Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

He turned to look at Li Lizhi, his eyes showing a hint of understanding:

"Do you think His Majesty isn't afraid of death row inmates escaping? Of course he is."

"But what he feared even more was that 'the people of the world would think that he was just like Yang Guang, who only knew how to rule with a knife.'"

“If a death row inmate escapes, he loses face for ‘ineffective education,’ but if all the death row inmates return, he wins the hearts of the people for ‘virtuous governance.’”

"This popular support is the foundation for his consolidation of power. This is the 'political mindset' of releasing prisoners. It's not that he doesn't respect the rules, but that he establishes the rules with 'virtue' and makes the rules transform from 'fear of punishment' to 'willingness to abide by them'."

"Speaking of Dalang again."

Xiao Ran changed the subject and returned to Zhang Dalang, "Dalang kept his promise and came back, working diligently, protecting his sister, and helping the villagers—a person like him is the most successful example in His Majesty's 'educational experiment'."

"If Your Majesty were to execute him, wouldn't you be contradicting yourself? Wouldn't that be telling the world, 'I only let you go before, it was all just for show'?"

“This will make the people feel that ‘His Majesty’s virtuous rule is fake,’ and the effects of his previous painstaking efforts to ‘reduce taxes, promote grain production, and lighten punishments’ will be diminished.”

"So, the reason why Dalang doesn't have to die is not because I had any special methods, nor is it just because he was lucky."

Xiao Ran concluded, his tone calm yet his words hitting the nail on the head, "His 'keeping his promises and doing good' just happened to coincide with His Majesty's political need to 'govern the people with virtue and consolidate the foundation'."

"His Majesty needs the example of 'releasing prisoners back to prison' to prove his virtuous rule, so he will never execute someone like Dalang who has been 'successfully reformed'—that is the most fundamental reason for this matter."

Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi finally understood.

It turns out that "releasing prisoners back to prison" was never a simple act of benevolence, but rather a "picture of a well-governed world" painted in the hearts of the people by his grandfather using "virtue" as a brush.

Zhang Dalang's life, seemingly tied to "whether he can be saved," is actually tied to the political consideration that "his grandfather needs this picture to be perfect."

Xiao Ran simply saw through the true nature of this governance: "cultivating the people's hearts with virtue to consolidate the foundation of the nation."

"If I'm right, all these death row inmates will go back after the autumn harvest, and then they can all be released."

Li Lizhi felt that Xiao Ran's words made a lot of sense.

"What if someone runs away? How can anyone not be afraid of death?"

Li Lizhi still had questions.

"If they could just go back with some dignity, that would be fine. If they don't, someone will make them respectable."

"The village head, the ward head, and the village chief are definitely keeping an eye on things. Dalang has been unable to leave the village, Fifth Sister, have you forgotten?"

Li Lizhi nodded, "That's true."

The essence of "releasing prisoners" was Li Shimin's practice of governing the country with "benevolent governance" at its core, rather than simply "granting leniency outside the law".

The core of the tyranny at the end of the Sui Dynasty was "severe laws and harsh punishments + monarchical autocracy," which was an important basis for the legitimacy of the Tang Dynasty replacing the Sui Dynasty.

As a ruler who personally witnessed the fall of the Sui Dynasty, Li Shimin knew that "water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it," and "releasing prisoners" was a direct negation of the "Sui system."

By releasing death row inmates and trusting their timely return to prison, Emperor Taizong sent two signals to the world:

The Tang Dynasty was no longer a regime that "feared the people with punishments," but a regime that "treated the people with benevolence."

The monarch is not a dictator who "treats the people like dirt," but a wise ruler who "compassions human feelings."

The legal thought since the pre-Qin period has mostly emphasized "using punishment to eliminate punishment", while Emperor Taizong of Tang attempted to supplement the rule of law with "moral education".

Although death row inmates have committed capital crimes, they still have "needs for family affection" and "personal dignity." Releasing them back to prison is precisely a respect for this humanity.

Li Shimin's logic was that if the regime could provide basic humanitarian care to the people, the people would repay the regime with "trust," thus forming a social order of "benevolent ruler and trustworthy people," which was more likely to achieve long-term stability than simply relying on punishment.

The Tang Code was formulated in the early years of the Zhenguan era, emphasizing that "the law should not favor the noble" and "punishment should fit the crime".

However, Li Shimin did not regard the law as a "rigid tool".

The unique aspect of "releasing prisoners back to prison" lies in the premise that "they have been sentenced to death according to law," rather than denying the authority of the law.

The subsequent "pardon" was based on the special circumstances of the "prisoner keeping his promise," which falls under the category of "discretionary measures outside the law" rather than undermining the rule of law.

This measure effectively established the "soft principle" of the rule of law during the Zhenguan era.

The law is the bottom line, but without violating core principles, human feelings and reality can be taken into account.

This approach avoided exacerbating social conflicts due to overly rigid laws and provided an early practical model for the "rule of law and ritual" in later generations.

