Under the Microscope Episode 12 Recap
> Under the Microscope Recap
Ma Wencai ordered his men to apprehend Shuai Jiamo. When Feng Biyu witnessed this, she intervened, calling out to the gathered townsfolk that the officers were kidnapping Renhua County's benefactor. The people, in turn, voiced their strong disagreement, demanding Shuai Jiamo's release. Unfazed, the officers continued their attempt to take him away. Magistrate Fang swiftly arrived, halting the officers.
They reported acting under Commander Ma's orders, but Magistrate Fang chastised them for making an arrest in Renhua without informing the county office, deeming it a breach of etiquette. The officers retorted by mentioning Prefect Huang and Inspector Liu's removal from office and that Commander Ma had assumed all defense matters. Magistrate Fang, undeterred, asserted that Ma Wencai's authority was over defense, not governance, and that Shuai Jiamo, as a Renhua citizen, was under his protection.
He declared he would not bow to others' will. The townspeople rallied behind Magistrate Fang, who, despite the pressure, ordered Shuai Jiamo to be taken back to the county office. Meanwhile, the news that field remeasurements would cease immediately was announced from the city wall, prompting cheers from the crowds below, including Xiao Zhi. On the city wall, Assistant Prefect Song congratulated Ma Wencai on his surging reputation due to the cessation of land remeasurements.
Ma Wencai responded that they all got what they wanted, and the issue would be resolved once Shuai Jiamo was punished. Assistant Prefect Song then informed Ma Wencai that Magistrate Fang had taken Shuai Jiamo. Ma Wencai, exasperated that Magistrate Fang dared to intervene despite his backers being gone, decided to personally retrieve Shuai Jiamo, fearing a direct forceful arrest would spark a revolt. When Ma Wencai confronted Magistrate Fang, he demanded to know why Fang was harboring a criminal.
Magistrate Fang asked what crime Shuai Jiamo had committed, to which Ma Wencai listed trespassing, falsifying documents, slandering the government, and inciting civil unrest, stating he had decided on an immediate public execution. Magistrate Fang attempted to follow proper protocol, explaining the lengthy process of reporting to the capital for review by multiple judicial bodies, culminating in an autumn execution. Ma Wencai dismissed this, insisting Shuai Jiamo's severe crimes warranted an immediate execution.
He questioned Magistrate Fang's sudden confusion and his reasons for protecting Shuai Jiamo, implying it offered no personal benefit. Magistrate Fang clarified that he was protecting the people of Renhua. Ma Wencai mocked him with the nickname "Statue Fang," suggesting he was trying to be a hero. He reiterated his right to an immediate execution and urged Magistrate Fang not to delay.
Magistrate Fang, requesting a written proposal, initially demanded ten days to respond, but under Ma Wencai's threat of impeachment, agreed to five days. Magistrate Fang's aide was surprised by his master's resolve. Under the cover of night, Feng Baoyu and Cheng Renqing hurried to Assistant Magistrate Ren's residence to inquire about the "Complete Works of the Silk Event." Assistant Magistrate Ren initially claimed no knowledge, prompting an emotional outburst from Feng Baoyu, who stressed the life-or-death situation for Shuai Jiamo.
Cheng Renqing calmed Feng Baoyu before taking over, praising Assistant Magistrate Ren's four decades of dedicated service in Jin'an and his renowned diligence in flood control, especially his detailed plans for a dam in Wancheng. Cheng Renqing subtly highlighted the unfair tax burden on commoners compared to the tax-exempt gentry, who often concealed vast landholdings while making token donations.
He argued that Assistant Magistrate Ren's refusal to expose this corruption, which involved thousands of taels, made his conscience like an "unrealizable mud dam." Feng Baoyu then earnestly pleaded for Shuai Jiamo, his only close friend in Renhua. Moved, Assistant Magistrate Ren confessed he had written the "Complete Works of the Silk Event" himself and entrusted it to Feng Baoyu, expressing no regrets. He then collapsed and died, with his son rushing out in anguish.
