Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

The term "execution pending reprieve" refers to a death sentence that is temporarily suspended, similar to a modern suspended death sentence.

In the autumn, after review and approval, the cases will be categorized into four types: "factual," "deferred," "worthy of leniency," and "to be kept for the purpose of raising an heir."

Although Jia Jing intended to send Xue Pan to prison for a few years to temper his temper, he also wanted to eliminate any potential future problems caused by the case and prevent it from being exploited by malicious individuals.

However, he did not intend to sentence Xue Pan to death.

If we let Xue's only son die like this, it wouldn't be clearing a minefield, but rather creating an unnecessary feud and going against his original intention!

Therefore, although he needed to find the right time to expose this case, he could not lose the initiative and allow Xue Pan to be sentenced to death according to the law!

Without making private inquiries or alerting Emperor Jingsheng, the simplest and most direct way to reduce Xue Pan's sentence is to reverse the nature of the case.

This means restoring Xiangling's "lowly status" to that of a "trafficking daughter of a good family".

According to the laws of the Han Dynasty, trafficking in respectable women was a serious crime.

"Anyone who devises a scheme to lure a good man into becoming a slave, regardless of whether he is the master or a servant, shall be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane or exiled three thousand li before being sold."

The kidnapper was the principal offender, and Feng Yuan, as the buyer, also committed illegal and criminal acts.

The law states that "the buyer who is aware of the situation is guilty of the same crime as the perpetrator," meaning that if the buyer knows the girl is from a respectable family and still buys her, they will be guilty of the same crime as a trafficker.

In other words, as long as it is proven that Xiangling was abducted from a respectable family, and that Feng Yuan knew Xiangling's respectable family background but still bought her, it would be possible.

Then Feng Yuan would no longer be a simple victim, but a participant in the illegal activity.

Xue Pan killed a buyer who was guilty of the same crime as kidnapping, but there was a reason for the incident, so his punishment could be reduced according to the principle of "excusable circumstances".

As for whether Feng Yuan knew about it?

Judging from the original work, he was very likely aware of it!

One of the original descriptions is that Feng Yuan "has a strong preference for male homosexuality and dislikes women the most," but he made an exception for Xiang Ling.

The fact that a homosexual who has always disliked women would suddenly spend a lot of money to buy a maid as a concubine is itself suspicious.

Why did he insist on buying Xiangling? Was it really just because he "found the right one," or did he have ulterior motives?

According to the gray industry chain of this world, kidnappers specialize in abducting five- or six-year-old children, raising them to eleven or twelve years old, and then reselling them based on their appearance.

This is not surprising. As the son of a local official, Feng Yuan could not possibly be completely ignorant of the ways of kidnappers.

Secondly, according to the original text, Feng Yuan agreed with the kidnapper that "the marriage would take place three days later," and gave the kidnapper ample time.

Upon learning of this agreement, Xiangling "became sorrowful," and the doorkeeper sent his maid to comfort her.

"This young master Feng will surely come to fetch you on an auspicious day, so it's clear he won't treat you like a mere maid... You only have to wait a few days, why worry!"

Here is a crucial question:

Why would a disreputable but respectable country gentleman wait three days to buy a kidnapped woman from a respectable family? What was he worried about?

Based on the reality of human trafficking in the Jiangnan region of the Han Dynasty, traffickers often disappear quickly after selling the trafficked women to avoid being tracked down by the government.

If Feng Yuan really only wanted to "buy a maid," he could have taken Xiangling away immediately after paying, without giving the kidnapper any time to process her.

His waiting for three days precisely demonstrates that he knew the truth:

He was involved in a legally shady deal, and the kidnapper needs time to clean up the mess.

Those who are truly "unaware" will not leave the traffickers any way out.

Thirdly, in the original story, after selling Xiangling to Feng Yuan, the kidnapper sold her to Xue Pan, intending to "take the money from both families and flee to another province."

The fact that the kidnapper dared to do this shows that he was confident he wouldn't be exposed before the transaction was completed.

