Chapter 14: Better to kill by mistake than to let escape

  "Alright! Then you must come. I won't eat anymore, let's go to Cuixiulou and have dinner and drinks together. Their wine and dishes are not very good, can only make do." Zhu Haisheng said, turning his head to take a box from the servant's hand, opening the lid, inside were two sets of beautiful brocade scholar robes, as well as hats and shoes.

  Zhu Haixin carried the clothes into the house and placed them on Xiao Jiading's round table, saying: "You and I are brothers who have met before, brother, your talent is so extraordinary, to be honest, the clothes you wear don't match your talent at all. The girls in Cuixiulou are all selfish and only care about clothes, not people. I remembered that a few years ago when I was still thin, I had two sets of clothes made, but unfortunately, before I could wear them, I got fat and couldn't fit into them anymore. So they've been idle for a long time, today is just the right occasion to use them, you can wear them and if you don't like them, just throw them away. Hahaha."

  Xiao Jiading took a look at the two sets of clothes, which were obviously brand new and made of silk. How could they be items from several years ago? Judging by this, Zhu Haisheng was used to giving gifts, so he knew how to give them properly. But his words didn't sound like he was giving a gift; on the contrary, it sounded like Xiao Jiading was doing him a favor. Xiao Jiading nodded secretly, thinking that this fat man was different from those nouveau riche who were full of themselves, and was worth befriending.

  Before Xiao Jiading could speak, Zhu Haixin had already changed the subject and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect: "If you have something to attend to, please go ahead and hurry back. I'll be waiting for Brother Xiao at Cuiyu Building!", then he left with his entourage.

  Xiao Jiading listened to him talking to himself, as if they had been good friends for many years. He thought that this person was quite interesting and could be a friend to socialize with, regardless of whether he entered the government or not.

  He closed the door, picked up a set of velvet robes to change into, and surprisingly, they fit perfectly. He couldn't help but praise the fat man for being so meticulous, as he had already figured out his height and size just from last night's brief encounter, making clothes that fit so well. Impressive!

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  Shaowu County Government

  In the late afternoon, County Magistrate Deng Quansheng walked into the corner gate and headed straight to his own signing room. Along the way, the attendants and clerks saw him and stood respectfully aside to pay their respects, waiting for him to pass before hurrying back to their duties. County Magistrate Deng was already accustomed to all this and simply strolled slowly along the stone path of the government office.

  Just as he was about to sign the deed, he saw several clerks in the adjacent prison house chatting and laughing. Xu Houde, the judicial officer of the prison, held a piece of paper in his hand, shaking his head and reading it. He walked over with big strides.

  As soon as he came over, those giggling clerks quickly collected their smiles and stood aside, bowing their heads and standing with their hands hanging down. Only Xu Houde, who was reciting poetry with his head bowed, didn't notice and continued to praise: "This poem is really well-written, no wonder Zhong Wenbo isn't his match! Seven steps to create a poem, how impressive! Zhong Wenbo has lost face completely, let's see if he still dares to call himself the number one scholar of Yizhou! Haha..."

  He just smiled twice, and the clerk behind him had already seen Deng Quansheng's gloomy face at the door. He quickly elbowed him in the back, Xu Houde turned his head to look, that clerk nodded towards the door, Xu Houde turned his head back, only then did he discover Deng Quansheng standing at the door, startled, hastily got up and cupped his hands together, saying: "County Lieutenant Deng!"

  Deng Quansheng hummed and said, "What are you looking at? It's so lively."

  "Nothing... nothing..." Deng Quansheng held the poem in his hand, wanting to hide it behind him, but felt it was not suitable, and smiled awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

  Xu Houdé's judicial position is similar to that of a county court criminal tribunal chief, but the level is different. The judiciary belongs to the category of officials without official rank. Deng Quansheng, on the other hand, is a ninth-grade county constable, which can be considered a small official, equivalent to the deputy director of the county public security bureau and the deputy president of the county court (the county magistrate has the responsibility of personally handling prison cases and owning the highest judicial power at the county level, presiding over case-breaking and trial, so the county magistrate is also the director of the county public security bureau and the president of the county court). Deng Quansheng is his direct supervisor, so he is very frightened.

  "Is it a poem? Let me take a look!" He said, stretching out his hand.

  Xu Houdé handed the poem draft in his hand to him, and said with a smile: "It was written by a scholar named Xiao Jiading from outside last night in front of Cuixiulou. These are a few crooked poems that he wrote, we didn't remember them all, we were just making fun of them."

  Last night's events, Deng Quansheng had already heard about it. He glanced at the poem on top and said, "I'll take it back to see what's so special about it." After speaking, he turned around with his hands behind his back, holding the poem manuscript, and walked into his own office.

  Seeing Xu Houde's worried face, a book official curiously whispered: "Xu Sifa, what's wrong with you?"

  Xu Houde let out a sigh and said in a low voice, "Don't you know? Deng County Magistrate is the one who promoted Zhong Wenbo's father. The two families have a very good relationship. Yesterday, Zhong Wenbo was humiliated in public, which also made him lose face. --- Did I say anything wrong just now?" Xu Houde anxiously looked at those people, he was indeed afraid of offending County Magistrate Deng, it's not like he wanted to ask for trouble from his superiors, provoking the leader would be asking for disability.

