"What? Does Instructor Zhao not even show respect to Lord Tong?" a questioning voice rang out. The carriage curtain was suddenly pulled aside, and Sun Fu, his face contorted with anger, glared at Instructor Zhao. "You have quite the nerve!"
It wasn't as if a single calling card could represent Vice Magistrate Tong, but even if it could, Instructor Zhao would never hand Zhan Feiyu over to them. If he, as a teacher, could not protect his student, what face would he have left to be an instructor?
"If Xiao Yu has broken the law, then the authorities and the 'Great Qing Laws' will naturally deal with her. No one can take my student from the county school without reason!" Instructor Zhao coldly refused. Moreover, the movable type printing technology was a matter of great importance; it was Xiao Yu's shield. Even if Vice Magistrate Tong himself appeared, he wouldn't be able to take Xiao Yu away!
Sun Fu's expression turned completely grim. His sinister and venomous gaze fixed on Instructor Zhao and Zhan Feiyu beside him as if they were already dead men. Rage churned within him.
"No one in the Nanxuan Prefecture dares to speak to me like this!" he roared. Sun Fu saw no point in wasting more words. "Since Instructor Zhao refuses a toast and insists on a penalty, do not blame me for being impolite. Guards, seize this brat! Anyone who dares to obstruct, beat them to death, no questions asked!"
"Yes, Master." The four burly men by the carriage immediately prepared to act.
Instructor Zhao was also enraged. He pulled Zhan Feiyu behind him and sternly rebuked, "How dare you! This is the county school, a sacred place of Confucianism!"
Sensing that Sun Fu and his group were up to no good, the groundskeeper had immediately run back to the county school to call for help.
At this moment, seeing the four burly men surround Instructor Zhao and Zhan Feiyu, not only were the hastily arriving Instructor Dou and Instructor Niu angered, but the students of the county school, like Wen Min, had their eyes reddened with fury.
A dark-faced man grinned sinisterly and suddenly swung a fist towards Instructor Zhao's cheek.
Zhan Feiyu had not expected them to actually dare to make a move. She quickly reached out to steady the staggering Instructor Zhao, but she was, after all, only an eight-year-old girl with limited strength.
With a "bang!", Instructor Zhao and Zhan Feiyu both fell to the ground. Her elbow hit the ground with a crack, and the pain made Zhan Feiyu's eyes turn red.
Sun Fu looked disdainfully at the disheveled Instructor Zhao on the ground. "Serves you right! Take Zhan Feiyu away!"
"Who dares to lay a hand on them!" Wen Min and the others roared, clenching their fists and charging towards the four burly men.
Taking a couple of steps back, Sun Fu sneered coldly and said mockingly, "Don't kill them. These are all scholars."
Although more than a dozen students had come to the county school, they were, after all, scholars with no strength to even tie a chicken.
The four burly men, on the other hand, were all robust and tall. Their swung fists were as large as bowls. With one punch, Wen Min and the others fell to the ground in pain, unable to get up.
Zhan Feiyu, with a stern expression on her small face, suddenly jumped onto the carriage.
Before anyone could react, she grabbed Sun Fu's headdress and yanked him forward. Her dagger flashed and was held across his neck. "Make them stop!"
Sun Fu, who had been leaning against the carriage, enjoying the spectacle of these pretentious scholars being beaten, felt a sharp pain on his scalp. His body was pulled backward uncontrollably, and then a sharp pain shot across his neck. Warm blood flowed down the wound.
"Stop..." a terrified cry rang out. Sun Fu's legs trembled. He could already smell the blood on his neck.
The four burly men froze and then stared blankly as they looked back.
No one could have expected Zhan Feiyu to be standing on the carriage, holding Sun Fu hostage. What's more, the dagger in her hand had already cut a wound on Sun Fu's neck.
"Senior Brother Wen Min, beat them back hard!" Zhan Feiyu said coldly, pressing down on the dagger in her hand. The blood flowed even more fiercely.
