Li Jing shook his gleaming bald head and said slowly, "A noble scion committed suicide in Yuan Prison. Li Sui came to the Ministry of Punishments to denounce us, claiming that coercive interrogation had driven someone to prove his innocence through death rather than endure the humiliation."
Suicide.
Zi Shou was not surprised. Nobles-hardly any of them were decent people.
Proving his innocence through death was surely a lie. While investigating the land leases, they had taken the opportunity to dig up old accounts. Once certain unspeakable deeds were uncovered, it would amount to social death. Better to die outright before they were exposed.
Zi Shou said evenly, "What is this talk of proving innocence through death? Strict enforcement of the law is nothing new. These people committed crimes, and they must be punished. If one or two chose suicide rather than suffer their punishment, that is understandable. What, is following the law not what we should do?"
With Zi Shou so blatantly taking sides, Li Sui's face flushed red in an instant. He opened his mouth to object, but just as he summoned a little courage, the unquestionable expression on Zi Shou's face made him wilt again.
Arguing with Li Jing was one thing. A little friction between colleagues was nothing unusual. But arguing with King Zhou...
He did not dare do that yet.
Zi Shou nodded lightly. Though Li Sui was the top scholar in the literary examinations, he had earned that distinction by memorizing the answers, and he was still quite an honest, straightforward fellow.
Zi Shou added, "Still, I understand what Li Sui means."
Li Sui breathed a sigh of relief. His Majesty was indeed no cruel, heartless man. A benevolent monarch surely would not want too many sentences handed down.
Zi Shou continued, "With so