The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

A shocking...major case? Wei Wanshi was somewhat stunned.

The realm today is jointly ruled by Your Majesty and the gentry. If this were the Wei and Jin dynasties, the difference between commoners and gentry would be as vast as heaven and earth. Let alone allowing commoners to enter the Imperial Academy and study alongside gentry!

It's just a matter of losing a few spots for students from poor families. What kind of earth-shattering case is that?

Moreover, they even claimed it was my testimony? Wei Wanshi's displeasure surged instantly.

"Your Highness...you should not speak recklessly." Wei Wanshi said with a dark face.

"It was just a few students from poor families acting impulsively and misinterpreting the regulations of the Imperial Academy's simplified examination. How could such a trivial matter be worthy of being called a 'major case'?"

"You are a criminal, yet you have crossed the line and left your quarters. Could it be that you are colluding with these students to disrupt the court and harm the nation?"

He deliberately raised his voice, not only to Li Xiang, but also to the guards and students beside him, hoping to suppress Li Xiang's momentum and let the students know that what they were asking for was nothing more than making a mountain out of a molehill.

Seeing Wei Wanshi's enraged and blaming manner, Li Xiang showed no anger whatsoever; instead, a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"What you're saying, Doctor Wei, is wrong. Making a mountain out of a molehill? If only one or two students failed the exam, perhaps it's due to a lack of talent; but if for decades most students from poor families have failed, some even unable to enter the imperial examinations at all, while sons of powerful families can easily pass through the Mingjing examination, can this still be considered making a mountain out of a molehill?"

"According to what you just said, the Imperial Academy was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, while the selection of officials through the imperial examinations was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel."

"Imagine, for an ordinary son of a prominent family, starting as a student at the Imperial Academy and progressing through the imperial examinations to enter officialdom, bribing only the Imperial Academy wouldn't be enough, would it?"

Li Xiang chuckled lightly, but his words were sharp and cutting: "From the Imperial Academy's preliminary examinations and recommendations, to the Ministry of Rites' overall planning and regulations, and then to the Ministry of Personnel's examinations and admissions, which step could be done without intermediaries?"

"This is clearly a massive, interconnected network, where every link is indispensable!"

Li Xiang took another step forward, his voice suddenly rising, his expression solemn. His gaze swept over Wei Wanshi, then over the imperial guards beside him whose expressions had slightly shifted, and he declared loudly, "I now have ample reason to suspect that the Imperial Academy, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Personnel are all involved in this case!"

"To monopolize officialdom—it's impossible for just the Imperial Academy to do so! It must be these three government departments that openly use the imperial examination system to select officials, but secretly engage in selling official positions!"

"Since its founding, our Great Tang Dynasty has strived for excellence and governance. How can we tolerate such injustice? — If this is not a shocking scandal, then what is?"

Li Xiang's voice resonated powerfully, stirring the pent-up anger of the students nearby. Their long-suppressed resentment erupted as they raised their arms and shouted, "Your Highness is absolutely right! We demand a thorough investigation of this case! We demand justice for our humble origins!"

Shouts rose and fell, echoing around the imperial city walls, startling passersby who stopped to watch from afar. The commander of the imperial guards grew increasingly grave, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He glanced at Wei Wanshi, then at Li Xiang, no longer daring to point his long spear at any of the officials.

— Li Xiang’s words were all reasonable and pointed to the serious crimes of “selling official positions” and “disrupting the country”. As a guard, he dared not be negligent and dared not show any more favoritism towards Wei Wanshi.

"You...you all..." Seeing the crowd growing larger and larger, Wei Wanshi panicked and, in his haste, tried to explain.

"What? Every word that Physician Wei said earlier clearly implicated the imperial examinations, involving the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Academy, and the Ministry of Personnel. Dozens of people here have heard about it. Does Physician Wei intend to recant his testimony?" Li Xiang interrupted him directly.

"Or... is it that Doctor Wei, being in the Ministry of Rites, is actually involved in this matter?"

