Qian Wanjin was about to say something else, but Liu Yusheng stopped him. “There is no need to make things difficult for the boss. We will leave now.”
“Lucky Nannan!” Qian Wanjin frowned.
They did nothing despicable to walk away in dejection. Not to mention the shame, students were still waiting for the release of the list in major inns in the city, so they couldn’t book a new room.
Where would they live if they move out?
Liu Yusheng pursed her lips and said word by word, “Let’s go to Gongyuan (imperial examination hall)!”
Liu Zhixia froze and immediately reacted, “That’s right. Let’s go to Gongyuan! The examination has just ended, and all the examiners need to review the examination papers in Gongyuan. Let’s go directly to the chief examiner and present our case!”
The Liu family’s spirits were lifted and without further ado, they packed up their things and boarded the carriage, heading straight for Gongyuan.
“Go to the backyard of Gongyuan,” Shi Xianrou said, “Before the list was released, the examiners all live and review the test papers there.”
Because the examination had just ended, the front and back entrances of Gongyuan were under strict security with government soldiers guarding before the list release.
The Liu family wanted to ask for an audience, but they were directly stopped outside the door.
Looking at the guards at the entrance, Liu Yusheng solemnly said, “My brother, Liu Zhixia, was falsely accused of cheating in the examination room. We just want to seek justice and get back his innocence. I heard that Lord Yang is an honest and impartial official, so if the people have grievances to complain about, should he listen but turn a blind eye?”
“During the examination period, Gongyuan is an important place! How can we allow such unruly people to make a ruckus here! If you want to make trouble again, don’t blame us for being ungracious!”
Qian Wanjin’s temper surged, and he rolled up his sleeves and wanted to rush forward. However, Shi Xianrou was one step ahead.
Gathering her inner strength, Shi Xianrou raised her voice towards the courtyard and said, “”Zhennan General Mansion Shi Xianrou comes to see Lord Yang! Lord Yang is a well-known Confucian scholar in the dynasty. He has always been thirsty for wise people and selected a lot of talents that were of great use at court over the years. This time, a student has been slandered in the examination room. If this grievance isn’t redressed in time, the student’s future will be ruined, and the court will lose a useful talent! This is definitely not what Lord Yang wants. Therefore, we request Lord Yang to take the time to meet with us!”
Shi Xianrou’s delicate voice transmitted far. After speaking, she pulled the Liu family back a few steps and stood in front of the door to wait quietly.
The guards saw this and no longer drove them away, lest they turn away the wrong people in a moment of anger and receive Lord Yang’s chastisement in the end.
From what they’ve heard, there might be a hidden truth in it.
The calm wit exuded from the woman’s words and actions caused Qian Wanjin’s eyes to flash, and inexplicable emotions surged in his heart.
This freakishly powerful woman was very different from his impression before. She was overturning his initial impression little by little.
Soon, movement came inside Gongyuan’s gates.
A servant-like person came out and gave them a glance, “Lord Yang invites all of you inside.”
Done!
The dying embers in the Liu family’s hearts rekindled, and they quickly followed the servant into Gongyuan’s backyard.
There were two people sitting in the hall.
One was an old man with white hair and a strong scholar’s air.
One was a middle-aged man in a fourth-grade official uniform, full of majesty.
Shi Xianrou first bowed towards the old man. “Shi Xianrou of the Zhennan General’s mansion greets Lord Yang.”
Liu Yusheng and others followed and bowed to pay their respects.
The old man looked at Shi Xianrou, “You are the Second Miss of General Shi’s family, Shi Xianrou? I haven’t seen you for many years, and you’ve grown so big in a blink of an eye.”
“I haven’t seen you for many years, but I didn’t expect you to remember me. My father has often told me about you, saying that you are the most prestigious Confucian scholar today. Next time I return to the capital, I should pay a formal visit to you.”
The old man laughed, “Okay, call your father when the time comes. I also want to have a good drink with him, hahaha!”
The conversation shifted at this point. “But for now, let’s deal with the matter at hand. I know about the cheating in the examination room today. I even ruled the sentence because the evidence was conclusive at that time. But you claim to be falsely accused, so I will properly listen to you plead your case. Otherwise, when the time comes, I’d be labeled a muddled official who cut the future of talented people short in vain.”
Shi Xianrou’s words outside the door earlier were intended to force Lord Yang to see them. They didn’t expect him to use it to tease them, so they felt embarrassed and couldn’t throw in a word.
The old man looked at Liu Zhixia, whom Qian Wanjin and Liu Dalin were supporting. “I remember you. You are the student who was found cheating in the examination room. Your name is Liu Zhixia, right? Tell me, how were you framed? If you dare to fool me, I’ll also punish you heavily!”
Hearing this, Liu Zhixia stepped forward and knelt down with determined eyes. “Student Liu Zhixia greets Lord Yang. I was indeed wrongly accused in the cheating case in the examination room. Whatever I say next is the truth, and I would never dare to deceive or conceal anything. I hope Your Honor will judge wisely!”
After a pause, Liu Zhixia began to slowly recount what had happened in the examination room.
He was answering the question, and when he was just finishing the exam, the inspector suddenly came for a spot-check and found the cheat sheet under his examination seat.
Then he said he cheated and presented the note to the chief examiner, thus framing the charge.
“Your Honor, I didn’t bring that cheat sheet into the examination room, but someone did it on purpose and framed me in this way! I suspect that the person who framed me was the inspector who was in charge of the random inspection! Because apart from him, no one else had come close to me!”
At this moment, the middle-aged official sitting next to Lord Yang snorted, “You are just a poor student. You have never known the inspector and have no grudges. Why would he try to harm you for no reason? What good will it do him? How ridiculous!”
“If we want to investigate the reason, we have to mention another person. His name is Liang Yu, the nephew of the current magistrate of Yunzhou!”
Hearing these words, the middle-aged man’s face changed slightly.
It was a very subtle change that Liu Yusheng happened to see. Her mind turned a bit, determining the identity of the man.
He was wearing a fourth-rank official uniform and recognized Liang Yu’s name. He showed emotion at the mention of the name, so there was no doubt that he was Hou Deye, the magistrate of Yunzhou.
She didn’t expect him to appear here at this time.
Liu Zhixia continued.
“Several years ago, Liang Yu participated in the county exam for a county official rank. He carried a cheat sheet in the examination room, and I accidentally bumped into him. Later, his cheating was exposed in the examination room. He was fined for three years and was not allowed to take part in the exams. He mistakenly thought that I tipped him off, and he has held a grudge against me for years.
During the same period in Yunzhou Academy, Liang Yu thwarted me countless times. Every time we met, he ridiculed me, and there have been many times when people have made things difficult for me behind my back.
Before this incident broke out, I had a conflict with Liang Yu at the inn. At that time, he threatened me and told me to wait and see. There were many witnesses of this incident, so you just need to ask and you’ll know!
With his identity, background and power, I have reason to suspect that my false charge of cheating this time is likely related to Liang Yu!”
Peek-Aboo 
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