Chapter 505
Chapter 505
The social butterflies of the capital also rushed to join the students' protest. A dozen or so renowned courtesans came to show their support for the examinees. The only thing they could do, of course, was sell something—not their bodies, but their songs. They tirelessly came to the Sacred Temple and sang for the failed candidates. Moreover, the songs they sang had lyrics crafted from poems written by the sages. These were songs hastily composed for the occasion, and every one of them included this line:
"An unjust examination has dishonored the sages. Shen Lang cheated and deserves divine punishment!"
To draw more attention, they added even more shocking lyrics. For instance, lyrics claimed that heaven and earth wept over this matter, or that the heavens and earth would split apart. These renowned courtesans never missed an opportunity to be in the spotlight. Moments like these were the best chance to make a name for themselves, and for them, fame was synonymous with their value. Besides, they didn't like Shen Lang.
Why? Because Shen Lang had never visited them, nor had he ever praised them like other men. Instead of seeking out talented and famous courtesans, Shen Lang secretly went to brothels to find lowly young prostitutes. (These renowned courtesans were those who sold their talents to build their fame, not their bodies, while the prostitutes in the brothels sold their bodies.)
'Shen Lang, you're a man of taste and talent, so why don't you visit renowned courtesans like us? Why do you instead seek out those lowly prostitutes who only sell their bodies? What is the meaning of this? Are you looking down on us?'
In truth, Shen Lang wasn't looking down on them; he simply didn't want to get involved and earn their resentment. It was too much trouble.
'Reciting poetry to win a courtesan's favor and then visiting her pavilion for a drink might be a great honor, but I, Shen Lang, am no fool. Why should I help raise your value like that? Can't we all just be honest? I pay, we sleep together? Although I, Shen Lang, might have the inclination, I'm too timid to have actually made such a deal with you, but I believe in straightforward transactions. But if I were to exchange poetry and prose with you famous courtesans, showing my ardor for you, wouldn't I be wronging my wife? I love my Mulan dearly, so I will never be emotionally unfaithful.'
For these reasons, Shen Lang gave them the cold shoulder, and as a result, he became their public enemy.
* * *
The next day, at the morning court session.
Numerous censors and civil and military officials were all sharpening their knives. A great disturbance had erupted in the capital today, and everyone was ready to add fuel to the fire.
'We must use this opportunity to strip those eleven beggars under Shen Lang of their honors. We must take down Shen Lang.'
Why did they hate Shen Lang so much? Of course, their hatred for Shen Lang was a factor, but their primary goal was less about him and more about seeing the King bow his head this time. The King allowing eleven beggars to take the Imperial Grace Examination had certainly enraged the civil and military officials.
'We studied for over ten years, trained in martial arts for over ten years, just to earn the right to enter the examination hall, just to earn the right to become officials. And yet, just because Shen Lang has His Majesty's favor, he can casually bring in eleven beggars to take the examination? Where is the justice in that? If this is allowed, what becomes of our dignity? No, what becomes of the way of the sages!
Originally, if those eleven beggars had failed, that would have been the end of it. But as it happened, all eleven of them passed, and that madman, Nan, even took first place. How can this be? Isn't it now our turn, the civil and military officials, to lose face? Wouldn't it seem as if we impeached Shen Lang out of jealousy, as if we made a baseless fuss? His Majesty would appear to have a discerning eye for talent, while we would look like foolish subjects in comparison, wouldn't we? How can that be allowed?
Just in time, thousands of examinees and scholars have come to cause a commotion. This is our chance. We must add fuel to the fire and somehow frame this incident as a case of cheating. No matter how much His Majesty favors Shen Lang, he can't possibly stand against thousands of scholars and a hundred civil and military officials.'
A hundred officials had impeachment memorials hidden in their sleeves, ready to beat Shen Lang to death once the court session began. The truth of the matter was of no importance. In the great hall, the civil and military officials were bracing for a major confrontation. Just then, a sudden commotion arose outside, and everyone uniformly bowed to the newcomer.
"Prime Minister Zhu!"
"Teacher!"
