These words caused an uproar in the audience.
Some people question whether it's really okay to bend the law for personal gain like this.
Some people were shocked, wondering why they didn't say it sooner, and why they waited until the child had already received more than half of the punishment before speaking up.
The Prefect of Anshui County endured it all, staring straight at Xu Mo, waiting for his answer.
The top official in the government.
Xu Mo never even considered the county-level case; he was just trying his best.
He never thought he would definitely win the top spot in the prefectural case, nor did he want to use it as a bargaining chip in the trial, but the prefect must have his reasons for saying that.
Xu Mo was torn between his inner thoughts and his own conscience.
Jiang Sheng, clenching her fists in the corner, stamped her feet and whispered, "Say yes to him, big brother, say yes to him."
In the little girl's heart, her eldest brother was the most powerful. Not to mention being the top scholar in the government, if her eldest brother wanted to, he could go all the way to becoming the top scholar!
Her conviction seemed to have inspired Xu Mo.
After a long silence, he finally said in a deep voice, "What you say makes sense, sir, but this case involves a very wide range of issues. How can you avoid alerting the suspects and delay the case until after the prefectural examination?"
That means they agreed.
The Prefect of Anshui stood up and laughed twice. "I'll handle this. I'll keep everyone's mouth shut. You just focus on preparing for the prefectural examination."
After saying that, he got back into the sedan chair and went into the government office.
Leave a few yamen runners to record the people's information and keep them quiet to avoid alerting the enemy.
Xu Mo struggled to his feet, but after taking only two unsteady steps, he was helped up by a passing constable.
"Young man, how are you?" the elderly constable asked kindly.
Xu Mo waved his hand, indicating that he was fine.
Just then, his younger siblings rushed over and surrounded him.
"Big brother, you will definitely be able to pass the exam and become the top scholar in the prefecture." Jiang Sheng's words were not encouragement, but affirmation.
"Brother, just do your best. I'll take those fifty lashes for you if necessary." Fang Heng knew that Xu Mo definitely couldn't withstand fifty lashes.
With tears in her eyes, Wen Zhiyun said, "Big brother, I will heal your wounds."
Chang Yan took a deep breath. "Get in the car first."
The five children, supporting each other, boarded a horse-drawn carriage.
The old yamen runner watched from behind, his eyes wide with astonishment.
Another younger man nudged him with his elbow, "Brother Yuan, what are you looking at? Let's go back to the government office."
Yuan, the bailiff, came to his senses and said, "I just think that someone is so lucky to be able to have five children like that."
The young constable laughed upon hearing this, then whispered some lewd remarks in his ear. The two men, suppressing their laughter, entered the government office.
I happened to overhear the advisor discussing the matter with the Prefect of Anyang.
“Sir, why break the rules for a mere student? Fifty strokes of the cane is the threshold for appealing to higher authorities. If this is made an exception, every little thing will be brought to the prefectural city in the future.” The clerk said indignantly, “Not to mention, he is expected to pass the prefectural examination with top honors. With his injuries, he will be lucky to be able to move freely in half a month. How could he possibly pass the prefectural examination with top honors?”
The prefect listened quietly the whole time.
After the clerk had vented all his emotions, he quietly said, "Of course the rules cannot be abolished, but this child is too young. If he is given fifty strokes of the cane, he will be crippled if not killed."
The advisor scoffed, "Then you should have stopped it earlier, or simply not hit it at all! It's already been thirty strokes of the cane, what's the point of saying that now!"
The governor of Anyang choked for a moment.
How could he tell the clerk that he initially intended to follow the rules, but when he received the complaint, he was amazed?
The handwriting is neat yet bold, the narrative is well-organized and logical, full of allusions and quotations, and the emotional entry is just right, touching on the point without being too difficult.
This is something a twelve-year-old could not have written. Even ordinary students in their twenties or thirties might not be this good, but Xu Mo has already done it in his teens.
The governor of Anshui had no choice but to cherish this talent.
Fifty strokes of the cane could not destroy Xu Mo's talent, but if it left him with a disability, his life would be much bleaker.
So he broke with precedent and made this slightly delayed agreement.
"I believe you that his injuries may not be fully healed, but I advise you to reconsider your claim that he cannot be the top scholar in the prefectural examination." The Prefect of Anshui stroked his short, stiff mustache and left with a strange sense of pride.
The advisor stared wide-eyed, but having no other choice, he could only spit on the ground.
He turned and walked in another direction.
Now, let's talk about the woodshed of the inn.
Xu Mo lay face down on the bed, blood staining his robe and even flowing down to his ankles.
Fang Heng, relying on his strength, simply picked up his older brother horizontally and carefully laid him on the bed.
Wen Zhiyun's body trembled, but his hands remained remarkably steady. With one hand, he lifted the robe and then used scissors to shred Xu Mo's underpants.
Jiang Sheng, holding a towel, asked the waiter for hot water and stood at the door with tears in her eyes.
Seeing that half of Xu Mo's leg was already exposed, the little girl still showed no intention of avoiding it.
Changyan finally lost his temper, covered her eyes with one hand and dragged her outside the woodshed with the other, saying, "Wait here."
"Why?" Jiang Sheng was almost in tears. "I need to see my brother's wound."
She blindly rushed towards the woodshed.
Chang Yan could only hold her tightly with his arms.
Just then, the waiter brought over some hot water. When he saw the scene, he clicked his tongue and shook his head, "Too cruel, too cruel, it's a bloody mess."
Jiang Sheng became even more anxious, struggled to pry Chang Yan's hand away, and rushed to the woodshed with lightning speed.
Then, Fang Heng threw her out again.
"Little Jiang Sheng, don't look." Xu Mo was trembling with pain, but he still managed to comfort his sister, "Don't look, wait for us outside."
Jiang Sheng stopped abruptly as she rushed to the window.
She didn't know why her brothers were all stopping her, but she was obedient enough.
Even though he was uneasy, he could only squat on the ground and hold tightly to the newly grown grass.
Chang Yan sighed.
When it comes to survival, being well-fed is of paramount importance, so no one ever told Jiang Sheng that there were strict rules of propriety between men and women.
In the past, space was limited in the dilapidated temple, and Jiang Sheng was young, so they just let her be.
But this time, while staying in the woodshed, her brothers went to great lengths to get her a small bed and put up white curtains in the room to protect their little sister.
I only hope that she will gradually understand in the future.
Wen Zhiyun's hands were quite nimble; she finished bandaging Xu Mo in about half an hour and then gently covered him with a cotton blanket.
Then, Fang Heng came out carrying a cup of bright red hot water and looked at Jiang Sheng, saying, "Go inside."
Jiang Sheng pouted and stormed in, but when she saw Xu Mo's pale lips, she started sobbing again.
Looking back at Wen Zhiyun, it was her first time performing such a major emergency, and she was clearly exhausted. She was resting on the other side of the bed.
"Jiang Sheng, are you still crying?" Xu Mo was startled by the sobbing. Her long, curled eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes. "Stop crying. I was just afraid of scaring you."
"I'm not afraid," Jiang Sheng pouted. "I'm not afraid of Big Brother's butt."
Xu Mo: "...I'm scared."
"I didn't want you to see such a bloody scene," the twelve-year-old boy explained with difficulty. "Besides, your brother is a boy, and you are a girl. You... can't look at a boy's butt."
"Can't I look at any boy's butt? Can't I even look at Fifth Brother's butt?" Jiang Sheng was extremely surprised.
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