I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 12 is full of life and details.

"Hahaha……"

Jiang Kun was overjoyed.

Qiu Xian slammed his gavel and glared at Xue Xiang, "Now that things have come to this, what do you have to say?"

Xue Xiang raised his head and said urgently, "These are my spirit stones."

"Nonsense, even the purse is mine."

Jiang Kun drank it cold.

“It’s this money bag. I saw Jiang Kun hand this money bag to Xue Xiang with my own eyes.”

Feng Chun quickly followed up with another blow.

Xue Xiang grabbed the money bag and threw it to Feng Chun, shouting in a desperate attempt to get it out, "Which eye of yours saw this money bag? Is there not a single word of truth left in your mouth?!"

Feng Chun grabbed the money bag and glanced at it, noticing the words "Tingyun" embroidered on the bottom. An idea came to him, and he cupped his hands to Qiu Xian, saying, "Vice President Qiu, please allow me to report that the words 'Tingyun' are embroidered on the bottom of this money bag."

Jiang Kun's family had a south-facing pavilion named "Tingyun," which he privately called "Tingyun."

As he spoke, he showed everyone the two elegant characters "Tingyun" on the bottom of the money bag.

Xie Haiya's eyelids twitched slightly.

Jiang Kun was momentarily bewildered. He didn't remember that his money pouch was embroidered with "Tingyun," but he greatly appreciated Feng Chun's finishing touch.

So detailed!

So relatable!

Now even if Xue Xiang had ten mouths, he wouldn't be able to explain himself.

"With witnesses and physical evidence all presented, Xue Xiang, why don't you confess?"

Qiu Xian slammed his gavel down, feeling that he had been fooled.

"I have been wronged."

Xue Xiang squeezed out tears.

Qiu Xian snorted coldly. He had seen too many people who wouldn't shed a tear even when they saw the coffin. He couldn't be bothered with Xue Xiang, so he looked at Xie Haiya, cupped his hands, and said, "Master Xie, what do you think?"

"What are you looking at?"

Xie Haiya looked like he had just woken up.

"Xue Xiang's crimes have been established. Do you have any further comments? If not, I will now pronounce the sentence."

Qiu Xian gave Xie Haiya plenty of face.

Xie Haiya said, "What crime has Xue Xiang committed? Oh, you mean that money pouch? That money pouch is mine, and those twenty spirit stones were also given to Xue Xiang by me."

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was silent.

Su Suiran burst into laughter as if a rooster had crowed, “Thank you, Dean Xie. Everyone knows that Xue Xiang is your newly acquired confidant.”

However, if a public official breaks the law, the punishment is doubled.

Everyone understands your concern for your subordinates, but we can't go against the golden rules.

He had waited a long time, and finally got his chance to make a move.

Now that victory is assured, if we can crush Xie Haiya's arrogance and humiliate him, the dignified Master Xie will become a laughingstock of Jiufen Mountain.

A palm print that's a laughingstock will likely only lead to being transferred elsewhere; there's no other outcome.

"Vice President Su has really hit a nerve."

Xie Haiya said coldly.

"Academician Xie is of such high status that if he is to testify, he must provide evidence. Otherwise, where is the credibility of an academician?"

When the battle reached a point of life and death, Su Suiran would never back down.

"Getting proof is easy."

Xie Haiya announced loudly, "Xue Xiang has made meritorious contributions to the Red Lantern Opera Boat's tour, and the Red Lantern Opera Boat has generously donated fifty spirit stones."

This official hereby bestows upon Xue Xiang a maximum reward of twenty spirit stones.

The donation receipts and incentive slips are all documented and kept in the Plum Blossom Hall. If Vice President Su has any doubts, he can send someone to verify them now.

Su Suiran was startled, but then she thought that since she had already placed so many bets, she could not let Xie Haiya steal the prize. With a wave of her hand, someone rushed out.

"As for the two characters 'Tingyun' on the money bag, they are my self-chosen name. I am new to Yunmeng City and not many people know my name, but it is not a secret in the Pubei government."

