County Magistrate Mo could only say:
"This subordinate-"
Wang Yang spoke up then:
"County Magistrate Mo, Le Pang is a close friend of mine. His father serves as Provincial Deputy of Jingzhou and concurrently as Governor of Yongning. You should already know Lady Shen's identity, so I won't elaborate.
"Now two members of gentry officials' families have been abducted under your jurisdiction. Whether you were involved or not, you cannot escape responsibility.
"Matters differ in importance, and cases differ in urgency.
"If you act in the public interest, track down the kidnappers, and rescue the captives, that will be to your credit. Even if you commit some minor errors, saving lives comes first, and urgent circumstances justify expedient measures. Those errors can be treated lightly.
"But if you disregard the safety of the abducted gentry, neglect to pursue the criminals, and instead arrest the victims first-addressing the minor offense while ignoring the grave one, attending to what can wait while neglecting what cannot-then when the Provincial Government investigates, I fear you will have no defense to offer..."
County Magistrate Mo's heart abruptly tightened!
Hearing Wang Yang speak, Shen Tanliang perked up:
"Exactly! At this critical moment, when lives need saving, you ignore a major case and concern yourself with chicken feathers and garlic skins instead. If that's how you act, your days as an official are over!"
Yu Yuling stepped forward:
"County Magistrate Mo, allow me to remind you-Brother Wang and I are both Imperial Academy Students. Any punishment must be reported to the Grand Director of Religious Ceremonies Temple; you cannot simply convict and sentence us yourself. Moreover, Brother Wang has been granted the title Marquis of Guanzhong, equivalent to a seventh-rank official, placing him on the same level as you. Unless the offense warrants penal servitude or worse