Sun Fu, in pain, turned even paler. If the person holding him hostage were an adult, Sun Fu wouldn't be so scared. But Zhan Feiyu was a little girl. If her hand trembled, her life would be over.
"My lady, let's talk nicely, talk nicely," Sun Fu said, his voice trembling. He had lost all his previous arrogance and bluster, daring not to raise his voice, lest he provoke Zhan Feiyu.
"My lady, you are a child prodigy with a boundless future. My life is cheap. If you kill me, you will have to pay with your life. It's not worth it."
Instructor Zhao, who had been helped up by Instructor Dou, was also stunned.
Zhan Feiyu had been at the school for a short time, but she was a diligent and hardworking student, well-behaved and polite. Coupled with her rosy cheeks and delicate appearance, she was liked by everyone, from the instructors and teachers to the students, and even the groundskeepers and cooks.
Seeing Zhan Feiyu pushed to the brink and holding Sun Fu hostage, even though this person was detestable, Instructor Zhao had to persuade her, "Xiao Yu, quickly put down the knife."
Wen Min wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his voice trembling. "Junior Sister, you are still young. You can't hold a knife. Don't move, let Senior Brother take the knife."
"Senior Brother, hurry up and beat them back! The constables will be here soon." Zhan Feiyu held Sun Fu's headdress with her left hand, and the dagger in her right hand remained steadily across his neck. Her lowered voice was chilling.
"Don't move around. I'm small and weak. If I get startled, my hand will become unsteady. If I cut deeper, blood will spurt from the blood vessels, like rain. Even a celestial being couldn't save your life."
Sun Fu was already terrified. Now, he felt the warm blood flowing down his wound. Hearing Zhan Feiyu's words, his legs trembled, and a warmth spread between his legs as he wet himself in fear.
Wen Min and the other county school students were all young and hot-blooded. Hearing Zhan Feiyu's words, they exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and charged forward. Damn it, let's beat them first!
Immediately, pig-like screams erupted. The four burly men also dared not retaliate, as their master was still in the hands of the little girl.
Constable Fei, along with Constable Zhao and others, arrived at lightning speed. If the messenger hadn't been a student from the county school, they wouldn't have believed it.
"Uncle Fei, has this guy eaten bear's gall and leopard's heart to dare to cause trouble at the county school!" Constable Zhao's face was stern with anger. He was young and hot-headed, and he deeply respected scholars. Upon hearing that Instructor Zhao had been beaten, he wished he could rush forward and cut down those villains.
"Shut up, let's go over first!" Constable Fei thought further ahead. If they dared to make a move, they were likely acting with impunity.
Thinking of Steward Tong, who was imprisoned in the jail and was the steward of Lord Tong's mansion in Nanxuan Prefecture, Constable Fei's expression became even more solemn.
Uh...
They stopped abruptly. Constable Zhao and the others, who were filled with righteous indignation, were all stunned. They almost thought they were hallucinating! Why were a group of pale-faced scholars beating four burly men until they cried out? Was this the county school or a martial arts dojo?
As Constable Fei led his men closer, he finally saw Zhan Feiyu standing on the carriage, and then the blood-stained dagger in her hand. The constables were once again petrified. Were the students of the county school all this fierce?
However, considering that Zhan Feiyu had smashed Steward Tong's head with a inkstone, it wasn't so strange to see her holding a knife to someone's throat now. The little girl only made a move when necessary, and when she did, it was always bloody!
"Help me!" Sun Fu, who had wet himself, saw Constable Fei and his men as if they were saviors. He trembled as he pleaded for help, "I am Lord Tong's brother-in-law. If you save me, I guarantee you will be promoted three ranks!"
"Oh." In such a serious and dangerous atmosphere, Zhan Feiyu's clear little voice rang out. "Lord Tong even sells official positions? Then give our instructor a promotion of three ranks, and he would be a fifth-rank official! Then our Magistrate Chen would be a fourth-rank official."
