Chapter 466: Chapter 466

Shengjing was swarmed with frail scholars from all over the world, heading towards the Imperial Palace to present a petition.

To present a petition, one had to knock at the palace gate.

Knocking at the palace gate was of two kinds: beating the drum to lodge a complaint, and intercepting the Emperor’s carriage to cry out the grievance.

To those wailing at the Imperial Palace, not a few scholars were seized by the guards. Yet still, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, others continuously arrived to knock at the palace gate.

Imperial Censor Shu was talking to Ji Ge with a yawn, a book hugged in his arms.

"Why would the Seventh Prince seek me out to explain the book’s meaning to you all of a sudden?"

"In the entire court, only Imperial Censor Shu wouldn’t speak ill of me behind my back."

Imperial Censor Shu nodded: "Indeed, those people are very hypocritical."

While they were talking, they heard the intermittent screams echoing from afar.

A hundred scholars were lying on the ground, the physical punishment on their bodies never ceased.

The frail scholar with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, how could he endure such beating. But he still articulated each word with heart-wrenching, blood-curdling sobs.

"I am Scholar Lu Changzhou, from Hui State. In the eleventh year of Jiayou, I passed the scholar examination. I accuse the Magistrate of Chi State of shielding fraud. His legitimate son Wang Anyuan and legitimate second son Wang Andao stole my title, again passing as a scholar. Without proper justice, it will be insufficient to admonish those in power. I humbly request the official to uphold justice."

As he spoke, one by one, other scholars also voiced their struggles with difficulty.

"I am Scholar Xu Cheng, from Tongzhou. ..."

"I am Scholar Chu Xu, from Hengzhou. ..."

Upon hearing this, Imperial Censor Shu’s brows were tightly furrowed.

He remembered Wang Anyuan, who wrote an outstanding essay in that year’s examinations. After seeing it, he really liked it, and later personally met with him.

However, after conversing with the boy, he realized he lacked the depth and vision that his essay promised. It turns out he had stolen someone else’s work to take his place.

He approached with a cold face and a quick step.

The officials all turned to look at Ji Zhui who was standing aside.

Ji Zhui didn’t move. He just looked towards Imperial Censor Shu, displaying a difficult expression.

"Imperial Censor Shu, you ought to be well aware of Da Qi’s laws. As such, there should be no need for me to elaborate further."

The expression on Imperial Censor Shu’s face was terribly grim.

How could he not know?

The Imperial Palace was not so easily breached. To face the Emperor, they would inevitably have to endure punishment.

Many scholars had already fainted, beaten until their skin split and flesh burst. Yet, those who arrived later did not show the slightest hint of cowardice.

One fell, and those behind bravely and unhesitatingly took their place.

Ji Ge was horrified: "What kind of law is this? That treats people so contemptuously?"

Imperial Censor Shu felt helpless: "When commoners accuse an official, it is like a son killing a father, first they receive fifty lashes, and even if vindicated, they are exiled two thousand li."

"How can these people endure fifty lashes? Is this not akin to sending them to their deaths?"

Looking again at these scholars, all were dressed in long robes washed white from wear, indicating their families’ hardships.

How could the wealthy and powerful ever let everything be taken away from them?

The commotion here was loud, and many Hanlin Officials from the Hanlin Academy had also arrived. Most of them were scholars who had risen from poor families.

Seeing the situation, they couldn’t bear it.

"It’s not easy for scholars from poor families. That Scholar Lu, in earlier years, was my classmate, and was the best pupil of our teacher. That year, he failed the exam, and because of this matter, it’s said he even took his case to the government office."

In the end, it all came to nothing.

Before power and influence, all else are insignificant ants.

One can only resign to fate.

Yet who could have anticipated that he would be replaced twice?

The scholarly exams took place every three years, he waited six years, all for the benefit of others.

"Hui State is remote and desolate. He is the poorest from a rural area, the only educated person from a poor village. That year when he went to the capital for the examinations, the travel expenses were collected by the whole village."

Imperial Censor Shu looked towards the imperial study.

