Chapter 227 Cai Jing is discharged from the hospital
"No need to die! No need to die!" The servant ran in out of breath.
"Why don't you die! Tell me clearly!"
Deng Xunwu led him into the study impatiently.
"Master Song, Master Han doesn't need to die!"
The servant said out of breath: "The imperial edict has been sent to the Song and Han mansions, they don't need to die!"
"What?"
Deng Xunwu was startled, frowned, and stared at him closely: "Speak clearly!"
Gao Xun also came up quickly and stared at the servant intently.
"My lords, the edict only says that you will be demoted to common people and repatriated to your place of origin. It does not say that you will be executed!"
The servant shouted in surprise, after hearing the news from the two ministers, the servants of the Cai Mansion began to prepare wreaths.
But I didn’t expect that now things have turned around and I don’t have to die anymore!
No, you have to call the wreath buyer back quickly. If you don’t need this unfortunate thing, don’t buy it. No one wants to buy it and store it at home for backup...
Seeing that the two ministers had stopped giving orders, the servant turned around and ran away in a hurry.
Deng Xunwu and Gao Xun looked at each other and saw the disbelief in each other's eyes.
It was obvious that Wei Zheng and Li Yuan had already written the judgment document, so why did they suddenly change it?
Could it be that the two of them have great kindness?
But how did the emperor pass the test? This judgment document must have been approved by him. Neither of them believed that His Majesty the Emperor would be so kind and would deliberately spare the lives of Han Mulu and Song Qiaonian.
With his style, it doesn't seem like he could do such a thing...
The two looked at each other again and subconsciously raised their feet to walk out. What they heard was false and what they saw was true. They had to confirm such shocking news in person.
But before he could leave the study, the servant who had just ran out came back screaming.
And this time I was even happier and more surprised than last time.
"The eldest son is back! You two adults! The eldest son is back!"
"What?"
The two were stunned again, and even looked at the servant with suspicion.
What's going on today? Why is there so much good news?
Real or fake?
For a moment, both of them doubted the authenticity of the matter.
"Slow down, slow down, don't throw the eldest son."
There was a noise in front of the hospital, and several servants of the Cai Mansion were scrambling to support Cai You, who was very drunk, and walked in cautiously.
Deng Xunwu and Gao Xun looked intently, and it turned out to be Cai You.
When Gao Xun saw the real person, he subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, but instead of being surprised the next moment, anger appeared on his face as he strode forward.
At such a critical moment, he ran away without saying a word in the imperial city, causing others to worry and not saying anything, but instead he got himself drunk like mud.
The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment, what a shame!
Deng Xunwu did not stop him and followed Gao Xun.
As soon as the two of them approached, they heard Cai You, who was very drunk, still choking: "Uncle, father-in-law..."
Even though he was drunk and unconscious, he was still crying and tears kept flowing from the corners of his eyes.
Gao Xun's steps froze for a moment, and he remained silent. The words of reprimand he was about to say were suppressed in his stomach.
Deng Xunwu walked over from behind and sighed quietly.
"Master Gao, I'm afraid that the eldest son is also too worried, so he is so rash. I can't blame him entirely for this..."
When the two of them saw Cai You's appearance, they had already figured out the whole story.
Cai You must have heard the verdict that Song Qiaonian and Han Mulu were executed outside the Yushitai main hall. He was so distraught that he could not accept the result, so he ran outside the imperial city to drink to drown his sorrows and numb himself...
In this way, the image of a affectionate and righteous junior emerges.
In this case, neither Gao Xun nor Deng Xunwu could reprimand him anymore. Instead, they felt that this matter was not a big deal, and it could be seen from this that Cai You was a person who valued affection and righteousness.
In most places, this kind of person is more popular than someone with a cold nature.
The two of them watched the servants carry Cai You in, and suddenly there was another noise in the backyard.
Cai You's wife and his mother came, and there was another commotion, and then Cai You was taken back to the backyard to rest.
Deng Xunwu and Gao Xun looked at each other and did not stay any longer. Instead, they both headed towards the Song and Han mansions.
Behind, the servant of the Cai Mansion who came to inform the news looked at the scene in front of him and couldn't help but put a smile on his face.
Lord Song and Lord Han need not die, the eldest son has been found, and the master will be back soon... This is really a double happiness!
But I always feel something is wrong, and I don’t know if I have forgotten something...