Whether it was Constable Fei or Instructor Zhao, a group of adults looked speechlessly at the smiling Zhan Feiyu. The little girl was still in the mood to joke. Should they be happy or worried?
"Xiao Yu, let him go." Constable Fei cautiously approached the carriage. After all, she was only an eight-year-old girl. If her hand trembled, it could lead to a death.
"Listen to Constable Fei." Zhan Feiyu nodded obediently. She released her hands simultaneously and her small body jumped down from the other side of the carriage with a swift and neat movement that looked practiced.
Regaining his freedom, Sun Fu's legs went weak, and he slid to the ground. He covered his neck with one hand. The stinging pain from the wound finally brought Sun Fu back to his senses from his terror.
"Seize this brat and beat her to death on the spot!" a furious roar erupted. Sun Fu was so angry he was shouting. He had never suffered such a great loss!
Unfortunately, the four burly men were now lying on the ground like dead dogs. Although Wen Min and the others were scholars, they had the advantage of numbers. Three or five of them ganged up on one, beating them until their bones felt like they were falling apart.
The servants, maids, and concubines had all retreated to the shade of the trees nearby when the fight began. Later, when Zhan Feiyu held Sun Fu hostage and saw the burly men being beaten and crying, they dared not come any closer.
Constable Fei ignored the shouting Sun Fu and frowned as he looked at Instructor Zhao's swollen cheek. "Instructor Zhao, are you alright?"
"It's nothing." Instructor Zhao's cheeks were burning and swollen, but his injuries were minor. Wen Min and the other students had all sustained injuries, with bruised eyes or red and swollen faces. Fortunately, they seemed to be only superficial wounds.
...
A quarter of an hour later, at the county yamen.
Magistrate Chen didn't know what to say as he looked at the collectively injured county school students. He had been in Shangsi County for seven years, and this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. It was probably a bizarre incident that had never happened in the entire Great Qing dynasty!
"Oh, doctor, be gentle."
"It hurts, it hurts! Don't press there! I should have punched them harder just now."
"Haha, who says scholars are useless now! Look at my iron fist!"
The students, who were being treated with medicine, cried out in pain, but their young faces were beaming with pride, as if they were swordsmen roaming the world.
Cough, cough! Instructor Dou cleared his throat to stop them from talking nonsense. Did they not know where they were? As scholars, what was there to show off about fighting with their fists? However, it was good that they fought!
Constable Fei recounted the details of the conflict to Magistrate Chen and then stepped aside.
Facing Magistrate Chen's complicated gaze, Zhan Feiyu widened her innocent eyes and quickly hid her hands behind her back, acting as obedient and sensible as if she hadn't been the one holding a knife to Sun Fu's neck.
After a long pause.
"Reporting to Your Excellency, Sun Fu is fine. He only has superficial wounds. After applying medicine, the scars will heal in a few days," Doctor Xu reported to the hall after treating the wound on Sun Fu's neck.
When he saw the blood on Sun Fu's neck at the time, Doctor Xu was also startled. Fortunately, the wound was very shallow. Although it bled a lot, it did not injure any blood vessels.
"Magistrate Chen!" a roar sounded again. Sun Fu shook off the servant who was trying to help him and strode over, adopting an aggressive posture as if to question him.
"Are these students from the county school? I think they are all bandits and thugs! It seems I will have to speak with my brother-in-law. No wonder Magistrate Chen has not been promoted in seven years. He is truly incompetent in governance!"
Magistrate Chen's stern face immediately darkened. Not being promoted was a sensitive point for him, but Sun Fu had blurted it out so casually and used it to mock him.
Suddenly, the sound of the hall drum echoed. Magistrate Chen and everyone in the hall were startled. Was someone still beating the drum to appeal for justice at this hour?
As everyone was wondering, the yamen runners quickly entered the courtroom and stood on both sides, the court staves in their hands striking the ground with a "dong dong" sound.
Magistrate Chen seemed to have guessed something. He walked behind the official desk and sat down. Seeing this, the county assistant, the chief clerk, and others also took their respective seats.
