The Hao family servants, strung together like salted fish, couldn't help but stir upon seeing Hao Wei's miserable state.
Luo Tie swept them with a chilling glance, and the commotion was quickly suppressed. The Hao family servants gritted their teeth, daring not to speak out despite their anger.
They had witnessed Luo Tie's methods. Those who had dared to resist were dragged along, their backs flayed raw.
The sight of the bloody wounds was terrifying; they were barely breathing.
"Hao Wei was incapable of killing me himself, yet he dared to incite the Shun Tian Fu yamen runners to gang up on me. He deserves his fate! For the sake of Magistrate Wang and Assistant Magistrate Huo, is it too much to have given him just one knife wound?"
Xie Jiang pushed away Xu Hengyi, who was clinging to her arm, and then pushed away Xia Zeshi, who was clinging to her waist. Xia Zeshi was foolishly lost in thought.
Xia Zeshi stood behind Xie Jiang, staring blankly at her waist.
Xie Jiang's waist was so soft and slender...
Xia Zeshi shivered abruptly. He wondered if it was due to his recent contact with Ruan Ziji, but he found himself thinking such inappropriate thoughts!
Could this bad habit be contagious?
How dreadful.
"This, this, this... Once this case is thoroughly investigated, justice will surely be served to the Marquis of Nanhai. Why must the Marquis of Nanhai resort to such measures..." Magistrate Wang said hypocritically.
Assistant Magistrate Huo ordered the yamen runners, "Quick, quick, go fetch a doctor!"
He knew it!
He knew that as long as it was Xie Jiang, things would never be simple!
He knew blood would be shed today!
Fortunately, the blade had pierced Hao Wei's foot, not his neck!
Assistant Magistrate Huo grumbled inwardly. These pampered young masters spent their days indulging in drinking, gambling, and whoring. When they lost, they gathered their servants to fight!
If they wanted to fight, why involve the Shun Tian Fu? The Shun Tian Fu wasn't their father or mother, so why should they clean up after these scoundrels!
Hao Wei deserved the beating and the knife wound, but they couldn't let him die or be crippled, otherwise they...
Magistrate Wang stepped forward a few paces, looking at Hao Wei's pierced foot with immense satisfaction. "The court is about evidence, how can there be such clamor..."
Luo Tie stepped forward and squatted in front of Hao Wei, his sinister eyes fixed on Hao Wei. His hand already gripped the dagger's hilt.
"I'm here to retrieve my Marquis's dagger. It might hurt a little, so bear with it..."
"Ahhh—"
Hao Wei, his eyes red, was about to tell Luo Tie to get lost when his words turned into a howl.
As Luo Tie withdrew the dagger, his hand seemed to tremble, and the dagger was twisted in Hao Wei's foot.
Xia Zeshi felt a pang of pain in his own foot just watching from afar. Xu Hengyi couldn't help but hiss, as if the hole had been made in his own foot.
Magistrate Wang had a yamen runner take off his outer robe to help wrap Hao Wei's foot.
Assistant Magistrate Huo, fearing that any further delay would result in Xie Jiang's dagger being unleashed again, and not knowing where it would strike next, quickly ordered the yamen runners to take everyone into custody.
The yamen runners stepped forward to take Hao Wei and the Hao family's guards. Hao Wei yelled, cursing Magistrate Wang and Assistant Magistrate Huo for narrowing their paths.
What could Magistrate Wang and Assistant Magistrate Huo do? Whichever path they took, it was equally narrow!
Hao Wei had delivered himself into Xie Jiang's hands. They had already been stalling for time out of consideration for the Hao family, hoping the Hao family would resolve this matter themselves!
Hao Wei's curses gradually faded.
The hall finally fell silent.
Magistrate Wang cautiously approached Xie Jiang, trying to gauge if there was any room for negotiation from Xie Jiang's perspective.
After all, Hao Wei had the Hao family behind him.
What was the crime for assassinating a Marquis?
A death sentence.
Did Xie Jiang truly intend to put Hao Wei to death?
