Steward Shao: "Nonsense, who doesn’t know that at the age of fifteen, Zou Jiang’s family fell into misfortune, leaving him disheartened. He spent a year recuperating and, on his sixteenth birthday, sold himself into slavery to Lord Zou. Such a widely known fact, yet you still dare to quibble. Co, take this servant Zou Jiang back."
"Seize Zou Jiang." Master Cao didn’t give Zou Jiang a chance to argue, leading Zou Mansion’s Protectors around Luo Wu and others, lunging towards Zou Jiang.
Zou Jiang sneered and dashed into the governnt office, throwing himself to his knees in the hall with a ’thud’, and looking up at the ’Bright Mirror High Suspended’, he cried out, "Commoner has been wronged; I beg the Old Master of the Just Heavens to redress this injustice!"
Seeing Zou Jiang rush into the hall, Master Cao and the others hurriedly followed, but Steward Shao was too late to call them back.
Luo Wu, along with the Governnt Officials, imdiately surrounded the entrance to the county governnt, preventing Master Cao and his group from escaping.
County Captain Jiang and Squad Leader Yang, leading another group of Governnt Officials, burst from the back of the hall and pointed at Master Cao and his group, saying, "Audacious scoundrels, daring to barge into the hall with a mob, co, seize them for !"
"Yes, my lord." Squad Leader Yang and the others charged at them, unsheathing their broadswords, surrounding Master Cao and his group.
It was only then that Master Cao and the others realized the gravity of their hasty action, and they imdiately said to County Captain Jiang, "Lord Jiang, it’s a misunderstanding; we weren’t trying to barge into the hall unauthorized, we just wanted to capture the house slave Zou Jiang."
Steward Shao also hurried to squeeze into the hall, bowing repeatedly to County Captain Jiang, saying, "Lord Jiang, this is truly a misunderstanding; Master Cao and the others know the rules, they didn’t an to barge in."
He also scolded Master Cao: "What are you still standing there for, hurry up and get out. Is this hall sothing you servants can co into?"
"Steward Shao has taught us well; we will leave now." Master Cao and the others apologized while retreating, trying to leave the hall.
Alas, Luo Wu would not let them go.
He and a group of brother Governnt Officials drew their swords and ford a human wall, blocking Master Cao and his group, angrily warning, "Swords and spears have no eyes; whoever dares to co over does so at their own risk."
Master Cao and his group, looking at the gleaming swords and Luo Wu’s enraged face, did not dare take another step closer, fearing that if they really tried to force their way through, their lives would not be spared.
Steward Shao beca anxious and said to County Captain Jiang, "Lord Jiang, why the need for this? We have worked together for many years, Master Cao and the others’ actions were a misunderstanding. Please show so leniency and let them go."
County Captain Jiang rely glanced at Steward Shao, without saying a word.
Squad Leader Yang laughed and said, "Colleagues? Steward Shao, what are you talking about? You are a staff mber of County Magistrate Zou, eating the Zou family’s rice, whereas we are paid by the court. When have we ever been colleagues with you?"
With that, Steward Shao was left utterly embarrassed.
Squad Leader Yang was right; he indeed was a staff mber hired by County Magistrate Zou, and although he could enter and leave the county governnt due to his relationship with County Magistrate Zou and had access to so docunts, to put it bluntly, Steward Shao was an outsider with no official position and no real relation to the county governnt.
Squad Leader Yang pointed at Master Cao and his group and said, "Moreover, Master Cao, being a Zou family’s slave, dared to bring weapons and barge into the hall. Steward Shao, this is a serious cri, you should be very clear about it, shouldn’t you? If you are not, you might as well go back and ask County Magistrate Zou."
For a slave to barge into the hall with weapons was tantamount to rebellion!
Naturally, Steward Shao knew the gravity of this cri, and it was precisely because he knew, that he was so anxious. If this wasn’t handled well, even County Magistrate Zou, as the head of the household, would be in trouble.
County Captain Jiang said at this ti, "Old Yang, seize these bandits who barged into the hall and throw them into the prison."
