It was clear the Hao family wouldn't let this go!
Perhaps Hao Wei could lead his men to the Xie residence again, or rather, if they sought revenge now, it would have to be at the Marquis of Nanhai's manor.
Should Hao Wei lead his men to the Marquis of Nanhai's manor for another assault?
Then they would just have to wait for Xie Jiang to annihilate them! Even His Majesty wouldn't be able to stop Xie Jiang then!
Fang Yuchun said to Xie Jiang, "The Marquis of Nanhai has gone too far. How could you treat Elder Hao like that! Look at how you've beaten Elder Hao! And the two Master Haos..."
The two Master Haos were being held down with their faces pressed against the ground, unable to move.
Old Madam Hao couldn't pry Xie Jiang's foot off her sole even with her hands.
Fang Yuchun quickly averted his gaze, pretending not to see. "Assaulting a court official is an unforgivable crime! Although the Marquis of Nanhai's actions today have a reason, you must accompany me or the Marquis of Yongxin! But speaking of this reason..."
Fang Yuchun spoke righteously to Xie Jiang, then looked impartially at Old Master Hao. "We must take Hao Wei with us today as well."
If they didn't agree to take Hao Wei along, how could they possibly punish only Xie Jiang?
Hao Wei had started the whole affair. It wouldn't do for Hao Wei to be released without consequence while Xie Jiang was punished.
Before Old Master Hao could speak, Old Madam Hao immediately rejected the proposal. "Why should you take my little Wei? Little Wei didn't injure Xie Jiang at all! This little beast is still standing here perfectly fine! What wrong has my little Wei committed!"
"My little Wei neither demolished the Xie residence nor instructed thugs and ruffians to raid the Xie residence! The one causing trouble is Xie Jiang, not my little Wei!" Looking at her own perfectly fine residence in ruins, the old lady felt it was a pity they hadn't killed Xie Jiang! They should have let little Wei bring more men then!
The Marquis of Yongxin and Fang Yuchun both turned their gaze to Old Master Hao.
Old Madam Hao's opinion wasn't important; what mattered was Old Master Hao's attitude.
If Old Master Hao's attitude was the same as the old lady's, believing their grandson was entirely blameless, then...
Fang Yuchun and the Marquis of Yongxin wouldn't abandon the Hao family to their fate, nor would they stand by and let Xie Jiang act recklessly and then escape. They would at least go through the motions of taking Xie Jiang away.
But at most, they would only take Xie Jiang to Shuntian Prefecture or the Patrol Battalion for a cup of tea and a discussion of Dayu's laws.
Punishing Xie Jiang was out of the question.
Hao Wei, a dissolute idler who indulged in drinking, gambling, and womanizing, could escape unscathed. Xie Jiang, after all, was a Marquis of Nanhai.
As everyone knew, laws were meant to restrain commoners.
The privileged class had to compete based on who had more privileges.
Everyone had their own rules.
Old Master Hao naturally understood this.
Old Master Hao simply hadn't expected Xie Jiang to be so resolute, so ruthless, and so audaciously disregard the consequences.
Old Master Hao glanced back at the dilapidated mansion. The dust was already spreading towards the rear courtyard, and his descendants were being beaten so badly they couldn't retaliate.
Old Master Hao had never wished for someone to disappear from the world so intensely!
They had misjudged.
They had underestimated a young brat with no power.
Even when his confidant reported the conflict between Hao Wei and Xie Jiang, he hadn't taken it to heart, only listening for a moment before letting Hao Wei's father handle it.
Old Master Hao closed his eyes, suppressing the surging hatred and anger within them. A moment later, he opened them again.
He agreed to let Shuntian Prefecture take Hao Wei with them.
However, he had a condition: whether it was attempting to wreak havoc at the Xie residence or assaulting and insulting a court official, they must be severely punished!
"Sir? How can you let them take little Wei, little Wei he..."
Old Madam Hao couldn't believe it.
To make Xie Jiang suffer, the old man was actually planning to abandon his grandson, Hao Wei!
