The scene was quiet, and the atmosphere was solemn. Under such circumstances, no matter how many important people were present, everything had to wait for the magistrate to arrive before it could officially begin.
"Your Excellency."
"Your Excellency Lu."
"Your Excellency Magistrate …"
All sorts of greetings and greetings came one after another. Then, from the side of the injured, it turned into a cacophony of "Your Excellency Magistrate, please seek justice for the students". These were all students with some scholarly honors, or at least Elementary Scholar status, so there was no need for them to kneel. Lu Tuizhi was also known for his modesty. He waved his hand for everyone to sit down. When his gaze turned to Ning Yi, he saw that the other party was also sizing him up. Then, Ning Yi also cupped his hands and bowed, "Magistrate Lu."
Lu Tuizhi nodded, and immediately, someone at the side shouted, "Impudent! You are a member of the family, how can you not kneel in front of the magistrate! "
"No matter." Lu Tuizhi waved his hand, "Today, everyone is here for the gathering, and all are my honored guests. Although there is a dispute, the truth is not clear, and I will not treat you as an official."
As soon as he said this, Lou Jin narrowed his eyes. Lu Tuizhi's gaze swept past him, and then stopped on Ning Yi's face, "But if it is found out later, that there really was someone who used force to commit murder today, he will have to take responsibility. This matter has caused so many people to be injured. Next, it is my duty, and I will meet with that person in the yamen! "
These words were sharp. As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Yi smiled, and the students at the side all agreed. Some of them pulled at their wounds, and gritted their teeth. Lou Jinlin cupped his hands and nodded, and said in a clear voice, "In this matter, I have a friendship with the elders of the Jiangning Su family. If it was just a small misunderstanding between the two families' juniors, I would rather let it go. But this matter has blown out of proportion, and affected so many people, I cannot cover it up. My son is impetuous, and cannot be taught. I think he must have done something wrong. When Your Excellency finds out, please punish him severely! "
"Father! I didn't do anything wrong … "As soon as Lou Jinlin finished speaking, Lou Shuheng stood up with a swollen face. Instantly, there were sounds of support from the surroundings. The sound wave spread out and even the people who were watching from the back were dragged in. Many people were there to speak up for Lou Shuheng, and the scene suddenly became turbulent. After a long while, when the noise gradually died down, Lou Jinlin glared at Lou Shuheng and shouted, "Unfilial son! Sit down! This is not a place for you to talk back! "He then excused himself to Lu Tuizhi before sitting down at a nearby round table.
Lou Shuwan was also sitting in the crowd nearby. As the son-in-law of the Lou Family, Song Zhiqian had also rushed over to find his wife and sat with her. The two of them didn't speak, and Song Zhiqian didn't notice his wife's slight frown and closing her eyes.
Father loved Second Brother the most. In fact, Lou Shuwan understood this the best. At home, his father was very strict with his Brother Yu, and he was somewhat discouraged and helpless towards himself. He only spoiled his Second Brother. From the moment she saw her father's expression, she knew that her father was really angry this time. After all, from the bottom of his heart, her father looked down on the other for marrying into the family, and it was because of this that his anger grew.
If not for this, her father wouldn't have acted so sharply at the beginning, personally talking to the other, hinting to the prefectural magistrate, and provoking the rebellious hearts of the people with just a few words. She didn't necessarily like Ning Yi, but she did admire him. She had seen many outstanding men, but this was the first time she had seen such an outstanding and complicated man. But this was as far as she could go. Ning Liheng had no way out. She knew that the other was related to Qian Xiwen, and she was surprised at first. But in the past two months, they had only visited once, and could only be considered acquaintances. Under her father's full suppression, Qian Xiwen wouldn't stand up for him.
On the other hand, Second Brother seemed to have really fallen for Su Tan'er.
As she was thinking about these things, Su Wending, who had been absent, came back with a medicine box. The doctors didn't give it to Su Tan'er, so she asked him to go back to the pleasure boat to get it. Gradually, Qian Xiwen, Uncle Mu, and the others also came. Lu Tuizhi got up to greet them and sat down. He was also waiting for Qian Xiwen's arrival.
After talking with Qian Yu, Lu Tuizhi actually had an outline and direction in his mind. After Lou Jinlin's words just now, his idea became even clearer. Although he had a relationship with Qian Xiwen, he still had to convict Ning Liheng.
