Xiang Zhan hurried to deliver the message.
Yuan Yunzhong, who shared the carriage with Song Jiyun, seemed unimpressed.
Song Jiyun’s mind stirred slightly, and she tentatively asked him, "Have you heard anything?"
Yuan Yunzhong’s expression remained indifferent: "It’s just the inevitable result of frequently walking by the river—you eventually get your shoes wet."
In other words, he knew the inside story of Registrar Wang’s situation.
Song Jiyun wanted to get some information from him, but he kept his lips tightly sealed, not uttering a word more than necessary.
It made her teeth itch with irritation.
This fellow, either he says nothing, or he says something infuriating.
Fortunately, on the way, she ran into Zheng Quan, who hurried over.
His expression was even more astonished than Xiang Zhan’s. The mule cart stopped under the roadside tree, and through the carriage curtain, he began to share what he knew with Song Jiyun, "At that time, the people of the Wang Family discovered that Master Wang was beseeching everyone, running all over the county government office, but no one dared to lend a hand. The Wang Family could only watch as Registrar Wang hung from the city tower for two shichen, only to be mysteriously let down and handed over to the Wang Family to be carried back home.
"After this humiliation, Registrar Wang was reportedly furious, summoned his servants, and roared about smashing that house to pieces. But before people were gathered, The County Magistrate Lord had him accused."
"Ah!" Song Jiyun suddenly sat up straight.
Registrar Wang was extremely proud and cunning, and although Liang County had a county magistrate, whose position was above Registrar Wang’s, Registrar Wang still managed to overshadow him completely, making the people of Liang County know only of Registrar Wang, not of the county magistrate.
Zheng Quan, as if afraid Song Jiyun wouldn’t believe it, gave her a wry smile and nodded, saying, "It’s the county magistrate. He accused Registrar Wang at the Chief Secretary of State’s office, claiming that Registrar Wang failed to govern himself, led the debauchery amongst officials by consorting with prostitutes, broke the law, and corrupted the officialdom’s atmosphere, demanding that he be stripped of his rank and made a commoner."
This was indeed... reminiscent of the phrase "A barking dog never bites, but a biting dog never barks." The County Magistrate Lord had always kept his distance from Registrar Wang, but once he took action, it was sharp and decisive, striking Registrar Wang right where it hurt most.
Song Jiyun couldn’t help feeling a sense of admiration: "It seems everyone is an expert here. This time, Registrar Wang won’t die but will surely peel off a layer of skin!"
However, this turn of events was more advantageous for their plan.
Song Jiyun reminded Zheng Quan, "Regarding Registrar Wang’s brother-in-law, you need to act quickly, taking advantage of the current situation unfavorable to Registrar Wang to settle matters."
Zheng Quan had already met with Registrar Wang’s brother-in-law early in the morning. That fellow seemed righteously indignant, speaking of his brother-in-law with utmost gratitude and respect, but when he made a move to leave, the young man subtly made a request, stating that regardless of the outcome, the Song Family should compensate him with fifty thousand taels of silver for his troubles.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help saying, "Miss, are you worried that the matter with Registrar Wang might fluctuate again? I see his brother-in-law is eager to act, regardless of whether Registrar Wang can overcome this obstacle; he’s prepared to change his name and start afresh by taking his parents to Hangzhou."
Song Jiyun laughed, "Registrar Wang was clearly framed, and the person who framed him might even be from their official circles. We have been dealing with people from the official circles for more than a day or two, you should have noticed, but whenever it involves them, anything can happen, and until the coffin is sealed, no one dares to predict the outcome!"
Her words hadn’t even finished when someone suddenly shouted loudly on the road, "Big news, big news!"
Song Jiyun and others couldn’t help but all stick out their heads and look in the direction of the voice.
They saw the shouting person excitedly saying, "Everyone, hurry to the County Government Office to see the excitement! Registrar Wang has been stripped of his rank, they’re saying his family will be exterminated, and he’s to be exiled three thousand miles away!"
