Chapter 287

From the small courtyard in Erjin to Fengtian Mansion, the carriage ride took only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, but the young men walked for half an hour.

They walked straight and solemn, displaying their talents and not casting their eyes around.

Not only were the common people along the way attracted, even the scholars in the Wenchang Pavilion couldn't help but follow behind, eager to find out what was happening.

When Xu Mo stopped in front of the gates of Fengtian Mansion, a large crowd had already gathered behind him. He looked at his younger siblings, nodded to his friends, and finally raised the drumstick. In front of everyone's eyes, he began to strike the grievance drum.

One strike, two strikes, three strikes.

The drumbeat was deep, like ripples spreading out, centered around the gates of Fengtian Mansion and extending to the entire capital city of Fengjing.

Some people were awakened from their slumber, busy workers lifted their heads, and others suddenly stood up.

Before today, the grievance drum was only used as a tool to announce the rest time of the county magistrate. Common people who wanted to file a complaint had to write a formal complaint and submit it to the yamen.

But after being shocked by a major injustice, the people themselves started striking the drum to file their grievances, giving rise to the practice of "striking the drum to voice grievances."

To highlight the injustice and to intimidate the court and the people, the sound of the drum had to be loud.

People who were somewhat near couldn't bear it, and Jiang Sheng furrowed her brows. Fortunately, a pair of hands reached out and covered her ears.

But Xu Mo, in front of the grievance drum, seemed oblivious to the noise and continued to strike it calmly.

Four strikes, five strikes, six strikes.

While the drumbeat still reverberated, Xu Mo stopped and hung the drumstick back in place.

"Why did Big Brother stop?" Jiang Sheng asked, her head tilted in confusion.

In the scripts she had read, they would strike the drum dozens of times.

Chang Yan withdrew his hand and said, "It's not that the louder the drumbeat, the deeper the grievance. Big Brother stopped to avoid disturbing the peace. Striking the drum to voice grievances is done out of necessity. As long as we can alert Fengtian Mansion and attract the attention of the people in Fengjing, it's enough." As soon as he finished speaking, the gates of Fengtian Mansion opened.

The capital city of Fengjing lived up to its reputation; its efficiency was high.

Several stern-looking yamen officials stepped forward, followed by an impeccably dressed old man. Seeing so many people, he showed no surprise and fixed his gaze on Xu Mo. "Who struck the drum, and what is the matter?"

Xu Mo respectfully clasped his hands and performed a basic courtesy. "Greetings, Your Honor."

His manner of greeting held significant meaning.

Ordinary people would have to kneel when filing a complaint, but only scholars who had achieved some level of fame could forgo kneeling and perform a courtesy instead.

The expression on the face of the Fengtian magistrate changed slightly, and his voice became more polite. "No need for excessive courtesy. If you have any grievances, please enter the hall and present them."

The yamen officials quickly opened the gates of Fengtian Mansion, holding their fire and water sticks ready, standing by the side in a disciplined manner.

The Fengtian magistrate adjusted his official hat and calmly walked up to the raised platform under the hanging mirror.

Finally, the crucial moment had arrived.

Xu Mo let out a sigh of relief, exchanged a glance with Chang Yan, and lifted the hem of his green robe. Stepping over the threshold with his slightly raised leg, he entered the grand hall of Fengtian Mansion. Whether it was Qi Huai or Jiang Sheng, they were all stopped at the threshold and not allowed to enter.

They could only watch the straight figure in the green robe standing in the hall, surrounded by yamen officials, fearlessly facing the magistrate of Fengtian Mansion, and resolutely declaring, "I am Xu Mo, lodging a complaint about the cheating in the imperial examination. My examination paper was switched, and my results have disappeared."

He didn't mention Yuan Hui or the Fang family, attempting to distance himself from the Qi family.

But these two sentences were enough to cause a commotion in Fengjing.

Almost instantly, they recalled the highly praised Fang Yuan and the book by He Jiacan. They looked at the determined young man standing tall like a green bamboo, as if understanding something.

