Three days had passed.
Shuntian Prefecture and the Hao family seemed to have agreed to die together.
No one had sent Xie Jiang even a single word, nor had anyone come to offer her any explanation.
Xie Jiang felt that this was for the best; she preferred to take matters into her own hands.
Xu Hengyi had arrived at the Marquis of Nanhai’s residence very early, intending to at least get breakfast, but he found that Ruan Ziji had arrived even earlier, and Ruan Ziji had brought his five lackeys with him.
He brought his lackeys wherever he went!
What was even more outrageous was that Ruan Ziji and his lackeys were all dressed in riding attire!
Their appearance clearly indicated they were ready for a major undertaking!
Xu Hengyi glanced down at his own clothes and quietly asked Yan’er if she could lend him a set of Xie Jiang’s riding clothes.
Yan’er sized him up. He was half a head taller than Xie Jiang, and Xie Jiang’s clothes wouldn’t fit him at all.
After breakfast, Xie Jiang finally asked, "Have you found all the people you need?"
Ruan Ziji replied, "One hundred and eight. Is that enough?"
"It’s enough."
Xie Jiang glanced at the sky, deeming the time appropriate, and then got up to leave.
The young dandies following her were all eager and excited, their hands itching as if they were about to embark on something momentous with her. "Are you all sure you want to follow me?"
"Why wouldn't we?"
"Aren't you afraid of getting implicated if things escalate?"
"What's there to be afraid of?" It was just a fight, causing trouble – that was their specialty.
"We went to the gambling dens and brothels together. Hao Wei is only looking for you and not us; who does he think he is looking down on? We need to demand an explanation from him too. We can't just be insulted like this!" Yin Boxuan said indignantly.
Ruan Ziji immediately felt that Little Xuanzi was a talent!
Xie Jiang nodded in agreement.
Hao Wei's insult was too much; an explanation was necessary.
Then she turned back to Xu Hengyi, "Are you coming with us too?"
How could Xu Hengyi let himself be outdone by a bunch of young dandies? "What kind of question is that? If I'm not going with you, why would I have come today?"
He wasn't doing anything wrong. The Hao family and Shuntian Prefecture were colluding to bully Xie Jiang; what was wrong with him helping Xie Jiang seek justice?
Even if he accidentally crossed a line, his grandmother and mother would stand by him.
The group rode out of the Marquis of Nanhai’s residence. Xu Hengyi belatedly realized the route was wrong. "Aren't we supposed to be going to the Hao family to settle this? This way doesn't seem to be the way to the Hao family."
Xie Jiang rode at the front, her pace unhurried. "The person was taken away by Shuntian Prefecture. We should at least go and inform Shuntian Prefecture first."
"Inform Shuntian Prefecture about what? Shuntian Prefecture is in cahoots with the Hao family."
Xu Hengyi muttered in confusion but dared not voice any objections. He would follow whatever Xie Jiang decided to do.
~
Magistrate Wang and Judge Huo had been uneasy for two days. They had initially thought that once the Hao family took the person away from Shuntian Prefecture, Xie Jiang would surely cause a scene upon hearing the news.
Everyone knew that this newly appointed Marquis Xie was a troublemaker. Didn't the Xing Shun Marquis's manor try to bully them and get something for nothing back then? And what was the fate of the Zhu family's two sons who fell into Xie Jiang's hands?
Zhu Laosan still didn't dare to leave his own courtyard.
The residences surrounding the Xing Shun Marquis's manor could hear Zhu Laosan's wails every night. Although the Xing Shun Marquis's manor was still covering up the incident, many people speculated that Zhu Laosan had likely gone mad.
As for the other young men who fell into Xie Jiang's hands, it was said they weren't any better off.
Either crippled or crippled.
Hao Wei's attempt to break into Xie Jiang's residence and kill her was no better than what happened to Zhu Laosan and the others. Xie Jiang had also made it clear that she would not let this matter go.
If the Hao family didn't give Xie Jiang an explanation, Xie Jiang would certainly not let it rest.
