Rumors are more terrifying than cruel governance.
Every time he encountered such a situation, the advantages of a woman who could forget with just one cigarette would all float in front of Su Ning's mind. A woman's tears can make a man drunk. Looking at Li Ruhuan's pale face and tears gushing out like a spring, Su Ning secretly sighed.
Actually, Li Ruo Han's nature is not bad, she is quite kind-hearted, and she wants to uphold justice for the sake of Xun Er, a young girl who she thinks has been wronged. Even if she thought Su Ning was a very formidable person, she didn't back down, which can be considered brave. It's just that Li Xiao Gong and Li Er Ge were too spoiled, which made her develop this personality, can you blame her? Parents are the best teachers for children, so it should be blamed on Li Xiao Gong and Li Er Ge...
But it's clear that Kong Yingda wouldn't use the ruler to hit them, while Li Ruhuan would be beaten to death. That ruler would hit ten times, and his hands would be beaten into a pulp.
"Teacher, I was also wrong today. The young lady is still young and a girl, but she only wanted to stand up for the weak with good intentions. Please forgive me." Su Ning couldn't accept all this, his heart beating rapidly as he sympathized with her, and in the end, he decided to step out and be a hero to save the beauty.
When everyone was so intimidated by Kong Yueda's explosive anger that they didn't dare to utter a word, Su Ning's words were extremely pleasant to hear...
Li Chengqian looked at Su Ning with utmost admiration in his heart, Changsun Chong had a face of admiration, and the princes and princesses also showed expressions of admiration. The meritorious officials were also deeply moved. It turned out that this was the noble virtue of repaying resentment with kindness!
However, Kong Yingda obviously did not think much of Su Ning's behavior: "Yesterday in the imperial court, you said that repaying resentment with virtue is a mistake. The words of Confucius are to repay virtue with virtue and to repay resentment with straightforwardness. I also know that this is indeed the case. Since you have always known about repaying resentment with straightforwardness, why do you now face this matter and yet take the action of repaying resentment with virtue? Isn't this inconsistent with your usual principles? Don't tell me that this is because people are different.
Do you know that if today's events were to reach the ears of the imperial historians, tomorrow the emperor's desk would be filled with impeachment memorials calling for your head to be chopped off to set an example? There will certainly be no lack of people who will speak out against you. Faced with such a situation, what can the emperor do? This is just within the palace, if it were to spread to the streets, not only would your reputation be ruined, but in the hearts of the common people, you would be seen as a man with the audacity to deceive heaven. Even if you manage to escape with your life, your Su family will find it difficult to take another step.
The princess will also suffer damage to her reputation, the daughter's family name and integrity are more important than life. How will the princess behave? How will the noble consort behave? How will Your Majesty behave? How will the royal family behave? A single rumor can have such consequences, don't you know? Our ancestors said that harsh government is fiercer than a tiger, but I say that rumors are even fiercer than harsh government! This will be the move that will bring you to death!"
Kong Yingda clearly stated the consequences of the matter, and Su Ning knew that Kong Yingda was not only warning himself but also warning everyone present not to spread the word about today's events, otherwise it would inevitably cause a huge stir. The people present were mostly quick-witted, and upon hearing Kong Yingda's words, although they were surprised in their hearts, they also understood what this was for. There was naturally some exaggeration in his tone. Now, it all depends on Su Ning.
Su Ning sighed, how could he not know the harm of rumors? How could he not know that if such a rumor were to spread, it would cause great harm to himself? Perhaps even Chun'er and Xiao Luli would be implicated; Su Ning just wanted to use Kong Yingda's mouth to speak out against this harm, to give Li Ruhuan a lesson, to let her know what kind of harm her actions would bring to herself and Chun'er and Xiao Luli. However, Kong Yingda was too straightforward, and in the face of such a situation, he had the same fearless spirit as when he faced Li Chengqian, "even if I die, I will have no regrets".
At this moment, Suning knew that he had to bring out the killer move, otherwise, Li Ruhuan's palm would be beaten into a pulp, not only physical trauma, but also losing face. It might even lead to depression. A capable person like Li Xiaogong wouldn't dare do anything to Kong Yingda, but who could guarantee what Li Xiaogong would do when his daughter was at stake?
"The master has told his disciples since they were young that the world says that repaying grievances with virtue is a foolish move, and the three sentences that have been ignored are actually the truth. Treating enemies with kindness is the behavior of fools, and enemies will not be moved by your kindness. They will still kill if they want to kill, and they will still rob if they want to rob. Especially when it comes to foreigners, that's just asking for death, how tired of living!"
However, the master told his disciple a word since he was sensible, called tolerance. Although "repaying kindness with virtue" is nonsense, tolerance, although similar to "repaying kindness with virtue", is a true virtue, and different from "repaying kindness with virtue". The latter is an action that is always taken regardless of who you are facing, which is foolish. But tolerance is conditional and varies from person to person.
