The old woman heard this
“We are from Badaoling, Yonghe County. We have heard that an honest official has come to Tai’an Prefecture, but my son is in such a state now that his life is ruined. What use is it to us what kind of official he is?”
All I hope for is that my son and I can live out our lives peacefully!
Now that I've met you, if you can help my son stand up for the rest of his life, even if he has to walk with crutches, I'll be content!
"From Yonghe County? Then we're from the same hometown!"
It must have taken you almost a whole day to get here!
"Yes, we left at five in the morning and didn't arrive until after four in the afternoon."
"Have you had lunch yet? Nanxing, go check if there's any porridge left from lunch, heat up two bowls and bring them over!"
Brother Chen, can I borrow your tent for a moment?
"Of course, just use it!"
After giving Nanxing her instructions, Xie Yushu shouted something at Chen Chuang, who was running around.
Yesterday's arrival was rushed, and today Chen Chuang has brought over two more female servants and two more household servants. They have already set up two more tents next to his wife's tent, both of which are warm and cozy.
Xie Yushu asked Zhao Hu to help carry the man on the cart into the tent so that she and her daughter could warm up.
"No, thank you! We've already troubled you enough!"
"It's nothing! No trouble at all. Besides, this porridge was paid for out of Lord Han's own pocket to feed the people who came to see him. I'm just doing him a favor!"
"This Lord Han is truly a good official; it's a pity I had bad luck in my childhood!"
The old woman sighed, "Well, she did agree after all."
"You said it yourself, now that you've met me, maybe your son's leg will be cured!"
And then he met such a good official as Lord Han, whose leg was healed, so naturally he could seek justice and continue his studies! His luck had finally turned around!
In this world, there are bad people and good people, bad things and good things. As the saying goes, "misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise." Even if you encounter misfortune for a time, who knows if you might turn misfortune into blessing?
So, people should look forward. As long as a person is alive, their life is not over yet, and anything is possible!
Comforting patients and getting them to cooperate with treatment is the most basic professional quality of every excellent doctor. Although Xie Yushu didn't know what this man had gone through that made him so depressed and even lifeless, since he had become her patient, she had an obligation to say a few words.
Fortunately, her efforts weren't in vain. She didn't know which of Xie Yushu's words had touched the man in the car, but he opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Can you really heal my leg? And is Lord Han really as incorruptible as you say?"
"Of course, haven't you heard everyone now calling Lord Han 'Upright and Just Lord'? The eyes of the people are discerning!"
"What Lord Han? Are you talking about me?"
As soon as Xie Yushu finished speaking, Han Zhongyu lifted the curtain and came in.
"Speak of the devil, and he appears! You really can't help but mention it! There seems to be a wrongful case you'd like to hear about!"
Upon hearing of the injustice, Han Zhongyu's expression turned serious. He glanced at the group and, noticing the man lying on the cart, asked in a low voice...
"Who is this person and what grievance do they have that they wish to appeal to this official?"
The mother and daughter were somewhat incredulous when they suddenly saw the upright and just official whom everyone praised, and they were stunned on the spot.
Seeing this, Xie Yushu dared not let the words of a dignified third-rank governor fall to the ground, and quickly reminded him.
"This is Lord Han, the upright and honest official who beheaded corrupt officials, distributed grain to the people, and taught them how to build houses!"
"You haven't even bothered to greet me or reply!"
The two then seemed to wake from a dream, and the old woman immediately kowtowed deeply.
"This humble woman greets Your Honor, the Upright and Just Magistrate!"
Unable to stand, the man excitedly raised his head, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble subject greets Lord Han!"
Han Zhongyu nodded.
"Rise!"
Originally, the case should have been discussed in the main hall of the government office, but since we have met here today at Doctor Xie's place, you should tell the truth about any grievances you have, without any deception. If what you say is true, I will surely clear your name!
But if what you say is false and you are making false accusations against others, I will punish you according to the law. Are you aware of this?
"This humble subject knows, and this humble subject would never dare to falsely accuse others!" the man said earnestly.
"Tell me the truth about any injustice you have suffered!"
The man excitedly cupped his hands in a bow and said...
"I am a native of Badaoling, Yonghe County. My name is Sun Chongren. I was a student in the Yonghe County School. Two years ago, before I entered the examination hall for the spring examination, my classmate Xiao Yuanhang told me that my father had rolled down a hillside and his life was unknown. Upon hearing this terrible news, I gave up the examination and went home to visit my father."
If my father had simply died from an accidental fall, I would have been grieving, but I would have accepted my fate.
But I later learned that the essay that Xiao Yuanhang wrote to pass the imperial examination and was praised by the county magistrate was actually the policy essay that I had written as a practice question before the spring examination!
Not only his article, but also those of Cao Chengan and Li Mingcheng, who were close to him, were posted as excellent works. I had prepared all three of their articles before the Spring Examination based on the style of previous years' questions!
After I found out, I went to confront the three of them about it, but they arrogantly had someone break both my legs.
I was unwilling to accept this, so I appealed to the county government. Little did I know that Li Mingcheng was the county magistrate's brother-in-law. The county magistrate immediately ruled that I had made a false accusation, gave me thirty lashes, stripped me of my title as a student, and banned my family from participating in the imperial examinations for three generations!
"Your Honor, I am truly innocent! Those people plagiarized my article and even counter-sued me for slander! I beg Your Honor to do me justice!"
"Xiao Yuanhang? Is that Xiao Yuanhang who lives in Phoenix Mouth?"
Xie Yushu asked after hearing this.
"Yes, Dr. Xie knows this person?"
Sun Chongren asked in surprise.
"It's more than just knowing! Plagiarizing other people's articles—I might doubt if other students did it, but Xiao Yuanhang's character is truly capable of doing it!"
"Are you very familiar with him?"
Upon hearing Xie Yushu's words, Han Zhongyu couldn't help but ask further questions.
Upon hearing that it was Xiao Yuanhang, Nanxing remembered that Qu Xiaodie and Xiao Haitang had specifically mentioned the Xiao family and repeatedly warned her to be wary and cautious when encountering members of the Xiao family in the future. She immediately started ranting and raving like a little firecracker.
"That's right, our lord was really screwed over by that bastard! If it weren't for our lord's strength, we don't know if he would still be alive today!"
"What do you mean? Tell me the truth in detail, without hiding anything!"
Han Zhongyu said solemnly.
Nanxing didn't hold back either, angrily saying...
"None of Xiao Yuanhang and his family members are good people! In the beginning, when the Xiao family heard that our lord was the most virtuous and capable girl in the surrounding villages, they eagerly went to propose marriage."
After the marriage was arranged, a severe drought soon began, and the manor lord's family was no longer well-off. Xiao Yuanhang then seduced the manor lord's cousin. Because the cousin was the clan chief's granddaughter and her family had plenty of land and surplus grain, she was given ten dan of rice as a dowry. As a result, the Xiao family broke off the engagement with the manor lord and married the manor lord's cousin instead!
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