Another night passed, Luo Qingzhi found nothing outside, but Gao Zhen found some clues in the Imperial College.
Taking advantage of the class time, he pretended to have physical abnormalities, escaped and went to Si Ye Qizhen's room.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw a mountain of books in front of him. No matter how much he disliked Si Ye, Gao Zhen felt that Si Ye's reputation was not in vain.
Putting aside his sense of wonder, Gao Zhen began to search for whether there was a secret passage mechanism in the house. With little effort, he touched the mechanism at the last row of bookshelves. With a slight exertion, a secret passage appeared on the ground.
Gao Zhen took out the fire seal and carefully entered the dark passage. After walking for a while, there was enough light in front of him. He pressed against the wall and moved slowly.
When he reached the base of the wall, he leaned out slightly. In the brightly lit place, several people dressed as students were reading and writing.
Gao Zhen leaned out a little more, made sure that no one else was there, and then slowly walked out.
The people inside noticed him immediately. A student saw Gao Zhen's clothes and asked, "Are you a student of the Imperial College?"
Gao Zhen nodded, "Yes, why are you here?"
He pretended not to know the identity of the people inside and continued: "Looking at your clothes, you are also from the Imperial College?"
The four students in the darkroom looked at each other. One of them stood up and said, "Only Si Ye knows this place. Are you sent here by Si Ye?"
Gao Zhen hesitated for a moment, nodded, and said, "Yes, Si Ye is busy with classes today, so he asked me to come."
The student frowned for a moment and said: "I have already said that we will not testify against Mr. Xia. Mr. Xia has never taught any Imperial College courses. We just sit and discuss. Mr. Xia is unjust...
Even if we are locked up here for the rest of our lives, we will not go."
"Have you been locked up here since the incident?" Gao Zhen asked.
"Yes."
Gao Zhen estimated that the time was almost up, and said hurriedly: "Now, Lady Xia's case is being tried by Princess Anning. She will come to the Imperial College tomorrow, and I will bring her to see you. By then, what are your difficulties?
Just tell her."
After finishing the explanation, Gao Zhen left here in a hurry, thinking of informing Luo Chen about the situation here at midnight tonight.
In the prison cell of the Criminal Department, after the doctor's treatment, Xia Ji had recovered a little strength and could communicate with others normally.
After learning the news, Luo Qingzhi immediately came to the prison, shut out everyone, and talked to him alone.
Xia Ji's official rank was not high, and this was the first time he saw Luo Qingzhi. He maintained etiquette and saluted tremblingly.
"Your Majesty, please see Princess Anning and Princess Wan'an."
Luo Qingzhi wanted to help him stand up, but Xia Ji refused, so she had to give up.
"I heard that this case is now handed over to the princess for trial?" Xia Ji asked.
Luo Qingzhi nodded, "Yes."
After receiving Luo Qingzhi's affirmative reply, Xia Ji smiled and said, "I don't dare to waste the princess's time. You can directly send someone to write a charge sheet, and I will plead guilty and be punished."
Luo Qingzhi was calm and said calmly: "The day before yesterday, I went to Huqiu to meet your aunt."
"It has nothing to do with her." Xia Jiba raised his voice, "It has nothing to do with my aunt. Don't embarrass her."
Luo Qingzhi continued: "Of course I will not embarrass Mrs. Xia, sir, please rest assured."
Xia Ji calmed down and said, "I heard that the princess's acting style is the most fair."
"Have you heard?" Luo Qingzhi smiled and continued: "Then have you heard that I am a person who cares most about the truth."
Xia Ji sneered, "The truth? What truth does the princess want to know about this matter?"
"Why are you doing this?" Luo Qingzhi asked directly without saying anything.
Seemingly suffering from the pain of a wound, Xia Ji changed his sitting position and spoke slowly, "The princess is the legitimate daughter of the Luo family. She has lived a life of fine clothing and fine food since she was a child. When she goes to the battlefield, she can immediately command a hundred thousand soldiers.
You have not lost a battle so far. You have the honor of a woman and the achievements of a man. Naturally, you don’t understand how hard a humble family like me has to work to reach your starting line..."
"Your Majesty, you have been making adjustments to the imperial examination. From the previous Zhongzheng system to the current written examination, we are creating fair opportunities for everyone." Luo Qingzhi said.
"Yes." Xia Ji affirmed, and then continued: "Instead of the family background of Zhongzheng officials, it is indeed fair to start to judge by writing test, but what about the academies? What are the academies doing? I have the most dynasties in various state capitals.
There are only three academies, and there are tens of thousands of students. In these academies, how many people are from aristocratic families, and how many are from poor families..." He paused and adjusted his breathing, "And the Imperial College, as the highest institution of learning,
, Princess, how many students from poor families do you think can enter..."
Luo Qingzhi was stunned. She had already investigated the situation in the Imperial College, and naturally understood that what seemed fair on the surface was not that fair.
Luo Qingzhi nodded, "I know that the situation you mentioned exists, but you shouldn't... Do you know that not only will you be in trouble, but the students you teach may also be expelled from school."
