"Well said!" Someone on the first floor shouted, followed by a few others.
However, most of them were from Ning 'an and knew the power of the yamen runners, so they remained silent.
Gouzi gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Jian, let's do it. Let's beat them up first. At worst, they'll arrest us too. The law clearly states that if he dares to fight back and I don't cripple him, it's a fight. Both sides will be responsible. I can find someone to bail him out, but who dares to? "
Some of the people present couldn't help but frown. This was the incompetence of the law. It often couldn't protect the truly innocent and would instead become the accomplice of the villains.
Yamen runner Jian nodded and said, "You two, follow me to the yamen."
"I'll give you one last chance. You're a public servant, so you have to be responsible for every word you say." Fang Yun's voice was unusually serious.
Yamen runner Jian smiled contemptuously and said, "I'll also give you one last chance. On Changbai Street, no one can disrespect me. You're no exception!"
At this moment, a voice suddenly came from downstairs. "What's going on?"
Gouzi was unhappy and wanted to scold the person, but he quickly shut his mouth when he saw the person who spoke. Not only was he a scholar, but he was also the county's ninth-rank official, Yu Bachi.
Yamen runner Jian looked at the first floor with a smile. He lifted his robe and hurriedly ran down the stairs. As he ran, he smiled and said, "What brings you here, Lord Yu?"
Yu Bachi smiled slightly, and a trace of unconcealable pride appeared on his face. He said, "A friend invited me here to eat marinated sauce. Oh, I remember. You're in charge of Changbai Street, right? "Yu Bachi put his hands behind his back and said as he went upstairs.
Yamen runner Jian followed behind Yu Bachi. He stretched out his arms to prevent Yu Bachi from accidentally falling down. As he went upstairs, he said, "I met two poor foreigners who were jealous of a female singer. They bullied the locals of Ning 'an. "
"Is there such a thing?" Yu Bachi shook his head gently and didn't show any inclination. Soon, he arrived at the second floor and scanned the area. There was only one table on the second floor with a young man and a child. Beside them stood an old man and a young man with musical instruments. There were also four ruffians at the staircase.
Yu Bachi remembered that Fang Yun said that the table facing the stairs was his, and Yamen Runner Jian said that there were two people on the second floor bullying Ning 'an.
There was only one table on the second floor.
Yu Ba Chi looked at the young man again. His eyebrows twitched, and a hint of shock flashed in his eyes. Then, he panicked, and his legs trembled slightly.
"Master Yu." Gou 'zi lowered his head after he finished speaking. His three subordinates followed suit and greeted him.
Fang Yun didn't even look at Yu Bachi. He took the teapot and poured tea for himself. The slender water fell into the teacup, making a soft splashing sound.
"Lord Yu, this Yamen Runner Jian is very impressive. The local ruffians humiliated the singers. He didn't care. He also didn't care when the local ruffians bullied innocent people. His good brother, Lord Dog, didn't bully people successfully, so he was unhappy. Instead, he framed me as a criminal and wanted to arrest me, the victim's family. Is there such a reason in the world? Is this how your subordinates do their jobs? "
Yu Ba Chi was so angry that his head was about to explode. He had been in the county yamen for many years, so he was very clear about the collusion between the yamen runners and the local ruffians. He understood what was going on halfway. In his heart, he cursed Yamen Runner Jian for being snobbish. Of all people to provoke, he had to provoke Xusheng, who was incognito.
Even the Left Prime Minister of the imperial court was humiliated by Fang Yun. How dare a lowly yamen runner be so presumptuous?
Yu Ba Chi took a deep breath and suppressed the uneasiness in his heart. The three words "Lord Yu" almost scared him to death, but he quickly calmed down. He didn't have a deep relationship with Yamen Runner Jian. As long as he handled this matter well, the situation wouldn't escalate.
Yu Ba Chi first bowed to Fang Yun, then suddenly turned around. He stood on the second floor and looked down at Yamen Runner Jian on the stairs. He asked sternly, "Is what the person by the window said true?"
