CH 13

Only the last remnants of the sunset were left at the end of the heavenly staircase, and the hazy yellow sunset shone over the ancient and long-established imperial capital.

Zhao Fu had been chief steward for more than ten years and had never been sent out of the Emperor's upper study when Emperor Jianing was talking about secret matters, like the Qinglong bell being rung abruptly at the top of the imperial city for the first time in decades.

Although, to put it mildly, it was not quite a secret matter, he was almost certain that His Majesty must be ashamed into anger at the moment.

He slightly bent over and stood facing the entrance of the study room, always maintaining a respectful posture. When he turned his eyes and inadvertently glanced at the scene on the stone steps, a faintly visible emotion passed under his cloudy eyes.

Gu Kuan, the marquis of Zhongyi who holds tens of thousands of troops and horses in the northwest, knelt straight on the blue-patterned stone steps, gazing quietly at the closed upper study with a calm and composed demeanour.  

At the corridor, Gu Zhaoyi was supported by two palace servants. Her long and slender fingertips tightened, and her complexion was a little pale.

It has been two hours since Huang Pu was summoned into the Upper Study to report everything.

Although Zhao Fu hadn't left this place, he knew that all the people in the capital were waiting for the decision of the one inside.

"Zhao Fu, come in."

By the time Zhao Fu had pacified the great eunuch sent to the Ci'an hall for the third time to ask questions, Emperor Jia Ning's voice finally rang out in the suffocating silence.

Marquis of Zhongyi, who was kneeling on the stone steps, was taken aback. His face more than a touch relieved.    

With a long breath of relief, Zhao Fu shook his body and pushed open the door of the upper study room——

The night pearls in the room were illuminated, casting a shallow shadow on the quietness of the room. Emperor Jia Ning sat on the couch with his eyes solemn, his already unwell body looking a little tired. Huang Pu knelt not far from the floor, his head bowed in silence.

Zhao Fu walked cautiously to the Emperor's side and asked in a respectful voice, "Your Majesty, what is your command?"

Emperor Jia Ning waved his hand and pointed towards the desk, "Bring the jade seal here and draw up a decree for zhen."

Huang Pu's ears twitched as Emperor Jia Ning glanced at him and commanded in a deep voice, "Pass down the decree. Because the Minister of the Da Lisi, Pei Zhan, is physically ill, zhen have ordered the shaoqing of the Da Lisi, Ren Anle, to work with the two ministers to examine the case of cheating in the imperial examinations ......"

Huang Pu suddenly raised his head, looking excited.

The Emperor Jia Ning snorted and continued with a flick of his sleeve, "What are you so happy about? You only have one day. If the investigation of the case is still not clear by tomorrow, the official hats of all the officials in the Da Lisi will be removed, along with Ren An Le's!"

"Your Majesty, This subject is willing to trust Ren da ren..."

"Even the Qinglong Bell has been struck, Zhen do not doubt Huang Qing's trust in Ren Anle!" Emperor Jia Ning coldly interrupted Huang Pu.

"Your Majesty, This subject really can't bear the thought of the scholars travelling thousands of miles to the capital for the imperial examination only to end up with an illusionary scene and their efforts to be in vain......," Huang Pu said fearfully, looking embarrassed and knocking his head on the ground.

"Fine." Emperor Jia Ning sighed, "You go down, zhen will allow a group of officials from the Da Lisi to observe the trial tomorrow."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Huang Pu gave a courtesy and retreated.

"Zhao Fu, pronounce the decree, right outside my study."

Inside the quiet upper study, Emperor Jia Ning's voice was particularly cold.

Zhao Fu responded with a low voice. He finished drafting the imperial edict, stamped the jade seal and walked out of the upper study. He read it aloud before handing it over to the deputy steward to send it to the Da Lisi.

"Old Marquis, His Majesty says that the fraud case will be handed over to Lord Ren for trial. When there is a result, His Majesty will surely make a decision, so please return to the Marquis' residence first."

He did not miss the Marquis of Zhongyi's dismayed look and Gu Zhaoyi's limp figure on the palace maid.

The Marquis of Zhongyi, Gu Kuan, had an unsightly complexion and remained motionless on his knees.

Zhao Fu sighed. After all, Marquis of Zhongyi had been domineering for too many years. This matter has become so big, but he still dares to defy the imperial decree in full view of the public and still kneel outside the upper study.

The Qinglong bell was rung, a group of exam candidates kneeling at the Chongyang Gate, and a petition was filed by the officials of the government. Anyone would know that the Da Lisi had solid evidence in hand. Gu Qishan was only subjected to the test questions, the heaviest would only be stripped of the right of succession to the title, which would hardly touch the bones of the Marquis of Zhongyi. But the Marquis of Zhongyi is so indifferent to the heart. To the emperor, what is this if not a case of taking advantage of merit and being arrogant in favor?

