Chapter 69

Yesterday, Tan Hanchi rang the Dengwen Drum at the Dengwen Drum Tower, bringing out the shocking Spring Examination cheating case.

Since yesterday, the gates of the Dengwen Drum Tower have been wide open.

This was the intention of the Yong Emperor. The Dengwen Drum couldn’t be just for show; it should be open for twelve hours.

Today, the one guarding the drum was one of the bailiffs who had been bribed by the Qingguo Mansion that day, surnamed Tian.

He secretly rejoiced last night that he was lucky not to be holding a cane. Otherwise, if the Qingguo Mansion had fallen, he might have been implicated!

Now he stood by the side of the courtyard’s stone pillar, nodding off.

He had been too indulgent with Xiao Lian’er in the kiln last night, and had almost not slept at all.

Sheng Mingcheng walked all the way to the Dengwen Drum Tower, his feet bleeding.

Hatred surged in his heart, and the small wounds on his feet were nothing.

There were pedestrians coming and going on the road. When they saw a beggar striding confidently into the Dengwen Drum Tower, they couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Another one?”

“What kind of grievances could this beggar have, that he wants to see the Emperor?”

“His body is so frail, he definitely wouldn’t withstand thirty lashes. Is he going to his death?”

Amidst the various speculations, everyone stopped in their tracks.

Sheng Mingcheng immediately saw the drum in the courtyard, and at that moment, he suddenly felt a sense of displacement.

Just yesterday, he had been laughing at Tan Hanchi’s misfortune, and today it was his turn.

The drum was supposed to be struck thirty times.

But at this moment, seeing the bailiff looking drowsy against the pillar, Sheng Mingcheng didn’t hesitate to walk up, pull out the drumstick, and pound away with all his might.

Dong!

Dong dong dong dong!

Sheng Mingcheng waved his hands, pounding the drum frantically while shouting at the top of his lungs!

The bailiff, taken aback by the sudden drumming, fell to the ground in shock. When he looked up, he saw a beggar pounding the drum like mad!

“It’s over!”

The bailiff shouted in horror. Three other bailiffs rushed over upon hearing the noise and pinned Sheng Mingcheng to the ground.

Sheng Mingcheng’s lips hit the ground, scraping off the skin and causing blood to fill his mouth. But he still shouted with all his might:

“I am Sheng Mingcheng of the Qingguo Mansion! I want to accuse the Second Prince, Shen Yuanbai—”

Hiss—

As soon as these words came out, not to mention the bailiffs, even the bystanders at the door were dumbfounded.

Sheng Mingcheng?

Wasn’t he the fugitive wanted by the court? Why was he accusing the Second Prince?

Sheng Mingcheng knew that if he didn’t finish his words now, he might not get another chance after the palace guards arrived. So he shouted at the top of his lungs:

“The Second Prince, Shen Yuanbai, knew about my grandfather’s cheating in the Spring Examination, but he deliberately concealed it in order to obtain the list of cheating students from my grandfather!”

“He secretly approached our Qingguo Mansion to seek the list, precisely to compete for the position of heir!”

“After our Qingguo Mansion was destroyed, he sent people to wait outside the mansion early on, snatched the list, and then tried to kill us siblings!”

“A thief with such cunning and ruthless methods, plotting for personal gain, how can he still aspire to the throne!”

“My Qingguo Mansion was wrong, but the Second Prince, concealing the truth for his own benefit, plotting in secret, is he not at fault!”

“Why should he be allowed to oversee the execution of our Qingguo Mansion? He deserves to die too!”

Sheng Mingcheng was pinned down by several people, but he still desperately lifted his head, blood spraying onto the ground, looking terrifying.

The bailiffs, upon hearing such secrets from him, wished they could cut off his ears on the spot!

It’s over, everyone who heard it is doomed!

At the entrance of the Dengwen Drum Tower, the people were already dumbfounded. A voice filled with righteous indignation sounded:

“Sheng Mingcheng, are you telling the truth? The Second Prince enjoys the blessings of the country; he cannot commit such heinous acts!”

