This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

Seeing everyone's gazes turn to him, Cheng Jun slowly said, "Vice Cui, how do you explain the saying 'A gentleman who is not dignified will not command respect'?"

Before he could speak, Cheng Jun calmly answered his own question:

"To understand this sentence, one must grasp the meaning of the words 'weight' and 'authority'. The weight of a gentleman begins with self-respect."

"The majesty of a gentleman lies not in his authority, but in his virtue."

"So this saying means that if a gentleman does not respect himself, his virtue will not be good."

Cheng Jun spread his hands and said to Cui Renshi, "Back in the palace, I saw Yuchi Baolin lay a hand on your son. He did say, 'A gentleman who is not dignified will not command respect.' I was telling him that this is the imperial palace and he should know how to respect himself, otherwise he would lose his virtue. I was advising him to use words rather than fists."

"I don't understand. How come you interpret this sentence as me telling him to use excessive force?"

Cui Renshi's expression changed upon hearing this.

If the saying "A gentleman who is not dignified will not command respect" is based on Cheng Jun's interpretation, then it cannot be proven that Cheng Jun was behind the scenes instructing the son of a military officer to beat the son of a civil official.

He wanted to argue, but the words stuck in his throat.

Because this was indeed what Cheng Jun meant. If one insists that a gentleman who is not serious will not be authoritative, it means to use heavy force, which would be a misinterpretation of the sage's words. Once scholars find out, his reputation will plummet.

Wen Yanbo looked at Cheng Jun with a hint of appreciation.

Liu Xiangdao's gaze also settled on Cheng Jun.

Outside the hall, Xiao Yi and Ma Zhou exchanged a glance, both seeing the worry on each other's faces vanish, replaced by faint smiles.

They finally understood why Cheng Jun was able to escape unscathed after impeaching the Empress twice.

"That's why contracts in my past life always said 'The final interpretation right belongs to this company'..." Cheng Jun thought to himself, feeling quite relieved. Looking up at the dumbfounded Cui Renshi, he decided to launch a counterattack and asked:

“Vice Cui, we have never met, and I have never offended you. Why are you framing me?”

Cui Renshi snapped out of his daze and angrily retorted, "I framed you? My son was beaten, and you absolutely cannot escape responsibility!"

Cheng Jun said calmly, "Our Great Tang Dynasty values ​​evidence. Without evidence, it's a frame-up!"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Wen Yanbo, who seemed to be watching the spectacle, and asked, "If I may be so bold as to ask, does Doctor Wen think that what I said to Yuchi Baolin back then was wrong?"

Wen Yanbo laughed and said, "What wrong have you done?"

As expected... outside the main room, Ma Zhou looked at Wen Yanbo's attitude and understood. Just as he had guessed, Doctor Wen really wanted to protect Cheng Jun.

"Doctor Wen, you are mistaken!" Liu Xiangdao suddenly said, "If Cheng Jun is not wrong, why would the son of a military officer want to beat the son of a civil official?"

So he finally couldn't sit still anymore... Well, if he didn't speak up soon, Cui Renshi wouldn't be able to hold on any longer...

Cheng Jun glanced at him, shook his head and said, "Liu Zhongcheng wasn't there and doesn't know what happened. Before the selection of censors began, I gave everyone participating in the selection a wooden plaque. The sons of civil officials... of course, that included Liu Zhongcheng's son."

“They accepted my wooden plaque, but then changed their minds and didn’t want it anymore. I said the plaque wasn’t worth much, and I should just keep it as a souvenir. Was I wrong? No, I wasn’t. But they threw the plaque at my feet.”

"This is outrageous!" Xiao Yi, who was standing outside the hall, couldn't help but say in anger.

Ma Zhou frowned, took a deep breath, and said loudly:

"Doctor Wen, as the sage said, a gentleman may die for his country, but he cannot be framed; he can be bullied, but he cannot be fooled! Anyone who hears of a civil official's son humiliating Imperial Censor Cheng in this way will be filled with anger."

"Censor Cheng's father was the Duke of Su, who was a military officer. Naturally, the son of a military officer would be close to Censor Cheng."

