The penalty and punishment of Liu Xin, in the final analysis, is a question of killing or not killing, and whether to kill or not to kill is only a matter of Liu Chengyou's thoughts. This point is also where Liu Chengyou is struggling, at least on the surface it seems like this.
That night, while walking in the palace, news came out that the emperor wanted to put the emperor's uncle to death. Early the next morning, Murong Yanchao hurried to the imperial court to ask for an audience.
"Do the officials really not care about the relationship between uncle and nephew?" Murong Yanchao opened his mouth with a questioning tone as the meeting etiquette was indifferent.
While he was reading a book, Liu Chengyou looked calm when looking at the anxious and dark-faced man, and asked, "Why did the emperor say this?"
"I heard that officials want to kill Liu Xin!" Murong Yanchao's voice rose a little higher.
Liu Chengyou's face remained calm, he opened a page and said calmly: "Where did your uncle hear this? It's just a random rumor!"
"The officials don't need to prevaricate on me!" Murong Yanchao refused to accept this, and instead asked: "After the trial, I admitted the crime. Please tell me frankly, how do you plan to punish Liu Xin?"
"Then what does the emperor think I should do?" Liu Chengyou paused and asked in a colder voice.
After hearing the question, Murong Yanchao also simply said, "In my opinion, I will demote him, demote him, punish him, and let him change his ways, that's all!"
"Ha! The imperial uncle's sentence was simple! How can such a serious crime be exposed in one piece?" Liu Chengyou expressed his opinion slightly.
After hearing what he said, Murong Yanchao's black face turned purple with a solemn expression, and he asked in a deep voice: "Then what do you want according to the official's wishes? Do you really want to use a knife on your own family?"
Liu Chengyou's tone was already very cold: "The emperor's uncle is also present at the trial. Don't you know how serious and vile the crimes Liu Xin committed are? The evil deeds are so obvious that God cannot tolerate them!"
Murong Yanchao, however, seemed to be driven into panic and said loudly: "Do the officials really want to scold the people of the world?"
"Uncle Murong! You are so presumptuous!" Liu Chengyou had directly scolded him: "Can you represent the people of the world?"
Murong Yanchao spoke forcefully: "Although I cannot represent the world, I can represent the Liu family!"
Upon hearing the answer, Liu Chengyou immediately responded with a high-pitched voice and firm words: "I want to represent the people of the world!"
This was probably the first time that Liu Chengyou treated the emperor's uncle with such a harsh attitude. Facing the emperor's indifferent eyes, Murong Yanchao's excited emotions were as if he had been poured cold water on him and he opened his mouth.
"Stand back. I have my own answer for Liu Xin's crime!" Liu Chengyou glanced at him and said lightly.
Seeing Liu Chengyou's look of chasing away people, Murong Yanchao took a deep breath, snorted coldly, and turned around to leave.
Just two steps away, I heard Liu Chengyou's cold and pitiful instructions, or a warning: "Uncle, Liu Xin is a criminal now, so don't run to the state prison again!"
Without answering, Murong Yanchao walked away.
After he left, Liu Chengyou closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, calmed down his mood, and said calmly: "I really don't like this feeling of being forced to contradict you!"
Wang Pu was waiting by his side, reading with him. He listened to the conversation between his uncle and nephew just now, and did not express any opinions. Listening to his words at this time, it is even more difficult to accept what he said.
However, Liu Chengyou directly focused his attention on Wang Pu and said with a look of sadness: "Qi Wu, I am now in a dilemma. On one side is the legal principle, on the other side is the rationality. I have to consider all difficulties at the same time. Do you have any suggestions to solve my dilemma? middle!"
Facing the emperor's inquiry, Wang Pu's expression was not relaxed. He thought seriously for a while and replied hesitantly: "Your Majesty, everything has pros and cons. How to weigh it depends on your Majesty's thoughts."
Wang Pu's words were a bit mysterious, and he obviously saw something clearly. However, it was almost as if he had said it or not.
Liu Chengyou had no intention of playing riddles. He pondered for a few breaths, then suddenly raised his head and asked him openly: "I will punish Liu Xin strictly according to the national law and give him a legal punishment. What do you think?"
Wang Pu looked troubled. Although he was young and vigorous, he knew clearly that Guo Wei did not dare to judge matters, so how could he dare to say anything.
"Just express your feelings directly, I will not use words to accuse you!" Seeing this, Liu Chengyou stretched out his hand and said: "But I want to listen to the truth!"