After waiting for a while, the news of the departure of the exam candidates from the Chongyang Gate came. Zhao Fu re-entered the upper study and reported softly, "Your Majesty, the guards came back and said that the candidates had thanked Your Majesty for his great kindness and had dispersed. It's just that ...... the Marquis of Zhongyi has not yet risen."

"Don't mind him, he will naturally get up." Emperor Jia Ning's barely eased face sank as he coldly snorted, "He is so rampant because he holds so much military power in the northwest. His Gu family's face was rewarded by zhen, and now he is using it to hold favor!"

"Your Majesty, quell your anger."

Emperor Jia Ning waved his hand. His eyes narrowed, his expression was unpredictable, and his words were meaningful.

"The Gu family has been domineering for a long time, I have heard about it. But this Ren Anle ...... can cause so much trouble, I really regret that I missed her last audience in the palace."

At sunset, the people who filled the streets finally waited for the decree to be issued from the imperial city.

There was no leap of joy, only relief and great hope in their eyes.

The people dispersed only after they had seen the official announcement posted by the Da Lisi that the court would be held at the chenshi [1] hour of the second day.

[1]  辰时 辰時 chén shí 7-9 am (in the system of two-hour subdivisions used in former times)

Late at night, Ren Anle, who had been sitting at the Da Lisi for the whole day, finished reading the files left by Huang Pu and led Yuan Qin for a leisurely walk on the street.

"Miss, I'm afraid that tomorrow's trial will not be too easy for the right and left minister and the young lady."

The streets of the imperial capital were particularly cold late at night. Yuan Qin took two steps to tie the cloak she carried around Ren Anle's neck and said softly.

"If it wasn't for the recommendation of the Da Lisi, and the fact that the people's will cannot be disobeyed, the case would never have fallen on my lap. The imperial court is dominated by the left Minister, and the one in the imperial city is afraid that he wants me to fall on my face so that he can take his breath away and not spend silver on a joke.

Ren Anle laughed softly, her voice sounding casual and relaxed, different from the domineering coldness she usually displayed in front of people.

As they chatted, the two of them unknowingly reached a cold and desolate street.

The street is very wide, with elegant and luxurious buildings on both sides. At the end of the road, an ancient and simple mansion stands quietly. The stone lions in front of the mansion are mottled and the red paint is peeling, as if it has been abandoned for a long time.

Under the dim yellow light, even from a distance of a hundred metres, one can still vaguely feel the glory and prosperity of the past.

"Which family's mansion is that?"

The two of them paused. Ren Anle raised her head and asked quietly.

"Miss, back in the day, when the Taizu favoured the Di clan, he gave an entire street in the imperial city to the Marquis of Jing'an for the purpose of repairing his residence. I think this is the place. This should be the former residence of the Marquis of Jing'an."

Yuan Qin's voice was particularly clear in the late night street, but for some reason, it felt cold and silent to the ears.

Ren Anle took a distant glance at the deserted Marquis of Jing'an's residence in the distance, answered 'Oh' in a low voice, and with a quiet expression, turned to leave.

Under the full moon, the vivid red cloak trailed on the ground, reflecting the distant figure walking away slowly, solemnly cold and resounding.

The next day, the chenshi hour is approaching.

Since the founding of the country, the Da Lisi has never had a case that has attracted more attention than this one. The official road was crowded with people looking forward to it. There were dozens of candidates standing on the stone steps below the lobby of the government office, while the officials of the Da Lisi stood on both sides, and the magistrates were looking at each other. In addition to the seat of the presiding judge, there were also two chairs on the left and one on the right. The entire Da Lisi was solemn and unusual.

The drums sounded and the chenshi hour arrived.

The left and the right minister came out of the back hall, looked at each other, and looked towards the other entrance.

They had not seen Ren Anle since they had entered the Da Lisi early in the morning.

When the noise stopped, Ren Anle, dressed in a crimson red official's robe, came out from the other end of the hall, her eyebrows sober and stern.

It was the first time a woman from Dajing had ever handled a case as an official, so the crowd looked up in wonder.

Ren Anle bowed to the left and right ministers and walked up to the desk, where the three of them sat on the lobby.

The curtain has finally been raised on the imperial examinations cheating case, which had become a furore in the 17th year of the Jia Ning era.

Behind the hall separated by a curtain, Wen Shuo saw the rare interest on Han Ye's face and whispered, "Your Highness, I heard that the Marquis of Zhongyi knelt in the Imperial City for half the night yesterday, but his Majesty did not summon him. He was assisted back by the imperial guards at dawn."

"He used his merit to hold favor. Father Emperor must have developed a grudge in his heart." Han Ye said indifferently.

"The Marquis of Zhongyi has always been close to His Highness, so this time Ren Anle has done His Highness a favour by playing a crooked game."

Wen Shuo laughed, his eyes narrowed into slits in delight. Han Ye patted his head and listened intently as he heard Ren Anle's order for the magistrates to take a group of people with them.

In the hall, Wu Yue and the two candidates were kneeling on the floor, looking terrified.

"Wu Yue, the other day in hall you admitted to handing over the test questions to Song Xian and Liu Jiang, now do you plead guilty?"

