Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

When the amnesty decree from the Taiji Hall reached the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice, the officials of both offices dared not delay for even a moment.

According to the judicial system during the Zhenguan era, even if the emperor had made a ruling in court, the process of "crime review - roster compilation - document filing" still had to be completed.

This demonstrates both respect for the national law and a clear delineation of the principle of "pardoning those who keep their promises and punishing the most heinous criminals."

The Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review personally presided over the review, and 390 case files were piled up like a small mountain on the table.

Fortunately, Li Shimin had personally checked the list of prisoners when he released them before, so this time he only needed to focus on identifying those who were "utterly wicked".

The bailiffs called out names one by one for questioning, and wrote "pardon" or "reduction of punishment" in red ink on the register. When the sun moved from the east window to the west eaves, the review was nearing its end.

Final determination: All 390 people met the conditions for amnesty.

Those who were able to go home before were not considered heinous criminals.

All of these are understandable reasons; this review is more of a formality.

"Starting tomorrow, they will be released in batches."

The Minister of Justice slammed the list of names with imperial approval on the table, saying, "Those from Chang'an and surrounding prefectures and counties can be released first. Those from remote areas such as Lingnan and Longyou should be delayed for a day until their travel permits and travel expenses are ready."

This was not a delay, but rather a result of the thoroughness of the actions taken during the Zhenguan era.

Although Tang Dynasty law did not explicitly stipulate "travel expenses for pardoned prisoners," Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin) had always prioritized "benevolent governance to appease the people," and had previously issued an oral edict:

“Those who return from afar without funds will be treated the same as candidates who return with provisions.”

Previously, it had been a common practice for the imperial court to provide silk to unsuccessful candidates as travel expenses, and this time the practice was followed.

The Ministry of Revenue allocated silk and copper coins, categorized according to distance traveled:

Those within a hundred li will be given a bolt of silk and three hundred coins.

Within a thousand li, two bolts of silk and five hundred coins were awarded.

For those traveling three thousand miles or further, three bolts of silk and one string of cash would be enough to cover their food, lodging, and carriage expenses along the way.

On the morning of the third day, the gates of Chang'an prison slowly opened.

The first batch of pardoned individuals were mostly locals from Yongzhou Prefecture, who received "pardon certificates" issued by the Ministry of Justice.

That was yellow paper stamped with the vermilion seal of the Dali Temple, clearly stating the crime, the reason for the pardon, and the place of origin. It served as proof of passage through customs and recognition of the prefecture and county when returning home.

Some people clutched the pardon and rushed home, their footsteps filled with urgency.

Someone stood on the street corner looking back at the prison walls, then suddenly bowed deeply in the direction of the Taiji Hall.

Zhang Dalang left the capital on the fourth day.

He belonged to the category of "those with craftsmanship skills," and according to the decree, he needed to be registered by the Ministry of Works first, and then recommended to government-run workshops later.

Upon leaving the prison, the clerk handed over an extra cloth bag:
"Master Zhang, this is for you: two bolts of silk and six hundred coins. The official in charge of the Ministry of Works said that if you wish to stay in the capital to make glass, you can report to the workshop in the east of the city in three days. If you want to return to Kaolao Village first, you can use this money and silk to ensure a safe journey."

"Thank you! I'd like to go home first!" Zhang Dalang was very grateful to Li Shimin and the imperial court.

The one I admire most is Xiao Ran.

When they first met, Zhang Dalang thought Xiao Ran had ill intentions.

He wanted to kill Xiao Ran, but found that Xiao Ran was very skilled. He was pinned down by Xiao Ran next to the pool. At that time, Xiao Ran said that Zhang Dalang would be fine.

Zhang Dalang didn't believe it before, but now he has to admit it.

Xiao Ran is right, he won't die.

What other thoughts might be on Zhang Dalang's mind?

