The first option cannot be supported as just by the theory of retribution. It's not a just or deserved punishment because he was planning on doing the same thing to Zeqing. There is a monumental difference between "planning" an act and "committing" the act and the theory of retribution only concerns itself with the actual actions of the person.
However, the first option may be used to advance a theory of consequences. Here, we can see that
My husband was a scholar and a wanderer at heart, and so he discovered me
and so we know that the husband was knowledgable. He was most likely cautious as well, prefering to research a subject or a task before diving down into it, much like a scholar would.
Given that, we can infer that he knew what he was getting into, that he hatched his scheme with knowledge about Zeqing's nature and how she would react should his plot be discovered. His actions were not accidental or negligent.
He knew which actions she would likely take should his plot be discovered, and yet continued with his plot regardless. His arrogance was his downfall, and as a result of his actions, consequences occurred. Whether they are just or not is immaterial because the consequences were known at the hatching of his plan. The problem with this argument, however, is that the question isn't whether there were consequences, but whether the consequences were deserved.
One could posit that the consequences were deserved because the consequences for his actions were known and he still willing assumed that risk. As such, due to his assumption of the very real risk, he assented to the very real possibility of consequences. He just thought he could get away with it without suffering the consequences. He was wrong.
It's partially the same reasoning there is an assumption of the risk form when doing whitewater rafting, or engaging in any other potentially dangerous situation. To make sure you know that it will be dangerous and there could be consequences. And if there are consequences, you can't sue the company because you assumed the risk.