Before anyone could react, Gong Yuanxiu's face was struck more than a dozen times, stunning the assembled civil officials.
Once the shock wore off, they began to shout, "Guards! Guards, quickly! Seize that man!"
"Whatever the reason, we must get a clear explanation first! How can someone just start beating a court-appointed official? A Scholar isn't an official himself, and assaulting one is a crime punishable by imprisonment."
"Hurry and pull them apart! It would be a terrible stain on this joyous occasion if someone were to die."
To hear the officials talk, you would think they were in a great hurry. But a glance at their expressions revealed that each was calmer than the last, as if their words were mere formalities, not meant to be taken seriously.
Seeing their superiors act this way, the constables naturally performed their duties with a matching lack of urgency.
