Chapter 28 Defense

Seeing that the two could not reach a conclusion, the onlookers brought by Wang Youling all stood by and watched, none of them willing to get involved in this mess.

Yuan Yi leaned close to Yang Congen's ear and said, "Teacher, there is a precedent for this. Last time it was left unresolved. If there is no explanation this time, I'm afraid more people will follow suit and cause trouble in the future."

Yu Mingshu also spoke up at this moment: "Mr. Yuan is right. There is a precedent for this. As far as I know, half a year ago, He Erlang was also accused by Mr. Wang. He was accused of plagiarism without any evidence, and the matter has not been clarified to this day."

Wang Youling scolded, "You arrogant brat! How long have you been enrolled? What does what happened half a year ago have to do with you? You haven't even explained your own situation clearly, and you're already trying to distort the truth about He Zheng's old case! How can Chang'an Academy tolerate a student like you who has no respect for elders and no law?!"

"I have read He Erlang's articles and Xie Sanlang's works, and I personally think that your accusations are utterly absurd."

Yu Mingshu looked back at Wang Youling, his eyes showing no fear of a student towards a teacher; instead, his righteous and imposing aura made Wang Youling feel intimidated.

"Xie Sanlang is learned and erudite, with outstanding literary talent. His policy essays often employ allusions, and his diction and sentence structure are exquisite and elegant, in line with the writing style of scions of noble families. On the other hand, He Erlang's writing is bold and vigorous, using simple yet rigorous language. His policy essays are logically sound and often have lofty ideas. Their writing styles are completely different, and even students can see the difference. Why have you teachers been unable to distinguish between them for so long?"

Upon hearing this, not only Wang Youling blushed, but everyone present also looked rather unpleasant.

Yu Mingshu's words were practically an admission that the entire academy was protecting the Xie family and slandering He Zheng.

Outside the Zhishan Hall, two furtive figures suddenly stopped.

He Zheng looked at Yu Dan: "How did she know?"

Yu Dan touched his nose, feeling guilty, and said, "I mentioned this to my elder sister..."

He Zheng pursed his lips and remained silent, his gaze fixed on the slender figure through the door frame.

An unfamiliar professor stroked his beard and pondered, "The style of an article is not static. Xie Huaijin and He Zheng are both young, and it is understandable that they occasionally write articles that are different from their previous ones. What you said cannot prove He Zheng's innocence, much less prove that you did not plagiarize."

Yu Mingshu bowed to Yang Congen and said, "Master Yang, I have a plan to prove my innocence, but I need to ask Xie Sanlang to come forward."

Yang Congen finally got a chance to speak, and frowned, saying, "How do you prove yourself? Tell me."

Yu Mingshu chuckled and said, "This method is called a defense."

The school leaders of Chang'an Academy looked at each other, clearly having never heard of this novel term before.

After Yu Mingshu explained the defense process, some people suddenly realized what was going on.

"Is Yu Erlang referring to the oral exam? The academy sets questions on the Five Classics for the annual exams, requiring students to answer orally. It's unprecedented to set questions based on literary texts."

"This method is good. Plagiarists can steal articles, but they can't steal the original author's thoughts. It's easy to find out who has real talent and who is just seeking fame and fortune."

"If Yu Erlang's article was plagiarized, how dare he propose to take the oral exam in the same venue as Xie Huaijin? Could it be that he has been wronged?"

Yang Congen and Yuan Yi exchanged a glance, their brows visibly relaxing.

Troubles don't disappear, they just shift.

Wang Youling's expression turned much uglier.

Yang Congen made the decision for everyone and instructed the person outside the door, "Go and invite Xie Huaijin."

Yu Mingshu suddenly called out to the person who was about to leave and suggested again, "This matter has already spread among the students. I am but a nobody and my words carry little weight, so I cannot speak well of it. But the Xie family has an upright character, so how can we allow ourselves to be tainted with such a dubious reputation?"

Wang Youling stared intently at her, his eyes blazing with fury. "What else do you want?"

Yu Mingshu bowed respectfully and said, "I humbly request that you, Professor Yang, allow all the students in the academy to witness the defense process, so as to ensure that this defense is fair, just, and transparent."

…

The rain stopped at the end of Shen Shi (3-5 PM).

