These words caused an uproar in the courtroom.
Some wondered if such blatant favoritism was acceptable.
Others were shocked that he had waited until half of the fifty cane strokes were administered before speaking up.
The Prefect of Anshui County maintained his stoic expression, simply gazing at Xu Mo as he awaited the young man's response.
"Chief clerk," he said.
Xu Mo had never aspired to become the chief county clerk, he had merely tried his best.
He had never considered the position as leverage for this case, but the Prefect must have his reasons for making such an offer.
Xu Mo struggled internally.
In the corner, Jiang Sheng clenched her fists and stamped her feet as she whispered, "Accept it, big brother! Say yes!"
In the girl's mind, her big brother was the most capable person ever. Forget a lowly chief county clerk, if he wanted to, he could make it all the way to top scholar!
Her steadfast faith seemed to bolster Xu Mo's resolve.
After a long pause, he finally replied in a low voice, "You make a fair point, sir. But this case is far-reaching. How will you ensure secrecy until after the provincial exam?"
That was as good as an acceptance.
The Prefect of Anshui laughed heartily. "Leave that to me. I will silence everyone present. You just focus on preparing for the exam."
Having said that, he returned to his sedan chair and departed.
Several yamen runners were left to record the petitioners' statements and forbid them from speaking of the matter to avoid complications.
Xu Mo forced himself to stand, but after taking just two shaky steps, one of the passing yamen runners moved to support him.
"Easy there, young man. Can you walk?" asked the elderly runner kindly.
Xu Mo waved him off to indicate he was fine.
Just then, his younger siblings rushed over to cluster around him protectively.
"Big brother, you'll definitely become chief county clerk," Jiang Sheng stated with certainty rather than encouragement.
"Big brother, just do your best. I can take those last twenty strokes for you," Fang Heng knew Xu Mo couldn't possibly endure fifty full strokes.
With tears in her eyes, Wen Zhiyun said, "Big brother, I'll tend to your injuries."
Chang Yan took a deep breath. "Let's get you into the carriage first."
The five children leaned on each other for support as they slowly made their way to a waiting carriage.
The old yamen runner stared after them in shock.
His younger companion elbowed him. "What are you looking at? Back to the yamen."
The elder runner came to his senses. "Just thinking how lucky someone must be to have five kids like that."
The younger man laughed and whispered something inappropriate in his ear. Chuckling, the two men returned to the yamen.
As they entered, they overheard the teacher scolding the Prefect.
"Your Honor, why would you break precedent for a mere student? Fifty strokes is the threshold for appeals. If we make exceptions, every petty grievance will end up before the prefectural court!" The teacher was incensed. "And making him chief clerk when he can barely move with those injuries? He won't possibly pass the provincial exam!"
The Prefect listened quietly throughout the tirade.
When the teacher had vented all his frustrations, the Prefect finally responded calmly, "Rules exist for a reason, but the child is very young. After fifty strokes, he would be crippled if not dead."
The teacher scoffed, "Then you should have stopped it sooner, or not administered the punishment at all! It's too late to say this after thirty strokes!"
The Prefect was momentarily at a loss for words.
How could he explain to the teacher that initially, he had intended to follow protocol. But upon reading the petition, he had been awestruck.
The handwriting was neat yet bold. The narrative was coherent and cited doctrine flawlessly. Even the emotional appeal was articulate but restrained.
This was beyond what any twelve-year-old could compose. Even scholars in their twenties would struggle to craft something so polished. Xu Mo had accomplished it as a teenager.
The Prefect could not let such talent go to waste.
Fifty strokes might not break Xu Mo's spirit, but any resulting disability would surely dampen his potential.
Therefore, the Prefect had bent the rules and made this belated proposal.
"You may doubt his injuries will heal, but I caution you not to underestimate his ability to become chief clerk," the Prefect stroked his short, stiff mustache arrogantly as he departed.
The teacher gaped after him, too exasperated to do anything but spit on the ground.
He turned and stormed off in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile, in the inn's wood shed...
Xu Mo lay prone on the bed, his robes drenched in blood that had dripped down to his ankles.
With his formidable strength, Fang Heng simply scooped up his eldest brother and carried him horizontally to the bed where he gently laid him face down.
Despite her trembling, Wen Zhiyun's hands were steady as she used scissors to cut away Xu Mo's tattered undergarments, exposing his legs.
At the doorway, Jiang Sheng clutched some towels as she tearfully begged the innkeeper's assistant for hot water.
Seeing one of Xu Mo's legs bared, the little girl showed no hint of modesty or avoidance.
Chang Yan finally lost patience. Covering her eyes with one hand, he dragged her outside with the other. "Wait out here."
"Why?" Jiang Sheng began to sob. "I want to see big brother's injuries!"
She struggled to get back into the shed.
Chang Yan had no choice but to restrain her in a firm hold.
Just then, the assistant brought the hot water and clicked his tongue at the sight. "How awful, just terrible. The flesh is shredded."
Jiang Sheng became even more agitated. She pried open Chang Yan's hands with all her strength and made a lightning-quick dash into the shed.
Then Fang Heng promptly tossed her back out.
"Little Jiang Sheng, you can't look," Xu Mo admonished despite his pain. "Don't look. Wait outside for us."
Jiang Sheng stopped right at the window, lips pursed in frustration.
She didn't understand why her brothers were preventing her from helping, but she was obedient.
Though anxious, she could only squat and fiercely yank on the sprouting weeds.
Chang Yan sighed.
Survival took priority over propriety, so no one had explained gender segregation to Jiang Sheng before.
Living in the dilapidated temple, they had indulged her youthful innocence.
But staying in the shed this time, the brothers had made an effort to get her a separate little bed and hung a curtain to protect their sister's modesty.
Chang Yan hoped she would come to understand in time.
Despite the circumstances, Wen Zhiyun worked efficiently. Within half an hour, she had finished bandaging and gently covered Xu Mo with a quilt.
Fang Heng then emerged with a bowl of hot water. Seeing Jiang Sheng, he nodded. "Go on in."
Jiang Sheng pursed her lips and marched in angrily, but seeing Xu Mo's pale lips, she began sniffling again.
Glancing over, she saw Wen Zhiyun collapsed at the other end of the big bed, clearly exhausted from the intense first aid.
"Jiang Sheng, you're still crying?" Xu Mo was roused by her sniffling. His long curled lashes fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes. "Don't cry. We were just trying to spare you the sight."
"I'm not afraid," Jiang Sheng pouted. "I'm not scared of big brother's bottom."
Xu Mo said, "...I am."
"I didn't want you seeing such a gory scene. And I'm a boy while you're a girl. You...can't look at a boy's bottom."
"I can't look at any boy's bottom? Not even fifth brother's?" Jiang Sheng was very surprised.
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