Chapter 120

Hu Xiaotian

Hu Xiaotian said: "Causing trouble in the street, stirring up disputes, if I don't punish you today, I will surely find it hard to convince the public."

Guo Shouguang

Hu Xiaotian said: "Seize them, give each ten blows, and take them away." After a short while, he changed the verdict again.

Amid a chorus of grievances, the two were dragged out one after another; Hu Xiaotian glanced at Murong Feiyan, catching a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, seemingly very satisfied with his current performance, and he felt great delight inside. That fat and thin pair must be up to something, thinking anyone can just walk into the government office gate! This jail isn't a place you can just sit in whenever you want.

Guo Shouguang wiped the sweat from his forehead, just about to persuade Hu Xiaotian to leave the hall and eat, when suddenly a frantic drumming sounded from outside the gate. Not only him, but all the clerks felt surprised—what on earth is happening today? For half a year no one had beaten the drum to air grievances, yet since this assistant magistrate arrived, complaints have come one after another.

Liu Kuohai

The bailiff below came forward to report: "Sir Hu, the one who beat the drum to air grievances is the eldest son of the Wan Family, Wan Tingchang!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian secretly rejoiced—it was exactly the case of having searched high and low without success, only to find it effortlessly; I haven't even gone looking for you, yet you've come to sue of your own accord—I want to see what tricks you, Wan Tingchang, intend to pull on my little plot of land. With that thought, he slammed the gavel hard and shouted loudly, "Bring them up!" He suddenly realized something: striking the gavel really can become addictive. He quickly understood the reason: the addiction is to power; the gavel is merely a symbol.

The Wan Family eldest son Wan Tingchang swaggered up to the hall, with two Wan family servants following behind him; he held a folding fan in his hand, took an eight-character stance, swaying three times with each step as he ascended the hall. If it were an ordinary commoner, no one would dare behave so ostentatiously in the hall, but the Wan Family is different. They don't even put the County Magistrate Xu Qinglian in their eyes, let alone a newly arrived assistant magistrate.

Wan Tingchang arrived at the hall; this fellow's eyesight was poor, he lifted his head and glanced at the people above. One could vaguely tell it wasn't Xu Qinglian, but his features were unclear; he merely cupped his hands and said, "Student Wan Tingchang pays his respects to the Sir."

Hu Xiaotian raised the gavel in his hand and struck it with a slap, coldly saying: "Who is below? Having seen this official, why do you not kneel?"

Wan Tingchang found the voice somewhat familiar, but no matter how he thought, he would never associate this assistant magistrate with the sorcerer who had been performing ghostly rites in his home; he arrogantly said: "I am a scholar-official, I have earned my credentials; the Dakang statutes are written clearly and plainly—according to regulation, a scholar-official need not kneel in the hall."

Hu Xiaotian glanced at Guo Shouguang, who nodded. This confirmed that such a regulation indeed existed. Hu Xiaotian silently cursed, even someone like Wan Tingchang could become a scholar-official—it seems the education in Dakang is rather worthless.

Wan Tingchang was full of pride, thinking he had won the match; even the two servants behind him wore smug expressions. Standing there, he had no intention of kneeling at all.

Water Fire Staff

Wan Tingchang nodded, his demeanor as arrogantly aloof as ever; to say the least, in Qingyun Xian he truly held no official in esteem.

First Update

Wan Tingchang startled, thinking to himself, "Does this newly appointed assistant magistrate not know who I am? Why is he speaking so rudely?" He let out a cold snort, stepped forward and walked up to the plaintiff's stone, lifting his gaze toward Hu Xiaotian. His poor eyesight was a trouble—he could not make out Hu Xiaotian's face no matter what; the hall has its rules, and he cannot just approach casually, so he could only continue to maintain a sense of mystery toward this assistant magistrate.

Wan Manor

Hall of Returning Spring

Assistant Magistrate

Chief Clerk

Hu Xiaotian said: "Bring Liu Kuohai up here! I, the official, wish to personally hear this case."

Guo Shouguang had no choice but to put on a thick face and approach Hu Xiaotian, leaning in to whisper: 'Sir Hu, Sir Xu said this case must wait for his return so he can personally try it.'

Hu Xiaotian drew back slightly, waving his hand in front of his nostrils as he said: 'You didn't brush your teeth this morning? Your breath reeks!'

Guo Shouguang's old face flushed red with embarrassment; in his heart he silently saluted Hu Xiaotian's ancestors eighteen generations over, thinking, 'I rinse my mouth every day—you won't even give me a shred of face!'

The clerks in the hall wanted to laugh but dared not; they felt this newly appointed Deputy Magistrate was not easy to get along with—on his first day in office he had already humiliated the chief clerk to a shred, obviously targeting him everywhere; could there be a prior grudge between them?

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Sir Xu labors day and night, worrying himself sick; how could I bear to burden him so? The court sent me to Qingyun Xian precisely to share his worries and resolve his difficulties.'

Guo Shouguang thought to himself, 'Who are you trying to fool? You're just after power, aren't you? After all, you're young, just arrived and already showing off your sharp edges—anyone can see you don't understand human relations; just wait for your comeuppance.'

