Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

The afternoon sun shone obliquely into the lobby of the government office, bringing with it a sense of coolness as if everything had settled.

The clamor and bloodshed of the previous few days seemed to have vanished, but a solemn and heavy atmosphere lingered in the air. Below the hall, Xiao Kewei was brought up by two yamen runners. Unlike the previous prisoners, who had either been frantic, frightened, or resentful, he wore a well-worn but clean prison uniform, his hair meticulously combed. His face was gaunt, his eyes calm, even possessing a near-detached indifference. Having been pampered in the cell for over a month, he looked surprisingly healthy, though a lingering weariness and resignation hung over his features.

Zhang Jingwei sat upright in the hall, looking at the former Gaoyang Chief Clerk, the "acting county magistrate" who had actually presided over Gaoyang County affairs before his arrival. An indescribable complex of emotions welled up in his heart. Disgust? Regret? Or perhaps... a subtle hint of respect? He took a deep breath and broke the silence:

"Xiao Kewei." Zhang Jingwei's voice was not loud, but it echoed clearly in the empty hall. "As the chief clerk of Gaoyang County, you are in charge of the county's documents, granaries, and household registration. Although your position is not high, your responsibilities are very heavy! I have verified that over the past few years, the three major families, the Chen family, the Zhou family, and the Shi family, have been rampant lawlessness in Gaoyang, oppressing the people, secretly refining banned drugs, and harming the people! Every case is horrifying! And you..." His eyes were like torches, locking tightly on Xiao Kewei, "Not only did you not punish them severely and report them to the state government, but you... assisted them in their atrocities! You covered up their crimes, dealt with them from beginning to end, and allowed their evil deeds to continue, causing the people to suffer unspeakably! Now, the three major families have all been brought to justice, their crimes are obvious! What else do you have to say?"

Xiao Kewei slowly raised his head, meeting Zhang Jingwei's scrutinizing gaze. His eyes held neither evasion nor resentment, only a deep, calm sereneness. He remained silent for several breaths, as if gathering his thoughts. Finally, he bowed slightly and replied in a clear, steady voice:

"Your subordinate...I have nothing to say."

These four simple words carried immense power. There was no excuse, no evasion, and certainly no Yuan Liang-like fawning. It was a tacit acceptance of the facts, a resigned acceptance of one's fate.

Zhang Jingwei looked at him like this, and the complex emotions in his heart became even more intense. He changed the subject, and his tone was filled with a hint of... indescribable emotion:

"Before I took office in Gaoyang... the previous magistrate was incompetent and incompetent, a mere figurehead who ultimately died in office. During that time, it was you, Xiao Zhubu, who single-handedly managed to keep the county government running, handling daily affairs, comforting the victims, and even... trying to curb the evil deeds of the three families to the best of your ability and maintain the pitiful order that existed in Gaoyang." Zhang Jingwei's voice deepened, carrying a rare, almost sincere acknowledgment. "For this... I should thank you. At least, you prevented Gaoyang from completely rotting and collapsing in your hands."

Xiao Kewei's body seemed to tremble slightly. He hadn't expected Zhang Jingwei to bring this up. A fleeting ripple crossed his eyes, then he regained his composure and bowed again. "Your Excellency, your words are too kind. I... am a native of Gaoyang, born and raised here. Doing my share for the local people is... my duty." He emphasized "local people" and "my duty," as if drawing a vague line for himself—he was doing his best to maintain order for the sake of his hometown, not for those three families.

"Duty?" Zhang Jingwei's lips curled up in a cold arc, thick with sarcasm. "Look at all those 'good things' you've done! I'm too lazy to scold you for every one of them!" He picked up the thick stack of evidence on the desk that showed Xiao Kewei accepting bribes, shielding others, and forging documents, and slammed it down on the desk. "Just the 'benefits' the Shi family has forced upon you over the years—those farms, shops, gold and silver... if converted into silver, I'm afraid you'd be beheaded ten times, right?! Is this your duty?!"

