Infinite Professions

Chapter 393: Chapter 205: Promotion

Lu Jingrui was really on the verge of collapse.

Several months ago, leveraging the matter of Song Guan, the Song Family instructed the Qinghe County Magistrate to file charges against the Dongping Zhang Family and Dongping County Magistrate, accusing them of murder, corruption, and other crimes.

In response, Lu Jingrui adopted a cold treatment.

Because the Dongping Zhang Family was also a county-respected family, with a legacy as a large local clan spanning over a hundred years. Although they had somewhat declined in recent years, their connections and networks remained, and there were still sons holding official positions in the state mansion. He truly couldn’t easily deal with them.

Not to mention that the Zhang Family’s offenses were not really serious crimes, just accidentally killing a few household servants and crafty peasants resisting rent—issues that were normally ignored by officials if unreported by the people. Even if pursued, according to court law, it would merely involve compensating some silver taels. Was it necessary to blow things out of proportion?

Lu Jingrui felt it wasn’t necessary; everyone felt it wasn’t necessary.

But the Song Family wouldn’t let go, behaving as if they were intent on a strict public handling, replicating the case of Song Guan.

This made Lu Jingrui very troubled.

You enjoy sacrificing family for justice, then do it yourself! Why drag others into it, expecting everyone to be like you, sending your own direct descendants and grandchildren to court and sentencing them for some maidservant or slave?

Don’t be ridiculous!

If this precedent is set, then which noble family in Jinyang Prefecture or even across the country could escape unscathed?

Don’t even mention noble families; even the lower-tier local magnates, whose hands haven’t been stained with the lives of household servants or tenant farmers?

If you really manage to convict the Zhang Family with this charge, then who among the major families in Jinyang Prefecture will be able to sleep peacefully, without fearing you’ll target them next?

Everyone will be on edge, which will surely lead to chaos!

Therefore, the Zhang Family absolutely cannot be disposed of, at least not with these charges, and the Song Family must not be allowed to triumph, wielding this deadly "Imperial Sword" across Jinyang Prefecture.

Lu Jingrui deeply understood the stakes, so regarding the two petitions from Qinghe County, he only approved Song Guan’s, allowing for execution after autumn. As for the petition accusing the Dongping Zhang Family, he treated it coldly, offering no response.

This was a very astute official tactic; generally, when a superior acts to this extent, subordinates should understand the implication and retreat from difficulty.

But the Song Family...

Seeing dozens of petitions on the ground, Lu Jingrui was furious, not knowing what to say.

He was indifferent to the matter, gave no response, but the Song Family didn’t retreat from difficulty. Instead, they mobilized their influence in the bureaucracy, urging Song Clan members in various official positions along with prefecture officers closely tied to them, with shared interests, to collectively file petitions, accusing the Zhang Family.

Not only the Zhang Family, but also the Li Family, Wang Family, Zhao Family, Qian Family; several major noble families and local magnates were petitioned against, nearly a hundred petitions piling directly in front of Lu Jingrui.

How could Lu Jingrui not be on the verge of collapse?

What exactly do you Song Family want to do?

If you can’t bring charges against the Zhang Family, are you just going to bite wildly like rabid dogs?

It’s difficult enough with one Zhang Family, and now you’ve accused all the major families in Jinyang Prefecture together. Whom do you expect to handle these cases, who dares to handle them, who can handle them?

I’m just a lowly Fourth-Grade Prefect, not some regional official or an Imperial Chancellor. Do you think I can handle this case? If things go wrong, causing chaos in Jinyang, I’ll face complete family extermination, don’t you understand?

Lu Jingrui was exhausted in body and mind but couldn’t stand by and do nothing anymore because the Song Family had already made it clear they wouldn’t rest until achieving their aim. If he continued to ignore them, these bastards might escalate, file petitions with the state mansion, even proceed north to the capital, presenting a grand case of "appealing directly to the Emperor".

Things would become troublesome then.

It’s not that the state mansion or the capital would handle these cases; the Prefect and Emperor aren’t foolish and would likely scold them harshly, perhaps even punish the Song Family.

But the problem is, does the Song Family fear punishment?

They presently seem determined to blow things up!

If the punishment isn’t severe, it might provoke them further, leading to...

To what extent, Lu Jingrui didn’t know.

But one thing he was very clear about was that if things escalated to that level, regardless of how it concluded, his official cap and even his life would be at risk.

Therefore, he couldn’t continue to ignore it.

"Let’s speak frankly, openly!"

Lu Jingrui coldly surveyed several people: "What exactly do you want to do?"

Most of the group fell silent hearing this, leaving only one to speak: "We have no other intentions, just asking The Prefecture to administer justice and strictly handle the case, seeking justice for the victims..."

"Enough!"

Lu Jingrui slammed the table and stood up, coldly staring at the speaker: "Li Mubai, don’t think this office can’t deal with you all!"

Li Mubai’s expression remained unchanged: "What crime does The Prefecture want to charge me with?"

"You...!"

Lu Jingrui’s words caught short, then he sat down dejectedly, angrily pointing outside the door: "Get out, all of you get out!"

"This official takes leave!"

Li Mubai didn’t mind, directly offering a bow before departing, leaving several individuals staring at each other, then reluctantly following.

Honestly, the Song Family’s actions were already mad.

Those critical public officials with the authority to report surely knew who could be bitten and who couldn’t be provoked.

But the Song Family was reckless now, like a rabid dog, attacking everyone.

Such conduct even made them feel a bit fearful.

They weren’t Song Family members, merely having some entangled interests, thus compelled to serve the Song Family.

Now the Song Family had become so frenzied, they truly didn’t wish to follow them, but the Song Family’s management over the years was too deep, firmly binding them.

Leaving the ship?

Impossible!

They could only walk a dark path.

Leaving helplessly, Lu Jingrui remained alone in the room, also exhausted in body and mind.