After hesitating for a while, Wang Pu spoke cautiously: "If your Majesty's words are followed, your Majesty will definitely bear the bad reputation of killing my uncle!"
"Even given the seriousness of his crimes?" Liu Chengyou asked.
Noticing that there was no anger on Liu Chengyou's face, Wang Pu nodded: "This matter is recorded in the annals of history. People in future generations may praise your majesty for his righteousness for the people, but people in this world..."
"Can people in this world still sympathize with him?"
"The soldiers and people of Xuzhou have suffered so deeply that they will never forget it, which is very satisfying!" Wang Pu also put his words plainly and said eloquently: "But outside Xuzhou, it is difficult to protect their hearts!"
After a pause, Wang Pu continued: "Liu Xin is not only your Majesty's uncle, but also Xuzhou Jiedu, Zhongyuan Fangzhen. If he is killed for this crime, then the world's Jiedu will definitely be suspicious! Moreover, over there in Taiyuan. ....."
When Wang Pu mentioned this, Liu Chengyou's expression became solemn, his eyes flickered from side to side, and finally there was some excitement in his words: "I just saw that in the past three generations, the vassal town has been strong, and the various festivals have been domineering and chaotic, and they are unruly and careless. Your Majesty, you want to scare the towns with what happened in Xuzhou!"
This is probably the most sincere sentence Liu Chengyou has said since the Liu Xin case.
Wang Pu suddenly understood, nodded in agreement, and said calmly: "Your Majesty, no matter how the incident in Xuzhou ends, the world's moral integrity will never be as unscrupulous as it was in the past!"
Liu Chengyou asked: "If things are done to this extent, how can the people of Xuzhou be appeased and how can they vent their grievances?"
Wang Pu said: "Your Majesty does not show favoritism and personally orders the investigation and prosecution of the crimes of the emperor's uncle. The people are already very happy!"
Although the communication with Wang Pu did not mention the specific disposition from beginning to end, Wang Pu's suggestions were already made clear.
Sitting behind the imperial court, he thought deeply for a while, and then Liu Chengyou told Wang Pu: "Draft an imperial edict, and ask the privy envoy Guo Wei to inform the officials, soldiers and people of Xuzhou of the crimes committed by the emperor's uncle Liu Xin!"
Wang Pu was slightly stunned, a little confused as to what Liu Chengyou meant by this move. He still didn't say the specific treatment of Liu Xin. Was he trying to arouse public indignation again?
Although he had doubts in his heart, Wang Pu quickly drafted the edict and printed it for circulation.
Zhang Dejun entered and reported to Liu Chengyou: "The official family, after the emperor's uncle left, he went directly to see the Queen Mother!"
Hearing this, Liu Chengyou sneered, stood up and said, "Let's go!"
Zhang Dejun followed, slightly stunned: "Wherever the officials want to go, I will go and prepare the chariot."
"What kind of chariot are you using!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand: "I don't need to bother the Queen Mother to summon you!"
When they arrived at the Empress Dowager's residence, Murong Yanchao had already left. After the ceremony, without the usual greetings, Liu Chengyou asked directly: "Uncle Emperor, are you here to bother me?"
"We are all a family, so why bother!" Mrs. Li looked at her son who was speaking in a hurry and had a bit of a stubborn attitude. He was still gentle and just sighed slightly.
Seeing this, Liu Chengyou didn't say much. He raised his hand, and the waiter Zhang Dejun immediately handed over the thick court review file.
Liu Chengyou handed it to Mrs. Li and said in a deep voice: "This is a crime committed by the emperor's uncle. Please give it to the Queen Mother in detail!"
Li took it but didn't open it, and said, "Put it here, I will look at it!"
Noticing Mrs. Li's calm demeanor and nodding, Liu Chengyou stood up and bowed: "It's time for this case to come to an end. I won't stay with my mother any longer!"
"Go!"
From the beginning to the end, Mrs. Li did not directly make excuses for Liu Xin in front of Liu Chengyou, nor did she use her dignity as the Queen Mother to suppress him or cause him trouble. At this point, Liu Chengyou was both moved and admired.
However, before Liu Chengyou stepped out of the threshold, Mrs. Li still said to Liu Chengyou in her gentle tone: "Erlang, Liu Xin violated the national law and committed a heinous crime. He should be punished according to the law to improve people's hearts. But after all, he is your uncle, so as to avoid If he is criticized, please spare his life!"
Two or three points of Li's words were interceding for Liu Xin, but Liu Chengyou could tell that more of them were considering his reputation.
He turned around and saluted the Queen Mother solemnly.
