My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Then Xue Guoguan continued loudly:

"However, the court also knows that public opinion can be devastating and destroy even the most reputable people! In order to thoroughly clarify the facts and set the record straight, His Highness the Crown Prince has already made a wise decision!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince has decreed that an additional temporary review examination will be held tomorrow at the Imperial Examination Hall! All eighty-three candidates from Liaodong who have come to the capital this time will participate in this examination!"

"The examination procedures and the difficulty of the questions are exactly the same as those of the regular provincial examination!"

"After the exams are completed, I will personally lead the review and evaluation of all the exam papers, together with my colleagues in the cabinet and other important officials of the court, including the ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries!"

"If, at that time, the students from Liaodong are indeed talented and have achieved remarkable results, then all the rumors will be dispelled, and Lord Hong's innocence will be proven by public opinion!"

"If their talent and learning are lacking and their grades are poor, the imperial court will not tolerate it and will investigate thoroughly to give an explanation to all the students in the country!"

To demonstrate absolute fairness and transparency, Xue Guoguan emphasized at the end:
"Furthermore, once the papers have been graded, the imperial court will post all the papers publicly for all scholars to view and critique! The truth will be revealed in the writings! Justice resides in the hearts of the people!"

This series of announcements was well-organized and forceful, demonstrating the court's seriousness about the matter and providing a fair solution. In particular, the provisions regarding "high-ranking officials reviewing the exam papers" and "publicizing the exam papers" greatly enhanced the persuasiveness of the announcements.

After listening, the students' indignation gradually faded, replaced by contemplation and a touch of shame.

Most of them were indeed just acting on impulse after hearing rumors, without any solid evidence.

The court is not only not taking this matter lightly, but is taking it so seriously by holding a public examination and grading, which fully demonstrates its emphasis on this matter and its respect for the students' opinions.

After a moment of silence, some of the students took the lead and bowed in respect:

"We students thank Grand Secretary Xue! We thank Your Highness the Crown Prince for your wise judgment!"

"Since the imperial court has handled this matter in this way, we students are completely convinced!"

"We'll disperse now and await the exam results tomorrow!"

Soon, the crowd began to disperse in an orderly manner.

A student gathering that could have escalated into a much larger uproar was temporarily quelled by Xue Guoguan's prestige and skillful handling of the situation.

Meanwhile, in the prison of the Five Cities Military Command south of the capital, a completely different scene unfolded.

It was the twelfth lunar month, and the weather was freezing cold. The depths of the prison were even colder and damp, with a chill that cut to the bone.

The air was filled with an indescribable mixture of smells: the decay of old mold, the stench of chamber pots, the smoky smell of cheap lamp oil, and a unique aura of despair and oppression.

A few dim oil lamps hung on the walls of the passageway, their flames swaying erratically in the cold wind that swept through, casting long and short shadows that added to the eerie atmosphere.

In a small guardhouse near the prison entrance, several guards sat around a small charcoal brazier. The fire was weak and provided only a little warmth.

They were wrapped in tattered cotton-padded coats, their necks hunched, their faces etched with exhaustion and helplessness.

Contrary to the rampant rumors circulating outside, the atmosphere here was somber and oppressive.

The jailers spoke in hushed tones, their voices barely audible, as if afraid of disturbing the prisoners in their cells, or perhaps afraid of being overheard.

"What kind of mess is this?!"

An old jailer, about fifty years old, with a face covered in deep wrinkles, slapped his numb thigh hard and complained in a hoarse voice.

"It was just a very ordinary fight, a trivial matter! Normally, both sides would get ten lashes each and pay some money for medicine, and that would be the end of it."

"Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, we'd be embroiled in such a massive case as the Governor-General of Liaodong and cheating on the imperial examinations! This is just too bizarre and outrageous!"

He shook his head as he spoke, his cloudy eyes filled with disbelief.

A younger jailer standing nearby, who looked to be no more than twenty years old, spoke with a tone of resentment and indignation:

"Who says otherwise! Where can you find such a reason? Governor Hong is such a high-ranking official! He is the pillar of our Great Ming Dynasty, guarding this region! I heard that in Liaodong, he is a figure who makes the Tartars tremble with fear!"

"Would someone like that sell the imperial examination questions to those Jurchen barbarians for a mere few stinking coins?"

"If this gets out, I'm afraid even a three-year-old wouldn't be able to be appeased!"

