From Lunar New Year's Eve until today, the controversy surrounding the alleged cheating in the imperial examinations has never ceased.
However, students usually express their indignation at Wenchang Pavilion, and rarely take to the streets to disturb the public.
Before the people of Fengjing could even wonder what was happening, they found the procession growing longer and the shouts growing louder, until it finally stopped in front of the Fang family's house.
"Give me back the fairness of the imperial examination system!"
"Expel corruption and fraud!"
Loud slogans rang out one after another as hundreds of students in long robes stood in a square formation, shouting towards the Fang family's gate.
The neighboring prominent families were alarmed; they quietly opened their doors to check, then quickly closed them again.
Only the Fang family's gate remained unmoved, never opening or closing.
With bloodshot eyes, the students shouted themselves hoarse, and finally couldn't hold back any longer. They took off their shoes and socks and smashed them against the Fang family's gate.
Smelly shoes and socks flew everywhere; the cleaner ones managed to fall to the ground, while the sticky ones stuck directly to the door frame.
Even the Prefect of Fengtian, who had rushed over, couldn't stand it any longer and, pinching his nose, spoke up to stop them, "Everyone, please be quiet, please be quiet."
They thought their official authority would be enough to suppress the unrest, but the scholars and students became increasingly vocal in their complaints.
“See? Before, no one cared when they were just making a fuss at Wenchang Pavilion, but they stopped us when we got to the Fang family’s door.”
"In this world, officials always protect each other. It must be the Fang family who sent him to drive us away."
"We won't leave, we'd rather die than leave! We demand an answer from the Fang family!"
"Give me back the fairness of the imperial examination system!"
The rebellious spirit of scholars and students intensified, and their voices of protest rose rather than fell.
Seeing the flushed face of the Prefect of Fengtian, Xu Mo, sitting in the corner, suddenly felt a little guilty.
The current situation has been driven by him personally since the first day of the Lunar New Year, with him assigning people and controlling the pace.
He was the one who tried to suppress his anger, he was the one who suggested going to the Fang family's house, and he was also the one who stirred up the rebellious spirit at this moment.
Even the Prefect of Fengtian Prefecture was involved in the plan, although he was unwilling to scheme against this relatively fair official.
Without sufficient reason, Xu Mo could not gamble with his future, even if it was to help Fang Yuan.
He needed the scholars and students to rebel, the situation to become uncontrollable, and the Prefect of Fengtian to angrily turn away.
Only when the crowd began to stir and a sense of impending riot did he, a victim of the imperial examination fraud and also a top scholar and Hanlin scholar, finally appear, dressed in the robes of a sixth-rank official.
He raised his hands and said in a calm and composed tone, "Everyone, please be quiet and listen to what I have to say."
A commotion arose from the crowd, seemingly as they were judging and deciding, before finally managing to quiet down.
Xu Mo did not speak immediately, but stepped forward and cupped his hands to the Prefect of Fengtian. "Greetings, Prefect. I was passing by on my way here and came here on a special occasion after hearing about the riot. I hope you will forgive me."
Is there anything I can forgive?
In any case, his appearance stopped the riots.
The Prefect of Fengtian waved his hand, shook his head and sighed, "Recorder Xu, please don't stand on ceremony. Let's deal with the matter first."
Xu Mo nodded and looked at everyone without any politeness. "I am also one of those involved in the cheating in the imperial examinations. Most of you here are my classmates. We used to go in and out of the examination hall back then, and today we have gathered here at the Fang family's gate."
He suddenly shook his head with a wry smile, "I just didn't expect things to escalate to this point, and Brother Fang is still unwilling to stand up and confront us, or even just offer a few words of explanation."
The crowd fell silent, and Jiang Sheng, standing in the distance, almost choked on her laughter.
My older brother has gone astray too. Even though everything was in his plan, he insists on playing the good guy. He's really taking everything, leaving nothing for himself.
