Bingzheng admitted it!

The candlelight in the cell flickered with weak rays, spilling onto his face that was full of stubble and ashen as death.

Ji Yunshu’s earlier intuition and speculation had indeed been correct.

Bingzheng was problematic!

And he was indeed hiding something!

It was just that previously she couldn’t pry open his mouth and couldn’t get him to tell the truth.

But what about today?

Why did he voluntarily admit it?

Involuntarily, Ji Yunshu’s hand hidden within her robe tightened several degrees.

She asked: “Why are you willing to tell me now? Behind all this, who exactly is the mastermind?”

Bingzheng raised his head slightly, tears glistening in his eyes: “Because my grandmother died.”

“What does this have to do with your grandmother’s death?”

“Of course it does!”

“…”

Bingzheng: “I was raised by my grandmother since childhood. To me, she is the only family I have in this world! More important than my own life.”

“What exactly… happened?”

He smiled bitterly and took a deep breath: “Back then, I came to Gaoding to take the imperial examination. I got the opportunity to enter the Literary Lodge, which gave me a place to stay! I fought for everything so that one day I could pass with high marks, then bring my grandmother to Gaoding, hoping she could enjoy good fortune! Although I knew that among all the examination candidates back then, there were many more talented than me. Some even obtained student status early on and could be said to have a smooth path ahead! My roommate Du Mubai—he was not only a talented scholar from Southern Shen, but also won the appreciation of Marquis Pingyang and became his student. Everything about him far surpassed me. But what about me? With just shabby clothes, no power or influence, aside from studying hard, I was utterly useless! So to say I wasn’t jealous of Du Mubai would be a lie.”

Even the kindest person ultimately has a side that envies others!

Bingzheng was the same!

Ji Yunshu didn’t interrupt him.

Bingzheng continued: “Until one day, Fang Tong and Jiang Wen took me to meet someone!”

“Who?”

“Xue He, who like Du Mubai was also from Marquis Pingyang’s household.”

Ah!

He said: “He gave me several banknotes and asked me to help him do something.”

Ji Yunshu suddenly understood: “He wanted to buy you off, to have you falsely accuse Du Mubai of plagiarizing poetry?”

“That’s right!” Thinking of this, Bingzheng’s face was full of regret. Tears welled up in his haggard, bloodshot eyes. His hands gripped the damp straw on the ground tightly as he said, “Although I was jealous of Du Mubai, as a scholar, integrity and righteousness are principles written in books! I didn’t want to do such things to ruin myself. But Xue He kept threatening me. He said if I didn’t agree, he would find every means to prevent me from taking that year’s examination, and even threatened my grandmother’s life! Plus, during those days Fang Tong and Jiang Wen pressured me constantly. I had no choice but to agree! I could only go against my own conscience and falsely accuse Du Mubai. As a result, he was stripped of his student status, and within a few days, he committed suicide! For these six years, I’ve suffered torment every day, living day after day in constant self-reproach. That feeling is like being in the eighteenth level of purgatory!”

The truth came suddenly!

Even somewhat unexpectedly.

The mastermind behind this was Xue He.

And Fang Tong and Jiang Wen, who vocally claimed to be wronged, were also participants.

Ji Yunshu was shocked and asked: “Then now, why are you telling me all this?”

“My grandmother is dead! I no longer have any attachments, nor do I need to worry about Xue He using this to threaten me. Moreover, I’ve already become like this now—what difference is there from a dead man? If I continue to hide the truth, when I go to hell in the future, what face will I have to see Du Mubai!” Speaking of this, he wanted to pound the ground several times.

While Ji Yunshu sympathized with him, she was also angry about such scheming and deception!

The competition among imperial examination candidates had always been fierce!

But—

She said: “Can I believe what you’re saying?”

Bingzheng unhurriedly took out three items from his waist!

Two pieces of paper and a package wrapped in yellow paper.

His hands trembling, he handed them to Ji Yunshu.

“Among these, there’s a confession I wrote with my handprint on it. There are also banknotes in that yellow paper package—the ones Xue He gave me back then. I never used them! The other piece of paper is a private letter Xue He wrote to me, clearly stating when and where he wanted me to meet him. That’s his handwriting—one comparison will tell!”

Ji Yunshu held the three items in her hands, very clear in her heart that this was responsibility!

And also Bingzheng’s trust in her!

She said: “Rest assured, I will make sure those who deserve punishment get what they deserve.”

“I entrust everything to you, Master Ji!”

“Since you were forced to do this, and now have voluntarily revealed the truth from back then, when the time comes, I will speak on your behalf so you can rush back to mourn your grandmother.”

“Thank you.”

“Then I’ll take my leave first.” Ji Yunshu nodded lightly at him, turned to leave, then after taking a few steps stopped and turned back to ask Bingzheng, “Also, the haunting incident at the Literary Lodge… was that your doing?”

Hearing this, Bingzheng smiled palely and leaned against the wall.

He closed his eyes.

And said nothing more.

Ji Yunshu understood.

She then left with the items in her hands.

The weak candlelight in the cell flickered on and off, finally extinguishing.

The corners of Bingzheng’s mouth kept smiling…

An incense stick’s time later, that confession, the banknotes, and the private letter were delivered to the Ministry of Justice.

Liu He, temporarily serving as Minister of Justice, was simply incredulous upon seeing them.

He immediately ordered: “Someone, go immediately and bring Xue He in for questioning.”

Soon, news of Bingzheng reporting Xue He spread.

Before the Ministry of Justice guards could reach Xue He’s residence to arrest him, Xue He had already learned of the news first.

He panicked and chose his path carelessly, nervous to the point of breaking out in a full sweat.

His palms tightened.

He immediately instructed his people: “Today we’re closing our doors to visitors. I have some business to attend to.”

“Yes.”

As soon as the main gate closed, he hurriedly left through the back door.

Heading straight for Second Prince Nayan’s residence.

Ever since last time when Nayan was outmaneuvered by Natuo, it could be said his vitality was greatly damaged.

His people were consecutively dismissed because of Du Mubai’s case from six years ago. In the imperial court, he was surrounded on all sides.

To avoid implicating himself, he could only obediently settle down.

Being proper and dutiful!

At this moment, he had just come out from the palace. His front foot had just entered when Xue He came knocking on his back foot.

“Your Highness, you must save me!”

“Save you?” Nayan glanced at him.

Although this person was already his student, he had after all once been a student of Marquis Pingyang’s household. So between them, there was still a layer of separation.

If it weren’t for the fact that this Xue He was a talented scholar who, if he could pass with high marks in the future and enter the court, could be of use to him—

Otherwise—

Nayan wouldn’t bother with him at all.

Xue He saw there were still people around and it wasn’t convenient to speak.

So he said: “Your Highness, could we speak privately?”

Not knowing what medicine this person was selling in his gourd?

But Nayan still agreed.

He allowed him into the hall and dismissed everyone else.

Once everyone had left, Xue He dropped to his knees with a “thud”!