But the Hao family had already taken the person away, and Xie Jiang had been conspicuously silent.
Magistrate Wang had even harbored a sliver of hope, wondering if the Hao family had privately negotiated with Xie Jiang, and if the Hao family's sincerity had satisfied Xie Jiang, thus ending the matter there?
Unexpectedly, the moment they arrived at the yamen that morning, before they had even taken two sips of tea, Xie Jiang, accompanied by a group of young dandies, graced Shuntian Prefecture with her presence once again.
Xie Jiang greeted them with a smile, "Good morning, Magistrate Wang and Judge Huo. You wouldn't have forgotten what you told me three days ago, would you?"
"We haven't forgotten, haven't forgotten..."
Magistrate Wang and Judge Huo hurried forward to bow to Xie Jiang. They couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt and apprehension when facing Xie Jiang.
Seeing that only a group of young dandies were with Xie Jiang, and that the street outside the yamen was quiet without a large crowd of onlookers, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
They were afraid that Xie Jiang, in her anger, would incite the common people to storm the yamen. While others might not do such a thing, Xie Jiang very well might.
Lan Yong's envoy had not yet arrived in the capital, and Xie Jiang had already been enfeoffed as the Marquis of Nanhai, which showed how powerful her backing was.
With such backing, why wouldn't she do as she pleased?
The two politely invited Xie Jiang to the inner hall of the yamen and seated her in the main seat, offering her tea.
They also made arrangements for the young dandies.
These young dandies looked like they were here to cause trouble.
Judge Huo and Magistrate Wang were at their wits' end.
Xie Jiang chuckled and said, "It's good that you two haven't forgotten what you said. Three days have passed, have you investigated and clarified the matter as you should have?"
Magistrate Wang, forcing himself, replied, "Uh, the matter has been clarified..."
The facts of this case were clear and straightforward; it didn't require much effort to verify.
Their delay was also to create room for maneuver. It would be best if the two families could resolve the matter privately.
A commotion in court would benefit no one.
Especially officials like them, who were caught in the middle and had the hardest time.
When the Hao family came to Shuntian Prefecture to demand the person, they had tried to advise them.
If the Hao family had sent a person of influence to personally accompany Hao Wei to the door to apologize and offer sufficient sincerity and face to Xie Jiang, would Xie Jiang truly have pursued the matter so relentlessly?
Xie Jiang merely wanted an explanation; why not give her one? If Xie Jiang truly wanted to do something to Hao Wei, would she have made such a grand display by sending him to Shuntian Prefecture?
Even if Xie Jiang had lost her mind and insisted on being unreasonable, the Hao family could have been a bit more forceful then, and who could have said anything?
But the Hao family had instead felt that since Xie Jiang had injured Hao Wei so badly, their not seeking an account from Xie Jiang was already giving her face.
If Xie Jiang had been sensible, she would have behaved herself and acted as if nothing had happened.
Behaved herself.
Was this a trait Xie Jiang possessed?
Judge Huo, at least, didn't believe so.
"We should have dealt with it according to the law, but..."
Magistrate Wang, with a troubled expression, explained their difficulties to Xie Jiang.
The Hao family's attitude was firm, insisting on taking the person away; they had no recourse.
Xie Jiang sneered at the two of them, "What do you mean no recourse? If Shuntian Prefecture was handling the case according to the law, did the Hao family commit jailbreak to take Hao Wei away?"
"The Hao family, father and four sons, all hold official positions in the court. The Hao family patriarch is highly respected..."
"Tolerating his grandson's trespassing into another's residence, in broad daylight, and for personal gain, killing and venting his anger with such high virtue?" Xie Jiang exclaimed with admiration.
Yin Boxuan gasped, "I am full of this kind of high virtue. So the term 'highly respected' is so closely related to me. Let's see who dares say I'm not doing my proper job!"
Zhu Zhou gave him a thumbs-up, "Bringing honor to your ancestors is not far off for you."