Choosing the end of the hour was a thoughtful decision.
Arriving too early might alert the county magistrate and cause him to enter the government office through the back door or not come at all.
Arriving too late might risk missing the county magistrate.
Furthermore, this particular time coincided with the awakening of the city's residents, who were busy conducting business, buying groceries, and preparing meals. It was a moment when they were well-fed and leisurely strolling about.
The Central Avenue, being the most prosperous street in Anshui Prefecture, was bustling with a constant flow of people. The sight was truly overwhelming.
Xu Mo possessed a delicate appearance and was dressed in a fine scholar's robe, a privilege reserved only for scholarly individuals. As he knelt down, he was practically adorned with a single word from head to toe: "Injustice."
Consequently, the entire Central Avenue couldn't help but crane their necks and take a peek. The passersby instinctively lingered, eager to witness the spectacle.
The crowd grew larger, and the road became increasingly congested.
Jiang Sheng and her brother, who were hiding in a corner, couldn't help but worry. "What if the county magistrate becomes concerned about the large crowd and decides not to pass through here?"
"Don't worry," reassured Fang Heng, wearing a bamboo hat that concealed his handsome face. "The county magistrate will have yamen runners clear the way as he progresses."
Only after hearing this did Jiang Sheng ease her concerns and cautiously peek out from behind.
After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the sound of shouting came from behind the crowded heads. "Make way for the magistrate!"
Several armed yamen runners were pushing the crowd aside.
Slowly, Xu Mo, who was kneeling in the middle of the road, became visible.
One of the yamen runners furrowed his brow as he approached Xu Mo. "The county magistrate is passing through here. Please make way."
"I have something to report," Xu Mo prostrated himself, "I kneel here only to see the county magistrate."
"If you have something to report, do so at the magistrate's office. Kneeling here won't accomplish anything," the yamen runner said, drawing his long knife. "Will you leave or not?"
Xu Mo remained steadfast.
Jiang Sheng, gripping Fang Heng's arm tightly, felt a sense of unease despite knowing that the yamen runner wouldn't dare harm Xu Mo in public. The gleaming blade was right next to Xu Mo's neck, and she couldn't help but worry.
Fortunately, Xu Mo remained calm and composed, kneeling on both knees without the slightest tremor.
The yamen runner had no other choice but to return and report. "Reporting to the magistrate, there is a scholar kneeling here, seemingly with a grievance to report."
This yamen runner's way of speaking was quite interesting. He first mentioned Xu Mo's identity as a scholar and then brought up the grievance. This prompted the county magistrate inside the sedan chair to ponder for a moment before stepping out.
The county magistrate appeared to be around thirty or forty years old, with a short, shallow black mustache above his upper lip. His lips protruded slightly, but his brows and eyes were resolute, and his gaze was sharp. At a glance, he spotted Xu Mo in the crowd, still kneeling.
"A good scholar like you should be attending classes. Why kneel here instead?" he admonished with a light reprimand before finally approaching.
And that's when it happened!
Xu Mo suddenly raised the prepared written petition and exclaimed loudly, "I am Xu Mo, a student. I have come to accuse the former Xieyang County magistrate of plotting against the late magistrate, causing harm to innocent people, and attempting to silence me by hiring an assassin. I implore Your Excellency to investigate."
Filing a complaint against someone of higher rank.
The county magistrate's gaze grew deeper, but he spoke, "Do you know that filing a complaint against someone of higher rank entails receiving fifty lashes?"
Regardless of whether the grievance is true or false, before it can be examined, one must endure fifty lashes.
These fifty lashes serve as a review, a prerequisite for lodging a complaint.
Otherwise, everyone would report even the tiniest matters to the emperor.
Xu Mo stood resolute and proclaimed, "I, as a student, am aware and willing to accept fifty strikes."
Even if it meant being beaten to death or crippled, he had made up his mind today!
The people around him were infected by the resolute spirit of this teenager and instinctively fell silent.
