Chapter 69: Turning Clouds and Rain (Three)

  Ling Qing said expressionlessly, "No need to prepare the execution ground. According to the latest decree issued by the Ministry of Justice, all criminal offenses, regardless of their severity, are punishable by exile, and the place of exile is Menis. According to the interpretation of the Imperial Department of Internal Affairs, it means sending the criminal offenders across the Linghai Strait and having them land at Miren Port. As for their survival afterwards, the Empire does not care."

  The room suddenly fell silent, as if everyone's throat had been grasped and no one made a sound.

  Only Yang Shuang's mouth corner had a faint cold smile.

  Ding, it seems like a needle has fallen on the ground.

  After a long time, Die Si hesitantly said: "Qing Si sister, what were you just saying?"

  Ling Qing thought looked at Yang Suo Fen and said coldly, "Yang Suo Fen, according to the latest imperial decree, you must be exiled to the Menis region."

  Yang Shuangfen slightly bowed and said faintly: "Thank you for the judge's fair verdict, I am willing to accept it, I will not appeal."

  "Butterfly Poetry suddenly shouted sharply: "No, no, Ling Qing Si, you must be mistaken. Such a criminal can't possibly be exiled to Meini Si. He should be sentenced to death immediately, death! Hanging, fire, dismemberment, beheading..."

  Ling Qing said calmly, "Miss Die'er, I am completely following the imperial law to execute the judgment. There is a law to rely on, there must be a law to follow, the law must be strictly enforced, and those who break the law will be investigated. You can't not understand such ordinary logic, right?"

  "But didn't we just say that whether it's murder or rape, they should be sentenced to death? How did it suddenly change to exile in the Menis region?"

  "Butterfly Maple Dance almost shouted: "Right! How could this be?""

  Ling Qing thought handed a document to Die Xuan Wu, calmly saying: "Sorry, Master Commander, this is an order personally issued by the Emperor, and I have no choice but to execute it. This is the original document from the Ministry of Justice, and the new criminal law will take effect on October 11th, 1727 of the Tianyuan calendar. All criminal offenses, regardless of severity, are subject to exile, and the place of exile is the Minis region."

  Butterfly Maple glanced through the file without a word. She suddenly raised her head, staring fiercely at Yang Su Feng, and sternly asked: "Did you know this outcome from the beginning? That's why you confessed so readily, right?"

  Yang Shuangfeng smiled slightly and nodded politely, acknowledging all the facts.

  Tang Zhi suddenly rushed in, excitedly shouting: "Your Honor, this is impossible! How can someone like him be sentenced to exile? I remind you to pay attention, perhaps the empire's new law does not apply to him at all. Are you mistaken?"

  "Your Excellency, as a military judge, I am more familiar with the law than you are. I wouldn't make a mistake in such an important case. The Ministry of Justice issued a decree on October 11th, which stipulates that it will be implemented immediately from the date of promulgation, that is, from October 11th. His murder and rape crimes were committed on October 12th and October 14th respectively, belonging to the category that must be exiled after the new decree was issued..."

  Tang Zixun frowned and said: "That's just a difference of one day, the old law can be applied to deal with him."

  "Your Excellency, your words are most unbecoming. To speak in such a manner is to scorn the dignity of the law. If the law is not upheld, how can the country be governed?"

  "Butterfly Maple Dance suddenly seemed to have discovered something, and said repeatedly: "No, I can't believe it! Right, he is a soldier, not suitable for criminal law at all, should be measured by military law."

  Ling Qing furrowed his brow and said: "Although Yang Suofeng holds the rank of junior general, that is actually just an honorary title. He has no formal position in the military, not even a military number. In other words, he is not a member of the military at all. Therefore, when it comes to sentencing him, we cannot use the Military Law, but must use civil law instead."

  "But no, for such heinous crimes, exile is far too lenient a punishment! Exiling him to Menis would be tantamount to unleashing a tiger back into the mountains!"

  Ling Qing said calmly, "Of course I know, but as a judge, I must operate in accordance with the law. Although I also feel that this decree is very inappropriate in my heart. However, no matter what, since the Ministry of Justice has already promulgated it, we must enforce it, otherwise it would be a case of having laws but not abiding by them."

  "Let the Ministry of Justice go to hell! This bunch of trash! Come on, help me push him out and behead him!"

  A team of young flying eagles immediately rushed in and stood around Yang Suofeng with their heads bowed.

  "Ling Qing thought stretched out his hand to signal those green-faced eagles not to make any rash moves, and his voice also rose slightly: "General Feng Wu, I completely understand the anger in your heart, and I don't have the power to stop you from killing him. However, for me personally, you seriously interfered with my authority and infringed upon the dignity of judicial independence. Therefore, I must carefully protest to you, and the consequences of disregarding the law are extremely severe. Moreover, this imperial decree was personally issued by His Majesty the Emperor, with supreme power, and violating it may bring unimaginable consequences."