With a loud bang of the gavel, under the plaque that read "Ming Jing Gao Xuan" (Mirror of Justice Hangs High), Magistrate Chen spoke in a deep voice, "Ascend the court!"
"Majestic!" the yamen runners immediately shouted the court's authority.
To everyone's confused gazes, Zhan Feiyu walked in from outside the courtroom with small, measured steps. She knelt before Magistrate Chen and said, "Student Zhan Feiyu accuses Liu Fu, a merchant from Nanxuan Prefecture, of instigating his servants to commit violence, brutally beating the county school instructor, teachers, and students. This is the indictment."
Instructor Zhao, Instructor Dou, and the others were stunned. Liu Fu, who had been acting arrogantly just moments ago, was also taken aback. Everyone stared blankly at the indictment held up by Zhan Feiyu. When had she written it?
Constable Zhao took the indictment, winked at Zhan Feiyu, and then presented it to Magistrate Chen. "Your Excellency."
Zhan Feiyu was the plaintiff and the victim. Moreover, she was a scholar, and Instructor Zhao, who had been beaten, was a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination). Wen Min and the others were also Xiucai (successful candidates in the metropolitan examination) who held scholarly titles.
Therefore, according to the "Great Qing Laws," after Magistrate Chen accepted the indictment, he directly drew a bamboo slip and threw it out. "Give the culprits who beat Instructor Zhao and the county school students twenty heavy planks!"
Beat them first, then investigate!
"Chen Weibin, how dare you!" Sun Fu roared in fury, but Constable Zhao had already rushed over and apprehended him.
The four burly men, who had just been treated by the doctor and had not had time to rest, were dragged to the hall by the fierce yamen runners. Then, another round of howling and screams erupted.
Wen Min and the others looked at Zhan Feiyu, whom Magistrate Chen had called upon, with immense admiration. Junior Sister was too smart, haha, she had seized the moral high ground! She couldn't defeat these lawless thugs!
The case was undisputed. Even though Liu Fu, who was being beaten with planks, shouted that Zhan Feiyu had held a knife to his throat and nearly killed him, according to the circumstances at the time, Zhan Feiyu's actions were out of necessity. Otherwise, students like Wen Min would have been beaten to death by the four burly men.
With Magistrate Chen's deliberate favoritism, Liu Fu and the four burly men were thrown into jail to keep Steward Tong company.
After Wen Min and the others returned home, their elders learned of the incident at the entrance of the county school. Instead of blaming Zhan Feiyu for getting them beaten, they were immensely grateful for the young girl's composure and resourcefulness in the face of danger!
...
Uncle Hu, after being instructed by Zhan Feiyu, kept his mouth shut upon returning to the village.
The next morning, Uncle Hu, who had picked up Zhan Feiyu to go to the county school, listened to her clear recitation and relaxed his expression. It seemed that yesterday's events had not affected Xiao Yu.
Suddenly, as a carriage approached, Uncle Hu's relaxed expression instantly turned tense and uneasy. "Xiao Yu, a carriage is coming."
No way, still coming? Zhan Feiyu looked up ahead and smiled. "Uncle Hu, pull over to the side. It's not a bad person."
"Young Scholar Zhan, my master invites you." The servant driving the carriage jumped down, but his attitude was very respectful.
"Uncle Gu Er is looking for me? But I have to go to the county school." Zhan Feiyu glanced at the sun. She always set out on time. If she were delayed, she would be late.
The servant had already made arrangements. "Young Scholar Zhan, please rest assured. Master has already requested leave for you. Many students have taken leave from the county school today, and the instructors have suspended classes."
Yesterday, Wen Min and the others had all been beaten. Although they were only flesh wounds, they were all scholars raised in wealthy families. This morning, several of them were in too much pain to get out of bed.
Two quarters of an hour later, the carriage stopped outside the manor.
"Xiao Yu, would you like to eat a little more?" Gu Qingzhou asked with a smile.
