Jin Baozhen smiled triumphantly when she heard about the caning, pointing at Zhan Feiyu and shouting, "Go ahead and report me! If you're not afraid of being beaten to death, then report me!"
Chongguang yawned lazily, his words directly addressing Magistrate Wu, "Twenty strokes will beat the victim to death. Magistrate Wu, are you trying to silence her?"
Although suing an official meant a caning, Zhan Feiyu was just a child, and her desire to report was understandable. Jin Baozhen's glib words accused her and the shopkeeper of Jin Yuzhai of extortion, and then she had the young girl imprisoned. This was clearly a case of collusion between officials and merchants!
Some passersby couldn't stand it and whispered, "I saw the shopkeeper of Jin Yuzhai on the street yesterday at noon. If they're accusing her of extortion, why didn't they arrest the shopkeeper too?"
Jin Yuzhai was an old establishment in Huaian Prefecture. No matter how much money Jin Baozhen had, Madam Wu couldn't possibly imprison the shopkeeper.
In the end, it was just picking on the weak. Magistrate Wu had accepted money and, seeing that Zhan Feiyu was from out of town, ordered her imprisonment.
"Who do you think you are? I'm talking to Lord Chu, do you have the right to interrupt?" Jin Baozhen's eyebrows shot up as she berated him. Her arrogant and overbearing demeanor did not resemble that of a fifteen-year-old girl at all.
Jin Baozhen turned to Prefect Chu, her voice instantly becoming sweet and coquettish, "My lord, he's bullying me."
Zhan Feiyu and Chongguang both turned their curious gazes towards Prefect Chu.
The others, however, did not dare to be so blatant. They all secretly glanced over. Jin Baozhen had repeatedly mentioned Prefect Chu's concubine, was this true?
Even with Prefect Chu's good temperament, he was greatly annoyed by the affected Jin Baozhen. He ignored her coquetry and said sternly, "Someone, bring the petition."
Constable Zhao was stunned. Did His Lordship intend to accept the petition? Wouldn't that make Magistrate Wu the defendant?
But since Prefect Chu had spoken, Constable Zhao hesitated for a moment before taking the petition from Zhan Feiyu and presenting it to Prefect Chu, "My lord."
Magistrate Wu's face instantly turned grim, and officials like Lord Hong exchanged glances. Logically, even if the young girl sued, His Lordship would downplay the matter.
Although Magistrate Wu was at fault, he was still a colleague. At most, they would each receive a fifty-board punishment, and the matter would be settled. Especially at this juncture, with such a major incident in Huaian Prefecture, the entire Huaian Prefecture should present a united front.
A moment later, at the Huaian Prefecture yamen, Prefect Chu sat on the bench in the courtroom, while a crowd of onlookers gathered outside.
Although Magistrate Wu was the defendant, he was still a fifth-rank official. The yamen runners brought a chair, and Magistrate Wu sat down with a sweeping gesture, his expression inscrutable.
With a bang of the gavel and the constable's powerful cry of "威武" (might), Jin Baozhen screamed again, "Why should I kneel? I am the daughter of the salt merchant Jin family!"
Jin Baozhen looked at the stern and majestic Prefect Chu in his official robes, filled with anger and indignation. Her father had said that after Gui Xuan finished his apprenticeship, she would also come of age, and then they would find a way to marry her off to Prefect Chu. But now, even though Prefect Chu was exceptionally handsome, Jin Baozhen no longer wanted to marry him. He had actually ordered her to kneel.
"No disturbances!" Prefect Chu's cold voice rang out. It wasn't that he looked down on merchants, but the Jin family's discipline was questionable.
"I won't!" Jin Baozhen's temper flared. Perhaps it was Prefect Chu's imposing authority that made Jin Baozhen flinch. She once again turned her attention to Zhan Feiyu, "If she, a fugitive, doesn't have to kneel, why should I, a dignified lady of the Jin family, kneel!"
Although Jin Baozhen's voice was sharp and piercing, Magistrate Wu interjected, "Miss Jin, you must not speak carelessly. His Lordship has always been just; how could he show favoritism in court?"
Ever since Prefect Chu accepted the petition, Magistrate Wu had been inclined to conspiracy. He suspected that Prefect Chu intended to strike first, using this petition to have him removed from office and eliminate him, a potential successor, in advance.
By then, even if the imperial court learned about the siege of the prison and the many corpses hanging on the city walls, Huaian Prefecture could not be without a parent official. Perhaps Prefect Chu could even redeem himself through meritorious service.
The crowd outside the courtroom began to whisper, "One kneels, and one doesn't. Prefect Chu is favoring that young girl."
"Isn't that right? This young girl was arrested and imprisoned on a baseless charge. Shouldn't Prefect Chu show some favoritism?" A straightforward commoner was clearly on Zhan Feiyu's side.
