Chapter 731: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 731: A Perfect Counterattack at the Trial (4)
As usual, no one paid any attention to the scholars' requests. Just when they thought their efforts would yield no results, a eunuch holding an imperial edict appeared before them.
With a loud announcement of "The edict has arrived," thousands of scholars knelt to hear the decree. Despite the cold, hard stones beneath them causing great discomfort, their hearts were ablaze with anticipation.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees… The fraud case in the imperial examinations is of great importance. I will hold a public trial in the Taihe Hall at the third watch today. All scholars from the capital are allowed to enter the hall to observe, for clarity and justice. So decreed—"
As the final word of the edict was pronounced, the scholars, who had endured days of waiting at the palace gate, were overjoyed. They praised Emperor Huian, expressing their gratitude and declaring him a wise ruler. They were convinced that the Da Chu would prosper for generations to come.
The eunuch who announced the edict heard all the praise for Emperor Huian, smiling as he entered the palace. He relayed the comments to Grand Eunuch Liang, who, after the morning court session, brought them up during breakfast with Emperor Huian.
Emperor Huian listened impassively, seemingly indifferent. However, Grand Eunuch Liang noticed that the Emperor had eaten two more steamed buns and a bowl of white jade red date porridge.
News of the public trial at Taihe Hall at the third watch quickly spread throughout the capital, elevating public interest in the fraud case to its peak.
No one expected Emperor Huian to take such a serious approach, holding the trial in Taihe Hall and allowing hundreds of scholars to observe. It seemed that the Emperor was determined to address the issue thoroughly.
Many common people, hearing that the Crown Prince was Emperor Huian's favorite son, debated whether the Emperor was disillusioned with the Crown Prince's actions or whether he believed the Crown Prince was innocent and sought to clear his name.
The speculation led to a heated debate about the Emperor's true intentions. Some betting houses, seizing the opportunity, set up high-stakes bets on the outcome.
The betting house's gamble, a spontaneous decision by the owner, turned out to be extremely popular. Even those who rarely visited gambling houses came to place their bets. The betting house was packed, with the level of excitement reaching unprecedented heights.
Mo Yan, having received news from Xiao Ruiyuan and secured an observer’s plaque for Taihe Hall, entered the city at the third watch. Learning of the enormous betting excitement, she took out 5,000 taels of silver notes and entered the betting house, placing the largest single bet.
The betting house calculated the odds for this unprecedented gamble—six to one.
With the prospect of winning 25,000 taels, Mo Yan’s previously somber mood lightened somewhat.
When the big red dates arrived at the palace gate and Mo Yan alighted from her carriage, she saw a long line of scholars waiting to be checked for entry into Taihe Hall.
Given that all those waiting were adult men, Mo Yan found it difficult to join the line. Concerned about not entering Taihe Hall before the third watch, she boldly cut in line and walked directly to the gate guards.
The scholars in front, curious about this elegantly dressed young woman cutting in, were initially perplexed. They doubted she would be allowed to observe, but understanding her situation, they chose not to protest.
When the gate guards verified Mo Yan’s identity and allowed her entry, the scholars were astonished. They had not expected the prominent figure, who had been in the spotlight, to appear so openly. They had assumed that a peasant girl becoming a county princess would be like a pheasant with phoenix feathers—elevated in appearance but still a pheasant at heart.
They were taken aback by how Mo Yan’s refined and ethereal demeanor far surpassed that of so-called noble women, befitting her title as a county princess.
Seeing such an outstanding daughter, did her father really resort to exam fraud? The scholars who had previously held strong prejudices against Mo Yan and her father began to question whether they had been mistaken.
Unaware of the scholars' changing views, Mo Yan, guided by the eunuch, made her way into Taihe Hall. Even if she had known, she would have only remarked that appearance and demeanor are always significant.
Taihe Hall, located in the outer court of the palace, is the largest hall, where the morning court sessions are held daily. The square in front of the hall is vast enough to accommodate thousands of worshippers, and the hall itself, spanning over two hundred square zhang, can comfortably fit over a thousand people. (Note: A zhang is an ancient unit of area, equivalent to approximately 11 square meters. Two hundred square zhang equals about 2,200 square meters.)
By the time Mo Yan was led into Taihe Hall by the young eunuch, many people were already present. Besides the officials who had not yet left after the morning court, there were other scholars, aged between twenty and forty, who had gathered outside the palace gates for days.
The hall, previously somewhat noisy, fell silent as Mo Yan entered. The young eunuch, sensing the change in atmosphere, said, "County Princess, please follow me this way."
He led Mo Yan to a spot closer to the dragon throne, where the officials were seated. Although some of the older, more traditional officials might have thought it unusual for a woman to be in such a solemn place, they did not dismiss Mo Yan’s presence given her high rank and the significant nature of the case.
The case involved her father, and if convicted, the entire family would be implicated. Ordinary people would avoid such a situation, but Mo Yan’s presence here made the officials see her as courageous and filial.
(End of Chapter)
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