This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

Seeing that Liu Cai remained silent, Cheng Jun continued:

"This is enough to show that your tongue was cut, and it has nothing to do with the person who kicked you; you cut it yourself by accident."

After saying that, Cheng Jun suddenly changed the subject and said:

"However, no matter what, there has been bloodshed, so let's treat it as eighty strokes of the cane."

"According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, the punishment is eighty strokes of the cane and eight catties of copper as ransom. One catty of copper is worth one hundred and sixty coins, so eight catties of copper is worth one thousand two hundred and eighty coins."

Cheng Jun looked at Wei Yaoguang and said, "I will send someone to deliver this money before dusk."

When Wei Yaoguang met his gaze, for some reason, his previously uneasy mind calmed down.

Based on past experience, the person in front of me will be the most crucial person in this case.

Wei Yaoguang nodded and said, "That's very good."

Just then, Liu said somewhat unwillingly, "This is too light..."

Having spent so many years in Chang'an, he was already very familiar with these laws.

I've seen it before; people were fighting, and someone was injured and beaten with eighty strokes of the cane.

However, this was the first time he had ever seen a penal redemption.

Wei Yaoguang said to him, "My judgments are all based on the laws of the Tang Dynasty."

This is why he doesn't think there's anything wrong with Li Dejiang hitting someone.

As long as they weren't killed, it's considered lenient.

Li Dejiang also remained calm.

He dared to fight because of his status.

The Cheng brothers, Chumo and Chuliang, watched this scene with great interest.

As for Cheng Jun, he was still holding up one hand, on which lay a golden imperial edict, making him the embodiment of the law.

At this moment, the burly man in plain clothes and Liu Cai and the others looked at them and suddenly felt as if they were facing a mountain, and were filled with fear.

The burly man in plain clothes stepped forward and said, "We admire Magistrate Wei for his impartiality and selflessness."

"The matter has been resolved; we shall take our leave."

After saying that, he immediately gave the others a wink, wanting to escape from there.

However, before they could take a step, Cheng Jun's voice suddenly rang out:

"I'm here, and you think you can leave?"

The burly man in plain clothes stopped in his tracks, meeting Cheng Jun's slightly smiling gaze. His fear intensified, and after a few hesitant words, he asked:

"I wonder if Imperial Censor Cheng has any other questions to ask?"

Cheng Jun walked up to him, looked at the thirty-odd middle-aged men behind him, and asked, "As far as I know, you are from the gambling den?"

Upon hearing this, the burly man in plain clothes changed his expression drastically and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "No, no!"

"When the imperial court investigated Turkic spies before, they had already raided and confiscated all the gambling dens. There are no gambling dens left in Chang'an now!"

Cheng Jun pointed at Liu Cai and asked, "You mean he doesn't owe you any money?"

The burly man in plain clothes explained, "Liu Cai lost all his money in business. As the saying goes, 'a life for a life, a debt for a debt,' it's only right that we ask him for our money back."

Cheng Jun chuckled, turned to look at Wei Yaoguang, and asked, "Prefect Wei, do you believe it?"

"I don't believe it." Wei Yaoguang shook his head and said, "I was just about to ask about it."

As he spoke, he looked at Liu Cai and asked, "These people say you lost all their money in business. I ask you, what kind of business did you do?"

Liu opened his mouth, "I..."

However, the words just wouldn't come out.

Wei Yaoguang frowned and said, "You don't even know what kind of business you're in? Aren't you lying?"

“If you don’t answer truthfully, I’m going to torture you.”

After saying that, he waved to the head constable.

The head constable immediately led a dozen or so constables, each carrying a long stick, over.

Everyone panicked instantly, and Liu Cai even shouted, "I gambled there, and I lost money..."

Wei Yaoguang put on a stern face, "Since that's the case, you will all be given one hundred strokes of the cane."

Just then, Cheng Jun suddenly spoke up: "Prefect Wei, don't be in such a hurry."

"I have an imperial edict here."

In an instant, everyone's attention was focused on Cheng Jun.

He actually went to see His Majesty... Li Dejiang pricked up his ears and couldn't help but lean closer.

Wei Yaoguang turned to look at him, waiting for him to continue.

Cheng Jun said solemnly, "I am an imperial censor, the eyes and ears of the emperor. I have heard that recently a bad trend of gambling has swept through Chang'an City, which is harmful to the people in every way."

"Therefore, I reported this matter to His Majesty, and His Majesty issued an edict ordering me to eliminate this unhealthy trend."

After speaking, Cheng Jun pointed to Liu Cai and the burly man in plain clothes, and asked, "Prefect Wei, what do you think should be done?"

Wei Yaoguang was secretly surprised, never expecting that an ordinary case would suddenly become an imperial case. While feeling fortunate that his sixth sense was extraordinary and always able to help him at crucial moments, he said aloud:

“Since it is His Majesty’s decree, these people should be severely punished without exception.”

He pointed at Liu Cai and the burly man in plain clothes, and said, "How about we change their punishment of one hundred strokes of the cane to one year of penal servitude?"

Cheng Jun raised the imperial edict slightly higher and solemnly said:

"A year of imprisonment is probably not enough to suppress this unhealthy trend."

Wei Yaoguang said, "Then let's make it a two-year apprenticeship."

Cheng Jun shook his head and raised the imperial edict in his hand a little higher.

Wei Yaoguang asked again, "How about three years of apprenticeship?"

Cheng Jun shook his head again, only raising the hand holding the imperial edict higher and higher.

Wei Yaoguang reminded him, "Imperial Censor Cheng, if we go any further, it will be exile, which must be reported to the Court of Judicial Review."

Cheng Jun raised his hand above his head and solemnly said, "This is an imperial edict."

Wei Yaoguang understood now, and his expression turned serious. Looking at the panicked Liu Cai and the burly man in plain clothes, he said:

"Then... exile them all to Lingnan!"

After he finished speaking, he looked at Cheng Jun.

Cheng Jun then slowly lowered his hand that had been holding the imperial edict, and pondered for a moment:

“Prefect Wei, I think we can’t just exile him; he should also receive the hundred strokes of the cane.”

"In addition, we also need to investigate the background of these people."

Cheng Jun looked at the thirty-odd middle-aged men standing behind the burly man in plain clothes and said:

"If you truthfully confess who else is gambling around you, you can be spared the hundred strokes of the cane and avoid physical pain."

Upon hearing this, the crowd, who had been in despair, were jolted awake and cried out in unison:

"I know a few people who are still gambling recently, and they live right next to my house!"

"I'm willing to confess!"

Seeing their seemingly voluntary act of betrayal, Cheng Jun turned to Wei Yaoguang and said:

"Prefect Wei, their affairs are entrusted to you."

"Okay!" Wei Yaoguang nodded, then pointed at Liu Cai and asked:

What should we do with Liu Cai?

Without hesitation, Cheng Jun replied, "Exile to Lingnan!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Cai turned deathly pale. His already weak legs could no longer support his heavy upper body, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.