Chapter 130: Assault "There's a fight going on outside."
With just a few casual words from Mo Hongfu, Ji Shubai turned from a bystander to a participant in the scam, and from then on he lost the right to defend and plead for Song Jin in court.
Lin Zhihe stopped the two from arguing, and when he looked up and saw Ji Shubai's red-faced and angry appearance, he guessed that even if Mo Hongfu's words were not completely true, they were at least three-quarters true.
He slammed the gavel several times, glared at Ji Shubai, and motioned him to sit down.
Lin Zhihe watched Ji Shubai get caught up in it, and the onlookers outside the government office kept talking about it. At this moment, he had to ask, "Master Ji, do you have a private affair with this woman?"
Ji Shubai's face was pale, his hands tightly grasped the armrests of the chair, he only looked at Song Jin, trembled his lips and said: "I don't have any private feelings with this girl."
"Then the remarks made by this girl just now were not made by you, right?"
"It has nothing to do with me..."
"So, was the hug in the street true or false?"
"Sir, many people saw this incident at the time."
Mo Hongfu interrupted the conversation, and just as he finished speaking, someone outside shouted that he had indeed seen them. On the Lantern Festival, under the lantern rack, the two of them were hugging each other in an inappropriate manner.
Lin Zhihe became angrier and angrier as he listened. Even when Ji Shubai stood up and said that it was caused by firecrackers and that he had lost control by hugging the girl, it did not calm him down. He banged the gavel loudly to suppress the discussions below.
Mo Hongfu came prepared, and Ji Shubai and Song Jin were caught off guard.
He himself was implicated, and no matter what he said, it would only be seen as a pretense, and Song Jin...
Song Jin knelt there with her brows lowered, motionless and silent. Ji Shubai was far away and couldn't see the expression on her face, but he guessed that she must be crying.
She has always been a tearful person.
In fact, Song Jin just felt that it was too noisy. There was noise in the hall and outside the hall. It made her restless and her whole body cold.
How can you be so shameless in such broad daylight? This little vixen is so good at tricking people. She disguises herself as a man to seduce men. She has a bad family reputation and is shameless. If it were my daughter, I would break her legs...
Song Jin heard it so many times that he gradually became numb. He never met Ji Shubai's eyes.
"Lady, do you have anything else to say?"
Song Jin slowly came back to his senses, raised his eyes to look at Lin Zhihe, and asked calmly: "May I ask, sir, what crime have I committed?"
What sin?
Is it a crime to be immoral? Will you be taken to court for hugging and cuddling? It seems not.
Lin Zhihe was asked a question in return, and he did not react for a moment. What kind of crime is this? It is at most a stigma.
The stigma is unpleasant, but it is not illegal.
"I want to ask you, on the tenth day, when you met with the officials to discuss, did you cheat?"
Song Jin still asked: "Sir, I am a good servant and I don't know what fraud is. Can you explain it to me?"
Lin Zhihe was already furious, and now he had to explain to her what fraud was. He turned his head in annoyance and asked the clerk to explain to Song Jin.
What is fraud?
Anyone who uses tricks to defraud officials or private individuals in order to obtain money or property shall be considered to have committed fraud and be charged with theft.
If relatives or below defraud each other, it is considered fraud and will also be treated as theft.
If a supervisor steals the things he is guarding by defrauding them, it will be considered as fraud and he will be charged with the crime of stealing by the supervisor.
If someone impersonates someone else to make money, defraud, or kidnap someone's property, it is considered fraud and will be treated as theft. [1]
Song Jin listened quietly and finally asked, "Fraud, in terms of property, since I didn't get any property, how can it be considered fraud?"
Lin Zhihe was also stunned after hearing this. He had been asking questions for a long time but had not asked about fraud. He had only been talking about personal morality and had even implicated his subordinates. Only when he was reminded did he remember to ask Mo Hongfu.
"Tell me, who did she defraud? Who asked you to file a lawsuit?"
