Capítulo 997: Chapter 995: The Role of the Token of Immunity from Death

But Ye Xinyan had no such misgivings. As a female relative with a notorious reputation for being reckless and arrogant, and currently in the height of imperial favor, she was the perfect person to pierce the bubble of secrecy surrounding Marquis Xinyong’s Mansion.

Perhaps she might even win extra favor from the Emperor because of this matter.

If someone else were to say the same thing, not only would they fail to achieve this result, but their words might also be dismissed as nonsense.

Ye Xinyan’s voice came from behind the screen: “Sir, I believe this case is quite clear. The Xingzhou shop violated the court’s newly issued laws, infringing on the Qi Family Mechanical Workshop’s patent rights, and should be dealt with according to the law.”

This wasn’t the answer You Chenghui wanted; he needed a reason to decide the case. He knew the direction of this decision: the Emperor was actively promoting the patent law, so the Marquis Xinyong’s Mansion had to be found guilty, irrespective of taste.

He continued to watch the screen and said: “Does Lady Ye know that the ancestors of the Marquis Xinyong risked their lives to protect the Emperor, which led to the prosperity of the Great Xia? Both the court and the people should remember the Marquis Xinyong’s heroism.”

The Marquis Xinyong’s Heir had a pleased expression. This was precisely what he wanted to convey. Without his ancestors risking their lives to protect the Emperor, where would the Great Xia Dynasty be?

His family had been offering such a precious golden token for many years, and no one dared to provoke them.

Even when an imperial envoy passed through Xingzhou, no matter where they headed, they had to make a detour to visit the Marquis Xinyong’s Mansion and respectfully pay their respects to this golden token, showing admiration for Emperor Taizu.

Now, the Marquis’s Mansion was just doing legitimate business, so how could it bring disaster? Wouldn’t that be a joke?

Behind the screen, Ye Xinyan couldn’t help but criticize You Chenghui’s words. What kind of nonsense was this? Lord You’s tone was practically identical to that of the Marquis Xinyong’s Heir.

The difference was that the Marquis Xinyong’s Heir genuinely believed this, while You Chenghui used these words to lead her to provide a reason for the judgment.

He is simply a trickster.

For the greater good, Ye Xinyan could only comply and say: “What the lord says is reasonable. Precisely because Emperor Taizu and our Great Xia Dynasty remember the Marquis Xinyong’s past bravery, he was granted the Death Exemption Token.”

She paused and then said in a slow and leisurely tone, “However, the lord should know that this is just a Death Exemption Token. Emperor Taizu never said that the Marquis Xinyong’s Mansion is allowed to trample on the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty.”

Wonderful! Listening to this, You Chenghui felt as if he had just drunk a bowl of chilled sour plum juice on a scorching hot day, refreshed both inside and out.

He turned to the Marquis Xinyong’s Heir, whose complexion had changed, and politely said: “Crown Prince, according to the court’s newly issued patent law, the shop under the Marquis’s Mansion indeed violated the court’s law, infringing on the Qi Family Mechanical Workshop’s interests. In my opinion, since the violation is relatively mild, appropriate compensation should suffice. What does the Crown Prince think?”

The Marquis Xinyong’s Heir merely changed his expression but then raised the golden token high with both hands, arrogantly saying: “Our Zhang family appreciates Emperor Taizu’s generous favor and has always abided by the law. When our ancestors received the Death Exemption Token, there was no such thing as patent law, and even Emperor Taizu couldn’t have foreseen it. I believe Emperor Taizu’s words and writings should be respected by everyone in the world.”

Moreover, it is just a private workshop with some connection to Duke An’s Mansion. No matter how great Duke An’s achievements are, can they surpass those of the founding Emperor Taizu?

You Chenghui glanced at the screen again, and unconsciously, his address for Ye Xinyan changed: “What does Grandma Jiang think?”

“Sir, Emperor Taizu’s words and writings are, of course, above all else. But Emperor Taizu spoke of immunity from death, and the golden token also bears the words ‘Immunity from Death.’ Despising today’s court and trampling the court’s laws, confiscating property and forming an army is still possible, I believe, as long as it’s not killing.”

Ye Xinyan’s words floated lightly from behind the screen, shocking everyone in the hall, inside and out, leaving them speechless with wide eyes. Could it really be interpreted that way after all these years of learning and knowledge?

What to do with such a crisis of existential doubt?

Especially the Marquis Xinyong’s Heir, whose face was extremely gloomy. Emperor Taizu didn’t mean that at all; his intent was to ensure the Zhang family’s prosperity and stability.

However, when he looked at the golden token, it indeed only bore the words ‘Immunity from Death.’ As for Emperor Taizu’s original intentions, he has been dead for over a century and can’t exactly emerge from anywhere to clarify the meaning behind issuing the Death Exemption Token.

He began to sweat at the temples. His family had relied on this golden token for protection and indeed despised the court, disregarding the newly issued laws.

If this golden token couldn’t protect his entire family, the crime of openly despising the court and disrespecting the law would be enough to confiscate their property.

Jiang Yifan’s mouth held a sneering smile. Still, there’s hardly anyone in this world capable of arguing better than his wife.

The Marquis Xinyong’s Mansion, huddled locally, acting like local tyrants for several generations, had long lost any sense of foreboding; they were no match for his wife.

You Chenghui raised his thumb high beneath his robes.

This Grandma Jiang is ruthless. Her opening sentence gives an alternative interpretation of the Death Exemption Token, so that the Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion could have its property confiscated. Grandma, you truly are remarkable, outperforming men. Or rather, even men couldn’t match her.

When You Chenghui looked at the Marquis Xinyong’s Heir again, there was already anger and decisiveness on his face. He held the golden token close to his heart and said sternly, “Lord You, this woman is merely a woman of the Inner Residence. Would the lord, based on the words of an ignorant woman, disgrace the golden token personally inscribed by Emperor Taizu? If so, my entire Zhang family is ashamed before Taizu and can only apologize with death.”

You Chenghui stiffened at this. Was he ready to break and fight to the death? This could be challenging.

The voice behind the screen remained slow, saying: “Of course, if things don’t go as desired, and Marquis Xinyong chooses to slit his throat or hang himself…”

You Chenghui’s heart skipped a beat—it was so! If any head of the Marquis’s Mansion committed suicide, displeased by the Yamen’s ruling, his position might be threatened, right?

You Chenghui pricked up his ears, afraid to miss a punctuation mark. Grandma Jiang, proceed with your conclusion already—can the case be tried impartially or not? Can it be dealt with decisively?

Then, he heard Ye Xinyan continue, “… In that case, it would signify great disrespect by the Marquis Xinyong, despising Emperor Taizu. Emperor Taizu granted Marquis immunity from death, yet he chose to commit suicide, blatantly violating Emperor Taizu’s intentions, disgracing him, warranting condemnation.”

That’s how simple it is—even Ye Xinyan’s mention of confiscation without killing, and that one cannot resist the court by committing suicide, left the Marquis Xinyong’s Heir bewildered.

Her words made perfect sense. We only ask you to follow the court’s laws, and we won’t kill you. Not killing you means the ominous token isn’t relevant.

According to Ye Xinyan’s argument, the Death Exemption Token essentially only protects Marquis Xinyong. It doesn’t extend to the Heir, and anything the court or Yamen does to the Mansion doesn’t contradict Emperor Taizu’s orders, as long as they don’t kill the Marquis.

Marquis Xinyong wouldn’t even have the right to commit suicide to express dissatisfaction with the Yamen’s verdict.

If that happens, this Death Exemption Token could merely protect the Mansion’s peaceful continuity, with no other privileges remaining.