In the hall, the expression of the Prefect of the Fengjing Court changed subtly, mixed with a hint of hesitation.

However, with so many people from Fengjing watching, and being under the feet of the Emperor, he couldn't escape even if he wanted to. He could only bring out the wooden block used for questioning suspects and sternly rebuke, "The Dayu Dynasty has strict laws and does not tolerate slanderous accusations. You claim your test paper was tampered with, do you have any evidence?"

"Naturally, I do." Xu Mo remained calm and composed. "According to the laws of the Dayu Dynasty, unsuccessful candidates can review their test papers ten days after the announcement. When I, as a student, discovered it on the wall of the Imperial Examination Hall, I found that the red paper only had my name on it, and everything else was written by someone else."

This statement alone was not sufficient evidence.

Xu Mo then presented another scroll of paper. "To prove my innocence, I will rewrite the content of the exam paper. I hope the honorable Prefect can vindicate me and prove that in the Dayu Dynasty, where the sun shines brightly, there is no deceit!"

By this point, the Prefect of the Fengjing Court was completely stunned. There were many outstanding students, and many who could effortlessly recite poems and verses. But how many could complete a two-meter-long exam paper and then rewrite it again? Very few.

When he opened the exam paper and read its contents, the Prefect's beard even trembled. He couldn't help but ask, "You said you failed the exam?"

"Yes," Xu Mo replied calmly. "My failed exam paper is still posted on the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall."

But the literary talent displayed on this scroll was extraordinary, with a graceful and fluent style. Even if the characters couldn't be seen on the red paper, the ability to cite classics and provide sharp and comprehensive analyses alone was enough to prove the author's great insight and exceptional talent.

How could someone like this fail the exam?

The Prefect's hands trembled, and he eagerly ordered the bailiffs to remove Xu Mo's exam paper from the Imperial Examination Hall. After comparing it to the scroll in his hand, he felt a deep sense of disappointment.

The handwriting was completely different, with a vast difference in skill between the two. If the failed exam paper belonged to Xu Mo, then his complaint would be a malicious slander, tarnishing the court's reputation, and he would be sentenced to five years in prison according to the law.

On the other hand, who else could have taken away this astonishingly talented piece of writing?

The Prefect's mind raced, his hands tightly clasped together.

Fengjing was filled with powerful and influential figures, with third-ranked officials seen everywhere, and prestigious families scattered all around. And there was even the royal family watching from the Dragon Throne. Those who held the position of Prefect here were the most astute of the astute.

If he was still doubtful and speculative when Xu Mo beat the drum, it was now clear that Xu Mo and the others had come for the Fang family.

That was the Fang family!

As an ordinary student who had come from Anshui Prefecture, wasn't it better to swallow his pride? Must he confront a top-tier prestigious family head-on? It was truly a situation where ten heads wouldn't be enough to use.

What the Prefect of the Fengjing Court did at this moment was of utmost importance. If he leaned towards the Fang family, it would undoubtedly appease the situation. But in doing so, he would offend the entire populace of Fengjing, and along with it, ruin his reputation for the rest of his life.

If he leaned towards Xu Mo, he would offend the Fang family, and his position as the Intendant of Fengjing Prefecture would be in jeopardy.

It's truly a difficult choice to make!

After much internal struggle, the Intendant of Fengjing let out a bitter smile and slammed the table, saying, "Someone, take the token and go to the Imperial Examination Hall. Retrieve all the examination papers of today's candidates."

Although he feared the Fang family and the instability of his official position, as the Intendant of Fengjing under the Emperor's jurisdiction, the most important aspect of his judicial responsibilities was fairness and justice.

This was his backbone, his pride, and the bottom line he had upheld for half a lifetime.

It was also the key to his appointment as the Intendant of Fengjing.

Several court officials quickly rushed to the Imperial Examination Hall accompanied by a few successful candidates. They spread out hundreds of red examination papers in the hall and compared them one by one with Xu Mo's answer sheet.

When they reached the examination paper of today's top scholar, both the assisting court officials and the successful candidates were dumbfounded.