My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"Now that you've heard me, do you... have anything to say?"

As Xiao Jinxuan spoke again, all eyes in the entire court turned to Jiang Xiaobai.

Even Li Bingzhang, who was standing to the side, finally slowly opened his eyes.

Clearly, they all wanted to see how Jiang Xiaobai would speak.

"Your Majesty, I believe..."

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Jiang Xiaobai slowly spoke, looked at Xiao Jinxuan, and cupped his hands in a respectful but not arrogant manner: "The doubts of you gentlemen are actually... quite normal."

Ok?

Upon hearing this, many people in the court were taken aback.

Clearly, no one expected that Jiang Xiaobai's first words would be this.

"Alas, I have a bad reputation in the capital, and I am well aware of that."

Jiang Xiaobai's voice rang out again: "Moreover, the student does not deny that he eats, drinks, and plays around on a daily basis, and is arrogant and domineering."

"Therefore, I can understand why the students outside don't believe it and the officials in the court don't believe it."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai paused slightly.

Many officials below were already frowning.

They suddenly couldn't figure out what Jiang Xiaobai was trying to say.

Just then, Jiang Xiaobai spoke up again: "Even... when they say that the student's top score was bought, the student thinks that makes sense."

boom!

As soon as Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, the court was in an uproar!

Even Guo Zhan and Zhong Yu, who had been keeping their heads down, suddenly raised their heads, their eyes filled with surprise and doubt.

As the second and third place winners, they were both overshadowed by Jiang Xiaobai, which naturally made them uncomfortable.

I originally thought Jiang Xiaobai would just make excuses from the start, but I didn't expect him to talk like that.

Xiao Jinxuan's gaze finally narrowed slightly at this moment.

However, despite the murmurs around him, Jiang Xiaobai remained composed, showing no sign of panic: "Please calm down, everyone. I just think you gentlemen are right, but I don't agree with you!"

"I would like to ask you gentlemen a question!"

Jiang Xiaobai glanced around, his expression turning cold: "If we can question people based solely on reputation, then does that mean if someone questions a certain official's embezzlement, His Majesty can simply send people to investigate and confiscate their property?"

"If someone were to accuse a certain official of treason, wouldn't Your Majesty... be able to punish them?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the civil and military officials changed almost simultaneously.

Yes, no one expected that Jiang Xiaobai would speak to this extent in the imperial court.

Can a crime be committed simply by questioning someone?

Today it's Jiang Xiaobai that's being questioned, but what if it's them who are being questioned tomorrow?

For a moment, those who had previously echoed him all stiffened.

Some people frowned, while others' eyes darted around.

Some people opened their mouths, as if they wanted to refute something, but for a moment, they couldn't say anything.

Jiang Xiaobai's words, though bold, upon closer examination... weren't entirely wrong.

In the imperial court, what matters is evidence, rules, and laws.

If a person can be suspected of being guilty simply because of a bad reputation, then who in the entire court would dare to say that they will never be slandered in their lifetime?

Even Li Bingzhang, who was standing there with his eyes closed in meditation, finally showed a slight change in his expression, now looking somewhat smiling.

This kid...

They really dare to say anything!

Meanwhile, Tang Kui raised an eyebrow, and the emotions he had been suppressing almost burst out as a scathing rebuke.

Good guy!

This kid seemed quite proper at first, but once he opened his mouth, he almost put the entire court on the spot.

But ironically, this argument has a point.

At this moment when the atmosphere in the court was slightly stagnant.

Jiang Xiaobai remained expressionless, slowly raised his head, looked at Xiao Jinxuan, and bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, please make your judgment!"

As these words were spoken, the entire court fell silent.

Xiao Jinxuan looked calmly at Jiang Xiaobai, and after a moment, he slowly spoke: "That makes sense. Reputation... does not represent everything."

After speaking, Xiao Jinxuan looked at Lord Chen and said, "Lord Chen, do you have anything else to say?"

"His Majesty!"

Chen Zhanqiu cupped his hands and spoke, his expression still composed: "What I said just now was not mere speculation."

"I have evidence to prove this!"

Ok?

As soon as these words were spoken, the court, which had just quieted down, was suddenly stirred up again.

Many people turned their gaze toward Chen Zhanqiu.

Jiang Xiaobai stood there, his eyes narrowing slightly, his gaze filled with mockery.

Is it... time to play a card?

as predicted.

Just as Jiang Xiaobai was thinking this, Chen Zhanqiu glanced towards the outside of the hall and said calmly, "Bring that scholar up here!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a pale-faced young man was brought in from outside, escorted by a member of the Imperial Guard.

The man's clothes were slightly disheveled, his face was pale, and fine beads of sweat could even be seen on his forehead.

When he was actually escorted into the court and saw the civil and military officials around him, as well as the middle-aged man sitting high on the throne, he visibly trembled.

The next moment, he knelt down with a thud: "This humble subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"

The man's voice trembled slightly.

Xiao Jinxuan glanced at the man and frowned, asking, "Who is this person?"

"Your Majesty, this man is a scholar from the capital!"

Chen Zhanqiu smiled faintly, then turned his gaze to an official in the queue: "Lord An, I suppose... you should know this person, right?"

As soon as Chen Zhanqiu finished speaking, a middle-aged man immediately stepped forward from the queue.

Jiang Xiaobai followed Lord Chen's gaze and chuckled.

An Zhiyuan, the current Vice Minister of Rites, was also the one who bewitched his predecessor to buy the top scholar's position.

Seeing the other person's pale face and sweaty forehead, Jiang Xiaobai couldn't help but sneer.

Their acting was really convincing!

Under the watchful eyes of the entire court, An Zhiyuan knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty, I... am guilty!"

"Oh?"

The emperor looked at An Zhiyuan and asked, "What crime have you committed?"

"Your Majesty, now that things have escalated to this point..."

An Zhiyuan spoke up, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty truly dares not conceal this any longer!"

At this point, An Zhiyuan suddenly raised his hand and pointed directly at Jiang Xiaobai: "It was Prince Jiang who threatened me, saying that if I didn't help him become the top scholar, he would send someone to assassinate me!"

"I...I was forced into this situation, so I had no choice but to leak the exam questions to him. For this...I even found someone to write the questions for him!"

As he spoke, An Zhiyuan pointed at the pale man kneeling on the ground, and his voice rose.

"And he... he is the one I sought to substitute for the pen!"