Farm Girl's Manor

However, with both personal and material evidence of Mo Qingze’s fraud in the examination, and the matter now widely known, two officials really didn’t have the courage to allow Mo Yan to enter.

Seeing the hesitation of the two, Mo Yan suppressed the anxiety in his heart and patiently persuaded, "Not to mention that my father was framed and sent to prison, even if he truly committed fraud, until the charges are confirmed, as the County Lord, I have the right to visit him in prison. If you two are not in charge, then let someone who is in charge come and speak with me."

After listening, the officials had no retort and, worried about facing rebuke if they allowed the visit, could only offer an apologetic smile and said, "To reply to the County Lord, this matter is of great importance, and we lower officials do not have the authority to decide. Fortunately, our Minister of Criminal Justice is still in the Government Office, so we will go and ask for instructions. We hope for the County Lord’s understanding and ask for a moment of patience."

Knowing that it would be useless to force them, Mo Yan said, "Then I’ll trouble you both! The prison is damp and cold; I am truly concerned about my father’s health. I hope you two gentlemen will say a few kind words on my behalf to the Minister so that I can send these items to ward off the cold to my father."

The officials glanced at the cotton quilts and garments that Liyan and Tang Xin were holding and said they dared not. The Shilang of the Ministry of Penal Affairs stayed to keep company while the other official hurried to seek instructions from the Minister of Criminal Justice.

Mo Yan had no choice but to sit down and wait, and this wait lasted for an hour.

The Shilang of the Ministry of Penal Affairs, seeing Mo Yan’s expression growing worse, secretly groaned. Others might not know, but he had taken part in this year’s autumn hunt, does he not know that the County Lord has saved the Crown Prince’s life? The Crown Prince’s position is very secure; if the County Lord loses patience and bears a grudge against him, just a single mention in front of the Crown Prince could delay his career.

Thinking this, his face grew sour, inwardly cursing the subordinate who went to report. Even if the Minister of Criminal Justice does not agree or is still "considering," could you not come back first to give a heads up?

Another incense stick’s worth of time passed and just when Mo Yan’s patience was nearly exhausted, the official who had gone to seek instructions finally returned, bringing the good news that the Minister of Criminal Justice agreed to let Mo Yan visit her father in prison.

The reason for the delay was that the Minister of Criminal Justice also dared not make the decision himself, so he hurried into the palace to seek the Emperor Huian’s approval, who finally gave his consent allowing the visit to proceed.

Compared to Liyan and Tang Xin’s joy, Mo Yan’s mood was especially heavy. Even the Minister of Criminal Justice had taken such cautious steps, indicating that the case of examination fraud was even more serious than she had thought. One misstep and her whole family could be ruined by it.