Choosing the end of the hour was a thoughtful decision.
Arriving too early might alert the county magistrate and cause him to enter the governnt office through the back door or not co at all.
Arriving too late might risk missing the county magistrate.
Furthermore, this particular ti coincided with the awakening of the city's residents, who were busy conducting business, buying groceries, and preparing als. It was a mont 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 beca increasingly congested.
Jiang Sheng and her brother, who were hiding in a corner, couldn't help but worry. "What if the county magistrate becos 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 handso face. "The county magistrate will have yan 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 ti it takes to brew a cup of tea, the sound of shouting ca from behind the crowded heads. "Make way for the magistrate!"
Several ard yan runners were pushing the crowd aside.
Slowly, Xu Mo, who was kneeling in the middle of the road, beca visible.
One of the yan runners furrowed his brow as he approached Xu Mo. "The county magistrate is passing through here. Please make way."
"I have sothing to report," Xu Mo prostrated himself, "I kneel here only to see the county magistrate."
"If you have sothing to report, do so at the magistrate's office. Kneeling here won't accomplish anything," the yan 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 yan 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 yan 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 yan runner's way of speaking was quite interesting. He first ntioned 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 mont 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 exclaid loudly, "I am Xu Mo, a student. I have co to accuse the forr Xieyang County magistrate of plotting against the late magistrate, causing harm to innocent people, and attempting to silence by hiring an assassin. I implore Your Excellency to investigate."
Filing a complaint against soone of higher rank.
The county magistrate's gaze grew deeper, but he spoke, "Do you know that filing a complaint against soone 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 proclaid, "I, as a student, am aware and willing to accept fifty strikes."
Even if it ant 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 pri suspect from Xieyang County's case?"
Not only was he an ordinary student, but also the pri suspect of a county case, suing the local governnt officials.
Things suddenly beca interesting.
But regardless, the procedure had to be followed.
Soon, soone ca forward carrying the instrunt of punishnt.
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 ti 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 thod, 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 cris?"
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, ford on his forehead.
At this mont, 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 soone 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 ti such a thing had happened.
But upon hearing these words, Xu Mo's heart was filled with unease. He struggled to fall off the punishnt instrunt, 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 hard!"
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 skimd 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 punishnt 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 docunt, 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 pri 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 punishnt of fifty lashes and personally handle all your grievances."
"What do you think of this?"
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