Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 736: The Duke’s Perfect Counterattack in the Trial (1)_1

Chapter 736: Chapter 736: The Duke’s Perfect Counterattack in the Trial (1)_1

Within the spacious Hall of Supreme Harmony, only the voices testifying to Mo Qingze’s cheating process could be heard.

"...We three students are friends of Mo Qingze and naturally did not want to see him go astray. After learning that someone had given him the exam questions and answers, we took turns advising him, but not only did he not heed our advice, he also spoke of sharing our fortunes together and wanted to share the exam questions and answers with us. He urged us to memorize them overnight in preparation for the seven days of examinations! Unable to persuade him and feeling that speaking out would be a betrayal of a friend, we had no choice but to cover it up, intending to let it rot in our hearts!"

At this point, the man paused and stealthily observed the expressions of Emperor Huian and the presiding judges, only to be disappointed to find that they all wore impassive faces, giving no indication of whether they believed his story or not.

However, the situation had reached a point where there was no room for retreat. The man licked his dry lips and continued, "Later, when the autumn examination results were announced, Mo Qingze indeed emerged as a scholar. We thought that since his longstanding wishes had finally been fulfilled, we were even less inclined to expose him! But later, we heard that someone, unable to withstand the blow of failing the exam, had jumped into the moat on the day the results were posted and not even the body could be retrieved! Thinking of the family of the man who had jumped, not being able to wait for his return, not knowing how heartbroken they must be, while someone else gained the world’s respect through crooked ways, we felt indignant and went to the Ministry of Rites to expose Mo Qingze’s cheating..."

Seemingly ashamed of his actions, the man finished speaking and remained with his head bowed low, not looking at anyone.

The other two nodded repeatedly, echoing their companion’s narrative and hurriedly adding in the details he had omitted, even describing in clear detail the pale blue clothing Mo Qingze wore that day and the rosewood hairpin he used to tie his hair.

With such a detailed testimony and no discernible flaws, more than half of those present had already convicted Mo Qingze of fraud.

The Chief Judge of the Ministry of Justice listened to the three men’s testimonies without comment and then turned to Mo Qingze, "Do you have any evidence to prove that their testimonies are false and fabricated?"

Mo Qingze was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

That day, having stayed at an annex of the Han Family, he saw that it was early and decided to visit a social club. Unexpectedly, he encountered these three men there.

The four of them each selected a few books and went to a tavern. During the time he went to relieve himself, indeed someone blocked his way, claiming to have the examination questions and answers and willing to sell them to him cheaply.

He had never considered taking shortcuts to gain fame and doubted these were genuine exam materials, so he sternly refused. To his surprise, the man began to threaten and lure him.

While they were struggling, his three companions came out looking for him and saw what was happening. Eventually, the man forced the so-called exam materials into his hands and ran away, not even taking the three hundred taels of silver he had initially demanded, but as he ran out of the tavern, he loudly declared that he had sold them very cheaply.

Aside from the part about sharing the exam materials with the three men and the later fabricated testimonies, everything the three said was true. There were people in the tavern who could testify to everything that had happened that day. Even if he now argued that the exam materials were a deliberate frame-up, he feared no one would believe him, thinking he was merely making excuses, so it was better not to speak.

Seeing his father shake his head, Mo Yan became tense all at once. The once quiet hall became noisy again, and those who had been wavering suddenly shifted against Mo Qingze.

The Chief Judge of the Ministry of Justice noticed the change and still with an expressionless face asked, "So you admit to the charges of cheating in the exam?"

"No!" Mo Qingze shook his head with determination, looked at the three testifying men, and bowed, "Your Honor, may I question these three men on a few points?"