~~
At this time, the Zhongshu Provincial officials and Zhongguan who had left the Song and Han Dynasties also came to Gongyuan.
After entering the Gongyuan from Longmen, they were greeted by the noise of thousands of people.
After locking in most of the suspects, the Huben Guards gradually relaxed their supervision of the examination room. In the next few days, even the Huben Guards were withdrawn directly and replaced by garrison troops outside the city.
These people have no bottom line. As long as they are willing to pay, they can get anything.
It is said that a poor scholar will make a rich man, but when it comes to the level of Juren, there are contributions and contributions from the people below. Basically, there are no poor men in Daqian.
All of a sudden, money was flowing out, charcoal for heating, thick bedding, Pai Gow, food in the city, banquets, and even some food. I couldn't stand the loneliness, so I planned to invite some girls to come in and have fun, but it was a pity.
In the end it didn't work out.
But no matter what, the current examination room is a large exchange meeting, a casino, and a stinky place. Although people pour urine and feces every day, but they haven't showered for so many days, the smell on their bodies is definitely not much better.
As soon as the officials entered, they were staggered by the smell inside.
"The imperial edict has arrived."
The lieutenant officer walking at the front let out a howl and passed through the rows of booths with his nose covered.
The entire examination room was silent for a moment. The candidates with gray faces and disheveled hair poked their heads out of the room one after another. Those candidates who gathered outside to play cards in twos and threes also immediately put away their Pai Gow. Almost everyone was nervous.
Looking at this group of officials.
Don't be nervous. After being locked up in the Gongyuan for so many days, even the toughest thorns have been smoothed out.
What's more, a large number of these candidates have done bad things and bought test questions, and now they naturally feel guilty.
Moreover, whenever a candidate was dragged out of the Gongyuan Courtyard crying and screaming a while ago, other candidates would be on tenterhooks. Now the court has not yet decided how to handle this matter, and they can't help but feel guilty.
"My disciple: I will tell you a question in the test. I have reached a conclusion. All the masterminds have been locked up and taken away..."
The lieutenant's sharp voice spread throughout the examination room, and the candidates were shocked when they heard that the masterminds were Song Qiaonian and Han Mulu.
No one expected that this matter would actually involve two minister-level figures, one was the deputy examiner and the other was the deputy magistrate Gongju, who were so close to themselves and others.
Of course, what candidates are most concerned about is not this, but their own situation.
How will the imperial court treat the people who participated in this examination? How will it deal with those who bought and sold the examination questions?
After a while, they heard the answer from the lieutenant's mouth.
"...Severely punish all those who buy and sell test questions, remove them from their official positions, ban imperial examinations, and send them to the army to serve as a warning to others..."
Hearing this, the candidates raised their heads tremblingly, looking ahead in disbelief, and their hearts went cold.
Just the abolition of official titles and the prohibition of imperial examinations have deprived them of all their efforts in the first half of their lives, not to mention being sent to the army, which is simply killing people...
But I didn’t expect there would be a turning point later.
"However, God has the virtue of good life, and I don't want to see the scholars of the imperial court being wronged..."
As they listened, the candidates' eyes gradually brightened.
His Imperial Majesty's imperial edict distinguishes the majority of people who buy exam questions from those candidates who make money by selling exam questions.
Many severe punishments are only aimed at those who make money by selling examination questions, but they have little impact on them. As for the fact that they cannot take the imperial examination... of course they can escape.
And even if you can't escape, you can just take the exam again in the next subject. What's the point of losing?
Almost all candidates can accept such a result...the ones who cannot accept it are those who are found to be selling test questions, but those people were taken out by Huben Guards a few days ago.
"The common people accept the order!"
"Your majesty is wise and enlightened!"
"Having such a benevolent king like you, Your Majesty, is truly a blessing to me..."
Some candidates were so excited that they burst into tears on the spot. Who knows how much pressure they have been under these days? Who knows the contrast between falling into hell and then rising to heaven?
The other candidates who were fine also shouted, "If it's nice, it's free of charge. Everyone was happy to finally get out of this terrible place."
After the Zhongguan announced the order, he covered his nose and was about to walk back. Other officials also followed him.
The candidates also stood up one after another, packing their luggage in the room and escaping from this place quickly.
"Sir, will I still take the exam this year?"
Suddenly, a candidate in the crowd asked the officials' backs: "When will the exam be held again?"
"Just wait for the official announcement from the imperial court."
