Chapter 105: Big Show of the New Year
On the day before New Year’s Eve, the bright sunshine once again shone on this land, melting the ice and snow. Little blades of grass poked out their heads, filling many people with joy.
How painful it would be if one’s only New Year activity was to stay home.
Relatives and friends began to arrange outings to enjoy the spring scenery.
However, for Zhang Fei and his companions, they could only stay home, moving their desks from inside the house to the corridor.
There were no electric lights or glass windows back then, so staying inside was quite stifling.
Whether it was the Zhang family or the Xu family, there was no festive atmosphere for the New Year.
During this time, Cao Dongdong and Ma Xiaoyi came by to invite Zhang Fei for a spring outing and to watch the lantern festival festivities, but Zhang Fei ruthlessly declined.
In truth, Zhang Fei also wanted to experience the New Year in the Northern Song Dynasty, but he was really pressed for time. This matter could not be delayed because it involved Wang Anshi’s reform, which historically started in the second month of the second year of the Xining era.
He dared to sue the imperial court mainly because it was done in the backdrop of Wang Anshi’s reform. Without this background, the chances of success would be very slim.
With the help of the Xu father and daughter, everything was finally ready. On the twentieth day of the first month.
“Do we really have to go tomorrow?” Xu Zun asked, somewhat doubtfully.
Zhang Fei replied, “Benefactor, do you think there is anything inappropriate?”
Xu Zun said, “The Kaifeng Prefectural Office will just be opening for business tomorrow. If you rush there to file a complaint, it might cause unnecessary trouble.”
He felt the timing was a bit too aggressive.
Zhang Fei laughed, “My thought is to go on the first day it opens, creating enough buzz to attract more people’s attention. The more people know about this, the more it will benefit me.”
Xu Zun nodded slightly, “So that’s your reasoning.”
Using public opinion to win a case was not new for Zhang Fei. He had used both positive and negative public opinions before. For example, when helping Cao Dongdong with his case, he first accumulated resentment and then made a reversal, greatly changing public opinion about Cao Dongdong.
In such tactics, Xu Zun felt inferior to Zhang Fei.
However, Xu Zun was still a bit nervous. The most crucial aspect of this case was whether the imperial court would allow Zhang Fei to proceed.
In fact, as long as the imperial court permitted Zhang Fei to sue, it would be considered a victory.
This was the hardest part.
“Boom, boom, boom!”
“Brother San, Shi Tingxiu is here,” Li Si said from outside the room.
Zhang Fei nodded, “I know.”
Xu Zun said, “You go ahead! I just need to finish reviewing these documents.”
This time, Zhang Fei had prepared thoroughly, with a whole box full of documents.
For Xu Zun, this was a treasure trove.
Although the information on the documents was all provided by him, the application techniques dazzled him.
……
“Second Brother, please get up.”
“Tingxiu is incompetent and has caused sister-in-law to suffer.”
……
In the front courtyard, Shi Tingxiu knelt on one knee before Gao Wenyin.
Zhang Fei, with his hands behind his back, walked over, frowning and speaking in an aged tone, “What? Do you think I have mistreated your sister-in-law?”
“Hu… husband!”
Calling Zhang Fei “husband” in front of Shi Tingxiu made Gao Wenyin feel awkward, “My brother is still young and immature, husband, please do not hold it against him.”
Then she turned to Shi Tingxiu, “Brother, this time we owe it all to our benefactor, hurry and thank him.”
Shi Tingxiu felt uncomfortable hearing his sister-in-law call Zhang Fei “husband”. Even though he had heard the news from Feng Nanxi before, hearing it in person was a different matter. He clasped his hands and bowed to Zhang Fei, “Benefactor, I will never forget your great kindness.”
“It was just a small effort!” Zhang Fei smiled lightly and asked, “Tomorrow we go to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office, are you afraid?”
Shi Tingxiu shook his head, “Benefactor, you are willing to help a stranger like me, what do I have to fear?”
“Good!”
Zhang Fei said, “You only need to remember one thing: just report your name and say nothing else, no matter what they say.”
Shi Tingxiu was slightly stunned, then nodded, “Yes, I will remember that.”
“That’s all.”
Zhang Fei shrugged, “I won’t disturb your reunion with your sister-in-law.”
“Ah? Hu-hu-husband.”
Gao Wenyin stuttered.
Zhang Fei turned around and asked, “Does my wife have anything else?”
Gao Wenyin worriedly said, “My second brother has never been to court and doesn’t know the rules. Can you give him more instructions?”
Zhang Fei said, “I know he has never been to court, which is why I told him not to speak. It’s better to stay silent.”
Gao Wenyin asked, “But what if the prefect inquires?”
Zhang Fei replied, “Just say his name and leave the rest to me. Don’t worry, he’s not the main character.”
Zhang Fei’s main purpose for Shi Tingxiu was to give him a reason to file a complaint.
Main character?
Gao Wenyin and Shi Tingxiu looked at each other. After Zhang Fei left, they nodded woodenly.
……
The second year of the Xining era, the twenty-first day of the first month.
Starting today, all government offices officially opened for business.
In front of the Kaifeng Prefectural Office, a few guards on their first day back at work stood in front of the office, chatting about some interesting New Year stories.
Based on past experience, there was not much to do for the first three days. No one would be foolish enough to come to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office on the first day of work to cause trouble.
Everyone understood this social norm.
Unless you paid to trouble them during the new year.
That was a different story.