Most classes at Chang'an Academy had finished their lessons for the day. When it was time to leave school, the students did not leave but instead gathered at the entrance of the Wuzi Hall.

"What's going on? Wasn't it said that Yu Erlang plagiarized Xie Sanlang's article and was going to be expelled?"

"I don't know. I heard that Yu Erlang came up with a way to prove his innocence and is going to hold some kind of defense meeting. He specifically asked us to stay and watch."

"So confident that he dares to let everyone in the academy listen in? Could it be that Yu Erlang is really being wronged?"

"That's Xie Sanlang! Would Xie Sanlang frame him?"

"If Yu Erlang was wronged, then could He Erlang have been wronged as well..."

Students of varying heights craned their necks and peered out of the window, eager to see what was happening inside, and the crowd buzzed with discussion.

The school's front door was wide open, but few people dared to squeeze through.

There was only one figure there, Xie Huaijin, dressed in a light blue and white silk robe and wearing a white jade crown, looking every bit the dashing and talented scholar.

Upon closer inspection, one would notice that his face was gloomy, his brows were furrowed, and his jade-like fingers, hidden in his sleeves, were clenched into fists.

At this moment, Xie Huaijin really wanted to go home, rush into the ancestral hall, and stab Xie Ansheng.

This is the second time. Xie Ansheng has used his name to frame his classmate without even a word of warning.

He never dared to hope that Xie Ansheng would treat him as an elder brother, but Xie Ansheng clearly didn't even consider him a human being.

The pageboy, Shunzi, followed behind him like a shadow, his head bowed. Xie Huaijin suppressed his anger and glanced at him sideways.

"If I had known I was raising a good dog for Goro, I shouldn't have taught you to read in the first place."

The pageboy remained silent, staring at the crack in the ground.

Wang Youling arrived outside the Jiazi Hall and patted Xie Huaijin on the shoulder lightly.

He didn't speak, but Xie Huaijin knew what he meant.

Wang Youling always thought that he and Xie were the same kind of people, both being Xie's family dogs, without temper or fangs, and would never betray their masters.

Thinking of this, he chuckled self-deprecatingly. Perhaps he and Wang Youling were indeed the same kind of people—not without fangs, but simply too afraid to bare their teeth at the Xie family.

Inside, Yang Gong and several senior doctors sat in the front row. They would then take turns asking Yu Mingshu and him questions, each asking one question.

Seating in the school was limited, so Yang Gong only allowed students from the Jiazi Hall to sit in the back rows, while other students listened from outside the door.

Despite being at the center of the storm, Yu Mingshu remained calm and composed, standing before the hall with neither arrogance nor servility, fluently answering each of the pointed questions.

Xie Huaijin only realized today that these familiar scriptures also had sharp edges, each word cutting into his body and making him feel cold all over.

In a mere quarter of an hour, Yu Mingshu walked down from the front of the hall and met Xie Huaijin's gaze.

She paused for a moment, then quickly recognized the person in front of her as another regular at the Teachers' College.

Xie Huaijin instinctively avoided the confrontation, his thin lips trembling slightly. He wanted to tell the truth and end this ridiculous farce.

But Yu Mingshu smiled and said to him, "Thank you, Sanlang, please."

The words that were on the tip of my tongue suddenly came out, but I didn't know where to begin.

Xie Huaijin didn't know how he got to the front of the hall. He stood there in a daze, his gaze fixed on Yang Congen behind him—Wang Youling was winking at him.

He ignored Wang Youling's gaze and looked at Yang Congen directly in front of him.

Yang Congen flipped through the two identical manuscripts, then said loudly, "Xie Huaijin, please explain the meaning of the first character 'Dao' in the article."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Xie Huaijin closed his eyes briefly.

He didn't even read the article carefully; what does he know?

Wang Youling watched with trepidation. Seeing Xie Huaijin standing frozen on the stage, he quickly explained on his behalf, "Master Yang, this article was written by Huaijin last month. So much time has passed; he probably can't remember the content clearly. Why not let him take a look at the article and recall his thought process when he wrote it..."

This request is reasonable and does not overstep any boundaries.

Yang Congen nodded and gave Yuan Yi a look. Yuan Yi understood his teacher's meaning, picked out the manuscript of "Xie Sanlang," and sent it to Xie Huaijin.

Xie Huaijin lowered his eyes, looking at the most familiar handwriting on the paper, feeling so desperate he wanted to go crazy.