The official walking at the end replied without looking back.
The candidate who asked the question was stunned for a moment. When he came to his senses, the officials had already disappeared...
In fact, there is a reason why they are so anxious.
There are not only these candidates in the Gongyuan, but also many officials.
In the official residence south of Feihong Bridge, officials from Zhongguan and Zhongshu Province found Wang Mang and other outside officials and read out the imperial decree to them.
After these people left, the outer curtain officials were shocked and began to discuss the matter in various directions.
"I didn't expect Master Song to be involved in this matter."
"Well, not many people have the opportunity to access the test questions, so it's not surprising."
"I just didn't expect that this time, two ministers would be directly involved!"
"Shh, please keep your voice down..."
The officials outside the curtain seemed to have just remembered that there was an uncle in front of them.
Wang Mang turned his head and glanced at these people expressionlessly: "Pack your things and leave quickly."
"Yes, sir."
The outer curtain officials did not dare to delay any longer and ran back to their official residences one after another and began to pack their things.
In the north of Feihong Bridge, a group of proclaimers also arrived.
Unlike Qiaonan, the defense here has never been relaxed, and the Tiger Guards have always been in charge.
Five steps to one post, the inner curtain officials were tightly restrained in their official residences. They were not allowed to go out and could not communicate with the outside world at all.
"The imperial edict has arrived!"
The sharp sound spread far away, and then the Tiger Guards let go of the guarded passage and brought the inner curtain officials one by one to the square here.
Among them is Cai Jing.
He looked around at the surroundings, hoping to find Han Mulu, but after scanning the crowd, he never found him.
Cai Jing's heart sank inexplicably. He remembered that the place where Han Mulu was imprisoned was not far from him, but why couldn't he be found now?
Cai Jing was extremely confused, but he still followed the flow of people and came all the way to the square in the north of the bridge. All the inner curtain officials looked intently at the group of proclaimers in front of them.
"Men:..." The eunuch has read the imperial edict three times, and now in a routine tone, he calmly read out the imperial edict that shocked the inner court officials.
Han Mu Lu? Song Qiao Nian?
The inner curtain officials were all shocked, and some even raised their necks to search for Han Mulu's figure in the crowd.
Sure enough not!
Not only that, but there are also several fellow examiners missing, who must have been classified as members of the same party...
The shock in the hearts of the inner court officials was like overwhelming. No one expected that when they were released after being imprisoned for so many days, no one around them would be around. No one expected that being dismissed from office and losing their property would be so close to them...
The eyes turned around, and when they saw the people paying attention to the front, most of the inner curtain officers withdrew their gazes as if they were electrocuted.
Because Cai Jing is standing there.
All the inner curtain officials saw was a heavy figure, and no one knew what he was thinking.
The evangelists from Zhongshu Province in front could only see Cai Jing's lowered head, but could not see his face, and they also had no idea what he was thinking.
But I don't know if it was an illusion, but the atmosphere in the air was inexplicably a little calmer.
The middle official who announced the edict was unaware of it. After mechanically reciting the imperial edict, he stopped making any sound and instead looked down at the many officials below.
But the officials didn't react at all, and the atmosphere was a little tense for a while.
The Zhongshu Provincial officials standing beside him were not in a hurry, but were happy to see this scene. A few of them even eagerly looked at the inner curtain officials below and at Cai Jing.
After a while, Cai Jing saluted and spoke in a hoarse voice: "I obey your order."
"I obey the decree."
The inner curtain officers at the rear then leaned over and followed suit.
The lieutenant general turned his head expressionlessly, said a few words to the Tiger Guards around him, and then looked at the officials and said: "My lords, you can go back."
No matter what the inner curtain officials thought just now, they finally breathed a sigh of relief at this moment.
After being imprisoned for so many days, it was impossible not to be frightened, but now I am finally free.
But this place was not as lively as the Outer Curtain Officers' side. None of the many Inner Curtain Officers spoke up to discuss it. Most of them walked softly, slowed down their breathing, turned around and headed towards their temporary official residence, thinking.
I wonder what happened to my family after being under house arrest here for so many days...
Only a few people chose to stand still, gritting their teeth, or looking at Mr. Cai's back with concern.
"Let's go."
Cai Jing turned around, looked around at the inner curtain officers who were still there, nodded to them, and then walked towards the official residence.
There were many voices of "relief" from the crowd, and then other inner curtain officials followed Cai Jing's footsteps.