"Sir, there is a group of scholars gathered outside to make trouble and shout slogans!"
At the Hangzhou government office, Ma Ningyuan was working inside, when suddenly a soldier came in hurriedly to report.
"What are they shouting about?" Ma Ningyuan asked with a steady expression.
"They... they are shouting..." The soldier hesitated, not daring to say any more.
"Tell me, why are you dawdling?"
"They are shouting outside, asking you to release Lu Dongxing from Bailu Academy!"
"It's really unreasonable. Go out and tell them that Lu Dongxing is the suspect who instigated the murder! Let them leave quickly. If they continue to make noise outside the government office, don't blame me for being rude."
"Yes." The soldier took the order and ran out.
Disturbed by this news, Ma Ningyuan lost interest in working and rubbed his temples with a tired look on his face.
"Everyone should leave quickly. The magistrate has said that Dean Lu Dongxing is involved in a case of abetting a murder! When the government finds out the truth, they will let him go."
The soldiers sent by Ma Ningyuan were looking very embarrassed at the moment. On one side was the Hangzhou prefect’s immediate boss, and on the other was a young and energetic scholar who had the right to speak. Neither of them were easy to mess with, so they could only comfort them in a soft voice. road.
"You fart, how could my teacher be such a person! It's obviously your government who is deliberately looking for trouble."
As soon as the soldier finished speaking, a grumpy student began to correct him.
"Hmph, I think it was because the teacher said a few bad words about changing rice to mulberry that he was arrested by you and imprisoned. If your strict party can block the mouth of one person, how can you block the mouth of all the people in the world? ?”
"If the teacher doesn't come out today, we won't leave!"
"Yes, we won't leave today!"
Seeing that the scholars were getting more and more excited, the soldiers who had previously received the order did not dare to persuade them anymore, for fear of irritating them again and causing disaster.
Just when he was about to go back and report to Ma Ningyuan, he saw Ma Ningyuan appearing behind him at some point.
He quickly bowed and saluted: "Master Magistrate, I have tried to persuade you several times, but they just refuse to leave."
"It's okay. You can go down. I will tell them!" Ma Ningyuan waved his hand and motioned for the soldiers to go down.
"Are you Ma Ningyuan, the prefect of Hangzhou? Did you order the arrest of the teacher?"
Seeing Ma Ningyuan come out of the government office, the leader of the scholars stood up and asked.
"Yes, I am Ma Ningyuan, the prefect of Hangzhou, and it is indeed my order to arrest your teacher."
"Why, the teacher has always been a noble character and hates evil, so how could he be involved in a murder case?"
Ma Ningyuan did not answer these scholars' questions, but asked: "Do you know a man named Zhang Daniu? He is a student of your Bailu Academy."
"Zhang Daniu?" Upon hearing this name, many scholars present were confused.
"I have the impression that there seems to be such a person in the academy! He has dark skin, wears coarse linen clothes, has an earthy smell, and there is black mud in his nails that can never be washed away. He has been listening in the academy. Could it be him? What have you committed?" A scholar recalled it for a long time and finally found this name in his mind.
Ma Ningyuan nodded: "Yes, he led the villagers of Taoyuan Township to prevent the imperial court from clearing land and killed imperial officials. Just now, he confessed, and the confession was directed at your teacher."
"What about the confession? Can you show it to us?" After hearing Ma Ningyuan's words, the leading scholar did not dare to make the same mistake again, and his tone softened a lot.
"The confession is in my government office, but you don't deserve to see it. Do you know why? I am an official, and you are the people!"
"Aren't you afraid that when I become an official in the future, I will take part in your study?"
"Let's talk about the future later. Now I am the prefect of Hangzhou, and what about you? You are just a useless and poor scholar!"
After hearing Ma Ningyuan's words, many scholars present glared angrily, clenched their fists, and their eyes seemed to burst out with fire.
The character of scholars made it impossible for them to bear such an insult, but due to the identity of the other party as the prefect of Hangzhou, no one dared to take any action.
"I'm warning you, be honest with me during this period and don't cause any trouble for me again. As for your teacher, after the government finds out the truth, they will let him go."
"If you don't listen to my advice and continue to mess around in the government office, I don't mind putting you all in jail for a few days to give you a taste of prison."
As Ma Ningyuan spoke, his eyes swept over the scholars present one by one.
Feeling the threat implicit in Ma Ningyuan's words, many scholars present, although unwilling, still did not dare to confront the Hangzhou prefect on the spot.
"Let's go, we still need to consider the matter in the long run!"
"Yes, we are here just to cause trouble for the teacher."
"Let's go back and discuss countermeasures."
Soon, the scholars gathered in the government office gradually dispersed. Seeing the situation, Ma Ning turned back to the government office and continued to handle official duties.
…
In the government prison, Lu Dongxing was locked up in a cell alone.
This cell is different from the cells where prisoners are usually held. There is fresh straw under the bed, the bedding and other things on the bed are all newly changed, and there is no smell of mold. There is a table in the middle of the cell with clean tea sets placed on it. Warm sunlight shines through the window, making people feel warm.
Lu Dongxing sat quietly on the bed, closing his eyes tightly and saying nothing. He was not so much arrested as invited in. The usually vicious jailers and cell bosses were very attentive to him, almost to the point of responding to his requests.
'Da da da! There was a sound of footsteps, and Ma Ningyuan entered Lu Dongxing's cell under the leadership of the jailer.
Ma Ningyuan had a warm smile on his face. As soon as he entered the door, he asked eagerly: "I wonder if Mr. Lu is still used to it? If there is any lack of hospitality in this prefecture, please bear with me."
Lu Dongxing, who had kept his eyes closed, opened them and replied slowly: "Inviting a bad old man like me to the prison as a guest, is this how you, the prefect of Hangzhou, treat guests?"
"Lao Lu's words are serious, I also have compelling reasons!" Ma Ningyuan said, the expression on his face remained unchanged, still the same warm smile as before.
"Oh, tell me, I'm curious about what's your problem?" Lu Dongxing frowned and said sarcastically.
"I wonder if Mr. Lu knows a man named Zhang Daniu?"
"Zhang Daniu? Who is it? I've never heard of him."
Hearing this name, Lu Dongxing's head shook like a rattle.
"I also know that you, Mr. Lu, cannot possibly know such a vulgar person!"
After Ma Ningyuan finished speaking, he took out the tea set on the table and poured a cup of tea for each of them.
"Let me tell you secretly, this Zhang Daniu has committed a serious crime!"
Ma Ningyuan reminded in a low voice while pouring tea.
"Oh, what's the big deal?"
Lu Dongxing looked interested, as if all this had nothing to do with him.
"He prevented the imperial court from clearing land, and also led the villagers to kill officials. Do you think this crime is serious enough?"
"This crime is really serious, and it's worthy of beheading!"
Then Ma Ningyuan picked up the tea cup on the table and gestured to Lu Dongxing: "Please!"
After the two drank all the tea in the cup, Ma Ningyuan continued: "Unfortunately, this Zhang Daniu seems to have mentioned your name in his confession. Do you want to see it?"
After Ma Ningyuan finished speaking, he pretended to give his confession.
"No need, I have never known Zhang Daniu! Your Majesty, please come back."
Immediately afterwards, Lu Dongxing issued an order to expel guests.
"I'm sorry to bother you. If Mr. Lu has any requests, just ask them. Treat this place as your own home!"
Ma Ningyuan chuckled and walked out of the cell, leaving only Lu Dongxing with a gloomy and uncertain face.
