The Bookish Scholar of the Red Mansion

When Chen Heng walked into the lobby of the county government office, there were six government officials holding sticks standing on the left and right. Xu Pingzhi, wearing an official robe and sitting high in front of the case, had a serious face that made it difficult for people to get close to him.

Chen Qi and Zhang Sanyi, who followed in, saw this posture, coupled with the blood stains on the ground that had not yet dried. The already anxious heart became more and more panicked at this moment.

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

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

Chen Qi from Caomin Shanxi Village, pay homage to your lord.

Zhang San from Caomin Shanxi Village has met with you.

These two people didn't know that they had violated this dynasty's taboo. Ever since Dayong overthrew the previous dynasty and conquered the world, he has been tempted to stick the previous dynasty's Neo-Confucianism in the history books and scold him. As the saying goes, if the previous dynasty had not treated the people well, there would be no chance for Dayong to establish a dynasty.

Therefore, this dynasty has established etiquette and laws. Except for the kings and teachers of heaven and earth, ordinary people are not allowed to kneel down even when they see their parents and officials. If someone over seventy comes to visit, a special seat will be set up, and the county magistrate will personally help him sit down.

As for those scholars, their only privilege now is that they will not be spanked easily. As long as one has a meritorious status, if he makes a mistake, what his parents have to do is to report it to the academic administration and have his meritorious status revoked, and only then can he be punished.

Today, the Yong Dynasty has been in existence for less than a hundred years. Counting the current His Majesty, there have only been four emperors. This set of rules is strictly enforced.

Seeing the two commoners, Xu Pingzhi couldn't help being frightened. He quickly stood up and shouted, I'm confused, Chen Heng, why don't you bring up your elders. If this kind of thing spreads, it will affect his reputation as a parent official.

With the help of the left and right officials and Chen Heng, Chen Qi and Zhang Sancai stood tremblingly. Seeing this, Xu Pingzhi coughed and sat back down.

At this time, Chen Heng bowed and said, Chen Heng, a student from this county, pays homage to your Excellency.

Although Chen Heng did not know the final results of the government examination, he was sure of passing the government examination. After all, I have passed the Tongsheng Examination and can call myself a Tongsheng.

But he also thought about it, if he came up and called himself Tongsheng, it would inevitably mean that he was alienated. He has a friendship with Magistrate Xu and the head of the county examination case. If he wants to save his second uncle, Magistrate Xu needs to be attracted by this kindness.

Where is Xu Pingzhi? He was also satisfied with this title. There were many cases in Taixing County every year, but only Chen Heng could win the first place in the government examination.

Since the head of the county case was interested in setting up a friendship with him, Xu Pingzhi couldn't help but nod. The stern words he had planned in his mouth suddenly changed and he said: At this time, if you are not in Yangzhou, prepare well for the imperial examination. Come back soon. What to do.

Sir, you are asking this question knowingly. Chen Heng made a criticism in his heart and said without changing his expression: Sir, the student waited for the government examination to be over and heard that his second uncle was in jail, so he rushed back in a hurry.

The news spreads very fast. Xu Pingzhi nodded, not meaning anything else. He was just trying to show his authority and hit Chen Heng, This second uncle, together with the pawnshop owner and fellow villager Chen Sande, sought wealth and killed the prince's eldest son. Although the crime of dying in front of the hall in vain is not as bad as death, according to the laws of Dayong, you will still have to wander thousands of miles and be unable to return home for the rest of your life.

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

Adults act in accordance with the law, and students should not say much. It was only because my second uncle was weak and had not done farm work since he was a child that he entered the pawnshop. The elders in the family are already old. If they learn this news, they may be in danger of their lives. . I also hope that you, sir, considering that he is a first-time offender and that he has old parents at home, will give our family a chance to make amends and forgive his sins.

He has old parents, but this Wang Sheng doesn't? Did you know that the day before yesterday, Wang Sheng's old mother was lying in your position crying, begging me to make the decision for him.

Our family is willing to support and serve her until she grows old without any complaints. Please show mercy and show her a clear path. Chen Heng leaned over and bowed again, his attitude was very frank and sincere.

He had thought about it, since he came here to make friends with County Magistrate Xu, then everything he said and did should be based on 'love'. If he was just a waiter and obeyed the boss in everything, he would be clean. You will definitely not get the results you want.

Since man is a swordsman, I am a fish. It's better to be more magnanimous. There are mistakes in the first place, so there is no need to argue with reason. Just asking for extra mercy and preventing the second uncle from being exiled is a successful strategy.

But Xu Pingzhi shook his head, pointed at the young man in the hall and said, You said you wanted a clear way, but I really have a clear way to show you. Do you know that according to the laws of Dayong, if a relative within the fifth realm of the family commits a crime? , will it affect your academic performance?

This is why Xu Pingzhi bullied the little boy because he had not read the Dayong Law. The law said that when someone commits the crime of deceiving the emperor or treason, he is not allowed to obtain meritorious service in the third generation of the fifth service. But if someone in the family commits a crime, it will indeed affect his or her future official selection.

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

Xu Pingzhi just blurred the two together and wanted 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 as soon as possible to persuade your elders to separate the two houses as soon as possible, so as not to exhaust what you have learned.

Will it affect the imperial examination? Chen Heng felt dizzy 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, sir, to remove his student status and give his second uncle a way out.

Confused, you have studied hard all the way to this point, and you actually want to die here? 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 beating 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. .Wouldn’t it still be the result of the destruction of families, 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 a waiter in a pawnshop. I can understand that he has to obey the shopkeeper's orders. But he still has to be fined fifty taels of silver and serve in corvee for five years. All the income from the pawnshop was confiscated and handed over to the owner. The Wang Sheng family will pay compensation. Do you have any objections?

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 entrance 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.

…………

…………

Chen Huaijin was dragged back to the prison by 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. Five hundred taels were buried. You can find an opportunity in the future and quietly tell Qisuo’s mother 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. It’s 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 with all his strength 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!!!

Brothers, I will be on the recommendation list tomorrow. Please, please, be sure to vote more. Thank you.