Yamen Runner Jian hurriedly winked at Yu Ba Chi and whispered, "Lord, let's find a secluded place …"
"How dare you! I'm asking you a question. Answer me truthfully. "Yu Ba Chi's voice was stern.
Gouzi and the others were stunned and looked at Yu Ba Chi in shock and fear. In their hearts, Yamen Runner Jian was already a leading figure in the neighborhood, and Yu Ba Chi was even more amazing. Not to mention that they wouldn't be able to reach that position, even a few words with such a big figure would be enough for them to show off for several days.
Yamen Runner Jian often said that he had a lot of connections, but Warden Yu's attitude was wrong.
Yamen Runner Jian faintly realized that the person by the window had a big background. He gritted his teeth and said, "Lord, I was deceived by Gouzi and didn't know the truth. I was confused and offended your distinguished guest. I hope you can punish me."
Yu Ba Chi said, "Well, since you admit your mistake and are willing to be punished, it's good." Then he walked toward Yamen Runner Jian.
Yamen Runner Jian stared at Yu Ba Chi in shock. He thought to himself, I'm taking a step back in order to advance. I'm admitting defeat. According to the rules of officialdom, Yu Ba Chi should reprimand him and then catch Gouzi and the others. He said that he was punishing them, but in reality, he was begging for mercy. Why did he rush over?
While Yamen Runner Jian was in a daze, Yu Ba Chi grabbed Yamen Runner Jian's uniform with both hands and pulled it to both sides. There was a ripping sound as the uniform was torn in half. Then he took it off quickly, leaving only a pair of pants.
Yu Ba Chi threw the torn uniform aside and said, "From now on, you're no longer a yamen runner of Ning An County!" He then turned and went upstairs.
"I'm not strict with my subordinates. Please forgive me!" Yu Ba Chi said as he half-knelt on one knee. His left hand was on the ground and his right hand was on his knee. He lowered his head.
Gouzi and the others were not scholars, nor were they yamen runners. They only knew that they were going to be unlucky, but they didn't know how serious the situation was.
Yamen Runner Jian was so scared that his hair stood on end. He missed a step and fell on the stairs, rolling down.
Yamen Runner Jian seemed to forget the pain as he rolled down. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
"It's over, it's over … A scholar only half-knelt before the emperor. Even if the emperor came, Yu Ba Chi wouldn't kneel so cleanly. Now, the only person in Ning An County who could make Yu Ba Chi half-kneel was Fang Yun, Fang Xusheng! It's him. He must have disguised himself and come incognito! It's over, it's over … "
Yamen Runner Jian fell heavily on the first floor. He saw stars and felt pain all over his body. He wanted to faint, but after lying down for a while, he had no choice but to get up and kneel at the bottom of the stairs. He bent over and touched the ground with his forehead, trembling.
The crowd on the first floor looked uncertain. Some people were so scared that they sneaked out.
Although a yamen runner wasn't as good as a ninth-ranked official, he was still a minor official in the eyes of the common people. Who in the shops around Long White Street dared to be unfilial? Even if they were backed by a noble family, they couldn't disrespect a yamen runner.
A county official was better than an official on the spot.
Moreover, this kind of person was a member of the imperial court. If the Librarian didn't follow the official procedures, he couldn't be dismissed casually. However, Librarian Yu stripped off his uniform on the spot. This meant that he would rather not follow the imperial court's rules to get rid of Yamen Runner Jian!
How big of a mistake did Yamen Runner Jian make? Who on earth scared the ninth-ranked Librarian Yu to this extent?
Some quick-witted people quickly understood.
"It's Little Fang … No, it's Fang Xusheng. It's Fang Xusheng who came incognito!"
"Yes, yes, yes. It must be Fang Xusheng!"
The people of Ning An County usually called Fang Yun "County Magistrate Little Fang Yun" because they regarded him as one of their own. However, they didn't dare to say it when Fang Yun was really here.
"Quick, kneel down to His Majesty Xusheng!" The old man who sang pulled his granddaughter to kneel down to Fang Yun.
"His Majesty Xusheng, please spare my life!" Gouzi knelt down with a thud. His forehead banged against the ground on the second floor. Dust drifted down to the first floor.
(To be continued …)
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