Chapter 89: Locked Up

This time, not only Sun Zenian came to send off his son for the exam, but Sun Jin's teachers from the academy also accompanied them.

Seeing Sun Jin being kicked out, several of the academy's teachers rushed over, their heads spinning.

"What on earth happened?"

"Sun Jin, why did you cause a disturbance?"

"Yes, Sun Jin, what’s going on?"

It’s well known that if a student’s character is questionable, it reflects poorly on the entire academy, especially since Sun Jin was the top student.

Sun Jin’s face was pale with rage and humiliation, his whole body trembling. 

He stared at Zhou Qing, took a couple of deep breaths, and then abruptly raised his hand.

"It’s them! They’re the ones who set me up!"

What?! 

Though Sun Jin’s voice wasn’t loud, it was enough for everyone nearby to hear clearly. Instantly, all eyes turned to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing’s eyebrows twitched, and she walked right up to Sun Jin.

Yesterday, she held back because he was just a fellow exam candidate. But today, since he’s already been thrown out of the exam hall, she saw no need to hold back! Especially since his accusation was completely unfounded.

"We set you up? How did we set you up? Come on, with all these people around, explain it clearly. I’m not carrying the blame for something I didn’t do!"

Zhou Qing’s voice rang out.

Everyone around them, who had been waiting idly, gathered closer to watch.

Sun Jin glared at Zhou Qing, his eyes full of fury. "There’s a saying: ‘If you don't want people to know, then don't do it.’"

Zhou Qing laughed. "The way you're talking makes it sound like I was the one who kicked you out of the exam! If you have a grievance, just say it! Let everyone here be the judge."

"Yes, Sun Jin, tell us what happened!" one of Sun Jin’s teachers, sweating with anxiety, urged him.

Just then, the gates of the yamen creaked open again.

A yamen officer came out, glancing at the group gathered outside.

"Disperse, disperse! What are you all doing crowding around the yamen gates? Disperse now!"

He shot a quick look at Sun Jin.

"This person dirtied his own exam paper during the exam, and when his request for a new paper was denied, he caused a scene, which led to him being kicked out."

After saying this, the yamen officer slammed the gates shut again and went back inside, shaking his head.

What kind of grudge does the prefect have against this student?

The guy had already been kicked out of the exam, and yet the prefect still sent someone out specifically to clarify this? 

Isn't that like rubbing salt in the wound? How is this student supposed to show his face after this?

Outside the yamen.

The moment the yamen officer finished his explanation, the crowd burst into laughter.

"Yesterday, this guy was standing in front of the Qingfeng Inn, causing trouble for Zhou’s top scholar. And now, he’s the one thrown out of the exam today, and he’s blaming someone else for it."

"That’s right! He wasn’t even staying at Qingfeng Inn, yet he went all the way to block the entrance. This really shows how low society’s standards have fallen when people like him are taking the imperial exams!"

"Which academy does this kid come from? What kind of teacher picks a student like this to represent them? Think about it, reflect on it!"

"There’s definitely something fishy going on here!"

Sun Jin’s academy teachers turned red and green with embarrassment.

"You’ve brought such disgrace to our academy! I no longer consider you my student!" one teacher said angrily, throwing his sleeves in the air before storming off.

The other teachers, also filled with anger and disappointment, glanced at Sun Jin before following suit.

Zhou Qing, her eyes cold, said to Sun Jin, "So, it was your own fault for dirtying your exam paper. How’s that my problem?"

She paused, then laughed with a sneer.

"Each candidate is only allowed three sheets of exam paper. If you spoil them, you bear the consequences. Why do you think you, Sun Jin, deserve an extra sheet from the prefect? Is it because you have a big head?"

As she spoke, Zhou Qing rubbed her chin and smiled meaningfully.

"Could it be that you took care of things in advance, and that’s why you felt so entitled during the exam? Ha! Well, it turns out the prefect didn’t fall for your bribes after all!"

Sun Jin felt a surge of blood rushing to his head.

Why did that officer have to come out and say that?

Now that Zhou Qing had said all this in public, Sun Jin’s face felt as though it were burning, and his throat tasted of blood.

He couldn’t hold it back anymore—he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Sun Zenian was equally stunned.

He had given so much money to the prefect. Even if Jin had spoiled his exam paper, surely the prefect should have given him a replacement sheet! 

Even if not, surely the prefect wouldn’t have kicked him out! 

If anyone should have been thrown out, it should have been Zhou Huaihai!

How— 

How did things turn out like this?

But no matter how much he thought about it, the reality remained the same.

Seeing that his son had coughed up blood, Sun Zenian hurried to help him leave.

Just as they were about to walk away, the yamen gates creaked open again.

Everyone turned to look.

Sun Zenian, supporting Sun Jin, also glanced back.

What they saw made Sun Zenian nearly collapse to his knees in shock.

Two officers came out, escorting none other than the prefect himself, who was shackled.

Behind them, two more officers were escorting Zhou Huaihai, also in chains.

This—

Sun Zenian and Sun Jin exchanged stunned looks. The sight was so shocking that Sun Jin forgot about the blood he had just vomited and the dizziness in his head.

The prefect, being led out in chains by his own officers!

Not only were the father and son shocked, but the entire crowd of onlookers was in disbelief.

After all, many of the local townspeople had seen the prefect before.

Whispers of shock and confusion rippled through the crowd.

Zhou Qing furrowed her brow as she stared at Zhou Huaihai.

Zhou Huaihai noticed her too, and his gaze, filled with hatred, shot toward her like a dagger.

The officer leading the group held a gong in his hand. As soon as they emerged, he struck it with a hammer.

The loud sound silenced the crowd.

"Liu Rende, the prefect, has broken the law despite knowing it. On the eve of the provincial exam, he accepted large bribes from students, leaked the exam questions, and attempted to manipulate the rankings. He is now dismissed from his official position and taken into custody for further investigation!"

After saying this, the officer struck the gong again.

"Also being taken into custody is the one who bribed him—Zhou Huaihai of Qinghe County, along with Sun Zenian of Qinghe County and the student Sun Jin."

Sun Jin felt his heart skip a beat, as if it might leap out of his throat. 

Then, everything went black, and he collapsed.

Sun Zenian wasn’t much better off.

His body wobbled, and his breaths came in shaky gasps of fear and shock.

Thankfully, the officers quickly moved over, preventing both the unconscious Sun Jin and the nearly fainting Sun Zenian from hitting the ground.

"Lock them up! Take them all away!" 

The officer with the gong strode up to the Sun father-son duo and shouted, striking the gong again.

"Rest assured, everyone! The new prefect took office yesterday and rushed to prepare new exam papers overnight. Under the principles of fairness, justice, and transparency, he will select the best scholars from Xuanfu City."

As the officer finished speaking, the previously stunned crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

If only there were rotten vegetables and eggs around—they would have been perfect to throw as a stress reliever!

Just as the officers were locking up the Sun father-son duo and preparing to leave, a figure darted forward like the wind.

"Excuse me! Since he’s no longer allowed to take the exam, can I take his place? I, uh, forgot to sign up earlier." 

The one asking was the very student who had spent all day studying in vain the day before.