Chapter 784 - 272: Two Years (Part 5)
"You can also send someone to Flame Lake City to deliver a letter, so that Zhongyi also knows this good news."
Shen Chongming nodded repeatedly, "Nephew will arrange it right away."
The fact that his mother’s longevity was nearing its end had also always been a burden in He Zhongyi’s heart.
Now that this matter was resolved, it was indeed tremendous news for him.
With this knot unwound, the path of cultivation would also become smoother.
...
Clan Court.
Shen Li, dressed in a moon white long skirt, sat quietly in the rear hall, with an ancient bamboo slip placed before her.
Beside her, Shen Xiuyan sat upright and serious, holding a thick book and reading it carefully.
The book contained case records of the Clan Court dealing with subordinate families violating laws and disciplines.
Each case had recommendations from the Clan Court, along with punitive measures from successive Patriarchs, and the outcomes of these enforcements by the Clan Court.
Previously, Shen Chongming has established a rule that from his time onwards, every Shen Family Patriarch must have the resume of being a Clan Chief before succession.
As the heir apparent to the position of the Patriarch, Shen Xiuyan would visit the Clan Court every few days to study with Shen Li for two days.
"Aunt."
Staring at the matter recorded in the book he was holding, Shen Xiuyan contemplated for a while before calling out.
Shen Li slowly put down the bamboo slip in her hand and looked up at him.
Shen Xiuyan carried the thick book before her and gave a respectful salute, then knelt on the opposite side, pointing at the content of the book.
Glancing through it, Shen Li saw that the case on the book was about the past scheming of Shen Xiubai’s mother, Liu Yiran, and her brother against Shen Chongxu.
The punitive measure back then was indeed somewhat ambiguous, not to mention almost nonexistent.
"Share your thoughts."
Shen Li spoke softly.
Her teaching method was simple.
It was to have Shen Xiuyan review these cases himself, initially without looking at the Clan Court’s suggestions and the Patriarch’s final judgments.
Based on his own understanding of the clan rules, he had to predict the punishment given the circumstances at that time, and then compare it with the recommendations of the Clan Court and the Patriarch’s verdict.
If there was a significant discrepancy in the result, she would then clarify any doubts he had.
Finally, they would determine whether the Patriarch’s judgment was reasonable and if there were any areas needing improvement.
After hesitating for a moment, Shen Xiuyan said, "Discussing the punishment of this matter now, Xiuyan finds it somewhat difficult to express."
"After all, Brother Xiubai and Aunt are already members of the Shen Clan."
"But... Uncle and Aunt, and even Great Grandfather’s decisions back then, seem wrong to Xiuyan."
"An aunt and her brother, scheming against the main family from their position under a vassal family, is a capital crime of insubordination."
"Punishing like this within the clan doesn’t serve as a deterrent to petty rogues, nor does it manifest the inviolable authority of the main family."
"If later imitators take even greater liberties, doesn’t it turn the Shen Family’s bloodline into a backing for their provocations against the main family?"
Shen Li nodded appreciatively.
"So, what is your punishment..."
Determination flashed across Shen Xiuyan’s youthful face.
"Those who dare to scheme against the Shen Family shall be killed without revisiting any pretext."
"For severe cases, collective punishment can be meted out to avert future troubles."
After saying this, he cupped his hands towards Shen Li and asked, "What does Aunt think of Xiuyan’s punishment?"
After a moment of contemplation, Shen Li said, "Let’s set this matter aside for now, and discuss it later."
"Tell Aunt, what is the ultimate purpose of the ’punishment’ in the Clan Court?"
Shen Xiuyan was slightly startled, hesitating how to speak.
Seeing this, Shen Li smiled gently, "Aunt believes the purpose of punishment is to correct clan tendencies, not merely to instill fear through brute force."
"Subordinate families under rule are ultimately not enemies; excessive punishment only corrects excessively, resulting in the opposite effect."
"Ruling a family with harsh penalties will inevitably earn the name of ’cruelty.’"
"A leader must balance grace and sternness, choosing to punish according to faults but not solely because of them."
"Do you understand?"
After some thought, Shen Xiuyan nodded.
"Aunt means that means governing a family shouldn’t be too rigid, and one shouldn’t punish merely for the sake of punishment?"
Shen Li nodded with a smile.
"Now, tell me about your punishment thoughts on this matter again."
Looking at the book, Shen Xiuyan hesitated for a long time before cupping his hands, "Xiuyan’s answer is still the same as before."
"However, the method may need to change."
Upon hearing this, Shen Li was momentarily stunned, then she smiled and nodded.
"You have a literary heart and strategic wisdom by nature; Aunt naturally isn’t worried."
"In the future, just pay attention to your style of conduct and don’t be too rigid."
"Grace and sternness should not be apparent so that people are filled with both awe and respect."
Shen Xiuyan respectfully cupped his hands, "Aunt’s teachings, Xiuyan will remember."
Shen Li nodded and said, "Let’s stop here for today; after you go back, don’t come for a while."
"Aunt needs to go into seclusion for a while; your Uncle Chongming will handle the Clan Court affairs; you can learn well by following him."
Shen Xiuyan responded again with a bow and left the Clan Court directly.
After he disappeared, the Golden Toad in a corner lifted its head and spoke gutturally, "Master, if this little guy inherits the Patriarch position, he may be harsher than the current Patriarch."
"I used to think he was gentle and refined, but never imagined he was so contrary inside."
Shen Li chuckled lightly and picked up the ancient bamboo slip, saying, "It’s all due to the environment."
"Ever since Xiuyan was born, my Shen Family has been under the pressure of various forces at the Southern Border."
"Afterwards, with the matter of the Spirit’s betrayal at Celestial Sandalwood Mountain, the Shen Family experienced betrayal; having seen the ruthlessness of the Cultivation Realm and knowing he bears the future of the entire Shen Family’s people."
"Having such tenacity is not a bad thing."
The Golden Toad nodded slightly, then let out a strange laugh, "The little demon is looking forward to seeing how much of a headache the Shen Family’s enemies will have when little Xiuyan becomes the Patriarch."