Read Chapter 19: — CRIMES WITH DIFFERENT WEIGHTS

Tang Zheng’s situation was less comfortable.

He had exposed corruption.

He had helped save lives.

He had fought pirates.

He had also forged an imperial security badge, impersonated a Jinyiwei commander, drugged prison guards, stolen official keys and interfered with an investigation.

“You forgot women’s clothing under false pretences,” Lin said.

“That is not a crime.”

“It was to the eyes.”

Xiaoxi laughed before she could stop herself.

Tang pointed at Lin. “You encouraged me.”

“I observed you.”

“You knelt.”

“To strengthen your cover.”

“You called me Commander.”

“Very convincingly.”

Tang groaned.

The humour did not remove the danger. Under Ming law, some of what Tang had done could easily end with his head separated from the rest of his career.

Lin drafted the report personally.

He did not erase Tang’s crimes.

He placed them beside what Tang had uncovered and the lives he had saved.

Su Shanhe, Zhou Yunqing and several boatmen added testimony.

Even the prison guards, once reassured they would not be punished for being drugged by an idiot with a fake badge, admitted Tang had not harmed them.

The final document went north by fast courier.

Tang watched the rider disappear.

“How long until the emperor decides whether I keep my neck?”

“A few weeks.”

“What should I do until then?”

Lin handed him a wooden practice sword.

“Learn not to embarrass your father.”

Tang stared at it.

Then grinned.

“That sounds difficult.”

“It is.”