县令本想重罚那名小吏，师爷上前缓颊，劝他念在初犯，从轻发落。
The magistrate initially wanted to punish the minor official severely, but his adviser stepped in to plead for leniency on the grounds that it was a first offense.
The magistrate initially wanted to punish the minor official severely, but his adviser stepped in to plead for leniency on the grounds that it was a first offense.