GBP Chapter 424 The Emperor is angry! Imprisoned and awaiting punishment!
Chapter 424 The Emperor is angry! Imprisoned and awaiting punishment!
"Lord Yun, do you really think His Highness can handle this matter?"
On the way to the palace, Wen Kaicheng, with a worried look on his face, couldn't help but ask.
Yun Jianye, who was riding a horse at full speed, smiled bitterly: "Your Highness has always had his own opinions, and we can't persuade him at all."
The implication was that even if Chu Ning couldn't handle the issue of cheating in the imperial examination, they couldn't persuade him, so they might as well just do what they should do.
Wen Kaicheng naturally understood the reason, but he still felt a little unwilling.
Is the imperial examination, which is held with great difficulty, going to be criticized because of cheating?
If this matter is not handled properly, the imperial examination may never be held again in the future.
The ministers in the court, the princes, and the wealthy families will definitely strongly oppose it.
Thinking of this, Wen Kaicheng sighed repeatedly, which triggered his chronic illness and he kept coughing.
Despite his illness, he was concerned about the safety of the imperial examination and still rode his horse to the palace.
Three quarters of an hour later, the two men arrived at the palace and were allowed in after being informed.
Imperial Palace, Yingwu Hall.
The emperor looked at Wen Kaicheng and Yun Jianye in surprise and asked, "As deputy examiners, why did you both ask to see me at the same time?"
Yun Jianye smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, cheating occurred in the examination room, and many candidates knew the test questions in advance."
As soon as these words came out, the emperor's face changed drastically: "This... How is this possible? The test questions were made by Chu Ning and Shen Wanying together, and they were only brought out yesterday. How could they be leaked so quickly?"
Yun Jianye and Wen Kaicheng didn't dare to speak.
Since this matter involves Chu Ning, no one dares to speak easily, for fear of bringing disaster to Chu Ning.
The emperor glanced at the two with cold eyes. Just as he was about to ask about the details, the eunuch chief Zhao Ming's voice came from outside the palace:
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and all the princes, nobles and ministers request an audience!"
Wen Kaicheng and Yun Jianye's faces changed drastically.
Trouble is coming!
These people are so fast in getting news!
What just happened in the examination room, they rushed to the palace and these people followed right after them.
While thinking, the emperor narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice: "Let them in!"
The prince and others filed in.
Everyone was not surprised to see Wen Kaicheng and the other man in the hall.
"Greetings to His Majesty (Father)!" Everyone bowed to the emperor.
The emperor glanced at everyone and asked in a cold voice: "Why are you all here?"
The prince's face was full of sternness, and he said in a deep voice: "Father, cheating occurred in the examination room. I suspect that my eighteenth brother leaked the test questions in advance. I request that your father order my eighteenth brother to be arrested!"
As soon as he opened his mouth, he wanted to capture Chu Ning!
The emperor looked a little unhappy.
He had wanted to use this imperial examination to vigorously recruit grassroots talents and get rid of the constraints of the aristocratic families on the court.
I didn't expect such a thing to happen at this moment, which gave those who were related to the aristocratic families a handle.
Once Chu Ning is captured, who will preside over the imperial examination this time?
The emperor, who understood the interests involved, had a cold look in his eyes. He looked at the others and asked:
"Everyone, what do you think?"
The Fourth Prince could not wait to step forward and said in a deep voice: "Father, this imperial examination is under the charge of Eighteenth Brother, and only Eighteenth Brother and his wife know the test questions. If the test questions are leaked, it is definitely related to Eighteenth Brother!
Brother Crown Prince is right. I think we should first capture my eighteenth brother."
Even the Eighth Prince stood up at this moment, with a righteous look on his face: "This imperial examination is related to the future of our dynasty, and absolutely nothing can go wrong.
But now that the cheating case has happened, the imperial examination must be stopped until the matter is investigated, and my eighteenth brother is no longer suitable to be the chief examiner! "
The three princes unanimously demanded that Chu Ning be captured!
Wen Kaicheng panicked and quickly stood up to plead for Chu Ning: “Your Majesty, although cheating occurred, His Royal Highness the King of Chu handled it in time and arrested all the cheating candidates!
At present, the King of Chu is continuing to supervise the examination in the examination room, and will not affect the imperial examination. "
As soon as he finished speaking, the Grand Tutor stood up and frowned, "Master Wen, you have been watching for many years, you should understand that if cheating occurs and the exam continues, won't other candidates continue to cheat?
Can you guarantee that all the cheaters will be caught and there will be no more cheaters in the next exam?"
“This…this…cough cough…”
Wen Kaicheng was so agitated by what he said that he was about to open his mouth to refute, but his body couldn't take it and he started coughing violently.
Yun Jianye quickly stepped forward and patted him on the back: "Master Wen, are you okay?"
"No...it's okay." Wen Kaicheng panted and shook his head.
The prince looked at the two with indifference: "As deputy examiners, if someone cheats in your examination room, you are guilty of the same crime as Chu Ning!"
"Father!"
The prince looked at the emperor and said in a deep voice: "I suggest that you take down these two first!"
The other ministers became excited upon hearing this, pointing at Wen Kaicheng and the other two and shouting, "Capture them, capture them!"
For a time, the two of them became rats crossing the street, and everyone wanted to beat them.
Liu Shouren, the Minister of Finance, who had been silent the whole time, saw that the situation was not good and had to stand up and plead for the two:
"Your Majesty, cheating in the exam may not necessarily be related to the two adults. Before the matter is investigated, you must not act rashly!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, the Fourth Prince sneered: "Don't act rashly? As the deputy examiner, you didn't even notice that someone brought cheat sheets into the examination room. This is dereliction of duty!"
"Father!"
The fourth prince looked at the emperor and said with a righteous face: "Those who fail in their duties should be arrested and investigated. Otherwise, how can we convince the public?"
The emperor was so confused by what everyone said that he couldn't help but rub his temples, trying to calm himself down.
What happened today is clearly unreasonable.
Cheating just happened in the exam room and someone came here to hold us accountable. The news came too quickly.
If this matter is not handled properly, it will definitely cause disputes in the court!
This first imperial examination must be handled well!
The emperor narrowed his eyes, glanced at everyone, and finally fixed his gaze on Wen Kaicheng and Yun Jianye.
"What everyone said makes sense. Since cheating has occurred, you two, as deputy examiners, have failed in your duties!"
Liu Shouren's face changed drastically. He was about to plead for mercy, but the emperor did not give him a chance to speak. He continued:
"Come here, arrest Wen Kaicheng and Yun Jianye first, and lock them up in the Ministry of Justice's prison to await their fate!"
Four imperial guards outside the palace immediately rushed in and captured the two men.
Wen Kaicheng suddenly became anxious and shouted: "Your Majesty, the imperial examination is of great importance. Now the imperial examination is still going on. If you take me and Lord Yun down, who will be responsible for the next imperial examination?"
The emperor snorted coldly: "Without the two of you, is there no one left to take charge of the imperial examination?"
Then, the emperor stood up suddenly: "Such an ugly thing happened. I want to go to the examination room in person to see how Chu Ning handles the follow-up!"
The prince and others were overjoyed when they heard this.
Chu Ning is in trouble this time.
Liu Shouren, Wen Kaicheng and Yun Jianye all looked extremely unhappy.
This is a problem. With the emperor in person, it is not certain whether the imperial examination can proceed.
Also, if Chu Ning continues to use the previous test papers to take the exam, he will definitely be caught by the emperor!
This time, the King of Chu is doomed!