Examining the book, Feng Baoyu and Cheng Renqing discovered records of gentry in Jin'an shortening land measurement ropes from over two decades ago. Feng Baoyu quickly noticed Assistant Prefect Song's name, Song Ren, linked to every transaction. Cheng Renqing explained this revealed a widespread conspiracy connecting Fan Yuan in the villages, Lu Feilong in the wilds, Mao Panfeng in the county, Ma Wencai in the circuit, and Assistant Prefect Song in Jin'an.
Realizing that the exposure of these old cases would be catastrophic, they understood why Shuai Jiamo had to be silenced. Cheng Renqing decided to take the "Complete Works of the Silk Event" to the provincial capital, instructing Feng Baoyu to return to Renhua and stall the execution, even at the execution grounds, until his return. As the five-day deadline approached, Magistrate Fang was consumed by worry, unable to eat or sleep.
His aide tried to comfort him, assuring him he had done everything possible. Magistrate Fang lamented his lack of Shuai Jiamo's single-minded determination, wishing he had resigned earlier to admire rocks. Resigned to the inevitable, he prepared a final meal to send Shuai Jiamo off. On the day of the execution, Magistrate Fang brought the food to Shuai Jiamo. Ma Wencai, facing the crowds, ordered the execution to begin. Feng Baoyu and Xiao Zhi were among the onlookers.
Feng Baoyu motioned for Xiao Zhi to instigate chaos, while Feng Biyu also joined the frenzied crowd. People hurled insults and objects at Shuai Jiamo, accusing him of instigating the Silk Poll Tax and illicitly profiting, demanding his death. As the scene descended into pandemonium, Ma Wencai initially allowed the crowd to vent, then ordered suppression.
Suddenly, Assistant Magistrate Ren's son appeared, draped in mourning clothes and carrying his father's portrait, crying out about his father's recent death and seeking justice. The news of Assistant Magistrate Ren's passing further agitated the crowd, plunging the execution ground into deeper chaos. Assistant Prefect Song, growing impatient, urged Ma Wencai to proceed with the execution. Mindful of public perception, Ma Wencai permitted Assistant Magistrate Ren's family to pay their respects.
After their ritual, Assistant Prefect Song again pressed for immediate execution, and Ma Wencai relented. Just as the execution was about to proceed, Feng Baoyu rushed forward, pretending to mourn Assistant Magistrate Ren, lamenting that the promised dam was never built. Assistant Prefect Song quickly saw through his act, accusing him of stalling and trying to find reinforcements. Feng Baoyu confronted Assistant Prefect Song, calling him an "old poisonous thing" and questioning how many more lives he would ruin.
Assistant Prefect Song, infuriated, ordered Ma Wencai to execute Feng Baoyu alongside Shuai Jiamo. Feng Baoyu defiantly declared that since he had co-filed the Silk Poll Tax case, he should also be executed. An official reminded Ma Wencai that executing Feng Baoyu would require additional paperwork and legal review, potentially exposing vulnerabilities. Ma Wencai, under pressure, agreed to prepare the necessary document for both executions and sent for his seal.
While awaiting the seal, Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu calculated the travel distance and time for Cheng Renqing: 200 li from Wancheng to the provincial capital, and 330 li from the provincial capital to Renhua, totaling 530 li. They grimly realized it would take Cheng Renqing five and a half days to return by horseback, meaning he would not arrive in time. The execution order for both Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu was read aloud.
Upon hearing her brother's name, Feng Biyu fainted. As the executioners raised their blades, preparing to strike, Cheng Renqing dramatically arrived, throwing the executioner's knife aside. He confidently asked Ma Wencai how his "silver spear pitch-pot" skills now compared to before. Ma Wencai ordered his arrest, but Cheng Renqing, unfazed, announced the arrival of Li Shida, the Grand Coordinator of Fengxing and Right Censor-in-chief.
