Miss and farmhand

"Of course we have evidence—"

Huang Xingtong immediately pulled Shi Tou aside, stopping him from continuing, and turned to reply, "Didn't you say yesterday you wanted evidence? He was on the ship, saw everything with his own eyes, and is an honest man with no ulterior motives. He's straightforward and speaks his mind. I want him to be a witness and recount the events to you, sir. However, since you and Xiao Xu have already spoken, we won't disturb you any longer. We'll come another day. Farewell."

He dragged the stone and was about to leave, already sensing that today was a trap.

Huang Xingtong didn't know why or what the reason was, but he was certain that Zhu Xiaoxu's appearance here was not accidental. He was someone the county magistrate had specifically arranged to set a trap for him.

Sure enough, before anyone could step out of the main hall, two rows of yamen runners appeared on either side.

Stone didn't take them seriously. He didn't realize that the nature of his trespassing on the yamen runners had changed. He still tried to run away, but Huang Xingtong held him back.

"May I ask, Lord Shen, what crimes have we committed? Even the yamen runners have been brought in?"

Shen Jingzong still hasn't stood up.

Huang Xingtong had always looked down on him. Shen Jingzong was a typical official, a mix of good and bad. You could say he was pragmatic, or you could say he was opportunistic. If he were more pragmatic, Huang Xingtong wouldn't have such a bad impression of him. However, although he and Huang Xingtong were both Jinshi graduates, even though his ranking was not high, and he was Huang Xingtong's senior, he had been obsequious to Huang Xingtong from the moment they met, showing no integrity whatsoever as a scholar.

But today, he seemed to finally realize his official authority. He remained seated firmly in the main seat, watching as the yamen runners gathered around and blocked the two men at the door.

He grinned, but his smile lacked sincerity. "Brother Zhirong, what you're saying is... Of course, you're not guilty, but it's just that this young man next to you needs a few words with. How can a student at the academy be so unruly? Throwing a table is no small matter; it's intentional assault. Zhirong, you've been at the academy for a long time, and you're kind-hearted, thinking that someone like this can still be considered a student and is still salvageable. But I'm the county magistrate, and I've seen plenty of these petty scoundrels. If they're appeased, they'll run rampant behind your back. If we don't discipline them, who knows what kind of trouble they'll cause later. Take my advice, Brother Zhirong, hand him over to me, and you can leave it alone."

Huang Xingtong tightened his jaw and said, "He doesn't go to the academy anymore, so there's no need for Lord Shen to worry about him. If he makes any mistakes, I, as his teacher, will teach him. He is my student, and if he commits any wrongdoing, it is my fault for not teaching him properly and for being negligent as a teacher. I, as his teacher, should be the one to take the punishment."

The stone trembled. He had never memorized even half of the Three Character Classic, but now he suddenly regretted not listening to Huang Xingtong and studying properly. Although Huang Xingtong hadn't specifically forced him to study and already knew he wasn't cut out for it, he felt even more sorry for Huang Xingtong now that he had caused him trouble.

Shi Tou and Huang Xingtong were equally baffled by today's events. Yesterday, Huang Xingtong had said the talks went well, though he had been somewhat cold and passive; there was absolutely no sign of this ambush. But it was clear that the magistrate wanted to arrest him. All that sarcastic and drawn-out talk beforehand was just to find a reason to make Huang Xingtong feel guilty and shut up, so he could have a ready-made excuse to arrest him.

What value did his stone have that led to his arrest? It couldn't possibly be over a table. He thought scholars were petty, but not to this extent.

To say that Shi Tou learned anything from Huang Xingtong was a bit of a stretch; he didn't actually learn anything substantial. But he remembered what Huang Xingtong had told them yesterday: that he, Shi Tou, was not qualified, that he was simply not qualified.

The magistrate's going to great lengths to arrest this unqualified person was certainly not for his own sake, but for what he knew—or what he possessed.

Suddenly, Shi Tou felt a chill run down his spine.

Although he knew that things had changed from what Huang Chu initially thought to a momentary whim into something that seemed really serious, he himself hadn't been hurt and didn't know the cause and effect. Therefore, he was playing along with these events with the same playful attitude as if he were listening to legendary stories from a storytelling stall.

But now, he was truly surrounded by the yamen runners, and the county magistrate was sitting on top of him, saying he was going to arrest him. Everyone in this room was of higher status than him and more valuable than his life. Even Huang Xingtong couldn't save him.

He suddenly broke free from Huang Xingtong's grasp and rushed out. The yamen runners, who were all carrying fire and water sticks, didn't even need to lift a finger; they simply grabbed him with a few sticks and threw him back inside.

The stone hit Huang Xingtong, and even though Huang Xingtong tried to help him up, he couldn't, and they both fell against the wall, looking utterly disheveled.

Shen Jingzong and Zhu Xiaoxu remained seated. Zhu Xiaoxu narrowed his eyes slightly, a subtle sense of pleasure emanating from them. Shen Jingzong, however, showed no restraint and burst into laughter.

Huang Xingtong looked down on him, and he probably didn't think much of Huang Xingtong either. He had been an official all his life, and apart from reporting for duty, he had hardly ever spent any time in the capital. Although he had managed his life after being transferred to a post outside the capital well and was like a local tyrant, he still couldn't stand Huang Xingtong's behavior. Yet, he had to appease this self-deprecating literary star. He had long wanted to find an opportunity to humiliate him and make him realize that he would never be so arrogant. Seeing him roll on the ground like this today, he finally released the anger that had been building up for many years.

He feigned concern, saying, "Oh dear, what are you doing? Quickly, help Brother Zhirong up. You clumsy fools, what if you hurt Master Huang?"

The constables rushed forward, ostensibly to help Huang Xingtong, but in reality, they were also scrambling to restrain Shi Tou, grabbing his arms to prevent him from escaping.

Shen Jingzong waved his hand with satisfaction: "Take him away."

He then advised Huang Xingtong, "Brother Zhirong, why are you making yourself like this? He's just a redeemed slave, yet you're so anxious, treating him like a student, and even falling like this for him. I'm just taking him down to ask him a few questions, and I'll send him back to you in a couple of days. You act as if he's gone forever once he's in my hands. What, is this how you see me as a local official?"

Huang Xingtong didn't say anything, but shook off the hand of the yamen runner who was supporting him, straightened his clothes, tidied his disheveled hair, glanced at the two people sitting in the seat of honor, and then turned and left.

The constables behind him instinctively tried to stop him.

"What, are you going to detain me too?"

"Brother Zhirong, you're overthinking it," Shen Jingzong suddenly said in a cold voice, "It was just a sudden matter. It's not that I don't trust you, Brother Zhirong, but it's a matter of utmost importance. Brother Zhirong, please do us a favor—let them search us. What if they've smuggled something out?"

Huang Xingtong froze, his back seemingly even stiffer.

"What's so important?" He turned around. "Wasn't Shi Tou taken away because of that academy matter? What could I possibly smuggle away? I don't understand what you mean, Lord Shen. Would you please explain?"