Among those leaving the capital in the same batch was a man from Xiangzhou, who was weeping over the three bolts of silk in his hands:

"When I left home last year, I had nothing of value, but now I am able to return with His Majesty's grace. Even if I travel two thousand miles, I will feel at ease."

The group bid farewell at the city gate. The man, carrying the pardon and silk, headed south along the official road, while Zhang Dalang turned and walked towards Kaolao Village.

He didn't touch the money and silk in the cloth bag, knowing in his heart that this kindness was not charity, but the Tang Dynasty's reward for "keeping promises".

Those prisoners from the more distant Lingnan and Longyou regions mostly set off on the fifth day.

The Ministry of Justice specially issued them "post road passes," which allowed them to stay at post stations along the way for free. If they encountered wind and rain that caused delays, they could also receive a small amount of dry rations.

An official explained, "His Majesty said that since you were willing to return to prison to keep your promise, the Tang Dynasty should allow you to return home with dignity."

These subtle details are precisely the essence of the benevolent rule of the Zhenguan era—strict adherence to national laws while also caring for the well-being of the people.

When Kaolao Village received the news of Zhang Dalang's return home, Zhang Erya was sitting at the gate of the courtyard mending old clothes.

Seeing that familiar figure in the distance, she dropped the needle and thread in her hand and rushed over with choked sobs.

Zhang Dalang put down the cloth bundle and took out the pardon and the untouched silk:

“Second Sister, look, His Majesty not only pardoned us, but also gave us travel expenses for our return journey—from now on, we can make a living with our skills.”

Xiao Ran and the others also came over.

Li Lizhi, Princess Yuzhang, Zhang Jinhe, Xiao Yu, Li Ke, Cheng Chumo, Qin Huaidao, and others.

Zhang Dalang looked at Xiao Ran, wanting to kowtow to him.

Xiao Ran grabbed Zhang Dalang, "You're all grown men, don't do something so reckless!"

Zhang Dalang smiled. A year ago, by the pond, Xiao Ran had said the same thing.

"Thank you very much, young man!" Zhang Dalang said solemnly.

"Don't be so formal, let's go home!" Xiao Ran patted Zhang Dalang on the shoulder, and the group walked towards the courtyard.

The autumn wind swept through the old locust tree in the courtyard, rustling its leaves.

From afar came the villagers' discussions. According to the courier from Chang'an, the Ministry of Revenue alone allocated nearly a thousand bolts of silk and over a hundred strings of copper coins for this pardon.

Behind this expense lies the lifeline earned by 390 people who kept their promises, and it is also a vivid testament to the Tang Dynasty's principle of "responding to trust with benevolence".

That's the end of that matter.

Zhang Erya's hands were still trembling slightly, but not from the tension before; it was a slight tremor after a heavy burden had been lifted.

She folded the pardon neatly and put it in her close-fitting cloth pocket, touching it every few steps, as if afraid that this peace of mind would disappear into thin air.

She used to get distracted when mending old clothes, and her stitches were crooked. But now, sitting in front of the stove, she was adding firewood evenly, and the flames were licking the bottom of the pot, casting a warm glow on her face.

Zhang Erya squatted in front of the stove, using fire tongs to feed firewood into the firebox. Her movements were slower than usual, but very steady.

I used to be worried because when I added firewood, I either couldn't hold it and it fell to the ground, or I added it too quickly and sparks flew out.

At this moment, the firewood slid gently down the wall of the stove, and the flames jumped higher with a "crackling" sound.

She looked down at the warm light, a faint smile unconsciously curving her lips. The bloodshot in her eyes hadn't faded, but the previous anxiety was gone, replaced by a relaxed gentleness.

She raised her hand to wipe the ashes off the stove, her fingertips touching the neatly folded new cloth beside her. It was leftover from making a short robe for Zhang Dalang, which she had never bothered to tidy up before, leaving it crumpled and piled in a corner. But now she had straightened it out and folded it neatly next to the pardon cloth bag.