This was a difficult decision to make, but if he sided with Ning Liheng, there were obviously too many people who wouldn't agree. If he wanted to convict Ning Liheng, he only needed to convince Qian Xiwen, and he could take advantage of the public's excitement. If things didn't work out, Qian Xiwen would understand. He would convict Ning Liheng, then do him a favor in private and let him live. This would be the perfect result. Selling Lou Jinlin and all the Hangzhou students was good, selling Qian Xiwen was good, and selling Ning Liheng was good.
Anyway, this was the most impartial way to deal with it. After all, Ning Liheng had really beaten up so many people and angered them.
Not long after, he began to ask questions. In a moment, in the hall, everyone's emotions began to boil …
*****
The wind on the surface of the lake brushed past the row of large ships. In the hall of the government's main ship, hundreds of people were gathered. In front of them, several officials and famous elders were sitting together, asking about the fight that had happened just now.
Among the crowd, Song Zhiqian, who was sitting next to Lou Shuwan, felt a little sad for Ning Liheng, who also had the status of a son-in-law who was being questioned in front of him. Although … His calmness in front of him made Song Zhiqian feel very strange, even a little uncomfortable. Although they didn't have a deep relationship after knowing each other. Other than the first time they met at the Lou family's house, after that, they only met by chance on the street and greeted each other. But no matter what, there was more or less a feeling of hurt.
Not long after, he discovered that Ning Liheng and he were not the same kind at all.
The process of Ning Liheng beating up people and everyone being beaten was actually very easy to reconstruct. After a moment, the focus was set on Ning Yi's status as a son-in-law. In Song Zhiqian's eyes, Ning Liheng was indeed a little strange. When asked about his status as a son-in-law, he nodded his head and said yes. When asked about the process of him beating up people, he answered, "There were twenty or thirty people on the other side. I was alone, and there was a girl behind me. In such a situation, I don't think it should be called me beating up people …" He called the servant girl.
This answer was actually very good, and even Prefectural Magistrate Lu nodded his head. However, there was only one problem. He explained the girl behind him, and Lu Tuizhi emphasized, "So you are really protecting Miss Little Chan behind you?" He also nodded his head. Song Zhiqian felt that this guy was a fool.
When Lu Tuzhi asked him who was right and who was wrong in this matter, he thought for a moment and said, "I think it was actually a misunderstanding. There is no right or wrong to speak of." The hall was filled with cold laughter.
"Regarding this matter, it was actually this one who was rash." Lou Shuheng stood up and said, "My Lou family and the Su family have been friends for generations. My father and Sister Tan Er's father have long been acquainted. This Ning Liheng is someone who married into the family. Originally, this student also treated him with the courtesy of a brother. Who knew that he would actually pull and pull a servant girl in broad daylight. Magistrate, if it was a normal matter, this student … this student saw the two of them holding hands under the tree with my own eyes. Remembering that I saw Sister Tan Er not long ago, this student suddenly became angry and rushed over to try to pull them apart to question them. This student admits that at that time, I did beat them up. But as a son-in-law, there was no way he could escape from flirting with a servant girl. At that time, I was not the only one who saw this! "
At this point, a few people also stood up and said that they had seen it just now. They originally thought that the two of them were husband and wife … Song Zhiqian waited for the magistrate to ask Ning Yi with a serious expression. Unexpectedly, he also received a positive answer. But only the next sentence made him feel that he did not quite understand.
"Xiaochan and I are in love with each other. After a few days, we will take her as a concubine."
When these words were said, there was an immediate uproar. Lu Tuzhi frowned. Qian Xiwen, who had been sitting there with his eyes down as if he did not care about anything, also frowned and whispered to each other. Lu Tuzhi looked at the quiet Su Tan Er. "Su-shi, he … married into your family. What do you think about this matter?"
"Reporting to Magistrate, this matter was arranged by this servant." The woman, who had been sitting there quietly and expressionlessly, finally opened her mouth. She glanced at Ning Yi and chuckled.
"Son-in-law … how can a son-in-law take a concubine?"
"The Great Martial Law does not say that a son-in-law cannot take a concubine."
Her voice was soft and moving as she answered matter-of-factly. Everyone looked strangely at this couple that they could not understand. Song Zhiqian looked at them from afar and blinked his eyes, dumbfounded. Then he reacted. "Lies … she actually said such lies for this fickle man …" However, Su Tan Er had already taken a step forward, passed Ning Yi's body, and bowed slightly.
