The prison van quickly disappeared at the end of the street, and the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed.
Yunniang only sighed, but her heart was strangely calm, without any resentment from the past, but rather a little regretful.
It's a pity that Qiu Niang's incense-making skills are wasted.
Just as she was about to turn and go inside, she heard a weak voice from outside, "Aunt Yun, is the princess here?"
Yunniang was taken aback. When she saw that it was Gao Yang, she quickly said, "The princess is here. How are your injuries? Why did you come all this way?"
Although she wasn't at the examination hall that day, she had heard people say that Gao Yang was seriously injured, covered in blood, and eventually fainted, which startled everyone in the crowd.
Fortunately, the doctor said there was nothing seriously wrong; she had just fainted due to excessive blood loss at the beginning.
Gao Yang merely twitched the corner of his mouth, still wearing a faded white robe, and limped towards Baoxiangfang. He had lost all his former vigor and instead appeared somewhat silent, completely different from before.
Yunniang sighed for a moment, and seeing Jiang Yimian come downstairs, she didn't say anything more and silently retreated.
Jiang Yimian glanced at Gao Yang and, seeing that he exuded a sense of dejection, simply said, "Why aren't you resting at home to recover?"
That day in the examination hall, only Gao Yang was injured among the students; the others were all fine.
It's hard to say whether Gao Yang was just too unlucky or those students were just too lucky.
The fact that just one person's injury exposed the unspoken rules that had been hidden in Da Jin for so many years might be something to be happy about for others, but it doesn't seem to be entirely true for Gao Yang.
As soon as Gao Yang saw Jiang Yimian, he bowed deeply to her, his voice heavy, "Thank you for your help, Princess, in the examination hall."
If it weren't for Princess Ning'an being there that day, he certainly wouldn't have been able to leave the examination hall alive, nor would he have been able to expose the true colors of those people in the Ministry of Rites.
Jiang Yimian just smiled and said helplessly, "You didn't come to see me today just to express your gratitude, did you?"
Gao Yang was taken aback, and after a long while, she lowered her head and said, "Princess, I would like to see Qi Guang."
Although he felt like he had been doused with cold water when Yang Qiguang accused him of cheating that day, he has come to terms with it after recuperating at home for the past few days.
Yang Qiguang has always been timid. The reason he said that that day was only because he was afraid that Yang would reveal that the other party had taken the exam for him. Although he still felt a little disheartened, he still wanted to see him because of their long-standing friendship.
After all, Yang Qiguang was more than just a friend to him; after his mother passed away, he treated him as family.
In addition, the other person was a year younger than him, so he actually regarded him as a younger brother.
Now that the matter at the Imperial Examination Hall is basically settled, he wants to go and see how Yang Qiguang is doing.
Jiang Yimian didn't hesitate much and nodded, saying, "I'll take you there."
The two rode in a carriage toward the Ministry of Justice prison.
Throughout the journey, Gao Yang remained quiet, his head bowed, seemingly lost in thought, appearing somewhat absent-minded.
Jiang Yimian hesitated for a moment before saying, "Only an empty pavilion was burned down in the examination hall. There was no major loss. His Majesty's decree has also been issued, and the autumn examination will be held again in half a month."
By then, your injury will probably be almost fully healed. Will you be participating then?
Gao Yang's hands unconsciously tightened, and after a while he loosened them, he shook his head and said, "I'm not participating. I plan to go back to my hometown."
His previous obsession with passing the imperial examination was simply to let his mother see him riding a tall horse through the streets, and to make their lives a little better.
Later, another reason was added: he wanted to pass the imperial examination with Yang Qiguang, so that those who looked down on them as commoner students could see that they too could pass.
But now, he suddenly felt that it was all meaningless. His mother had passed away, and even Yang Qiguang was in prison. Even if he passed the exam, no one would be happy for him.
He was the only person left in the world.
Jiang Yimian was taken aback. Looking at Gao Yang's tense expression, she ultimately didn't ask why, but only asked curiously, "Aren't you from the capital?"
Gao Yang nodded. "My hometown is Jinling. The reason I came to the capital with my mother was because something happened in my family, so we made our way here."
Now that my mother has passed away and my brother Qi Guang is in prison, and I heard he'll be exiled soon, there's no point in me staying in the capital alone. I might as well go back to my hometown.”
At least that's where he grew up.
In his memory, Jinling had been filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms for the past few months, and the flowers were everywhere, so he could make it back in time.
In the past, his mother and father often made osmanthus cake for him.
Now, he also wants to try making osmanthus cake.
Seeing that the other party was serious, Jiang Yimian thought for a while before saying, "Since you have made up your mind, I will not say anything more. However, this is a rare opportunity, so you should think it through."
The autumn imperial examinations are still two weeks away; you have time to think it over carefully.
It wasn't that she wanted to force the other person to participate in the autumn examination, but she felt it was a bit of a pity.
Now that the Ministry of Rites has undergone a major purge, this autumn imperial examination will be held almost under everyone's noses, and there will be no more injustices.
These students have studied hard for so many years, all for this moment. Although the previous cheating incident did dishearten many students, this re-held autumn examination is also an opportunity.
Gao Yang simply nodded silently and said nothing more.
The carriage soon arrived at the Ministry of Justice prison.
Jiang Yimian exchanged a few words with the jailer at the gate, then waved to Gao Yang, "Go in with him."
Gao Yang responded and followed the jailer into the dungeon.
The dungeon was extremely dark, with only a small window at the top of the high wall; the rest of the place was sealed off.
In addition, the dungeon is perpetually dark, and upon entering, one is immediately greeted by a damp, pungent smell mixed with various stenches of blood, making one involuntarily frown.
Gao Yang followed the jailer inside. Along the way, he could only hear the sounds of prisoners groaning in pain, and the occasional dripping of water, creating an eerie silence.
The jailer led Gao Yang a short distance, then pointed to the innermost cell and said, "Look, that's it. Don't linger too long."
After saying that, he left the dungeon.
Gao Yang looked at the person lying on the ground in the cell.
Yang Qiguang was still wearing the same robe he wore to the autumn examination that day, a gray robe that had been washed until it was almost white, but now it was almost unrecognizable as it was originally.
He moved his lips, and after a long while, he called out, "Qi Guang."
Yang Qiguang paused for a moment, but remained lying on his side on the ground with his back to the cell door, not moving. Only his closed eyes slowly opened.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Gao Yang continued, "I'll be returning to Jinling in a few days. You don't need to worry about the journey to exile. Since the princess said you're alright, she'll definitely take care of everything for you. You'll be able to return to the capital in two years."
Now that Liu Wenge is in prison, no one will bully you anymore. When you return to Beijing, you can do whatever you want.”
He was worried that Yang Qiguang might be beheaded for taking the exam for someone else, but he didn't expect that Princess Ning'an would say that he could atone for his crime by doing good deeds and that he would only have to be exiled to the frontier for two years before he could return to the capital.
Although the journey to exile was not easy, it was much better than being executed in the autumn. Two years of exile was much better.
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