Chapter 567: Outstanding
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
All of this was something that the pampered Song Mingzhao had never experienced before.
Song Mingzhao recalled that before he was imprisoned, he had been tidying up the study. He had taken the Duan inkstone that Yu Youyao had given him and instructed Kong Qing carefully, “I’ll be going to the Yu Residence to study tomorrow. Bring it to the Yu Residence.”
Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, the soldiers entered the house. Without any explanation, they took shackles and cuffed his hands and feet, bringing him out of the Zhenguo Marquis Residence.
His grandmother was so shocked that she fainted on the spot.
Her mother kept asking bitterly, “What mistake did Mingzhao make? Why did you arrest him? Even if you want to arrest him, you have to make things clear first.”
The house was in chaos.
In the past two years, he had been tortured by his heart disease. His body was no longer as strong as before, and he couldn’t take it anymore.
Song Mingzhao leaned against the wall and couldn’t help but think of Yu Youyao. “Zhiyao. Does it mean a courteous and beautiful flower?
The most regretful thing he had ever done in his life was about two years ago. Due to some blurry memories from his nightmare, he had called out her courtesy name in front of Yu Youyao on impulse and rudely.
He had caused Yu Youyao to misunderstand him and distance herself from him for the past two years.
He had originally thought that after he went to the Yu Residence to study with Mr. Hu Shan, he would go to the main house often to greet Old Madam Yu. In addition, the two families of the Yu Residence had a good relationship and his siblings often interacted with them. He would be on good terms with the brothers of the Yu Residence and have a chance to interact with Yu Youyao.
After interacting with him for so long, Yu Youyao naturally knew that he was not such an ill-mannered person. She would definitely change her opinion of him.
When he became the top scholar, his future would be bright. Then, he would have enough chips to beg his grandmother to come to the Yu Residence and suggest a proposal to Old Madam Yu.
At that time, Yu Youyao would already be 13 years old. She was at the age to be engaged. The Song and Yu families were family friends, and her grandmother and Old Madam Yu were close. Furthermore, he was on the Golden Ranking
Such sincerity was enough to move Grandmother Yu.
However, all of this was ruined by this prison sentence.
After this prison sentence, even if he was acquitted, this matter would still become a stain in his life.
Even if the Imperial Court reinstated his position and he obtained good results again, his future would be much more difficult unless the emperor was especially kind.
Yu Youyao was such an outstanding girl. Countless families in the capital were watching her.
He was originally 70 to 80% confident, but now, he was only 20 to 30% confident.
Song Mingzhao was already a little delirious. In a daze, he could no longer distinguish between dream and reality. In front of him was the scene of the young girl being thin and covered in blood. The young girl in the dream was cursing in his ears.
“Y-Yu Youyao, is that you?” Song Mingzhao clutched his chest and fell to the ground, suddenly coughing up a ball of blood.
Strangely, everything in front of him had become ethereal and blurry.
But!
In the past, he had always tried his best to see things clearly, but he was always shrouded in fog. At this moment, he had never seen someone so clearly.
It was Yu Youyao!
She was also in a sorry state he had never seen before.
Had he harmed Yu Youyao?
No
This was impossible!
He watched as this young girl grew and changed day by day. His admiration for her increased day by day, and he couldn’t help but have the urge to get close to her.
How could he hurt her? That wasn’t true.
Song Mingzhao muttered, “It’s not true…”
“In the nightmare, I did something to hurt you. You…” His pupils dilated, and his hands tightened on the straw under him. “That wasn’t me. It definitely wasn’t me…”
“I-I won’t hurt you…”
“Don’t believe it…
A few days later, there were rumors in the capital that some candidates couldn’t take the torture and died in the prison, causing everyone to panic.
The Yu Residence couldn’t interfere, but they had also heard about the investigation by the Imperial Court. When the Zhenguo Marquis Residence found out that Song Mingzhao had been tortured, it was simply like a bolt from the blue. They didn’t even dare to tell Old Madam Song.
Yu Zongzheng put down his teacup. “Mingzhao is Mr. Xian Yun’s disciple and has a reputation for being talented. Logically speaking, the officials in charge of the trial have investigated his case and interactions with people. The matter of cheating won’t fall on him, nor should he be tortured. However, he’s not to be envied. If he gets first place in this examination, he’ll become the target of public criticism. Someone from the Imperial Court has suggested that Song
Mingzhao be interrogated strictly.”
Yu Youyao held her teacup and said nothing.
In the past, when Song Mingzhao’s name first appeared, it was because he was low-key and indifferent. Since the Zhenguo Marquis Residence was not ostentatious, others paid more attention to him.
In this examination, Song Mingzhao had shocked the world. It was said that his scripture theory and strategy questions made the examiners slap the table and praise him.
There were even examiners who dug out some very representative examination papers from the previous generations of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
When they compared them, the differences were obvious. There were even rumors that Song Mingzhao had the literary skills of Minister Yu of the previous dynasty.
The rumors about Song Mingzhao’s crimes were definitely not groundless.
But!
The tallest tree would be destroyed by the wind.
The royalists under the Zhenguo Marquis Residence had many political enemies in the court. Now that Song Mingzhao had gained power, others naturally had to avoid him.
However, when Song Mingzhao was unlucky, others wished they could torture him to death. Since he couldn’t be charged with cheating, it was still a light punishment to skin him alive in prison.
No matter how many connections the Zhenguo Marquis Residence had and how powerful their methods were, it was impossible for Song Mingzhao to not suffer at all.
From the looks of it, Song Mingzhao was not just unlucky.
He was extremely unlucky!
Old Madam Yu’s eyes widened. “This… Isn’t this a disguised confession of torture? Wouldn’t Mingzhao be in trouble…”
Yu Zongzheng nodded. “I’ve already informed my colleagues who have a good relationship with the Imperial Court and asked them to keep an eye on them.
At the very least, they have to be careful. The Zhenguo Marquis Residence has also been making arrangements these few days.”
Old Madam Yu did not look too good. “The fraud in the examination has to be investigated strictly. I’m afraid that someone will use the fraud case to wantonly eliminate some henchmen. It will be hard on those innocent candidates.”
Wasn’t Song Mingzhao’s encounter also because of partisanship?
It was really disgusting.
Yu Zongzheng also sighed. “There’s nothing we can do about it. Mingzhao is also an upright person. Until now, he hasn’t confessed to cheating. In the past few days, there were a total of seven students who couldn’t take the torture and died in the prison. Almost all of them were innocently implicated. As for the candidates who really cheated, their bones had already softened before the whip hit them. They confessed.”
A person who had abandoned the moral character that a scholar should have and wanted to take a shortcut wouldn’t have any backbone.
At this point, Yu Zongzheng’s face did not look too good either. “These dead students are not ranked low. They would rather die than submit. It’s obvious that not only are they talented, but they also have morals. If they can enter the royal court, it’ll be a blessing for the country. I didn’t expect them to be implicated and die tragically in prison..”
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