Fang Yun slammed the Court-Shocking Gavel down and said, "Guards, take the criminal Gong Wu to death row. Watch him day and night to prevent him from taking his own life! I will send word to the Three Legal Offices and the Hall of Punishment, asking them to expedite their review of this verdict so he can be executed by slow slicing in Ning'an County as soon as possible. Let this warn all the people: those who kill their closest kin are all the more unforgivable!"
"Your Honor is wise!" Yu Bachi let out a long breath, venting his pent-up fury, and personally led the men who escorted Shopkeeper Gong away.
"I refuse to accept this! I will appeal..."
"Appeal, my fucking ass!" Yu Bachi punched Shopkeeper Gong in the temple, knocking him unconscious, then had the bailiffs drag him away.
Some officials could not help rolling their eyes, but no one stopped him.
"Ptooey!"
"Ptooey!"
No one knew who started it, but the people on both sides began spitting at Shopkeeper Gong.
Fang Yun's emotions settled, and he spoke in his usual tone. "A family, founded on blood and bound by affection, should be the most fundamental and most steadfast group in this world. If the blood ties no longer exist, or the affection is gone, then the family may dissolve. But before it dissolves, every member should uphold that family. Otherwise, morality decays, human relationships collapse, and the human race ceases to exist! Under concealment among kin, what should be done if kin do not treat each other as kin? What if kin harm kin? The crime of murdering one's closest kin shall be aggravated by three degrees! By extension, those who murder lovers, relatives, or friends deserve harsh sentences, not leniency with affection as an excuse! If