Chapter 024 A Clear Mirror Hanging High
Just from these few words, Shen Heng knew that she had really encountered an official who served the old man. Lu Ji'an, this name was not heard of. Didn't such an official have his name recorded in history? However, she always forgot things in her history lessons after reading and memorizing them.
Xia hugged her son tightly and listened nervously to the county magistrate's judgment.
Xie Jian's gaze fell on Lu Ji'an again, with a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Xie Changgen was already panicking. If Xie Quan was disqualified from the imperial examination, it would also affect him as the clan leader. How would he hold his head up in front of the other clan leaders? "Master Lu, Li Sheng and Li Dou are conspirators, and they deserve their punishment. But Xie Quan was dragged into this by force. He's a simple-minded kid, and he must have been forced into this."
"Yes, sir. It must be Li Sheng and Li Dou who led Xie Quan astray." The third uncle still wanted to protect Xie Quan. It was not easy for the family to raise several students. As long as two of them passed the imperial examination, no, one would be fine. The Xie family would be one of the big families in Nanming.
"Please, sir, please look into this clearly." The second uncle kowtowed.
Isn't this clear? Shen Heng muttered to herself, otherwise how could such a judgment be made? She didn't expect that one of them would be a scholar.
The imperial examinations were extremely strict throughout history. A prefecture could only have 30 to 40 candidates for the title of scholar. In a small county like Nanming, it was a great achievement if five people could pass the examination.
For example, the great poet Wu Cheng'en was recommended to be a tribute student when he was over 50 years old, and Pu Songling had been a scholar all his life but finally passed the examination to become a tribute student when he was over 70 years old. They were still relatively lucky.
That's why Xie's eldest son was so anxious. It was all his own fault.
Chen Heng glanced at Xie Jian, who was pursing his lips and had a tense expression. A guy like this who passed the imperial examination without any obstacles was considered a genius.
The imperial power did not extend below the county level, and under family autonomy, the higher the family's status, the more say it had in the Southern Ming Dynasty and the more respected it was. Who would have thought that such an honor would also be achieved through the rate of admission to higher education.
Facing several people pleading for mercy, Lu Ji'an said, "Can anyone in the hall see the words written above my head?"
Everyone looked up and saw four big words: A clear mirror hangs high.
"Adjourn."
The gavel was slammed, and the runners on both sides tapped the ground with their water and fire sticks. The earth-shaking sound refreshed everyone's spirits, and then they bowed in an orderly and solemn manner and left the court one after another.
Li Dou, Li Sheng and Xie Quan were dragged down by the yamen runners and continued to be beaten with sticks.
For a moment, the court was extremely quiet.
Xie Jian looked at the plaque above his head. He would stare at these four words every time he came to the county government office. Every time, he would just want to take a sword and chop it in half. This time, even though the official looked a little heavier, his thoughts remained unchanged. The higher the expectations, the more resentment there would be. There was no need to have expectations of others.
"Xie Jian." Clan leader Xie Changgen looked at him with hatred: "Who allowed you to report to the authorities?" When the bailiff appeared at the door of his house, he had not expected that it would be Xie Jian who would report to the authorities.
"Do I need others' approval when I report to the police?" Xie Jian clenched his fists.
"You're bringing shame upon the entire family. Xie Quan didn't do anything; he never even touched the Xia family. You're jealous of him because he passed the imperial examination, aren't you?"
"He didn't do anything, so why was he outside my house? Why did he say those things to Li Sheng? Can anyone force him to come?"
The second uncle said sadly: "Xie Jian, as a member of the Xie family, you must consider the entire Xie family."
Seeing Xie Jian's anger flare up, Chen Heng stepped forward and stood in front of him, saying nothing more: "Clan leader, Second Uncle, you should have said these things to Lord Lu. What's the point of telling us? If it were useful, you wouldn't have come to the government office."
"Why are you, a woman, butting in?"
"If this is the clan leader's family matter, I won't interfere even if you ask me. Sister-in-law, Ajian, let's go home." After Chen Heng finished speaking, she pulled the two of them out of the court.
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