Wei Wanshi's face turned ashen, and he trembled uncontrollably. When he heard Li Xiang use his own words against him, the ceremonial tablet in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter, but he didn't even notice.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no sound came out. The panic and fear in his heart completely swallowed his anger—he never imagined that his excuse would lead Li Xiang step by step to the shocking corruption case of "collusion among three departments and selling official positions"!

This grandson of the emperor is determined to turn the court upside down!

If this crime were to implicate Wei Wanshi, not only the Wei family, but even the Prince of Wei would likely be implicated!

"You...you're talking nonsense!" Wei Wanshi finally managed to compose himself and hysterically protested, "Utter nonsense! My Ministry of Rites is completely innocent, how could we collude with the Imperial Academy or the Ministry of Personnel? This is slander! You're deliberately framing my Wei family and His Highness Prince Wei!"

In his haste, he blurted out "Your Highness Prince Wei" without thinking. As soon as he finished speaking, he realized he had misspoke—Prince Wei's faction and the deposed crown prince were already at odds, and his words were just adding fuel to the fire.

This son of the deposed crown prince will certainly not let this go!

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Li Xiang's eyes, and his smile deepened: "Oh? Your Highness, Prince Wei? Physician Wei's words have reminded me. Such a shocking corruption case, without the backing of powerful families and influential figures, how could the three ministries dare to act so blatantly?"

He looked up into the depths of the palace walls, then turned to the students: "Today's events concern the foundation of the Tang Dynasty's imperial examinations, the future of scholars from humble backgrounds, and the integrity of the nation! Although I am a convict, I absolutely refuse to stand idly by and watch our Tang Dynasty be tarnished and justice perish!"

"This case involves three ministries. The Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Academy are in cahoots and are naturally unwilling to accept our complaint."

"The court is so corrupt. Although I am a descendant of the Li family, I am a criminal and have no other way out."

"I, Li Xiang, will kneel before the palace gates today and submit my petition."

"You all, are you willing to join me, Li Xiang, in—knocking on the gates of Heaven!"

Before the words had even finished, a deafening roar erupted from beneath the city gates. The students, their eyes bloodshot, tears mingling with indignation streaming down their faces, knelt on one knee in unison, shouting, "We are willing to follow Your Highness! We will kneel before the Heavenly Palace! We beg for justice!"

Song Shenzhi, Dong Jiming, and others were the first to bow down, their foreheads slamming heavily against the ground, their voices hoarse yet resolute: "We are willing to follow Your Highness to the death!"

Dozens of students kowtowed in unison, their voices echoing through the imperial street. It was the sincere plea for justice from impoverished students, and also a protest against the monopoly of powerful families.

The city gate guard froze in fright, hastily stepping forward but at a loss for what to do. On one side was the disgraced imperial grandson leading officials in a petition to the palace, every word a testament to the nation's interests; on the other, the Ministry of Rites official and the Prince of Wei's cronies, now slumped to the ground, their faces ashen. If he intervened, he would be blocking the path of justice for the common people; if he didn't, he would be dereliction of duty. Caught in a dilemma, he could only pace anxiously, repeatedly waving his hands to order his guards to stand watch at the palace gates, preventing any unauthorized personnel from approaching. At the same time, he secretly dispatched someone to rush into the palace and report to the Taiji Palace.

Wei Wanshi looked bewildered as he gazed at the students kneeling and kowtowing before him.

In the decades since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, had there ever been such a spectacle? Watching the ever-growing crowd and hearing the earth-shattering cry of "Knocking on the Heavenly Palace," Wei Wanshi was filled with fear. He knew that today's events could no longer be resolved peacefully.

He wanted to step forward to stop them, but for some reason, he felt utterly powerless. All he could do was hysterically scream at the kneeling students, "No! You can't do this! His Majesty will not forgive you!"

But his voice had already been drowned out by the shouts of the students, not even causing a ripple.