Occasionally, a breeze would blow in from the courtyard gate, ruffling the corner of the cloth. She would immediately reach out and press it down, her fingertips touching the softness of the fabric.

He glanced down at the cloth bag close to his body, gently pressing his hand on it, as if to confirm that he truly held that sense of security in his grasp. The uncertainty in his eyes had long been replaced by a sense of reassurance.

The water on the stove boiled, bubbling away. She got up to get the earthenware pot, her footsteps so light they made no sound.

Before, I always walked with a sense of unease, as if I was afraid of missing some news. But now I walked slowly, and when I passed the vegetable patch in the corner of the yard, I even bent down and picked a green vegetable.

Xiao Ran was very kind to Zhang Erya and San Niang, and Li Lizhi and the others were also very kind to him.

But none of them can compare to Zhang Dalang, their blood-related elder brother.

In the glass workshop on the other side, Zhang Dalang stood by the furnace, more focused than ever before.

Before, when I was firing clay, I couldn't help but drift off and think about "whether I can come back", and the long tongs in my hand would occasionally shake.

At this moment, however, he held the clay mold steadily, his eyes shining brightly as he leaned close to the fire to check the temperature, unaware that the sweat on his forehead was dripping onto his clothes.

Li Ke handed him a piece of fine sand, which he took. He rubbed his fingertips together in the sand with practiced ease and confidence, showing more self-assurance than before.

When he adjusted the fire, his wrist movements were more steady than usual.

I was always a little hesitant before, afraid that it would be a waste if it burned out.

Now, however, he dared to boldly adjust the air damper, watching the orange-red flames in the furnace licking the clay mold. His lips were slightly pursed, and his eyes were full of anticipation for "grinding out the lens," his previous apprehension gone.

Cheng Chumo handed him the cooled glass blank, which he took and examined against the light. His fingertips traced the translucency of the blank, and the heaviness in his heart was gone, leaving only his dedication to his craft. Even his breathing was more steady than usual.

Now that I have no more worries, I can finally focus on perfecting this craft.

Zhang Erya returned to the courtyard, and Princess Yuzhang pulled her to sit down beside her.

"Don't worry about these things. The young master is reliable." Princess Yuzhang smiled.

Zhang Erya smiled sincerely, "Actually, the young master said it a long time ago, but we just didn't dare to believe it."

"How long ago is 'very early'?" Li Lizhi, who was standing next to her, asked curiously.

Li Lizhi knew that Xiao Ran had a unique perspective on this matter.

A long time ago, Xiao Ran said that Zhang Dalang would be fine.

"When we first met, the young man gave me and Third Sister a lot of things, and later we invited him to our home for dinner."

Zhang Erya recounted when she first met Xiao Ran.

Zhang Jinhe and Xiao Yu, who were not far away, went over to investigate, still very curious about these things.

I really didn't know that before.

After Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang exchanged a glance, Xiao Ran realized that he had known about this for a year.

It happened earlier than Li Lizhi had anticipated.

According to the account, Xiao Ran had just arrived in Kaolao Village at that time.

Li Lizhi also knew that Xiao Ran had encountered her and the others while fishing by the pond.

Xiao Ran had previously prevented Li Lizhi from telling Li Shimin about this matter, fearing it would affect the normal development of the affair.

Now that this matter is over, Li Lizhi can finally speak with Li Shimin.

It's not just what Xiao Ran analyzed before, but also things that happened more than a year ago.

Li Lizhi wrote a letter and asked Li Wu to deliver it to Chang'an.

The setting sun cast long, slanting shadows on the ground through the windows of the Rissei-den Hall. Candles had been lit inside, and the flickering flames illuminated the letters on the table.

Just as Li Shimin finished processing the Ministry of Revenue's report on the autumn grain harvest, a palace attendant handed him a letter from Li Lizhi, delivered from Kaolao Village.

When he opened the package, he thought it was his daughter talking about trivial matters in the village, but his fingertips paused after scanning a few lines of text, and his eyebrows unconsciously rose.