Mo Hongfu said: "Sir, this person is a fraud, and anyone can expose him. Even if he is not a fraudster, the villain can still sue him. It is everyone's responsibility to eliminate harm for the people."
He looks righteous, as if he is trying to prevent others from being cheated.
"So you mean no one was cheated, right? I think you are trying to defraud me." Lin Zhihe realized that he had been tricked and became furious.
"Sir, I am innocent." Seeing that Song Jin tried his best to avoid the question of personal morality and seized on the loophole of fraud, Mo Hongfu immediately changed his words: "Sir, this little girl disguised herself as a man and went out to do business. Her behavior was immoral and really violated morals. If this gets out, people will think that all the girls in Suzhou are so promiscuous."
He would lead her to wherever she was hiding.
"grown ups--"
Song Jin and Ji Shubai spoke at the same time. Both of them were surprised. After looking at each other, they heard Lin Zhihe lower his voice and said to Ji Shubai: "Shut up! Don't get involved."
Ji Shubai had no choice but to keep silent. Song Jin continued, "Sir, in our Ming Dynasty, there is no saying that women cannot dress up as men, nor that women cannot engage in business. If that is the case, what crime have I committed?"
"That's wrong." Mo Hongfu said, "Sir, violating the laws of the Ming Dynasty will of course be punished, but violating morals cannot be let off. During the Lantern Festival, people are hugging and embracing each other openly in the crowd. If they are not punished, and others follow suit in the future, won't the streets of Suzhou be filled with men and women flirting with each other, and even taking off their clothes..."
"presumptuous!"
"You farted!"
With a "bang" sound, Lin Zhihe angrily scolded Ji Shubai and Song Jin: "What are you arguing about?"
Seeing that the case was going from bad to worse, Lin Zhihe couldn't help but glare at Mo Hongfu. It was really like a dog's mouth cannot spit out ivory.
"Are you going to bring something without any evidence to court?"
Mo Hongfu leaned forward and said yes, then continued, "Sir, it is against the rules for this woman to do business. Everyone has a sense of shame. Even the prostitutes in that courtyard ride in sedan chairs when they go out. This prostitute is like this, let alone a decent girl, or a good servant who still behaves like a bitch."
"Sir, women have been doing business since ancient times. How is it against the rules?"
"I wonder if this girl is referring to Zhuo Wenjun of the Han Dynasty?" Mo Hongfu said to Lin Zhihe confidently, "Sir, in ancient times, there was Wenjun who sold wine at the bar, but that Wenjun was a widow who eloped, which was despised by people. Although selling wine at the bar is not against the law, old man Zhuo was so embarrassed that he had to pay silver to stop the business. It can be seen that it is really immoral for women to do such things outside. Besides, those were all things of the Han Dynasty. Do we in the Ming Dynasty have to follow the rules of the Han Dynasty?"
"The old man of the Lu family is shameless. He actually asked his daughter to do business outside. What kind of business? It's a restaurant, but it's spread far and wide, who can tell for sure? I heard recently that the shopkeeper of this shop is delicate and frivolous, and jokes with customers casually. If it's said to be a restaurant, people who don't know would think it's a brothel. It's okay for this one person to do this, but if all the girls in Suzhou learn from this, wouldn't it be a mess? In the future, when outsiders mention Suzhou girls, there will be no trace of gentleness, and they will only say slutty things."
"Sir, how did I, a little girl, bear the reputation of all the women in Suzhou Prefecture? Isn't it that someone is deliberately exaggerating? I was just telling stories in the shop, how could I say anything frivolous? He is framing me."
"Sir, which girl is telling a story in the shop? What kind of story is she telling? Love and affection, forever and ever, sir, listen to me, are these things suitable for a girl to say in public? Do you have any shame?"
"Sir, if this love story between a man and a woman cannot be told to the public, then all the opera troupes in the city should be withdrawn."
"Sir, I have never heard of any opera troupe performing casually on the street. They are all paid to perform, set up a stage, and put on their costumes before they can perform. Moreover, this girl has compared herself to an opera troupe. Isn't this a disgrace to the reputation of decent women?"
