The clerks were holding long blades, with fierce and sinister expressions. Occasionally they would glance back at an elegantly dressed woman behind them.
She was obviously the one who had called them here. She looked to be around forty years old, wearing luxurious clothes. Although her features were starting to show signs of age, one could still vaguely discern some similarities with the arrogant clerk locked up in the Yunshui county prison.
However, while the clerk was brimming with arrogance, this woman had a hint of indignation in her eyes. Her gaze swept over Jiang Sheng and the others, eventually settling on the oldest, Xu Mo.
"So it was you who reported my brother?" She said resentfully. "You're all from Xieyang county, same as him. Why did you have to go to such a remote place like Yunshui county?"
Jiang Sheng thought to herself: As if you don't know the reason.
But she didn't dare to speak up.
As the representative of the whole family, Xu Mo clasped his hands and spoke calmly, "Madam must be the county magistrate's wife. We are also very upset about what happened. We only went to Yunshui county because it was nearby. After all, there are no rules saying cases must be tried in the perpetrator's home county."
His response was evasive and careful, not seeming like something a twelve-year-old could say.
The corner of the county magistrate's wife's mouth twitched. "My brother is mischievous by nature. It was my failure to discipline him properly. At most, he played a little joke on you all. Even if you were unhappy about it, you should have come to us directly. Why report it to the county office and get him imprisoned in Yunshui county to suffer?"
She was deliberately framing an intentional harm as merely mischievous nature.
Even Jiang Sheng had to stifle a laugh.
Xu Mo maintained his serious demeanor and said coldly, "The case was ruled on by Magistrate Pang. If Madam has any grievances, she should go to the Yunshui county office, rather than questioning the victims."
The county magistrate's wife had no rebuttal. She just stared icily at Xu Mo.
"Since you won't drink this toast..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Jiang Sheng's delighted "Young Master Pang!"
Everyone looked towards the clothing store entrance following her gaze.
Wearing new clothes and shoes, Pang Dashan couldn't help puffing out his chest and lifting his chin. After huffing and puffing for a while, he barely managed to utter an arrogant-sounding "Hmm".
"How did Young Master Pang come back from Yunshui county? Does Magistrate Pang have any message for us?" Jiang Sheng asked excitedly. "Young Master Pang must stay for a few more days this time, so I can properly thank you."
Her few words hinted at the close relationship between Pang Dashan and Magistrate Pang.
The onlookers' expressions changed again.
As the saying goes, when a man gains the Way, even his dogs and chickens ascend to heaven.
Even if he was just a lowly county magistrate, his nephews and sons would be deeply feared by commoners.
The only one unimpressed was the county magistrate's wife. To her, her brother's situation was most important, and avenging him was second most important.
"I don't care what Pang young master. Seize them!" The county magistrate's wife yelled. "Bring them all to the county office!"
She was determined to defend her brother at the cost of reputation and offending the Yunshui county magistrate.
Xu Mo's expression changed. Just as he was about to try to dissuade her,
An unexpected voice sounded. "Stop right there."
A middle-aged bearded man appeared from a palanquin that had landed without notice. He was tall and stony-faced. First he stared at Pang Dashan, then shifted to the county magistrate's wife. "Don't make trouble with these children."
He even described the public apprehension as "making trouble".
These powerful people were truly adept at making mountains out of molehills.
Deep down, Xu Mo was indignant, but also relieved.
The county magistrate's wife was fierce, uncaring of reputation or offending the Yunshui magistrate. Fortunately the Xieyang magistrate still feared such offense, and called back the clerks.
"Sir." The county magistrate's wife's expression changed. "They harmed my Tiger."
The Xieyang county magistrate's expression was unchanged. "Since Magistrate Pang made the judgment, he must have solid reasoning. Madam, do not make reckless accusations."
Then, looking to the two maidservants, "Escort Madam back to the county office."
The maidservants lowered their heads in acquiescence, pulling the reluctant county magistrate's wife back home.
The crisis was resolved.
Before Jiang Sheng could even breathe a sigh of relief, the Xieyang county magistrate had turned his gaze to Pang Dashan. With a half-smile, half-not, he said, "Welcome, Young Master Pang, to visit Xieyang county."
Then he strode away casually.
The blade-wielding clerks also retreated, and the onlooking commoners dispersed.
Jiang Sheng turned back and gave Pang Dashan a thumbs up, generously praising him. "Big brother Pang, you did even better than I expected!"
For a beggar to stand tall and straight before the county magistrate and his wife was no easy feat.
Let alone uttering that arrogant "Hmm", in Jiang Sheng's eyes, it approached the nobility.
Pang Dashan smiled bashfully without responding.
A gust of wind suddenly came, and they both shuddered, not daring to mention the chill around their crotches.
With the county magistrate and his wife gone, the streets regained their liveliness.
Shopkeepers were hanging all kinds of freshly made lanterns outside, paper, embroidered cloth, all sorts. Jiang Sheng was dazzled by them all.
Now she couldn't take her eyes off a little rabbit lantern.
Zheng Ruqian urged her, "If you like it, buy it. It's not expensive."
Jiang Sheng looked for a while longer before shaking her head.
"Why don't you buy it?" Zheng Ruqian persuaded. "We have money, don't worry. Since you like it, just take it."
Jiang Sheng rolled her eyes at him. "I've only had the chance to buy my first lantern after eight years. Of course I have to pick a good one. How could a measly rabbit lantern satisfy me?"
Zheng Ruqian: "..."
Alright, that made sense.
The two continued merrily looking around, completely oblivious to the black expression on the rabbit lantern seller.
Fang Heng and Wen Zhiyun in the middle maintained poker faces as they awkwardly walked past.
The remaining Chang Yan and Xu Mo looked on indifferently, as if nothing had happened.
"Does Fifth Apprentice think that the Xieyang county magistrate believed Pang Dashan's relationship with Magistrate Pang?" After long silence, Xu Mo still couldn't help but ask.
Chang Yan was silent for a moment. "Whether he believes it or not is unimportant, as long as he fears offending him."
But no one could say how long that fear would last.
"It seems we'll have to send Second Apprentice to Yunshui county tomorrow. Best to deliver some local specialties to Magistrate Pang, just in case." Chang Yan curved his right hand and lightly tapped the back. "And First Apprentice can also start preparing to become a child scholar, in case of emergency."
In the Dayu Dynasty, scholars could remain standing in court, and were exempt from double taxation. Even just in Xieyang county, they were deeply respected.
Child scholars were only scholar candidates, without all the privileges.
But as victims of injustice, outstanding child scholars, certain future scholars, their status was still incomparable.
Magistrate Pang's tiger skin could only maintain the bluff for so long before it would inevitably crack.
But the merit earned through the imperial examinations was something no one could disregard.
The night slowly deepened, merchants lit their lanterns, and the streets were suffused with hazy light.
Zheng Ruqian teased Jiang Sheng, laughing and playing. Wen Zhiyun also dragged Fang Heng around looking at lanterns.
Chang Yan and Xu Mo exchanged a glance, their resolve to protect these people growing stronger.
Suddenly, Jiang Sheng stopped in front of a large rotating lantern.
It had three riddles written on it. The first was an abacus calculation, the second a couplet, and the third an essay prompt.
They were so difficult that hundreds had already gathered in front, clutching their cheeks and scratching their ears, utterly perplexed.
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