After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

The back hall of the county government office.

Wang Shouren was sitting by the window, watching the snow falling outside.

Footsteps sounded, and Yang Shen pushed open the door, bringing in a gust of cold air.

Wang Shouren turned around and said with a wry smile, "Yang, the study companion, has arrived."

Yang Shen sat down opposite him, took the hot tea handed to him by the advisor, and warmed his hands with it.

"I heard the Wu family carried a coffin to Shuntian Prefecture?"

Wang Shouren nodded: "I'm leaving. I went this afternoon."

Yang Shen took a sip of tea and then asked, "What does Chief Secretary Wang think?"

Wang Shouren was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Wu Youfu is not that cunning. He must have a mastermind behind him. They want to make things bigger and bigger, to the point that the court will be forced to transfer me to another place."

Yang Shen put down his teacup: "The biggest problem now is not the truth, but public opinion. There's no way to verify the death of that Liu woman."

Wang Shouren said with a heavy expression, "I think so too, but when a person dies, it becomes very troublesome."

Yang Shen said, "It will definitely be troublesome, but the fact that these people have gone to Shuntian Prefecture means they will have to go through the proper channels. They are not afraid of playing dirty tricks, so why should they be afraid of going through the proper channels?"

Wang Shouren asked, "Yang, do you already have a solution?"

Yang Shen nodded slightly and said, "I need you to give me a certificate."

"Prove? What do you want to prove?"

"I'll help you with this lawsuit, but I have no official status. I need you to issue a certificate in the name of the county government to act as my legal representative in the class action lawsuit."

"You want to be a lawyer?"

"Not a lawyer, but a scribe for this case, and only for this case; it is void afterward."

Yang Shen pronounced the words very clearly, which was a last resort.

During the Ming Dynasty, there were explicit regulations prohibiting the instigation of lawsuits among the common people.

Anyone who instigates another to file a lawsuit, or adds or subtracts details from a case when drafting a complaint for another, or fabricates facts to falsely accuse another, will be punished the same as the person making the false accusation. If a lawyer is hired to make a false accusation, they will be treated as having made the false accusation themselves; if there is any exchange of benefits, they will be punished more severely for the crime of embezzlement and perverting the course of justice.

For illiterate people who are unable to submit their legal documents as required, they can ask literate people to draft the documents on their behalf.

However, the person who writes the petition is responsible for its authenticity; otherwise, they will be directly liable.

In short, the profession of lawyer is not allowed in the private sector!

Wang Shouren then asked, "Are you going to file a class-action lawsuit?"

Yang Shen nodded and said, "They want to use public opinion to put pressure on you. Let them see what public opinion really is!"

"Oh no! Oh no!"

The advisor rushed in, covered in sweat.

Wang Shouren asked, "What is it now?"

The clerk said with a bitter face, "Someone from Shuntian Prefecture has come, saying they want to invite you to come over..."

Wang Shouren glanced at Yang Shen and said, "You sit down first, I'll go out and take a look!"

After speaking, he stepped into the front hall, with the clerk following closely behind.

A man stood in the front hall, dressed in a dark blue official uniform, about forty years old, with thick eyebrows and a wide mouth.

Upon seeing Wang Shouren emerge, he quickly clasped his hands in greeting: "Liu Yong, the head constable of Shuntian Prefecture, greets Magistrate Wang."

Wang Shouren nodded in response, "Commander Liu, you've worked hard. Is Prefect Han doing this because of the Wu family?"

Liu Yong replied, "Indeed! Prefect Han has sent me to invite Magistrate Wang to the prefecture for a chat."

Wang Shouren asked, "How does Prefect Han plan to conduct the interrogation?"

Liu Yong hesitated for a moment, then said, "The Prefect said that Magistrate Wang is a man of great principle and would never do such a foolish thing. However, it is difficult to go against the will of the people, so I sent this humble servant to inform you that you should go and discuss with him how to properly resolve this matter."

After listening, Wang Shouren remained calm and said, "Please ask Liu, the squad leader, to tell Prefect Han that whatever should be done, do it. I have no objection."

Liu Yong looked troubled: "Magistrate Wang, if we follow the procedure, there will be a court hearing tomorrow, which will cause a great uproar throughout the city, and it will affect your career..."

Wang Shouren remained calm and said, "Then let's proceed with the trial. They want to cause trouble? I'll gladly oblige!"

Liu Yong paused, then continued, "The Prefect and your father are old acquaintances, and they mean well, not wanting you to suffer such a loss. If we could settle things privately and get the Wu family to withdraw their lawsuit..."

Wang Shouren waved his hand: "I appreciate the kindness of Chief Liu and Prefect Han. Please inform Prefect Han that I will be at Shuntian Prefecture early tomorrow morning to cooperate with the investigation."

Liu Yong opened his mouth, but could only clasp his hands in a fist and say, "In that case, this humble servant will take his leave."

"Someone, see Liu, the squad leader, off!"

Wang Shouren returned to the back room, where Yang Shen was still drinking tea.

"Gone?"

"I'm gone."

Wang Shouren sat down and said, "The Shuntian Prefecture will hold a court hearing tomorrow."

Yang Shen put down his teacup: "In that case, I'll go back and prepare the complaint. Remember to bring me the supporting documents tomorrow."

Wang Shouren nodded, but his brows remained furrowed.

Yang Shen glanced at him: "Are you in a bad mood?"

Wang Shouren smiled wryly: "Who could be in a good mood when they're caught up in something like this?"

Yang Shen took a piece of paper out of his sleeve, slapped it on the table, then picked up a pen and began to write and draw.

Wang Shouren was a little curious, so he went over to take a look and immediately burst out laughing.

The paper depicted a large, round head, and with a few strokes, a disdainful expression was sketched.

"Yang, what are you drawing?"

"This is called... Eat shit!"

Yang Shen wrote four large characters on the painting, then put down his brush.

"Wang Sizhi, take this painting, imagine those despicable people who oppose you, then stand in front of them and shout, 'Eat shit!'"

Images began to form in Wang Shouren's mind, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.

"Yang, what kind of method is this?"

"This is called the 'emotional diversion technique'!"

Yang Shen, in a serious tone, asked again, "How are you? Feeling better?"

Wang Shouren looked at the paper, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed out loud: "It's much better now!"

-----------------

The next morning, at the entrance of the Shuntian Prefecture government office.

As dawn broke, the entrance was already crowded with people.

A red lacquered coffin stood in the center, covered with white silk, making it particularly conspicuous.

Wu Youfu, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt beside the coffin, crying until his voice was hoarse, still wailing.

The onlookers pointed and whispered among themselves.

"Was it really Magistrate Wang who forced him to his death?"

"They've gone so far as to bring a coffin to lodge a complaint, how could it be false?"

"Tsk tsk, officials are so ruthless..."

Outside the crowd, Wang Shouren approached with two constables.

Upon seeing this, Wu Youfu scrambled to his feet and lunged forward to grab Wang Shouren's leg, shouting, "Wang Shouren! You owe me the lives of my family! You corrupt official..."

Two constables, quick as lightning, stepped forward to stop them: "Step back! Don't be rude!"

Wu Youfu struggled and shouted, "Someone in my family died, and I can't even speak?"

Wang Shouren glanced at him and said calmly, "Speak your mind in the hall!"

After saying that, he walked straight into the yamen, with the two constables following closely behind.

Wu Youfu was stunned for a moment, then shouted at the top of his lungs, "Fine! I refuse to believe that there is no law in the Ming Dynasty! Today, the magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture will make you, this corrupt official, pay with your life!"