"You--" Song Jin was speechless for a moment. She began to understand why Wen Ya had chosen this bastard.
"Sir, in my opinion, the Three Obediences and Four Virtues are the qualities that women should have. As the saying goes, one should obey the father at home. She should be taken home by the head of the household and confined to be educated, rather than allowed to go out in public and corrupt morals."
"Sir, if you really think it is disrespectful for a woman to show her face in public, why don't you just avoid me, instead of restraining my feet? Everyone says that a woman without talent is virtuous, but they forget that the latter sentence is that a man with virtue is talented. If a man lacks virtue, why is it the woman who is punished?" [2]
"My Lord, listen to this, this woman wants to be on an equal footing with men..."
"Okay!" Lin Zhihe listened for a while and felt a headache from the quarrel. At this time, he shouted and stopped the quarrel between the two.
He glared at Mo Hongfu, telling him to shut up, then glared at Song Jin and scolded him, "Listen to what you are saying."
Anger mixed with grievance surged up all of a sudden, and my vision became blurred.
"Sir," Mo Hongfu bowed deeply, slowed down his voice, took off the sharp-tongued mask just now, and put on a well-behaved and sensible look: "What this woman said is reasonable. Girls are shallow and don't understand reason. Sir, you should reprimand her, give her a small punishment and a big warning, and let the head of the family take her back and teach her carefully at home. It will also show your sympathy for the people."
"It's your turn to be considerate of me!"
Song Jin shouted loudly and suddenly jumped up from the ground. He stretched out his right hand into a claw shape and struck Mo Hongfu in the face from the upper right to the lower left.
The hall immediately became quiet. Song Jin could feel the throbbing from his fingertips. The throbbing was accompanied by pain. With a scream, Song Jin saw Mo Hongfu's face clearly.
From the upper left temple to the lower right cheek, four bloodstains crossed the bridge of the nose and lips, three heavy and one light, and blood was slowly oozing out.
"Ah—my face—"
The scene suddenly became chaotic.
Ji Shubai saw veins throbbing on Lin Zhihe's forehead, and he reached out to grab the gavel. He quickly stood up and pointed at Song Jin and shouted, "How dare you! You beat someone up in court. Do you still have the law in your eyes? Someone, take her to the side hall and lock her up. We'll try her later."
When the bailiffs heard the order, they immediately came over to arrest Song Jin.
Song Jin had been pulled once in the afternoon, and a familiar feeling of fear came over her. At this moment, the regret and anger brought by Ji Shubai's accusation instantly overwhelmed the fear. She stared at Ji Shubai: "Ji Shubai——"
Before she could finish her words, the Jawi stick had already fallen on her shoulders, pushing her down. Song Jin immediately knelt on the ground, allowing the man to twist her arms and drag her out.
"I hate you!"
Song Jin kicked his legs and uttered a harsh word. In the chilly spring breeze, Ji Shubai felt soaked all over.
Before Lin Zhihe could bang the gavel in his hand, Ji Shubai had already given the order. Until Song Jin was dragged out by the bailiffs, his hand was still hanging in the air.
"Is it you who is trying the case, or is it me?"
Lin Zhihe angrily rebuked Ji Shubai. Song Jin was so panicked that he could not see the truth clearly. But Lin Zhihe knew in his heart that if he followed his will, the young lady would be punished on the spot. Otherwise, how could he deal with the fact that he openly attacked others in court during the trial? How could he keep his dignity as a prefect?
However, at this moment all the prisoners had been dragged away, leaving only the victim screaming and howling in the hall. Why should he be punished?
"Come with me!" Lin Zhihe left angrily, and Ji Shubai had to follow him.
The clerk below chased after him and said, "Sir, what should we do with Mr. Mo?"
Lin Zhihe yelled angrily: "What should I do? What should I do? If I don't ask for a medical officer, do I still need you to take care of it myself?"