While they were chatting, a carriage quietly arrived.
They only noticed when two people got off the carriage.
“Zhang San!”
The four guards shouted in unison.
Their hats almost flew off.
“Greetings, good sirs! I’m here to pay my respects to you,” Zhang Fei politely saluted.
Next to him stood a young man, Shi Tingxiu.
What bad luck!
Really bad luck!
First day back and they met this guy.
He was haunting them like a ghost.
“Zhang San, what brings you here?” one of the guards asked nervously.
Zhang Fei looked around and smiled, “I’m here to file a complaint. The Kaifeng Prefectural Office is an important place of government business; I wouldn’t dare come here for no reason.”
So you do know that this is an important place of government business?
You might as well treat it as a public restroom.
“File a complaint?”
The guard couldn’t even get angry, pleading, “Zhang San, give us a break. The Lantern Festival just passed, can’t you wait a few months?”
Shi Tingxiu saw the guards almost in tears and was puzzled.
Zhang San seemed harmless and amiable. They had even kidnapped him before, and he hadn’t held a grudge. Why were they so afraid of him?
This completely overturned the image of the guards of the Kaifeng Prefectural Office in his mind.
Zhang Fei smiled apologetically, “I can wait, but the victim can’t.”
He pointed to Shi Tingxiu beside him.
Shi Tingxiu clasped his hands, “I am Shi Tingxiu.”
And said nothing more.
“Damn it, don’t ever fall into our hands.”
The guards, ignoring everything else, threatened with clenched teeth.
Shi Tingxiu felt uneasy.
Zhang Fei, however, smiled and nodded, “I’ll try! I’ll try! But maybe I’ll fall into your hands soon.”
The guard saw Zhang Fei’s lack of fear and shouted, “What’s your case this time?”
Zhang Fei pointed to the young man beside him, “Today, I represent Shi Tingxiu to sue the imperial court.”
“……!”
The four runners looked at Zhang Fei, dumbfounded.
“Sue the imperial court!”
Zhang Fei had said his words clearly.
The four guards turned pale.
Their legs trembled.
They had to quickly report the matter.
A suicidal person was the most terrifying.
You’ve got guts.
Alright!
We admit defeat.
At this time, Lu Gongzhu was not in the office. He had to attend a session of the imperial court, leaving Vice-Prefect Li Kai in charge.
Although Li Kai was just a vice-prefect, his reaction was like the guards when he heard Zhang Fei was filing a complaint again. He wished to tear him apart.
He was too much!
But when he heard he was suing the imperial court, he was terrified.
He quickly called Zhang Fei in for clarification.
“Are you crazy??!!”
Seeing Zhang Fei, Li Kai roared.
Zhang Fei, however, replied seriously, “Vice-Prefect Li, I am not crazy. I am here to file a complaint.”
“A complaint? Against whom?” Li Kai asked.
“The imperial court.”
“And you say you are not crazy?!”
Li Kai gesticulated wildly, “What grounds do you have to sue the imperial court?”
He wanted to crack open Zhang Fei’s head to see what was inside.
Zhang Fei said, “Because the imperial court has violated Ancestral Law.”
“What did you say?”
Li Kai looked at Zhang Fei in disbelief and then erupted in anger, “Absurd! Violating ancestral law is not a matter for a pen-in-cap like you to say. Guards! Guards! Drag this seditious man away, give him eighty beatings, and lock him up. We’ll deal with him later.”
He couldn’t take it anymore. A commoner suing an official was one thing, but suing the imperial court was unheard of, especially using ancestral laws as the basis. This could be seen as treason.
There was no need to read the complaint document, just beat him.
The guards, eager to beat Zhang Fei, rushed to bind him.
Their speed could break the record for fastest binding in the Kaifeng Prefectural Office.
Zhang Fei didn’t even move so there was no need for them to rush, which only showed how much they wanted to beat him.
You bastards, using public office for personal revenge. Zhang Fei felt his arms being twisted, but he still managed a smile, “Vice-Prefect Li, don’t blame me for not warning you. I am suing the imperial court based on Ancestral Law. Locking me up is fine, but if you beat me, I will not let it go. You will be beating someone who is defending Ancestral Law.”
He was somewhat scared. If they dared to beat him, he wouldn’t let it go. Wang Anshi, Sima Guang, I’ve done my part, now it’s up to you. Don’t let me down!
“You dare threaten me?”
Li Kai snorted, pointing at Zhang Fei, “Today, I will beat you. Take him away.”
The guards joyfully dragged Zhang Fei and Shi Tingxiu away, as if receiving a reward.
Just moments ago, they said not to fall into their hands, and now it came true.
Heaven and earth!
Which goddess is showing mercy!
As they were taken away, Li Kai quickly instructed Huang Gui, “Just scare him, don’t actually beat him.”
He was familiar with Zhang Fei, who always did shocking things but ultimately succeeded. This time he had brought up Ancestral Law. If they beat him and he won, it would be like beating the ancestors.
Who would dare to beat him!
Even if they wanted to, there was no hurry.
After Huang Gui left, Li Kai read the complaint document. After reading, he slammed it on the table, “This guy is crazy. It’s just a minor case relating to corvee labor, does it warrant suing the imperial court?”
Such cases were common, the Kaifeng Prefectural Office had seen many.
This was like using a dragon-headed guillotine to kill a chicken.
Li Kai couldn’t understand.
But neither did he consider that among so many cases that have come up, few ever got justice.