Fang Yuan is now the target of attacks from scholars and intellectuals. It's best to remain indifferent and ignore him. These scholars and intellectuals can't stir up any trouble, and things will eventually calm down.
If you really stand up, you'll be welcoming rotten vegetables and rotten eggs.
But Xu Mo was not about to let him have his way.
"No matter what, we understand everyone's indignation, but blocking the street is unreasonable and puts the Prefect in a difficult position. Everyone should disperse and leave as soon as possible," the young man in official robes said, deliberately speaking in a loud voice to comfort them.
The Prefect of Fengtian nodded in agreement.
This enraged the students, with one young man in his early twenties shouting, "You became the top scholar and an official, so naturally you don't understand our suffering!"
"Exactly! Even the imperial examinations can be rigged. We're too afraid to continue, but we're unwilling to give up. Is it too much to ask for the answers?"
"Don't try to smooth things over here. How you became the top scholar is still a question."
"Exactly, it's still unclear who cheated."
Because of Xu Mo's "heroic act," the focus of attention shifted from Fang Yuan to him.
The students, their eyes already bloodshot, had lost their ability to discern right from wrong; all that remained was a burning rage, a rage so intense it felt as if they wanted to tear even the wind apart.
The prefect looked completely bewildered, seemingly not expecting things to be so difficult to handle.
When he turned around again, Xu Mo's demeanor had changed from serene and composed to one of grief, indignation, and shame.
"My lord!" he said in a hoarse voice, "I meant well, but I have been humiliated like this. I am not reconciled. I am willing to go to the Golden Palace to prove my innocence!"
The noisy crowd quieted down, and the fire was quickly reignited.
"Go to the imperial palace and prove your innocence!"
"We shall ascend to the Golden Palace and be subject to the judgment of the Emperor!"
Even now, it seems that the problem cannot be solved without going to the Golden Palace.
While the Prefect of Fengtian was still pondering, Xu Mo had already turned around and walked towards the Imperial City with the air of someone going to his execution.
Countless students followed closely behind him, striding confidently.
The Fang family sensed something was wrong and quickly opened the door, but it was too late.
In the blink of an eye, Xu Mo was kneeling in front of the imperial city gate, with a large crowd of scholars and students behind him, and the Prefect of Fengtian with his brows furrowed.
"Your humble servant has suffered an unjust injustice and wishes to prove his innocence with his death. I only ask that Your Majesty clear my name and not allow me to be framed and slandered." After he finished speaking, he went straight to smash his head against the wall before the gates of the imperial city even opened.
The Prefect of Fengtian hurriedly ordered his yamen runners to stop them, and only after much persuasion did they manage to convince them to stay.
Jiang Sheng, standing at the back of the crowd, clicked her tongue again and whispered to Zheng Ruqian, "Big brother spent so much time flipping through ancient books, only saying that he was imitating the conduct of civil officials throughout history, but I didn't expect him to imitate it so realistically."
He wanted to die, but was stopped, so he went down the steps.
Anyone who sees it will give it a thumbs up.
And this tactic was extremely effective. The previously tightly closed city gates were opened, and the panting Chief Steward Wu, holding a whisk, announced in a shrill voice, "The meeting in the Golden Palace is adjourned, and all those outside the city are summoned to pay their respects."
For more than half a month, countless scholars and students had been crying out in grief and indignation, and finally, at this moment, they received a response.
They were all deeply moved, holding hands and gazing at each other with tears in their eyes, walking hand in hand.
Xu Mo was the most relaxed, the most determined, and the most resolute.
The palace gates slowly opened, and the crowd entered first. He lagged a few steps behind, and sure enough, he caught a glimpse of Fang Yuan rushing over.
Unfortunately, one cannot enter without a summons, and the palace gates are closed.
In his final moments, Xu Mo raised the corners of his mouth, deliberately leaving behind a knowing smile.
Just like before, the young master of the Fang family delivered his sarcastic remarks with confidence and composure.
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