Hao Er Ye, pinned down not far away, struggled. The dirt on his face made his facial expressions look even more ferocious. He wanted to say something but could only emit muffled sounds.
Hao Wei momentarily forgot the pain from the secondary injury to his foot and tried to defend himself.
But once Old Master Hao had made up his mind, there was no changing it.
Old Master Hao chose Shuntian Prefecture, and Fang Yuchun was somewhat disappointed, but it was within reason.
The Marquis of Yongxin was showing too much favoritism towards Xie Jiang.
If Hao Wei were to end up in the Shuntian Prefecture prison, the consequences might be rather dire...
If he had known, he should have also...
Wasn't there the Dali Temple!
Let the Dali Temple take this hot potato!
Fang Yuchun secretly glanced at the Marquis of Yongxin. He suspected he had been tricked by this brute.
Old Master Hao's gaze was sharp, fixed on Fang Yuchun without blinking, waiting for Fang Yuchun to state his position.
Fang Yuchun, with tears streaming down his face, thanked Old Master Hao for his trust. He vowed to do his utmost to ensure that both Xie Jiang and Hao Wei would have more to be judged for.
Investigator Wang called in a soldier and prepared to carry Hao Wei back to Shuntian Prefecture.
Fang Yuchun politely said to Xie Jiang, "I request the Marquis of Nanhai to accompany us as well."
Xie Jiang sat under the shade of a tree, legs crossed, showing no intention of moving even when Fang Yuchun invited him. "Did you discuss for so long without asking my opinion? When did I agree to go to Shuntian Prefecture?"
What did she mean she hadn't agreed to go to Shuntian Prefecture? What did she intend to do if she didn't agree?
The Hao family had already agreed to sacrifice Hao Wei. As long as the two of them spent a few days in the Shuntian Prefecture prison for a minor punishment, wouldn't this matter be settled!
An alarm instantly blared in Fang Yuchun's mind. He knew Xie Jiang wouldn't be so easily dealt with!
"Instructing subordinates to assault a court official, and even demolishing the Hao residence, such grave offenses, even if you are the imperial Marquis of Nanhai, you cannot escape punishment!"
Fang Yuchun's tone was fierce and stern, but when his back was turned to the Hao family, he kept winking at Xie Jiang.
Xie Jiang was not someone who could be easily swayed. "Hao Wei attempted assassination and was captured by me. I even sent him to the Shuntian Prefecture yamen, yet I haven't seen him receive any punishment."
"Old Master Hao and his sons are court officials. Then I am the dignified Marquis of Nanhai. Does this mean that the imperial Marquis of Nanhai is not as esteemed or valuable as the Hao family's official positions?"
Fang Yuchun pointed at Hao Wei, who was being carried by the soldier and looked utterly beaten. "We are taking Hao Wei away now!"
Xie Jiang leaned back against the chair. "Three days have passed since the incident, and today is the fourth day."
The Marquis of Yongxin, believing he understood, said, "Are you saying you will surrender yourself to Shuntian Prefecture three days later?"
Xie Jiang tossed a candied peanut in her hand. "Did Hao Wei surrender himself to Shuntian Prefecture today?"
Fang Yuchun felt an ominous premonition. "Then, according to the Marquis of Nanhai's intention?"
The soldier carrying Hao Wei hesitated, looking at this official and then at that Marquis, unsure whether to proceed or stay.
Xie Jiang said, "The method you devised is to be impartial, right? Then it must be perfectly impartial."
Fang Yuchun's head began to ache. "Isn't this perfectly impartial already?"
"Today, the Hao family agreed to let Shuntian Prefecture take Hao Wei because they had to compromise to make me stop. Three days later, the Hao family can also visit the Marquis of Nanhai's manor. If the Hao family can also make me compromise, then you, Master Fang, can come and take me to the Shuntian Prefecture yamen."
Xie Jiang spoke with such ease and nonchalance, as if Fang Yuchun taking her to Shuntian Prefecture was an invitation for a leisurely vacation.