Wu Yue nodded, "This student admit his guilt." The other two looked ashen and nodded in unison.

The cheating cheat sheet was found on all three of them, and the evidence of their guilt was conclusive, so they could not argue.

"Since you have admitted your guilt, this official will pronounce the sentence in this court——" Ren Anle rang the bell said in a deep voice, "Song Xian and Liu Jiang have cheated in the examinations. This official sentence you both to no longer have the right to enter the imperial examinations, to be stripped of your title of scholar, and to be sent to the northwest for three years of forced labour."

The two men bowed down and were then taken away by the magistrates. Wu Yue was still in the courtroom, and everyone knew that the case had only just begun.

The Left Minister was calm, but when he saw Du Tingsong, who had been escorted in, he unconsciously recalled his first son's terrified and worried expression, and the hand that was touching the jade ring paused slightly.

Ren Anle inadvertently glanced at the left Minister, the expression in her eyes unclear.

In the hall, Du Tingsong was kneeling quietly, his face buried low and his expression could not be clearly seen. Only Gu Qishan, who had been imprisoned for a day, still looked arrogant despite his wretched clothes.

At the sight of these two being announced into the hall, Wu Yue visibly cowered and looked terrified.

"Wu Yue, yesterday when Lord Huang asked about the case, you said that the test questions had also been given to Gu Qishan, is that correct?"

"Back to Your Excellency ......" Wu Yue's voice trembled slightly, then became firm. He kowtowed repeatedly and said, "Yes, this student's momentary confusion has led to a big mistake. This student willingly admits his guilt. He just hope that it will not bring misfortunes to his family. "

If it wasn't for the safety of his family, he wouldn't have dared to confess Gu Qishan and Du Tingsong in the courtroom. If he were to be accused of cheating in the imperial examination and of being the mastermind behind the death of the university scholar, it will surely bring disaster to the nine generation of his clan.

"Nonsense, where did I ask for the test questions you gave me? You are spitting blood![2]" Gu Qishan almost jumped up and roared, his expression fierce, then turned to Ren Anle and said with an arch of his hand, "Lord Ren, Wu Yue only climbed on others to get away with it. I was wrongly accused!"

[2]  血口喷人 [xuè kǒu pēn rén] to spit blood (idiom); venomous slander; malicious attacks

When he saw that Ren Anle was silent, he turned his eyes and pointed at Du Tingsong: "Maybe his confession that the examination questions came from Du Tingsong is also a slanderous statement. The questions were only retrieved from him, and we had nothing to do with it. How can a mere one-sided statement be used as evidence?"

Although Gu Qishan is ignorant and incompetent and always like to stir up a lot of trouble, there is some truth in what he said at this time. The candidates in the hall nodded at each other, and even the people at the entrance of the government office were talking about it.

After all, it was only Wu Yue's words that had come out of his mouth so far, and there was no reliable evidence.

The Left Minister's face was calm. With a smile under his eyes, he said, "Lord Ren, what Gu Qishan said is not wrong. If the Da Lisi is allowed to ring the Qinglong Bell just because of Wu Yue's one-sided words, then this case is really a laughing stock."

As soon as the Left Minister's words were spoken, the uproar grew louder and the faces of the Da Lisi officials turned red.

Wu Yue's hand trembled as he pointed at Gu Qi Shan: "Young Marquis, I clearly informed you of the examination questions ......"

"Where is the evidence?" Gu Qishan was smug.

"Half a month ago at the Juxian House ......"

"I often meet with you to have fun. You said you had given me the examination questions, who can testify to that?" Gu Qishan was quite sure that there was no witness at that time.

Wu Yue's face was deathly pale and he couldn't speak.

"Who said there is no witness?" Ren Anle's calm voice sounded in the hall, looking at Gu Qishan with a meaningful gaze.

"Impossible!" Gu Qishan abruptly got up and was pressed back down to his knees by the magistrate on the side.

"If this official says there is, naturally there is. Young Marquis, do you still insist that that you didn't cheat on the imperial examination?

"Of course, Lord Ren. You said that there is a witness, where?"

Seeing Gu Qishan's repeated questions, Ren Anle said, "Inside this hall."

The crowd froze, and Huang Pu was the only one with a calm expression.

Seeing the silence of the crowd, Ren Anle waved her hand, "Present the evidence."

As the crowd watched, a magistrate brought a wooden tray up to the hall and placed it on the desk. It was covered with a blue cloth, so it was impossible to see what it was.

Ren Anle lifted the cloth and a paper test fell before the eyes of everyone.

She picked up the examination paper and unfolded it slowly. Looking at Gu Qi Shan, she spoke in a deep voice, word for word, "Young Marquis, you are the witness."

"Since you said that you never took the examination questions given by Wu Yue, then this examination paper was naturally answered by you personally. What is now in this hall is your examination paper. As long as you can recite the contents of the examination paper, I will find you not guilty in this court and personally send you back to the Marquis of Zhongyi's residence to beg forgiveness!"