Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Xu Yanmiao experienced the warmth of the bureaucracy.

The Crown Grandson experienced the darkness of the bureaucracy.

Both had bright futures ahead.

“I object!” The Crown Grandson’s eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth. “Why declare him not guilty?”

The emperor’s smile faded slightly. With a solemn expression, he looked at the Crown Grandson. “Gao Qisheng, do you truly believe that your false accusations of Xu Yanmiao’s exam fraud have gone unnoticed by me or the court officials?”

Surely not? Surely someone wouldn’t genuinely think that the court was only acquitting Xu Yanmiao because they feared their own scandals might be exposed? From Xu Yanmiao’s inner thoughts, anyone could tell he was being falsely accused!

Without the ability to hear thoughts, and if it had been any other official, they would already have been unjustly imprisoned. Any examiner implicated would have suffered the same fate. Such things had precedent in the dynasty’s history.

In the twelfth year of the Tiantong era, a candidate who was close friends with an official surnamed Cheng had been seen visiting the official repeatedly before the exams. These visits, though common and considered harmless during exam season, became problematic because the official later happened to be appointed as the chief examiner.

The situation worsened when the candidate, known for his carefree demeanor and exceptional talent, accurately guessed several exam topics and boasted about it. When the exact topics appeared during the exams, he achieved the top scholar position, but rumors spread that his friend had bribed the chief examiner with money and leaked the questions.

The friend was imprisoned, and the candidate was implicated as well. Despite their adamant denials during multiple interrogations, both were stripped of their titles. The chief examiner involved was also arrested and eventually dismissed.

The emperor glanced at the Crown Grandson. “You claim that Xu Yanmiao met with the Minister of Rites that night…”

The Minister of Rites, now with a serious expression, bowed respectfully and then turned to the Crown Grandson. “Your Highness, please clarify. On which night are you alleging that I met with Xu Yanmiao?”

The Crown Grandson declared, “Of course, it was at your own residence.”

The Minister of Rites fixed the prince with a cold stare. “But that night, I was staying at the General’s residence due to some business matters. Everyone in the household can attest to this. Your sudden accusation does not allow me to collude with the General’s servants, long-term or short-term workers. A simple summons will confirm the truth.”

The emperor ordered the Imperial Guards to go to the General’s residence to investigate.

After some time, the guards returned with testimonies.

This time, they provided formal statements gathered from the residence’s staff.

“Your Majesty, we’ve collected testimonies. The workers confirm that the General indeed hosted someone that evening. They arrived at dusk and didn’t leave until dawn. Around the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), a meal was prepared, featuring several dishes that the Minister of Rites particularly enjoys—ones he also favors during palace banquets. Later that night, several calls for water were made near the sleeping quarters.”

The Crown Grandson, momentarily confused, asked, “What do you mean by several calls for water?”

Yeah, what do you mean? Hahahhahah 

“That’s not important,” the Minister of Rites interjected swiftly. “I implore Your Majesty to make a judgment! I was not at my residence that night and was engaged elsewhere. How could I have met Xu Yanmiao?”

“Couldn’t the General have been involved as well?” the Crown Grandson suggested, undeterred by the rising tide against him.

The General chuckled. “That night, I was sharing a bed with the Minister of Rites. I didn’t have time to meet anyone else.”

Given the rumors that had already spread through the court, the General saw no harm in being blunt.

For other accusations, the Crown Grandson might have been able to twist the narrative, but with this one…

The Crown Grandson closed his eyes briefly. “Perhaps the three of you were meeting together!”

The emperor frowned. “Gao Qisheng, don’t be ridiculous.”

He added, “There’s no need to investigate further. With one false accusation exposed, it’s clear you’ve been making baseless claims.”

Desperate, the Crown Grandson retorted, “But Xu Yanmiao truly cannot replicate the writing he produced during the exams. I only ask one question: why can’t he write it again?”

The emperor replied coolly, “Who says he can’t?”

[Though I didn’t cheat, I really can’t replicate it…]

Ignoring Xu Yanmiao’s internal protests, the emperor whispered some instructions. Shortly after, the Imperial Guards brought in a desk, a low stool, and writing materials.

To ensure transparency, they held up the blank paper and displayed it to everyone, including the Crown Grandson, before handing it to Xu Yanmiao.

The General’s face showed a flicker of surprise. He whispered, “What is His Majesty thinking? How could Xu Yanmiao possibly write it? He only recently emerged from the ‘mystery of the womb.’”

The “mystery of the womb” referred to a spiritual belief—just as bodhisattvas or arhats lost memories of their past lives during reincarnation, mortals believed those born with extraordinary destinies might experience a temporary “fog” over their abilities and knowledge after birth.

The Minister of Rites murmured thoughtfully, “His Majesty is greedy. He wants the auspiciousness of Bai Ze and his reputation intact… He must have tampered with the paper beforehand.”

Meanwhile, Xu Yanmiao gripped the brush tightly, his wrist tense.

The Crown Grandson watched him intently, brimming with confidence.

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