Song Jiyun, feeling a surge of emotion, silently cursed, "Serves him right."
Truly, what goes around comes around!
But that thought was fleeting, and she immediately sighed again.
Zheng Quan and the others looked at her in surprise.
She quickly explained, "Oh, this must be false! Registrar Wang was just hung from the city tower yesterday, and today he’s been stripped of his office. Even if the county
magistrate denounced him, it’s unlikely that the denunciation documents have reached Nanchang Prefecture yet, so the results couldn’t have come back so quickly. Besides, since they talk of exterminating his family, how could they also exile him three thousand miles away? If someone is exiled three thousand miles, it’s impossible to exterminate his family."
The extent of his crime was at most losing his office; there was no way his family’s properties could be confiscated and he exiled.
Extermination was even more impossible.
Everyone listening felt somewhat disheartened.
Zheng Quan, however, was not willing to take this lightly and impulsively said, "Miss, I’ll go take a look at the entrance of the Yamen."
Without waiting for Song Jiyun to reply, he quickly ran along with the people passing by on the roadside towards the County Yamen of Liang County.
Song Jiyun let down the carriage curtain only to find Yuan Yunzhong’s gaze deep and fixated on her.
"What is it?" she asked puzzled, while somewhat uncomfortably adjusting her headpiece, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Yuan Yunzhong leaned against the carriage wall and lazily said, "It seems to me you look somewhat disappointed."
"What?" Song Jiyun did not understand at first, then thought for a moment and said, "Do you think I am disappointed because Registrar Wang has not been executed and his family destroyed?"
Yuan Yunzhong did not speak, but his gaze seemed to say "Is it not so?"
Song Jiyun, indignant, hummed twice and said, "I wish I could tear him into pieces. But I would not go as far as to curse his entire family."
Yuan Yunzhong said, "How do you know his family members have not done evil?"
Song Jiyun was taken aback, then said, "Still, evidence is needed!"
Her education from her previous life still dominated her thoughts.
Unexpectedly, Yuan Yunzhong’s gaze flickered slightly as he said, "I didn’t expect you to believe in Legalism."
Among the many schools of thought, Legalism advocates for the rule of law.
"It has nothing to do with who I believe," Song Jiyun said, "Matters of life and death should be treated with caution."
Yuan Yunzhong coldly snorted and said, "Birds of a feather flock together, people are known by the company they keep. By observing Registrar Wang’s actions, one can understand what kind of family he comes from."
It wasn’t about life or death, nor about personal gains, so why bother competing with him to win or lose?
Moreover, Yuan Yunzhong was her life-saving benefactor.
Song Jiyun quickly agreed, "You make a good point."
Yuan Yunzhong, however, just silently looked at her, clearly feeling that she was changing her tune too quickly, suspecting her of being perfunctory.
Song Jiyun couldn’t help but feel both amused and frustrated.
Fortunately, Zheng Quan appeared just in time.
He arrived out of breath and said, "Miss! Registrar Wang has really been dismissed from his position!"
He didn’t mention anything about the family being raided or exiled, hence it seemed it was just a rumor.
But even so, Song Jiyun was stunned for a moment.
She couldn’t believe it and said, "That fast?"
Zheng Quan nodded repeatedly and said, "The official document has already been posted on the eight-character wall of the Yamen. I saw it with my own eyes, and it was stamped by the Chief Secretary of State."
Song Jiyun was emotionally stirred and was about to jump down from the carriage, "Let’s go take a look!"
However, she was stopped by a light cough from Yuan Yunzhong, "Your mother still thinks you are at the Kiln Factory!"
Right! Even if it was to mock Registrar Wang, there was no hurry at this moment.
Now that Registrar Wang was defanged, merely making him lose some wealth would be too lenient, wouldn’t it?
If she didn’t take this opportunity to properly teach him a lesson, wouldn’t she be wasting this favorable wind?
Song Jiyun sat back down, beaming at Zheng Quan, "We need a well-thought-out plan regarding Registrar Wang’s brother-in-law."
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