Chaos erupted in the imperial palace.
Some called for the imperial physician, some helped the head of the Zhu family, and some took the opportunity to complain to the emperor, "Your Majesty, the Jiang family is going too far! Not only did they recruit a failed candidate to cause trouble, but they also deliberately made Old Zhu faint. This is too much!"
Tianjia pursed his lips and remained silent.
Jiang Jizong turned around and bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, I simply do not wish to make a scene in front of you, lest I lose face and dignity as a member of a noble family."
It's as if you've never argued with someone until you were red in the face in the imperial palace before.
Regardless, the Jiang family acted very magnanimously this time. The Tian family nodded and said, "Old Zhu has a bit of a temper. Help him to the side hall to rest."
Arguments in the imperial court happen every day, and sharp confrontations occur daily.
The real problem will only arise when these civil officials stop arguing.
Jiang Jizong's actions were nothing more than an attempt to force the enemy's main force to retreat.
"Your Majesty." The head of the Zhu family had just been carried away when the head of the Tao family came up. "This matter concerns cheating in the imperial examinations, which is very important to everyone. If it is misjudged, it will cause lifelong damage."
Those with more distant relationships are different; they tend to speak more in a self-protective manner.
Jiang Jizong changed his tactics, "Are the futures of noble families' sons so important that they might be harmed? But what about the future of ordinary people? Your Majesty, the millions of people of the Great Yu Dynasty are watching. You cannot let the people down."
The Yao family patriarch chimed in, "Indeed, Your Majesty. It's not easy for students from poor families. If all their hard-earned achievements are snatched away by the powerful and wealthy, will anyone in this world still be willing to take the imperial examinations? Will there still be people who truly strive?"
Xu Mo, standing in the corner, clenched his fist.
This is precisely the meaning of pursuing justice—not only for his own success in the imperial examination, but also to give all the poor students in the world a chance for a future, for the long-term stability of the Great Yu Dynasty, and for the country to have talented people in every generation.
If the fate of the nation is controlled by the powerful and wealthy, if the imperial examinations are no longer fair, and if commoners can only be bullied, then the Great Yu Dynasty will be doomed sooner or later.
Unfortunately, no one can say these things.
The two sides argued their case rationally, but the issue remained the same: "Who cheated?"
The Fang family insists that Fang Yuan did not cheat.
The Jiang family insists that Xu Mo did not cheat.
Neither of them cheated, so could it be that the imperial family cheated?
Seeing that another argument was about to break out in the Golden Palace, Jiang Jizong seized the opportunity and said, "Your Majesty, since neither of us can produce evidence of the other's cheating, why don't we retake the exam?"
The tug-of-war had dragged on for so long, all for this moment.
"I second that proposal," the Yao family immediately echoed.
Dou Weiming glanced at Xu Mo, then followed suit, saying, "I also agree."
The three top aristocratic families of the dynasty all stepped forward, and other vassal families followed suit, causing half of the heads in the Golden Palace to droop.
He Jia looked around, pondered for a long time, and slowly bowed, "Your subject seconds this proposal."
Qi Gongzheng's palms were damp. He glanced at Dou Weiming, then sighed at Xu Mo's retreating figure. Finally, he stepped forward and said, "Your subject... also seconds this proposal."
Zhao Sheren thought of his only son, who was always causing trouble at home, and then of his wife, who loved to glare at him. He silently bowed his head.
Now it's more than half.
The emperor calmly surveyed the entire Golden Palace, finally fixing his gaze on the head of the Fang family. "I am aware of your grievances, my dear minister. Since Young Master Fang is so talented and has achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination, he probably won't care about this mere test."
He then deliberately lowered his voice, speaking in a tone that could be heard throughout the entire Golden Palace, "Minister Fang, rest assured, as long as your son becomes a tribute student, I will grant him a third-place ranking in next year's palace examination as compensation."
This was already the greatest concession the emperor had made out of respect for the top aristocratic families. No matter how unwilling the Fang family head was, he could only accept it with a smile, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."
Jiang Jizong smiled slightly.
Dou Weiming breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Mo finally felt a little lighter.
“But Your Majesty,” the Fang family head’s tone suddenly changed, “if this student who failed the exam still fails, then he is being unreasonable and willful. I beg Your Majesty to have his entire family executed and his bones scattered to the winds.”
Xu Mo's lighthearted expression froze at the corner of his mouth.
This is the difference between having a powerful backer and not. Even if Fang Yuan fails the exam, he will at most attract some criticism. But if a poor scholar like him fails the exam, his entire family will be executed and their bones will be scattered to the winds.
However, since the Fang family took a step back, the Tian family had no choice but to take a step back as well, in order to maintain balance.
"Very well, as you say, Minister Fang." The man on the dragon throne glanced at Xu Mo and agreed with a smile.
Soon, the contents of the imperial edict reached outside the palace.
"By imperial decree, the Emperor decrees: In order to prove the innocence of the scholars in the 15th year of the Dexian reign, the imperial examination will be re-examined in the 16th year of the Dexian reign, and the previous results will be invalidated. The Emperor is benevolent and considers the hard work of the current tribute students. Therefore, the number of tribute students will be increased by more than thirty next year. I hope that all of you will work hard and not fail the Emperor's benevolence. This is the decree."
They actually cancelled this year's imperial examination, and we have to retake it next year.
To appease the students, an additional thirty places were allocated for the title of Gongsheng (a student who passed the imperial examinations), so that those who had worked so hard to pass would not complain.
The Emperor's ability to maintain balance is indeed remarkable.
Xu Mo was the most heartbroken. He worked so hard to pass the imperial examination and became the top scholar, but after someone else stole his spot, all he could do was try to retake the exam.
“The Fang family is very powerful. If it weren’t for the Jiang family’s help, we wouldn’t even have had a chance to retake the exam.” Qi Huai was particularly optimistic. “With Brother Xu’s talent, he might just get the top score again next year.”
“We must work hard next year as well. If we can get into the top few, it will be a completely different world.” An Jun’s eyes were burning with determination.
Jiang Sheng watched intently from the side.
As expected of a truly capable student, upon learning that his score was invalidated after passing the imperial examination, his first reaction was not anger, but rather thinking about how he could do better next time.
Of course, there will be complaints from those who are at the bottom of the list, but there will be even more people who are excited because there are far too many students who have failed the exam.
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