Xie Haiya stared coldly at Su Suiran, "If Vice President Su still doesn't believe it, you can send someone to check."

Actually, there's no need for too much trouble. Many of the books in my collection in the Plum Blossom Hall bear the seal of the characters 'Tingyun'.

Cool!
Xie Haiya was thrilled!

Since taking office, he has become thoroughly fed up with all the little tricks Su Suiran has been secretly pulling.

Unfortunately, Su Suiran was slippery and deeply entrenched, making it difficult for him to exert his strength.

Just now, Feng Chuncai revealed the words "Tingyun" on his money bag, and Xie Haiya finally understood that the stage for this grand show was set up by Xue Xiang for himself.

Who wouldn't love a subordinate like that?
He seized the opportunity and unleashed a torrent of energy, watching Su Suiran's face turn from white to red, then from red to black. All the pent-up anger of the past few days was released in one go, and it was incredibly satisfying.

“There is indeed a plaque with the name Tingyun on the south side of my house, and Tingyun is indeed my self-chosen name.”

Jiang Kun forced himself to keep his voice from sounding weak.

Xie Haiya snorted coldly, "Where do you live? We'll send someone to check right now and find out with a few questions."

“My south pavilion has long been abandoned, demolished, and the plaque is gone.”

Jiang Kun's voice finally began to tremble.

"Is that so? Surely your servants are aware of the existence of Tingyun Pavilion?"

“My servants are all newly hired; they have never seen Nan Gezi before.”

Jiang Kun panicked. He hated Feng Chun to the core for fabricating the Tingyun Pavilion story, completely forgetting that he had previously secretly praised it for being "lifelike" and "detailed."

"You didn't hire your family members too, did you? They don't even know about the South Pavilion?"

Xie Haiya suddenly roared, "Feng Chun, now that things have come to this, if you still don't confess the truth, believe me or not, I will throw you into the deepest prison and destroy your body and soul!"

His voice came suddenly, accompanied by an outward release of spiritual power. Feng Chun, who had already lost his composure, collapsed to the ground in shock, kowtowing repeatedly. "Your Excellency, spare me! Your Excellency, spare me! I... I was forced! It was Zhu Yuanrang! It was him! He forced me! If I hadn't given false testimony, Zhu Yuanrang wouldn't have spared me..."

"What nonsense!"

Zhu Yuanrang said sternly, "Without evidence, how dare you frame me?"

"A mere corrupt official dares to call himself an official? You unruly brat, slap him!"

Xie Haiya waved his hand, and two guards stepped forward, seized Zhu Yuanrang, and with a swift motion, whipped him into a bloody mess.

Just then, the people Su Suiran sent returned with the donation receipts and incentive slips.

Just by glancing at the color of the paper and ink, anyone could tell that it wasn't made fresh.

With a thud, Qiu Xian slammed his gavel down. "I have already determined the whole story of this case."

You audacious Jiang Kun, it's obvious that you knew Xue Xiang received the twenty spirit stones as a reward, and you conspired with Feng Chun to frame Xue Xiang.

Stirring up a storm, the stench permeated Jiufen Mountain.

This judge hereby pronounces the sentence: Jiang Kun has committed multiple crimes, including fraud involving a huge sum of money, assaulting a colleague, and disrupting the Plum Blossom Hall. He is hereby sentenced to imprisonment for twenty years.

"No, I'm innocent, I'm innocent!"

Jiang Kunsheng was held down by two burly men in tight-fitting clothes, and he screamed hoarsely, "Uncle, uncle, save me, save me! I can't die, I can't die..."

Although being thrown into the Netherworld doesn't necessarily mean death, life there is worse than death, and most prisoners ultimately face only one fate: complete annihilation of both body and soul.

Are they all dead?

Qiu Xian was furious. Two burly men in tight-fitting clothes slapped Jiang Kun repeatedly, leaving his face swollen like a pig's head.

"Zhu Yuanrang, Feng Chun..."

Qiu Xian's pronouncement echoed once again throughout the Begonia Hall.

…………

(End of this chapter)