Chapter 35 The Storm Is Over

When Chen Heng walked into the hall of the county government, six yamen runners with sticks stood on his left and right. Xu Pingzhi sat in front of the desk in his official robe, with a serious face that made it difficult for people to get close to him.

Chen Qi and Zhang San, who followed him in, saw this posture, and the blood on the ground that had not yet dried. Their already nervous hearts became more panicked at this moment.

"Pah." Xu Pingzhi picked up the gavel and slapped it on the desk. The yamen runners on the left and right immediately hit the ground with sticks. Xu Pingzhi said, "Who is in the hall?"

Chen Qi and Zhang San trembled in their hearts, and felt their legs soften, and they knelt on the ground unconsciously.

"I am Chen Qi from Shanxi Village, and I pay my respects to you, sir."

"I am Zhang San from Shanxi Village, and I pay my respects to you, sir."

The two men did not know that they had violated the taboo of this dynasty. Since Dayong overthrew the previous dynasty and won the world, they wanted to paste the previous dynasty's Lijiao system in the history books and scold it. As the saying goes, if the previous dynasty had not treated the people badly, there would be no chance for Dayong to establish a dynasty.

Therefore, this dynasty re-established the etiquette. Except for the heaven, earth, emperor, parents and teachers, ordinary people were not allowed to kneel even when they saw their parents. If someone over 70 years old came to the door, a special seat would be set up, and the county magistrate would personally help them sit up.

As for those scholars, their only privilege now is that they will not be spanked easily. As long as they have a reputation, if they make a mistake, the parents have to report to the academic official first, and then they can be punished.

Now the Yong Dynasty has been established for less than a hundred years, and there have only been four emperors, including the current Majesty. This set of rules is now strictly enforced.

Seeing that the two common people couldn't help being scared, Xu Pingzhi hurriedly stood up and shouted: "Stupid, Chen Heng, don't pull up your elders." If this matter gets out, it will affect his reputation as a parent official.

With the help of the left and right yamen runners and Chen Heng, Chen Qi and Zhang Sancai stood tremblingly. Seeing this, Xu Pingzhi coughed and sat back in his seat.

At this time, Chen Heng also bowed and said, "This county student Chen Heng greets you, sir."

Although Chen Heng didn't know the final results of the prefectural examination, he was almost certain to pass the prefectural examination. He had already passed the Tongsheng examination and could call himself a Tongsheng.

But he also thought that if he called himself a Tongsheng, it would be a bit distant. He and County Magistrate Xu still had a friendship as the first place in the county examination. If he wanted to save his second uncle, County Magistrate Xu would have to take this favor.

What about Xu Pingzhi? He was also satisfied with this title. There were first place winners in Taixing County every year, but only Chen Heng could win the first place in the prefectural examination.

Since the first place winner in this county wanted to make friends with him, Xu Pingzhi couldn't help but nod his head. He had prepared a stern word in his mouth, but he changed his mind and said it out loud: "At this time, why don't you prepare for the prefectural examination in Yangzhou and rush back?"

Sir, you are asking knowingly. Chen Heng criticized in his heart, but his expression remained unchanged and he said, "Sir, I waited until the provincial examination was over, and then I heard that my second uncle was in prison, so I hurried back."

"The news spread quickly." Xu Pingzhi said, without any other meaning, just pretending to be powerful and knocking Chen Heng, "Your second uncle, together with the pawnshop owner and fellow villager Chen Sande, conspired for money and murder, causing the eldest son of the Wang family to die in front of the hall. Although his crime is not punishable by death, according to the Dayong law, he must be exiled thousands of miles away and cannot return home for life."

This is no different from taking the life of his second uncle. Chen Heng was anxious and was about to speak. But he felt that his emotions were not right, so he took a deep breath and calmed down his emotions and thoughts before speaking.

"Your Excellency is acting in accordance with the law, and I shouldn't have said too much. It's just that my second uncle is weak and has not done farm work since he was a child, which led to him entering the pawnshop. The elders in the family are old, and if they know this news, they may be worried about their lives. I hope that your Excellency will consider that this is his first offense and that he has elderly parents at home, and give our family a chance to make amends and forgive his sins."

"He has elderly parents, but Wang Sheng doesn't have them? Do you know that Wang Sheng's old mother also lay on your seat and cried loudly the day before yesterday, asking me to make a decision for her."

"Our family is willing to support and serve her until she is old, without any complaints. I beg your Excellency to show mercy and point out a clear way." Chen Heng bowed again, with a very frank and sincere attitude.

He thought about it. Since he came here to make friends with County Magistrate Xu, his words and deeds must be based on "feelings". If he insisted that his second uncle was just a waiter and obeyed the shopkeeper in everything, and cleared himself, he would definitely not get the desired result.

Since others are the knife and I am the fish. It is better to be frank. He was wrong in the first place, so why bother to argue. Just ask for a leniency outside the law and don't let the second uncle fall into exile. This is a good strategy.

Xu Pingzhi shook his head and pointed at the young man in the hall and said: "You said you want a bright way. I really have a bright way for you. Do you know that according to the Dayong Law, if a relative within the five mournings commits a crime, it will affect your examination for the imperial examination?"

This is Xu Pingzhi bullying the little boy who has not read the "Dayong Law". The law says that when committing the crime of deceiving the emperor and treason, the three generations within the five mournings are not allowed to take the imperial examination. But if someone in the family commits a crime, it will indeed affect the selection of official positions in the future.

After all, the current scholars pay attention to self-cultivation and family management. If you can't even manage your own family, how can you believe that you can manage the people?

Xu Pingzhi is just blurring the two together to see Chen Heng's reaction.

