Chapter 308 This is simply a public execution

"How come it has nothing to do with Li Zhiyuan? If that's the case, then why does Li Jiaojiao always tell people that you will definitely win the title this time! She also said that this time is different and you can win it next time too."

A voice rang out from the crowd. It was actually Mrs. Zhao.

Behind the screen, Ye Caiping and others looked back and found that Mrs. Zhao was no longer there. They didn't know when she ran away.

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Zhiyuan's face changed drastically.

Mrs. Li rushed over and tried to strangle Mrs. Zhao by the neck: "Shut up, you old bitch!"

"Ah——" Mrs. Zhao quickly blocked her. The two of them actually started fighting.

Prefect Qin slammed the gavel hard and said, "Come here, separate them for me!"

Two yamen runners immediately rushed out and pulled the two men apart.

Prefect Qin said again: "Please invite the old woman who just spoke in."

Mrs. Zhao was so happy that she ran in and knelt down: "Greetings, sir."

"Who are you?"

"Your Excellency, I am from Qinghe Village, which is the village near Li Zhiyuan's home. Everything I said is true."

"Whether it was before Li Zimo's exam or Li Zhiyuan's provincial exam, Li Jiaojiao always said shamelessly that Li Zimo would definitely win first place and Li Zhiyuan would definitely win first place."

"If you don't believe me, you can go to our village and ask anyone to see if Li Jiaojiao has ever said such a thing!"

"If Li Zhiyuan hadn't cheated, how could he dare to say that he would definitely win the first prize!"

Prefect Qin's eyes lit up, he snorted, and stared at Li Zhiyuan: "How do you explain it?"

Li Zhiyuan's face turned pale: "I, the reason why I said that I can win the first prize is because I have confidence in my talent..."

Prefect Qin almost pouted in his face: "What talent do you have?"

Li Zhiyuan choked and immediately said angrily: "How can an adult look down on a student! A student..."

Prefect Qin: "Let's not talk about anything else. How old were you when you passed the imperial examination?"

Li Zhiyuan's face turned pale: "Twenty-twenty-seven..."

"At what age did you pass the imperial examination?"

"Thirty-three... but even so..."

"What was your ranking when you passed the imperial examination?"

Li Zhiyuan: “…”

"I am asking you a question."

Li Zhiyuan stuttered: "No. 50..."

Before Prefect Qin could say anything, the students outside burst into laughter:

"Each county only admits 50 scholars for each examination! He ranked last! And he passed at the age of 33, which is really nothing."

Prefect Qin was already laughing out of anger: "So what talent do you have? Where does your confidence come from?"

Li Zhiyuan's face turned pale: "Student...student didn't do well in the exam. And recently my academic performance has improved rapidly. Anyway...no matter what, I think I can pass the exam..."

Prefect Qin couldn't bear it any longer: "Master Sun, read Li Zhiyuan's test paper, all the questions and essays."

"Yes, sir."

Master Sun picked up Li Zhiyuan's paper and read it aloud.

All the candidates and Jinshi present, as well as the scholars outside, listened attentively.

But they just shook their heads as they listened, and even laughed out loud.

When Master Sun finished reading, Mr. Song shook his head and said:

"What kind of answer is that? It's empty and meaningless. I don't know what it means."

A fellow Jinshi said with disdain: "It's all just a bunch of fancy words piled up in a hollow way. The whole article doesn't actually solve the problem in the question."

"The following question does have a solution, but it's all a worn-out method, mechanically applied, without any original opinion."

There was a mean old man who was a Jinshi: "Rubbish!"

The scholar outside said, "What a terrible answer!"

"If this is called talent, my sow should be able to take the exam."

"What talent? Where does his confidence come from?"

"With his level of intellect, I don't know how he managed to pass the imperial examination and become a scholar."

The old scholar sighed, "Marking papers is also very tiring. I participated in marking papers a few years ago. I was very energetic at the beginning, but I became more and more tired as time went on. My brain could no longer work. Anyway... please understand me."

When the scholars heard this, they understood! What I mean is that everyone gets old and their eyesight becomes blurry. No matter how rigorous the marking is, there will always be mistakes and omissions.

Li Zhiyuan was the one who made the mistake and got in.

These comments one after another were simply a public execution of Li Zhiyuan!

Li Zhiyuan's mind went blank. The talent he had always been so proud of... turned out to be garbage in front of these Jinshi and Juren!

It turns out that he...has no talent...

The reason why he passed the imperial examination was just luck?

Li Zhiyuan couldn't accept it and went a little crazy: "Hahahaha..."

But the next second he couldn't laugh anymore.

Prefect Qin slammed the gavel and shouted coldly, "Li Zhiyuan, you still don't tell the truth? Come on, bring the clamps!"

Li Zhiyuan was startled and said anxiously: "No matter what, I am a scholar. I have a reputation, you are not qualified to torture me!"

Prefect Qin snorted coldly: "Although Li Zimo has published your family tree, Li Jiaojiao has not. It is a fact that she assisted in cheating. As her father and a scholar, it is you who failed to supervise her. I will deprive you of your title of scholar now!"

Li Zhiyuan's head buzzed, as if struck by lightning, and he fell to the ground.

His fame and achievements were his source of pride, but now, it's gone!

He, Li Zhiyuan, is no longer a scholar...

Ye Caiping watched with great interest behind the screen.

The ancient times were different from the modern times. In the ancient times, there was collective punishment, especially for people with achievements. If a person has bad character, his reputation will be lost, let alone his children making such a big mistake.

Prefect Qin shouted coldly: "Come here, bring the clamps!"

Li Zhiyuan's face changed drastically. How could he bear it! Rather than suffering, it is better to confess early!

Li Zhiyuan said anxiously: "Sir...I confess! I confess!"

"explain!"

"I really have no idea how they cheated. Including the college entrance examination, I didn't know they cheated. I always thought that I taught well and I taught them a top-ranked case."

"I have often mentioned this in the academy. If you do not believe me, you can ask a few of my classmates to see if I, Li Zhiyuan, have ever said such a thing."

"If I knew they were cheating, I would dare to say this. I always thought I was talented..."

When these words were spoken, Prefect Qin and the scholars outside almost laughed, they all believed it.

Li Zhiyuan continued, "I was looking forward to the provincial examination, hoping to show my talent and win the title. But a few days before the examination, Li Jiaojiao and Li Zimo suddenly brought a stack of test questions and answers."

"It was said that this was the test paper for the provincial examination... I was shocked at the time. Only then did I know that Li Zimo got the first place by cheating, and it was not taught by me."

"I... was deeply shocked. Yes, I knew they were cheating, but I didn't! They gave me the answers, but I didn't ask for them. I believed in myself... The adults just showed my paper."

"There were questions similar to the original test paper, but I didn't use them at all! I admit that I covered for them, but I didn't participate."

As he said this, he glared at Li Jiaojiao and told her not to give him away.

After all, Zhang Shuiniang is still in his hands. And no matter how Li Jiaojiao is judged, she is still his daughter, and he can ruin her life.

Strangely, Li Jiaojiao said nothing and did not expose him.

Li Zimo became even more stupid, sitting on the ground as if he had lost his soul.