"Fifth Sister, I have no objection to you writing letters about other things, but don't tell Uncle about this matter," Xiao Ran instructed.

Fearing too much repercussions, Zhang Dalang was executed.

Li Lizhi smiled.

I already knew about their identities, but I never revealed it to them.

Xiao Ran has now essentially admitted it.

Princess Yuzhang also mentioned this matter to Zhang Erya.

Zhang Erya didn't show it too obviously, but she would worry about it from time to time and space out.

She was in a hurry, but she didn't make things difficult for Xiao Ran.

Zhang Erya knew this was a difficult task.

Zhang Erya still doesn't know the identities of Li Shimin, Empress Zhangsun, Li Yuan, and others.

Even Princess Li Lizhi and the other princes didn't know.

Naturally, she wouldn't want Xiao Ran to help her.

Upon hearing Princess Yuzhang's words, Zhang Erya burst into tears.

She was clutching the coarse cloth clothes she had mended for Zhang Dalang, her fingertips still damp with cotton thread.

She was just thinking, "This dress should be worn by my brother before the autumn harvest. If... if he can't wear it later, at least he should have something to remember me by."

But when the words "Dalang will be alright" reached his ears, his hand, which was gripping his clothes, suddenly loosened, the fabric slipped down to his knees, and tears fell like beads from a broken string, hitting the fabric without warning.

Her crying wasn't a loud sob; it was a trembling sound as she finally found an outlet for the grievances and worries that had been suppressed for so long.

She was terrified these days.

During the day, she followed Xiao Yu to stir-fry tea, her eyes fixed on the spatula, but her mind always drifted to the direction of her brother's glass stove, fearing that he might be taken away suddenly one day.

But she dared not say it, dared not mention the word "death" to her brother, for fear that it would cause him even more distress.

She didn't dare to ask Xiao Ran for help, knowing it would be difficult and not wanting to burden the young man who had already helped them so much.

I could only swallow all my worries and pretend nothing was wrong, even hiding from people when I was daydreaming.

At this moment, Princess Yuzhang's words were like a key, unlocking the floodgates of her long-suppressed emotions.

In those tears was the relief that "my brother really survived."

She no longer had to stare blankly at the half-repaired clothes, nor did she have to secretly touch her brother's old shoes at night.

There was a sense of relief that "all those days of worry weren't in vain"—she had always been afraid of "what ifs," afraid that Xiao Ran wouldn't be able to help. But now that she knew "nothing would happen," the heart that had been hanging in her throat finally settled back into her stomach.

There was also a hint of resentment in her voice, "Finally, I don't have to bear it all by myself anymore"—she was only a teenager, an age when she should be under her parents' protection, but instead she lived in fear.

She wiped her tears haphazardly with her sleeve, but the more she wiped, the more tears streamed down her face, muttering under her breath, "That's great...that's great..."

It wasn't shouted out, but rather spoken softly, as if afraid of disturbing something.

She didn't know anything about the principle of "releasing prisoners" or any political motives. She only knew that "her brother could stay, could continue to eat the food she cooked, and could continue to keep her and her sister company."

Princess Yuzhang felt uncomfortable seeing Zhang Erya like this, and gently hugged Zhang Erya.

Let's comfort this good friend.

After the sun sank behind the western mountains, the summer heat seemed to be quietly taken away by the evening breeze, and even the air became refreshing.

As darkness gradually fell, the moon climbed up from the top of the old locust tree on the east side of the courtyard. It wasn't round, but it shone like a piece of silver jade soaked in water. Its clear light spilled over the courtyard wall, enveloping the entire courtyard in a soft, white glow.

The stars were scattered sparsely across the dark blue sky, not dense, but bright and clear, and even the shadow of the Milky Way could be faintly seen.

The wooden racks used to dry herbs during the day in the corner of the courtyard have not yet been taken down. The light fragrance of mint and lilyturf mixed with the sweet scent of gardenia in the west of the courtyard drifts gently on the evening breeze, and every breath is refreshingly cool.

On the stone table in the courtyard, the chessboard from which Li Yuan and Sun Simiao played chess during the day remains. The chess pieces are not in their places; black and white pieces are scattered on the stone surface, reflecting the moonlight like scattered jade fragments.

Unable to sleep, Li Lizhi tossed and turned, then got up and dressed.

Everyone else has gone to sleep.

Li Lizhi walked to the door of Xiao Ran's room and gently knocked.

I don't know if he's there or not. If Xiao Ran is in the cave or in the RV, there's no way he'll answer the door.

After waiting for a while, Xiao Ran rubbed his eyes and opened the door. "Fifth Sister, why aren't you sleeping at this hour?"

Xiao Ran used to be someone who wasn't used to going to bed early and preferred to stay up late.

However, since coming to the Tang Dynasty and following Sun Simiao's health regimen, I have developed the habit of going to bed early and getting up early.

"Young master, I can't sleep." Li Lizhi just wanted to talk to Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran looked outside; the moon was beautiful. "Shall we go for a walk?"

