Fang Yun seemed wholly unaware. When court convened again, Clerk Yu entered the hall to report.
"This subordinate, Yu Bachi, pays his respects to Your Excellency."
"Clerk Yu has returned. I have already rendered judgment in Ni Xian's case," Fang Yun said.
"However, after investigating, this subordinate discovered that Ni Xian's conduct was far more vile than imagined. Not only have students and teachers from Wenfu Academy come forward to expose him, but a man claiming to be Lü Ping's uncle also found this subordinate and said he wished to accuse Ni Xian of raping and murdering Lü Ping!"
Upon hearing Yu Bachi raise this matter, County Assistant Tao Dingnian and Registrar Shen Ming suddenly understood!
No wonder Fang Yun had not mentioned Lü Ping at all when sentencing Ni Xian!
Previously, Ni Xian had not only been underage, but also a Licentiate, protected on two fronts. Even if the charge of rape and murder were added, he would receive leniency. Twenty years of exile was already the limit.
But now, Ni Xian was no longer a Licentiate!
Amid the stunned gazes of the crowd, the Ni father and son were brought into the hall once more. For the second time, Ni Xian stood as a defendant, while Lü Ping's uncle served as the plaintiff, accusing him of raping and murdering Lü Ping.
This time, Ni Kuo received no additional sentence, but his son Ni Xian was sentenced to another thirty years!
Once Ni Xian came of age, he would be exiled to the frontier and condemned to fifty years of penal labor!
Penal laborers were not ordinary civilian laborers. Ordinary laborers enjoyed many rights: they were fed and clothed, and if they fell ill, they received treatment.
Convict laborers, however, went hungry and cold. Even if they fell sick,