Xia Ji was a little emotionally unstable and said: "Princess, I have confessed to a thousand crimes. Could you please be merciful and not involve those students?"
Luo Qingzhi responded calmly, "Didn't you think that they would end up like this at the beginning? They ranked among the best in every monthly test during the months they were taught by you. It's hard to put aside this."
"I swear." Xia Ji raised his hand and said with all his strength: "I swear, I have never taught them anything about the imperial examination. I just, just, gave them answers to the words and sentences they didn't understand."
Luo Qingzhi shook her head, "Even if I believe what you say, will the Ministry of Punishment believe it? Does the Imperial Academy believe it? Does the Yushitai believe it?"
Xia Ji fell silent after a series of rhetorical questions. He asked softly: "Is Yushitai implicated?"
"No." Luo Qingzhi replied affirmatively, "Everyone was questioned and there was indeed evidence of alibi."
After answering Xia Ji's question, Luo Qingzhi asked: "Do you still care about Yushitai being implicated? Xia Ji, I don't want to convict anyone easily. If you have any difficulties, you can tell me."
Xia Ji raised his head and said, "I heard rumors from the outside world that Princess An Ning was at odds with Baili Mansion. I thought you would take the opportunity to question Mr. Zhong Cheng."
Luo Qingzhi said: "Master Zhong Cheng is an upright man and behaves aboveboard. Even if I want to frame him, I have no chance."
Xia Ji relaxed all over and seemed to be relieved. Luo Qingzhi was keenly aware of it and said deliberately: "Yesterday, I interrogated Master Zhongcheng."
Sure enough, as soon as these words came out, Xia Ji immediately became vigilant.
Luo Qingzhi continued: "I asked him if he knew you had been teaching at Yushitai for more than three months, and he immediately denied it."
"Of course you don't know, sir," Xia Ji said quickly.
"But." Luo Qingzhi pretended to think, "Master Baili is the Zhongcheng. I heard that he often handles official business until late at night. How come he didn't find out once?"
"The west courtyard is hidden, and I don't let students hold lamps, so it won't be easy to detect." Xia Ji explained again.
"Oh, really?" Luo Qingzhi paused again, bent down, and looked at Xia Ji, "How could a patrolling guard discover such a place that is not easy to be discovered?"
Xia Ji turned away and said calmly: "Isn't this the truth that the princess should find?"
Luo Qingzhi straightened up and said, "Indeed, I should really investigate Master Zhongcheng."
After she finished speaking, she immediately turned around and clearly saw Xia Ji's panic in her peripheral vision.
After walking out of the prison, Luo Qingzhi began to have troubles, thinking, "Could my uncle have something to do with this matter? But my uncle never hides anything from me...or is it just Xia Ji who bombs me again?"
Luo Qingzhi shook her head and decided to go directly to Bailihan to ask for clarification.
As usual, she climbed into Baili Mansion through the back door wall and came to his study, but saw no one. Because it was not convenient to show up in Baili Mansion, she had to wait in the study.
Bailihan's study room was very large, and there were many books on the bookshelves, many of which Luo Qingzhi had never seen before.
She looked through it boredly, and suddenly, a page of manuscript fell out. She bent down to pick it up, and looked at it carefully, "Isn't this the manuscript compiled by Xia Ji?"
Such a coincidence, combined with Xia Ji's reaction, made her begin to wonder whether Xia Ji was really as related to him as Bai Lihan said.
At this time, she wanted to see Bailihan very much. She couldn't suppress her suspicions, but she didn't want to doubt her close relatives.
"Qingqing?"
Following the shouting, Luo Qingzhi raised her head and was instantly delighted, "Uncle, you are finally back."
Bailihan was a little confused and said jokingly: "I've never seen you so surprised. What's wrong? Is the case settled?"
When talking about the case, Luo Qingzhi frowned. She looked across Bailihan and saw no one outside the house, and closed the door again.
Walking up to Bai Lihan, he said with great sincerity: "Uncle, tell me honestly, does the case in the Imperial College have anything to do with you?"
Bailihan didn't answer immediately, and took a heavy breath, "Seriously, it does have something to do with me."
Luo Qingzhi straightened up and listened to the rest of Bailihan's words with worried eyes.
"The incident happened at the Yushitai. As the Yusheng Zhongcheng, I have the responsibility for lax supervision. Qingqing, don't worry. Just report it truthfully. Your Majesty will fine me a few months' salary at most."
Bailihan looked righteous and did not notice the change in Luo Qingzhi's expression, from worry to helplessness.
"That's it?" Luo Qingzhi said.
It was Bailihan's turn to be helpless, "What? A fine is not enough, is it possible that I have to be demoted?"
"No, no." Luo Qingzhi hurriedly explained, "I just went to the Ministry of Punishment to interrogate Xia Ji, and I felt that his attitude towards you was quite... strange, so..."
Bailihan understood and said: "So, you suspect that your uncle, me, is related to this matter or even knows the inside story."
Luo Qingzhi smiled coquettishly, "So, uncle, do you know the inside story?"
Bailihan said: "If I knew, could I not say it?" This chapter has been completed!