Chapter 308 Start of the Trial, Protest Injustice by Beating the Drum
Jiang Yichun gave Bai Ruozhu a smirk and then jumped out of the window.
Dengdeng watched him disappear in a flash and broke down in a big cry.
Bai Ruozhu shut the window and carried Dengdeng back to the bed, whispering: "Haven’t you had enough fun yet? Isn’t it great to have mommy play with you?"
But Dengdeng’s crying was extremely pitiful, his eyes couldn’t help but look towards the window, obviously reluctant to say goodbye to Jiang Yichun. Bai Ruozhu was reminded of her own childhood in her previous life, when she was studying traditional medicine at her grandpa’s place, her mom would visit regularly but had to go back to work in the city. Each time her mom left, she was profoundly heartbroken, just like Dengdeng right now.
"You little rascal, do you have to like him this much? You’ve only met him a few times," Bai Ruozhu grumbled with a sour heart. Sometimes when she left Dengdeng with Guizhi while she went out alone, Dengdeng never cried like this!
Suddenly, she thought of a question. Dengdeng really liked Jiang Yichun, and when they were at the stall, Dengdeng was also fond of Jiang Yichun when he was wearing the mask. Could he tell it was the same person?
Bai Ruozhu immediately laughed and shook her head. Dengdeng was so young, how could he tell, it was probably because children can distinguish the scent of the people they like.
At that thought, she remembered the vague sweetness that floated into her nose, a bit like the smell of bamboo leaves coupled with a cold, crisp scent. That aroma seeped into her nostrils while she was in a hazy state after giving birth, settling deeply into her memory.
She fed Dengdeng, and after, lay down for a deep sleep. She had a tough fight ahead of her tomorrow, and now there was another layer of safeguard, she was even more confident.
...
Early the next morning, County Government Office was in session. Many common people were watching it from outside. The scandal of this examination fraud was all over Anyuan Town and throughout the whole Anxi Residence.
Xue Wenhui, the Imperial Envoy, took the seat, while Li Shunsheng and others could only stand behind and answer the envoy’s questions from time to time.
Xue Wenhui seemed not very old, about thirty-five or six, and in his prime. Li Shunsheng knew that his rank was not high, but he should be from a distinguished background. However, the details were not something Li Shunsheng, as a minor county magistrate, should worry about.
Xue Wenhui first summoned the chief examiners and deputy examiners of the Child Student Exam to stand trial. Then Li Shunsheng presented him with the evidence and testimony they had gathered. Pleased with Li Shunsheng’s preparation, Xue Wenhui nodded with satisfaction.
With the evidence in place, nobody dared to cry out their innocence. Instead, they all begged the envoy for mercy. Xue Wenhui struck the Courtroom Wooden Block and shouted in a stern voice: "You take Imperial Court’s salary, yet you have failed to observe loyalty to the Emperor. Now with overwhelming evidence, you steel dare to beg for mercy? The examiner, Wang Zhitong, and the deputy examiner, Liu Wenai, have conspired for their own gain, selling exam questions. They shall be beheaded immediately. Their properties will be confiscated, and their families and offspring will be banished from official posts!"
The onlookers outside the main gate murmured in surprise. The punishment given by the Imperial Envoy was indeed severe.
Bai Ruozhu and her family arrived early to watch the proceedings. Bai Lu was invited over by Bai Zehao early in the morning, with Bai Zeji accompanying him. However, she differed from the common people’s thinking. The Imperial Envoy, right from the start, was making judgements. Who was he representing? His attitude was equivalent to that of the Emperor. She heard that in the Danliang Country where she lived, from the previous king to the current Emperor Wuning, Tang Yin, there had never been a large scale examination fraud. Although this case was just a small local Child Student Exam, it had attracted the Emperor’s attention.
If such an incident couldn’t serve as a warning to the rest, then more fraud cases would follow in no time. No matter when, there would always be people taking risks for the sake of money.
But the ancient law of collective punishment within families was truly inhumane. Initially, its purpose was to monitor each family member, so that one person’s error wouldn’t implicate the entire family. But when it came to those audacious ones, like the chief and deputy examiners in this case, it was their family members who would suffer.
Bai Ruozhu let out a sigh quietly, thinking to herself that if given a chance, she would abolish this law. This wasn’t an act of sympathy for others; rather, after this incident, she feared getting caught up in the troubles from the old mansion side again.
Of course, this issue could be solved. As long as the old man died, there wouldn’t be anyone to shield Bai Yibo’s reckless actions. As for the old lady, what trouble could someone who could be easily handled with money cause?
That being said, for the next few years, she didn’t want the old man to die. Even if he fell ill, she would take the initiative to save him, lest in his death, the family had to mourn for him. Her eldest brother wouldn’t be able to wed for three years, the second brother wouldn’t be able to participate in the Imperial Examination for three years. The damage from this was just too severe...
While she was lost in her thoughts, the chief and deputy examiners had already been taken away, the execution was in three days, overseen by Magistrate Li.
The town’s folk had long gone without seeing an execution. As a result, everyone was quite excited and a lot of people near Bai Ruozhu agreed to meet in three days at the execution ground to witness the beheading.
Immediately after, the Imperial Envoy asked Li Shunsheng to bring up the offending students with serious violations, starting with Bai Yibo. After looking at the documents, the envoy had Bai Zepei brought up as well.
Bai Ruozhu glanced at her family. She had warned them before, saying that the Imperial Envoy had to judge many offenders and might already be annoyed. If they showed up as a big family, they may just make him more annoyed. Although Bai Zehao suggested accompanying Bai Ruozhu to the stand, she turned him down, saying that as a woman and a mother, even if she said something wrong, she would be let off the hook, but not so for men.
The decision to beat the drum and protest the injustice was not taken lightly. In some places, the rule was that after beating the drum, one must first endure twenty hits with a plank. Although Anyuan Town didn’t have this rule, she was not aware of the Imperial Envoy’s character and did not want her family to take the risk with her.
"Ruozhu, I will accompany you," announced Bai Lu, putting on a face as if he was about to make a heroic sacrifice. This made Bai Ruozhu, who was somewhat nervous, suddenly laugh. The ancients indeed took the beating of the drum to protest injustice very seriously.
She gave Bai Lu a slight nod, then bravely stepped forward and played the drum of protest. The drum had not been beaten in years. As soon as she struck it, dust fell from it. In just a few beats, her face was covered in grime.
The drum sound echoed, the noisy crowd outside the Public Hall quieted down. There were many surprised gaze cast upon her. Someone had beaten the drum to protest injustice, and it was a woman!
"Who is beating the drum outside the hall? Bring them in to speak," Xue Wenhui frowned a little and ordered the officer to bring Bai Ruozhu and Bai Lu in.
Bai Ruozhu stepped forward, respectfully paid her respects to Xue Wenhui, and said deferentially: "In reply to your Excellency, I am Bai, Bai Zepei’s younger sister, and I am sounding the drum to protest the injustice for my elder brother."
Bai Lu quickly followed her motion, kneed down and said: "The minor one is Bai Lu, the head of the Bai family sect. Pleased to report to your Excellency."