"Magistrate's strangeness is reasonable. Ning Yi indeed married into this servant's family, but this servant also made the decision to marry Xiaochan to him. This servant was originally a daughter of a merchant family. The elders in my family and Ning Yi's family had an arranged marriage before we were born. In this servant's generation, my father only has one daughter, Shang Yanli. From a young age, this servant managed the family business. Ning Yi knew my family's situation and pitied me for my hard work, so he married into my family … "
Although Su Tan Er had previously cleaned Ning Yi's wounds, she had been silent and even a little cold. In the eyes of everyone, they thought that she was in a complicated mood and was angry. Even if they considered the big picture, her mood was definitely extremely complicated. It was only then that she opened her mouth. Although some people instantly reacted and thought that she was lying, Su Tan 'er continued to speak softly and sincerely. For a moment, no one could interrupt her.
"Although this servant was born into a merchant family, my parents also hired people to teach me poetry and literature since I was a child. I have read books for women. If it was not for the fact that I have been carrying the burden of the family since I was a child and cannot let go, this servant would rather marry Ning Yi myself than let Ning Yi marry into my family. This servant now knows that it was my own selfishness that made Ning Yi … make too many sacrifices. Unfortunately, it is difficult to change one's mind … "
These words were very convincing. Although she was born into a merchant family, Su Tan Er had indeed received the teachings of a rich young lady when she was a child. At this moment, she was wearing a white dress and looked dignified and beautiful. Standing there, she was tall and elegant. As she spoke, she glanced at Ning Yi, and the rims of her eyes were already red. Bystanders might have already guessed that the two of them had been betrothed before they were born. Later on, when Su Tan Er wanted to take over the family business, Ning Liheng was actually willing to marry into her family. Although this kind of sacrifice seemed strange, it had really happened in front of their eyes …
"As for Xiaochan, she and this servant grew up together. It is not an exaggeration to say that we are like sisters. Ning Yi is modest and gentle. After he married this servant, he treated the maids and servants in the family kindly. Everyone who came to Hangzhou with this servant knows about this. When we got married, this servant asked Xiaochan to serve Ning Yi. Ning Yi also treated her like a younger sister. It has been more than two years now. Everyone in the family knows about this … "
"It is indeed so. When brother-in-law entered the Su family, it was Xiaochan who served him." Su Wending raised his hand and interrupted.
Su Tan Er placed one hand in front of her and stretched the other back to gently hold Ning Yi's hand. She raised her head and smiled as she took a deep breath.
"Although this servant has read poetry since I was a child, I actually do not know much about poetry. Ning Yi is a famous scholar in Jiangning. This servant has always admired him. Although he married into my family, this servant respects him and loves him. I have always treated him like any other woman. His pity and tolerance towards this servant have always been remembered in my heart. This sincerity can be witnessed by the heavens and the earth … "
She said these words one by one. To be honest, it was a little mushy. At this time, people were conservative. Many people had probably never thought of such a scene in their entire lives. However, the woman stood there and her words echoed in the hall. She said it as a matter of course and openly. For a moment, the big ship was so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard.
Many of the women, after the initial shock, at this time, the rims of their eyes were already a little red. As for the many men, including Song Zhiqian, they continued to be dumbfounded. They did not know what kind of feeling they were feeling in their hearts. Envy, jealousy, or hatred … Lou Shuwan pursed her lips and held her chin with one hand. She turned her head to look at him. After a moment, she turned back numbly …
*****
Cough, this is PS: Speaking of which, as for me, I have always been self-righteous in canvassing for votes. Although I often break the updates, that is just a small matter, right? What I value most is quality and so on. I have always told myself this, so I usually do not think that updating is a very important criterion for canvassing for votes. However, after updating the last chapter this afternoon, I suddenly felt that no one in Qidian has ever done this before. Using this reason to canvass for votes seems a little immoral — of course, this must be an illusion.
But then I wrote another chapter. This way, I am obviously very immoral.
When I came up, I saw that everyone had helped to increase the number 16. So … let's continue to increase the number ^ _ ^
The main text has reached 3800. PS doesn't count … In fact, every time I post a chapter like this, I feel that it would be better if I could be more eloquent … For the 3800, I also have to vote.
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