Chapter 568: End of Life
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
This was also a loss for the Imperial Court. Old Madam Yu looked sad. “They’ve studied hard for ten years, but they actually suffered such horrible consequences. How can their families bear it?!”
After the case was over, the Imperial Court would at most give them the title of a scholar and reward their families with some things. However, the dead could not be resurrected.
Just thinking about it made her teeth turn cold.
Yu Youyao finally put down her teacup. “The imperial examination fraud has been known for four to five days, and the case has basically become clear. Tomorrow morning, Father can discuss it with the civil officials he’s on good terms with and speak up for these students. There are still a few who cheated, but most of them are truly talented and knowledgeable. It’s difficult to find talents that are the pillars of the country. The Imperial Court can’t close the case rashly, but it can’t torture the students.”
If Yu Zongzheng was still in the Imperial Court, he would definitely accept this suggestion happily.
However, now that he was in the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, his words and actions were very important. Without the death exemption card, he would definitely have to be cautious.
For a moment, Yu Zongzheng hesitated.
The emperor was very secretive about the fraud. As too many people were implicated, the case lasted for four to five days, and no one in the court dared to speak much.
That was why after Song Mingzhao was imprisoned, he had suffered miserably and was punished severely.
Otherwise, with the power of the Zhenguo Marquis Residence, they could comfortably wait for the Imperial Court to release them.
Old Madam Yu had originally wanted to say something for these poor candidates and persuade Yu Zongzheng—
Yu Youyao continued, “The Imperial Court will strictly investigate the root cause of the fraud and eliminate partisanship. On the surface, we have to purge the imperial examination and choose more outstanding talents for the Imperial Court. We have to build the country and give an explanation to the thousands of students in the world.”
After the matter of cheating in the examination was exposed, all the scholars in the world were furious. They joined forces to report to the Imperial Court and asked for a strict investigation.
There were even many students who held Sun Sheng’s position and paraded on Chang An Street, sitting quietly at the entrance of the palace. Not only that, but scholars from all over the world also rushed to the capital. A large number of students gathered to offer sacrifices to the Confucius Temple and preach.
In particular, in the government office of the Imperial Court, there were many scholars making a fuss almost every day.
At this point, she changed the topic. “If nothing goes wrong, the students who can withstand the torture should all have achievements in the future. Father, speaking up for them is also to accumulate connections for yourself. As long as one or two of these students can benefit from Father’s words, it will also help you in the future. Father, don’t miss this opportunity.”
After arriving at the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, Yu Zongzheng also had the characteristics of most officials. If he spoke up for the candidates, he might not anger the emperor.
However, the benefits of speaking were obvious.
When Yu Zongzheng heard this, he was immediately tempted. “When I return to the front courtyard later, I’ll discuss it with my aides before making a decision.”
After arriving at the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, the connections he had accumulated in the past were a little lacking. He also completely realized the importance of accumulating connections. Only then did Yu Youyao’s words undoubtedly tickle him.
Yu Youyao nodded and did not say anything else.
She had suggested that Yu Zongzheng speak up for the candidates not because she wanted him to take the opportunity to accumulate connections, but because she did not want more innocent candidates to die in prison.
Many families in the court were implicated in the case of fraud.
For Song Mingzhao, the Zhenguo Marquis Residence was trying their best to help him. As for whether it would work, it still lacked someone who could speak in front of the emperor.
This time, there was only one person in the imperial examination family who was involved, and his ranking was not high. In the past, he had stayed in the Imperial Court for ten years. Now that he had entered the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, he was undoubtedly the best candidate.
Yu Zongzheng opened his mouth. Some people in the Imperial Court who had a good relationship with him would probably follow suit.
The emperor would definitely be willing to listen to the Imperial Court.
Yu Zongzheng returned to the study and called his aides for a discussion.
As Yu Youyao had expected, the outcome of the negotiation was naturally feasible.
Yu Zongzheng quickly sent someone to send a letter to his close colleagues.
The next day, Yu Zongzheng was in the royal court and said generously,
“There are still very few people who cheated, and most of them are truly talented. It’s difficult to find talents that are the pillars of the country. The case of fraud has already been investigated for a few days, and the case is basically clear. The Imperial Court doesn’t want to close the case rashly, but it can’t torture the students. In the future, when the case is completely investigated, the Imperial Court will also have to reopen the examination and take office. Those innocent students who were implicated will also take the examination again and enter the court as officials in the future?’
Even Yu Zongzheng did not expect that after he opened his mouth, there would be many people in the court who supported him.
After that, the fraud case continued.
However, there were no more candidates who had died in prison due to torture. However, there were still more than ten candidates who had died in prison because of the hardships in prison. Their bodies were weak and they had some illnesses. Some of them had died in prison.
Everyone hoped that the fraud case would be investigated as soon as possible.
In the blink of an eye, it was late March.
After seven treatment sessions, Zhou Linghuai could already walk on his own with his cane. The speed of his recovery stunned Uncle Sun.
Further treatment was needed. With Uncle Sun’s medicine, Yu Youyao’s spiritual dew, and the enhancement of all kinds of incense and medicinal cuisine, he believed that it wouldn’t be long before Zhou Linghuai could completely walk on his own.
At this moment, Ning Yuanbo’s involvement in the examination fraud was uncovered.
The emperor was furious and directly sent Ning Yuanbo to jail for investigation. Concubine Lu was also sent to the cold palace and there was no room for her comeback.
At this point, Ning Yuanbo’s residence was at its end.
Right on the heels of that, the Imperial Court sent out another official document: The results of this Spring Quarter Examination are invalid, and the examination will be repeated three months later. Therefore, innocent candidates who were implicated in the sub-examination can participate in the examination again.
The case of the imperial examination fraud had already been settled.
Was the dust really settled?
All of this was probably just the beginning!
Yu Youyao still remembered that in history, Xiang Zhuang’s sword dance had happened at the ambush before the treacherous plot started. It was also the matter of Xiang Zhuang’s sword dance that had completely opened the prelude to the war between Chu and Han to compete for world dominance.
Before this, Xiang and Liu had joined forces with Qin.
What did the Xiang Zhuang dance sword that her cousin was talking about mean? Before things developed to that point, even Yu Youyao wouldn’t be able to guess the truth.
If she took the initiative to ask her cousin, he would be happy to answer her.
However, she also knew that even if she knew about some things in advance, it would be useless. Since her cousin did not take the initiative to mention it, it proved that this was not something she could get involved in, so there was no need to ask.
The next day, Old Madam Yu heard the news again and said worriedly,
“Mingzhao survived the torture, but he also fell sick in prison. When the Zhenguo Marquis Residence received the news, they were as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof. They made arrangements and sent medicine and life-saving medicine to prison. I wonder when he will be released..”
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