Only one student suddenly shouted, "Isn't this the prime suspect from Xieyang County's case?"
Not only was he an ordinary student, but also the prime suspect of a county case, suing the local government officials.
Things suddenly became interesting.
But regardless, the procedure had to be followed.
Soon, someone came forward carrying the instrument of punishment.
Xu Mo didn't hesitate at all. He got up and promptly prostrated himself on it.
Two bailiffs held bamboo boards and struck Xu Mo's buttocks, one after another.
At first, there was only the sound of flesh being struck, but after a dozen strikes, faint traces of blood appeared. By the time the twentieth strike landed, Xu Mo's pants were soaked in blood.
But this twelve-year-old child only turned pale and didn't utter a word of pain.
Even the bailiffs who were beating him felt their hearts soften. They chose the gentlest method, making their strikes appear forceful but actually causing only superficial injuries, trying to preserve his bones and tendons as much as possible.
"He's quite tough." The gaze of the prefect changed as well. "Wasn't Xieyang County Magistrate just in office for less than a year? How could he be accused of so many crimes?"
Who knew? Who dared to speak up?
The path of justice was long and silent, with only the sound of bamboo boards striking flesh.
Jiang Sheng and several older brothers huddled in a corner, their eyes filled with tears.
Even though they had known in advance, they couldn't help but feel heartbroken watching their eldest brother suffer like this.
After thirty strikes, Xu Mo was already unable to speak. His delicate face turned as pale as paper, and drops of sweat, born from the pain, formed on his forehead.
At this moment, any woman with children averted her gaze, unable to bear it any longer.
Even the Prefect of Anshui, who witnessed it, couldn't help but show a hint of ripples in his heart.
"Wait." When they reached the thirties, he suddenly raised his hand.
The two bailiffs hastily threw away their bamboo boards and knelt on one knee, awaiting orders.
"Stop for now," the Prefect of Anshui said with a deep expression. "This student of yours has a frail body. Fifty strikes would cost him his life. If he withdraws the petition now, he can leave."
Previously, anyone who filed a complaint against someone of higher rank would never stop until all fifty strikes were delivered, regardless of regrets.
Now, the Prefect of Anshui's words were like those of a divine being—it was the first time such a thing had happened.
But upon hearing these words, Xu Mo's heart was filled with unease. He struggled to fall off the punishment instrument, unable to stand on his legs. Instead, he crawled and used his hands to support himself, allowing the bloodstains to flow behind him.
"Sir, this humble student must sue Xieyang County Magistrate and his wife. I also request that you seek justice for my parents, my uncle and aunt, my younger siblings, and the countless innocent civilians who have been harmed!"
He reached out his hand and, with great difficulty, grabbed hold of the official's robe in front of him.
His unwavering determination moved even the Prefect of Anshui, who couldn't help but be touched. He reached out his hand and took the petition.
As he quickly skimmed through it, the prefect's expression changed as if he couldn't believe that these actions were carried out by a county magistrate.
"Sir, I, Xu Mo, do not fear the punishment of fifty lashes, nor do I fear life or death. What I fear is having nowhere to seek justice for my grievances, and what I fear is having nowhere for my restless soul to find solace, sir!" Xu Mo's words were filled with tears.
The Prefect of Anshui Prefecture finished reading the document, folded it, and his expression changed intermittently.
He glanced at the barely conscious Xu Mo and then at the congested Central Avenue, where no water could flow.
Suddenly, he asked, "You claim to be the prime suspect in the Xieyang County case, but do you intend to participate in the imperial examination for half a month?"
How did we suddenly veer into this topic?
Xu Mo was puzzled but still nodded forcibly.
The Prefect of Anyang nodded slightly, his tone decisive.
"Very well, today, in front of the people of Anshui Prefecture, I will make a promise to you. As long as you obtain the top score in the examination, I will spare you from the punishment of fifty lashes and personally handle all your grievances."
"What do you think of this?"
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