Chapter 736: The Duke’s Perfect Counterattack in the Trial (1)_1
ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm Within the spacious Hall of Supreme Harmony, only the voices testifying to Mo Qingze’s cheating process could be heard.
"...We three students are friends of Mo Qingze and naturally did not want to see him go astray. After learning that someone had given him the exam questions and answers, we took turns advising him, but not only did he not heed our advice, he also spoke of sharing our fortunes together and wanted to share the exam questions and answers with us. He urged us to memorize them overnight in preparation for the seven days of examinations! Unable to persuade him and feeling that speaking out would be a betrayal of a friend, we had no choice but to cover it up, intending to let it rot in our hearts!"
At this point, the man paused and stealthily observed the expressions of Emperor Huian and the presiding judges, only to be disappointed to find that they all wore impassive faces, giving no indication of whether they believed his story or not.
However, the situation had reached a point where there was no room for retreat. The man licked his dry lips and continued, "Later, when the autumn examination results were announced, Mo Qingze indeed emerged as a scholar. We thought that since his longstanding wishes had finally been fulfilled, we were even less inclined to expose him! But later, we heard that someone, unable to withstand the blow of failing the exam, had jumped into the moat on the day the results were posted and not even the body could be retrieved! Thinking of the family of the man who had jumped, not being able to wait for his return, not knowing how heartbroken they must be, while someone else gained the world’s respect through crooked ways, we felt indignant and went to the Ministry of Rites to expose Mo Qingze’s cheating..."
Seemingly ashamed of his actions, the man finished speaking and remained with his head bowed low, not looking at anyone.
The other two nodded repeatedly, echoing their companion’s narrative and hurriedly adding in the details he had omitted, even describing in clear detail the pale blue clothing Mo Qingze wore that day and the rosewood hairpin he used to tie his hair.
With such a detailed testimony and no discernible flaws, more than half of those present had already convicted Mo Qingze of fraud.