Chapter Twenty-Eight: The So-Called Truth (I)

"That is why Mother forces you to study and is so strict with you. If you could earn a scholarly rank, no one would look down on you in the future..."

The woman spoke while coughing incessantly, her complexion growing increasingly pale.

Wei Xin turned his head, looking at the haggard woman. He kowtowed, his expression indifferent. "Mother... you don't need to worry about me anymore. Your unfilial son will be going ahead of you..."

A gasp erupted from outside the court as the woman completely collapsed, unconscious. "Madam!"

Seeing this, the Governor ordered the estate physician to examine her.

Wei Xin turned to look at Lin Menghua. "Did you have my mother brought here?"

"She was locked in her room by your father and was so furious she nearly died. I had someone bring her out."

Wei Xin remained silent for a moment. He looked at his mother being carried away, then at the County Lieutenant who looked at him with bone-deep hatred. Suddenly, he bowed his head and gave a cold laugh. "Fine, I will tell you the truth you want!"

"This matter must be traced back to two years ago, when Xu Qi was still in Class B-3."

"In the Prefectural Academy, those from prestigious families looked down on those from humble backgrounds, and those who earned their way in through examinations looked down on those who bought their way in. Every class looked down on the others."

Governor Sun frowned. "That is merely your personal opinion. After all, the Prefectural Academy judges heroes by their talent."

Wei Xin's lips curled into a mocking smile, though he did not immediately refute the point, laughing noncommittally.

After a long pause, he said, "My Lord, what you speak of is likely only true for the students in Class A. Would you care to ask the crowd outside? Or better yet, ask Xu Qi himself—why did he push himself so hard to move from Class B-3 to Class A-3 back then? Xu Qi was lucky, but not everyone has that kind of luck. People like me, for instance, or Ji Sheng."

The Prefect of the Prefecture slammed his gavel. "Cease this digression! You need only explain how Ji Sheng died!"

Governor Sun's expression was equally ugly, as he cautiously observed the reactions of Fu Cen and his entourage.

Where is there no discrimination? Could they really be unaware of the discrimination within the academy? While it was an obvious fact, it did not mean it could be brought into the light.

To bring it into the light was improper! It would imply negligence by the local officials, such as the County Magistrate, who held the duty of moral instruction.

As for Class A, the number of successful candidates in the imperial examinations each year was a measure of a province's political achievements and its reputation, so the academy naturally placed greater importance on them.

The Prefect swept a glance at the onlookers outside and felt a headache coming on. He wondered how many students might flow toward Jiannan Circuit next year if this word got out...

"Ji Sheng... was killed by Xu Qi!"

Xu Qi, who had been glaring at Wei Xin with resentment, felt his heart skip a beat upon hearing this, his expression turning blank with shock.

"How could I have harmed Brother Ji? Explain yourself!"

"That's right! Wei Xin, stop spouting nonsense and dragging others into this!"

***

Wei Xin gave a cold laugh and challenged him: "On that day at the Yanyu Pavilion, the person Qi Rui intended to invite was you. I want to ask you: why was it Ji Sheng who showed up instead?"

"What banquet? I never received an invitation from Qi Rui!" Xu Qi's face was full of bewilderment and shock.

"Impossible! Qi Rui snuck out that day and didn't bring his servant. It was Yu Su's servant who delivered the invitation. The servant clearly reported that he had placed the invitation on your desk."

"But I never saw any invitation..." Xu Qi immediately denied it.

"Bring that servant here to be questioned," Fu Cen, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up.

"Why haven't you summoned him yet!" the Governor ordered, looking toward the Sima at his side.

The Sima was stunned, then, as if realizing something, he gritted his teeth and said, "After my son died, that servant feared punishment from his master and ran away. I have been searching for him as well!"

So, there were no witnesses!

"Could it be that the servant placed it in the wrong spot?" Xu Qi suggested.

The Prefect and the Governor nodded; after all, there were so many people in the academy! They both felt it was highly probable.

Wei Xin sneered. "Ha... Yu Su's servant often came to deliver things to him and fetch his book basket. Given how familiar he was with the academy, how could he have made a mistake!"

"So, what actually happened that day?"

Wei Xin glared at Xu Qi but did not answer the question directly.

After a moment, he said, "Qi Rui was a man who always suffered from deep inferiority."

"My son, inferior?" The Sima looked disbelieving, thinking Wei Xin was spouting nonsense.

He was the prestigious Sima of Liangzhou; Qi Rui was his legitimate son. Would he feel inferior?

"Qi Rui's family background was not poor, and while his grades in the academy weren't top-tier, they were middling. How could he reach such a state of inferiority?" The Prefect was equally unable to comprehend.

"Because you always looked down on him." These words were directed at the Sima. "He had a cousin named Qi Ming, whose own family had fallen into poverty. You brought him into your home and treated him like your own son. You often compared Qi Rui to him, telling Qi Rui that he was flawed in every way and inferior in everything."

"Qi Rui revealed all of this after a bout of heavy drinking. He hated Qi Ming, but he didn't dare to deal with him openly! So, he transferred his hatred onto people like himself—those who were born lowly yet relied on their ability to curry favor to stand out."

"People like Xu Qi, like Ji Sheng!"

"Xu Qi, you should be grateful that Ji Sheng was there. Otherwise, how could you have remained unscathed until now?"

Xu Qi's lips trembled, and he took a step back.

The Sima glared at Wei Xin, his face flushing and paling by turns. "This boy is insane! His words cannot be trusted!"

***

Although he was reluctant to believe it, if it involved family scandal, it was best not to drag it out in court. In any case, there was solid evidence that this boy had killed his son!

The Sima quickly made a decision and stood up: "Your Highness, my Lord, I request that this man be thrown into the dungeon immediately and executed at a later date!"

"What is the rush!" Fu Cen glanced at him, his expression slightly angry. "Let him speak!"

"Let him speak!" someone among the students outside shouted.

Immediately after, a low, scattered murmur erupted.

"Let him speak!"

"Why can't he talk? Are you afraid to listen?"

"Let him speak!"

Soon, the crowds on the outer perimeter were in an uproar.

"That's right! Let him speak!"

The Prefect slammed his gavel. "Silence!"

"Wei Xin, continue!"

Wei Xin enjoyed the sight of the Sima’s anxious, agitated, and resentful face for a moment. Listening to the voices of support from outside, he couldn't help but straighten his back.

He suddenly felt a sensation he had never experienced before.

A look of vengeful satisfaction appeared on his face, mixed with a sense of relief and liberation.

"Xu Qi was admitted to Class A-3, which Qi Rui regretted at the time. Since Ji Sheng didn't get in, Qi Rui blamed Ji Sheng for Xu Qi's share of the success."

"On the first holiday after you left, Ji Sheng intended to take his transcribed books to the bookstore to exchange them for money, but he was dragged into an alley by Qi Rui's servant. A group of them cornered Ji Sheng and beat him severely."

"A group? You were among them, weren't you?" Lin Menghua asked.

"Yes, I was!" Wei Xin no longer cared; he ignored the buzzing gossip outside.

"There was me, Yu Su, Qi Rui, and all of our servants."