Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Director Zhang's words put the Prefect in a difficult spot, making it hard for him to save face.

According to the law, civilians who assault a titled scholar should be punished. Director Zhang pointed this out publicly, and if the Prefect didn't give an explanation, he would lose credibility and be suspected of bias.

But the Prefect knew well that Su Li and Zhang Mu had close ties with the Crown Prince, making them figures he dared not offend.

Director Zhang noticed the Prefect's hesitation and immediately understood—indeed, the Prefect feared Su Li and Zhang Mu!

Director Zhang turned and glared fiercely at Zhang Zhuzi, filled with regret.

Originally, Director Zhang wouldn't have dared to openly lead people into the village to smash the school, but Zhang Zhuzi had claimed the Crown Prince favored his son Zhang Zhaocai, and that Su Li's family had fallen out of favor, so Director Zhang felt emboldened.

But who would have thought the Crown Prince still sided with Su Li!

Now, they were in deep trouble, completely tricked by Zhang Zhuzi!

At this moment, Zhang Zhuzi was oblivious to Director Zhang's thoughts and kept shouting to stir up trouble, "Sir, my second uncle is right—you can't openly be biased, only arresting us and ignoring those who beat us! My second uncle is a scholar; he can't be beaten for no reason. Su Li and Zhang Mu should be taken to the government office to explain themselves!"

The Prefect was immediately troubled, glancing at Su Li and Zhang Mu: "This..."

Should he arrest them or not?

If he arrested them, he'd offend the Crown Prince. If he didn't, so many eyes were watching. The Prefect courted Li Yanhao secretly but didn't want to be too obvious, fearing someone might catch him and accuse him of misconduct and favoritism.

Just as the Prefect was in a dilemma, a loud woman's voice rang out from the crowd: "Sir, I'm the one who struck them, Su Li and Zhang Mu had nothing to do with it!"

Following the voice, Su Li saw Sister Zhu roll up her sleeves and step forward from the crowd, her cheeks flushed from nervousness.

Sister Zhu shouted, "Prefect, if you want to arrest someone, arrest me! I only acted because Director Zhang and Zhang Zhuzi led people to smash the school. I was protecting the school! Assaulting a scholar is illegal, I admit it. Sir, please take me away!"

After Sister Zhu finished speaking, a trembling old woman of about seventy stepped forward, raising her arm and shouting loudly, "It was me who hit them. If you want to arrest someone, arrest me! I'm over seventy and have lived long enough. As long as my little grandson can attend the school, that's enough!"

"Sir, it was me who struck them, arrest me!"

"No, it was me who acted, arrest me!"

One by one, the villagers stepped forward, each taking the blame upon themselves.

The Prefect looked at the entire village united as one, all eager to take the blame. He was moved by their spirit and recalled his own childhood schooling, his eyes moistening.

Su Li and Zhang Mu exchanged a glance, deeply touched by the villagers' unity.

The village chief stepped forward and said to Su Li, "A Li, you spent money and effort to build this school for the village. Everyone is grateful! This school can't be defended by you alone; we all help guard it! Today, Zhang Zhuzi and that titled scholar came with people to smash the school. We fought back and don't regret it! If anyone comes to smash the school in the future, we'll fight them too, even if it means going to jail! Prefect, if you want to arrest someone, arrest me. I'm the village chief of Haizi Village, and I'll take responsibility for this matter!"

"Village chief..." Su Li looked at the gray-haired village chief, her eyes reddening.