Chapter 735: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 735: A Perfect Counterattack at the Trial (4)
Or perhaps, even if Mo Qingze was eventually found guilty, the Emperor might not implicate Mo Yan. This possibility was quite high!
Regardless of the reason, it was clear that Emperor Huian valued Mo Yan highly. Many officials who had previously looked down on Mo Yan’s poor background began to reassess her worth.
Unaware of the commotion his small gesture had caused, Emperor Huian saw that it was time and directly announced the commencement of the trial.
Soon, four long tables and eight chairs were set up on either side of the hall. Eight officials chosen from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Revenue took their seats to preside over the examination fraud case.
Mo Qingze was then brought into the hall by the guards.
After being imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's jail for half a month, Mo Qingze's mental state seemed alright, but his clothes were filthy and tattered. They were covered in soot and had several holes burned into them, with charred edges showing the marks of last night's fire.
Mo Yan fixed her gaze on her father, who was kneeling in the middle of the hall. When she confirmed that, aside from his burned clothes and singed hair, he had no severe burns, she felt a bit relieved. Despite knowing that Xiao Ruiyuan and Chu Heng were fully prepared, she still couldn’t shake off her anxiety, fearing that unexpected issues might arise.
Mo Qingze also noticed Mo Yan's concerned expression from the front of the hall. He gave her a reassuring smile, his handsome face showing no signs of fear, anxiety, or despair.
Following the usual procedure, the presiding judge from the Ministry of Justice asked Mo Qingze for his personal information—name, place of origin, and educational background. Once these details were confirmed, the judge’s expression turned serious as he asked, “Mo Qingze, you have been accused of examination fraud, with witnesses and evidence presented. Do you admit to the charges?”
Mo Qingze’s expression hardened. He clasped his hands and declared firmly, “I have studied diligently for decades and have participated in numerous examinations. I stake my life on the fact that I have never engaged in fraud! I will never admit to this charge of examination fraud, even if it costs my life!”
Seeing Mo Qingze, still dignified despite his disheveled appearance, those young scholars who still had some idealistic notions felt their dislike for him diminish. They thought that such a person did not seem like someone who would engage in petty schemes.
The response was expected, and the presiding judge from the Ministry of Justice remained unchanged in expression. He stood up and requested Emperor Huian’s permission to bring in the witnesses for a public confrontation with Mo Qingze.
Emperor Huian, hearing the murmurs within the hall, spoke gravely, “Granted!”
The witnesses, who had been waiting outside, were brought in by the guards. They were three young men in their mid-twenties.
Perhaps it was their first time in such a grand setting or the presence of the most powerful figures in the Da Chu, but the three young men appeared nervous and shaky as they approached the center of the hall. They knelt beside Mo Qingze, trembling as they kowtowed to Emperor Huian.
In a normal situation, this might not have been unusual, given that everyone would be nervous in such circumstances. However, compared to Mo Qingze’s earlier demeanor, their fearful appearance was less convincing. They looked more like guilty parties being interrogated than credible witnesses.
In the corner, two scholars whispered:
“These three are clearly not as upright as Mo Qingze. Do you think they might be fabricating evidence?”
“You can’t judge by appearances alone. Maybe those three are just too timid, and Mo Qingze is putting on an act!”
“That’s true. But until the end, no one knows the outcome. We should just wait and see.”
“Right, we’ve waited this long, a little longer won’t matter.”
...
Such doubts were not isolated. Prince Heng, overhearing these comments, clenched his fists tightly. His gaze shifted between Chu Heng, who was less than an arm's length away, and Mo Qingze, kneeling in the hall. A hint of coldness appeared in his eyes.
Mo Qingze, hearing the witnesses’ greetings, found their voices familiar and turned to look at them. Upon recognizing their faces, he exclaimed in disbelief, “How could it be you?”
His tone made it clear that he knew these three. They were from Changshan Academy, where he had met them during inter-academy events. Although not as close as he was with Han Zhiyun, they had been acquaintances. Before the banquet, he had sent them invitations, but they had all declined, claiming other engagements. It turned out they had been involved in this scandal behind his back!
The three, upon hearing this, subconsciously lowered their heads to avoid Mo Qingze’s angry gaze, yet they spoke in a solemn tone, “Ziyu, we are truly sorry, but you committing fraud was wrong. We did this for the sake of countless scholars who study hard. You can blame us, but we do not regret our actions!”
Mo Qingze, enraged, trembled all over, his finger pointing at the three, unable to utter a word.
To those observing, this added further speculation. It seemed like one person was accused of fraud by three acquaintances who, out of a sense of duty, exposed the wrongdoing after the results were released.
Ultimately, it was hard to determine who was right or wrong.
The presiding judge from the Ministry of Justice, ignoring the murmurs, asked the three witnesses, “You previously testified that you saw someone with Mo Qingze’s exam questions and answers. Please recount the details of what you saw before everyone.”
The three exchanged glances and one of them began to recount everything they had witnessed...
(End of Chapter)
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