Why should he have to cooperate with Xie Ansheng's tricks?

Why did he want to uphold the Xie family's dignity?

When has the Xie family ever cared about his reputation?

The moment Xie Huaijin raised his head again, his eyes were filled with shame and tears welled up as he bowed deeply to the many teachers and mentors in front of him.

"Yang Gongrong, I have never written this article, nor do I know who wants to use my name to frame Yu Erlang."

These words shocked everyone, and murmurs immediately arose in the crowd. Several division commanders sitting in the front row frowned deeply.

Yang Congen said sternly, "Xie Huaijin, do you know what you're saying?"

Xie Huaijin gave a helpless, bitter smile, but his voice was clear and loud, reaching the ears of every listener inside and outside the Wuzi Hall.

“This is not what I wanted. I cannot sit idly by and watch my classmate be falsely accused. I am willing to testify for Yu Erlang and ask you gentlemen to clear Yu Erlang’s name.”

After listening to Xie Huaijin's performance from outside the door, He Zheng couldn't help but sneer.

"He managed to absolve himself of all responsibility."

When Xie Huaijin switched sides at the last minute, Wang Youling was the first to jump up. He dragged the chair he was sitting on, making an unpleasant sound as it scraped against the ground.

Everyone was shocked by Wang Youling's extreme reaction. When they turned around, they saw that the veins on his forehead were bulging and his eyes were filled with ferocious bloodshot veins, as if he was furious.

"Xie Huaijin!" Wang Youling disregarded his composure and slammed his hand on the table, shouting at the people in the hall, "This paper is clearly your handwriting. If Yu Mingshu didn't copy your article, then it can only be that you plagiarized her!"

Xie Huaijin raised his finger and said, "I swear on the century-old reputation of the Xie family that the content and handwriting of this article are absolutely not from my hand. I have never met Yu Erlang before, I have no reason to copy his article, and even less reason to harm him."

After saying that, he glanced at the page hiding outside the courtyard and said meaningfully, "Chang'an Academy produces many talented people. It is not surprising that someone can imitate my handwriting."

Wang Youling's mouth was half open when he suddenly realized what he meant.

The words on the paper were neither written by him nor by Xie Wulang. No matter who is ultimately found to be responsible, what does it have to do with him?

If Xie Huaijin can extricate himself from the situation, why can't he?

He glanced quickly at Yang Congen's face, suppressed his anger, and slumped back into his chair.

"You mean, someone imitated your handwriting so well that they fooled me and almost wronged Yu Erlang?"

What an unexpected display of acting skill.

Yu Mingshu couldn't help but retort sarcastically, "Sir, you just said that you read this article a month ago. Even if someone can imitate Xie Sanlang's handwriting, could that person have foreseen the future and copied the article I was going to write word for word in advance?"

For a moment, Wang Youling's eyes showed panic, but he quickly regained his composure.

"I have over twenty students teaching me, and I have to read so many articles every day. How could I possibly remember what I read a month ago!" He became increasingly unsure of himself as he spoke, his tone extremely unnatural.

"This manuscript was tucked among the papers we received last month, so I naturally assumed it had been reviewed before."

Yu Mingshu said, "It turns out that you don't remember when you read this article at all, and you want to convict me based on mere speculation."

Wang Youling clenched his fists in suppressed anger, gave her a cold look, and said, "I was indeed wrong about this, there's no denying it, I'm sorry."

If apologies were enough, what would be the point of having police?

Unfortunately, there are no people's police in this era.

Whether it was Xie Huaijin or Wang Youling, they relied on the Xie family, the most prestigious family in the Liang Dynasty.

Yu Mingshu guessed that today's farce was about to come to an end.

As she expected, Yang Congen clenched his fist and tapped the table lightly with his knuckles, drawing everyone's attention to him and instantly silencing the surrounding chatter.

"Let's end the defense here today. I will investigate to the end who wrote this document, who instructed them, and who was involved."

Yang Congen looked towards the door and spotted Dr. Xu from the Mingzi Department in the crowd. "Xiao Xu, could you please compare the handwriting of this manuscript?"

As everyone inside the room got up one after another, preparing to leave, Yu Mingshu walked to the front of the hall and uttered two words with a smile.

"Wait a minute."

A note from the author:

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