Magistrate Wang and Vice-Magistrate Huo emerged from their respective offices, each seeing the same look of panic on the other's face.
"What in the world is going on? Why is that devil star causing trouble again? Is the Hao family going to be wiped out?"
"That's unlikely, surely not. This is the capital, not the Xie family's backyard, where they can destroy whoever they please?" Vice-Magistrate Huo said this, but his words lacked any conviction.
Magistrate Wang felt like crying, "But I heard the scale of this incident is no less than the last time, perhaps even more so..."
A bailiff stumbled in, "They're here, they're here! They've reached outside our yamen!"
Vice-Magistrate Huo and Magistrate Wang had no time to talk further. They hurried to the front of the prefectural office and saw a vast procession, like a tide, converging on the Shuntian Prefecture yamen.
Vice-Magistrate Huo felt dizzy at the familiar sight, momentarily unsure if what he was seeing was real or an illusion.
If Magistrate Wang hadn't pulled him back in time, he would have almost tumbled down from the steps.
The bailiffs were fully armed and on guard, each looking at Xie Jiang with nervousness and fear, as if they were looking at a demon.
"Vice-Magistrate Huo, we meet again."
As if their last meeting had been so pleasant, Xie Jiang walked over, smiling and waving at Vice-Magistrate Huo.
Vice-Magistrate Huo forced a smile and stepped forward, only to see that it wasn't just Xie Jiang, but the Fifth Prince as well. "Your subordinate greets His Highness the Fifth Prince, and the Marquis of Nanhai."
What was the Fifth Prince doing here, accompanying her? Surely the Fifth Prince wouldn't be causing trouble with Xie Jiang?
The Fifth Prince had always been pure and kind...
Magistrate Wang followed suit and bowed, "Your subordinate greets His Highness the Fifth Prince, and the Marquis of Nanhai."
As soon as the imperial decree appointing Xie Jiang as the Marquis of Nanhai was issued from Yuanyou Palace, anyone with even a little bit of news in the capital knew about it, even before Xie Jiang herself knew she had been made Marquis of Nanhai.
Xia Zeshi raised his hand, signaling them to dispense with the formalities.
When Vice-Magistrate Huo and Magistrate Wang stood up, they realized that the Fifth Prince and Young Master Xu San were standing on either side, clearly positioning Xie Jiang in the center as the leader.
Had the Fifth Prince also been corrupted by proximity to the bad?
Vice-Magistrate Huo looked behind Xie Jiang, "May I ask what the Marquis of Nanhai is here for today?"
It was a sea of people, just like last time!
This young Marquis of Nanhai possessed a remarkable skill for inciting people and manipulating public opinion!
Besides them were the Hao family's guards and retainers, led by Hao Wei, tied together on a rope behind Xie Jiang.
There were about twenty to thirty of them.
Xie Jiang replied, "Oh, I'm here to report a crime."
Vice-Magistrate Huo: "Report a crime?"
Xie Jiang turned and pointed at the nearly dead Hao Wei, "About an hour ago, I was at home having tea with His Highness the Fifth Prince and Young Master Xu San, when Hao Wei came barging in with a group of people, shouting for me to die."
"Is that so?!"
Vice-Magistrate Huo was shocked. Xie Jiang, this devil star who could destroy families at the drop of a hat, was someone to be avoided at all costs. Why would anyone seek her out?
Xu Hengyi nodded, "That's correct."
The clerks of the prefectural office had already begun to record the details.
"But it seems..."
Vice-Magistrate Huo looked at the string of people tied together, all bruised and battered, looking miserable. By all appearances, Hao Wei and his group were the ones who had been beaten.
Are you sure it was Hao Wei who brought people to attack? Not Xie Jiang bringing people to attack?
Isn't it the other way around?
Perhaps they're here to surrender themselves.
Vice-Magistrate Huo admitted he was thinking too much, but the facts seemed to point that way.
Xie Jiang: "Seems what? Seems they deserved it? Magistrate Huo has sharp eyes, recognizing evil deeds at a glance."
Vice-Magistrate Huo: "..." He hadn't meant that.
