Xu Xian didn't know much about the language of the officials, so he said bluntly, "Why don't I see your younger brother? What a show of strength today, and there's also your family's instructor. Fortunately, I know some martial arts, otherwise, I would have died on the street."
Feng Zhi Hong's face froze, he didn't expect Xu Xian to be so rude. However, he quickly regained his composure and smiled, "My little brother is ignorant, and has offended a great official. I shall apologize to him here. You are a magnanimous person, and will not take it to heart. I have a small gift here to apologize on his behalf." With a clap of his hands, a servant presented a brocade box to him.
Xu Xian took the brocade box and casually opened it. Inside was a foot-long jade scepter. It was sparkling and translucent, very rare. When he saw it, he couldn't help but like it. He was prepared to bring it back for his two wives to admire.
This made Feng Zhihong's eyes twitch again. How could he open a gift in front of him? He was mocking him in his heart, but at the same time, he was relieved. It seemed that Xu Xian wasn't a stubborn person, as long as he was greedy, things would be easy. However, he couldn't understand Xu Xian's current state of mind.
"That's just a small matter. That Instructor Bao had accused me personally. Today, I'll let him go for the sake of the district magistrate, but if I don't vent my anger, I won't be able to think straight."
Xu Xian weighed the jade ruyi in his hand, and he understood Feng Zhihong's intention. The two brothers changed from arrogance to humility to let him know that he couldn't do anything without them, and he couldn't even order a bailiff.
Now, they gave him a way out, and dragged him to eat in the same pot as them.
What did he eat? It was just the people's blood and sweat. Once he touched it, he would become jackals of the same tribe as them.
"You mean that blind dog of a servant? I'll let him come and receive his punishment." Feng Zhihong gave the order without hesitation.
Xu Xian was a little surprised. The reason why he let Instructor Bao go was because of the situation at that time, and also because he wanted to find an excuse to act up.
If they dared to protect him, he could naturally deal with them directly.
In any case, there was no need to worry about martial strength. He could crush them to death with one hand.
Now that Feng Zhihong was willing to hand the person over to him, he would use his authority as an ancient bureaucrat and torture him. He did not believe that Feng Zhihong would not say anything and would be able to climb onto Feng Zhihong.
This way, he would have a legitimate reason to put them on trial. If they acted recklessly, the magistrate and the supervising censors would become King Liang's enemies.
It was easy, but he was afraid that he would not be a county magistrate for long. Pan Yu in the capital would worry about him again.
Feng Zhihong led Xu Xian to the top of a tall building. At this moment, the moon was shining down on them, and they could overlook the entire county from here. It had a kind of antique elegance to it. However, the small city was surrounded by mountains and rivers, isolated from the rest of the world. There was only a rugged mountain road that connected to the world outside the mountains.
However, from time to time, there would be the howling of unknown beasts in the mountains, and white smoke would rise from the mountains. It was unknown how dangerous it was, how could it allow mortals to pass through as they pleased?
On the balcony, there was a small table, a few dishes, and a pot of wine. If it were not for the fact that the person in front of him was not of the right mind, it would have been a wonderful scene.
Feng Zhihong's speech was elegant, and he was actually a first-rate scholar. He was familiar with the classics, the wind and the moon, and the chapters and sentences as if they were his family treasures.
If it was not for the fact that Xu Xian had a photographic memory and had read almost all the classics, he would not have been able to match Feng Zhihong's words.
Feng Zhihong said, "This place is too remote. Once we have settled down, we will go to the prefecture together and have Magistrate Nian arrange a banquet to welcome you."
Xu Xian put down his wine cup and laughed dryly. Sure enough, officials were protecting each other.
As they spoke, the butler came up to report, "Master, Instructor Bao has committed suicide by ingesting poison." His eyes were lowered, and his voice was calm, as if he was talking about something very ordinary.
Feng Zhihong laughed, "At least he still had some conscience. He knew that he had offended the sages and did not dare to continue living in this world. It's good that he died, good that he died!"
Xu Xian was shocked. He did not expect that Instructor Bao would be so cruel to his own people, and even faked his death. He frowned, "No matter what, it's still a human life. How can you be so contemptuous?"
"A human life?
How can such a crude and uncultured commoner be compared to us, who are of high status?
Confucius said, 'Etiquette should not be used on commoners, and punishment should not be used on officials.'
Feng Zhihong laughed and shook his head, "High Official Xu, do you want to take a look?"
Xu Xian said, "There's a murder case, and I want to have an autopsy!"
Feng Zhihong said, "The coroner is also in the residence, please invite Doctor Zhang out!"
When Xu Xian saw 'Doctor Zhang' coming out, he stood up in shock, "Zhang De 'an!"
It was Zhang De 'an. In order to compete with him for the head of the Three Emperors Ancestral Master Association, he did not hesitate to kill someone with a crane's crown. In the end, his family property was confiscated and he was sent to Lingnan. His appearance did not change much, but there was a tattoo on his face.
When Zhang De 'an saw Xu Xian, he did not look surprised. He respectfully knelt down and greeted, "Sinner Zhang De' an greets the county magistrate."
Xu Xian said, "Why are you here?"
Exiling people to Lingnan was not to let criminals travel to Lingnan, but to do heavy labor. If it wasn't building bridges and roads, it was mining and transporting stones.
Feng Zhihong explained, "This Doctor Zhang was originally sent here, but I saw that he had extraordinary medical skills. I couldn't bear to waste him in the quarry, so I recommended him to do some lowly work in the county. Occasionally, he would practice medicine in the residence." He then said to Zhang De 'an, "Doctor Zhang, I heard that you have some grudges with brother Xu?"
