Chapter 328: Chapter 328: Mockery
328 Mockery
The poor scholar sneered, "Who truly disgraces our culture? During the provincial examination, Pei Shangsi relied on cheating to become one of the chosen scholars! Brothers, we’ve all been studying hard for over a decade, hoping to make it onto the list and serve the imperial court one day. But now, some people use corruption and take up the slots. How could we, scholars from humble backgrounds, stand by? We must demand an explanation!"
"Yes, we must demand an explanation!"
These words immediately resonated with many scholars from humble backgrounds, and as they all chimed in, the scene grew increasingly chaotic.
"Nonsense, utter nonsense!" Pei Shangqing’s face flushed crimson with anger. He ordered his servants to seize the three scholars leading the clamor. After all, they were merely weak scholars and were quickly apprehended by Pei Shangqing’s men.
The most defiant scholar shouted while resisting, "Pei Shangqing, do you think you can just brush this aside? The Huiyuan—the top scorer of the metropolitan examination—must enter the palace for an audience with the emperor! With that paltry bit of knowledge you possess, do you think you could deceive His Majesty?!"
Pei Shangqing strode forward and kicked the poor scholar in the stomach. "You’re asking for a beating!"
He yelled, "Beat them severely!"
Immediately, the sounds of fists and feet striking flesh filled the air.
Few dared to provoke the powerful Pei Family, so the surrounding crowd merely watched the commotion, no one daring to intervene.
Just then, a figure suddenly flashed past. In the next instant, the Pei Family’s servants were sent sprawling.
Pei Shangqing was startled. Looking closely, he saw a young man in green robes, wielding a large saber, standing before the scholars.
A few other young men and women stepped forward, helping the three beaten scholars to their feet.
He recognized one of them—it was Qiao Muchen, the top scholar of last year’s provincial examination and one of the most promising candidates in this year’s competition.
Pei Shangqing glared, his voice dripping with menace, "What, do you intend to offend the Pei Family as well?"
Zhao Yu, however, couldn’t be bothered to waste words with them. With a SWISH, his saber was unsheathed.
Pei Shangqing recoiled a step in fright, but fury quickly overwhelmed his fear. Pointing at Zhao Yu, he roared, "You dare draw a blade on me? Heh, truly audacious! Do you even know who I am? Men, seize them all!"
Instantly, a swarm of servants rushed toward Zhao Yu.
Blades have no eyes. Many onlookers, terrified, scattered in all directions, while some watched the unfolding drama from a safe distance.
The fight erupted in an instant, but the outcome was virtually a foregone conclusion.
Zhao Yu’s martial skill was far beyond what these untrained servants could handle.
Consequently, the moment the servants charged, they were sent flying one after another, like dumplings tossed into a pot...
They weren’t even enough for Zhao Yu to properly warm up.
Many landed in a heap before Pei Shangqing, their groans of pain making his face turn a sickly green.
He stammered out a threat, "Fine! Fine! You... you all just wait!"
Having spat out his threat, he shoved his way through the crowd and fled in a panic. His pathetic appearance was utterly comical.
Once he had run off, many in the surrounding crowd burst into laughter.
Naturally, some also cautioned Zhao Yu, advising him to leave the Capital City quickly, for he had offended someone he couldn’t afford to cross.
Zhao Yu, cradling his saber, looked entirely unconcerned.
"Excellent. If he dares to come, he’ll have to get past my saber first!"
After being helped up, the scholar with the most bruised face, still radiating an air of righteousness, thanked Zhao Zhitong and her companions.
He declared staunchly, "Exactly! This is the Capital City, right beneath the Son of Heaven’s gaze! Can they truly act with such lawlessness and trample on human lives?"
The other two scholars, equally unbowed by power, added, "Precisely! This is the Emperor’s domain! Do they have no regard for the law whatsoever?!"
All three scholars exuded an aura of integrity, which earned them the admiration and goodwill of Zhao Zhitong’s group. They chatted for a short while.
After some conversation, they learned that the three scholars were from the same hometown and had traveled together to the capital for the examinations.
The most outspoken and severely beaten one was named Liu Yuan. One of the others was his elder biological brother, Liu Qu, and the third was a fellow townsman they had met on their journey, Liang Heng.
Unfortunately, in this examination, only Liu Yuan had passed. Liu Qu and Liang Heng had both regrettably failed to make the list.
The two who failed didn’t wallow in self-pity or complain. Instead, they remained full of ambition, vowing to return and try again in three years.
After exchanging a few more words and their names, they bid each other farewell and departed.
On the way back, an awkward silence settled over the group. No one mentioned the examination results, fearing it would upset Qiao Muchen.
By the time they reached the inn, many scholars had already returned. The air buzzed with mutual congratulations and words of comfort.
At that moment, the official announcers bearing the good news arrived, and the inn instantly filled with joyous exclamations and festive cheer.
Some scholars, who had long been jealous of Qiao Muchen, saw their chance and approached, intending to taunt him.
Indeed, just as Zhao Zhitong’s group stepped into the inn, several scholars sidled up.
"Well, well, if it isn’t our esteemed top scholar, Young Master Qiao?"
"Indeed it is! My, my, Young Master Qiao, did your name appear on the list? Was it the A-list or the B-list? Hahaha."
Their sarcastic laughter made it obvious they already knew Qiao Muchen had failed and were deliberately asking to humiliate him.
They expected to see Qiao Muchen utterly mortified. However, he was not. Not only did he show no sign of shame, but he also admitted his failure openly.
Qiao Muchen remained composed, neither arrogant nor servile, showing no sign of chagrin at his failure.
This reaction momentarily stunned those who had gathered to gloat.
However, they weren’t about to let such an opportunity slip by. After a brief pause, the taunts resumed.
"Ah, so you didn’t make the list?"
The feigned surprise in the voice was clearly exaggerated, shouted loud enough for everyone in the inn to hear.
"Heavens! Isn’t this the famously brilliant Young Master Qiao, praised by all? How astonishing that he didn’t pass!"
"Oh dear, could it be that his previous fame was all a sham? Perhaps that ’top scholar’ title was bought, eh? Hahaha."
...
The jeering voices caused the expressions of Zhao Zhitong and her friends to darken.
Zhao Yue, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward to defend his friend. "Can’t you spew anything but filth? Qiao Muchen’s true abilities are well-known to every scholar present!"
His words prompted nods and murmurs of agreement from other scholars in the inn.
"Indeed, Young Master Qiao is genuinely talented. We’ve all witnessed it."
"Yes, I can attest to that! I’m from the same hometown as Young Master Qiao. He’s renowned as the brightest mind in Anyang County and has even assisted the County Magistrate in solving several major cases."
...
Affirmations of Qiao Muchen’s talent continued to rise, growing more numerous.
At this, the faces of the instigators turned sour. One of them sneered, "TSK, TSK. If he’s so talented, how did he manage to fail the examination then?"
Hearing this, many others also found it perplexing.
Qiao Muchen, however, simply smiled and said softly, "’Morning truth, evening lies, who can tell them apart? All things from ancient to present have no real basis.’"