The next day, after Tong Bajin and Erlangzi had breakfast, they grabbed their bicycles and headed straight for Dingzihao. Later, Jian Ning drove out of the inn, accompanied by Ding Youtian, Erniu, Sanniu, and several spirit pets, and headed for the provincial government office.
Cao arrived early and had been sitting at a stall selling sesame cakes diagonally opposite the yamen. When it was almost two quarters past noon, she stood up and walked towards the yamen gate.
If she had passed by the yamen on a normal day, she would have been scared just by looking at the stone lions in front of the gate. However, for the sake of her son who was imprisoned, she walked in with her head held high without hesitation, grabbed the wooden hammer on the shelf with both hands, and started knocking hard.
As soon as the drum sounded, a group of people rushed in from outside, including men and women, old and young. Jian Ning and Ding Youtian each brought a child and a spirit pet and followed in. Tong Bajin and Erlangzi also arrived soon after.
Outside the yamen, a carriage drove up and stopped quietly next to Jian Ning and his companions' carriage.
Cao was a little nervous at first, but when she saw a group of people coming up behind her, and then saw Jian Ning and Ding Youtian's family, she felt much more at ease. She took out the complaint, held it in both hands, and knelt in the court, shouting, "My son has been wronged. I, Xu Cao, am speaking out for him. I beg the great judge, Lord Yang, to help my son!"
The people in front of the yamen were talking and talking. Some were asking what was going on, while others were discussing what had happened. The name of the Second Young Master Jiang was passed around among them. Jiang Xiaohe was in the back hall, listening to the drum beating in front of him to complain about his grievances. He continued to sip tea and chat with the Tongzhi, waiting for the yamen runners to report what had happened outside.
After a while, a yamen runner hurried over and announced, "Your Excellencies, Xu Dali's mother has come here with a petition in hand, beating drums to appeal for his grievances, and demanding that Master Yang intervene in her son's case."
"Xu Dali?" Lord Yang also came over in neatly dressed. He remembered this case. Because it involved the second son of Jiang Tongpan's mansion, Jiang Tongpan recused himself. After the Tongzhi brought the case to trial, the death penalty was temporarily sentenced. The last hurdle was with Lord Yang, who had to sign and seal the death penalty before the sentence was confirmed.
The term of office of officials in all prefectures and counties in the Dayan Dynasty is three years. Tongzhi and Jiang Tongpan have been in Yancheng for two years. Lord Yang does not know whether the two are on the same page, but as the highest administrative chief of a county, he is constrained by these two people in every way. The two always sing the same tune to oppose his various measures, making it difficult for him to move forward.
When Judge Jiang heard that Xu's mother came to complain, his face changed. Half a month had passed, and she came at this time instead of earlier. He immediately thought of Jian Ning and Ding Youtian. Ever since he heard rumors that Princess An Ning and the new number one scholar had arrived in Yancheng, he had a vague feeling that something was wrong.
Even the prefect, Lord Yang, had been unaware of the fact that the Prince of Pingnan's son-in-law, the newly crowned top scholar, had been sent to Danyang County. He had deliberately suppressed the news, so how could the common people know about it? Needless to say, it must have been spread by Ding Youtian himself.
At this moment, he hated Lord Yang very much. If he hadn't said that Xu Dali's crime did not deserve the death penalty and the case had to be retried at another day, he would have received a secret letter from Prince Yong asking him to get rid of Princess An Ning and the new number one scholar. He had no choice but to put the matter of Xu Dali on hold for the time being.
This postponement caused trouble. He had a hunch that Princess An Ning and her husband were going to make a big fuss about Xu Dali's matter. He gritted his teeth and deeply regretted that he had underestimated Princess An Ning and her husband from the beginning.
He really didn't take the civilian couple seriously at first. If he had known it was so difficult, he should have taken action himself to get rid of them as soon as possible. Why would he be worried today?
Lord Yang's gaze passed lightly over Jiang Xiaohe and landed on the face of Lord He, the co-magistrate, who was standing beside him. "Let's go. This government has already made it clear that there is insufficient evidence in this case, so we can't act rashly."
The implication is, look, trouble is coming.
After saying this, he put his hands behind his back and walked towards the court in front with a wide step.
In the courtroom, two groups of yamen runners saluted, and Lord Yang and Lord He came out one after the other. After taking their seats, Lord Yang banged the gavel in his hand, "Who is kneeling? Tell us in detail what grievance you have."
"Your Excellency! I, Xu Cao, beg you to redress the injustice for my son!" Cao raised the petition above her head with both hands and recounted the whole incident in a loud voice.
The people in front of the hall were in an uproar.
"Silence!" Lord Yang slammed the gavel in his hand again. When he looked out, he saw Jian Ning and Ding Youtian standing in front of the crowd, and he couldn't help but cheer up.
Yesterday, Uncle Yao brought back the medicine and told him everything Jian Ning had said. He was overjoyed to hear that Jian Ning had just cured a patient with the same illness as him or even a more serious one than his. He felt the effect in his body less than half an hour after taking the medicine last night.
The disciple of the hidden genius doctor was truly extraordinary. Seeing Jian Ning, he straightened his back unconsciously. At this moment, a gruff voice rang out from the common people in the hall: "Don't be afraid, woman. Lord Yang has a great reputation for virtue and is the highest official in this county. He will definitely redress your son's grievances and bring him justice!"
"That's right, Lord Yang is a good official, an honest official, he will definitely make the decision for your son!"
Several voices were heard in succession in the hall. In this situation, not to mention that Lord Yang was not on the same side as Jiang Tongpan, even if they were really the same, he was placed in the position of a good and honest official by public opinion. If he wanted to abuse his power for personal gain and bend the law again, he would have to think twice whether he could withstand the public criticism.
"Present the complaint." Lord Yang gave the order, and immediately a bailiff took the complaint from Cao's hand and handed it over.
Lord Yang took the complaint and took a look at it, and thought to himself, what great handwriting and literary talent! The strokes were vigorous and powerful, and there was a sense of momentum that ran through the paper, and every word and sentence was so powerful that it could be felt through the paper!
He didn't expect that there was such a ghostwriter in Yancheng. He nodded slightly, put down the complaint, ordered the yamen runner to go to the prison to bring Xu Dali, and threw down another green bamboo stick, ordering the yamen runner to go to the Tongpan Mansion to arrest the second son of Jiang and bring him to the yamen.
Xu Dali was carried up by the yamen runners on a door panel. When Cao saw Xu Dali covered with bruises, she howled and rushed over, crying her heart out in the court.
The yamen runners knocked the ground with water and fire sticks and shouted loudly several times before she could barely stop crying, but her tears still flowed uncontrollably.
Mother and child are connected by heart. Who wouldn't feel heartbroken seeing their son beaten to a bloody pulp? Many women in the hall were wiping their tears and sobbing.
"Ms. Xu Cao, I have a question for you." Lord Yang looked at Mrs. Cao, who was kneeling on the ground. "Since you are seeking justice for your son, do you have any witnesses from that day?"
Cao was startled. Just as she was about to subconsciously turn to look at Ding Youtian, a clear, slightly trembling voice rang out from outside the yamen: "Yes!"
A pretty woman in plain clothes came with an old man in plain clothes. The old man was leaning on a stick. Everyone made way for him. The woman helped the old man walk into the court and then helped him kneel down.
"Who is kneeling?" asked Lord Yang.
"My name is Song Qinglian, and this is my father. We were singing on the street that day. That day..."
Song Qinglian's gaze fell on Xu Dali lying on the door panel, and her bright eyes were instantly filled with mist.
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