The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

Did you pass the exam, or did you fail?

Li Chengqian and the others were immediately confused, their minds filled with questions.

If you passed the exam, you passed. Why can you say you didn't pass?

"Sir, we don't understand," Tang Heshang asked directly, "Did you pass the exam or not?"

As soon as he asked the question, all the children's eyes were focused on Chen Huai'an.

Clearly, they were all very curious about it.

Chen Huai'an smiled and said, "It's very simple. I said I passed the exam, but because I was unwilling to be a loyal dog of certain powerful families, my academic achievements were stripped, and my exam paper was changed to someone else's name."

"From then on, I became a failure."

"So, I said I passed the exam, but then I didn't."

At this point, Chen Huai'an sighed inexplicably, "I often wonder, how many sins must I have committed to deserve the retribution I've suffered?"

The group of children and teenagers couldn't help but chuckle a few times upon hearing this, and then fell silent.

Chen Huai'an's words greatly shocked these naive children and teenagers, leaving them astonished.

You passed the exam... but someone else took your place?

The children recalled Chen Huai'an's experiences: his father died in the mountains while gathering medicinal herbs, his mother went blind while weaving, and his sister sold herself to a local butcher as a concubine for five strings of cash to raise money for his travel expenses...

They were already in such a miserable state, and the academic achievements they had worked so hard to obtain were stolen by someone else.

The young boys felt a fire burning in their chests, and they were furious for Chen Huai'an.

"This is outrageous!"

Li Zhen was furious: "What right do they have to take your place in the examinations you worked so hard to achieve? You went through countless hardships to finally pass the exams and get your name on the honor roll. What right do they have to deprive you of it?"

"Sir, please tell me, who is it?!"

"When my father returns, I'll make him avenge you, make him kneel and kowtow to you in repentance, and then I'll cut off his head!"

"Yes!" Tang Heshang said angrily, "These people are truly despicable. How could they be so evil? Just because you refused to submit to them, they have stripped you of the fruits of your years of hard work."

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

"Sir!" Li Chengqian couldn't hold back any longer. "Who is it? We'll stand up for you."

"If all else fails, I will go to my father and he will definitely get justice for you."

Chen Huai'an smiled: "Get justice, and then what?"

Li Chengqian was speechless. After thinking for a moment, he said seriously, "If we seek justice, everyone will understand that you passed the imperial examination with your own ability, not because of someone who impersonated you."

"Yes, sir," Tang Heshang said, "If justice isn't served, won't the imposter continue to roam free?"

"And you will forever be known as a failed scholar."

"This justice must be served, and your honors must be reclaimed!"

"But do I... still need that official title now?" Chen Huai'an asked again.

The children were stunned for a moment, and then they were completely speechless.

Yes.

Does Chen Huai'an still need this honor now?

They are young, but because of their extraordinary background, they already understand many things.

The fact that Chen Huai'an can teach here and instruct Li Chengqian means that he is highly valued by Li Shimin.

How could I possibly still need that official title?

Chen Huai'an spoke slowly and deliberately, as if it were none of his business: "Let's not even talk about whether it's necessary to seek justice."

"Even if we ask for it, what good will it do?"

"Can the harm I suffered in the past be erased?"

"No way!"

Chen Huai'an said earnestly, "What kind of justice is it if it's delayed?"

"Justice delayed...isn't justice served?"

Li Chengqian carefully considered this sentence, and then fell silent.

"Sir, are we just going to let it go like this?" Li Zhen was still unconvinced. "If you don't seek justice, won't more people suffer this kind of injustice in the future?"

"You were able to get back on your feet, perhaps due to a series of coincidences, but many people probably don't have that kind of opportunity."

Chen Huai'an was somewhat surprised and looked at Li Zhen a few more times: "What's your name?"

"Li Zhen".

"Okay, Li Zhen, I'll remember you." Chen Huai'an carefully memorized the name, then said, "I believe your father must be a high-ranking and powerful figure, otherwise you wouldn't be qualified to study here."

"But I have to tell you a painful truth today: no matter how extraordinary your background, you can't get justice for yourself."

"Why?" Li Zhen retorted indignantly, "My father is the Duke of Cao, and there are few people in this world I dare not offend!"

Why do you think I can't get justice for you?

"Because to seek justice, it's not just against one person!" Chen Huai'an's smile faded. "It's against an entire set of rules!"

"Rules jointly established by powerful clans!"

"Do you think that by helping me get justice and making an example of them, this kind of behavior will be stopped in the future?"

"I'm telling you, you're wrong!"

"Even if I use the power of your fathers to temporarily break this rule and regain my honors, it won't really mean much."

"Because the rules are always there."

"You only temporarily broke it, you didn't change it!"

Li Zhen's mouth was slightly open, his eyes were glazed over, and Chen Huai'an's words kept echoing in his mind.

The rules are always there...

You only temporarily broke it, you didn't change it...

Chen Huai'an continued, "What you said earlier is very true. My ability to get back on my feet was due to a series of coincidences; others didn't have that privilege."

"And isn't it a kind of opportunity that I, by leveraging the power of your fathers, temporarily broke this rule?"

"Do you think anyone else would have such an opportunity? Would your father, Duke Cao, go to such lengths for someone who is unrelated to you?"

"No way?"

Li Zhen remained silent.

This is obvious.

"So, sir, what should we do to prevent this from happening again?" Li Chengqian asked, tilting his head up.

"That's a good question." Chen Huai'an didn't mince words, saying each character clearly, "Go and become the one who sets the rules!"

"To become the one who sets the rules?" Li Chengqian's pupils dilated slightly.

"Not bad!" Chen Huai'an stood up, hands behind his back: "You ask me why I hate classical Chinese, yet I still study it, and I'm still studying it now."

"Don't I hate it too?"

"I tell you, I utterly despise it!"

"But why should I persist?"

"Only in this way can I become the one who makes the rules, instead of just someone who follows them!"

"Go and change it! Go and change this world full of injustice and filth!"

"Fight! Fight for a bright and just world for all the people of this land!"

"..."