"But those people spreading the rumors outside are making it sound so real, like it's the truth! And those uninformed people actually believe it! Who can they complain to?"

The other short, stout jailer, who had been silently smoking his pipe, tapped his pipe for dust, sighed, and said quietly:
"Alas, as the old saying goes, public opinion is a fearsome thing, and accumulated slander can destroy a person! Once this dirty water is thrown on you, it will be difficult to wash it off again! This time, Governor Hong is afraid that even if he jumps into the Yellow River, he will not be able to clear his name."

Although these low-level clerks were not very learned and had limited knowledge, and dealt with criminals all day long, they still had a basic sense of right and wrong.

Based on their years of experience in observing people's expressions and listening to gossip, they generally felt that Hong Chengchou had been tricked by the innkeeper's ramblings in a moment of panic, and they felt a little sympathy for him.

Just as the group was sighing, the heavy iron door at the entrance to the prison passage suddenly made a clanging sound as it was unlocked, followed by a series of rapid and powerful footsteps, mixed with the sound of metal plates scraping against each other, which sounded particularly jarring in the silent prison.

The jailers immediately became alert and stood up, peering out.

In the dim light, several tall men dressed in black satin flying fish robes, with long, narrow embroidered spring knives at their waists, walked straight in, led by a middle-aged officer in the same attire but with a more composed demeanor.

Their boots echoed crisply on the damp flagstones, and a chilling atmosphere filled the air.

"It's the Royal Guards!"

The old jailer felt a chill run down his spine and quickly whispered a reminder to his colleague. At the same time, he straightened his wrinkled prison uniform, stood at attention with his hands at his sides, and dared not be negligent in the slightest.

Who in the capital city doesn't know how formidable the Embroidered Uniform Guard is?

Those were the emperor's personal guards, who had direct access to the emperor and held the power of life and death!
The Five Cities Garrison is nothing compared to them!
These low-level clerks are nothing but a nobody!

The commander of the Imperial Guard leading the group had a stern face and his gaze swept across the jailers in the duty room like lightning, finally landing on the jailer in charge.

He didn't say much, but took out a document with a vermilion seal from his pocket and handed it over, while whispering a few words in an unquestionable tone.

The jailer took the document, examined it carefully in the dim light, and immediately became respectful, nodding and bowing repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, yes! I understand! I understand! Commander, please wait a moment, I will go and fetch the person right away!"

The jailer turned around and instructed the old jailer beside him:

"Old Zhang, quickly go and bring out those two gentlemen from Liaodong who are locked in cells three and four of section A. Be careful not to frighten them." The old jailer didn't dare to delay and hurriedly took a large bunch of heavy brass keys from the wall and jogged towards the depths of the prison.

Meanwhile, in the dark and damp cells No. 3 and No. 4 of the Jiazi prison, Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an were huddled in a cold corner.

The cell was cramped, with only a small amount of light filtering through a tiny iron window. The straw on the floor was damp and moldy, emitting a foul odor.

The scholar's robes they wore were no match for the freezing cold of the dungeon, and they were shivering uncontrollably.

Since being imprisoned in this dark and gloomy place, the fear in their hearts has been eroding their will little by little, just like the chill of the prison.

They were not only worried about their future career and reputation, but also afraid that they would lose their lives and even implicate their families.

After all, they weren't Han Chinese, but Jurchens!
Under immense mental pressure, the two were pale and their eyes were unfocused, like frightened birds.

With a "clatter," the iron lock on the prison door was opened, and the heavy wooden door was pushed open, making a creaking sound.

The sudden light and sound startled Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an, who were huddled in the corner, causing them to tremble. Chang Yong'an couldn't help but sob softly, his body shaking like a leaf in the wind.

They thought they were there to interrogate them, or even to pronounce their fate.

The old jailer felt a pang of pity seeing the two young scholars so terrified.

He slowed his pace and spoke as gently as possible:

"My lords, do not be afraid, do not be afraid. This is a good thing. You can come out now. Someone has come to pick you up."

Upon hearing this, the manager of the "Yuelai" Inn, who was imprisoned in the cell next door, became indignant.

He had been peeking through the gaps in the bars when he heard the sound, and immediately became agitated. He shook the cell door violently with both hands and shouted in a hoarse voice:

"Sir! Sir! What's going on? They can leave? What about us? When can we get out? This prison is cold and smelly, I can't stand it anymore!"

