Tang Di's booming voice was so loud that the county magistrate would have to be deaf to not hear him.
"What kind of uncivilized brute are you! How dare you openly slander an official of the court outside the yamen!" The magistrate slammed the wooden gavel on his desk, glaring at Tang Di.
"Smash!"
The loud crack of the gavel could frighten commoners, but it had no effect on Tang Di.
"Your Excellency, what do you intend to do? If even the yamen does not allow one to seek justice, where else can we common folk go to complain of our grievances!"
The magistrate, likely surprised that Tang Di wasn't intimidated by the gavel, was momentarily stunned.
Tang Di had grown up in military camps, and at twelve, his exceptional martial arts skills earned him a place in the Imperial Dragon Guard. Later, he sustained a leg injury while apprehending assassins. He was supposed to be expelled from the palace, but the Fourth Prince, recognizing his talent, interceded with the Empress and kept him by his side.
"What kind of lives do the townspeople lead? It is one thing for Your Excellency, an official of the court, to be indifferent, but now you even wish to threaten me into silence! I dare to ask, Your Excellency, you who blindly condemn without regard for right or wrong, are you worthy of the rice you eat daily!" A man who had lived by the edge of a sword his entire life would not flinch at a gavel, let alone the collapse of his own eyes.
This time, the magistrate truly couldn't sit still. Regaining his senses, he roared, "How dare such a lowly commoner spread slander before a Prince! Guards! Seize this scoundrel and give him twenty strokes of the cane!"
The yamen runners obeyed the command and dragged Tang Di from the crowd.
Xie Jingzhou felt something was amiss and was about to intervene, saying, "In my opinion..."
Before he could finish, a sharp pain shot through the tiger's mouth on his hand.
Caught off guard, Xie Jingzhou flinched in pain and looked down to see Ji Zizhao methodically inserting and rotating silver needles into his tiger's mouth.
Facing Xie Jingzhou's stare, Ji Zizhao calmly replied, "The Fifth Prince's pulse has suddenly become turbulent. Your humble servant fears that the Fifth Prince may be overcome by inner heat and his condition worsen, thus I am using silver needles to rouse and refresh the Fifth Prince." Sudannovels.com
Xie Jingzhou: "..."
He felt subtly insulted but couldn't find any evidence.
While Xie Jingzhou was distracted, the cane had already begun to fall upon Tang Di. By the time Xie Jingzhou regained his focus, he saw Tang Di being held down on a long bench by several yamen runners, a six-inch thick plank raised high and brought down with a heavy thud.
Such a shocking scene terrified the commoners outside the yamen.
Observing the fear etched on their faces, the magistrate felt a sense of satisfaction and triumph.
"Unprovoked torture, you are clearly guilty! Are you trying to hide your selfish motives and have all innocent townspeople beaten tomorrow?"
Tang Di's cries shattered the magistrate's triumph.
"Audacious commoner, how dare you argue pointlessly! Beat him! Continue beating him!" The magistrate's face contorted with rage.
This scene, in turn, pushed the commoners' fear to its peak.
They had witnessed firsthand the wicked deeds of the county yamen over the years, and some had even experienced them personally. They had believed that by enduring silently, they would find peace, but now they realized how terribly wrong they were.
If someone was beaten today, would there be a second tomorrow? A third?
If this continued, would they even be able to protect their lives?
Therefore, the raised and falling plank also tore at the commoners' self-deception!
"Fourth Prince, please see reason! This humble subject also, also knows of the county magistrate's crime of forcing himself upon the young women!" someone suddenly shouted from the crowd.
Immediately after, the crowd erupted.
"I, I also have evidence proving that the county magistrate had dealings with those villains in previous years!"
"And me, I can also testify!"
"Not only did he collude with those villains to wreak havoc in town, but over the years, the county magistrate has used his power to oppress us incessantly. The number of souls he has unjustly sent to their demise is countless!"
The accusations from the commoners, one after another, surged like a tide, rushing into the yamen against the cold wind.
The magistrate, still seated on the dais, felt his eyes swim with stars from the onslaught of the commoners' voices.
These people were usually timid as mice. Had they all gone mad today?
Of course not.
It was precisely because they were too terrified that they disregarded their own lives.
When a person no longer fears death, there is truly nothing left to hold them back.
Xie Jinglan glanced at Ji Zizhao, who sat not far away. He hadn't expected her to use such a method to stir up the commoners' emotions. People driven by emotion would empathize. The beaten Tang Di would naturally remind the commoners of their own plight.
It was a good method, but not everyone had the courage to instigate a riot at the yamen.
Sensing Xie Jinglan's gaze, Ji Zizhao nodded slightly and offered a faint smile.
She had never deluded herself into thinking her path would be smooth.
But she remembered what she had said: anyone who blocked her way would not fare well.
She had even forced her way through the palace gates back then.
Now, facing merely a yamen, what was there to fear?
Xie Jinglan smiled as he observed Ji Zizhao's fearless demeanor.
Indeed, she was as unrestrained as ever.
This was for the best; this way, she wouldn't be bullied.
The commoners' accusations continued to pour in, having cast all caution aside.
The town was not large, and soon the happenings at the yamen became common knowledge. Some townspeople, who could no longer bear the oppression, deliberately brought evidence to the yamen, hoping to worsen the county magistrate's already splitting headache.
Xue Yongnian and Xu Jiang, also officials, were stunned by the commoners' fervent denunciations. How many heinous deeds must have been committed to arouse such widespread indignation?
Xie Jingzhou's face was also extremely grim. When he had placed the county magistrate here, it was merely for him to embezzle wealth and send it to him monthly. Although he had anticipated that the magistrate would not treat the commoners well, he had never expected such cruelty!
As he watched the commoners holding up sheets of accusations and piles of evidence, Xie Jingzhou felt dizzy. He never knew that this county magistrate, using his mother's name, had committed such wicked deeds.
The county magistrate had already wet himself and could only look pleadingly at the Fifth Prince, begging for his final protection.
Although Xie Jingzhou wished he could kick the magistrate to death, when facing Xie Jinglan, he spoke first, "This matter involves significant implications. In my humble opinion, we should proceed with caution."
Xie Jinglan spoke slowly, "Fifth Brother's health is not well and he should not overexert himself. Just now, I have already had someone report this matter truthfully to His Majesty."
Xie Jingzhou: "..."
He had never encountered someone so cold-blooded in his dealings!