From the eve of Chinese New Year until today, the clamor about corruption in the imperial examinations has never stopped.
The students usually vented their indignation at Wenchang Pavilion, and rarely went out to disturb the common people.
The citizens of Fengjing had just started wondering when they discovered the line was getting longer and the shouting more fierce, finally stopping at the Fang family's front door.
"Give us justice in the imperial examinations!"
"Drive out the filthy corruption!"
Loud slogans rang out one after another, and hundreds of long-robed students stood in formation, shouting at the Fang family's front gate.
The neighboring great households were all alarmed, quietly opening their doors to look before swiftly closing them shut again.
Only the Fang family's front gate remained lofty and closed, without the slightest sign of opening or closing.
The students' eyes were red with fury, and when their shouting became hoarse, they finally couldn't stand it anymore and took off their shoes and socks, throwing them at the Fang family's front gate.
Flying, stinking shoes and socks filled the sky, and the cleaner ones could still fall to the ground, while the sticky ones stuck directly to the door frame.
Even the hastily arriving Prefect of Feng Tian Prefecture couldn't stand it anymore, and he pinched his nose and spoke up to stop it, "Everyone, quiet down for the moment, quiet down."
He had thought his official authority was enough to suppress things, but unexpectedly the literary students became even more impassioned.
"Look, when we were just shouting in Wenchang Pavilion, no one tried to stop us, but as soon as we got to the Fang family's door, they try to drive us away."
"As always, officials cover for each other, and they must have told the Prefect to come drive us away on the Fang family's behalf."
"We're not leaving, even if we die, until the Fang family gives us an answer!"
"Give us justice in the imperial examinations!"
The students' defiance grew heavier, and their shouting didn't diminish but increased.
Watching the flushed complexion of the Prefect of Feng Tian Prefecture, Xu Mo suddenly felt a bit guilty in the corner.
Everything that had happened since the first day of the new year was personally driven by him, as he arranged people and controlled the tempo.
He was the one trying to suppress the anger, he was the one who suggested going to the Fang family, and right now the people stirring up defiance were also him.
Even the Prefect was part of his plan, although he didn't really want to scheme against the fairly just official.
Without sufficient reason, Xu Mo couldn't stake his future on taking down Fang Yuan.
He had to make the students develop a defiant spirit, he had to make the situation uncontrollable, he had to make the Prefect angrily storm off.
Only when the crowd verged on rioting could he, the victim of corruption in the examinations who was also a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, appear in his 6th-rank official uniform, leisurely and calmly.
Then he saw him raise both hands, speaking steadily and peacefully, "Everyone, quiet down and listen to me."
The crowd erupted in a clamor, seeming to judge and debate, before with difficulty settling down.
Xu Mo didn't immediately speak, but took two steps forward, cupping his fists to the Prefect, "Greetings to the esteemed Prefect, this petty official was passing by and heard of the unrest, so hurried over in the hopes the esteemed Prefect will be understanding."
What was there to be understanding about?
In any case, his appearance had stopped the riots.
The Prefect waved his hand with a sigh, "Compiler Xu, no need for such courtesy, let's deal with things first."
Xu Mo nodded, and unceremoniously looked towards the crowd, "Xu is also one who suffered from corruption in the examinations, and most of you are Xu's fellow students. Back then we went in and out of the examination institute together, and today we've gathered at the Fang family's door again."
He suddenly gave a bitter laugh and shook his head, "I just didn't expect things to get this big, yet Brother Fang still refuses to come out and confront us, or even give an explanation or two."
The crowd was silently motionless, while Jiang Sheng in the back almost choked from suppressed laughter.
Big brother had also learned to be bad, clearly everything was in his calculations, yet now he insisted on playing the good guy, truly taking everything for himself and leaving nothing behind.
Right now Fang Yuan was the focus of the students' censure, being cold and unresponsive was the right thing. The students wouldn't be able to stir up waves, and things would naturally die down eventually.
If he really came out, it would be like welcoming rotten vegetables and stinking eggs thrown at him.
But how could Xu Mo let him get what he wanted?
"No matter what, we understand everyone's indignation, but blocking the streets really isn't reasonable, and makes things difficult for the esteemed Prefect, so everyone should disperse early and leave early." The youth, dressed in official uniform, deliberately spoke vigorously to persuade them.
The Prefect nodded repeatedly at his side, deeply agreeing.
But this angered the students, and a youth of around twenty furiously shouted, "You took first place in the examinations and became an official, of course you don't understand our bitterness!"
"That's right, now even the examinations have corruption, we don't dare continue taking them and it's unresigned to give up, is it too much to ask for an explanation?"
"Don't try to gloss things over here, you being top scholar is still an issue!"
"Right, it's still not clear who exactly cheated!"
Because of Xu Mo's "righteous intervention", the spearpoint turned from Fang Yuan to him.
The already red-eyed students lost their ability to discern, leaving only a belly full of fury, seemingly wanting to tear apart even the wind.
The Prefect's face was full of shock, seeming not to have expected things to be so hard to settle.
When he turned back again, Xu Mo had already transformed from refreshing and enlightened to grief, indignation, shame and anger.
"Your excellency!" He choked out, "Xu had good intentions, but has suffered such humiliation, Xu cannot bear this, Xu is willing to go to the Golden Sacred Hall and prove his innocence!"
The noisy crowd instantly quieted, then quickly ignited again.
"Go to the Golden Sacred Hall and prove innocence!"
"Go to the Golden Sacred Hall and ask the imperial court to judge!"
By this time, it seemed going to the Golden Sacred Hall was the only way to resolve things.
While the Prefect was still considering, Xu Mo had already turned and headed nobly and unswervingly for the imperial palace, like he was determined to die for justice.
Countless students followed closely behind, striding boldly and vigorously.
The Fang family realized something was wrong and hurriedly opened their front gate, but it was too late.
In an instant, Xu Mo was already kneeling at the palace gates, with dark masses of students behind him, and the Prefect with his brows furrowed into the character 川.
"This humble official has suffered unjust slander, and wishes to prove his loyalty with death. I ask only that the imperial court wash away this petty official's dishonor, and not let others frame and slander him." After his resonant words, without waiting for the palace gates to open, he actually rushed straight at the wall as if to smash his head against it.
The Prefect hurriedly called for his underlings to stop him, and with difficulty barely managed to dissuade him.
In the back of the crowd, Jiang Sheng clicked his tongue again and whispered to Zheng Ruqian, "Big brother flipped through ancient texts, saying he would emulate the deeds and conduct of past literary officials, but I didn't think he would emulate them so realistically."
Asking to die, being stopped, then descending the stairs.
Anyone seeing it would have to give a big thumbs up.
And this tactic was extremely effective. The originally shut palace gates were opened, and the gasping, sharp-voiced Steward Wu announced, "Proceedings in the Golden Sacred Hall are interrupted to summon those outside the city walls to an imperial audience."
The countless literary students had vented their indignant fury for over half a month, and finally got a response at this moment.
They were excitedly moved, clasping each other's hands with tears in their eyes, supporting each other as they moved forward.
Among them, Xu Mo was the most relaxed, most determined, and most unwavering.
The palace gates slowly opened, and the crowd entered first while he intentionally fell back several steps. As expected, he caught sight of Fang Yuan rushing over in a panic.
But without a summons, one could not enter the palace, and the gates were closing.
In his final glimpse, Xu Mo raised the corners of his lips, intentionally leaving a confident, triumphant smile.
Just like back then, when the young master of the Fang family had looked at him with such steady arrogance and disdain.
