang's beautiful face immediately lost its spirit, the hope in her eyes was instantly shattered, and she fell directly to the ground, staring blankly at the ground paved with Yunxiao green jade.
Jian He then addressed the scattered immortals, "Although you were injured by Master Lingxia Xuanjing, you were rude before, and Master Lingxia Xuanjing has already been punished. You should learn from this lesson and refrain from speaking ill of others in the future. Instead, cultivate more good relationships."
There was really no way to punish these immortals. Although they had dirty mouths, it was Cen Biqing who hit people. Although there was a causal relationship, Jian He really had no recourse.
When Fang Jian was in charge of the Heavenly Code, he used harsh laws and "doubled punishment" to punish those who were able to evade the punishment of the Heavenly Code. It was a stopgap measure when there was no other way.
If we really want to strictly "deal with it according to the law", it is that simple: punish if there is a basis, and do not punish if there is no basis.
Upon hearing this, the scattered immortals immediately felt as if they had been pardoned. They quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "We, the little immortals, will faithfully follow the Prime Minister's instructions. From now on, we will cultivate our hearts and words, and will never dare to offend others again."
Jian He nodded lightly, then raised his hand and waved, "Go."
Then he called a heavenly general and asked him to send these immortals out of the South Heaven Gate and go wherever they wanted.
However, they were lucky this time. Not everyone can come to the Heavenly Palace. Except for the gods appointed by the Heavenly Palace, those who can come here are either rewarded for their merits, or have a day trip to the Immortal Execution Platform, or have food and accommodation provided in the Lei Ze Prison.
As a wandering immortal in the true fairyland, he came to the Heavenly Palace once, met Emperor Hongqing, and was able to return safely. This is enough to brag about for ten years.
Soon, the Tianhefang Yaochi Tianjie Inspection Office and the Heavenly Soldiers were dispatched and demolished the Xiangxiang Pavilion in full view of the public.
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