This voice was mixed in with the crowded people, and for a while, no one could tell who it came from.

“I swear! I, Sheng Mingcheng, swear on my life that I have not spoken a word of falsehood! My Qingguo Mansion is gone. Why should the Second Prince be allowed to escape punishment just because he’s a prince?”

The bailiffs, upon hearing such shocking revelations, hurriedly took out a handkerchief, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it into Sheng Mingcheng’s mouth.

However, his words were clearly understood by the onlooking crowd.

He… Sheng Mingcheng swore with his life!

“How could the Second Prince do this! Hasn’t he ever considered how pitiful we, the students who have studied hard, are!”

“The Spring Examination is our only chance. As a prince, how can he disregard the hearts of us scholars from all over the world!”

“The Second Prince schemed for the list, so does that mean the list is now in the hands of the Second Prince?”

“Competing for the throne? But the Second Prince has half Northern blood. How could he possibly become the heir of our Great Yong Dynasty!”

“No, absolutely not. People from the North should never meddle in the affairs of Great Yong!”

…

Things often escalate in just a short while, and a few pointed comments can easily set the tone.

When people from the palace arrived, public opinion had already boiled over.

Qiao Zhongguo was originally squatting at home, happily listening to the news with his son and daughter-in-law, laughing heartily. However, he quickly received an urgent summons from the Emperor.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Jiaojiao’s expression was disdainful.

[See, I told you, that dog Emperor would definitely send someone to find Father!]

[With public opinion boiling over, it’s now time for the hero in the hearts of the people to appear!]

[Hmph, the dog Emperor really has the nerve to use my father’s reputation to cover up for the Second Prince. He really wants to come out!]

Upon hearing this, Qiao Zhongguo suddenly looked pained.

Good girl, can’t you phrase it differently? The way you said it almost gave your old father a heart attack…

Qiao Tianjing wanted to laugh but didn’t dare.

Qiao Diyi couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

Qiao Zhongguo finally found an outlet for his anger and immediately gave Qiao Lao’er a beating.

You little brat, laughing at me!

Qiao Diyi cried out in pain and jumped around.

“Ah ah ah! Dad, tell the truth, am I really the one you picked up?”

Qiao Zhongguo snorted.

Your older brother can hold back, but you have to laugh out loud. If I don’t beat you, who will?

“Alright, I’m going!”

Qiao Zhongguo patted the wrinkles on his clothes. With the Emperor’s urgent summons, he could enter the palace in casual clothes.

Qiao Tianjing stood up with Qiao Jiaojiao in his arms. Seeing Qiao Zhongguo walking confidently outside, his expression couldn’t help but become slightly solemn.

Qiao Jiaojiao looked at her father’s back and sighed secretly.

[Alas, Father is probably going to be disappointed when he goes.]

At this moment, even Qiao Diyi, who had been jumping around, quieted down and looked serious.

In fact, all three siblings could see that Qiao Zhongguo was not very happy just now.

Their father was loyal to this country and to the king of this country. He loved this land he had fought for with his life more than anyone else.

But, Emperor Yong was destined to disappoint Father.

The Second Prince’s rebellious intentions had already surfaced, but Emperor Yong’s obsession with Princess Yuliu had reached a frenzied level. He would definitely try every means to protect the Second Prince.

In this way, Father’s loyalty to the king would be completely shattered.

[Well, it’s good. With such a dog Emperor, our Qiao family won’t serve him anymore! Sooner or later, we’ll drag him down from the throne!]

[I hope Dad comes back soon. I’m the best at making people happy with my little tricks!]

[Dad doesn’t know yet, but I’ve been practicing very seriously recently. I actually know how to call him now!]

“Dad… Daddy…”

The soft, indistinct baby talk slowly sounded, making Qiao Tianjing and Qiao Diyi’s eyes light up.

“Sister! Hurry up and let big brother hear it!”

“No no no, Sister, you have to call Second Brother first!”

Qiao Jiaojiao: “…”

Don’t make it difficult for the baby who just started speaking!

“Daddy… Daddy…”