Mr. Zhuang watched with a smile and, seeing County Magistrate Tang rise, he slightly bowed and said to Bai Shan, "Won’t you quickly thank Lord Tang for his guidance?"
Bai Shan and Manbao hastily paid their respects, and the bewildered Bai Erlang also quickly got up to follow suit.
County Magistrate Tang smiled faintly and took the statement, saying, "This case cannot be tried publicly, but a closed-door trial is still possible, and you two are also witnesses. You may have the opportunity to witness the trial. I shall invite you to attend when the time comes."
Detecting pride in his tone, they nodded repeatedly, eager indeed to see the trial.
Ji Hao’s health was slowly improving, and at last, the Ying Family could visit Young Master Ji at the Ji Family’s home. They were really striving to bail Ying Wenhai out of jail first.
But the Ying Family had waited outside the prison for two days and nights without noticing anyone inside calling for a doctor, and all the items they sent in, no matter how many, were accepted.
Having offered silver to inquire, the jailer affirmed time and again the items were delivered, but claimed that Young Master Ying found them too greasy to eat and rewarded them to others instead.
Since Ying Wenhai wasn’t ill, they had no reason to bring him back home, and so Ying Wei, having no other recourse, reluctantly visited the Prince of Yizhou’s mansion.
The Princess sent a senior maid to the prison, but she was not able to see Ying Wenhai inside.
They, they really had no way to deal with County Magistrate Tang.
Governor Ming was still touring the countryside, incidentally encouraging education in agriculture and sericulture. It was said that despite being sunburned, he persisted in standing at the frontline with the common folk, earnestly dealing with the remaining refugees and ensuring their resettlement.
Meanwhile, Assistant Magistrate Qi had fallen ill and reportedly had been unable to handle public affairs for several days.
With Assistant Magistrate Qi indisposed, County Magistrate Tang was the highest authority in Tang County. Unless the Prince of Yizhou personally intervened, no one else could really get into the prison.
But the Prince of Yizhou kept pretending to be unaware of the matter. He neither impeded the Princess’s efforts for the Ying Family nor interceded on their behalf, making his intervention impossible.
County Magistrate Tang also visited the Ji Family to see Ji Hao, and after confirming that he could respond coherently to questions, he asked him a few before leaving.
Ji Xiang, silent, invited him to the front hall and asked, "Lord Tang, if my Ji Family were to drop this matter..."
County Magistrate Tang chuckled and replied, "If the Ji Family does not wish to pursue the matter, our County Governmental Office naturally would not force you to bring charges. However, this incident is of significant importance, including many students from the academy being implicated. They too deserve an explanation."
He continued, "I have decided to hold the trial the day after tomorrow. If the Ji Family wishes to withdraw the case, you may bring money to the County Governmental Office to close it."
County Magistrate Tang did not care about their private arrangements; he wanted to conclude the case. His lips slightly lifting, Lord Tang doubted the Ji Family and the Ying Family could reach a final agreement in just one day.
After the trial, whether the Ying Family would redeem someone with money or use the influence of the Prince of Yizhou’s mansion was up to them.
County Magistrate Tang rose and took his leave, bowing to Old Madam Ji, who had come behind Ji Xiang, before retiring.
Ji Xiang turned his head only to see his mother, supported by the senior maid, approaching with an icy expression.
The Ji Family ultimately did not appear at the County Governmental Office to close the case. Consequently, on a clear, sunny morning, County Magistrate Tang (really such coincidence) invited the Ji Family, the Ying Family, academy professors, Dacheng Academy’s teachers, and some students to the County Governmental Office.
The gates of the County Governmental Office were closed, everyone sat divided on two sides, juniors stood, and County Magistrate Tang took his seat. He struck the gavel and ordered, "Bring Ying Wenhai forth."
Ying Wenhai, after having been confined in the jail for seven or eight days, had lost weight but seemed to be in good spirits, not looking like he had been mistreated.
The Ying Family’s side breathed a sigh of relief, but the Ji Family did not look pleased seeing Ying Wenhai, their faces grim.
The case, which had unfolded in broad daylight under all eyes, was easy to judge, especially as Ying Wenhai did not deny the charges, making the initial phase straightforward and lacking in technical complexity.
What required expertise was the defense of the two families after Ying Wenhai and a host of witnesses gave their depositions about Qixia Mountain—essentially just the Ying Family’s defense.
The stance of the Ying Family was clear: Ying Wenhai’s actions that injured the horse and caused Ji Hao’s fall were wrong but not intended to harm Ji Hao, especially given Ji Hao’s more visible mistakes earlier, as it was Ji Hao who had started the insults.
A reflexive attack in the heat of the moment is normal.
Old Madam Ji sat with an expressionless face while Ji Xiang stood up to contest, asserting their family had grounds for complaint, such as why they had quarreled on Qixia Mountain to begin with?
Was it not because of the incident at Spring Breeze Pavilion a month prior?
At that time, Ji Xiang had only half a month of leave, not counting the travel time, so he did not have much time to deal with the matter. Moreover, having previously communicated their intentions with the Ying Family, they agreed each family would take their children home for discipline, and the damages at Spring Breeze Pavilion would be split between them, leaving Ji Xiang unable to change his stance without losing face.
Thus, he did not pursue the issue of the wound on Ji Hao’s chest with the Ying Family.
Bringing it up now, he had a sufficient reason, "My son is but sixteen years old; Ying Wenhai injured him so seriously, and considering their ongoing conflict, a few harsh words are normal. But no amount of arguing justifies physical violence."
"Not to mention intent; which youth hasn’t been taught that startling a horse can lead to death? How could the horse not panic when he whipped the horse my son was riding from behind?"
The Ji Family nodded in agreement.
Ying Wei was taken aback and asked, "What injury at Spring Breeze Pavilion? There were injuries from the brawl, my son was hurt too..."
"Humph, your son was hurt, but those were mere flesh wounds. I only later learned that someone had slashed a gash on my son’s chest with a silver hairpin. The wound was not shallow, and it had filth applied to it, preventing it from healing," Ji Xiang said. "With such premeditation, what if they had used poison that time?"
Ying Wei immediately replied, "Lord Ji, you mustn’t slander. We both went to Spring Breeze Pavilion to fetch our children. We saw everything. Other than some cuts on their faces, there were no other injuries. You claim the wound on Ji Hao’s chest was inflicted by my son, but I dare not accept that."
County Magistrate Tang, who had been silent, cleared his throat and interjected, "Lord Ying, I am aware of this matter. Incidentally, it was I who informed the Ji Family of Ji Hao’s injuries, and Ying Wenhai has admitted to the wound on Ji Hao’s chest."
He looked down at Ying Wenhai, who knelt in silence and smiled as he asked, "Ying Wenhai, am I correct in saying so?"
Ying Wenhai lowered his head and replied, "Yes."
Ying Wei, caught completely off guard by this turn of events, was so outraged he nearly keeled over.
County Magistrate Tang continued, "Although Ying Wenhai has admitted to this issue, I still have some lingering doubts that I have yet to resolve. Fortunately, today both Lord Ying and Mrs. Ying are present to clear my uncertainties."
County Magistrate Tang was thoroughly prepared; as soon as the case on Qixia Mountain surfaced, he had Ying Wenhai’s attendants detained and Ying Wenhai himself imprisoned.