Huangming

Chapter 127 The Young Scholar's Head Shattered, the White Jade Tablet Destroys the Virtuous
Outside the Office of Transmission.

Students of the Imperial College knelt in remonstrance.

The three people at the front were Zhao Mingyuan, Chen Ziyu, and Zheng Shixiang.

The three of them still pretended to be confident of victory, constantly encouraging those around them.

"Don't be discouraged. We are only one step away from victory. Don't give up now."

"If we succeed, we will be remembered in history and admired by thousands. At that time, we will be rewarded with high-ranking positions, great fame, and prestige!"

“If we are afraid and surrender, we will be traitors. Not only will we lose our status as students of the Imperial Academy, but we will also be imprisoned, and our families will be implicated.”

"We have no choice but to win!"

"Yes! Everyone, perk up! Don't embarrass us Imperial Academy students!"

Under the three men's enthusiastic encouragement, the students of the Imperial Academy actually followed their lead.

However, although Zhao Mingyuan, Chen Ziyu, and Zheng Shixiang claimed they were going to win, they couldn't help but feel a little panicked inside.

how
Is it different from what Mr. He said?
Wasn't His Majesty supposed to compromise soon?

Why hasn't His Majesty granted their request yet?
The situation has developed in the direction they feared.

At that moment, a commotion broke out in the crowd.

"It's Imperial Censor Wang and Vice Minister Sun!"

Someone shouted, immediately drawing the attention of the three of them.

Wang Ji and Sun Wei were escorted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard to the front of the Office of Transmission, where snowflakes were falling softly on the bluestone slabs.

Wang Ji's official robe was stained with mud from the prison, while Sun Wei's turban was askew, revealing gray hair at his temples that was stuck together with cold sweat.

The two staggered as they were pushed onto a makeshift wooden platform, where hundreds of eyes immediately pierced them like swords.

"Everyone."

Wang Ji's throat felt like it had been scorched by burning coals. He had barely opened his mouth when Chen Ziyu interrupted him with a shrill scream: "Fellow students! These two spineless cowards have already had their spines broken by the eunuch faction!"

He brandished his stick at the wooden platform, the firelight stretching his shadow into a distorted monster.

"Every word they say now is a lie they've fabricated in prison. Don't believe their nonsense!"

Chen Ziyu knew that his teacher had already surrendered before them.

The three young scholars looked pained.

We were ready to fight to the death, so why did you surrender first, teacher?

Master, you spoke so eloquently and righteously at the Shoushan Academy, but how did everything change after you were arrested and imprisoned?

After Chen Ziyu finished speaking, the other students of the Imperial Academy rallied in support of him:
"So it turns out that Imperial Censor Wang and Vice Minister Sun were also lackeys of the eunuch faction!"

"Pah! You spineless bastard!"

"You don't need to say anything more. We will not leave until our demands are met!"

"idiot!"

Sun Wei suddenly sprang to his feet.

The thought of his ruined career and his family's uncertain future tormented him, so he decided to vent all his pain and frustration!
In particular, we must expose Wang Ji, this cowardly hypocrite, to the world.

I, Sun Wei, am ashamed to associate with this man!

"Do you know that Wang Ji accepted ten thousand taels of silver from Shanxi merchants? Do you know that he promised to recommend Zhao Mingyuan, Chen Ziyu, and Zheng Shixiang to the Hanlin Academy after the petition was successfully submitted? You have been used as weapons, and you don't even realize it!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted like boiling oil dripping into water.

The iron bars in the hands of the students of the Imperial Academy clattered to the ground. They looked at Zhao Mingyuan, Chen Ziyu, and Zheng Shixiang in disbelief and questioned them:

Is what Vice Minister Sun said true or false?

"You yourselves took the benefits, and then you instigated us to come and die?"

"Could it be that this is not a matter of justice, but merely a means for you to gain fame and fortune?"

"Chen Ziyu, say something!"

Zhao Mingyuan, Chen Ziyu, and Zheng Shixiang were so persuasive that they kept backing away.

Chen Ziyu already knew the true nature of the matter, and remained silent at this moment.