"It is only natural that those young men, sons of military officers, would be enraged and attack Imperial Censor Cheng when they saw him being humiliated by the sons of civil officials!"

Seeing the gazes cast upon him by the Imperial Censor, the Vice Imperial Censor, and the Palace Attendant Censor, Ma Zhou spoke solemnly and respectfully: "Therefore, I believe that the fact that Imperial Censor Cheng did not intervene in this matter is sufficient to show that it had nothing to do with him. It must have been the son of a military officer who couldn't stand up to a petty person and stood up for Imperial Censor Cheng."

"Moreover, Imperial Censor Cheng offered his advice, so I agree with Doctor Wen's words. Imperial Censor Cheng has indeed done nothing wrong!"

Xiao Yi echoed, "That's what I think too!"

Wen Yanbo stroked his beard, looked at Liu Xiangdao, and asked calmly, "Minister Liu, is there anything else you wish to ask?"

Liu Xiangdao chuckled, "I have many questions for you."

He sat up straight, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces: "Everyone here, except for Vice Cui, seems to think that Cheng Jun did the right thing."

"Then I find it strange. Today, there are sixty sons of military officers who entered the palace to participate in the selection of censors. Among these sixty sons, more than half of them are sons of military officers of the sixth rank or below, while among the sons of civil officials, more than half of them are sons of civil officials of the sixth rank or above!"

"Who on earth could inspire these young men, sons of military officers, to be so united in their hatred of a common enemy, disregarding the official rank and position of their fathers, who are sons of civil officials, and to attack them so viciously?"

"Aren't they afraid that this action will implicate their father?"

"Therefore, I believe there must have been someone who stepped forward at that time and told these sons of military officers to act boldly, and that he would take responsibility for anything that happened!"

"Then who is this person?"

Liu Xiangdao glanced at Cheng Jun and said, "Who exactly has such prestige to persuade dozens of military officers' sons to beat up the son of a civil official?"

"After making inquiries from various sources, I have indeed found some clues. During the selection of censors, before His Majesty has even set the examination questions, the sons of military officers and talented individuals from the brothels have withdrawn from the selection one after another!"

"They withdrew because of one person!"

"The son of a civil official was labeled a fickle and treacherous person because of a wooden plaque, which displeased His Majesty and cost him the opportunity to become an imperial censor."

"And this wooden plaque was made by someone!"

"More than two hundred young men participated in the selection of imperial censors, but only one was selected in the end."

"This person is you, Cheng Jun!"

Liu Xiangdao stood up, pointed at Cheng Jun's nose, and shouted:

"The sons of military officers and talented individuals from the wards withdrew from the selection of censors because of you, and the sons of civil officials were also disliked by His Majesty because of you! In the end, you were still the censor selected!"

"It is precisely because His Majesty selected you as the Imperial Censor that those young men will submit to you, giving you a very high reputation in a very short time. And only you could instruct the sons of those military officers to beat up the sons of civil officials!"

Wen Yanbo glanced at Cheng Jun, then suddenly fell silent.

Xiao Yi's expression changed outside the hall.

Ma Zhou looked grave, clenching his fist in his sleeve. Liu Zhongcheng was indeed the most difficult to deal with.

"Liu Zhongcheng is right!" Cui Renshi laughed heartily and clapped his hands as he spoke.

Liu Xiangdao turned to look at Wen Yanbo and said calmly, "Doctor Wen, the son of a military officer beating the son of a civil official has a very serious impact!"

"As censors, we are responsible for supervising all officials and reporting matters based on hearsay. We are acting on imperial orders and with special permission from the emperor. If the Censorate does nothing about such a shocking incident that has occurred in the palace, it will likely attract criticism, and we will all be held accountable!"

Wen Yanbo frowned, feeling that what he said made sense, and asked, "What do you want to do?"

Liu Xiangdao said in a deep voice:

"I suggest that we immediately send someone to summon the sons of the military officers who entered the palace today. As long as we interrogate them one by one, the truth will surely come out!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Yanbo pondered for two seconds and said, "Cheng Jun, this matter concerns you, and I would like to hear your opinion."

Cheng Jun met Wen Yanbo's gaze with a gentle and kind smile, "If doing this can prove my innocence, I have no objection."

…………

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