Xie Jiang was already the Marquis of Nanhai of Da Yu, which meant the time was ripe for the Xie family's allegiance. In the future, they would all live in the capital and see each other often. Why create an irreconcilable feud with the Hao family over this matter?
Hao Wei's attempt to commit murder had failed, and he had been beaten so badly by Xie Jiang's subordinates. With the bloody wound on Hao Wei's foot still bleeding, Xie Jiang's anger should have subsided by now.
This matter had just begun; wasn't it too early to end it? Xie Jiang firmly disagreed with trivializing the matter. "Hao Wei failed to assassinate me today because my subordinates were capable. But what if my subordinates were negligent? What if I had died today, and Lan Yong and Da Yu became enemies from then on? Could Magistrate Wang bear that responsibility? Or could Magistrate Huo bear it?"
Magistrate Wang could not bear it, nor could Assistant Magistrate Huo.
However, if the fourth young master of the Hao family were to be sentenced to death in Shun Tian Fu, they would also be unable to withstand the wrath and retaliation of the Hao family!
The delay instructed by the Prefect was their only viable path at the moment.
Finally, Xie Jiang grudgingly agreed to give Shun Tian Fu three more days.
If Shun Tian Fu did not grant her justice after three days, she would seek justice for herself.
Magistrate Wang and Assistant Magistrate Huo assured her that the matter would be handled impartially.
With Xie Jiang clearly unwilling to let the matter go lightly, the outcome of this affair would depend on the attitude of the Hao family.
If the Hao family was willing to humble themselves, everything would be easily resolved.
But if the Hao family's attitude was the same as Hao Wei's...
Then this matter would not be over.
Magistrate Wang and Assistant Magistrate Huo were in despair.
They respectfully escorted Xie Jiang and the other two out. Outside, many onlookers had not yet dispersed.
Seeing Xie Jiang emerge, some who recognized her loudly asked if they should accompany her, lest Xie Gongzi be alone and outnumbered, and be bullied by the Hao family.
Assistant Magistrate Huo broke out in a cold sweat. What were they saying! Accompanying Xie Gongzi to the Hao family's residence!
Magistrate Wang quickly explained loudly, "Hao Wei and his family guards have all been imprisoned awaiting trial. After three days, once the investigation is confirmed, Shun Tian Fu will undoubtedly handle the matter impartially according to Da Yu's laws!"
What was this tendency to gather and storm private residences?
Was there no law?
Magistrate Wang and Assistant Magistrate Huo looked expectantly at Xie Jiang.
Xie Jiang then explained a few words to the onlookers, expressing her confidence that Shun Tian Fu would be impartial. Only then did the crowd reluctantly disperse.
They hadn't had their fill of the drama.
Xu Hengyi looked at the sun. "What shall we do next? Shall we go see the former residence of Prince Qing, or return to the Xie residence for lunch?"
Xie Jiang felt a bit sleepy. "Let's go back for lunch and a nap first, and then we'll go see the residence tomorrow."
Xu Hengyi said, "Didn't we agree to go to my place tomorrow? You forgot so quickly?"
After lunch, Xie Jiang washed up and went to sleep.
Xia Zeshi had taken the day off and didn't have to attend classes. He planned to go back and catch up on sleep.
Xu Hengyi, however, had no intention of leaving and even asked Yueyue to tidy up a room for him.
"You're not planning to stay at the Xie residence tonight as well, and then return to the Duke of Wei's mansion with Xie Jiang tomorrow, are you?"
"What if I am? My grandmother and mother are very reassured as long as I'm with Xie Jiang. Why don't you stay too, and tidy up a room for the Fifth Prince..."
The last sentence was directed at Yueyue.
Xu Hengyi whispered his plan to Xia Zeshi. "Young Master Yi has exclusive rooms in the Xie residence in Ninghe. Why can't we claim a spot in the Xie residence in the capital?"
Looking at Xu Hengyi, who was covering his mouth and yawning, Xia Zeshi couldn't help but chuckle. "Have you forgotten that Xie Jiang just acquired a Marquis of Nanhai mansion? She might move there any day now. Why are you trying to claim a spot here?"
Xu Hengyi paused. "...Then I'll claim a spot in the new mansion!"