"Okay!" Li Lizhi nodded.

Stepping out of the room, Xiao Ran stopped and lowered his voice, "How about we go fishing?"

"Great!" Li Lizhi was even happier.

There was no little princess, and no one else, just Xiao Ran by herself.

Enjoy some time alone with your partner.

Xiao Ran returned to his room and took his fishing gear.

The two of them left the small courtyard together.

The soil underfoot still carried the warmth of the sun, and felt soft to the touch.

The chirping of insects rose and fell in the distance, and occasionally a firefly would fly out from the cornfield, leaving a faint trail of light as it brushed past my shoulder.

Li Lizhi couldn't resist reaching out to tease it. The moment her fingertips touched the light, it floated away, making her chuckle softly.

Xiao Ran led Li Lizhi toward the pool with practiced ease.

“At night, fish like to go to calm waters. There is mud at the bottom of this bay, where fish can hide. There are also plankton near the aquatic plants, so they come here to find food when they are hungry.”

As Xiao Ran spoke, he took out a lantern from his canvas bag, wiped the lampshade, lit it, and hung it on a reed stalk next to him.

Warm yellow light streamed through the glass dome, casting a shimmering ring of light on the water's surface, like scattered gold dust.

Li Lizhi watched as Xiao Ran prepared his fishing gear, and soon he had prepared the bait and other supplies.

Xiao Ran pinched a small ball of bait and hung it on the hook. He then helped Li Lizhi adjust the float. "The float should show three segments. If it sinks two segments, it means a fish has taken the bait. Don't lift the rod too quickly. Wait until it drags away half a segment before moving."

Li Lizhi held the fishing rod and felt that it was a bit heavy, so she unconsciously gripped it tighter.

She imitated Xiao Ran by baiting the hook and raising her hand to cast the line, but she didn't control her strength well. The line hit the muddy ground on the bank with a "smack" and got tangled in a few reeds.

"Oh dear," Li Lizhi stuck out her tongue a little embarrassedly.

Xiao Ran walked over, took the fishing rod from her hand, and gently touched her wrist with his fingertips: "Don't use too much force, pull your arm back a little, and use the force of the rod to push forward."

Xiao Ran stood behind Li Lizhi, holding her hand as they adjusted their posture. Once she found her rhythm, he whispered, "Let go."

This time, the fishing line, carrying the bait, drew a shallow arc in the air and landed on the water next to the spot of light with a soft "thump." The float stood up steadily, revealing its three snow-white tips.

Li Lizhi's eyes lit up, and she turned to look at Xiao Ran, her eyes full of excitement: "It's in!"

This action was a bit ambiguous, but since it was nighttime and there was no one else around, Li Lizhi didn't feel shy at all.

"Well, just wait."

Xiao Ran sat down on the rock next to her, baited his own hook, and cast his line. The float stood upright on the water near him, not far from Li Lizhi's.

The night breeze rustled through the reeds, the sound mingling with the occasional leap of fish in the pond. Small flying insects circled in the light of the kerosene lamp, making it all feel less stuffy.

Li Lizhi stared at the float for a while, and seeing that it didn't move at all, she couldn't help but ask, "Young master, why aren't the fish coming?"

"The fish swim slowly at night, so you have to wait for them to come by the smell of the aroma."

As soon as Xiao Ran finished speaking, he saw Li Lizhi's float sink slightly by half a mark before immediately bouncing back.

"Don't panic, it's just a small fish nibbling at the bait."

The moment he finished speaking, the float suddenly sank and disappeared completely underwater! "Lift it up!"

Li Lizhi realized what was happening and quickly raised her hand to lift the rod. She felt a little force in her hand, and then a small crucian carp the size of her palm was pulled out of the water, its silvery scales shimmering under the light.

"I caught one!" Li Lizhi was both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly tried to take the fish off the hook.

Xiao Ran quickly came over to help, carefully removing the fishhook from the fish's mouth and placing it in the fish basket next to it.

"You caught a fish so quickly, that's impressive."

Li Lizhi couldn't help but smile. She tried casting the rod again, and although it was still a little off target, she was much more skilled than before.

A short while later, the float on Xiao Ran's side suddenly moved.

First, I tapped it lightly twice, then suddenly pulled it to the side, making the fishing line taut and buzzing.

With a flick of his wrist, the tip of the rod immediately bent into a beautiful arc. "It's quite powerful; it's a big one."

He slowly and patiently reeled in the line, occasionally letting it loosen a little to let the fish swim for a while. Li Lizhi leaned over to look, her eyes fixed on the water's surface. She noticed a dark shadow occasionally surfacing in the water, prompting her to whisper, "Is it a big fish?"

"Hmm, probably a grass carp." Xiao Ran applied slight pressure to his wrist, using the rod's elasticity to slowly bring the fish towards the shore. When the fish surfaced, Li Lizhi couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!" (End of Chapter)