"Yes, that Jin girl is so difficult. She directly whipped people with a horsewhip in the alley before. The scar on Constable Zhao's face was from her whip."
Everyone has daughters or sisters. These wealthy and unscrupulous merchants, they just have a little money, and if they disagree, they bribe prison guards to lock people up. Fortunately, this girl is young. If she were seventeen or eighteen, her life would be ruined.
"That's not quite right!" A middle-aged man dressed as a scholar spoke up, glancing at the people in the courtroom. "No matter what grievances the young girl has, she must kneel when meeting an official. If a commoner sues an official, they should be executed. If she is shown leniency because of her youth, what about the laws of Daqing?"
The crowd outside the courtroom also felt that his words made sense.
Standing in the courtroom, Zhan Feiyu provocatively glanced at Jin Baozhen, then took two steps forward and bowed again, "Student Zhan Feiyu pays respects to Your Lordship."
"You?" Magistrate Wu, who was sitting, suddenly stood up, almost thinking he had misheard. He suddenly remembered the prison, and Magistrate Wu's expression changed drastically. So that's how it is, so that's how it is!
Nansuan Prefecture was quite far from Huaian Prefecture, so ordinary people did not know about the events in Nansuan Prefecture. However, as an official of the imperial court, Magistrate Wu had met with Academician Chen during the previous provincial examination, even though Academician Chen had only stayed for one day. Therefore, Magistrate Wu was aware of Zhan Feiyu's title as "Xiao Sanyuan" (top scholar in three examinations), and more importantly, her identity as a disciple of Academician Gu.
As a scholar with a degree, Zhan Feiyu was exempt from bowing to officials. As for her accusation against Magistrate Wu, Prefect Chu had leniently waived the caning, considering her youth and gender.
Did Magistrate Wu dare to be persistent? If he dared to have the caning administered to Zhan Feiyu today, he would likely lose his official hat tomorrow.
"Impossible! How could she be a scholar!" Jin Baozhen's sharp voice almost shook the roof as she shouted in disbelief.
Jin Guiyuan was known as a prodigy in Zhongzhou Prefecture. The Jin family hired renowned teachers, and Jin Guiyuan studied diligently. Jin Baozhen knew this, but even so, Jin Guiyuan was only a scholar. The title of "Xiao Sanyuan" was out of the question; it was too difficult.
Jin Baozhen critically observed the fair-skinned Zhan Feiyu, seriously suspecting that Prefect Chu was talking nonsense. But when she turned to look at Magistrate Wu, who had been speaking in her favor, he was now sitting on his chair as if he had suffered a great loss. Jin Baozhen's heart sank.
If the Jin family didn't have Jin Guiyuan, Jin Baozhen wouldn't have cared about a scholar, let alone a provincial graduate. Money could make the world go round; as long as there was money, anything could be accomplished.
However, since Jin Guiyuan began his studies, not only the head of the Jin family, Madam Jin, but also other elders of the Jin family attached great importance to Jin Guiyuan. As Jin Baozhen learned more about studies and imperial examinations, she understood the weight of the words "士农工商" (scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants).
Especially her aunt, Madam Wei, who was willing to marry her uncle as a second wife, was solely for the sake of an official position. No matter how much money the Jin family had, the imperial court's notice on salt taxes had not yet been issued. The head of the Jin family took bundles of banknotes to seek connections, but no one accepted the money. It was only then that Jin Baozhen agreed to marry Prefect Chu, even if it was only as a concubine.
...
Half an hour later, Zhan Feiyu left the prefecture yamen.
Jin Baozhen was not caned, but she paid a fine. As for Magistrate Wu, his wife's steward and her husband took the blame, admitting that they had bribed the prison head, Ma, to imprison Zhan Feiyu in order to please Jin Baozhen.
Prison Head Ma was already dead, and Prefect Chu did not pursue the matter further. As for the seventh branch of the Liu family, Prefect Chu had already sent constables. The crime of forcing people into servitude would not be escaped. However, Old Madam Liu was elderly, and it was for her疯掉的孙子 Liu Bao'er, so even if they went to court tomorrow, the case would likely be concluded hastily, just like today.
Upon returning to Xinglong Inn, Chongguang drank some tea and looked at Zhan Feiyu with confusion, "Fat girl, what are you trying to achieve with this whole ordeal?"
"To make the Liu family in the wrong, and Prefect Chu in the wrong, thereby obtaining Liu Hefeng's five hundred thousand taels of property." Zhan Feiyu had played along with the plan. Jin Baozhen was arrogant and overbearing, and Madam Wu accepted money to do things, thinking she was just an ordinary young girl who could be imprisoned without recourse.
And once the seventh branch of the Liu family knew that she was imprisoned, they would definitely seize the opportunity to force her to hand over He Nuan to them. According to the wishes of the Liu family's mother and daughter-in-law, if Zhan Feiyu did not hand over He Nuan, they would let her rot in prison!
