Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 273 - 209 Ayun’s Case_2

Chapter 273: Chapter 209 Ayun’s Case_2

Since that was the case, she could not be charged with murdering her husband but instead had to be charged with attempted murder. Consequently, beheading was changed to hanging.

When Chu Ge realized this, he felt relieved momentarily.

What if the correct answer was hanging and he had sentenced her to beheading? Wouldn’t that likely lead to a failure in passing the level?

But then he thought again, whether it was the death penalty or hanging, Ayun was going to die either way; there wasn’t much difference.

Of course, Chu Ge was filled with sympathy for this thirteen-year-old girl regarding her case.

From the looks of it, it was clearly an act of "destroying the entire family."

Ayun’s father had died early, and her mother had also passed. Just when she was in mourning for her mother, her uncle couldn’t wait to sell her in exchange for some grains of food, forcing her to marry a man she disliked intensely.

Despite this, Wei Da was actually quite innocent, as there was no evidence proving him to be a bad person. He was just rather poor and quite unattractive, which led to Ayun slashing him with a dozen knives, even severing one of his fingers.

If one were to blame someone for this tragedy, on the surface, it would be Ayun’s unscrupulous uncle, but on a deeper level, it was the social system that did not allow women to marry freely or control their own destinies.

By today’s standards, Ayun’s marriage would be considered invalid. She was a minor and deserving of sympathy. Even if she was charged with attempted murder, she should not be sentenced to death.

However, at the time, Chu Ge was playing the role of a legal adviser in the Qi Dynasty, and naturally, he could only judge according to the laws of the Qi Dynasty.

Otherwise, if Ayun was granted an exception, what would happen with other prisoners in future cases?

Modern and ancient legal concepts are vastly different; it’s not feasible to apply modern law to all cases—that would make passing this instance impossible.

Therefore, Chu Ge did not feel there was anything inappropriate with his "hanging" sentence at the last trial.

He indeed felt great sympathy for this girl, but in that social environment, there really wasn’t much he could do.

However, when he saw the name "Ayun" for the second time, Chu Ge keenly felt that this case seemed different from the others.

"Could it be that Ayun might not have to die?

"That doesn’t make sense.

"Death penalty cases have to be reported to the Ministry of Justice for approval, and both departments will definitely approve because whether it be beheading or hanging, both are judgments made according to the laws of the time.

"These two departments must uphold the authority of the Qi Dynasty’s law; they can’t possibly overturn the stipulations of the law themselves.

"So, the result after reporting would definitely be immediate approval.

"Maybe... asking Wang Wenchuan directly might change things?"

Chu Ge suddenly had this thought.

He was playing the role of Zhang Renxia, serving as a legal adviser. Logically, this case involved the death penalty, so it had to be reported progressively, from the Magistrate to the Ministry of Justice, and finally, the verdict could be confirmed.

But from the last experience, the progression would definitely end in approval of the death penalty.

Chu Ge did actually want to save this woman named Ayun, or at least to have her death sentence commuted to exile or some other penalty; however, he couldn’t find any support in the legal precedents.

So, he suddenly thought that maybe he should raise the matter directly with Wang Wenchuan.

At this time, Zhang Renxia was highly regarded by Wang Wenchuan, and their relationship was both that of master and friend.

Wang Wenchuan appreciated Zhang Renxia’s character, personality, and competence. It was with the idea of nurturing talent for new laws that he let him serve as the legal adviser for Guangzhou State. Should Zhang Renxia be willing, Wang Wenchuan would quickly promote him.

During his tenure as legal adviser in Guangzhou State, Zhang Renxia could indeed report everything happening there directly, and Wang Wenchuan would respond.

Historically, it was precisely these actions by Wang Wenchuan that deeply moved Zhang Renxia and made them confidants.

Chu Ge was not certain whether presenting this difficult issue to Wang Wenchuan would definitely result in a change, but it was worth a try. If Wang Wenchuan had no reaction, then that would mean the issue was not with this case.

Thinking this, Chu Ge copied down three cases he was uncertain about, including Ayun’s Case, and submitted them with his proposed solutions to Wang Wenchuan.

...

The game skipped the pointless waiting time, so Chu Ge received Wang Wenchuan’s response rather quickly.

And this response surprised and delighted him.

"For the other two cases, Wang Wenchuan expressed approval, but for Ayun’s Case, he wants me to reconsider it!"

"So, Ayun’s Case does indeed have other ways of being handled?"

"But... Wang Wenchuan did not specify which law to cite."

"I have to figure it out myself..."

Though he still had no leads, Chu Ge was invigorated because Wang Wenchuan’s response had given him direction.

Wang Wenchuan clearly intended to overturn the verdict.

But at that moment, Chu Ge needed to answer two questions: first, why overturn the verdict?

Wang Wenchuan was a high-ranking official in the government; why would he take such an interest in a mere attempted murder case by a young girl?

To attribute it purely to basic compassion seemed somewhat inadequate.

Compassion was certainly one aspect, but there had to be more significant factors.

Second, how could the verdict be overturned?

According to the laws of the Qi Dynasty at the time, attempted murder resulting in injury was punished by hanging, and that was unchangeable.

Not even Zhang Renxia, nor Wang Wenchuan, nor the Ministry of Justice, or the Ministry of Justice could simply alter the laws.

Pondering deeply, Chu Ge realized that the only person who could save Ayun was the Emperor!

In ancient societies, the Emperor held supreme authority, and the laws of a country were essentially finalized by him.

If the Emperor found a law inappropriate, there was potential for change.

However, getting the Emperor to remove the "penalty of hanging for attempted murder" directly for Ayun’s sake was still unrealistic.

On one hand, this law had been a part of the Qi Dynasty for a long time, meaning that from the Emperor to his ministers, everyone essentially accepted this method of punishment. The Emperor had no reason to change this law.

On the other hand, even if the Emperor felt compassion for Ayun, altering the laws of the Qi Dynasty for a single commoner was not something he would do; it would face too much resistance.

After analysing, Chu Ge eventually concluded,

"The only person who can save Ayun is the Emperor.

"But the Emperor cannot directly change the law because the resistance is too great and he lacks sufficient motivation.

"So... what if there were something the Emperor had already declared, a decree which confliced with this law? Or if the Emperor had enough motivation to rule that Ayun should not die?

"Judging by Wang Wenchuan’s reaction, he, as a high official, clearly had a strong motivation to prevent Ayun’s death. Thus, the Emperor, who currently supported Wang Wenchuan’s legal reforms, might also be influenced by this motive.

"Now the question is, what is Wang Wenchuan’s motivation to save Ayun?

"Uh... apart from simple compassion, there must be another reason."

Chu Ge analyzed, and it all came down to one thing in the end.

New Laws!

He speculated that Wang Wenchuan had ordered him to find a way to overturn the verdict and save Ayun because this seemingly insignificant case was potentially related to the new laws.

If this conjecture held, then everything would fall into place.

Chu Ge immediately reviewed the decrees and edicts of the Emperor and indeed, found some clues.

Previously, the Emperor had issued an edict: Murder causing injury, but if the criminal confesses the crime truthfully before the official interrogates and tortures the criminal, the crime of murder is to be reduced by two degrees for sentencing.

This meant that if Ayun were classified as "voluntarily surrendering" in accordance with this edict, then Ayun could be spared from death.

As for why Wang Wenchuan wanted Ayun to live?

Because once it was confirmed that an imperial edict could indeed override the current legal system, there would be grounds for reform.

In other words, in Wang Wenchuan’s view, this inconspicuous case was precisely an excellent breakthrough for reform.

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