Mr. Cheng had ruled on the case, but he did not demand that Mrs. Li be punished immediately.
Because Li Cun was suffering from convulsions due to a high fever, his condition looked especially grave. A life was on the line, and compassion had to be considered alongside the law.
Therefore, he allowed Mrs. Li to take her son to a doctor first and return to the government office later to receive her punishment.
Mrs. Li's situation was an emergency that required special handling, but for the three members of the Zheng Family, Mr. Cheng showed no mercy.
Mr. Zheng had utterly disgraced all scholars. His wife, Mrs. Zheng, felt no shame for her husband. Instead, she tried to make excuses for him at every turn and even harbored resentment, seeking revenge against the victim. How was that any different from aiding a tiger in its evil deeds?
She would have to be severely beaten with dozens of planks to teach her a lesson she wouldn't forget.