As soon as he finished speaking, not only Chen Heng, but also Chen Qi turned pale. Xu Pingzhi advised: "I advise you to go back and persuade your elders to separate the two families as soon as possible, so as not to waste your knowledge."

Will it affect the imperial examination? Chen Heng felt dizzy for a while in his mind, and the images of those hard studies in the cold window appeared like bubbles and disappeared. Seeing that he fell into silence, Xu Pingzhi couldn't help but add fuel to his anger, "Just think about it carefully and decide your own bright future."

Chen Heng stood there blankly, with thousands of words stuck on his lips, but his thoughts were so confused that he couldn't even say half a word. As his expression changed, he couldn't help but think of the day and night spent with his second uncle.

"Heng'er, this is the candy my second uncle bought for you."

"Heng'er, if you are bullied, go home and find your second uncle."

"This is food that my second uncle bought for you from the county. Eat it quickly before your sister comes back."

As the scenes passed through his mind, Chen Heng gritted his teeth, ignored Chen Qi's anxious and panicked eyes, and said, "Sir, if this is the case, the student is willing to accept the punishment. I beg you to remove the student status and give my second uncle a way out."

"Confused, you have studied hard all the way to this point, and you actually want to commit suicide?" Xu Pingzhi shouted, quite angry at his misfortune.

"Family and family make everything prosperous. If the family is broken up, what's the use of having fame." Chen Heng lowered his head dejectedly. He couldn't imagine what his grandparents would look like after his second uncle was exiled. Shuangxi was only three years old. , can he accept not having a father from now on?

"Have you thought it through?"

"Think it through."

"But your fame is your fame, and your second uncle's sin is your second uncle's sin. But I can't rely on you..." After hearing County Magistrate Xu's words, Chen Heng couldn't help but raise his head, and was about to speak, but the other party He laughed again and said, "Okay, okay, just relax."

Xu Pingzhi pointed to the blood on the ground and said, "This is the blood stain left by the beating of your second uncle just now. I have already ordered people to inquire about your family situation. I know that your grandma loves her son very much. If he is really exiled, the old man will probably follow him personally." . Isn’t it still the result of ruining the family, which is not what I want, nor what the court wants.”

"It's just that the death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be escaped after all. He is working as a waiter in a pawnshop. I can understand that he has to obey the orders of the shopkeeper. But he still has to be fined fifty taels of silver and serve in corvee for five years. All the income from the pawnshop in the past will be confiscated and handed over to the owner. Do you have any objections to the Wang Sheng family’s compensation?”

Chen Heng still had some opinions, but in his heart he was filled with the joy of another village, saying: "Thank you, sir, for your kindness, thank you for your discretion."

"It doesn't matter, you will also be taking the college examination and the provincial examination in the future. Remember that the law is the foundation, and reason is the root. If you can only follow the script, let's not say whether you will be dull in doing things. You have lost the law and are educated. Do you understand my original intention?”

"Students must never forget the teachings of adults."

"Don't worry, your second uncle's service will not affect your ability to continue to obtain merit and become an official in the future. Come here." Xu Pingzhi walked down the hall and shouted behind him. The master immediately walked out from behind holding a set of books. , "You should take this set of "Dayong Rules" back and read it thoroughly. This matter will never happen again."

"Thank you for your guidance, sir. The students will never forget your kindness in knowing me."

The master who came forward with the book in hand said at the right time: "Sir, you haven't congratulated Mr. Xiaolang yet. He won the first place in the government examination this time, which can be regarded as a win for our county."

Xu Pingzhi laughed again, "Yes, yes."

…………

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Chen Huaijin was dragged back to the prison by the officers. As soon as he entered the cell, he lay on the cold floor and groaned in pain. There was another inmate lying in the corner who was neither human nor ghost. When he saw Chen Huaijin coming back, he crawled to him little by little and whispered.

"Second brother, how are you?"

"Third Brother...Third Brother...They, they beat me twenty times." Chen Huaijin cried out in pain. He had suffered like this since he was a child. Mrs. Zhou loved him so much, and was willing to let him do hard work. .

This person who is neither a human nor a ghost turned out to be Chen Sande, and he didn't know how many crimes he suffered in prison. At this moment, he raised his bloody hand, helped Chen Huaijin up, and lowered his voice, "Don't be afraid, I will take you out to see the world for once. Shopkeeper He has no idea about this, and I will not turn you in until I die. "

"Your nephew is capable. He will definitely be able to think of a way to save you." Chen Sande comforted him, "I'm sure I won't survive. If you can really get out alive, third brother, please do me a favor. I'm in my backyard. Buried for five hundred taels. You can find a chance to tell Qisuo's mother quietly and ask her to keep quiet and raise the child well. "

"Third brother... you..." Chen Huaijin was so frightened that he even forgot to cry.

"Every time I go back to the village, I beat them in front of everyone. After I die, the enemies outside will definitely not come to trouble them. Second brother, I will only tell you this, you must not forget it."

Chen Sande's bloody eyes widened with such a ghostly look that Chen Huaijin was frightened and did not dare to look at him for a moment.

"What are you talking about?" Two officials walked in, opened the lock again, pointed at Chen Huaijin and said, "You, come with us. The county magistrate will spare your life today, but don't let us fall behind next time." In hand."

After saying that, he forcibly separated the two of them, picked up Chen Huaijin and walked out again. Chen Sande scratched the ground with his hands, making the sound of the iron chains on his feet. He pulled the cell door open with his hands and hissed at the strength of his voice at the retreating figure.

"Second brother, second brother!!! Chen Huaijin, don't forget what I said!!!! Otherwise, I won't let you go even if I'm a ghost."

"Chen Huaijin!!!"

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