"Teacher, I've heard a story about someone who stole something and was caught. He would receive the punishment he deserved, but during the interrogation process, it was discovered that he had stolen because his family was extremely poor and his elderly mother was seriously ill. He had no choice but to steal in order to buy medicine for his mother. At this point, Teacher, what would you do?" Su Ning stared into Kong Yingda's eyes.
Kong Yingda fell into deep thought, his face changing from sunny to cloudy. The second-generation emperors and officials were also bewildered. They had been taught since childhood that killing someone must be repaid with one's life, and debts must be repaid with money - this was a rule established long ago. They knew that stealing was against the law and would be punished, but when faced with this problem, how should they act?
Everyone fell into contemplation, and then Suning said: "In the end of this story, the thief was still punished because he had indeed violated the law. The law clearly states that theft is punishable by law, no matter what, he cannot escape the punishment of the law. However, in the end, the presiding officer told everyone present that each of us should take out a coin and donate it to this person as our moral deficiency. Because of our indifference, this person had to steal to save his critically ill mother, and before he stole, no one was willing to lend a helping hand. This is the sin of all of us."
The princess was only trying to help the princess, but she misunderstood the princess's meaning and said something wrong, which put her brother in a dangerous situation. This is not right, but her intention was still good. She just lacked many necessary preparations in the process of doing this thing, which should be a lack of teaching, rather than the princess's mistake. It is incorrect to attribute all the mistakes to her.
Of course, she made a mistake and it's a fact that must be accepted, but the disciple has already forgiven her for the mistake. She is just impatient by nature, and if she can calm down to copy "Female Precepts", it would be good. However, this punishment of ten strokes with the ruler is indeed too severe. If the teacher cannot remit such a punishment, the disciple is willing to take it on behalf of her, after all, everything was caused by the disciple."
Forget it, since I'm going to help, I'll help all the way. Otherwise, in the end, she'll get beaten and Li Xiaogong will still have to worry about me. This female knight will also have to worry about me, and her three Golden Brother bodyguards will also have to worry about me. That would be a loss. How could Li Xiaogong, who is ranked second among the 24 meritorious retainers of Lingyan Pavilion, be so foolish as to offend him for the sake of an eleven-year-old little girl?
Su Ning thought so, but others didn't think the same way. Li Ruo Han looked at Su Ning with some incredulity, while Long Sun Chong and Li Cheng Qian gazed at him with admiring eyes. The three Ming brothers were indeed noble and dignified! This kind of demeanor was not something ordinary people could possess! The other imperial descendants and official descendants also couldn't help but feel impressed by Su Ning's composure, after all, they were still young children, unlike Su Ning, who had ulterior motives...
"Sir, Sanming is right. This is just a wrong way of doing things, but the intention is still good. So punishment is necessary, but it shouldn't be so severe. A light warning would suffice. For such matters, we should be more lenient!" Li Chengqian was the first to speak up for mercy; Changsun Chong also stepped forward: "Sir, I concur with my fellow student!"
"Master! Your disciple agrees!"
"Master! Your disciple agrees!"
"Master! Your disciple agrees!"
………
With the lead, the second-generation emperors and officials also followed suit, and the way of following the crowd is just this; for a time, more than 40 people worked together to plead for Suning and Li Ruihan, Kong Yingda was also surprised by Suning's youthful age and demeanor, with such demeanor, even if he became a prime minister, what would it be? That story also shocked Kong Yingda's mind, not all mistakes are one person's fault, how can this be explained?
Kong Yingda stared blankly at everything that was happening in front of him, and every time Su Ning spoke, he felt a new sense of wonder. If it were just empty words, it wouldn't matter, but this wasn't empty, it really existed. Tolerance had to exist, especially for a child, a child who wasn't inherently bad...
Heaving a deep sigh, Kong Yingda said: "Sanming, you're right. Since you've already forgiven her, I shouldn't pursue the matter further either."
Everyone let out a sigh of relief, it seemed that Kong Yingda had been moved.
But who would have thought that Kong Yingda's tone turned stern again: "However, believing and spreading rumors indiscriminately is a great taboo! You are all nobles, if you have been listening to and spreading rumors since childhood, then our Great Tang will become a country of petty people! It will lose the dignity of a heavenly dynasty, and with just one gust of wind, the whole country will be in turmoil! The subjects will be terrified, and the country will be on the verge of collapse! This trend must not be allowed to continue! The punishment of the law is unavoidable! No matter what, I must teach you a lesson! Sanming, what you just said, are you willing to take his punishment?"
Su Ning cursed inwardly, but his face remained calm and unchanged: "Since it's been said, there's no way to take it back!"
"Good! Daring to speak and dare to bear the consequences, this is a true man. I'm very pleased with you. You should be careful because your reckless behavior has caused innocent people to suffer. If it were to happen in the future, it would affect not just one person, but ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, and even the entire nation! You all need to be vigilant at all times. My words are not only a warning to her, but also to you all! Remember, harsh governance is more fearsome than a tiger, and rumors are even more fearsome than harsh governance! Suning, stretch out your hand!"
Kong Yingda raised his ruler...
Su Ning stiffened her scalp and stretched out her hand...
