Barely awake from a deep stupor, Su Sikong shook his groggy head, hastily imploring the Yamen runner for some water to drink.
Unexpectedly, the same Yamen runner who usually attended him with respect was now gloating over his misfortune, taunting him mercilessly.
"Ah! Lord Deputy County Magistrate, as the saying goes, a phoenix that has lost its feathers is inferior to a chicken. Once in the big prison, do you still regard yourself as the noble official? Wanting to drink water, fine! But bring out the silver. This very rule was set by you – no money, no food, no drink."
The runner stretched out his hand in anticipation, eliciting a round of laughter from the others.
"In the past, we paid you so much silver, now you just need to give us a bit, and we can easily spend it! You rest assured, with the name of Deputy County Magistrate Su, as long as you request it, not just a bowl of water, but even roasted duck from Quanfu Building or first-grade wine from Drunken Red Building could be brought here for you!"
This statement instantly gave rise to another wave of hearty laughter!
"I... I don’t have any money..."
Stammered Su Sikong.
When his official robes were stripped from him earlier, the person doing so, like an expert pickpocket, had proceeded to relieve him of all his valuables.
Where could he have any silver left?
"No money? Then stop your whining here, I spit!"
The government employee spat on Su Sikong’s face, "Do you still think you’re that arrogant and domineering deputy county magistrate, Su? Without money, you still want to drink water? Good! Come on, I’ll give you water, drink!"
The man placed a bowl of water on the ground and while Su Sikong was urgently leaning forward to drink, he savagely pushed his fat face into the water, as if he wanted to torment him to death.
Thinking about it, in the past, Su Sikong was all powerful, holding the upper hand.
He had often made his subordinates suffer.
Now that they saw an opportunity, wouldn’t they take their chance to give him a good thrashing?
They wished they could make Su Sikong beg for mercy.
Only when it seemed that Su Sikong had no air left to exhale and hadn’t taken a breath in a while, did they let go of him: "Throw him into the innermost black prison, and let the handful of death row prisoners in that cell educate him! Let’s see how thick our Lord Su’s skin really is!"
At this, the crowd burst into sustained laughter!
The news of Su Sikong’s dismissal and imprisonment quickly spread as he was sent to jail.
In the government back office, the anxious Su Yue’er - who had been waiting for the news - couldn’t believe it at first.
Only when the Wu Zuo, who had gone to check earlier, returned to give his report did she hurriedly rush to the black prison with a maidservant.
Without a doubt, Su Yue’er was beautiful!
With a graceful figure, delicate features, and captivating eyes, anyone who glanced at her would be compelled to give her everything, wishing they could offer her the world.
She was very much aware of this, and had always used it to her advantage!
But today was different!
Her beauty, once unstoppable, faltered at the entrance of the black prison!
"Get out! We only have convicts here, not any deputy county magistrate. If you’re looking for a County Magistrate, go find one somewhere else!"
The man guarding the prison gate was dismissive, showing no mercy as he shooed her away!
"You!..."
Su Yue’er wanted to fly into a rage, but seeing his self-satisfied demeanor, she instantly understood something, forcing herself to suppress her short temper and signaled her maidservant to produce a piece of silver.
"Gentlemen, I’m merely here to visit my father, Su Sikong, just to exchange a few words. I assure you, I won’t cause any trouble. Please show some leniency."
Rushing to hand over the silver to him, she repeatedly pleaded, bowing her head in deference.
The prison guard took the silver, glanced at it, and casually handed it over to a minor official in a white gown standing next to him.
"Hehe! It seems that Miss Su indeed doesn’t know the cost of life since she doesn’t manage a household. With such a small piece of silver, how are we brothers supposed to share it? Should each person cut out a corner?"
His scorn, laid bare in his laughter, brought Su Yue’er nearly to tears.
But in front of these prison guards, who had long been accustomed to life and death, it only added another topic of laughter, without being of the slightest use.
Reluctantly suppressing her quick temper, she signaled her maidservant with a flicker of her eyes. The maidservant hurriedly began to fumble around her body.
Normally when she went out, she was the one being waited on hand and foot. Why would she carry extra silver?
The maidservant finally managed to produce another piece of silver from her bosom, leaving Su Yue’er with no choice but to part with her treasured hairpins to make up the sum.
"That sounds about right! It’s not us causing trouble for you, hehe! This is a rule personally established by Deputy County Magistrate Su – no money, no visitation."
The prison guard reluctantly sized up Su Yue’er, realizing that there was no more to be gained from her, and finally made a dismissive gesture: "Wait here, I’ll ask the prison boss whether the person you want to see is here."
We have to be notified?
Su Yue’er frowned, these people were simply...
But before she could say a word, the prison guard had turned and walked back inside.
She was forced to patiently wait, even as the wait seemed unending.
By the time that Su Yue’er’s legs were numbly stiff and the minor official in the white gown was pouring his fifth cup of refreshment, the prison guard was still nowhere in sight, she could no longer repress her anger!
Casting caution to the winds, she marched forward and slammed her hand down on the desk in front of her!
"Hey! You lowly clerks, looking down on others! Have you eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard or something? You take my silver but have the gall to shirk your duties? Where did you go hide? Come out!"
"Oh, you dare to swear at people here!"
The white-gowned minor official, who had been ignoring her all this time, suddenly flared up in anger!
"What do you think you are? Daring to be so arrogant in front of me? Let alone you, even if those officials came here, they’d have to speak to us politely! Brothers, come on!"
He yelled at the top of his voice.
Su Yue’er intuitively knew something bad was about to happen!
The maidservant was even more frightened, retreating behind Su Yue’er.
But before Su Yue’er could react, a group of white-gowned minor officials rushed out from the tightly shut room, surrounding her in the middle, all pointing their shiny, pointed spears at her.
"Wha-wha-what are you trying to do?"
Su Yue’er finally lost her nerve. She just realised that her once unstoppable beauty and noble status meant absolutely nothing in front of these officials whom she usually looked down upon!
"Doing what, huh? Hehe! Brothers, what do you think we’re doing? Hehe!"
The white-gowned minor official suddenly burst into an ominous sneer: "Brothers, throw this insensible girl out! Let her clear her head, let her understand that this is not a place where people like her can go throwing their weight around!"
"Alright! Brothers, let’s assure her we will teach her how to behave, haha..."
The group of minor officials followed with vile laughter and lunged towards Su Yue’er.