It's a flawed system; if tasks are consistently left unfinished, it won't be formatted next time, but rendered unusable.
[I'm not leaving. I... I think the host is right. Exchanging tens of thousands for ten or twenty million is acceptable according to the system's algorithm.]
After saying all this, System 07 suddenly felt a sense of relief, and the database of the previously somewhat weak "spectator" system rapidly increased...
Just as the two were locked in a tense struggle, Wei Ping glanced at Yue Fuguang, who appeared to be asleep, and stepped forward to report, "Your Majesty, Zheng Zicheng and his son have been brought here and are waiting outside the hall."
Emperor Mingxi said, "Summon him in."
They were quickly cleaned up. Apart from being a bit thinner and still looking travel-worn, the four members of the Zheng family, father and sons, were still in relatively good spirits. As soon as they entered the main hall, they all knelt down and kowtowed to Emperor Mingxi, calling themselves sinful subjects.
Yue Fuguang also 'woke up'. She looked down curiously, "Little Pearl, are these the Zheng father and son? Which one is Zheng the Madman?"
"Master, look at the one standing at the back, the one who looks relatively strong, that's Zheng the Madman."
The Zheng father and son suddenly looked up. How could there be two children's voices in this solemn court? They seemed to recognize them.
As soon as they looked up, they saw the moonlight watching them with curiosity, a pretty little girl, and who was the owner of the other voice?
Having endured years of hardship at the border, the father and his three sons possessed exceptional vigilance and keen observation skills; they only noticed one child.
Neither His Majesty nor the others seemed to speak up to stop the other party, and Emperor Mingxi even shook his head at them almost imperceptibly.
The Zheng father and son quickly lowered their heads again. Although they didn't understand the situation, the most appropriate response was to remain unchanged in the face of all changes.
At this moment, Emperor Mingxi spoke up, "Zheng Zicheng, when Minister Wei Ping of the Court of Judicial Review was reviewing the case files from previous years, he still had some questions about the imperial examination fraud case from that year. It just so happens that I have heard that Zheng Feng, the third son of the Zheng family, is exceptionally brave and has repeatedly made military achievements, so I have summoned you and your three sons to the capital."
Tell us in detail what happened that day.”
Zheng Zicheng's suspicions came true, and he was overwhelmed with emotion. His grievances could finally be avenged today.
He kowtowed solemnly before saying, "Yes, Your Majesty, this sinful subject will speak frankly and without reservation, and will not dare to conceal anything."
Zheng Zicheng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and seemed to return to that night that determined his fate. "Back then, His Majesty appointed me, a criminal, as the supervisor, responsible for storing the woodblocks."
I was so afraid of not handling this matter well that I couldn't sleep day and night. Later, my friend Zhao Xu noticed this and suggested that I strengthen my defenses.
The disgraced official found his suggestion quite reasonable and began to study anti-counterfeiting methods day and night.
During this time, Zhao Xu gave me many good suggestions, and with his help, anti-counterfeiting measures gradually took shape. I even allowed him to help me affix the seals! I trusted his request to 'research anti-counterfeiting measures' and gave him the old, discarded drafts. At that time..."
As Zheng Zicheng recounted his experience, everyone realized that Zhao Xu had actually made this suggestion to Zheng Zicheng back then. However, during the trial of the case, these suggestions were not made, and Zhao Xu remained completely out of the loop.
Wei Ping pressed on, “When I reviewed the old files, I found a suspicious point: the letters found in your home that confirmed your guilt used paper specially made by ‘Chengxintang’.”
The plum blossom paper in this paper was originally reserved for high-ranking officials of the Censorate. In appearance, the plum blossom paper is no different from other Chengxintang papers, except that there is a faint plum blossom petal mark in the lower left corner of the back.
Zheng Zicheng, you were then serving as the supervisor, under the Ministry of Rites. Normally, you should have been using ordinary Chengxintang paper, not plum blossom paper.
The moment the words were spoken, the entire room fell silent.
Before anyone could react, Wei Ping picked up another piece of evidence—the replica woodblock print that was the key piece of evidence.
"There is also this version. According to old case records, this version has a natural wood grain in the lower right corner, which is considered to be identical to the genuine version."
However, when I asked the old craftsman to identify it, he said that the wood grain on the genuine version was actually a monogram that the old supervisor Zheng Zicheng had personally carved with a knife to prevent counterfeiting!
The replica only has a naturally similar pattern!
Still feeling it wasn't enough, Wei Ping continued, "All the paper used by the Censorate is numbered and archived. Records show that in March of the first year of Tianyou, Zhao Xu applied for a batch of Chengxintang plum blossom stationery under the pretext of 'recording case files.' However, the whereabouts of two of them are unknown."
Do you know these things about Zheng Zicheng?
“Lord Wei, Zicheng doesn’t know, but these past events have been replaying in my mind every day. Gradually, I’ve also noticed something amiss with Zhao Xu. However, I have no evidence to confirm my suspicions.”
He bowed respectfully to Wei Ping and said, "Today, Zicheng thanks Lord Wei for clearing up my doubts."
Wei Ping repeatedly mentioned Zhao Xu, and only then did Yue Fuguang realize that the other party involved, Zhao Xu, was not present.
"Little Pearl, where's that scumbag Zhao Xu? Isn't he another party involved?"
I heard this man is currently imprisoned, terminally ill, and probably doesn't have many days left. He certainly won't live to see his execution in the autumn.
Zhao Xu contracted typhoid fever in prison, and to prevent him from passing the illness on to His Majesty, Wei Ping reported the situation and decided that Zhao Xu would not be required to attend.
Anyway, Zhao Xu has already confessed. Today is just to verify the details with Zheng Zicheng, to go through the motions. It's mainly an act for those two ancestors to see.
Wei Ping continued, "Your Majesty, Zheng Zicheng's statement is basically consistent with Zhao Xu's confession. I have no further questions."
Emperor Mingxi nodded slightly. "Today, the truth about Minister Zheng's grievances has been revealed. Zhuo orders Zheng Zicheng to be reinstated to his original position immediately."
All the property confiscated from the Zheng family has been returned.
Upon hearing the truth revealed and his reinstatement, Zheng Zicheng's body began to tremble slightly. The pride he had upheld for so many years finally softened at this moment of truth.
He did not weep bitterly, but slowly, slowly knelt down and kowtowed deeply to Emperor Mingxi.
His forehead struck the icy ground with a dull thud.
When he looked up again, his face was covered in tears, but he had a smile of relief on his face, as if he had finally escaped from his cage.
With all his might, he shouted, "Your humble servant Zheng Zicheng has been exonerated and kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your divine grace!"
Emperor Mingxi was moved when he saw his thin body and aged face. He also saw Zheng Feng behind him, a talent he had decided to give a good job.
Therefore, this was the best time to show favor, so he said, "Minister Zheng, you have suffered these years. It is the fault of the court and also my fault."
Zheng Zicheng kowtowed repeatedly, saying he dared not.
"Your three sons are all well-educated, especially Zheng Feng. I have heard that he is brave and resourceful on the battlefield and will surely become a great general in the future."
"Let him temporarily train under General Wei; I intend to use him greatly in the future."
This can be considered a promise to the Zheng family.
He then said to Wei Shouyi, "Minister Wei, I am entrusting this promising young man, Zheng Feng, to you. You must take good care of him for me."
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