Refuse to trample on the pride of heaven

Before they made up their minds to testify, didn't they also suffer? Who of them didn't study for a way out? Who of them didn't carry the hopes of their entire family and even the future generations?

But if they let it go on like this, how can they have a way out? Will the future generations suffer the same fate? If they stand up and speak for justice, can they fight for a chance for future generations? - They don't know, but since they have made the choice, they will not back down!

Even if they might lose, even if they would be retaliated against, they had already prepared themselves for eternal damnation!

They only hope that when the moon rises over the eastern mountain, future generations looking at the sea will be able to feel the profound significance of their journey.

If you hesitate for a moment today and then experience the ups and downs of your life, you will know that it is worth it - many people in ancient and modern times are powerless, but in the end they achieve a stroke of genius that will last forever......

"You are all crazy!" Zhou Xu gritted his teeth, not noticing that his hands were clenched tightly with veins bulging.

The prefect's expression changed again and again, as if he was considering whether to give up Zhou Xu - after all, Zhou Xu had given him benefits, but his family's power was not as strong as that of the aristocratic families. It was understandable for him to give up Zhou Xu in his current situation, wasn't it?

"Sir!" Zhou Xu and others' expressions changed. Mr. Wu thought for a while, then tears started to fall and he started crying.

"Sir, my son is innocent! After all, my son has suffered an unprovoked disaster. Zhou Xu's affairs have nothing to do with him! And now he is gone, so all the accounts should be written off."

This old guy, now that he sees the situation is not right, wants to leave him behind - Zhou Xu glared at Master Wu angrily.

Zhou Xu: "Brother Jiang Cailin's matter is at most a mistake. I am willing to compensate, but I will not acknowledge Jiang Cailin's parting words!"

"Okay, it's my brother's business. Killing someone means paying with one's life. Do you agree?!" Jiang Cailin's eyes were sharp.

"What are you talking about? You want me to pay for that peasant's life? It's good enough that I'm willing to pay you money!" Zhou Xu's face was distorted, and he felt that Jiang Cailin was humiliating him.

Liu Jun was familiar with the precepts, and sneered when he heard Zhou Xu's disrespectful words.

"Who are you calling yourself the boss here in the court? Sir! Zhou Xu has no respect for the law and he maliciously provokes others. According to the rules, he should be beaten with ten sticks to silence him!" Since he has been offended, he must be offended thoroughly!

The prefect was somewhat fed up with Zhou Xu, especially his mouth, which had caused him so much trouble - so Zhou Xu was rewarded with ten sticks and then carried on a stand for public trial. This time he behaved himself.

"There are more criminals in the classroom than just Zhou Xu and his friends. Students are also reporting the examiner Zhang Wenyun! He accepted bribes to swap students' test papers and falsify their scores!"

Before the prefect was about to bang the gavel and end the meeting hastily, Jiang Cailin spoke out to stop him and looked at Zhang Wenyun, whose breathing was unstable, with a sharp gaze.

The prefect was a little annoyed, thinking that Jiang Cailin really didn't know how to live or die - Zhou Xu, a disciple from a wealthy family, was enough, but he wanted to bring down an official?! The fact that these students from Mingde Academy were willing to testify really gave him blind confidence. Did he think he could win the case by relying on numbers?

From ancient times to the present, every exam cheating case has involved many people. He was a helpless student, and he wouldn't be able to make a single splash if he got involved - and he had to protect Zhang Wenyun, as this was a major matter concerning the imperial court faction.

"Show us the evidence. Words are not enough." Zhang Wenyun snorted and was not worried - the prefect was in cahoots with him, and Zhou Xu and the others would not dare to reveal it for fear of further crime.

Zhang Wenyun dared to accept Zhou Xu's bribe, so he would definitely not leave any clues for himself. Seeing that Jiang Cailin and his men were silent, he stroked his beard smugly and even threatened to sue Jiang Cailin for slander. He really acted like a mean person.

"Okay, the matter ends here..." The prefect was afraid that the night would be long and troublesome, and that something unexpected would happen if he waited any longer, so he had to announce the result immediately to avoid involving the examination case.

"Wait! Not all the witnesses have arrived yet!" A man who looked like a young servant hurried over in the rain.

"Sir! Our master hasn't arrived yet!"

The prefect had a bad feeling: "What witness? The witness who refutes Zhou Xu doesn't need to come again. The case is about to be closed."

The servant boy ran in a hurry, just panting and waving his hands.

"Oh, luckily we made it..."

A man with gray hair came out from the crowd. Although he looked a little thin due to his age, he felt elegant, easy-going, and scholarly.

When the students saw the person coming, they all exclaimed: "Headmaster?!"

That’s right, the person coming is Ying Wanmin, the president of Mingde Academy.

Ying Wanmin is a retired scholar who became the dean in order to take care of himself and not care about worldly disputes. He does not care about the affairs of the academy and only focuses on studying. Even Jiang Cailin had never asked him for help in the beginning - he didn't expect that he would actually come.

"Why is the headmaster here too?" the students couldn't help but whisper.

Yes, why? Faintly hearing the students' conversation, Ying Wanmin sighed and slowly walked to the front of the hall - he was obviously used to oppression and wanted to protect himself.

But he couldn't help but inquire about the news of Jiang Cailin and Zhou Xu. He even asked someone to convey the situation in the court to him... It would have been enough for him to condone students skipping classes to testify, so why did he come here in person?

It must be the sound of reading in the kindergarten class. Those children are reading.

Their voices were clear, and he heard them say, "A wise man knows the difference between life and death. If he knows the difference between life and death, then he will not be confused by benefits and harms, survival and destruction—"

Those who are savvy in the affairs of the world understand the meaning of life and death. If they understand the meaning of life and death, then the benefits and harms, survival and destruction will not confuse them... The Spring and Autumn Annals taught him this principle a long time ago.

So, here he comes.

Given Ying Wanmin's status, even the prefect had to show some respect to him. After he saluted, the prefect also bowed in return - if he was not sitting to try the case, the prefect would have stood up to return the salute.

"Ahem, ahem, I am the headmaster of Mingde Academy, Ying Wanming, and I am willing to testify! - I have irrefutable evidence that Zhou Xu and Jiang Cailin swapped their test papers!"

Perhaps he once aspired to be like the gentleman in the book, crying out against the injustice in the world, but as time went by, he eventually went with the flow. He began to be concerned about all kinds of things and no longer had the courage he had when he was young.

He has already enjoyed things that many people cannot enjoy in their lifetime. Fame, wealth and honor are nothing but a piece of paper, which will turn into dust. He doesn't care about revenge or anything like that.

These young people are braver than him. This is all his old bones can do in the end - to leave no regrets for his younger self.

"Mr. Ying?!" Zhang Wenyun's voice changed a little, and it was rare for him to lose his composure.

Ying Wanmin ignored him and took out a scroll of paper from his arms and handed it to the lawyer next to him.

"Here are the essays written by Zhou Xu and Jiang Cailin. The handwriting is familiar and the style of the essays is obvious. You can tell by looking at them - please make the decision, Mr. Prefect."

Experience makes the best. In order to prevent mistakes, Ying Wanmin kept a portion of each student's homework submitted in secret.