Red Mansion Reader

Chapter 35

When Chen Heng walked into the lobby of the county government office, there were six government servants with sticks standing on the left and right. Xu Pingzhi sat in front of the case in an official robe, and his unsmiling face was really hard to get close to.

Chen Qi and Zhang San, who followed in, saw this posture, coupled with the blood that hadn't dried out on the ground.My heart, which was already apprehensive, became even more flustered at this moment.

"Crack." Xu Pingzhi picked up the gavel and slapped it on the public case.The left and right yamen servants immediately hit the ground with sticks.Xu Pingzhi said: "Who is in the hall?"

Chen Qi and Zhang San's hearts trembled, they felt their feet go limp, and they knelt on the ground unconsciously.

"Chen Qi, Caomin Shanxi Village, my lord."

"Zhang San, Caomin Shanxi Village, I have met your lord."

These two people didn't know that they had violated the taboo of this dynasty.Ever since Dayong overthrew the former dynasty and won the world, he wished to post the former dynasty's principles and teachings in the history books to scold him. As the saying goes, if the former dynasty did not treat the people well, there would be no chance for Dayong to establish a dynasty.

That's why this dynasty puts emphasis on etiquette, except for heaven and earth, relatives and teachers, ordinary people are not allowed to kneel down even if they see their parents and officials.If someone over [-] years old comes to the door, a special seat will be set up, and the county magistrate will help him to sit in the seat.

As for those scholars, their only privilege now is that they will not be easily spanked.As long as you have a reputation, if you make a mistake, what the parents and officials have to do is to first report to Xuezheng, get rid of their reputation, and then they can be punished.

Now Dayong has been in the dynasty for less than a hundred years, counting the current majesty, there have only been four emperors.This set of rules is exactly when it is strictly enforced.

Seeing the two small people couldn't help being startled, Xu Pingzhi hurriedly stood up and shouted: "Stupid, Chen Heng, don't drag your parents and seniors." If this kind of thing gets out, it will affect his reputation as a parent official.

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

At this moment, Chen Heng bowed and said, "Chen Heng, a student from this county, pays my respects to your lord."

Although Chen Heng didn't know the final result of the government examination, he was sure of passing the government examination.After all, I have already passed the Tongsheng Examination, so I can call myself Tongsheng.

But he also thought about it, if he called himself Tongsheng, it would be a little strange and distant.He has a friendship with County Magistrate Xu and the head of the county trial case. If he wants to save his second uncle, County Magistrate Xu needs to see this kind of affection.

What about Xu Pingzhi?He is also satisfied with this title. There are cases in Taixing County every year, but Chen Heng is the only one who can win the No. 1 case in the government examination.

Since the chief case in this county intends to make friends with him, Xu Pingzhi couldn't help but nodded, and said the harsh words that had been brewed in his mouth, and then he said: "At this time, you are not in Yangzhou to prepare for the government examination, what are you going to do when you come back?"

My lord, don't you ask the question knowingly.Chen Heng complained in his heart, and said without changing his face: "My lord, the students rushed back after hearing that the second uncle at home had been imprisoned after the government examination was over."

"The news spread very quickly." Xu Pingzhi nodded, without any other meaning, just pretending to be prestige, and beat Chen Heng, "This second uncle, together with the pawnshop manager and fellow villager Chen Sande, conspired for money and murdered him, causing Wang's eldest son to die in vain. Although the crime is not as good as death, but according to the Law of Great Yong, he will be exiled for thousands of miles and will not be able to return to his hometown for life."

This is no different from killing my second uncle.Chen Heng felt anxious and was about to speak.I also felt that my emotions were not right, so I immediately took a deep breath to calm down my emotions and thoughts.

"Adults act according to the law, students shouldn't talk too much. It's just that my second uncle is weak and didn't do farm work since he was a child, which made him enter the pawnshop. The elders in the family are old. If they hear the news, they may be in danger of life. I also hope that adults will consider that he is a first-time offender and there are old parents in the family. I hope to give our family a chance to make amends."

"He has old parents, but Wang Sheng doesn't have one? You know, Wang Sheng's old mother also cried and cried in your position the day before yesterday, begging me to make decisions for her."

"Our family is willing to support and serve her until she grows old, without any complaints. I beg your lord to be merciful and show you the way." Chen Heng bent down and bowed again, with a very frank and sincere attitude.

He thought about it, since he came here this time to make friends with the county magistrate Xu, he must rely on "love" in every word and deed. If the second uncle is just a waiter and obeys the shopkeeper in everything, and picks himself clean, he will definitely not get the desired result.

Since man is a knife and I am a fish.It's better to be more magnanimous. There is a mistake first, so why bother to argue.Just asking for an extrajudicial favor to prevent the second uncle from being exiled is the right strategy.

But Xu Pingzhi shook his head, pointed to the young man in the hall and said: "You said you want to make a clear path, and I really have a clear path to show you, kid. Do you know that according to the Great Yong law, if there are relatives in the family who commit crimes, it will affect your merit examination?"

This is Xu Pingzhi's bullying Xiao Tongsheng who has not read "Dayong Law". The law says that when committing the crime of bullying the emperor and treason, the third generation in the fifth service is not allowed to obtain fame.However, if someone in the family commits a crime, it will indeed affect the selection of future official positions.

