Academic Administrator Kong is the chief examiner this time, and the scholars this time are all his students. How could he dare to thank him?
Alas, forget it, thereâs no winning against it, no need to contend, being the first to read Mr. Ouyang Huâs new article is already a great fortune, he cannot covet too much.
Yan Xiaowu was very saddened, but Academic Administrator Kong was quite happy, after taking Mr. Ouyangâs article, he carefully read it again. He had just been reading for a short while when he heard a scream of painful crying, following the sound he saw that it was Cao Juren who had spit out a mouthful of blood and fainted.
Cao Juren originally thought that as long as he clung tightly to the idea of filial piety, even if Gu Jinâan was not punished, he would still be despised to death. But after hearing Mr. Ouyang Huâs article, he knew he had completely lost, couldnât bear the blow, and fainted in anger.
"Father, Father, wake up." Although Cao Familyâs three sons disliked that Cao Juren had harmed the whole family miserably, they were all educated and were anxious when they saw him faint from spitting blood, quickly called Doctor Lian and Doctor Li to treat him.
Doctor Lian and Doctor Li gave Cao Juren another acupuncture treatment, and after feeding him medicinal powder water, they said to Cao Familyâs three sons: "Cao Jurenâs life is saved, carry him home, with careful medication and nurturing for a few months, he will recover. Remember not to let him be enraged again, or there might be a danger to his life."
Cao Juren is so old already, he canât keep shouting like a young man, or he is seeking to die.
Cao Familyâs three sons sighed in relief, as their father hadnât driven himself to death: "Thank you, two doctors."
The two doctors nodded, consulted each other to write a prescription for Cao Juren, and gave it to Cao Familyâs three sons.
Magistrate Shi seeing that Cao Juren wasnât dead, also sighed in relief, and seeing Doctor Lian and others had written the prescription, he immediately said to Cao Familyâs three sons: "You three quickly carry Cao Fangshan home, guard him, make sure he doesnât muddle up again. If any rumors harmful to others arise in the city, your Cao Family should seek blessings for themselves."
"Yes, yes, yes, we will definitely watch over our old father." Cao Familyâs three sons hurriedly responded, using a mule cart to send Cao Juren home.
Cao Jurenâs group of students, witnessing this, were terribly frightened, some followed Cao Familyâs three sons away, some hesitated to leave, looked at Magistrate Shi and said: "Lord Magistrate, we acted on Cao Jurenâs orders, we did not mean to help him harm others, we had no idea he was bribed by Tong San beforehand!"
With a thud, Ye Tongsheng, who had the closest relationship with Cao Juren, knelt down, crying: "Lord Magistrate, we are all scholars, educated with sage teachings, once inadvertently mingled with petty people, in the future, we will definitely stay away from petty people, please Lord Magistrate rest assured."
Speaking while sobbing, making Magistrate Shi both laugh and angry, pointing at him said: "If you hadnât said these words, this office might have thought you salvageable, but after saying these words, you are comparable to animals!"
Although Magistrate Shi is not a good person either, using various means for promotion, he despises fence-sitter and dog slave like Ye Tongsheng.
Ye Tongsheng was shocked after hearing, realizing he had misspoken, hurriedly explained: "Lord Magistrate misunderstood, the student is not blaming Cao Juren, the student just wanted to show Lord Magistrate, we understand good and evil, still requesting Lord Magistrate not to..."
"Shut up!" Magistrate Shi pointed at them said: "You are of what morality, this office is very clear, whether you were deceived by Cao Juren or not, wrong is wrong, this time this office wonât pursue you, also has no time to make things difficult for you. Each person will pay a fine of three taels within three days to the government office, and this matter will be over."
These students are considered accomplices of Cao Juren, originally Magistrate Shi was worried they were deceived by Cao Juren, thus didnât plan to fine them. But they stayed behind, and even spoke ill of Cao Juren, this kind of behavior of turning against someone once theyâre down made Magistrate Shi very angry, itâs not punishable not to fine them.
Ye Tongsheng and others, after hearing, turned pale, cried out: "Lord Magistrate..."
"Shut up, if dare to mutter one more word, each will be beaten with thirty large boards!" Magistrate Shi coldly glared at them, Ye Tongsheng and others were frightened, dared not to argue again, immediately followed Steward Lin to the back office to pay, those who didnât have silver on them also rushed home to get it, or went to borrow, in short, no one dared not to pay the fine of three taels.
After Cao Jurenâs students left, Squad Leader Song also drove away the onlooking people: "Alright, alright, the case is judged, stop watching, quickly leave."
But the onlookers were curious, pulled Squad Leader Song to ask: "Squad Leader, is Cao Juren really going to lose his official position? Hey oh, that would be incredible, Cao Familyâs descendants are incompetent, the whole family has only Cao Juren with an official position, if Cao Jurenâs official position is gone, his family will have to fall into being a commoner."
Squad Leader Song frowned, wanting to shout a sentence, you were listening the entire time, are you deaf that you didnât hear? And still ask?
But finally said a relatively mild sentence: "Alright, donât ask more, quickly leave."
The onlookers saw he didnât get angry, pulled him again to ask: "Squad Leader Song, how is the Tong Family case? Hear itâs going to cut off nine clans, how many people to kill, thatâs too tragic."
Squad Leader Songâs face darkened, angrily shouted: "The Tong Family committed a big case, whether or not to exterminate nine clans is the Emperorâs decision, if you are dissatisfied, then die together with the Tong Family!"
They dare talk about such a case of family extermination here, if theyâre tired of living just say, the Emperor loves cutting people so much, will definitely grant them.
The onlookers immediately panicked, quickly said: "Squad Leader Song donât be angry, we were just asking casually, not meaning to speak for the Tong Family."
"Humph, just asking casually? Such a big case do you have any clue if itâs appropriate to ask? Quickly roll, donât roll, youâll suffer for it!" Squad Leader Song and a group of government officials spent half an hour driving away this large group of onlookers.
After they left, Squad Leader Song and the government officials wiped the sweat off their foreheads, saying: "Finally gone, really damn gossipy."
Should they turn the government office into a storytelling pavilion, talk to them about gossip for a few days, satisfy them a bit?
Gu Jinâan made a deep bow to Magistrate Shi, Academic Administrator Kong, and Old Master Yan San, thanking: "The student thanks the three elders for their help, restoring the studentâs family innocence."
Magistrate Shi said: "Thank Lord Yan San, this office just did its duty."
Saying this, did not stay longer, took Assistant Judge Shen back to the back office, continued to busy with the Tong Familyâs matter.
Todaysâ case was judged by him, Gu Jinâan is also the top student, he had better not have too much interaction with Gu Jinâan, to avoid rumors of favoring him spreading.
With the merit of the Tong Family, he is sure to be able to go to the Capital to be an official, therefore in such a critical time, anyone with a little sense knows to avoid suspicion, not letting words disadvantageous to oneself spread.
Gu Jinâan made a bow to the back of Magistrate Shi: "Respectfully seeing off the Lord Magistrate."