Chapter 337 Weighing Life and Dignity

On October 10, Zhao Yuxi received another report on the execution. She spared the first few people from execution and gave them a drug to restore youth. This group of people might have been bewitched by the gold and fire and became abnormal, so she let them go. But she didn't plan to let those who were not bewitched by the gold and fire go.

"Gu Tingzhu, they sent me another work report. Someone else is about to be executed. If I want to forgive them, what kind of reason should I find?"

These days, Gu Tingzhou has a more accurate understanding of Zhao Yuxi's work situation. The first few people were executed immediately, which was indeed a bit unfair, but the later people seemed to have no reason to make the same mistake again and again. Although some professions are more likely to be executed, why can't they change their careers? Is there any profession that is more important than life? Can the money they earn buy their lives?
At this time, Gu Tingzhou very much agreed to execute them immediately, but since Zhao Yuxi asked this, he had to help think of a reason.

"People have not yet adapted to the law. They use it according to their own ideas, which inevitably leads to accidental injuries. If the number of accidental injuries increases, it will lead to accidental killings."

Accidental injury? Accidental killing? It turns out that there is really a reason to forgive them! In this case, let them off the hook again? However, the law must be enforced. If I take the lead in violating the law, what will my subordinates think? They will think that the law I wrote is a joke.

Maybe they won't tell this matter as a joke, but when they enforce the law, they will subconsciously disregard the majesty of the law and then "use the law according to their own ideas."

"Manslaughter by mistake?" Zhao Yuxi sighed. "Even if it was an accidental killing, the execution must be carried out. Once the decree is issued, someone will be executed immediately. This is inevitable. If we find that someone has reached the standard of immediate execution and we delay the punishment, my colleagues will question me."

"Do their doubts matter?" In Gu Tingzhou's impression, Zhao Yuxi didn't care much about her colleagues' doubts. She was very opinionated. Thinking back to when she first met her, her condescending attitude seemed very impressive. Recently, she rarely looked like this.

"It depends on how you make choices. If I save those people, they gain life and I gain doubt. If I don't save those people, I lose nothing and gain nothing, and everything will continue as usual."

"Then let's choose the former."

Gu Tingzhou's reasoning was: Only a dozen days had passed, and someone had already used up all the time. What if it wasn't a dozen days, but a dozen months? By next month, this decree would probably no longer be limited to Guyuan City. By October next year, how many people would be beheaded? Ten thousand? One hundred thousand? One million? If there really were one million people to be beheaded, and if I had to sacrifice one million people to protect people's dignity, I would give up protecting people's dignity and choose to protect the lives of those people.

"Tingting, you are really kinder than me. Since the day I issued the decree, many people have been paying attention to us. Most of them don't know who will be executed, so they won't question us. Those who will question us are precisely those who play a key role in this work. If I choose to accept their doubts, this decree will have to be rewritten, and my dignity as an Ancient One and the Dean of the Branch will be trampled upon by them."

The dignity of others is not important, at least not as important as life, but Zhao Yuxi's dignity is what he wants to protect and what he must protect. Gu Tingzhou is confused and wavering. He knows that Zhao Yuxi's dignity cannot override her life, but...

However, he didn't want to see Zhao Yuxi become a joke in the mouths of some people. The Medieval Ones would definitely not trample on Zhao Yuxi's dignity in person, and she was unlikely to know what others said about her behind her back. So, what about the Ancient Ones? What would the deans, vice deans, and executives of the branch institutes in the institute think of Zhao Yuxi?
"Tingting, you are hesitating, you are worried about me, right?" Zhao Yuxi could see his awkwardness and confusion. These expressions and emotions were obvious on his face, and she could see them without using her perception. This was the observation she should have as a human being, and it was also the understanding she should have of him as a wife.

"Yes. This time, those who are to be executed will not be saved. You can modify the law slightly and let them implement the new law."

Gu Tingzhou finally chose to protect Zhao Yuxi's dignity. Her dignity is not as important as the lives of thousands or tens of thousands of people, but it is definitely more important than the lives of a few people who have violated the order to protect their dignity hundreds of times. This is beyond doubt. Even if Zhao Yuxi has to lose her dignity one day, she must not lose her dignity for such a person. It is too unprofitable.

"They are wronged. Dawn is coming soon, but they are forever in darkness. I made a mistake, so I must admit it and correct it as soon as possible, instead of waiting until the 16th of next month. This is what I should do, I must do it, you don't have to worry too much about me." At that time on the Yellow Crane Tower, the decree written by Tingting did not include immediate execution. It was my sudden idea that instigated Tingting to add this item to the decree. Now I want to take back these three words, and I will take the main responsibility for this.

"If the ancients in the institute knew about this, would they laugh at you?"

"Just don't laugh at my jokes. If they do, I'll use a dignity warrant against them. Let's think about how to amend the law. As long as the word 'summit execution' is still in the law, sooner or later many people will lose their lives because of it."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have written the dignity maintenance order, I shouldn't have added immediate execution to the law." Gu Tingzhou was very sad. If he had been more cautious, if he had valued life more, Zhao Yuxi would not have to face such a dilemma today.

"No need to apologize. It was not your intention to add these three words. You did this because you listened to my advice. I should be the one to apologize. But I am a very proud person. I don't want to apologize for the time being. Is that okay?"

Sister Zhao Yuxi is indeed a very proud person, but when she said she didn't want to apologize, I'm afraid it's not true. Admitting a mistake is more difficult than apologizing. She did the more difficult thing, and she can definitely do the simpler thing. She said she didn't want to apologize because she didn't want to accept my apology. In her heart, I did nothing wrong. But in my heart, the one who made the mistake was me.

"Okay. Thank you for bearing the consequences with me."

Zhao Yuxi looked at him with a carefree smile: "Although it may not be appropriate to say this, I still want to tell you something."

"What did you say?" Gu Tingzhou felt expectant and nervous. What exactly were those inappropriate words?

"Gu Tingzhou, you have become more sensible."

The word "sensible" is not usually used between couples, so Zhao Yuxi's concern does not lie here.

"That's a very fitting quote. I like it."

"That's fine. What has happened has already happened, and we need to find a way to make amends and correct the mistake before it's too late and someone is executed."

"Ah."

(End of this chapter)