"Sir, I've exterminated the bandits. I'm not seeking rewards, but at least I shouldn't be blamed, right? Please be lenient," Zhao Pingting pleaded, kowtowing to Su Jingchen.
Before interrogating Zhao Pingting, Su Jingchen had already discussed with Li Wenyuan how to sentence Zhao Pingting. Though bandits are detestable, some of them were defenseless elderly, women, and children left on the mountain by force, guilty of conspiracy but not deserving of death. If Zhao Pingting hadn't set fire to everything, after interrogation and investigation, at least some of them would have been sentenced to exile.
However, considering Zhao Pingting gathered all the valuable items in one place, allowing Su Jingchen to conveniently collect them, it somewhat counted as 'merit,' so Su Jingchen waived the death penalty and sentenced her to exile.
