Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 824: Gu Chengxian Is Doomed

Qin San Lang stood up, took her hand, and led her downstairs. After settling the bill, they followed the crowd towards the Prefecture Government Office.

Qin San Lang, like Gu Jinli, was in disguise. At the moment, he had scars on his face, a beard, and wore a shabby gray coat. As long as those not very familiar with him watched the commotion at the Prefecture Government Office, they would not be recognized by people inside.

Soon after they left the tavern, Er Ping, San Ping, Sanxi, and others came up discreetly to protect them.

The reason for all this secrecy was that they didn’t want others to know that Er Ping’s group was connected to them.

Xiao Ji didn’t come today, for the same reason.

If Xiao Ji, who stayed by her side every day, was brought, and someone recognized Xiao Ji, people would know she was in the Prefecture at the time of Gu Chengxian’s incident.

The pedestrians on the street hurriedly scurried about, and the entire Prefecture City was abuzz because of the Chunfeng Pavilion incident.

When Qin San Lang and Gu Jinli arrived at the Prefecture Government Office, the entire gate was surrounded and impenetrable, full of people there to watch the show.

There were also students hurriedly coming with their families, shouting, "Make way, make way, we are the families of students who will take the exam in a few days, we must go inside and appeal to the Lord Magistrate!"

The onlookers made way for them immediately upon hearing this.

These students and their families eagerly squeezed into the Prefecture Government Office, knelt down, and pleaded, "My Lord, save us; you absolutely cannot let Gu Chengxian take the exam. He has a venereal disease; once he takes the exam, all the students in the hall will be doomed."

Within two hours, Gu Chengxian’s name was widely known.

At the public court at the time sat Judge Tang, not the Lord Magistrate.

The Lord Deputy Magistrate was responsible for presiding over cases, like the Vice Magistrate, being the right-hand man of the Lord Magistrate.

Judge Tang had just entered the government office when he heard the sound of someone drumming for justice. Those who came to file the complaint were the students who were soon to take the exam, and he dared not neglect them, so he presided over the court.

Who would have thought the students accused Gu Chengxian, with the claim that Gu Chengxian was afflicted with a venereal disease and requested the Prefecture Government Office not to allow Gu Chengxian to take the exam?

Judge Tang had met Gu Chengxian before; Lord Lai liked him very much and had taken him with Gu Youwen to visit the Deputy Magistrate Manor.

They had even eaten at the Deputy Magistrate Manor.

Judge Tang shivered... Could Gu Chengxian have spread the venereal disease to his manor?

"My Lord, Gu Chengxian is indecent, and as the exam approaches, he stays overnight at the house of ill repute and contracts a vile disease. To maintain the purity of the exam hall, please decree that Gu Chengxian should not be permitted to take the exam until his vile disease is cured," said one Scholar.

The families of other students also clamored, "Yes, my Lord, Gu Chengxian isn’t well; you can’t allow him to take the exam!"

"A venereal disease, my Lord! This disease is a severe illness; you absolutely cannot let Gu Chengxian endanger all the students!"

The families of the students were emotionally charged, each speaking their piece, almost lifting the public court’s roof.

With a loud bang, Judge Tang slammed the gavel and shouted, "Silence, silence!"

The people kneeling in the public court were all city people of Prefecture City, either because they had studied or their sons were studying, understanding the rules, and they immediately quieted down.

Judge Tang said, "This matter is only your one-sided testimony; I need to summon Gu Chengxian and the people from Chunfeng Pavilion, then have the doctor diagnose Gu Chengxian before I can make a decision. You cannot say whatever you want, what if you wrong a good person?"

"What? My Lord, what did you say? You don’t believe us? You still want to summon Gu Chengxian? Aren’t you afraid of catching the venereal disease?!" The onlookers outside the court said, "I sell breakfast outside Chunfeng Pavilion, and I saw the guests of Chunfeng Pavilion running out without wearing clothes, all running to the clinic looking for the doctor. If Chunfeng Pavilion hasn’t revealed a venereal disease, why did the guests run? To see what doctor?"

Judge Tang’s expression was not good; he just said he couldn’t believe their one-sided testimony, and they cursed that he would catch a venereal disease... scoundrels!

Judge Tang wanted to break out and caned the vendor who cursed him, but again someone drummed at the government gate.

Thud, thud, thud!

The Government Official heard the drumming and rushed out of the gate, asking, "Who is drumming?"

"I, the old man, am drumming," said an elderly man in his sixties, supported by two middle-aged men, with a group of young men in scholar robes behind, all sternly gazing in the direction of the court.

The Government Official had seen the old man before, and he hurriedly saluted upon seeing him, "Greetings, Lord Yu, how come you are here?"

Lord Yu was from He’an Prefecture, retired to his hometown to enjoy his good fortune five years ago. He was teaching the younger generation of his clan this morning when Scholar Yang and Scholar Fang led a group of students to visit, informing him of Gu Chengxian’s matter.

Lord Yu was not surprised upon hearing this, as the scholars of Great Chu liked to indulge in poetic pleasures, with some even contracting diseases for it.

But as his Yu Family had descendants about to take the exam this year, he couldn’t stand idly by, lest they contract a serious illness and return before achieving an official position through the exam. So he immediately took the two Scholars and a group of students to rush over.

Judge Tang was informed that Lord Yu had arrived and hurried out to greet him, bowing and saluting, "If you have something to say, send a servant to notify the government office; why have you come personally?" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Lord Yu was retired, and when he was in office, his position was not particularly high, so he did not face Judge Tang harshly but said, "Lord Tang, I am here for Gu Chengxian’s case... not that I want to meddle, but this matter is too serious. It must be thoroughly investigated; otherwise, Gu Chengxian must not be allowed to take the exam. There are so many students; if they contracted an illness due to the exam, none of us in He’an Prefecture could shoulder the responsibility."

Judge Tang felt a sense of urgency upon hearing this and said to Lord Yu, "Please come in; I will go call the Lord Magistrate."

With that, he invited Lord Yu and the two Scholars into the public court for a hearing.

Regarding the students who came with them, none without an official position could enter; otherwise, there would be too many people, and the public court could hardly hold them all.

Judge Tang asked the constable Squad Leader to oversee the public court, while he himself went to the back office to call the Lord Magistrate.

Previously, Magistrate Liang had been promoted; the current Magistrate of He’an Prefecture was surnamed Gu.

Magistrate Gu was already aware of the matter and was currently scolding Gu Chengxian, "Just as the exam is coming up, instead of working hard on studying, you go to such places?! Going is one thing, but lying with a sick prostitute, what kind of luck is this? With such bad luck, there’s no point in taking the exam; you definitely won’t pass!"

While scolding, Judge Tang came, relaying that Lord Yu brought two Scholars to the government office and what Lord Yu said to Magistrate Gu.

Magistrate Gu’s steward said, "My Lord, what Lord Yu said is reasonable; fear the one-in-a-million chance with matters like this. If Gu Chengxian’s luck is truly bad and he contracts venereal disease, then the fellow exam-takers are doomed. And if the venereal disease rumor at the exam hall spreads, there will surely be petitions against you in no time."

This matter might even cost you your position.

Magistrate Gu understood the grave nature of this matter; previously avoiding going out, fearing losing face, and not wanting to offend Lord Lai, after all, Lord Lai had backing.

But now, to safeguard his own position, he couldn’t care about so many things.

Thinking it is merely an acquaintance’s descendant, not a blood relative, Lord Lai would hardly do something ruthless for Gu Chengxian.