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

"Your Highness... was stripped of your royal status for standing up for us?"

Song Shenzhi's voice was choked with barely concealed sobs. As soon as he finished speaking, the scholars from humble backgrounds around him froze, their initial elation instantly replaced by shock, guilt, and bitterness.

This unusual occurrence was quickly noticed by the other jubilant crowd, and people began to inquire among themselves.

The news that Li Xiang was stripped of his clan status and that he would be exiled to Qianzhou for failing to investigate the case quickly became known to everyone.

They then realized that this hard-won justice had never come out of thin air.

This young imperial grandson, driven by righteous indignation, defied the emperor and risked his life to remonstrate, ultimately being stripped of his imperial lineage and facing the risk of being exiled to Qianzhou for failing to investigate the case effectively.

He risked his identity, his future, and even his future security, all to give these poor students a chance to study and enter officialdom!

"Your Highness!" Song Shenzhi bowed deeply to Li Xiang, his back bent so low that his voice choked with emotion, "We are poor scholars, deeply grateful for Your Highness's selfless protection. We will never forget this kindness! If Your Highness ever needs our services, we will serve you with our lives!"

Before the words were even finished, all the scholars from humble backgrounds present bowed deeply and shouted in unison, "We are deeply grateful for Your Highness's grace; we would gladly die for you!"

His voice was strong and resonant, filled with respect and gratitude. It echoed outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, and even the onlookers were moved, bowing to Li Xiang in greeting.

"Uh." But Li Xiang was somewhat bewildered.

He did all this to provoke Li Shimin, hoping to either seek death or make a bigger scene. He never intended to "stand up for the poor," nor did he expect these scholars to be so moved.

As for his family lineage, to put it bluntly, he never cared about it—he wished that Li Er hadn't considered him a member of the imperial family!

"Don't be like this," Li Xiang waved his hand, looking helpless. "I didn't do anything, just had my status removed from the imperial clan register, what's the big deal? Is it really necessary to cry and whine like this?"

These words moved the students even more—His Highness had suffered such a great injustice, yet he remained so calm and considerate, always thinking of them and not wanting them to feel too guilty.

The crowd surrounded Li Xiang, unwilling to disperse for a long time. Sun Fujia, looking at the scene before him, was already as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

He lowered his voice and said to Li Xiang, "Your Highness, His Majesty has already made concessions. We must not continue to allow the crowds to block the Imperial Street."

"The most urgent task is to disperse the crowd. This old minister will first return to the Court of Judicial Review to prepare the documents and take stock of the personnel before heading to the Imperial College to investigate the case."

He paused, then earnestly advised, "It is extremely rare for scholars from humble backgrounds to have this opportunity. If they continue to gather here, it will only give others cause for criticism."

Sun Fujia was focused on following the rules, fearing that Li Xiang might cause some trouble and make things unmanageable.

"Investigate a case?" Li Xiang raised an eyebrow.

He just wanted to cause trouble and never thought about how to investigate the case. Besides, if you want to lay everything out and demand evidence, it's actually harder to verify the facts in this kind of case.

How to investigate? The number of poor students passing the preliminary examination each year is decreasing year by year; this is the strongest evidence. But Li Shimin clearly did not accept such evidence.

However, it is certainly impossible for Kong Yingda to have accepted bribes from powerful families.

That old dog, though inhuman, cherishes his reputation above all else! He would never allow himself to be accused like that. Besides, the powerful families of this era are deeply intertwined and stick together for mutual support.

Even without communicating with each other, they would subconsciously ostracize those from poorer families.

When the emperor's will is not on the side of the poor, the aristocratic families are a behemoth with almost no flaws.

They only need to use unspoken rules to crush scholars from poor families. They don't need to leave any concrete evidence.

"Hmm..." Li Xiang pondered, then his eyes suddenly lit up.

Who says that investigating a case means investigating it thoroughly?

Using the power given to Li Er, we can continue to cause trouble for him, making Li Er lose more than he gains. Wouldn't that be even better?

-----------------

"Why didn't you say so sooner!"

Imperial College Supervisory Office.

Kong Yingda abruptly sat up in bed, his face contorted in rage, his beard trembling slightly. "That brat is arrogant and unruly, spouting nonsense; those poor scholars are defying their superiors, gathering to block the gate—that's already utterly rebellious—and now even His Majesty is joining in this nonsense!"

Kong Zhixuan, who had left the capital city first, chuckled in agreement, his face showing a hint of disdain, and said, "That's right."

"A group of ignorant and arrogant poor students dared to block the Vermilion Bird Gate. They should be arrested and punished according to the law to make an example of them and see who else dares to cause trouble."

"His Majesty, in order to give them face, entrusted that brat with the power to investigate the case. It is truly perplexing."

"Heh, even if His Majesty issues an edict, what can he do? That brat won't find out anything..."

"Huh? Father! What are you doing?"

Just moments ago, Kong Yingda had been sickly and appeared to be "terminally ill and unable to get up," but suddenly he threw off the covers and jumped up. His movements were so nimble that he didn't seem like a sick person at all. He reached out to grab the robes by the bedside and hurriedly gathered the books and seals on the table.

"What are you doing?" Kong Yingda asked impatiently without looking up, "Back to the manor! Back to the manor immediately!"

"What?" Kong Zhixuan was completely stunned, his face full of disbelief: "Didn't you just want to submit a memorial, asking to stay at the Imperial Academy a little longer under the pretext of recuperating from illness?"

"As a great Confucian scholar and a leading figure in Confucianism, how to interpret these classics and which students are superior or inferior is entirely up to you. Even His Majesty would find it difficult to object."

"Why avoid his sharp edge? If others find out, they'll think the Confucius family is afraid of that brat!"

"We should really trip him up! That would be the best way to restore your reputation, Father!"

"...What do you know!" Kong Yingda retorted coldly.

"That brat already harbors deep resentment towards me. Now that he's been ordered by the Emperor to investigate the case, won't he take revenge on me out of personal interest?"

"Didn't His Majesty want me to retire? Then I'll hide! Do you want me to faint again in front of everyone and lose face again?"

Having fought with Li Xiang so many times, when has he ever come out on top?

He finally understood that Li Xiang was a reckless madman who made anyone uncomfortable, even more insane than his father.

He couldn't win an argument, nor could he win a verbal battle. That brat didn't play by the rules at all! Confucius was old; he no longer had the confidence to keep up with Li Xiang's thinking.

Even His Majesty can't do anything about that guy, so what can he do?

If you can't afford to offend them, you can at least avoid them. All he wants now is to hurry back to his hometown to write his book.

"Father, it can't be that bad," Kong Zhixuan said, still trying to comfort Kong Yingda, who was hurriedly packing his luggage. "That brat can only talk a big game at most."

"That so-called corruption case is completely baseless. Let them investigate; they won't find anything, which will help restore your reputation, Father."

"Besides, even the people from the Court of Judicial Review have to abide by the law within the Imperial Academy—could they possibly raid the entire Imperial Academy?"

"Hmm..." Kong Yingda slowed down upon hearing this.

What the eldest son said seems to make some sense?

—Before he finished speaking.

"Master of Ceremonies! Master of Ceremonies! Something terrible has happened!"

A hurried shout followed by stumbling footsteps rang out, and a prison official scrambled into the inner room, his hair disheveled and robes askew: "Something terrible has happened!"

"Our Imperial College is surrounded by a group of people!"