Upon hearing this, Sun Chongren took out a few pieces of paper and a worn-out notebook from his sleeves and handed them over.
"The two pictures above, one is Xiao Yuanhang's policy and the other is Li Mingcheng's policy. They are both excellent works of the talented people who passed the examination. They were publicly commended and praised by County Magistrate Liu at the Luming Banquet.
That day, a classmate told me that the county magistrate heard that my father was injured and asked me to tell me that I could just take care of my father at home and there was no need to attend the deer-crowing banquet.
Cao Min didn't think much about it, but her mother envied her classmates who passed the exam. When she learned that the county magistrate would reward the students who passed the exam at the banquet, and also appreciate the masterpieces that passed the exam, she asked me to go and learn more!
Cao Min went there, only to find that the articles written by Li Mingcheng and Xiao Yuanhang were exactly the same as the policy papers that Cao Min had written before for practice. He suspected that they had plagiarized Cao Min's policies and argued with them, but was rejected by Li Mingcheng, Xiao Yuanhang, and Cao Cheng'an. They besieged them together and wounded the common people.
The grassroots were not convinced, so they went to the Yamen to file a complaint. Unexpectedly, County Magistrate Liu did not investigate, and directly punished the grassroots for disturbing the court.
As for my father, please allow me to witness him in court. "
"Certificate of Passing!"
Ever since Xiao Yuanhang heard that someone had seen him doing something on the mountain where his grandson's father cut firewood, he immediately felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave and was almost scared out of his mind! He whispered comforting himself unconsciously
"Impossible, no one can see it! There was obviously no one there at the time!"
However, then two boys of thirteen or fourteen years old came in.
The two children have been under the care of Liu Nan and Liu Bei for more than half a month. They have long been taught the rules of going to the Yamen to testify. Although they are still a little nervous when meeting Han Zhongyu, they are familiar with the two brothers Liu Nan and Liu Bei. Not so scared anymore!
First he saluted Han Zhongyu, then said hello to Sun Chongren, and then glanced at Xiao Yuanhang and Li Mingcheng.
When Sun Chongren saw the two children, his eyes were red. If they hadn't secretly told him what happened that day afterwards, his father might have died in vain. After adjusting his mood, Sun Chongren said to the two children.
"Erwazi, Xiao Shitou, what did you see on the day my father fell down the mountain three years ago? Please tell the governor the truth."
"Brother Sun, we know.
Governor, Brother Sun left early for his exam that day. The uncle of the Sun family went to the mountains to cut firewood. It happened that Xiao Shitou and I went to the mountains to collect pigweed, so we went together.
But Xiao Shitou and I set a trap in the mountains the day before, planning to trap a pheasant, rabbit or something. When we got there, we went to see the trap first. When we came back, we saw this man."
Erwazi said, pointed at Xiao Yuanhang, and then said
"He sneakily arrived at the big rock where the three of us rested just now, lowered his head and dug for a while, and then shouted to Uncle Sun that he had heard that something had happened to Uncle Sun. He seemed to have broken his leg and could not go to the exam. Let Uncle Sun go and have a look!
After hearing this, Uncle Sun hurriedly ran back. At that time, we also vaguely heard it and ran back too. But as soon as Uncle Sun carried the firewood and put it on the big stone, it rolled down the hillside with him and the stone. !
This man ran away without even staying!
When Shitou and I ran to the place, he had already gone down the mountain. One of us could only go down to find Uncle Sun, and the other went to the village to find someone. "
After Erwazi finished speaking, Sun Chongren continued:
"Sir, I also suddenly heard Cao Cheng'an say that someone said that something happened at home. It seemed that my father had fallen off the mountain. They told me to go back quickly, so the common people gave up the exam and hurried home.
But according to the time of my father's accident, it was not enough for Cao Cheng'an to notify me. Besides, Cao Cheng'an's house and mine are in two directions, so how could he predict it! This is obviously a trap for me, please be careful! "
Han Zhongyu asked Xiao Yuanhang and Li Mingcheng coldly:
"These four articles are identical. The two above belong to your two names respectively. This piece of paper also has Zhu's approval written by the examiner of that year. It can be seen that it is undoubtedly the examination paper of that year.
The following two manuscripts were written by Li Mingcheng and Xiao Yuanhang, who arrogantly threw them in my face after they were beaten by Magistrate Liu. At that time, Li Mingcheng said:
"So what if I copy yours? Magistrate Liu is my brother-in-law, and I am the magistrate's brother-in-law. Whoever I want can be the scholar!"
These two manuscripts coincide with the torn pages from Cao Min's exercise book! This is enough to prove that they secretly tore up my manuscript and cheated in the exam room!
At this point in the trial of the case, it was basically confirmed that Li Mingcheng and Xiao Yuanhang had cheated in the imperial examination. The two of them were unable to defend themselves and felt extremely depressed.
But the matter is not over yet. Xiao Yuanhang has not yet admitted his grandson's father's matter. Han Zhongyu once again took pictures of the Gael.
"Xiao Yuanhang deliberately destroyed the big rock where my grandson's father rested, causing his grandson to roll down the hillside and later died. Do you know your guilt?"
There is a difference between killing people and cheating in the examination room. If you cheat in the examination room, the worst result is that you will be beaten and lose your fame. The next three or five generations will not be able to take part in the imperial examination. At least you can still save your life!
But the ones who caused the most minor deaths were those who were exiled to do hard labor for a lifetime, or were directly executed after death!
Before today, in Xiao Yuanhang's heart, fame and future were of course the most important thing, but now, he no longer cares about his future. He doesn't want to die yet, so he must not die!
He was only in his early twenties, and he still had a long way to go in the future. His mother also said that he could find an official position for him by asking the princess or Xiao Yi. He still had to be an official alive. Thinking of this, Xiao Yuanhang forced himself Calm down.
After calming down, Xiao Yuanhang still had some brainpower and tried to think of where there was an opportunity for a comeback. After a while, he really found a loophole.
This time he learned the lesson and took the initiative to kowtow to Han Zhongyu, as if this could prove his innocence.
"Sir, the common people don't admit it. These two children are from the same village as Sun Chongren. People in the same village must be related to each other. Even if they are not related to each other, they must be close to each other on weekdays. They are just helping Sun Chongren to slander I!
Even if they saw me that day, I was just passing by and wanted to ask Sun Chongren to go with them.
As a result, I didn't see him at his house, so I went to the mountain to find the uncle of the Sun family and asked how long Sun Chongren had been gone. I just sat on the big rock to rest for a while. The rock was unstable. What did it have to do with me? I couldn't guarantee it. The stone was about to fall, but it happened that Uncle Sun fell when he arrived!
I ran because I was running late for the exam and these two children were nearby. I thought these two children could find someone to save them!
Besides, didn’t they go looking for it?
The uncle of the Sun family also died at that time!
Those who died two months later were because of their own improper treatment. This cannot be blamed on me. "
