Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

Next, it is Nie Ziru’s time to output.

It's hard for this old man. He is almost seventy years old, but in order to survive, he has to speak as eloquently as a young man in his twenties.

And he was full of energy throughout the whole process without any stuttering.

Within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the whole story was explained clearly.

There was even a paragraph praising Chen Lang in the middle.

When Nie Ziru finished speaking, everyone's eyes were focused on him.

It's like looking at a monster!

This outburst completely drained Nie Ziru's energy, and he went into a cooling state. After bowing to Zhu Sui'an, he slumped down on the stool with his head drooped.

Seeing this, Pei Ming went over to feel his pulse, fearing that the old man would die here.

After confirming that Nie Ziru was fine, Zhu Sui'an looked at Ji Jiahui again and said, "Is that so?"

Ji Jiahui's face was more bitter than coptis chinensis. He wanted to deny it, but he didn't have the courage. He stammered and couldn't say a word.

Zhu Sui'an sneered, "Master Ji, you really opened my eyes."

"A man as talented as Chen Lang would be someone that local officials would need to protect and cultivate, especially given his young age, who can discuss Confucian classics with Scholar Xiao. Does such a talent need to cheat?"

"Only based on a few trumped-up charges, you're throwing such a rare individual into jail. Are you jealous of his talent, or are you worried your scheme will be exposed?"

Ji Jiahui said anxiously: "Sir, I have absolutely no such intention..."

Zhu Sui'an said, "Since you don't have this intention, then how do you think this matter should be handled?"

Ji Jiahui said: "Tongsheng Chen Lang is extremely talented and there is no possibility of him cheating."

"All the lawsuits against him are deliberate slander. These people have evil intentions. They themselves failed the exam, so they slandered their fellow students. This is truly a heinous crime."

"If there is no severe punishment, it will be difficult to appease the public anger!"

"I have decided that all those who have made false accusations and have passed the provincial examination this year will have their rankings revoked and will not be allowed to take the exam for three years."

"Those who fail the exam are not allowed to take the exam within five years."

"And those who lead the riots...will be expelled from all academic records and no one will be allowed to study."

The whole place was silent and you could hear a pin drop.

Ning Wenxu slumped to the ground, his vision going dark.

He was the leader of this incident, which meant that he would never be able to take part in the imperial examination again in his life.

I spent so much effort to finally get a place in the college entrance examination, but because of this incident, my future was ruined.

Ning Wenxu regretted his decision, but unfortunately there is no medicine for regret in this world.

The other students were also terrified and pale. They all prostrated themselves on the ground, saying, "Sir, we were instigated by the prefect's son and Ning Wenxu, and have just made such a serious mistake. We hope you will spare us this time, considering our ignorance."

"The prefect said that if we stand up and expose Chen Lang's cheating, the prefect will definitely seek justice for us. After that, we will be guaranteed to be on the list."

"Student...student knows his mistake...please have mercy on me, sir."

These words frightened Ji Jiahui so much that his soul almost flew out of his body. He jumped up and cursed, "You...you are really reading the sage's book in vain. Slandering Chen Lang is not enough, but you even throw dirty water on me. Your crimes are truly heinous!"

"Come here, drag them away and give them thirty lashes..."

After saying this, he hurriedly bowed to Zhu Sui'an and said in a trembling voice, "Sir, these students are desperate and are making random attacks. Please don't believe their slander... I never instructed them to do this."

Zhu Sui'an said indifferently: "Master Ji, you don't have to do this. I have no right to decide your life or death."

"But this association has written down the details of this incident in a memorial and submitted it to the cabinet."

"As for how the cabinet decides, that is not something I can interfere with."

Ji Jiahui stumbled, held onto the table, and slowly sat down on the ground, weakly defending himself: "Sir...I am truly wronged..."

Ji Jiahui is finished.

Because of the business dealings between him and Yan Xiaoguo, he was already in danger in the upcoming purge.

I originally thought that if I could deal with Chen Lang and gain the support of the other candidates, I could pass this level smoothly.

But who would have thought that Chen Lang had so many backers, and one Grand Secretary Xiao Yu was not enough, so another appeasement envoy Zhu Sui'an appeared.

Even if you can survive this, at most you can only save the lives of your entire family, but you will definitely not be able to keep your official hat and family property.

Nie Ziru, who had recovered from the cooling-down state, was so excited that he wanted to compose a poem on the spot.

What is a sudden turn of events? What is a ray of hope after a dark period?

He was able to turn the situation around even though he was sure to die. His reputation, which he valued so much, was not only not tarnished in the slightest, but after this incident, it would even reach a higher level.

By then, in the entire Guangling Prefecture, the most reputable person would be Master Xiao, and the second would be Nie Ziru!

Zhu Sui'an looked at Chen Lang and asked, "Do you have anything else to say?"

Chen Lang bowed and said, "Your Excellency is wise in your judgment. I admire you deeply."

"I do have one more thing I want to report to you, sir."

Zhu Sui'an said, "Speak."

"Before I came to Guangling Prefecture to take the prefectural examination, I was slandered by Yan Xiaoguo, the prefect of Guangling Prefecture. General Pei, who is beside you, can testify on my behalf." Chen Lang said.

Zhu Sui'an turned around and looked at Pei Ming.

Pei Ming nodded.

"What did he slander you about?" Zhu Sui'an asked.

"Yan Xiaoguo coveted the student's secret recipe and wanted to keep it for himself, even threatening someone's life to do so."

"Although this matter has been resolved, after arriving at Guangling Prefecture, while discussing Confucian classics with Scholar Xiao, I accidentally learned that the prefect had a vested interest in Yan Xiaoguo. Shortly after I left the Xiao residence, I was arrested and brought here for trial."

"So I suspect that the prefect is trying me to vent his anger on the magistrate and take my secret recipe away again."

After hearing this, Zhu Sui'an clenched his fist, put it to his mouth, and coughed lightly twice.

Not embarrassed, but made me want to laugh.

I don’t know who I inherited this vengeful character from.

But then again, it is in Chen Lang's own interest to sue Yan Xiaoguo.

Because Yan Xiaoguo was clever and used a secret to threaten me, I had no choice but to give him a pair of calligraphy.

If we can take this opportunity to directly destroy Yan Xiaoguo, no one will know the secret anymore.

Just when Zhu Sui'an was thinking about how to deal with Yan Xiaoguo, Ji Jiahui, who was desperate, became lively again.

Because he saw a glimmer of hope for a comeback.

"Sir, I have no dealings with Yan Xiaoguo. The trial of student Chen Lang was simply due to my own confusion and the deception of others. It has nothing to do with Yan Xiaoguo."

"As a Tongpan (Tongpan) judge, Yan Xiaoguo suppressed the students under his jurisdiction for his own selfish desires. He truly disregards the law and is incredibly audacious."

"If we don't punish them severely, how can this government be worthy of the tens of thousands of people under its rule?"

"I beg the envoy to give me this opportunity, so that I can personally deal with Yan Xiaoguo and give Chen Tongsheng justice!"