He again looked at Steward Shao and said, "You can plead for rcy on their behalf or let them resist, but you must understand, once they resist, the ones who die won’t be just the Cao surna house slaves."
Even County Magistrate Zou wouldn’t be able to get off easy.
Steward Shao’s knees weakened, and he almost collapsed to the ground, his gaze shifting to Zou Jiang, pointing at him and saying, "You did this on purpose!"
It was him, he led Master Cao and the others into the governnt office, causing them to commit a cri akin to rebellion.
Zou Jiang looked at Steward Shao and smiled, "The Zou family’s servants are as stupid as Zou Youlian."
Indeed, he intentionally charged into the governnt office, bringing the Protector Cao and the group into the trap, but what of it? All’s fair in war, and to put it bluntly, this group of Protectors surnad Cao were private soldiers raised by County Magistrate Zou, to be arrested in groups if possible and not let go.
Steward Shao was so angry he nearly passed out, but there was nothing he could do, he could only watch helplessly as Squad Leader Yang, Luo Wu, and the others took Master Cao and his group.
And he still had to tell Master Cao and the others, "Don’t resist, just follow Squad Leader Yang and the others to the prison obediently, the master will save you."
Master Cao and his group were scared out of their wits, fearing that the county governnt would indeed prosecute them for rebellion, and dared not resist, instead begging Steward Shao,"Steward Shao, you must help us plead our case, we really didn’t do it deliberately; it was all Zou Jiang’s doing!"
Steward Shao kept a stern face and said nothing. After Master Cao and his group were taken away, he pointed at Zou Jiang and said, "County Captain Jiang, Zou Jiang is a Zou Family’s Slave, I want to take him away, please give way."
Ha, thinking that capturing Master Cao and the others would let him escape disaster? He wasn’t dead yet; there were plenty of ways to take Zou Jiang away.
Zou Jiang shouted, "Lord Jiang, please see clearly, this commoner is of the good register, not the Slaves."
Steward Shao was furious, "You’re talking nonsense!"
County Captain Jiang raised his hand to stop Steward Shao’s words and said, "Since the two sides stand firm in their statents, this matter must be reviewed by the Lord County Magistrate before a conclusion can be made."
Saying this, he ordered Luo Wu and the others to keep guarding the entrance of the county governnt office, not allowing Steward Shao and Zou Jiang to leave, and he himself went behind the public hall to request an audience with County Magistrate Xu.
County Magistrate Xu is a scholar, and he himself ca from a farr’s family, having struggled to earn his official position and then serving as an Assistant Officer for six years before becoming the presiding official. He was scared of death and trouble, and thus rather reluctant to intervene in matters regarding County Magistrate Zou.
"Lord, Eastern Elder, my good classmate, don’t hesitate anymore. As long as you preside over court, this rit will securely fall into your hands. If things go well, it may even lead to a promotion for you," Master Tian persuaded County Magistrate Xu, "Zou Jiang is rely accusing County Magistrate Zou of corruption, abuse of power for personal gain, and has made no accusations of collusion with river bandits. Those bandits will not co threatening your life, rest assured."
Rest assured, my ass, County Magistrate Xu was nearly scared to death.
"How tragically Concubine Lu died. Old Tian, Brother Tian, my good classmate, we will be leaving after enduring just a couple more months, why trouble ourselves with these murky waters? It could cost lives," County Magistrate Xu said with a mournful expression, nearly ready to kneel before Master Tian.
Master Tian was more ruthless, actually kneeling directly in front of him.
With a thud, Master Tian’s knees slamd onto the ground, and upon hearing the sound, County Magistrate Xu felt pain on his behalf.
"Stop this nonsense, hurry up and get up," County Magistrate Xu tried to help Master Tian to his feet, but Master Tian refused to rise.
"Do you still rember what we said back when we all went to take the exam for our official positions?" Master Tian, with tears in his eyes, said to County Magistrate Xu, "Our group of classmates once swore that after becoming officials, we would disregard life and death..."
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