After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

"Gentlemen," the old eunuch proclaimed, "although everyone feels that executing Ning Baixuan is inappropriate, the officials who have entered the courtyard are the backbone of our Great Liang and cannot be easily humiliated. After careful consideration, I have decided..."

"The decision on whether or not to execute Ning Baixuan will be made by the officials of the First Academy."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked slightly surprised, wondering what Prince Xin meant.

Ning Nan was also taken aback.

He raised his hand and wiped away a drop of sweat that had dripped from his forehead.

Damn it... he gritted his teeth and couldn't help but curse inwardly.

That period of time was extremely difficult to endure.

When the other party said he wanted to "kill him", he had already planned his escape route in his mind... Blood splattered five steps, he rushed up and took Prince Xin hostage, holding a gun himself, while the three strong men stood back to back behind him, one holding a knife and the other a copper hammer. They threw a gun to Li Xing as well, and went to keep an eye on the crossbowmen on the roof beam.

I want a carriage, I want a few crossbows... If you don't give them to me, I'll cut off one of King Xin's fingers and see who's more ruthless.

We need to get a boat to the Qinhuai River, enter the Yangtze River, and then head directly to the sea.

As long as Prince Xin is in his hands, if any of Cui Cui's wife, her mother, San Zhuang, or Li Xing's entire family loses a single hair, he will cut off a finger of Prince Xin and throw it ashore. It's the same old story: let's see who can be more ruthless...

He only needed to be a pirate for a year or two, grow stronger, have a few more ships or occupy an island, and then make an agreement with the court to exchange people and bring out Cui Cui and the others... He couldn't exchange them now, because even if he did, he couldn't protect them.

Such thinking is subconscious, entirely instinctive, and can even be described as requiring no thought at all; all ideas come naturally.

but……

After hearing Xu Longdao and Liu Zhi stand up to plead for him, and hearing their urgent voices, his reason gradually returned, his body relaxed for a moment, and his hand slowly moved away from the leather bag behind him.

He felt a little self-deprecating.

Hmm, I was too nervous... In almost no time, he understood what the bird-belief king meant.

"Heh..." He sneered... "One hand holds a radish, the other a big stick; one plays the good cop, the other the bad cop."

Prince Xin is using this as an excuse to make a fuss... Ning Nan shook his head, feeling a bit amused and exasperated... He's actually dreaming of subduing him.

Come to think of it… His eyes darkened, and he let out a small sigh of relief… After all, he was no longer an unregistered citizen from Li Family Village.

Without mentioning gunpowder, the merit of breaking Black Tiger Mountain, or even Baiyufang... just the fact that he is the grand-nephew of the Marquis of Jingbei is enough to ensure that he will not die.

After Madam Jia and Princess Tang spoke in turn, his gaze became even more resolute.

Prince Xin must have known that the two women had a very deep connection with him and would definitely speak on his behalf, which is why he called on them to stand up for him.

However… Ning Nan sighed inwardly… Aunt Jia and the princess were unaware of the inside story and were probably very anxious. He should remember the favor they did for him.

A short while later.

Prince Xin then made up his mind.

She ordered someone to bring out several sets of fine chess pieces.

He said that in a moment, each of the officials who had kowtowed upon entering the courtyard would be given a brocade pouch, containing one red and one black piece.

Upon entering the courtyard, a fish basket will be placed there, covered with a black cloth.

If you believe Ning Baixuan should be executed, then vote for the black piece.

Conversely, if one believes Ning Baixuan deserves the reward, then one should place a red ball.

After listening to the rules designed by Prince Xin.

Everyone's eyes lit up, and they clapped and laughed, saying, "Prince Xin is wise," "This method is excellent," "A refined matter," "Prince Xin regards his ministers as his right-hand men, yet he does not deceive them. He acts justly and strictly, truly a wise ruler."... Lady Jia praised, "Prince Xin's strategies far surpass ours."

Princess Tang Yiyinling laughed and said, "Prince Xin is indeed wise. I think that all the ministers who entered the courtyard are generous, heroic, and magnanimous people, and they will definitely all vote for red..."

Ning Nan couldn't help but swallow.

Are those jerks who entered the courtyard really so magnanimous?

……

……

Upon entering the hospital.

"This old minister, Xu Zhan, kowtows to express his gratitude to Prince Xin for protecting him," the old man with a bruised forehead said, tears streaming down his face.