Chongguang, who understood, nodded but still had a doubt, "It's normal for Prefect Chu and Magistrate Wu not to know it was you who was imprisoned; they didn't notice such trivial matters. But the Liu family couldn't possibly not know."
After Madam Wu accepted the silver notes from the Jin family, she considered it a minor matter that didn't even require her personal involvement. Her steward's husband just needed to go to the yamen and make a phone call, and Zhan Feiyu would be imprisoned without anyone knowing.
Because this matter went so smoothly, Magistrate Wu also thought Zhan Feiyu was an insignificant person. Moreover, he trusted Madam Wu's ability to handle things and didn't inquire further.
It was the same with Prefect Chu. Due to the Liu family's concealment, and with Zhang Changsong and Qiu Dingsi mentioning it when they took their leave, Prefect Chu also thought Zhan Feiyu would leave Huaian Prefecture after this matter was concluded. Who knew she was imprisoned!
Zhan Feiyu looked at her right hand, which had almost been bitten through, and thought of Yin Wuyan, who had not yet returned. She immediately became dejected, "The Liu family probably wants me dead."
"Just for that five hundred thousand taels of silver?" Chongguang's voice rose sharply, like Jin Baozhen's. The imperial merchant Liu family was as rich as a nation! To kill a disciple of Academician Gu for five hundred thousand taels of silver, Chongguang knew it was impossible even by using his toes.
But thinking of Zhan Feiyu's narrow escape from death, and how her leg, arm, and hand were all bitten by hunting dogs, it was only because she was capable. Otherwise, considering the forty-eight corpses hanging on the city walls, Zhan Feiyu would probably be a corpse by now. It could only be said that the fat girl had a great life.
"It's precisely because I didn't expect it that I was careless," Zhan Feiyu muttered softly. She went to prison for a few days just to wait for the imperial court to send a military general, and then smoothly take away the five hundred thousand taels of silver, so that the Liu family wouldn't make excuses and delay. It would probably take three to five months to get the money.
Looking sympathetically at the listless Zhan Feiyu, Chongguang comforted her by stroking her head, "A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. Fat girl, you were careless."
Zhan Feiyu was initially surprised that Chongguang wasn't gloating, but when she realized he was about to mess up her hair, she impatiently waved away Chongguang's hand and retorted stubbornly, "Even if I stayed at Xinglong Inn, what's meant to come will still come!"
However, in the prefecture yamen's prison, Zhan Feiyu became a trapped beast! If she had stayed at the inn, no matter how many assassins came, with He Sheng's skill, he could definitely have taken Zhan Feiyu to escape. She wouldn't have been ambushed from both sides and trapped in the prison, almost losing her life.
"You can tell that to Seventh Master," Chongguang said with a chuckle. With such a big commotion, the imperial court had probably received the news, and Seventh Master should be returning soon.
For the first time, Zhan Feiyu didn't want Yin Wuyan to return. Her bun-like face creased into a frown, "Uncle Chongguang, do as you please. I'm going to study!"
...
Liu Family Town.
Whether it was the siege of the prefecture yamen or the forty-eight corpses hanging on the city walls, the Liu family received the news immediately. And at this moment, in the Liu family's study.
Liu Hejin still had that lazy, half-asleep look, lounging in a armchair, "Which immortal has Prefect Chu offended? The prefecture yamen's prison was attacked. I estimate that this Prefect Chu is finished this time."
Liu Hejin was an old fop who enjoyed feasting, drinking, and playing with beauties. He preferred listening to small tunes. His mind disliked dealing with people like Prefect Chu, whose depths he couldn't fathom. He would be sold and still count the money for them.
"Alright, do you think it would be better for the Liu family if a different prefect came?" The sixth elder looked disdainfully at Liu Hejin, who sat without proper posture.
Although Chu Shao was shrewd and unfathomable, and his relationship with the Liu family was average, he was capable. Under his governance and jurisdiction, Huaian Prefecture had been peaceful in recent years. If a corrupt official came, who knew what would happen.
The great elder spoke slowly, "What about the seventh branch? I heard that the seventh branch was involved in Zhan Feiyu's imprisonment?"
Although Zhan Feiyu had come to the Liu family to offer condolences before, her attitude was clear. She had no good feelings towards the Liu family. She only came to offer condolences to repay Qi Heng's favor.
"It's all because of Liu Bao." Liu Hejin didn't know about official matters, but he was clear about these trivial matters. "They beat that girl to death back then, right in front of Liu Bao. This drove him mad, and now it's too late to regret it."
Liu Hejin thought of how he had secretly met Zhan Feiyu late at night, and now he couldn't help but sit up straight, "It's not that I'm praising others and belittling ourselves, but that girl Zhan Feiyu is not easy to deal with. She dared to forcefully demand her personal maid, and she thought the slap in the mourning hall wasn't hard enough!"