It was rare for him not to have to attend court, so he naturally slept until he woke up naturally. If Zhan Feiyu hadn't come, Gu Qingzhou might have slept for another hour.
"I've already eaten, Uncle Gu Er. You don't need to be polite," Zhan Feiyu said with a smile. She glanced at the flower hall and then walked towards the window.
When Gu Yuan brought servants to clear the dishes, he saw his master holding a teacup and drinking tea.
Zhan Feiyu sat by the window, holding a book and reading, her expression so focused that she seemed indifferent to being in the same room as a high-ranking scholar of the imperial court.
"I heard you held a knife to someone's neck yesterday. Tell me about the situation then?" Gu Qingzhou walked over with a smile, still holding his teacup. If there were a plate of peanuts on the table, it would look like he was listening to a storyteller in a teahouse.
Zhan Feiyu put down the book in her hand and said crisply, "It's actually about capturing the ringleader first! Magistrate Chen said that those four were all registered as slaves, the guards of the Sun family, and Sun Fu was also a merchant."
"As for Steward Tong, he also confessed. Three years ago, he was indeed the steward of the Tong mansion. Later, he made a mistake and was expelled by Madam Yu. He then went to the Sun family, but he has been using the name of the Tong mansion to act arrogantly in Nanxuan Prefecture."
What the little girl said was quite interesting. It pointed out Sun Fu's identity as a merchant and also revealed that the legitimate wife of Vice Magistrate Tong was surnamed Yu. Thus, Sun Fu, who kept calling himself Vice Magistrate Tong's brother-in-law, was not a proper in-law.
Gu Qingzhou smiled and chimed in, "It is said that Vice Magistrate Tong's second wife is surnamed Sun."
Sun Fu's background was thus clear. In the end, it was because Vice Magistrate Tong's second wife, Madam Sun, was favored that Sun Fu dared to act so outrageously, even instigating household servants and guards to cause trouble at the county school and beating Instructor Zhao and a group of students.
"Uncle Gu Er, according to the 'Great Qing Laws,' Sun Fu, who is involved in the case, has a marital relationship with Vice Magistrate Tong. Vice Magistrate Tong should recuse himself in this case," Zhan Feiyu said with a grin.
Although she had completely offended Vice Magistrate Tong, she had also provided Prefect Zhang with concrete evidence to thoroughly investigate the Sun family, and perhaps even find leverage against Vice Magistrate Tong.
Of course, even if only the Sun family ended up in trouble, it would at least cut off Vice Magistrate Tong's financial resources, which was cause for celebration.
Gu Qingzhou was not surprised by Zhan Feiyu's calculations. He said solemnly, "If one thread is pulled, the whole body moves. Even if Vice Magistrate Tong can escape unscathed, he will likely have to shed a layer of skin. However, your situation will be very dangerous."
In fact, if this matter were to spread and be manipulated by those with ulterior motives, the scholars of Nanxuan Prefecture would likely explode.
Prefect Zhang's wife came from the Kong family. When the time came, led by the Kong family, let alone the merchant Sun family, to appease the anger of scholars throughout the land, Vice Magistrate Tong might not even be able to keep his position.
Gu Qingzhou could even imagine that if the news reached the capital, the censors would surely act upon hearing it. Coupled with the scholars from the Hanlin Academy, Vice Magistrate Tong and his patron in the imperial court, the Liu faction, would all be affected.
But who would have thought that the fuse for all of this would be this eight-year-old girl with her double-bun hairstyle?
"I am not afraid," Zhan Feiyu said. She did not regret her actions yesterday. Her smiling eyes were filled only with joy. "A common man's anger can spill blood five steps; an emperor's anger can cause millions to die. I have provided a new printing technique. If I die, even for the sake of giving an explanation to the scholars of the world, the Emperor will thoroughly investigate the cause of my death, and they would not dare to take the risk."