A middle-aged eunuch quickly helped the old man up with a smile, saying, "You're too polite, sir."

Then, the thirty-odd civil and military officials who had kowtowed upon entering the courtyard wept and kowtowed again, saying, "Prince Xin is wise and discerning," "Prince Xin is virtuous and wise," "Thank you, Prince Xin, for avenging them," and "Your humble servant thanks Prince Xin for his fair judgment"...

The middle-aged eunuch smiled and called for everyone to stand up. As several junior eunuchs distributed black brocade pouches to everyone, he smiled and recounted the remarks made by Liu Zhi, Madam Jia, and Princess Tang.

The old man named Xu Zhan wiped away his tears, his face filled with emotion, and said:

"Indeed, indeed! The princess is right. This game of chess is a gentleman's contest. We are not petty people who hold grudges. If we lose, we lose. Today is just an elegant and amicable event. If blood is drawn, the meaning will change... If the Prince Xin's mansion were to shed blood during the Mid-Autumn Festival, wouldn't we be repaying kindness with enmity? How could we face the sages and scholars again? How could we face our sovereign and father?"

Xu Zhan raised the brocade pouch in his hand, walking towards the fish basket while simultaneously addressing the man with an air of righteous indignation:

"I, Xu, will make this clear: today I, Xu—"

He turned his back, took out a chess piece from the brocade pouch, saw it was red, put it back, took out the black piece, and stuffed it into the fish basket through a gap in the black cloth. He stood up and shouted:

"I'll be the first to throw the red ball! To save Ning Baixuan's life!"

"Good!" someone shouted.

"Master Xu is of noble character!"

"To repay evil with kindness is the act of a true gentleman!"

"Guo admires Master Xu!"

In an instant, exclamations of surprise and admiration arose, and everyone clasped their hands in greeting to Master Xu.

Then, Yang Huaisi, Guo Shouhuai, and other officials who had played chess with Ning Nan all went over with serious expressions to place their pieces, saying things like, "What harm is there in saving that kid's life today?", "It's for the country's benefit to select talent", "A grand event", "Let's all participate in this grand undertaking"...

One by one, they went over and placed their pieces, then put the remaining piece into their pockets, patted it off, and strode back to be greeted by a chorus of congratulations such as, "Brother Guo, your forehead is bleeding, yet you still placed a red piece? I admire you!" and "A true gentleman!"

Before long, the thirty-odd officials finished their moves, while a group of officials who had never played chess watched from the sidelines, offering a few words of admiration.

The middle-aged eunuch smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, gentlemen. Please wait a moment." Everyone quickly waved their hands, saying they dared not.

Everyone exhaled small breaths of white vapor.

Two young eunuchs held fish baskets in front, while the middle-aged eunuch lifted the black cloth, his face serious, his hands rummaging inside, muttering to himself, seemingly meticulously counting the chess pieces.

The more he counted, the more surprised the middle-aged eunuch looked.

After a while, the middle-aged eunuch finished counting all the chess pieces, and his face was full of admiration and respect.

"My lords..."

The middle-aged eunuch covered the fish basket, stepped forward, bowed, and said...

"Gentlemen, your righteousness is boundless..." he said, his voice trembling with emotion and his expression devout. "On behalf of that young man... I, Huang, thank you all for saving his life..."

The crowd looked surprised, seemingly disbelieving, their eyes slightly unfocused. They then subconsciously looked around, their eyes meeting briefly before quickly looking away as if electrocuted.

...So it seems there are more red pieces than black pieces inside.

An official nearby, who hadn't yet kowtowed, asked curiously, "Eunuch Huang, what about this fish basket...?"

Eunuch Huang stood up and chuckled, "Gentlemen, you are indeed magnanimous and generous people. This fish basket... is almost entirely filled with red fish, with only one black one."

Everyone was immediately taken aback.

"Only one?!"

A murmur rippled through the room, and the expressions on people's faces changed inexplicably, with many turning pale.

At this moment, Eunuch Huang pointed to Xu Zhan, who was standing at the very front.

"Master Xu," he said with a smile, "doesn't your brocade pouch... still have one chess piece left?"

Xu Zhan's pupils contracted, as if he had suddenly thought of something. His white clothes rapidly turned deathly white, and a chill emanated from his body.

"Eunuch Huang..." He touched his chest, a chill running down his spine, and forced a smile, "Yes, there's one left."

...What? You're not going to take it out, are you?