"Oh? In President Hong's view, Ni Xian bullying dozens of people, burning them with fire and stabbing them with swords, stripping their clothes and making them drink urine—were these commonplace matters?" Fang Yun asked.
President Hong replied, "Ni Xian is still a child after all. He does not know the proper limits in his actions. I have already reprimanded him, and the previous county magistrate has already sentenced him. Why must Magistrate Fang keep clinging to this matter? Ning'an County is vast, with weighty government affairs. For Magistrate Fang to wrangle endlessly over a mere brawl—could it be Xiang Zhuang performing the sword dance, while his true aim is Pei Gong?"
President Hong was lean and stern. His gaze upon Fang Yun was icy, and his expression held obvious hostility.
Chief Clerk Shen Ming's eyes lit up. Among these cases, several had been personally selected by Ji Zhibai, including this Academy Bullying Case. The case appeared simple, but if the verdict were overturned and Ni Xian severely punished, the academy's reputation would suffer an enormous blow. Other academies would not hesitate to kick it while it was down, so President Hong would surely use every means to prevent a harsher retrial. Otherwise, he would not have come in person.
President Hong was not only a legitimate Provincial Graduate and the president of Wenfu Academy, but also the patriarch of a prominent clan. His connections throughout Ning'an County and even Qingwu Prefecture were intertwined like tangled roots. Once such a person made a move, he might not be able to contend against a county magistrate, but he could certainly cause a Palace Examination Metropolitan Graduate's ratings in every category to plummet.
Fang Yun was initially taken aback, but he quickly understood why President Hong's reaction was so fierce. It turned out