Chapter 92: Zhang Zhishen Is Arrested

“Guards! This man has assaulted someone in broad daylight—seize him at once!”
Xiong Youli didn’t even bother to ask what had happened; he simply gave the order to arrest.
At his command, four constables immediately surrounded Zhang Zhishen.
Startled, Zhang Zhishen hurriedly shook his head and waved his hands, protesting his innocence and insisting he hadn’t hurt anyone, even pointing at Xu Mo and saying he had fallen on his own.
Xiong Youli paid no attention to Zhang Zhishen’s explanations and instead urged the constables to move faster.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Zhishen found himself shackled with chains by the constables.
“Take him away!” With a sweeping gesture, Xiong Youli watched as the constables dragged Zhang Zhishen off toward the county jail.
Zhang Zhishen was beside himself with anxiety, yelling at the top of his lungs, “It wasn’t me! You’ve got the wrong man! Let me go!”
Xiong Youli then glanced briefly at Xu Mo, nodded slightly, and turned away.
Only after Xiong Youli and the constables disappeared down the street with Zhang Zhishen did Xu Mo rise, dusting the dirt from his clothes.
Qin Mutou rushed over as well, helping Xu Mo brush the dust from his body.
Ning Yaxin, who had just been worried Xu Mo might be hurt, now immediately understood what had truly transpired.
“So, Young Master Xu, all of this was your plan!” Ning Yaxin exclaimed in astonishment.
Xu Mo, noticing the crowd still lingering nearby, quickly whispered, “Miss Ning, there are too many people here; it’s not convenient to discuss this outside. Why don’t we go inside?”
Ning Yaxin frowned slightly, nodded, and headed through the main doors.
Xu Mo followed her into the Ning residence, and soon the two stood beneath a corridor beside the front courtyard.
Ling’er and Qin Mutou dared not follow too closely, standing at a distance and watching.
Suddenly, Ning Yaxin stopped and turned to ask, “Young Master Xu, when did you and the constable arrange this?”
Xu Mo smiled and nodded. “Miss Ning, do you remember when I briefly left your shop this morning?”
Ning Yaxin instantly understood. “So it was then!”
When Xu Mo had claimed to leave the fragrant skin specialty shop for an errand, he had in fact gone to find Xiong Youli.
He had discussed the plan with Xiong Youli: soon, he would provoke Zhang Zhishen, inciting him to violence.
Once Zhang Zhishen dared lay a hand on him, Xu Mo would feign injury and use it as an opportunity to escalate the matter.

After that, Xiong Youli and the others could step in and, as a matter of course, arrest Zhang Zhishen!
And so, the entire performance was complete.
It was worth noting that, when Zhang Zhishen grabbed Xu Mo by the collar, Xu Mo had already prepared himself to take a punch.
What he hadn’t expected was for Ning Yaxin to rush out, push Zhang Zhishen away, and so fiercely and openly defend Xu Mo both in words and actions.
Though he’d thought for a moment that his plan had been disrupted, seeing Ning Yaxin react this way deeply moved Xu Mo.
Fortunately, Xu Mo adapted on the spot, ensuring the plan’s ultimate success.
After Xu Mo finished explaining everything, Ning Yaxin still felt his actions were somewhat excessive.
“Young Master Xu, don’t you think this was… a little too much?”
She had nearly said “too ruthless,” but the words wouldn’t come, so she softened it to “too much.”
Xu Mo shrugged and pursed his lips. “Too much? I don’t see it that way…”
He continued, “Miss Ning, reasoning with someone like Zhang Zhishen is useless. It’s been five days—you’ve said all you could, but has he listened? He’s only harassed you more every day!”
“So unless you take more decisive action, he’d pester you until next year if he could!”
Ning Yaxin knew he was right, but it still seemed extreme to have someone thrown in jail, especially since her family and the Zhangs had known each other for years.
“But, Young Master Xu, now that he’s been locked up, how am I supposed to explain this to the Zhang family?” she asked, frowning.
Xu Mo immediately retorted, “Explain what? He’s been harassing you every day—did he ever think about explaining himself to your family?”
Ning Yaxin was momentarily stunned. Yes, she thought, he’s never once considered how much distress he’s caused me!
In that moment, she couldn’t help but nod, inwardly agreeing wholeheartedly with Xu Mo.
Soon, however, she grew anxious again. “But, Young Master Xu, the Zhang family of Heyang have been friends with my family for many years. Now that Zhang Zhishen’s in jail, I can’t help but feel uneasy…”
Xu Mo shook his head inwardly. Oh, Ning Yaxin, outwardly so cold and unfeeling, yet in truth, your heart is softer than anyone’s.
He said, “Miss Ning, don’t burden yourself. To tell you the truth, Zhang Zhishen won’t spend long in jail—at most, just tonight. Consider it a lesson for his days of harassment.”
Ning Yaxin looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean, Young Master Xu?”
Xu Mo explained, “Miss Ning, I’ve already spoken with Constable Xiong. Tomorrow morning he’ll have Zhang Zhishen escorted back to Heyang County, where the case will be handled by the local authorities…”
“The Zhang family is no small household in Heyang. With such a trivial matter, do you really think the county would actually punish him?” Xu Mo sneered.
Ning Yaxin was bewildered. “Is that really allowed, Young Master Xu?”

Xu Mo was surprised. “Miss Ning, haven’t you read the penal code of Liang?”
She shook her head. “No, I haven’t.”
Seeing this, Xu Mo began to explain…
According to the laws of Liang, if a commoner committed a crime outside their home region, the local authorities could either handle it themselves or send the culprit back to the authorities of their registered home county, depending on the severity of the case.
The county magistrate would only personally try major cases—murder, arson, rape, or pillage and the like.
As for minor disputes like Zhang Zhishen’s, the magistrate would never bother with them, and the case would be handled by the clerks at the yamen.
Xiong Youli was a seasoned constable, so the outcome of such a case was entirely up to his word.
After Xu Mo’s explanation, Ning Yaxin finally breathed a sigh of relief, her worries melting away.
Immediately, she asked, “But… if he comes back again in the future, what then?”
Xu Mo replied confidently, “Don’t worry, Miss Ning. If he dares to trouble you again, I have a thousand ways to deal with him—he won’t dare cause you any more trouble!”
Hearing this, Ning Yaxin felt a sudden sense of security.
She lowered her head slightly and said softly, “Young Master Xu, please don’t take to heart anything Zhang Zhishen said about you just now…”
Xu Mo laughed. “Don’t worry about it! I’ve long grown thick-skinned—nothing bothers me now!”
Ning Yaxin couldn’t help but laugh when Xu Mo compared himself to a pig insensitive to boiling water.
Seeing that all matters were settled, Xu Mo said, “If there’s nothing else, Miss Ning, I’ll take my leave.”
With that, he turned to call for Qin Mutou, ready to depart.
Ning Yaxin was taken aback, then quickly called after him, “Young Master Xu, you’ve helped me so much today—how can I let you leave without at least staying for a meal?”
Xu Mo glanced at the sky—it was already mealtime, and he thought, why not eat here as anywhere else?
So he nodded and agreed, “Very well! Thank you, Miss Ning, for your hospitality.”
Ning Yaxin quickly shook her head to say it was no trouble at all, her heart brimming with happiness.
Without delay, she summoned Ling’er and instructed her to have the kitchen prepare food and wine at once.