Chapter 365
Chapter 365: 359 Chapter_1 Chapter 365: 359 Chapter_1 Lin Yue glanced at the servant’s expression and understood what he was thinking. She smiled and said, “No matter what, my brother is still a Scholar, a man with a title. Now that he has been beaten to this state, it wouldn’t be excessive to take the matter to court. The Magistrate is a decent official who understands justice, and he will definitely stand by us. However, since this is after all an academy matter, making a big fuss isn’t good, so that’s why we came to find the dean. I must trouble you, young brother, to accommodate us.”
As Lin Yue spoke, she also quietly slipped a piece of Silver into the servant’s hand—a two-pronged approach, offering both carrot and stick. By making him realize the seriousness of the matter while offering a reward, she ensured he would willingly help. Dealing with the Government Office and its people was always like this; Lin Yue had long since mastered the technique.
The servant was originally disdainful, but his attitude began to waver after hearing what Lin Yue had to say. Moreover, this young woman seemed quite familiar with the Magistrate and was dressed decently; perhaps she really did have some connection with the Magistrate. If the matter escalated because of his refusal to announce them, the dean would blame him just the same. Weighing the piece of Silver in his hand, the servant took Lin Yue, the poor scholar’s sister, more seriously and decided to announce their arrival. Whether the dean chose to see them was not his place to decide, as long as he had fulfilled his duty.
Lin Yue and the others waited outside, and soon the servant came out, saying the dean had agreed to see them. Lin Yue, supporting Lin Qing, went ahead, while Liang Wei and the others followed behind. Originally, the servant had intended to stop Liang Wei and his party since the dean had only summoned Lin Qing and his sister.
“Young brother, we’re also involved in this matter. There’s a reason behind the scuffle with Lin Qing. We can’t let the dean hear only one side of the story. Besides, even if we do not enter now, the dean will surely send for us. It would be best if you could facilitate this,” Liang Wei said as he too pressed some Silver into the servant’s hand as a bribe.
Realizing it was these individuals who had beaten someone to such a state, the servant, although dismayed at their lack of gentlemanly conduct, weighed the Silver in his hand. Though it was not as much as the young woman had given, it was not insignificant either. Moreover, the man was correct: the dean would have to be informed anyway. It would be better to let them all enter together. Surely the dean wouldn’t blame him for that.
“Alright, alright, just go in. Be gentle and try not to disturb the dean’s peace. If the dean gets angry, he won’t be inclined to show you any mercy,” the servant said impatiently, waving them in with an attitude that was no nicer to Liang Wei’s group than it had been to Lin Yue’s.
Liang Wei was somewhat irritated internally. How dare this servant treat him with such disdain? If this had happened at his own home, he would have had the servant beaten and cast out. Yet, here in the dean’s courtyard, they dared not act rashly, especially since they had been accused, and a scolding from the dean was unavoidable. If they were caught in another misdeed, they would not get off easily.
Hopefully, this wouldn’t alarm their families. Even if they were scolded or beaten at home, it would have been bearable but having their monthly allowance or spending money stopped would be disastrous. Without Silver, how could they afford to drink and dine extravagantly? And all such entertainment required money.
The group, each harboring their own thoughts, arrived in the hall where the dean was waiting. Seeing Lin Qing being helped inside by Lin Yue, limping and with a face battered out of shape, the dean frowned at once. His gaze turned sharp when he saw Liang Wei and the others following behind.
Liang Wei and his companions had caused trouble before, so the dean had a poor opinion of them. Seeing them follow behind, he knew these unambitious students had made trouble again. He was appalled at the state they had reduced Lin Qing to. Relying on their families’ money, they acted recklessly within the academy, failing to reform despite previous admonishments. They were truly incorrigible.
“The students and young lady pay their respects to the dean.”
Liang Wei could tell by the dean’s expression that the situation was unfavourable. He braced himself and greeted, “The student pays his respects to the dean.”
“For what matter have you come to see me? And who might you be?” Though the dean did not specify to whom he was speaking, his eyes were on Lin Qing and his sister. Lin Qing and the others were dressed as scholars, clearly academy students. Only Lin Yue, a woman, seemed out of place here.
“Replying to the dean, I am Lin Qing’s sister. I came today to deliver something to my brother, but on the way, I saw these people assaulting him, beating him into an unrecognizable state. These men, in broad daylight, within the academy, dared to carry out such a brutal attack on my brother. It is both arrogant and contemptuous of the academy’s rules and reputation. Moreover, my brother has a title. These people are commoners and dared to assault someone with an official title, brazenly disregarding the Court’s laws. Please, dean, stand up for my brother,” Lin Yue said with clear reasoning and a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing. On the way, she had gathered all the details about what happened to Lin Qing and the identities of these individuals. Consequently, she seized upon the fact that Liang Wei and his group were commoners; if simple assault among students might normally result only in a punishment by the dean, this case had escalated due to the men assaulting someone who held the title of Scholar, thus incurring a far graver liability.
The dean noted Lin Yue’s demeanour, comparable to that of a well-grown lady from a prominent family. Her temperament and manner of speaking were distinguished and not comparable to ordinary women. He took an immediate liking to her and, hearing how Lin Yue had pinpointed Liang Wei’s fault and elevated the matter to another level, he inwardly admired the young woman’s astuteness.
Liang Wei and his companions had not anticipated that Lin Qing’s sister would be so formidable; she was articulate and had seized upon their vulnerability. They hadn’t considered this aspect of the case—after all, a Scholar wasn’t so remarkable, with many in the academy, and what was more, Lin Qing was impoverished. What did it matter if they bullied him? Yet they never imagined the situation would become this serious, or that it would tie into the Court’s laws. Though they weren’t truly ignorant, having studied quite a bit and entered the academy on their merit, they knew the Court had laws on this matter. They had just underestimated Lin Qing, not expecting him to dare stand up for himself, and certainly not foreseeing his sister would come to his aid. Indeed, assaulting a man of title if one is a commoner is illegal, potentially punishable with caning and imprisonment for a year or longer. Liang Wei thinking back, regretted his actions immensely.
The dean’s authoritative presence suddenly surged, and with an icy demeanor, he turned his gaze to Liang Wei and the others, “You answer me, is what Lin Qing’s sister has said true? I warn you, no lies are permitted. Otherwise, I will have you sent straight to the Government Office to be dealt with by the Magistrate.”
At the dean’s words, Liang Wei, despite initially considering a rebuttal, resigned himself to admitting his guilt.