Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 726: The Last Struggle (3)_1

Chapter 726: Chapter 726: The Last Struggle (3)_1

Throughout Great Chu, there were many people like the Prison Head. Although the Court provided a certain amount of Silver Coin as compensation to the disabled veterans from the battlefield and allowed them to retire early and return home, the vast majority of these discharged soldiers did not wish to burden their families with their incapacitated bodies, so they chose to stay at the border or in Jing City, supporting each other as they struggled to get by.

Compared to other disabled comrades, the Prison Head’s situation was the best. There were quite a few who, like the Prison Head, were arranged jobs by Xiao Ruiyuan whenever suitable opportunities arose.

Even though these jobs were far less desirable than the Prison Head’s, they were what every disabled soldier longed for. Although injured and handicapped, they did not want to live as true invalids dependent on others’ support; only by working did they feel alive and that their lives had meaning.

...

After returning from the Ministry of Justice’s Prison, Mo Yan dealt with the various affairs at home and on the construction site while asking the Hidden Guard to keep an eye on the progress of the examination scandal case. If an uncontrollable accident occurred, she would be promptly informed and could figure out a way to rescue her father.

At this time, she had already received news from Xiao Ruiyuan, confirming that Chu Heng would make a move in retaliation. The moment had not yet arrived, so for now, they were to watch quietly and wait for the right time.

The entrance of the palace remained bustling as ever, with the scholars who failed the examinations braving the bitter cold and snow, arriving early each day to wait, collectively submitting countless petitions—their requests the same as before.

The Court had yet to respond, and as time passed, the scholars grew restless and their words more radical.

No one knew who had spread the rumor that the mastermind behind the examination cheating was the father of newly-titled Princess Hejia. Because Princess Hejia had discovered high-yield rice, which greatly contributed to Great Chu, the Court was being cautious about this matter, delaying the public trial of the mastermind behind the scandal, and not giving the hundreds of scholars a reasonable explanation.

The scholars, who had chiefly set their minds on achieving honor and glorifying their ancestors, didn’t care about Princess Hejia’s contributions. Since it didn’t bring them any fame or wealth, why would they give up their pursuit of bringing the cheaters to justice because of that?

Upon learning that Princess Hejia was originally just an ordinary peasant girl, who only by "dumb luck" discovered the high-yield rice and so easily obtained her noble status, these scholars—who had toiled for ten years and endured much hardship—felt even more strongly that the world was unjust when comparing her fortunes to their own.

This "injustice" inflamed their resentment toward the mastermind of the cheating and his family and ignited rampant jealousy. Hence, in the subsequent joint petitions, the scholars added another demand: to revoke the title of Princess Hejia permanently, never to be conferred again!

Examination scandals were not unheard of in previous years, but the breadth and depth of the impact of this incident were unprecedented. It could be said to be the most severe since the founding of Great Chu. Yet, no one had expected that even more severe events were yet to come.

Mo Yan, who got caught in the crossfire, felt an extreme hatred for King Heng and the Lin Family. She didn’t care for the title of County Lord, but if it were forcibly revoked, that was another matter. Clearly, King Heng and the Lin Family wanted to kill two birds with one stone, not only to drag down Chu Heng but also to eliminate her entire family, evidencing their sinister intentions.

King Heng and his allies were stirring public opinion to escalate the situation. If that happened, even if Emperor Huian preferred to favor Chu Heng, he would have to consider public sentiment and punish Chu Heng severely. Even if he didn’t lose his position as Crown Prince, Chu Heng’s reputation among the people would be completely ruined.

If King Heng ever had the power to raise an army to seize the throne, leveraging this incident to label Chu Heng as incompetent and inept was not beyond the realm of possibility...

Mo Yan had already guessed what King Heng and his allies would do next. Sure enough, on the fifth day, when the calls to revoke "Princess Hejia’s noble title" reached their peak, another bombshell was dropped: the true mastermind behind the examination scandal was Crown Prince Chu Heng!