After all, scholars nowadays pay attention to self-cultivation and family harmony. If you can't even manage your family, how can you believe that you can manage the people well?
Xu Pingzhi just talked about the two together in a vague way, wanting to see Chen Heng's reaction.

As soon as he finished speaking, not only Chen Heng, but also Chen Qi turned pale.Xu Pingzhi persuaded: "I advise you, it is better to go back and persuade your parents and elders to separate the two families early, so as not to tire you out of what you have learned."

Will it affect the imperial examination?Chen Heng felt dizzy for a while in his head, and the images of studying hard in the cold window appeared and disappeared like bubbles.Xu Pingzhi saw that he fell silent, so he couldn't help adding anger, "Just think about it carefully, and weigh your bright future yourself."

Chen Heng stood there blankly, with thousands of words stuck in his mouth, but his thoughts were confused and he couldn't even utter a word.As his expression changed, he couldn't help but think of the day and night with his second uncle.

"Heng'er, this is the candy that Second Uncle bought for you."

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

"This is the food that Second Uncle bought for you from the county. Before your sister comes back, eat it quickly."

Scenes drifted across his mind, Chen Heng gritted his teeth, ignored Chen Qi's anxious gaze, and said: "My lord, if this is the case, the student is willing to accept the punishment. I implore my lord to give up the student's fame and change my second uncle's life."

"Stupid, you have studied so hard all the way, do you actually want to kill yourself here?" Xu Pingzhi shouted, quite anxious to mourn his misfortune and anger him.

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

"Think clearly."

"But your fame is your fame, and your second uncle's crime is your second uncle's crime. I can't follow you..." Hearing what Xu County Magistrate said, Chen Heng couldn't help but raised his head, and was about to speak, but the other party laughed again, "It's okay, it's okay, you should be relieved."

Pointing to the blood on the ground, Xu Pingzhi said, "This is the blood stain left by beating your second uncle just now. I have already ordered someone to inquire about your family's situation, and I know that your grandma loves her son dearly. If he is really exiled, the old man will follow him personally. Isn't it the result of family destruction, not what I want, not what the court wants."

"It's just that capital crimes are exempt, but living crimes are inescapable. He is a waiter at the pawnshop, and I can understand that he has to obey the shopkeeper's orders. But he is still fined 50 taels of silver, served in corvee for five years, and all the income from the pawnshop in the past is confiscated and handed over to Wang Sheng's family for compensation. Do you have any objection?"

Chen Heng still had some opinions, and he only had the ecstasy of another village in his heart, and said, "Thank you for your kindness, sir, and thank you for your discretion."

"It doesn't matter, you are also a person who will take the college entrance examination and the rural examination in the future. You should keep in mind that the law is the foundation, and the reason is the root. If you only follow the scriptures, let's not talk about whether you will be dull. You have lost the original intention of the law to educate, do you understand?"

"Students must not forget the teachings of adults."

"Don't worry, your second uncle's corvée service won't affect your continued examination and fame, and you will be an official in the future. Come here." Xu Pingzhi walked down the hall and shouted behind him, and the master immediately came out from behind holding a set of books, "You can take this set of "Dayong Law" back home and read it carefully. This matter is irreversible."

"Thank you, Sir, for your guidance. Students will never forget your kindness."

The master who came forward with the book in his hand said at the right time: "My lord, 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."

…………

…………

Chen Huaijin was dragged back to the prison by officials. As soon as he entered the cell, he lay on the cold floor and groaned in pain.Another inmate who was neither human nor ghost was lying in the corner, and when he saw Chen Huaijin coming back, he crawled to his side little by little and said in a low voice.

"Second brother, how are you doing?"

"Third Brother...Third Brother...they, they beat me twenty boards." Chen Huaijin cried out in pain. He has suffered from this since he was a child. The Zhou family loves him so much that he is willing to let him do hard work.

This person who is neither human nor ghost turned out to be Chen Sande, and he didn't know how many crimes he had suffered in prison.At this moment, he raised his bloody hand to help Chen Huaijin up, and lowered his voice, "Don't be afraid, I'll take you out to see the world once. Shopkeeper He doesn't know about it at all, and I didn't confess you to death."

"Your nephew is capable, and he will definitely find a way to save you." Chen Sande comforted him, "I'm sure you won't survive. If you can really make it out alive, third brother, I beg you. I buried 500 taels in my backyard. You can find an opportunity in the future and quietly tell Qisuo his mother to keep quiet and take care of the child."

"Third Brother...you..." Chen Huaijin was so shocked that he even forgot to cry.

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

Chen Sande's bloody eyes widened, Chen Huaijin looked at that ghostly look with fear, and didn't dare to look at him for a moment.

"What are you talking about." Two officials came in, opened the lock again, pointed at Chen Huaijin and said, "You, come with us. The magistrate will spare your life today, and you will not fall into our hands next time."

After speaking, he forcibly separated the two of them, pulled Chen Huaijin up and walked out again.Chen Sande pawed the ground with his hands, dragging the iron chains on his feet. He pawed at the cell door with his hands, and hissed at the figure going away.

"Second Brother, Second Brother!!! Chen Huaijin, don't forget what I said!!!! Otherwise, I'll never let you go even if I'm a ghost."

"Chen Huaijin!!!"

　Brothers, I will be recommended tomorrow, please, please vote more, thank you.

　　


(End of this chapter)