This matter had already reached Emperor He’s ears from early on. How could he not know? Yet, he did not intervene, nor did he send Eunuch Ying from his side. Perhaps...

He took a harsh breath.

He moved forward, seizing the punishment stick from someone’s hand.

"Justice has not yet been reported to the heavens! Are you going to beat all the scholars in the world to death to be satisfied?!"

Ji Zhui narrowed his eyes, his expression also growing colder.

"Imperial Censor Shu, you are the most rule-abiding person."

"Seeing the situation now, it is evident that my Da Qi is infested with corrupt officials. As the Crown Prince, you should be ashamed. I have broken the rules and will ask to be punished in front of officialdom myself. There’s no need for the Crown Prince to go out of his way to inform them!"

Having said that, he flung his sleeve and strode towards the imperial study.

So... are we still beating them or not?

The attendants looked at each other, waiting only for Ji Zhui’s orders.

Ji Zhui, having been slapped in the face in public, had an extremely ugly expression.

Meanwhile, Ji Ge removed the Prince Token.

"Go and call for the Imperial Physician."

"The arrogant son of the Emperor, how can he understand their hardships and suffering?"

Ji Ge scolded the eunuch behind him: "Go and call them!"

"There’s something..."

He was about to speak, but then he thought of himself as merely a pawn, and without hesitation said: "Imperial Censor Shu will bear it."

So saying, guided by Cui Yun, he knelt in the direction of the imperial study.

"Begging Father Emperor for leniency."

Seeing this, the Hanlin Officials knelt down beside the students too.

"Begging officialdom for mercy."

Over and over again they pleaded, allowing the students to catch their breath.

"Begging officialdom for mercy."

In the imperial study, the Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, his expression ominously dark.

He had not slept well for days.

These days had been full of constant turmoil.

All he heard were such reports.

"Report! Hengzhou has erupted in violent uprising."

"Report! An earthquake has struck Wuzhou."

"Report! Tongzhou has been attacked by bandits. The death and injury are severe."

"Report! The grain at the border has been burned, I fear it is a sign the enemy country intends to declare war..."

"Report, the mountain ranges of Hui State have been destroyed."

Such news caught him off guard.

It was even strangely as if it was done on purpose.

But... that’s impossible.

No one could have such capability. To manipulate so many places.

And the increasingly wild rumors outside!

Emperor He closed his eyes heavily, weary to the core.

He intended to suppress it, and the Ministry of Justice had arrested quite a few people. He thought that this would make the people restrain themselves, but it was as if a mechanism had been triggered, touching a raw nerve.

Those lowly commoners even dared to resist.

"Do you think, could it be that I have mishandled affairs and angered the heavens, thus bringing calamity upon the people?"

That’s too much. You haven’t done a few proper things since you ascended to the throne. He was about to flatter a few words when Eunuch Ying entered and whispered in Emperor He’s ear.

Emperor He was even more vexed.

Already overwhelmed with anxiety, upon learning that students were causing trouble, he also harbored thoughts of punishment.

But he did not expect those people to not retreat an inch, clearly meaning to trouble him. The mighty Emperor, surely he shouldn’t be blackmailed?

"Brother Emperor, we must give an explanation for the students. I heard from the guards that there are as many as a thousand people here. This matter cannot be neglected. Why not let them see you first, and after everything is investigated and the wronged are exonerated, then it wouldn’t be too late to deal with them."

Prince Gong gnashed his teeth in anger: "Officials unbridled in their jurisdictions. They dare to commit an atrocity that demands the punishment of extermination of nine kin, they don’t consider you at all!"

"Fortunately, my son is good for nothing, had he passed the exams and someone snatched away his achievements, I would have killed their whole family." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ Nove1Fire.net

Emperor He was also angry.

But he was aware that this matter involved too much.

He couldn’t investigate clearly, and indeed he dared not do so.

The very foundation of the country was unstable. Yet if people really died, his reputation for being virtuous would also be damaged.

In the end, Emperor He conceded and walked outside, with extreme pretense.

"Above the law, there is still the Emperor’s grace, I cannot chill the hearts of the students."