After Hu Xiaotian finished the interrogation, the bailiffs on either side remained silent for a while, each secretly looking at Guo Shouguang, evidently waiting for him to make a decision. Hu Xiaotian, newly arrived, though he bore the Deputy Magistrate's authority, still had no prestige in the hearts of the clerks and bailiffs. Moreover, the one truly in charge of Qingyun Xian is County Magistrate Xu Qinglian; it's not yet Hu Xiaotian's turn to be the master.

Hu Xiaotian raised the gavel and brought it down again: 'Bring Liu Kuohai up here!'

Guo Shouguang discreetly gave the bailiffs a look; he had figured it out—today Hu Xiaotian came with a hostile air, and unless he caused some commotion he wouldn't back down easily. As the saying goes, a new official sets three fires upon taking office, but Hu Xiaotian's flames are burning too hastily. Kid, you'll soon realize you're bringing disgrace upon yourself.

After Guo Shouguang spoke, the bailiffs finally sprang into action; not long after, Liu Kuohai was brought up. This lad had disheveled hair and torn clothes, though he bore no visible wounds. Upon entering the hall he glared furiously at Wan Tingchang—truly, enemies meeting eyes blaze red—he opened his mouth wide and roared at Wan Tingchang like a beast.

Wan Tingchang was frightened and stepped back a pace, immediately retreating from the plaintiff's stone; his steps faltered and he nearly fell to the ground.

The bailiffs stepped forward, seized Liu Kuohai's arms, and forced him to kneel, but Liu Kuohai resisted stiffly, standing motionless. Guo Shouguang gave a sign, and a bailiff rushed forward, raising his Water Fire Staff and striking Liu Kuohai's knee. Liu Kuohai grunted in pain, yet stubbornly remained standing. Two bailiffs moved in and struck him repeatedly with their staffs; unable to endure the pain, his knees buckled and he knelt on the defendant's stone. He lifted his head, glaring angrily at the official presiding over the case; when his gaze fell on Hu Xiaotian's face, his eyes widened involuntarily and an expression of disbelief crossed his features. Liu Kuohai's gaze was far clearer than Wan Tingchang's; almost at first sight he recognized Hu Xiaotian as the one who had helped his father, a guest at the Fulai Inn. He pointed at Hu Xiaotian, astonished, and said: 'You aren't…'

Murong Feiyan feared that this fellow would expose Hu Xiaotian's identity, and she shouted sternly: 'Bold commoner, how dare you show disrespect to the newly appointed Deputy Magistrate Hu!'

Even if Liu Kuohai were utterly stupid, hearing Murong Feiyan's words he already understood; he could now confirm that the two beside Hu Xiaotian were also lodgers at the Fulai Inn—after all this fuss they turned out to be the newly appointed Deputy Magistrate. Liu Kuohai felt a secret joy: previously he had no one at the county office, and this Young Master Hu extending a helping hand to his father could not be a bad man; perhaps he would also aid him. With this thought, Liu Kuohai earnestly knelt on the defendant's stone and whispered, 'I, Liu Kuohai, pay my respects to the Honorable Judge!' It seems this lad is not stupid after all.

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel pleased as he smiled at Guo Shouguang; as long as he sat in this position, he need not worry about nobody addressing him as the Honorable Judge.

Wan Tingchang said: 'Sir Hu, the accused I am bringing charges against is this very thug! He is unreasonable and violent, relying on his strength to cause a disturbance at my gate and injuring my servant……'

Hu Xiaotian grew impatient halfway through, waving his hand and saying: 'You just said that once already—can't you come up with something fresh? How about a little creativity?'

Wan Tingchang replied: 'I am stating the facts.'

Any witnesses?

The two servants behind Wan Tingchang sprang forward, and Wan Tingchang waved both hands ahead: 'Strip!'

The two servants stripped off their upper garments right there in the public hall, revealing naked torsos covered in scars—indeed, there was no need to undress, for their faces were also bruised purple. Wan Tingchang pointed at the servants' wounds and said: 'The human evidence is here; Sir, can you see it clearly?'

Material evidence……

Wan Tingchang drew from beneath his robe a wooden stick as thick as a wrist, holding it up with both hands: 'This is the weapon he brought when he came to my house to commit violence!'

Hu Xiaotian rested his chin on his hands, 'Damn! He's certainly well prepared,' he chuckled. Although Wan Tingchang couldn't see clearly, he could hear it and also gave a hollow laugh—suddenly Hu Xiaotian stopped laughing and asked: 'What are you laughing at?'

Wan Tingchang replied: 'If Sir may laugh, why may I not?'

"I am an official! This is the court hall—aren't you afraid I will charge you with contempt of court?"

Wan Tingchang said: 'Joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are natural human emotions; I acted as my feelings dictated, with no intent to contempt the court. Wasn't your own laughter just now also contempt of court?' He argued his point forcefully, not yielding an inch.

Hu Xiaotian snorted coldly: 'What a silver tongue! Guards!'

Wan Tingchang's heart skipped a beat, wondering if this newly appointed Deputy Magistrate really dared to deny him face. Hu Xiaotian turned to Guo Shouguang and asked: 'According to Dakang law, how should contempt of court be punished?'

Guo Shouguang sucked in a breath of cold air: 'Uh…… this……'

He really couldn't answer, and Murong Feiyan said: 'May I report to Sir, according to Dakang law, contempt of court is punished on the spot with caning, to serve as a warning.'

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