The Great Zhou Law stipulated that if any person over the age of sixty-five accused their children of being unfilial, the government office must immediately accept the case.
The crime of being "unfilial" was the foremost of the Ten Abominations. For close relatives, acts such as murder, assault, verbal abuse, or cursing were considered equivalent to treason or rebellion—unpardonable capital offenses.
The actions of Xie Kun and the Ma woman were enough to have them executed hundreds of times over.
But Ji Huan's goal was to help solve the problem, not to get people killed, no matter how detestable that couple was.
Fortunately, there was a mitigating clause—if the offense wasn't severe, the parents were willing to forgive their children, and the children showed remorse, the death penalty could be avoided.
However, a beating with the paddle was unavoidable, and the government office would send someone to make unannounced visits to observe their future conduct.