Xie Jiang appeared furious, "Yes, they deserved it! In the capital, under the Emperor's gaze, they dared to kill and commit evil acts! Is there any justice or law in this world!"
Magistrate Wang steadied himself and coughed to remind Vice-Magistrate Huo not to lose his intelligence whenever he encountered Xie Jiang, "May I ask, Marquis of Nanhai, do you have any past grievances with Hao Wei? Why would Hao Wei bring people to attack the Marquis of Nanhai?"
Vice-Magistrate Huo didn't want to be like this, but the psychological shadow from last time was too deep. He panicked at the sight of Xie Jiang, "Let's discuss this slowly in the court."
Xie Jiang agreed and led the way into the yamen.
After the entire group tied to the rope had entered the yamen, Vice-Magistrate Huo signaled the bailiffs to quickly close the main gate.
They had to first prevent the public from spectating to stop Xie Jiang from inciting public unrest again.
Xie Jiang didn't mind them closing the gate. She wasn't trying to repeat her old tricks this time; playing the same game was boring.
Everyone proceeded to the court.
Looking at the Fifth Prince standing below the hall, and Xie Jiang, who had just been ennobled, Magistrate Wang hesitated to sit down.
Xie Jiang saw his concern, "Magistrate Wang, you don't need to be formal. I am just the aggrieved party now, not the Marquis of Nanhai. Xia Zeshi is a witness, not the Fifth Prince. Please conduct the trial according to the rules."
Vice-Magistrate Huo: "..."
How could she address the Fifth Prince by his given name?
Xu Hengyi sought to be acknowledged, "I am also a witness, I was also present." Why was he always overlooked? Was he invisible?
Magistrate Wang couldn't take her words seriously. It would be a miracle if Magistrate Wang wasn't formal, "Marquis of Nanhai, please tell us how you and Hao Wei fell out."
As a magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture, it wasn't the first time he had handled cases with people standing below the hall. After all, this was the capital, where imperial relatives were everywhere, and disputes between nobles and officials were inevitable.
It had always been difficult to be an official in Shuntian Prefecture, and Xie Jiang's arrival had only made the already difficult situation worse.
Xie Jiang: "Before last night, I was not acquainted with Hao Wei. As everyone knows, I haven't been in the capital for long."
Magistrate Wang: "Then you and Hao Wei's enmity was formed last night? Where? And why did this enmity arise?"
Xie Jiang: "At a gambling house. Last night, Xia Zeshi, Xu Hengyi, and I, along with Ruan Zijie, Han Zhao, and others, went to the gambling house for entertainment. We happened to encounter Hao Wei, who was also gambling there."
Xu Hengyi added, "As soon as Hao Wei saw Xie Jiang last night, he started spewing vulgar and insulting words. Xie Jiang has such a fiery temper; it's only by chance he didn't beat Hao Wei to death on the spot..."
Magistrate Wang quickly steered the conversation back on track, "Did Hao Wei initiate it?"
Xu Hengyi replied, "That's right. We were having a good time, and he came over on his own."
Magistrate Wang said to Xie Jiang, "Marquis of Nanhai, please continue."
Xie Jiang said, "Hao Wei insisted on gambling with us. Since it's gambling with anyone, why should we refuse? I didn't expect Hao Wei to be such a noob..."
Magistrate Wang immediately asked, "What kind of chicken is 'noob'?"
Xie Jiang explained, "It's an adjective, meaning Hao Wei's skill level is too low."
Magistrate Wang gestured, "Marquis of Nanhai, please continue."
Xie Jiang continued, "Hao Wei lost all the money he had on him gambling with us, and he even wrote me an IOU for three thousand taels of silver. In the end, he lost all his clothes to me and ran back to the Hao family naked."
Nie Tong quickly stepped forward and presented the IOU signed and thumb-printed by Hao Wei.
Xie Jiang went on, "I can understand his pride, but a bet is a bet. It wasn't like we forced him. I didn't expect him to hold such a grudge. Today, as soon as I returned home, he brought people with weapons and broke down my front door. The commotion was so great that the neighbors can all testify for me."
Magistrate Wang pointed at Hao Wei and the others, "Then how did they get their injuries?"