The movable type printing technique was indeed Zhan Feiyu's golden shield. Anyone who dared to touch her would be an enemy of scholars worldwide! The Emperor, to quell public outrage and anger, would thoroughly investigate the case.
And it was likely that the investigation would bypass the three judicial departments and be conducted by the Imperial Dragon Guard. This way, unless the mastermind was willing to sacrifice their own life to take Zhan Feiyu's life, no one would dare to openly kill her.
"Actually, you would be even safer if you became my disciple," Gu Qingzhou said casually, as if he didn't attach any importance to his words.
Zhan Feiyu was stunned. Instructor Lin had told her to study diligently before seeking a famous teacher. Not only could he guide her studies, but it would also provide an extra layer of protection. With the escort of a teacher, Zhan Feiyu's path of study would be much easier.
But Zhan Feiyu's dark eyes widened in shock, her small mouth slightly agape, and her fair, plump face filled with bewilderment. She looked utterly dazed.
"You're already scared silly? It seems your temperament still needs tempering," Gu Qingzhou said, tapping Zhan Feiyu's forehead. Despite her intelligence and quick wit, she was still just an eight-year-old girl.
Struck by the tap, Zhan Feiyu snapped back to reality and glared at the teasing Grand Scholar Gu. Could she be blamed for this? Any scholar who heard this would be stunned.
Gu Yuan stood quietly in the corner. He looked up at Zhan Feiyu, who hadn't answered for a long time. Not only did she smash someone with an inkstone, but she also dared to hold a knife to someone's throat. If people didn't know better, they would think the Master had taken in a martial artist!
"No, Uncle Gu Er, how could I be worthy..." Zhan Feiyu's voice trailed off, and then she suddenly said, "Is this the commendation from the Emperor?"
Gu Qingzhou smiled without comment. The Emperor did have this intention. Especially since he was unmarried and had no adopted children, Gu Qingzhou's disciple was equivalent to his heir. Even though the Emperor felt that the little girl Zhan Feiyu was the most suitable, he couldn't force his former classmate and friend.
"Are you willing?" Gu Qingzhou asked again. Taking on a soft and cute little disciple wouldn't be bad either. The little girl was not only beautiful but, more importantly, he liked her personality.
Suppressing her excitement, Zhan Feiyu said weakly, "Is it decided so casually? Uncle Gu Er, won't you test me further?"
"This is fate bringing us together as master and disciple," Gu Qingzhou said, amused by her timid demeanor.
However, thinking of Yin Wuyan, Gu Qingzhou's gaze deepened. He said casually, "Once you become my disciple, my little disciple, you cannot have any further contact with the Imperial Dragon Guard."
As for all the previous matters, Gu Qingzhou didn't need to act. Yin Wuyan would erase all traces and not allow any stain on Zhan Feiyu.
"What?" The smile froze on Zhan Feiyu's plump face. She looked at Gu Qingzhou in confusion. Even though he didn't say anything further, his silence indicated everything.
For a moment, silence spread throughout the living room. Zhan Feiyu lowered her gaze. All the past events flashed through her mind like old photographs.
Even though Yin Wuyan had not spoken, Zhan Feiyu knew that the reason Magistrate Chen had brought Instructor Zhao and Instructor Lin to act as judges during the entrance examination was also due to Yin Wuyan's influence.
Not to mention the subsequent care, the Zeng family's affairs, the case of his wife being poisoned, including the five hundred exemplary essays in her possession, and even the money she used and the clothes she wore – all of this came from Yin Wuyan's care, even though they were not related by blood or kinship.
A moment later, Zhan Feiyu stood up. Her fair, plump face regained its smile. "Thank you for your kindness, Master Gu, but I am afraid I cannot accept."
After finishing her refusal, Zhan Feiyu solemnly bowed to Gu Qingzhou to apologize.
Gu Qingzhou narrowed his eyes without speaking, while Gu Yuan, standing in the corner, was stunned. He almost thought he had misheard. In the Great Qing Dynasty, were there still scholars who refused to become disciples of a high-ranking official?
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