OFTLHFRO C98

Chapter 98 Consequences

They did not wait long before the county magistrate arrived with several constables and deputies. Before entering, he bowed to Old Master Ming and said, “Old Master Ming, greetings.”

Landlord Liu grew even more flustered, uncertain what Old Master Ming intended to do.

Old Master Ming said calmly, “Magistrate Li, my grandson was severely injured yesterday and is still in bed. Landlord Liu claims my grandson beat his son and rendered him immobile. Yet earlier I saw him rise to strike people—he was lively and agile. Everyone here witnessed what happened clearly.”

Luo Mingchen raised his hand. “From what I saw, he just sprang up a moment ago trying to attack me, full of vigor—not at all like someone gravely wounded. He’s lying there now because I beat him. I originally intended to compensate, but Landlord Liu said not to pursue it.”

Landlord Liu: “……”

Although Landlord Liu found this a bit absurd, Magistrate Li nodded slightly and turned to him. “Liu Renyi, on my way here I heard about the incident. Your son Liu Jinbao beat Old Master Ming’s grandson into serious injury and crippled one of his arms. Is this true?”

Landlord Liu immediately fell to his knees, trembling. “Your servant did not know—”

“Did not know?” Magistrate Li asked coldly.

Old Master Ming interjected, “All the witnesses are here. For fairness, I specifically asked people from the theatre to come.”

Only then did Luo Mingchen realize that among the gathered onlookers were members of the theatre troupe.

No wonder everyone had been standing there…

As witnesses, Huo Yuhui, Huo Xiang, Gao Jiabao and the others approached Landlord Liu, bowed to the magistrate, and recounted the full sequence of events.

Honestly, Gao Jiabao hadn’t expected that after a while away, Liu Jinbao would be even bolder and more reckless than before—ordering his guards to attack them in front of so many people.

They certainly weren’t short of money; it was just idiocy.

The magistrate listened in speechless disbelief—what kind of spoiled self-importance lets one beat people in public like that?

“Liu Renyi, do you have anything to say regarding this matter?”

Landlord Liu pulled at Liu Jinbao and, seeing his son still shell-shocked, stammered, “We plead guilty, Your Honor.”

In truth, Landlord Liu thought it would just mean paying more compensation.

Old Master Ming then said, “Magistrate Li, I have some other victims here.”

Landlord Liu froze at that, alarmed to see several people step forward.

Even the magistrate was taken aback.

A man stepped forward, glaring angrily at father and son Liu. Kneeling, he said, “Your Honor! Liu Jinbao deliberately ordered his guards to drown my three-year-old son. I beg you to rule in my favor!”

Then a couple came forward; the woman wept and said, “Your Honor, Liu Jinbao raped my daughter. My poor Ling’er hung herself on the mountain last month…”

Hearing such accusations, even Luo Mingchen found it hard to believe that a boy of fourteen or fifteen could commit such acts.

Compared to those crimes, a street brawl was trivial.

Why had these people not reported him earlier? Because they were tenant farmers under Landlord Liu; their whole livelihoods were in his hands, so they endured in silence.

Now that an opportunity to topple Landlord Liu had arisen, of course they came forward.

Dazed and beaten, Liu Jinbao heard the accusations and snapped, “But we already paid compensation! Why are you still complaining?”

The magistrate, who wanted to ask whether Liu Jinbao had really committed such offenses, was rendered speechless.

Well then—there would be no need for further interrogation.

Landlord Liu felt as if the sky had fallen; could he still claim this son?

“Liu Jinbao, for deliberately assaulting people, murder, abusing women, arson and more—multiple crimes shall be punished cumulatively. Sentencing and execution next month! Liu Renyi, for indulging your son, your estate will be confiscated and you will be exiled!”

Upon hearing this, Liu Jinbao finally felt fear. He pleaded in panic, “I’m still a child! You cannot treat me like this! Those lowly people are not worth so much! My family has money—we’ve already compensated!”

His words were incoherent, but the magistrate paid no heed. He ordered the arrest of all implicated, including the guards; accomplices would receive beatings and imprisonment.

Landlord Liu fell to the ground, weeping and kowtowing. “Old Master Ming, have mercy! What my son did is not my doing! I beg your leniency—please spare me!”

Liu Jinbao looked surprised at his father’s plea. “Father?”

The indulgent Landlord Liu slapped him. “You unfilial son! I have no son like you!”

Magistrate Li glared and said, “Liu Jinbao has long acted above the law. You are his father—how can you claim it’s unrelated? Seize them, gag and bind them.”

“Yes, sir!”

The constables moved swiftly and arrested Landlord Liu, his son, and the guards.

The magistrate smiled at Old Master Ming. “If there is nothing further, I will take my leave.”

Old Master Ming replied, “Thank you for coming. I’ll leave the rest to you, Magistrate. Qinghe, see him out.”

The steward responded, “Yes, sir.”

After the magistrate bound and took away the Liu family, the young men finally breathed easier.

Liu Shangyu muttered, stunned, “He really drowned a child…”

Gao Jiabao and Chen Yunhao were silent, feeling chilled to the bone.

They had initially thought Liu Jinbao was all bluster. But to think he would beat people with impunity and make others fear him—he had been courting disaster.

Since getting to know Huo Yuhui and his brother, they realized how wrong they had been before.

Doing good felt far better than doing harm—being thanked by others was an experience they had never had.

Respect is harder to earn than fear, and far more rewarding.

They couldn’t imagine how their families might have been implicated if they had continued running with Liu Jinbao.

Watching the group move off, Luo Mingchen asked Old Master Ming, “May we go see Yuanjing?”

The others looked to Old Master Ming as well, wanting to go.

Understanding the closeness between his grandson and these youths, Old Master Ming nodded, “Come with me.”

It was the first time Gao Jiabao and the others had visited Ming Yuanjing’s residence.

Previously they had been reluctant—hearing their parents urge them to curry favor with Old Master Ming felt irksome.

They befriended Ming Yuanjing not to grovel to his grandfather.

They hadn’t expected their first visit to find Ming Yuanjing’s right hand ruined.

They followed Old Master Ming into the back courtyard. A maid stepped inside and announced, “Young Master, your friends are here.”

Ming Yuanjing, lying still and unwilling to move because of his injured right arm, tried to sit up but could not.

He glanced at the soft flesh of his belly and said helplessly, “Let them come in.”

The party entered. Seeing Ming Yuanjing in bed, the boys’ eyes reddened. They swarmed around, chattering, “Does it still hurt?”

Ming Yuanjing brightened at the sight of them and smiled, “It doesn’t hurt much. I have plenty of meat on me—I can take a beating.”

Hearing this, the boys felt even guiltier, especially Huo Yuhui and Huo Xiang.

Huo Xiang sobbed, “I’ll earn lots of money to support you.”

Uh…

Ming Yuanjing laughed through tears, “That’s dramatic. Without a right hand I still have a left hand. You don’t have to support me.”

Luo Mingchen glanced at Huo Yan, signaling that since Old Master Ming was present, they should not act rashly.

Huo Yan understood and asked Old Master Ming, “May I have a word aside?”

Old Master Ming assumed it concerned matters of the Third Prince and agreed.