But if Feng Yuan is an "innocent buyer," the kidnapper could simply take the money and run, without having to sell to a second party.

He dared to sell himself to two women because he knew the buyers wouldn't dare to make a fuss.

Feng Yuan bought innocent women who had been abducted, which was something that could not be brought to light.

It was precisely because Feng Yuan dared not report to the authorities or make a fuss that the kidnapper dared to sell the woman twice with impunity.

Based on these points of doubt and Jia Jing's personal experience of asking Xiang Ling about this matter, Jia Jing believes that Feng Yuan is very likely an insider.

As for the specific results, that's for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate, of course.

As long as we obtain the testimonies of the broker, the people around Feng Yuan, and the kidnapper, the truth of the matter will naturally come to light.

Therefore, the reason why Jia Jing arranged for Xuanwu to bring Zhen Fengshi over was for the sake of Xiangling and Xue Pan!

After Jia Jing and Xuanwu carefully explained the matter of Xiangling and Xue Pan, they also discussed intelligence from Jiangnan, Shandong, Henan, and other places.

It wasn't until a guard reported that Marquis Zhongjing, Shi Ding, had come to visit that Jia Jing ended his conversation and went to meet Shi Ding.

…………

Inside Rongqing Hall.

At the hour of Si (9-11 AM), the sun slanted in through the east-facing window, casting a bright, dazzling light on the blue brick floor of Rongqing Hall.

The ice basin in the hall had been filled with fresh ice, and a cool breeze wafted out, mingling with the blue smoke from the incense burner, keeping the summer heat out.

Grandmother Jia lay reclining on the couch, wearing a dark blue silk brocade jacket and a gold headband. A cup of tea sat beside her, and she looked quite pleased.

Ever since Jia Jing moved that morning, she felt inexplicably happy, as if a dark cloud that had been hanging over her head had been lifted.

At this moment, she smiled and looked at her niece-in-law, Madam Niu, below the hall, and asked in a gentle tone:

"What brings you here today?"

Lady Niu was the wife of Marquis Zhongjing, Shi Ding. Although she was a junior of Grandmother Jia, she did not visit the Jia family often except during festivals.

As the mistress of the Marquis's mansion, she had many things to do every day.

Niu wore a dark blue jacket and a red gold hairpin with pearls on her head. She was dressed neatly from head to toe, but not ostentatiously.

Her face was gentle, and her eyes held a scholarly air. She smiled and replied:

"Isn't it Duke Jing who's back? Master has been saying he wants to ask him for advice on the art of war."

"They prepared gifts early this morning and dragged me here to visit him, but they've already gone to the Jing State Mansion."

"They wanted to discuss business, so I just happened to come over and pay my respects to the old lady!"

Niu's words carried a hint of respect for Jia Jing.

Although they were relatives, Jia Jing was not addressed as "Jing-ge'er," but rather respectfully called Duke Jing.

Grandmother Jia paused slightly in her teacup, and smiled:

"They're all family relatives, just call him Jing-ge'er, calling him Duke Jing is too formal!"

"Why did Ding'er come in such a hurry today? Jing'er only returned today and just moved to Ningguo Mansion this morning."

"I was thinking of letting him rest more, but I stopped those girls from going to the East Mansion."

"Jing-ge'er fought in the Northwest for months, and he's finally back and has some free time!"

Grandmother Jia pointed to the four young ladies sitting upright below, along with Baochai, Daiyu, Xiangyun, and others, her smile conveying a sense of closeness.

She still refers to the East Mansion as Ningguo Mansion; she can't change a habit that's lasted for decades!

Niu's gaze lingered on Xiangyun for a moment, then her face lit up with a smile as she said:

"The Duke of Jing is an important minister of the state, and my master and my brother have repeatedly told me to be careful."

"Tell him to be respectful to him, and never act like an elder! You absolutely cannot call him Jing-ge'er, lest you be impolite!"