Chapter 555: Chapter 544: Still Not Satisfied?
Even though this is an interrogation by the county magistrate, after all, it’s not conducted in the court. Hence, there’s no need to follow too many rules. Under normal circumstances, noise wouldn’t be tolerated, and there would certainly be an official to silence the girl.
But the county magistrate did not interrupt Shen Hua’s childish words, and how dare Mr. Xue overstep his authority and take the magistrate’s role.
Before, he seemed like a lion in fury.
Now, he is like an eggplant beaten by frost. Far from scolding, he only remembers to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
County Magistrate Liu came in a hurry this time, but he didn’t forget to change into his regular clothes.
At his age, it would be difficult to get a promotion, and he hasn’t achieved much in his life. A part of that is because the Magistrate above him did nothing; when he first came to Fengzhou, he had high aspirations, but over time, he no longer had the energy, and every case was restricted by his superiors.
Unable to spread his wings.
Latterly, to protect his official hat, he dealt with the cases he could. Cases that involved the interests of the Magistrate, even if aware of the malevolence inflicting the commons, he could only turn a blind eye.
Though not utterly corrupt, he still falls short of the adage: Officials should be upright, and the divine watches from three feet above.
Now, a scion from the Marquis Yangling Mansion has arrived, and he too wanted to make a name for himself, so he could not be slighted.
"Xue Dan, you are a scholar who rose through the imperial examinations. The Xue Family is poor. To be a teacher in the academy now is a stroke of fortune."
"Chengde Academy is not like other academies; it is for enlightening young children. Although it is a female college, one must exercise utmost patience and cannot be negligent."
"If you take advantage of your position to be unduly severe toward Lady Shen, I believe this does not suit your character."
He spoke very kindly.
After all, most present are little girls. It’s not good to scare them away.
Yet for Mr. Xue, it crushed all his pride.
Mr. Xue hurriedly lifted his robe and knelt down, but before he could speak,
The county magistrate said, "Your Honor, I haven’t finished speaking yet."
Mr. Xue’s words were stuck in his throat, which he had no choice but to forcefully swallow.
"Without ascertaining the true facts, you presumed it was Miss Shen’s doing, which is one mistake."
"The old man is here. Although he no longer teaches, the magistrate has seen his contributions over the years. His authority exceeds yours, yet you didn’t stop, showing you refuse to listen to explanations, are stubborn, and act on your initiative. That is the second mistake."
"All the enlightenment academies in the world were established by the Grand Tutor in coordination with Mr. Mo from the Imperial College during the late Emperor’s reign. Ultimately, they belong to the state. Yet you dismiss students left and right, as if Chengde Academy were your personal property, not Xue’s—this is the third mistake."
"Do you admit it or not?"
Every word pressed down, making Mr. Xue unable to stand up straight.
Seeing this, the old man knew there was no room for turning back. He helplessly shook his head.
After this incident, to say there’s no suspicion toward Mr. Xue would be false.
If it truly was he, he indeed doesn’t deserve to teach anymore.
The County Magistrate glanced at Cui Yun.
Cui Yun, unknown when, sat down next to Shen Hua, took the food box that was brought when she arrived, filled with assorted pastries and tea. It was arranged very delicately and beautifully.
This was prepared by the Shen Family’s kitchen, fearing the girl might be hungry.
The young man who had nonchalantly brought the situation to this state leisurely set these out on the table.
Noticing his gaze, Cui Yun responded with just a faint smile.
"What is it? Do you need me to add anything?"
This signifies dissatisfaction.
"Second Young Master, rest assured, I will not let Miss Shen be wronged," said the county magistrate.
Then, turning to Mr. Xue on the ground, his tone became stern, "We’ll set aside these crimes for now, but tell the truth—does this matter have anything to do with you?"
Naturally, Mr. Xue vehemently denied it.
"No."
"How could I possibly harm a little girl who is inexperienced in the ways of the world?"
This statement, however, somehow lost its credibility at some point.
Cui Yun suddenly spoke up, "Although the students are young, they are also wary of the propriety between men and women. There are people overseeing the female college; I’ve asked, and no outsiders have entered."
"At that time, I was playing chess with the old man, and Ji Qing was by my side."
"The kitchen is quite far from here, with five people working on preparing lunch; all the maids and servants accompanying the households are waiting in the western chambers for the end of the morning session. Even if they moved around, they each have someone to vouch for them."
None of these people are possible.
Shen Hua slowly nodded in agreement.
"If it’s not Xu Qingqing, then only Zhang Qiu and Mr. Xue remain."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Qiu, who had been under suspicion for a long time, slowly widened her eyes. It turned out she had reason to be guessed.
She held back for a long time, then looked at Mr. Xue with incredulous eyes.
If she really had to choose, she still preferred the old teacher more.
The old teacher taught in an especially serene and calm manner, while Mr. Xue was no comparison. Each time he taught, he would focus on teaching only those few students at the front of the class.
It was as if the rest of them were merely inconsequential understudies.
Initially, she was quite happy about it. At least she wouldn’t be singled out to stand up and respond.
But now, the more she thought about it, the more something seemed wrong.
"Mr. Xue."
Zhang Qiu persuaded him: "You might as well admit it."
"You can’t just do something wrong and keep silent about it, and let me take the blame instead."
While there was all the noise and clamor, County Magistrate Liu wanted to interject, but he was observant, and Miss Shen, who was happily snacking and swinging her legs, was enjoying the spectacle.
County Magistrate Liu had a moment of distraction.
He thought, although Miss Shen has a bad reputation and frail health, she has good fortune. To have Second Young Master Cui’s protection like this.
He began to harbor some thoughts.
Shen Hua and his own son were about the same age.
If she would be married into the Liu Family later on, what would there be to worry about?
Zhou Zhizhi looked at Zhang Qiu with deep resentment.
"How can you doubt the teacher?"
Zhang Qiu was unwilling to listen to these words, especially coming from Zhou Zhizhi’s mouth.
Initially, she defended Zhou Zhizhi in every way possible, but eventually found it was like playing the lute to a cow. In fact, it was for her sake that Shen Hua was wronged.
"Is it me who suspects the teacher now?"
"If I don’t suspect him, then it would be your turn to suspect me. Although the saying goes ’Once a teacher, forever a father,’ he is not my biological father after all; why would I take the blame for him?"
She spoke out for once, and Shen Hua found the words gratifying to hear.
"If you are so concerned about Mr. Xue, why don’t you confess to whatever it is yourself?"
Zhang Qiu rhetorically started speaking recklessly in order to prove her innocence.
Let alone her, even ordinary people become anxious in the presence of a governor.
She certainly didn’t want to be thrown in jail or to be beaten with a paddle.
As a result, the more she looked at Zhou Zhizhi, the more she found her displeasing to the eye.
"And don’t say you didn’t come back, that you have an alibi. I’ll believe it if you confess, you who always remember things so well, how come just this time you missed the mark?"
"Shen Hua has made you cry out of frustration several times; you harboring resentment could be categorized as a motive, and it would be plausible."
Zhou Zhizhi was unwilling to engage.
She took a step back and fell silent.
Mr. Xue felt as if his heart turned to ashes.
Ever since the mention of the County Magistrate, Mr. Xue’s mood had fluctuated, and Cui Yun saw a hint of panic and guilt.
Cui Yun approached him, and as he got closer, Mr. Xue’s anxiety reached its peak.
The young man above him smiled.
"What’s the matter, you haven’t found an excuse after all this time?"