The old jailer, already annoyed, turned and glared at him, then snapped at him:
"Shut up! You troublemaker! Do you know how much trouble your foul mouth has caused? You still dare to yell? If you dare to say another word, believe me, I'll add a charge of 'yelling in court' to your record and send you to jail for the New Year!"

The shopkeeper was so frightened that his face turned pale. He quickly shrank back, squatted in the corner, and dared not make a sound.

Wu Shouren, still shaken, asked in a trembling voice:

"Sir, where are you taking these two students?"

The old jailer pointed to the group of conspicuous Imperial Guards at the entrance of the passage and said:

"It is the officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who have come to fetch you two personally. They will tell you the details themselves. Please go with them and do not keep the officers waiting."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard?!

Upon hearing these three words, Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an were struck as if by a thunderbolt, their souls instantly scattered!

In the Han dynasty classics they had studied and the folk tales they had heard, the Embroidered Uniform Guard's office was like the underworld, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard captains were like the grim reapers who would take lives! Once taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, how could they possibly survive?

The case must be serious enough to warrant throwing them into the imperial prison for severe torture!
Thinking of those legendary tortures, the two completely broke down, their cries filled with utter despair and misery.

"It's over. It's over. My life is over!"

"If I had known this would happen, why would I have come to the capital to suffer this humiliation?"

This scene left the old jailer scratching his head in disbelief, and also left the commander of the Imperial Guard waiting at the entrance of the passage feeling both amused and exasperated.

Seeing this, the commander had no choice but to step forward. He tried his best to suppress his murderous aura and explained in a relatively calm tone:

"Gentlemen, please do not be alarmed. We are not here to arrest you, but on the orders of His Highness the Crown Prince, to release you and settle you in a safe and quiet place so that you can prepare for tomorrow's exam in peace."

"This is His Highness's grace, not a disaster. Please put your minds at ease and leave with us."

"Your Highness, Your Majesty?"

Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an stopped crying instantly, raised their heads abruptly, and their tearful eyes were filled with extreme shock and disbelief.

The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, the future emperor! How could they, lowly scholars from the borderlands with sensitive identities, possibly alarm the Crown Prince high above the heavens?
And it was the Crown Prince himself who ordered their release?

This is simply unbelievable!
Despite still being filled with great doubt and lingering fear, he saw that the commander of the Imperial Guards was quite polite and his words seemed to contain no malice and were not feigned.

The two looked at each other and saw a glimmer of hope for survival in each other's eyes.

Then, struggling to their feet, their bodies nearly exhausted, they helped each other to their trembling stands. Their legs weak, they followed the commander of the Imperial Guards, step by step, out of the dark, agonizing prison cell that had tormented them.

After passing through a long corridor, they finally emerged from the heavy gate of the Wucheng Military Command.

The biting cold wind, mixed with snowflakes, rushed towards them, but it gave Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an an unprecedented sense of clarity and freedom!

Although the future is uncertain, at least they have temporarily escaped the suffocating ordeal of imprisonment.

At the entrance of the yamen, two rather ordinary-looking blue cloth sedan chairs had already been prepared.

The two were invited into the sedan chair, and the curtain was drawn to keep out the wind and snow outside.

The sedan chair was lined with thick cotton padding, and a small heater was placed in the corner, radiating warmth, a stark contrast to the cold and gloomy dungeon just moments before.

The sedan chair bearers lifted the sedan chair and steadily carried it toward the unknown destination.

As the sedan chair traveled, the commander of the Imperial Guard rode his horse close to the side of the sedan chair carrying Wu Shouren. Through the curtain, he felt it necessary to make the two parties involved understand the seriousness of the matter and the challenges they were about to face.

He then briefly explained to them how a simple brawl had escalated into widespread rumors of Hong Chengchou accepting bribes and leaking exam questions, and the huge uproar it caused among the scholars and common people in the capital.

"What?! Lord Hong has been falsely accused of accepting bribes from us?!"

Upon hearing this account, Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an, who were inside the sedan chair, were struck dumb, so frightened that they almost slipped off their seats!
They never imagined things would get this bad!
A conflict that started out of discrimination snowballed into a shocking case that could destroy the political life of a high-ranking official!

And the catalyst for all of this was none other than the two of them! (End of Chapter)