The prince's punishment (kūn) is an ancient name for punishment that has existed since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

The torture used hair cutting as a means to cut off the long hair of the prisoner, leaving only about three inches in length, hanging down to the ear, visible from a distance, and particularly conspicuous in the crowd.

In the eyes of the people of the time, hair is connected with the soul of a person, it is the "blood remnant", it is the essence of the human body, once a person is cut off the hair, he will lose his essence, and it will also damage the qi and blood in some indescribable way.

Therefore, like the five punishments such as ink punishment and slashing punishment, the punishment belongs to the category of corporal punishment, which is the destruction of the dignity and integrity of the body, and is more intended to cut off the connection between the body and the "mandate of heaven" between heaven and man, which is not only a great humiliation, but also a bloodless injury to one's own body.

Liu Ying's proposal to be punished by herself is by no means an opportunistic trick, but a sincere willingness to sacrifice herself for Xiao He, a pure heart, which is really respectable and lamentable.

Hearing this, Lu Pheasant couldn't hide the surprise and admiration in his eyes.

In the previous life, she only knew that Liu Ying, Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty, was a well-known "benevolent and weak" king, and in the treacherous political struggle, he was defeated because of his weak mind, and he was willing to fall because his heart was too soft, and finally he was depressed and died young.

And when she herself saw with her own eyes that those ambitious princes were forced into a desperate situation by ruthless children, she gradually had a different opinion of Liu Ying's dullness.

Although stupidity is inevitably anxious, in Liu Ying, there is a rare shining humanity of the emperor's family, which shines like a jewel in the unfathomable palace.

Thinking of this, Lu Pheasant looked at Liu Ying with a smile on his face, and slowly bowed his head, this is a mother in the Han Dynasty, praise and encouragement for her child, and also a monarch, an affirmation of the character of another monarch.

Liu Ji on the side was silent, looking deeply at the prince whose temperament and temperament were not at all like his own, and thoughtfully:

The so-called rebellion and obedience, taking the world by force, ruling the world by civil rule, and taking and defending are diametrically opposed imperial techniques.

He has roughly done it to take the world, but when it comes to guarding the world, he has more than enough heart and no strength.

In this personal expedition, he obviously felt that his energy was low, and compared with the decisive battle of Qixia just a year ago, he actually felt that the river was declining.

He is not like his son everywhere in front of him, and he definitely can't take the world, but if he is destined to go first, with the assistance of his mother, can he keep the world?

***

Between the lightning and the fire, the thoughts in Liu Ji's mind had turned back and forth several times, but Xiao He's thoughts were stagnant at this moment.

He seemed to be touched, his face was full of gray hair and trembling, his throat was rolling, his expression was sad, and he was a dignified generation of heroes, and he snorted for a long time, and Fang sighed heavily.

"How can a minister be virtuous, he can afford to be a prince."

Xiao He was a grassroots official in Pei County in the first half of his life, and later started from the dragon, and he has seen too many honey-bellied swords in his life, and he knows that the most unpredictable thing in the world is the human heart, and the most volatile is also the human heart.

But here and now, in the forbidden place of Luoyang Nangong, under the steaming of the fire cage, somehow, he was willing to believe that Fang Cai's words were the prince's heartfelt words.

Benevolence is a noble and rare quality.

Rigidity, perseverance, wood, and ne, are benevolence, generosity, benevolence, loyalty, and forgiveness, and self-denial is benevolence, and it is benevolence not to do to others what you do not want.

And compassion is also benevolence.

A young master with a compassionate heart can probably ensure that he ends a good death?

Xiao He got up tremblingly, left the table, and bowed solemnly to the ten-year-old Renjun who had not yet taken off his childishness.

Liu Ying hurriedly went to help, and Liu Ji's joking voice came from behind her,

"Don't bow down, so many Lang officials look at it, you are still saluting at an age, and you are not afraid of breaking this child.

Xiao He, although your capital crime can be avoided, as for the living crime, it still needs to be discussed. ”

"Yes, the minister is willing to be punished to apologize."

"The son is willing to be punished on behalf of the prime minister—"

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, there is no need for punishment, just fine and atone for your sins with money."