Zhang De 'an hurriedly said, "I'm just a commoner, how can I have any grudges with Lord Xu? It's all because I was muddle-headed and made a big mistake. Now that I've been punished, I hope Lord Xu will let bygones be bygones." As he spoke, he smiled.
"Did Instructor Bao really commit suicide?"
Xu Xian's eyes flashed, but she could clearly see that there was a demon with a face full of hatred crouching on his body, absorbing traces of black resentment from his body. This wasn't guilt, it was obvious that this demon was filled with hatred.
Zhang De 'an tightly pressed his head against the ground, not daring to look at Xu Xian's eyes. A layer of cold sweat suddenly appeared on his body, and he trembled as he said, "He really committed suicide." He only heaved a sigh of relief when he realized that he was not telling the truth.
Xu Xian said, "I didn't expect to see an old friend again on this trip to Lingnan, but I heard that the former magistrate of Suzhou, Chen Lun, was also sent to Lingnan. Zhang De 'an, do you know about it?"
"I … I …" How could Zhang De 'an not know that it was Chen Lun who had sent him to Lingnan? His hatred for Chen Lun was no less than that of Xu Xian.
Xu Xian directly said to Feng Zhihong, "Lord Feng, I heard that you have an old friend in your residence. Please ask her to come out and meet me!"
Feng Zhihong was shocked, not knowing how Xu Xian knew. He wanted to deny it, but when he saw Xu Xian's expression, it was clear that he was very certain. He asked, "Brother Xu, do you have a grudge with Magistrate Chen?"
In fact, before Xu Xian came, he had already investigated all kinds of information. He knew that Chen Lun had been ordered by King Liang to harm Xu Xian.
Xu Xian said, "There is indeed a grudge."
Feng Zhihong thought to himself, 'I'm afraid that this Xu Xian is also concerned about the magistrate's wife, which is why he investigated so thoroughly, and can't wait to bring her back to vent his anger.'
Looking at Xu Xian's attitude, if he did not allow it today, he would definitely fall out with him. After hesitating for a while, he finally said, "Invite Madam Chen over!"
In the inner courtyard, Madam Chen was breastfeeding her two children. The two children were eating happily, but her heart was dead. The letter of divorce was still on the ground. No matter how loyal and chaste she was, at this point, she could only accept her fate.
She stared at the portrait of Avalokitesvara on the wall, which she had been worshiping ever since she got it.
At this moment, she could not help but cry and murmur, "Oh Bodhisattva, I have done good all my life, why am I suffering this kind of retribution? Is it true that good people do not have good karma?"
The portrait suddenly flashed, and unexpectedly, Avalokitesvara said, "Have you forgotten what Chen Lun did? Xu Xian saved your life."
Madam Chen was shocked, and immediately knelt down. "Bodhisattva, my master is ungrateful and treacherous, and he plotted to harm Xu Xian. I did not know at first, and I tried my best to persuade him, but he was blinded by power and position, which led to this disaster.
But no matter what, these two children are innocent. If it were not for these two children, I would have died a long time ago. Bodhisattva, please save my two children! "
Avalokitesvara also sighed and said, "Madam, don't worry, your savior has arrived. You only need to ask him for help!"
The maidservant pushed the door open and said, "Madam, Master requests your presence!"
In the blink of an eye, the portrait returned to its original state, and Madam Chen did not respond. She could only wipe away her tears, tidy up her clothes, and follow the maidservant out.
Inside the government office, Bai Suzhen, who was meditating on the bed, opened her eyes.
Madam Chen ascended the tall building, and turned around the screen. Her face had already turned cold, and she no longer showed any signs of sorrow. With the help of the bright moonlight, she saw Feng Zhihong and a young master sitting opposite each other. The young master had clear eyes, and a slender figure, which gave her a sense of familiarity. Her mind suddenly exploded, and she said in disbelief, "You … you are Xu Xian!"
Zhang De 'an said, "Insolent sinful woman, Prince Xu is already the Anlong County Magistrate, quickly kneel down and worship him!"
Madam Chen suddenly saw who was kneeling on the floor, and with a mixture of shock and anger, she said, "Zhang De 'an, you bastard!"
Xu Xian saw that her face had become thinner, and was very different from before, but her appearance was still there. He couldn't help but ask, "Madam Chen, are you alright?"
Madam Chen couldn't help but turn her head away, feeling too ashamed to face him. Suddenly, she remembered Avalokitesvara's words, could it be that he was the savior sent by Bodhisattva? Gritting her teeth, she knelt down and begged, "Prince Xu, I beg you to save me, and my two children!"
Xu Xian was shocked, the Prefectural Magistrate's wife was so dignified, and now she was kneeling down and begging him for help. It was obvious that she had been forced into a corner. He hurriedly helped her up and said, "Madam Chen, please get up!" He turned his head to Feng Zhihong and said, "Official Feng!"
"Why does Madam say such a thing, I consider myself a gentleman, and have never offended Madam. Is it not good for you to stay in my residence?"
Feng Zhihong originally thought that Madam Chen would treat Xu Xian as harshly as she treated him, and that he could continue to protect her. He didn't expect that Madam Chen would take the initiative to beg for help.
Madam Chen didn't even look at him, and only stared mournfully at Xu Xian. Xu Xian squinted his eyes and said, "Could it be that Official Feng is not willing to release her?" If he released her, then he would still have to follow the path of chess, step by step.
If he didn't release her, then he would immediately flip the chessboard and beat him.