The board fell on his body again and again. Strangely, except for the first two heavy hits, the rest were as light as a feather, and it didn't hurt at all. This made Xu Xian confused and puzzled, but he thought about it and understood it all at once. Yes, my brother-in-law is the head of the county government, and I must have benefited from my brother-in-law. These yamen runners must have deliberately made a big noise but did little to help him. After figuring this out, Xu Xian's expression became relaxed.
"Ouch, ouch, it hurts so much, please stop hitting me..."
Magistrate Yang, who was sitting in the hall, suddenly felt something was wrong. He seemed to hear a woman begging for mercy. He leaned over to look at Xu Xian who was being beaten with a stick in the hall, shook his head in confusion, and muttered in his heart: Xu Xian didn't beg for mercy either. Besides, he is a man. Even if he begged for mercy, I shouldn't have heard his voice as a woman's voice! Did I hear it wrong! He shook his head and continued to stare at the execution in the hall, but the wailing and begging for mercy in his ears became louder and clearer. Magistrate Yang frowned and said to the master beside him: "Hey, did you hear any sound?"
The master said in bewilderment, "No, sir, what's wrong?"
Magistrate Yang was a little restless. He listened attentively for a while and suddenly realized that the voice of the woman begging for mercy was very similar to that of his third concubine. He had a bad feeling in his heart and ordered the executioner, "Stop! Stop! Stop! Wait a moment before executing." After saying that, he hurriedly slipped into the back hall.
Xiaoqing and Bai Suzhen looked at each other, smiled happily, and said with relief: "This is the way to punish such evil people. It's a good idea for you, sister."
Bai Suzhen sighed and said, "If it weren't for Wen Mei'er who instigated the county magistrate to torture Xu Xian, and if it weren't for her being so cruel, I wouldn't have let you transfer the punishment Xu Xian received to her."
Xiao Qing sneered and said, "She deserves it! Sister, there's no need to feel uneasy."
Bai Suzhen nodded: "I just hope she will learn from today's lesson and be more restrained in the future."
"Hanwen, how are you?" As soon as County Magistrate Yang left, Xu Jiaorong rushed over and hugged Xu Xian, crying bitterly. Her brother had always been weak, so how could he bear so many beatings!
"Sister, don't cry, it doesn't hurt at all," Xu Xian pulled Xu Jiaorong and comforted her.
In order to avoid suspicion, Li Gongfu stood far away and did not come forward. He looked at the two siblings and sighed in his heart.
"Nonsense, how can such a heavy beating not hurt?" Xu Jiaorong wiped her tears and said distressedly: "Hanwen, you have suffered. Even if I risk my life, I can't let this foolish county magistrate beat you with a stick again."
Xu Xian said anxiously: "Sister, don't do anything stupid, it really doesn't hurt at all."
Xu Jiaorong hesitated and said, "How can it not hurt? You don't have to lie to me on purpose to comfort me."
"Oh, sister—" Xu Xian had no choice but to lower his voice and whispered in Xu Jiaorong's ear: "Maybe these officials are doing this for my brother-in-law's sake, so the thunder is loud but the rain is small. It's a fake beating, how can it hurt?"
Xu Jiaorong was still somewhat skeptical, but seeing that Xu Xian looked so relaxed and didn't seem to be lying, she thought that these yamen runners might really be taking care of her brother for the sake of her husband, so she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Inside the county government tent.
Magistrate Yang rushed into the room and saw his third concubine, Wen Meir, rolling on the ground in pain. He hurried forward to help her up and asked anxiously, "Madam, what's wrong with you? Get up quickly."
Wen Meir's face turned pale, and she was swaying and almost unable to stand. She grabbed the sleeve of County Magistrate Yang, with a look of horror on her face: "Master, did you beat someone with a stick in the hall?"
Magistrate Yang replied, "Yes, I am doing everything according to your instructions."
Wen Meier said with a sad face: "Please don't hit me again."
Magistrate Yang asked in confusion: "Why?"
"The blame fell on me."
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Yang snorted coldly, "What a great Xu Xian! He actually uses magic. I'll beat him to death!"
Wen Meir held onto Magistrate Yang, and thinking of the woman's instructions, she said hurriedly, "No, no, this person can only be sentenced lightly, not severely."
Magistrate Yang said unhappily, "Am I still afraid of him?"
Wen Mei'er's face darkened and she shouted, "You're not afraid of him, but are you not afraid of me?"
When Magistrate Yang saw Wen Meir getting angry, he quickly said with a smile, "Madam, please don't be angry. I will just act according to the circumstances."
Wen Meir snorted coldly.
Magistrate Yang returned to the hall, coughed dryly, and shouted in a pretentious manner: "Xu Xian, are you going to confess or not?"
Xu Xian said stubbornly: "Sir, I did not steal the treasury silver. Even if you ask me a hundred times, I will say the same thing."
Magistrate Yang chuckled, slammed the gavel, and shouted: "Xu Xian, do you think I can't convict you if you don't confess? Humph! I will sentence you now-"
"Sir, Xu Xian hasn't confessed yet. It's not right to sentence him like this." The legal advisor at the side secretly tugged at Magistrate Yang's sleeve and reminded him in a low voice.
Magistrate Yang glared at him and said impatiently, "Why are you talking so much? Just draft a document and force him to sign it later." He continued, "Xu Xian, there is solid evidence that you stole the treasury silver. According to the law, you should be beheaded—" As soon as the word "behead" came out, a woman coughed from behind the tent. Magistrate Yang was startled and remembered the order of his third concubine. He quickly changed his words and said, "However, considering that you are young and ignorant, and this is your first offense, I will give you a lighter sentence now. You will be exiled to Suzhou for three years and you will be strictly disciplined. You are not allowed to return to Qiantang without reason, and you can't thank me in court."
Xu Xian was stunned for a moment, and before he could react, Li Gongfu hurriedly stepped forward to pull him, kowtowed and said, "Thank you, sir."
Magistrate Yang nodded in satisfaction and said, "Send him into exile today. Court is adjourned!"