"Lizhi said that Xiao Ran had just arrived in Kaolao Village a year ago and was already certain that Zhang Dalang would be alright?"

He looked up at Empress Zhangsun, who was sitting to the side tidying up her needlework, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible surprise:
"He also said that Xiao Ran had analyzed it long ago, and that all the prisoners would eventually be imprisoned. Even I didn't dare to make a guarantee back then. How could a young man who had just entered the village see things more clearly than anyone else?"

Empress Zhangsun put down the silk cloth in her hand, walked to the table, took the letter and read it carefully.

The candlelight illuminated her face, revealing a fleeting smile in her eyes as she read, "A year ago by the pond, it was said that Zhang Dalang was safe."

"This child is more thoughtful than we are."

“He dared to say this when he first met the Zhang siblings last year. It wasn’t just a wild guess; he truly understood His Majesty’s thoughts and the ‘people’s hearts’.”

Li Shimin ran his fingertips along the edge of the letter, his gaze falling on the glass lamp in the corner of the palace.

The lamp was bright and clear, lit by Zhang Dalang, and now it gleamed warmly in the candlelight.

"When I released the prisoners, I wanted to test whether 'benevolence can influence people' and to gamble on whether 'the people's hearts are trustworthy.' But at night, I couldn't help but wonder if any of them would escape? Would the world laugh at me for being so kind as to be a woman?"

Li Shimin chuckled softly, his tone tinged with emotion, "And the result? All three hundred and ninety people were imprisoned. Even that child Xiao Ran had predicted the outcome long ago, more certain than I, the emperor."

"He didn't just predict the outcome; he predicted His Majesty's 'benevolence' and the prisoners' 'regret' as well."

Empress Zhangsun sat down beside him, her voice gentle yet incisive, “He knows that His Majesty values ​​talent and will not let Zhang Dalang, who has skills, suffer. He also knows that those prisoners are not heinous criminals. If you give them a little trust, they will keep their promises.”

"This child understands the meaning of 'mutual trust between the monarch and the people' better than anyone else."

Li Shimin nodded and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table: "Lizhi also said that Xiao Ran didn't want her to tell me about this sooner, for fear of affecting the process of releasing the prisoners."

“You see, he not only has foresight, but he also understands ‘non-intervention’—he knows that this matter must be allowed to develop naturally in order to demonstrate the ‘inherent goodness of the people’s hearts,’ rather than relying on anyone’s privilege or pre-arrangement.”

He paused, his gaze becoming profound. "During my reign of Zhenguan, what I have longed for most is 'unity of mind between the emperor and the people.' But sometimes, it is the young people in the countryside who can see this more clearly than the old ministers in the court."

The candlelight crackled and popped, sending up a tiny spark.

Empress Zhangsun picked up the almond milk from the table and handed it to him:
"This is not a bad thing. With people like Xiao Ran among the common people, His Majesty can see the will of the people clearly, and he can also help those like Zhang Dalang find a way back."

"Besides, Lizhi is able to learn these things from him, which can be considered as progress."

Li Shimin took the almond milk, took a sip, and felt a warm sensation spread to his heart.

When he looked at the letter again, the initial astonishment in his eyes had vanished, replaced only by appreciation for the "foresight."

"I have nothing planned for tomorrow, and I'd like to visit the children and their grandfather in Kaolao Village. Would you like to come, Your Majesty?" Li Shimin asked Empress Zhangsun.

"Of course we should go." Empress Zhangsun suddenly said, "Your Majesty, Xiao Ran has never had a household registration before, and he is still registered as a dependent. This is probably because of Zhang Dalang, who is afraid that Zhang Dalang will have some concerns."

"Now that Zhang Dalang has been pardoned, he, as the future imperial son-in-law, should have his own independent household registration!"

"I almost forgot about this! Oh, right, we can send the household registration documents to Xiao Ran tomorrow!" (End of Chapter)