These scholar candidates usually read so much that they rarely spoke, but now that the topic had started, they couldn’t stop themselves.

Chattering away in a flurry.

Like a little gossip session!

Sweeping away the previous terrifying atmosphere of the Academy being haunted.

Just as everyone was speaking most enthusiastically, Academy Official Xiao somehow appeared at the doorway.

He stood there imposingly, his gaze severe, having already heard everything everyone was discussing inside.

Truly furious!

He rebuked sharply, “Stop talking such nonsense.”

Hearing the sound, everyone looked over. When they saw it was him, the voices in the room came to an abrupt halt!

After all, the Academy was under Academy Official Xiao’s management. Those allowed to live here were required to have clean, honest family backgrounds and conduct—he wouldn’t tolerate such petty people gossiping behind others’ backs.

One should know that since Li Cheng discovered Du Mubai was murdered, Academy Official Xiao’s heart had been uneasy. After all, Du Mubai had been killed in the Academy under his management—by rights of culpability, he was also one of those responsible!

So to avoid stirring up Academy Official Xiao’s discomfort further, everyone quickly fell silent.

Not daring to say more!

Academy Official Xiao’s sharp gaze swept over them one by one.

His wide sleeves swept open forcefully.

“If you have time to talk about other matters, you’d be better off reading more books. There isn’t much time left until the examinations.”

“Understood.”

“If I hear anyone privately gossiping again, spreading false rumors, they’ll have to be asked to leave the Academy.”

Everyone fell silent.

Not daring anymore.

Academy Official Xiao finally left, seething with anger.

The scholar candidates indeed no longer discussed the matter, each returning to their own rooms, each reading their own books.

…

At this time, Fang Tong and the other two were being escorted to the Ministry of Justice prison.

Because the entire Ministry of Justice was busy today with Du Mubai’s murder case.

Therefore, their slander matter was temporarily set aside.

The three were confined in the same prison cell!

All holding the rank of provincial graduate, they were educated men—who would have thought they’d one day be imprisoned here?

Even if released later, they’d have no face to show.

Much less continue with the examinations.

With poor character, even if they passed the metropolitan examination, they absolutely couldn’t possibly rank in the top three.

Thinking about it now, they were filled with regret.

Jiang Wen usually seemed carefree and casual, but being confined in such a place, his heart inevitably felt uneasy.

He pulled at several dried straw stalks on the ground.

Then looking at Fang Tong leaning against the wall deep in thought, and then at Bing Zheng sitting quietly to one side with his head lowered, his anger suddenly flared.

He rebuked, “It’s all because of you! If you hadn’t let something slip, we wouldn’t be imprisoned here.”

Bing Zheng said nothing.

“Now you’re acting honest, but weren’t you quite talkative before that Master Ji? If you were going to speak, fine—but why did you have to recite that poem? And insist on mentioning the red rash on your body? If you want to die alone, why drag us down with you?”

“I also didn’t know that Master Ji would be so clever.”

“Regardless of whether she’s clever or not, you just needed to answer what she asked. Why say anything extra?”

“Heh!” Bing Zheng laughed coldly.

Seeing him like this, Jiang Wen became even more furious, straightening his body to say, “I’m telling you, you’d better insist it was you alone who wanted to frame Du Mubai. We only believed you were an honest person, so we were momentarily confused and helped you provide testimony. As for other matters, if you dare say one extra word, we absolutely won’t let you off.”

Bing Zheng still kept his head lowered.

His eyes showed not half a trace of fear.

“If I were going to speak, I would have already said it in the City Patrol Department’s hall.” After finishing, he slowly raised his head, looking at the red-faced Jiang Wen, and continued, “But just because I don’t speak doesn’t mean others can’t investigate and find out.”

“You…” Jiang Wen raised his fist.

Preparing to strike him.

Before the fist could land, Fang Tong spoke up: “Stop arguing!”

His voice was loud.

Jiang Wen’s fist froze in midair.

Finally, reluctantly, he pulled it back.

But his eyes stared straight at Bing Zheng.

Warning, “When we reach the Ministry of Justice hall tomorrow, you’d better not say anything. Otherwise, if you want to get yourself killed that’s one thing, but don’t implicate me and Fang Tong.”

Bing Zheng laughed again.

The laugh was extremely eerie.

In this cold, damp prison cell, it seemed even more unsettling.

Jiang Wen forcefully restrained his urge to hit him, turning instead to ask Fang Tong, “What do you think about this matter?”

Comparatively speaking, Fang Tong was much calmer.

He exhaled deeply, a trace of helplessness flashing across his face as he shook his head. “Right now, all we can do is wait.”

“Wait?”

“Otherwise what can you do?”

“What if they revoke our examination eligibility?”

Fang Tong countered, “In our current situation, even if we participate in the metropolitan examination, do you think the Ministry of Rites would let us pass to the palace examination?”

Jiang Wen: “…”

Obviously not!

They had falsely accused someone—their character was lacking!

Fang Tong said, “Right now all we can do is pray.”

“You seem completely unafraid?”

“Not afraid? You don’t know how frightened I am inside! But at this point, what use is fear?” Fang Tong had an air of acceptance, then looked toward Bing Zheng and said, “Bing Zheng, I know you’re feeling terrible, and I know we implicated you, but you also told lies. We’re now in the same boat! Since that’s the case, let’s give each other a way to survive. Tomorrow when we reach the Ministry of Justice hall, don’t make things worse. When the time comes, it won’t benefit anyone.”

The tone seemed pleasant enough.

But ultimately carried several degrees of warning!

Bing Zheng only responded faintly, “I’ll say it again—even if I don’t speak, that doesn’t mean others can’t investigate and find out.”

“As long as you don’t speak, we can naturally extricate ourselves.”

“Then I hope you have that luck.”

“…” Fang Tong was choked by his words.

He wanted to hit someone!

But still restrained himself.

At this time, Jiang Wen suddenly sat down beside Fang Tong and inquired, “What do you say—how about finding Xue He to save us? After all, he knows so many high officials and nobles.”

Ha!

Xue He?

Could this matter have some connection to Xue He?

Fang Tong frowned at him. “Have you gone mad? Find him? At this time, he’d be delighted if we died. That way, no one would know about his involvement. How would he save us?”

“But if he doesn’t save us, isn’t he afraid we’ll expose him?”

“Jiang Wen, after all these years, haven’t you figured it out yet? We have absolutely no evidence to prove he was the instigator of this matter. If we expose him, who would believe us? We could have originally extricated ourselves smoothly, but if we expose him, would the three of us still have our lives?”

Jiang Wen deflated like a punctured balloon.

Limply leaning against the wall.

Only able to sigh in dejection.

The prison cell once again fell into silence.

Gloomy and oppressive.

And just what relationship did that person called Xue He have with the three? Why was the matter of falsely accusing Du Mubai of plagiarism also connected to him?

Then was Du Mubai’s death also related to him?

Everything was like a massive vortex. Growing larger and larger…