Nianzu, who was in the police bureau, wrote the complaint regarding a land dispute between two brothers. "Nianzu, Nianzu," Mo Shing came running towards Nianzu and halted in front of his desk.

  "What happened?" Nianzu asked.

  "Your wife has been taken to the house of the Village Headman," Mo Shing proclaimed.

  Nianzu immediately stood up from the chair and walked out of the office. No Shing followed him and narrated everything to Nianzu, who was infuriated, panicked at the same time. He ran as fast as he could towards the house of Zou Min with Mo Shing. The villagers had already gathered in the front yard of the Residence of Zou Min.

  Zou Min was seated on the chair while the Royal Inspector was on the chair next to him. Landlord Peng stood beside Zou Min along with two other landlords. The whispers among the people had turned louder……

  Zou Min stood up from his chair and addressed the people. "It has been ten years to me for serving as the Village Headman of this beautiful village. Never once have I felt humiliated until today. The woman in front of you is the reason that I got humiliated in front of the respected Landlords of this village and the Royal Inspector," Zou Min affirmed.

  "Lord Zou, may we people know what this woman did?" A villager asked out of curiosity.

  "She slapped me on my face when I offered her work in my house," Zou Min stated. Chuntao glared at him. Landlord Peng glanced at him but did not dare to speak. "I do not want to do injustice that's why the Royal Inspector will make the judgment regarding this," asserted Zou Min and looked at Fu Donghai.

  The Royal Inspector, Fu Donghai stood up from the chair and bowed before the Village Headman.

  "Inspector Fu, did you see how she slapped me? It is not hidden from the respected Royal Inspector and the Landlords who were present with me," stated Zou Min.

  "The Village Headman is lying," Chuntao finally spoke. "I slapped him because he touched me inappropriately and…" her voice quivered. "……and disrespected my husband," she finally completed her words.

  The people pitied the sight of Chuntao. They knew that the Village Headman was lying in front of all but no one could step forward to stop all this. 'This is an end for her,' a woman whispered in the ear of her friend, who agreed with her.

  "You should not lie. I did not touch her. Why would I touch a filthy woman like you? I have three wives, prettier than you. How dare she lie in front of everyone? She was the one who threw herself on me! I know women like her who seduce men first but when they don't give them attention, they act as if they are being harassed." Zou Min crossed every limit to humiliate Chuntao in front of everyone.

  "Royal Inspector, tell these people what this woman did to me. You were the witness and I expect you to tell the truth only," requested the Village Headman and bowed.

  Fu Donghai told Zou Min not to lower his head in front of him. "The Village Headman is right. This woman is at fault. Our respected Village Headman was polite with her but she did not stop," Fu Donghai testified the false statements of Zou Min towards Chuntao, who had no words left.

  Nianzu arrived there and saw Chuntao's disheveled state. His heart broke into pieces seeing this sight of her. She was tied to a pole and all her hair was messy. Even her dress was dirty and her hands and feet were bruised. She might have been brought to the residence bare feet.

  "Since she is so interested in seducing men, I think removing her clothes will be the best punishment-"

  "Shut your filthy mouth!" Nianzu's voice roared in the entire residence. The people did not expect this from a commoner. Raising his voice against the Village Headman! A few people sighed while the others prayed that they both would not lose their lives.

  Nianzu went towards Chuntao and stood in front of her. "Forgive me," the first words he said to her. His heart wrenched seeing her face. He untied the ropes when they heard Zou Min.

  "Stop it! Go tie this man too for stopping us in the middle," Zou Min shouted at the soldiers. Four soldiers came towards Nianzu, and two of them grasped his arms when he pushed them away.

  The people saw how Nianzu was fighting for his woman with those dirty people. Chuntao's hands were still tied to the pole. She had lost her words.

  Nianzu pulled the sword from the sheath that a soldier had and pointed it outward. "Try taking a step, and it will cut your throats," Nianzu threatened them. Fu Donghai called for more soldiers.

  "Drop that sword else consequences can be worse," Fu Donghai warned Nianzu. He had come forward with the sword in his hand.

  Zou Min descended the stairs and came to them. "Royal Inspector, kill both of them," Zou Min affirmed.

  "This is injustice. How dare you raise your hand on my wife?" Nianzu shouted at Zou Min, who chuckled and looked at Fu Donghai.

  "What are you waiting for? His wife insulted me first, and now he is insulting me. Inspector Fu, I might replace you from this position," Zou Min lost his temper.

  Fu Donghai gestured to the soldiers to attack Nianzu, who stopped them. "It is odd to see that the woman whom this man has harassed is also being harassed by you all. You are the Royal Inspector. It is your duty to maintain law and order in this village. Yet, you are supporting this evil Village Headman. Have you ever thought what would happen if the oppression of this village headman reached the ears of the Crown Prince and the Emperor?" Nianzu questioned Fu Donghai, who was intimidated a little.

  Quan Bo, Luo Hai, and Ye Fang had also arrived in the Village Headman's Residence. "Oh, no. What did they do with his wife?" Ye Fang muttered and put his palm over his mouth.

  "I do not want any bloodshed to happen here. So step back and give justice to my wife. Punish this village headman," Nianzu appealed in front of Fu Donghai, who wanted to punish Zou Min for many years, but because he could only listen to his orders, he had not enough guts to take any action against him.

  "You are disrespecting the Village Headman. If we catch you, then it is an end to both you and your wife," Zou Min asserted.

  "This man harassed my woman," Nianzu looked at Chuntao. He removed his overcoat and quickly covered her from it. "How could you all let this happen? What if a similar thing happens to your family women? Would you all act this way?" Nianzu questioned all of them, turning towards them.

  The Landlords lowered their eyes, and so did the villagers.

  "Why are you listening to his rubbish talks?" Zou Min shrieked in annoyance. "Give me the sword. I will kill him and his petty woman," Zou Min snatched the sword from a soldier and stepped forward to attack Nianzu, who easily dodged and hit his wrist. Zou Min screamed in pain, and the sword fell to the ground. Nianzu grabbed him by his collar.

  "Leave me. You don't know who I am! Inspector Fu, why are you standing like a statue?" Zou Min got mad. "Let me go. I know the Governor of Luoyang. You and your wife will be punished in the Capital for raising the hand of an upper-classman!" Zou Min threatened Nianzu.

  Nianzu did not want to use his title because he was no longer a Prince. However, there was something more precious he had that could have ended the reign of the Village Headman in this village. The Royal Inspector and the soldiers did not go near Nianzu as he had taken the village headman as the hostage and could harm him.

  Nianzu pushed Zou Min, and he fell to the ground. Nianzu took out the token that the Crown Prince had given him and almost showed it when he heard a familiar voice.

  "Arrest this Village Headman," Xiao Zhan announced.

  ~~~~

  What do you think will happen next? Do share your thoughts!