  Several book clerks didn't dare to tell the truth, hastily shaking their heads and smiling obsequiously: "Lord Xu, you haven't said anything improper."

  Xu Houdé bitterly smiled and shook his head, feeling that he had said something not quite right earlier. With this tension, he couldn't recall what he had said again.

  A clerk who was relatively close to him smiled and whispered, "Isn't it just making friends with poetry? Losing doesn't matter, County Magistrate Deng shouldn't mind these things."

  "You know what!" Xu Houde let out a long sigh, "You guys don't understand Deng Xianwei at all..."

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  Deng Quansheng sat behind the large desk, his whole body seemed to be invisible, only his triangular eyes on his cloudy face stared tightly at the poem manuscript on the table.

  He suddenly grabbed the manuscript, tore it to shreds and threw it on the ground. His teeth clenched as he spat out that annoying name - "Xiao Jiading!"

  He sulked for a while, thinking about how to comfort Zhong Wenbo's family tonight. He casually picked up the documents sent over for signature and began to review them.

  Among them was a petition, which was the case of the rape and abduction of Xiao San Niang, a maidservant of the Xiao family, by Hao Dalang, and the birth of her son. The Xiao family wanted to take back their daughter. This case had been reported to him before, but he had rejected it. Now it was reported again, and he was in a bad mood, feeling somewhat annoyed, and was about to reject it once more. Suddenly his eyes stopped on the last signature - Agent: Xiao Jia Ding!

  Xiao Jiading? Could it be that Xiao Jiading who publicly humiliated Zhong Wenbo?

  Deng Quansheng's face was gloomy as he calculated, if it was really him, he couldn't let him off once he got his hands on him!

  Zhong Wenbo's father, Zhong Shirong, was originally the county lieutenant of Shaocity, and later promoted to the recorder of Yizhou Prefecture, also known as the law officer. Deng Quansheng was promoted by him from a small clerk to the county commander of the county government. He was grateful to this old superior, although he had not given less gifts to Zhong Shirong for this position, but after all, it was his old superior and still grateful in his heart.

  Upon learning that Zhong Shiren's son, Zhong Wenbo, lost a poetry duel to an outsider named Xiao Jiading, he was also displeased on behalf of the Zhong family. Now, seeing someone named Xiao Jiading drafting documents, his mouth curled into a sly smile. Regardless of whether it was the same Xiao Jiading or not, he would rather kill the wrong person than let him off. He ordered his men to seize and beat him severely with a hundred heavy slaps first! Let him not even think about getting out of bed for at least a month! Who told him to draft documents on behalf of others and get involved in lawsuits? He deserved it!

  Deng Quansheng was just about to order the yeshi to summon Xiao Lao Han and Xiao Jiading, who had written the letter on his behalf, when he suddenly noticed that there were a few more words at the end of the letter, which read "the nephew of the informant".

  In ancient Chinese courts, it was not encouraged to file lawsuits. The plaintiff and defendant were called "two parties", which means troublemakers. Therefore, instigating or helping others to file a lawsuit is even more detestable. According to the rules of the court, such people can be punished with flogging depending on the situation. However, if it's a relative of the person filing the complaint, they are an exception. Relatives can cover up for each other, and even help with writing the lawsuit. Since Xiao Ding is Xiao Lao Han's nephew, there's no reason to punish him.

  Deng Quansheng rolled his eyes a few times, but couldn't think of a good way to vent. He decided to close the case first and find fault with him during the trial process, then take revenge later! With this thought in mind, Deng Quansheng didn't even bother to read the contents, and simply picked up his pen to indicate on the document that the case was accepted, and ordered the criminal affairs department to draft an opinion for submission.

  In the afternoon, Deng Quansheng did not go home directly, but came to visit Zhong Shiren's mansion.

  As he entered the door, the doorman smiled and said: "County Master, you've come at just the right time. The young master is having a tantrum and arguing with our master, go and persuade him."

  "What's going on?"

  "It wasn't just last night that the young master lost a poetry duel to a scholar named Xiao from out of town. The whole city is talking about it, and the young master is too ashamed to show his face outside. The old master is speaking of him right now."

  "I understand."

  Xiao Jia Ding was a frequent visitor to the Zhong family and didn't need to be announced, so he went straight in and arrived at the study. Outside the door, he heard the old voice of Zhong Shi Rong inside saying: "You're self-deceived and still complaining, such a small setback has made you like this, how will you face the ups and downs of your future career? I'd rather thank Mr. Xiao for giving you an opportunity to temper yourself and having a rare lesson, this is a good thing! What else do you have to complain about? Are you going to go back on your word again? Don't you admit defeat?"

  "I won't accept this!" Zhong Wenbo's voice said, "From childhood to adulthood, I have never lost to anyone! This is a great humiliation, and I will not tolerate it! I must fight him again! This time..."

  "Aren't you ashamed enough?!" Zhong Shirong said angrily: "How can't you listen?! Didn't I tell you, poetry and verse are supposed to be elegant and refined things, but you've turned them into this... Don't you feel humiliated? As your father, I feel humiliated too..."