Zhao Mingyuan, who genuinely believed he was working for the cause of justice, now had bloodshot eyes and shouted at Wang Ji like a madman: "Master, tell everyone, we have not asked for any benefits. We are doing this for the sake of scholars, for justice, and for the Ming Dynasty!"

After roaring for a while, Zhao Mingyuan pleaded with Wang Ji, "Master, please tell me!" He desperately hoped that his teacher hadn't lied to him.

"No!"

Looking at the piercing gazes of the crowd and Zhao Mingyuan's pleading eyes, Wang Ji felt as if his heart was being torn apart.

He felt ashamed, pained, and regretful.
A mix of emotions surged within him, and suddenly he knelt down in the snow, his forehead striking the snow and creating a deep dent.
"I was bewitched! I thought I could use your memorial to force His Majesty to deal with Wei Zhongxian, so that my colleagues from the Donglin Party could regain control of the Ministry of Personnel's selection process, and so that the power of speech in the country would be in the hands of us civil officials. I used you."

Wang Ji is now thinking about what will happen after he passes away.

He died without regret.

But his family cannot leave because of him.

Even if it means his reputation is ruined, I'm willing to do it!

"fart!"

Zheng Shixiang kicked over the brazier, and sparks flew onto Sun Wei's official robe, igniting blue flames.

“Minister Sun, you yourself said that the Huangming Daily is a wicked newspaper that bewitches people!”

Sun Wei did not try to extinguish the flames, but let them spread on his sleeve.

He also felt somewhat apologetic towards the students he had misled.

But regret?
He didn't regret it; he only hated doing this with Wang Ji.

Not afraid of god-like opponents, but afraid of pig-like teammates.

What was originally a glorious event that would be remembered in history has now become a source of eternal infamy.

"Hahaha~"

Sun Wei gave a bitter laugh and said, "Because the newspapers exposed my secret of embezzling salaries! Last year, the salaries for the 3,000 vacancies in the Beijing garrison all went into my private coffers! Are you satisfied with this answer?"

"Turns out he's a hypocrite too!"

"Minister Sun, how dare you still live in this world?"

……

The insults swept in like a blizzard.

One student smashed an inkstone against the wooden table, the ink blooming into black spots on Wang Ji's face; many more tore at their robes, roaring, "We actually risked our lives for such scoundrels!"

Seeing this, Chen Ziyu's heart sank, but he still refused to give up and roared, "Don't fall for the trap! This is all a treacherous scheme by the eunuch faction!"

However, as soon as he said this, his former classmate grabbed his hair and pushed him into a snowdrift.

"Chen Ziyu, even now, you still want to mislead people?"

Someone stepped on his back and cried out, "My whole family was counting on me to bring honor to our ancestors, and now it's all ruined by you!"

"Chen Ziyu, you'll die a horrible death!"

Those candidates who were waiting for the imperial examination in the dilapidated temple felt utterly hopeless about their future and started punching, kicking, and cursing Chen Ziyu.

Looking at the chaos in the room, Wei Zhongxian's old face revealed a triumphant smile.

Cool!
cool!

Watching you intellectuals fight like dogs is quite a delightful thing!
Fearing that the three men would be beaten to death by the angry students and candidates of the Imperial Academy, Luo Sigong hurriedly ordered the Imperial Guards to enter the venue.

"Scatter! Scatter!"

The Imperial Guards entered the scene and immediately brought the situation under control.

When the Imperial Guards' chains fastened around Chen Ziyu, he was still writhing in the snow and mud like a dying fish. His once handsome face was now ashen.

He remained stubborn.

"I am not a traitor, I, Chen Ziyu, am a loyal subject!"

Before he could finish speaking, a frozen clod of earth struck his front tooth precisely, and blood instantly stained his once-proud beard.

"Pah! Chen Ziyu, you are the number one traitor in the world, you deserve to die a horrible death!"

The other students of the Imperial Academy, who were under the control of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, looked at Chen Ziyu with hatred, wishing they could devour him.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, gradually burying all traces of anger, shame, and betrayal.

(End of this chapter)