Chapter 331: Chapter 133: Sensation 2
That explained how his son, despite his worthless scholarship, had managed to luckily snag the position of the county’s top candidate.
But who would have ever expected that Cui Wei would collude with a candidate to cheat on the exam?
And who could this candidate possibly be?
Who could it be?
It had to be his son, Cui Junrong. No doubt about it.
Once they worked this out, all the county magistrates present fell silent. After a moment of silence, they put their hands on their hips and cursed Cui Wei with utter disdain.
"I knew there was something wrong with the examination in Guyuan County."
"That son of his is a good-for-nothing. If he can become the top candidate, then pigs can fly."
"Who knows what shady dealings that father and son have been up to? Let’s all go take a look."
The call was met with immediate agreement, and everyone headed over.
Once these county magistrates set out, their attendants were sure to follow.
Suddenly, a large group of officials emerged from the posthouse. They were all dressed plainly, but on their feet were official boots. Hearing their servants call out, "My lord, be careful," and "My lord, please slow down," how could the commoners on the street not know something major was happening?
Whatever it was, they decided to follow along and watch the spectacle first.
They followed the procession all the way to the entrance of the government office, only to find that the Lord Prefect was already seated in the main hall.
Not only was the Lord Prefect present, but Chen Wanqing, Zhao Jing, and Chen De’an had also heard the news and come out from their residence.
Even Wang Jun and his companions, along with every candidate and scholar currently in the Prefecture, had made an appearance.
The crowd buzzed with impassioned chatter. "I hear it has to do with cheating on the imperial exams?"
"Is that Cui Junrong, the top candidate from Guyuan County? The county exam there was a complete disaster, and he still cheated? If there was no cheating, does that mean Guyuan County doesn’t have a single literate scholar?"
"I disagree. It’s probably because of the cheating that this year’s batch of candidates from Guyuan County was so unimpressive."
"Despicable scoundrels. How many scholars’ futures have been ruined this way?"
"They ought to be struck by lightning!"
Spotting Zhao Jing and his two companions, Wang Jun and his group hurried over.
Wang Jun, believing he had more inside information, lowered his voice and said to them, "I heard that they suppressed anyone more capable than Cui Junrong, all just to secure him the title of top candidate."
Wang Jun shook his head, finding the father-son duo’s actions completely irrational.
Cui Junrong was a classic case of an empty vessel making the most noise; he should have just aimed for a mediocre result. That way, he wouldn’t draw attention or invite resentment. Why insist on trying to prop up someone so completely incompetent?
And look at the result. Not only did he ruin his son, but he dragged himself down as well.
De’an, however, had a different perspective. "If he didn’t suppress all the capable candidates, Cui Junrong would surely be crushed by them in the prefectural and college examinations. Mr. Cui did all this to help his son become a Scholar. If all those powerful rivals were still in the running, what chance would Cui Junrong have?"
"That makes sense. It’s just a shame for the scholars of Guyuan County."
The case was actually quite simple to adjudicate, as there was both witness testimony and physical evidence.
Several scholars had traveled overnight from Guyuan County. Some had broken legs, others had injured feet. Each of them was filled with bitter resentment, their faces etched with profound grief.
These scholars knelt in the courtroom, their faces already streaked with tears before they had even spoken a word.
"The Lord County Magistrate’s steward came to my home personally and demanded that I withdraw from last year’s county examination. When I refused, they threatened my six-year-old son. I pretended to agree, but secretly planned to come to the Prefecture to report them. Instead, they ambushed me and broke my leg..."
"My registration form was stolen by a servant from the county government. My wife saw it happen and confronted them, but they flatly denied it. In the ensuing scuffle, they broke my arm."
"I am here to seek justice for my grandson. They forced a tael of silver on my family, claiming my grandson had accepted employment as their bookkeeper. When my grandson denied it, they accused him of breaking his word and held his head in a water vat. They nearly... they nearly drowned him..."
These scholars and elderly men, kneeling in the great hall, shed tears with every sentence, their words like cries of blood. Their suffering, oppression, and profound indignation ignited the fury of the common folk gathered outside the government office.
"This is outrageous."
"Absolutely inhuman."
"Is he supposed to be an official who cares for his people? He’s a monster!"
"Worse than a monster!"
Cui Wei and Cui Junrong were terrified by the enraged crowd below and the majestic fury of Prefect Sheng on the dais. The father and son trembled, like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.
But they absolutely could not admit to any of this. An admission would be a death sentence for them both.
Cui Wei kowtowed repeatedly. "My Lord, I have been wronged!"
Cui Junrong, however, wore a defiant look. "My Lord, these men may be well-known, but they are my inferiors. They feel it’s unfair to have lost to someone like me, a ’spoiled heir,’ so they’ve fabricated all these stories just to vent their frustration."