The clerk went away dejectedly.
"You, you, what can I say to you?"
After entering the study, Lin Zhihe scolded Ji Shubai with a look of disappointment: "You are already old, it's fine if you don't want to get married, but why did you hug someone in the street and let others talk about it in public? What's wrong? Do you want to be proud?"
"Sir, the hug was indeed a misunderstanding. It was just a firecracker that rolled down to her feet..."
"So what? Didn't you see that Mr. Mo was just using this to make a fuss? She was clearly coming for you, and you were still protecting her in court. Do you think I can't see that? It was just rumors at first, but now you've made it real. How else do you want me to protect you?"
"That young lady is also a bitch. She actually dared to beat and injure others in front of me. Does she still have me as the prefect in her eyes? If I don't punish her today, I will be a prefect in vain."
"grown ups--"
"Will you try to protect her for me again?"
"Sir," Ji Shubai refused to shut up, "It was obviously that scholar Mo who took advantage of the situation to embarrass the girl. He took advantage of the law to bring this matter to the government under the name of fraud. He was not trying to eliminate harm for the people, but was clearly trying to destroy her."
"Since you can see it clearly, why can't you do it? Tell me about what you did..."
Lin Zhihe didn't know how to scold Ji Shubai.
"Why can't you tell me to worry less? Even if you don't agree with the marriage your uncle has arranged for you, you can just choose one yourself. You don't want this or that. What? Do you want to marry a fairy? You are old, and your family is empty. You will cause gossip outside. It will be embarrassing when you go out and get pointed at by others, right?"
"Tell me, what happened between you and that girl?"
"She... has known me for some time."
Ji Shubai imitated Song Jin and slowly weaved a lie, turning Song Jin's threat to him into a misunderstanding, causing the girl to suffer. He regretted it for a while and decided to help the girl get rid of her citizenship, but he did not mention how she did it.
For a fifth-rank official, it was just a matter of words and was not worth mentioning. However, Song Jin suffered a lot in order to get those words.
Ji Shubai also mentioned that he found Song Jin's words interesting, and after meeting him several times, they gradually became familiar with each other.
When Lin Zhihe heard this, he was overwhelmed: "A nice girl came to your house to meet you, and you told me that you two didn't have an affair? Are you kidding me?"
"Tell me about what you did. If you really wanted to, you could have married her. At least it would have been legitimate. What's the point of doing this now? If you are accused of adultery, I will lose face too."
When it comes to getting married, Ji Shubai fell silent. Although Lin Zhihe had heard him mention the reason, he knew it was an excuse.
"Why? Are you afraid that she will end up like your mother?"
When Ji Shubai mentioned his mother, his eyes suddenly became wet, but he still refused to explain.
"I've told you that you should look forward and stop dwelling on the past. You can't change it. Now you're an official, and those people are dead. You can be proud of yourself. Just be careful. Do you plan to be a widow for the rest of your life? If your father and mother knew about this, would they be at peace?"
Ji Shubai turned his head away, stubbornly refusing to respond.
Same temper as Song Jin.
"Okay, I'll review this case later. You're bound to be punished. And you, don't go out to protect her again, or I'll punish you severely. You don't have to report for duty these few days. Go home and stay out of the spotlight."
"grown ups--"
"If you say one more word, I'll punish her right now!"
Ji Shubai shut up unwillingly.
Lin Zhihe originally came to join in the fun and try an interesting little case, but they ended up fighting in court. He was furious, but he could see clearly that Mo Hongfu was really a piece of shit.
Damn it, he has read so many books that the guy is so stupid. Is he speaking human language in class? It is obvious that he is trying to provoke the other person, but the guy on the other side fell for it.
When he thought about the continued trial and punishment, and the involvement of his capable subordinate, he couldn't help but feel a headache.
However, the headache was not over yet, as a man staggered in from outside.
"Sir, sir, the prefect..."
"If you have something to say, just say it. Sir, sir, what sir?" He was so angry.
"There's a fight outside."
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