  Butterfly Maple Dance suddenly stunned, and then said with a heart of discontent: "How can such an absurd law... I just can't figure it out!"

  Tang Zhi also shouted loudly: "Right! Such an absurd law..."

  Ling Qing's gaze was deep and piercing as he looked at him, saying lightly: "Governor, does your words imply that His Majesty the Emperor is being absurd?"

  Tang Zī's face changed color, and he suddenly fell silent.

  Butterfly maple dance is also a serious expression, although there is injustice in his heart, but he can't help it.

  Ling Qing's voice was flat and toneless as he said, "Actually, being exiled to Menis is, in many people's eyes, even more miserable than the death penalty. The Menis region is currently chaotic, with a lack of food, bandits everywhere, and every prisoner who arrives there has to face the problem of how to survive. That feeling of living not being better than dying is probably even more unbearable than the death penalty..."

  "But he's different! He wants to go back to Menis, and that would be just what he wishes!"

  Ling Qing thought silently.

  Die Xiang Wu glared at Yang Suo Feng and said angrily: "How could the Emperor let such a villain go back to Meini Si? Ling Qing Si, you can't make such a judgment!"

  "As a military judge, I must act according to the law and not based on my personal preferences or emotions. Otherwise, it would be chaos! In my heart, I despise him just like you all do, I hate him, and I'd love to have him executed immediately. However, I cannot do so because the law does not permit it!"

  Ling Qing thought for a moment, then said: "Actually, what's wrong with exiling him back to Menis? If he dies, it's no different from us executing the death penalty! If he doesn't die, he'll have to fight against those violent people and eliminate them. If he can come back alive, that means he has recovered the Menis region, and for such a meritorious subject, His Majesty the Emperor will definitely pardon his crimes. Why must we look for trouble ourselves?"

  "But I am unwilling to watch him walk out of here! I cannot watch such a demon get away scot-free!"

  "All of this is as stipulated by the laws of the Empire. I must make such a judgment in accordance with imperial decree. If you feel that I should not have made such a pronouncement, then you can consider replacing the military judge..."

  "But no, Qing Si, don't misunderstand me, I didn't mean it that way..."

  Ling Qing said: "If you don't consider replacing the military judge, then it means that my verdict has taken effect."

  Die Feng danced fiercely and took a deep breath, staring at Yang Suo one word at a time and said: "Yang Suo, you have had a stroke of good luck! However, this does not mean that I will let you off! If I find out that you have any more evil deeds, I will definitely send you to the gallows!"

  Yang Shuang said faintly: "I think I'll be careful next time, and absolutely won't fall into your hands again."

  Die Feng danced fiercely and swung the horse whip in his hand, smashing a wooden chair to pieces, apparently already enraged.

  Ling Qing thought in a flat, emotionless voice: "Yang Suo Feng, you will be escorted to the Menis area shortly. Do you have anything else to say? Is there anything that needs explanation? Is there anything we can help with? We will try our best to satisfy your reasonable requests."

  Yang Shuang said faintly: "I just want to return to Menis as soon as possible!"

  "Butterfly Poetry" shouted in a sharp voice: "No, I cannot accept such a verdict! Sister, you must execute him immediately!"

  Butterfly Maple Dance's face sank, and he suddenly said in a low voice: "Who's there?"

  Four young officers of the Flying Eagle Troop walked in silently, their bodies emitting a strong murderous aura.

  Cai Bing's eyes widened in shock and she couldn't help but exclaim softly, while Su Tiao also tensed up and opened her mouth wide, waiting quietly for what was about to happen.

  "Butterfly Maple Cold Voice said: 'Yang Su Feng, I cannot forgive such a devil! Even without the punishment of the law, I will send you to the guillotine! I give you three minutes, you can leave your last words.'"

  Ling Qing's face changed, and he frowned, saying: "Feng Wu Jiang Jun..."

  The butterfly maple waved her hand, indicating that she didn't need to say more, and said firmly: "I'll take all the consequences myself!"

  Ling Qing thought helplessly and sat down.

  Yang Xun stood up weakly from the chair, his eyes staring blankly at the people around him, his gaze empty and vacant, his footsteps light and floating, his entire body swaying back and forth, as if he had no strength at all, as if a gust of wind would knock him over.

  "Butterfly Poetry Cold Smile said: "Yang Suofeng, your doomsday has arrived! You know fear now?"

  Yang Shuangfen didn't say anything.

  "Butterfly Maple Dance coldly said: 'There are still two minutes and thirty seconds left, if you want to say something, hurry up and say it, otherwise, let's get going.'"