Faced with this direct accusation, Xiao Kewei's expression finally changed slightly. It wasn't fear, but a tired defense. He raised his head, his voice still steady, but with a hint of helplessness:

"Your Excellency, please understand. This humble servant... is the son-in-law of the Shi family. My wife is Shi Chongshan's illegitimate daughter." He paused, as if to emphasize the "legitimate" nature of this relationship. "What the Shi family gave me... was 'support' from the Yue family to their son-in-law, a 'gift' between kin. This... is completely different from ordinary officials accepting bribes. Moreover," he changed the subject, with a subtle hint of protection, "the heinous crimes committed by the Shi family were all committed by Shi Chongshan and his sons and their core minions. My wife, a secluded illegitimate daughter, had nothing to do with this, and... she cannot be blamed for it."

This defense, a mixture of emotion and reason, not only points out the special nature of in-law relationships, but also attempts to remove his wife from the sins of the Shi family, showing his sense of responsibility as a husband. However, in the face of national law, it seems so pale.

"You have your reasons," Zhang Jingwei said firmly, with unquestionable majesty, "but the country has its own laws! Court officials, regardless of the reason, accepting huge sums of money and providing shelter for evil deeds, are dereliction of duty! They are perverting the law! They deserve death!" He picked up the long-prepared verdict and pronounced in a cold voice:

"As an official appointed by the imperial court, you knowingly broke the law, your crime is aggravated! My sentence for you is—immediate execution!"

He paused, then added, "However, according to the law, crimes committed by county officials must be handled by the Imperial Censorate. I will submit your case file, the county's verdict, and all evidence to the Hedong Circuit for review. Once the review is complete and the Ministry of Justice approves the verdict, officials from the Ministry will arrive to pronounce and carry out the sentence. Do you have any objections?"

The words "Immediate Execution" fell like an icy hammer. Xiao Kewei's body seemed to sway, but he quickly regained his composure. There was no fear or pleading on his face, only a sense of calm, a sense of resolution, and even... a hint of relief.

He was silent for a moment, then bowed deeply to Zhang Jingwei, his voice filled with the solemnity of entrusting him:

"Your humble servant... has no objection. If... if the censor ultimately sentences me to death..." He raised his head and looked directly at Zhang Jingwei, his eyes filled with the final pleading of a husband and a father, "Please... Sir Zhang... tell my wife... on your behalf..."

His voice trembled slightly for the first time, but soon returned to a steady state:

"Let her... not have to remain a chaste woman, and remarry into a good family as soon as possible. Let her work hard... and make sure to raise the children she and I have... to adulthood. Tell them... not to learn from their father, but to follow... the right path." He spoke the last few words very clearly, with deep regret and hope.

This entrustment had nothing to do with his own life or death, but was solely concerned with the future of his wife and children. This calm exhortation seemed particularly heavy in the solemn courtroom.

Zhang Jingwei looked at him, and the last trace of complex emotions in his eyes faded. He nodded, his voice low but clear:

"This matter... I have agreed to it. I will definitely convey it to you."

"Thank you...sir." Xiao Kewei bowed deeply again, bending even lower.

"Take Xiao Kewei," Zhang Jingwei said, no longer looking at him, his voice returning to its cold, businesslike tone. "Import him to death row! Keep him under strict guard, and await the final decision from the Inspection Office and the Ministry of Justice!"

"Yes!" The bailiff stepped forward.

Xiao Kewei didn't struggle, obediently letting himself be escorted by the yamen runners. He turned and walked out of the hall. His back was straight, his steps steady, like a martyr heading for his destined fate, as he disappeared into the shadows outside the side door of the hall. The afternoon sun was still bright, but it could no longer penetrate the depths of the death row. Zhang Jingwei looked at the empty hall, silent for a long time, and then slowly exhaled, as if the last heavy stone had been lifted. At this point, the Gaoyang case had truly come to an end.