Seeing that the two were fighting, Lu Pheasant turned his head and said to Liu Ji with a smile,

"In Xiao Xiang's country, if he has the resources to buy so many fields, let him take out more and hand them over to the treasury to compensate the people of Chang'an County and reward and help the widows and lonely."

***

"Imperial court reward?"

Everyone present had never heard of this move, and dozens of pairs of eyes inside and outside the hall all looked at Lu Pheasant, waiting for her to explain in detail.

Lu Pheasant was stunned for a moment, and then remembered that the official bereavement assistance and envoy envoys sent by the imperial court to the poor and weak people were vaguely recorded in history after Tang Gaozu Li Yuan ascended the throne.

Later, when she was in charge of the dynasty, she also issued many edicts to reward widows, widows, and lonely people with three diseases.

Anyway, if it's already here, let's do it 900 years in advance.

She glanced at the sparkling eyes outside the porch, and explained slowly,

"At the beginning of the country, it was decided that the heavens should be lucky, and the rebellion was quelled, and it was appropriate to promote the court, promote grace, and appease people's hearts.

Xiangguo donated part of his family wealth, and the imperial court ordered local officials to give Su Silk to many widows, widows, loneliness, and sick people who could not live on their own. ”

Caring for the poor, the old and the weak, and helping the orphans and the disabled are policies that will only be implemented in the prosperous era.

The courtiers who lived in the turbulent sea of suffering at the end of the Qin Dynasty had never seen the form of benevolent government, but their human nature was the same, and they also felt that this was a commendable good thing.

Liu Ji thought for a moment, then nodded and said,

"Okay, just pay the fine to atone for the crime.

As for how much you want to donate, Xiao He, you are in charge of the construction of Chang'an City, and you are most familiar with the local people's livelihood, so you can go down and count the amount, and then report it to me.

I'll spare you this time, if there is a next time, you will really abandon the market, haha. ”

The cold sweat on Xiao He's back was wet and dry, dry and wet, and his heart finally fell back into his stomach.

***

Xiao He left, Liu Ying was taken to study by the palace people as usual, and Lu Pheasant was about to return to the North Palace, but he hesitated for a moment and asked again,

"You went to Zhao Country this time, is it okay to see Lu Yuanke?"

Liu Ji was lying on his back on the couch, deep in thought, and did not respond for a while.

are all people who have been emperors, Lu Pheasant knew that he was depressed in his chest, so he simply picked it out and said,

"Xiao why not the party, it is really the treasure of the country.

Such a loyal and lonely country, what else is Your Majesty worried about? ”

Even if he originally had the heart of forming a party, now under Liu Ji's painstaking management, he is not on good terms with the meritorious group due to the issue of rewards, and has made countless enemies, and he really can't get up with the party.

In addition, Xiao He was not a military general, and there was no personal connection between him and the generals, so in this situation, he could only be loyal to the imperial power, which was more able to ensure the hard-won stability in the early Han Dynasty.

Moreover, there are dozens of Kundi in his entire clan, and the emperor has also seen and used them one by one, none of them are of great use, and it is impossible for them to join forces inside and outside to form party henchmen in the future.

Seeing that Liu Ji was still silent, Lu Pheasant sat back on the side of the couch and said warmly,

"Besides, Xiao He's age is ...... older than all of us."

This is a deeper concern.

Liu Ji's mind is inconvenient to say clearly, but Lu Pheasant was the empress in his last life, and he has the memory of living with him for more than ten years in this life, and he has long been insightful.

Xiao He is much older than Liu Ji, and his body is also deteriorating, so he will not be in phase for a long time.

In other words, an old and lonely Xiangguo, with no successor and desperate to protect himself, is the most stable Xiangguo in the world.

"Don't talk about it, don't talk about Xiao He."

Liu Ji's eyes shook suddenly, and he deliberately diverted the topic,

"You just asked Lu Yuan?

She's fine, she looks like an adult.

Zhang Ao is also good, and he also dedicated his name Zhao Ji, who is the daughter of Ruyi's inner Fu Zhao Yuan. ”