Chapter 699: The Real Culprit
Chapter 699: Chapter 699: The Real Culprit
After Brother Ximen was settled in, he wanted to send the maid away to seek Yuan Da to deliver a message.
However, the maid insisted on staying outside, and the Ranxiang Inn diligently lit up frankincense in the room, soon causing him to really doze off.
The crowd already selected five Doctors, lecturers, and scholars from the Imperial College, along with five examinees who had come to the capital to participate in the examinations, to verify together.
Another was chosen to read aloud Qin Siyuan’s poems and Young Master Nantang’s works for comparison.
Wu Junren’s shoulders sagged a bit, his hands clenched in his sleeves so tightly that his palms bled, struggling to hold himself up.
It’s over, it’s over!
By now, even King Jin had not arrived as agreed.
There was no choice but to come up with another plan.
After listening to each poem, the crowd discussed for a moment.
From time to time, they also argued about the benefits of particular words and phrases.
Some even came up with brilliant lines for everyone to judge, and for a moment it resembled a refined gathering at a poetic contest held by the waterside.
Marquis Gu whispered to Qin Yuan: "It reminds me of the combat competitions in the Great Camp, though these literary contests are not like those... that..."
"So refined and elegant," Qin Yuan replied with a smile.
"Yes, exactly," said Marquis Gu, nodding emphatically, looking proudly at Qin Yuan, "No wonder they say there is no best in literature, and unbeatable in martial arts; these people can talk a lot of sense, unlike contests where the result is unequivocal."
Qin Siyuan laughed, "But the excellence of Young Master Nantang’s poetry is also indisputable."
Marquis Gu was taken aback and then nodded with satisfaction, looking at Qin Yuan with pride, saying, "That is only natural."
Mr. Songshan, standing by, couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of his lips, inwardly rolling his eyes.
Everyone was praising Young Master Nantang, what did it have to do with him?
As if the praise was directed at him.
To feel ashamed is akin to courage; could Marquis Gu possibly improve in this life?
"No wonder Si Yuan felt enlightened after reading these poems, even this old man found it quite beneficial,"
In order not to appear too aloof, Mr. Songshan, of course, had to join in the praise.
Qin Siyuan coughed: "This is all my fault, I should have burned them after reading, but I couldn’t bear to, thinking it would be good for future generations. I never expected them to be stolen, and one even got lost."
Glancing at Wu Junren, who looked ashen and his eyes darting about, Qin Yuan said meaningfully, "Perhaps it wasn’t lost, just not the right time to reveal it yet."
Qin Siyuan was stunned, also looking at Wu Junren with a complex expression.
After reading for a while, everyone finally said: "Though Mr. Qin’s poetry somewhat carries the style of Young Master Nantang, its conception is vastly different, and the choice of words and phrasing is more vigorous, already forming a unique style, and did not alter Young Master Nantang’s works."
This being a consensus, naturally, no one had any objections.
Prince Qi said: "In that case, Wu Junren’s accusation is unfounded; is there anything else you’d like to say?"
"What else is there to say!" the Ninth Princess said angrily, "Such a despicable villain, truly disgraceful, this Princess believes his scholarly title should be taken away! He really is unworthy of being a scholar."
Though Princess Fuyun remained silent, she looked approving.
Under the barrage of disdainful stares from everyone, Wu Junren kneeled with a "thud," his voice trembling: "...Your Highness Prince Qi, Your Highness Ninth Princess, I, this humble one, was also... compelled by circumstances... actually, the matter of the stolen poem is true, but the thief was not Qin Siyuan, it was... someone else."
The crowd was in an uproar.
"What? Someone else?"
"Is this true?"
"What an unexpected turn of events!"
"I think he is trying to confuse us."
"It’s hard to say, perhaps we should listen..."
Prince Qi leisurely tapped his folding fan a few times, smiling wryly.
The Ninth Princess said disdainfully, "Even if you say the sky is falling, this Princess will not believe you again! Tonight we were supposed to listen to Young Master Nantang discuss poetry, but you disrupted it and now it’s dragged on till this late.
You falsely accused your classmates, framed the officials of the Imperial College, provoked the Dingbei Marquis, and now you claim there’s someone else, stirring up things even more, who would believe you now?"
The crowd nodded one after another, agreeing with the Ninth Princess.
Lin Ziqi also appeared pained, saying to Wu Junren, "You, you, how could you do this? I trusted you, I never thought you were such a person, you, you’ve really put me in a difficult position."
He then turned to Qin Siyuan, about to say something.
Wu Junren suddenly raised his head and glared at him: "Even at this point, you want me to take the blame for you?"
Lin Ziqi was bewildered, frozen in place.
Qin Yuan, however, looked as if he had already anticipated this.
Qin Siyuan also looked slightly amused.
Before Lin Ziqi could react, Wu Junren already turned to Qin Yuan and said, "Young Master Nantang, I did indeed hide that piece of poetry, but... I was really compelled by circumstances, there is something I can’t say."
"Oh?" Prince Qi raised an eyebrow, "What can’t you say? Speak clearly, don’t play riddles in front of me, otherwise, I’m afraid you can’t keep your scholarly title."
Wu Junren said, "At this point, I don’t wish to hide for others any longer," and as he spoke, he pulled out a letter from a secret pocket inside his robe and held it above his head, "This is the piece of poetry I hid, and the reason behind it will be clear once His Highness Prince Qi sends someone to read it."
The guard took the letter and handed it to Prince Qi.
Princess Fuyun also leaned in to look, exclaiming, "How could this be?"
Prince Qi asked, "Wu Junren, what do you mean by this?"
Wu Junren said, "I was momentarily possessed, and found this poetry in Mr. Qin’s book trunk; unexpectedly, I found Young Master Nantang’s works bore much resemblance to Lin Junren’s. So I went to question Lin Ziqi, only to be coerced and bribed by him, forcing me to publicly frame Mr. Qin and Young Master Nantang."
The crowd collectively gasped.
"Absurd, truly absurd!" Lin Ziqi shouted.
Wu Junren gained more momentum, "Do you dare swear to the heavens that you did not coerce me to publicly frame Mr. Qin and Young Master Nantang? Do you dare swear that you never complained to me about Qin Jijiu neglecting you as his son-in-law, favoring Mr. Qin instead? Do you dare swear that you didn’t promise me benefits?"
Lin Ziqi was speechless.
Indeed, he did all that Wu Junren accused him of.
In that brief moment of hesitation, Wu Junren seized the opportunity to continue attacking: "Your Highness Prince Qi, Your Highness Princesses, Lin Ziqi threatened me, saying if I didn’t do as he asked, he would tell the college officials I stole the poetry for future use.
I feared his status as Qin Jijiu’s son-in-law and had no choice but to comply."
"Nonsense, utter nonsense!" Lin Ziqi shook with anger, "Do you dare swear to the heavens? When did I ever coerce you? Besides, though I am Lord Sacrificial Officer’s son-in-law, Qin Siyuan is his nephew, and as the saying goes, flesh is thicker than water; why would I compel you to falsely accuse Qin Siyuan?
You vowed fervently to seek justice for the scholars of the world, I admired your righteousness and courage, yet I fell for your tricks, becoming your accomplice and harming my brother Si Yuan."