"Master Zhu!"
Prime Minister Zhu Hongzhu had arrived. Wherever he passed, the civil and military ministers all paid their respects. With Prime Minister Zhu's arrival, everyone felt they had gained a powerful ally.
'This battle is as good as won. If the Prime Minister makes a move, even His Majesty will have to compromise.'
Everyone gathered around Zhu Hongzhu. One of the ministers, with tears in his eyes, said,
"Prime Minister Zhu, you are our leader. You must redress the grievances of us scholars. They are in a pitiful state. Thousands are kneeling outside the Sacred Temple, wailing so hard they've coughed up blood. Moreover, they have all begun a hunger strike. Even the women from the brothels couldn't bear to watch and have all rushed to support the failed candidates. Prime Minister Zhu, it's possible there truly was cheating in this examination. How is it plausible that eleven beggars all passed?"
"Prime Minister Zhu, that Shen Lang is nothing but a troublemaker who stirs up storms from nothing."
"Prime Minister Zhu, the civil and military examinations are tied to the very lifeblood of our nation. If there is cheating in the examinations, the very foundation of the country will rot. For the dignity of the sages, for the enduring legacy of our State of Yue, we implore you, Prime Minister Zhu, to stand with the scholars of the realm. Justice must be restored to the world."
After he finished speaking, a hundred officials bowed in an orderly fashion and said,
"We implore you, Prime Minister Zhu, to stand with the civil and military examinees. We will follow your lead completely."
Prime Minister Zhu Hongzhu nodded and replied,
"I understand. In a moment, none of you should rush to present your memorials. I will take the lead!"
The officials were ecstatic.
'That's for the best. Zhu Hongzhu is the greatest scholar in the realm, the leader of the court officials, the King's teacher, and his father-in-law. If he steps forward, Shen Lang is as good as dead, and even the King will have to compromise. Following him, we won't have to risk incurring the King's wrath!'
A moment later, King Ning Yuanxian appeared.
"If there are memorials to present, speak. If not, the court is dismissed!"
At that moment, all the ministers looked at Prime Minister Zhu Hongzhu. The Prime Minister stepped out from the crowd, bowed, and said,
"Your Majesty, this subject has something to report."
The King said affectionately,
"Imperial Father, please speak."
Zhu Hongzhu was startled inwardly. The King had not addressed him as 'Imperial Father' for a very, very long time.
"Someone has claimed there was cheating in the recent civil and military Grace Examinations. This old subject has already investigated and found it to be utter nonsense. A few individuals with ulterior motives were inciting the failed candidates to cause a disturbance. I beseech Your Majesty to punish them severely."
Hearing Zhu Hongzhu's words, the civil and military officials present were utterly stunned.
'Prime Minister Zhu... what is the meaning of this?'
King Ning Yuanxian asked,
"Then, in your opinion, Imperial Father, how specifically should they be punished?"
"We must use harsh methods to demonstrate the strictness of the law. Among those with sinister motives who instigated this disturbance, those who must be killed should be killed, those whose honors must be stripped should have them stripped, and those who can be released should be released. However, for the majority of the foolish examinees, a light punishment will suffice."
Ning Yuanxian nodded and replied,
"Having an elder in the house is like having a treasure. Imperial Father, you serve the nation with such experience. Everything will be as you wish. Do any of the other ministers have an opinion?"
The civil and military ministers, who had originally intended to impeach, all bowed and said,
"Your Majesty is wise. We are in agreement."
'Since the King and the Prime Minister are of one mind, how could we dare to voice a different opinion?'
"Ning Qi, you are the Central Governor of Tianyue, so I will entrust this matter to you."
At the King's smiling words, the Third Prince Ning Qi bowed and accepted the command.
"This subject accepts the command!"
The King continued,
"Ning Zheng, you will also handle this incident with your third brother!"
Ning Zheng stepped forward and said,
"This subject accepts the command!"
Everyone was inwardly shocked.
'What does His Majesty mean by this? He's giving that useless prince, Ning Zheng, a chance to handle an incident?'
Only a few of the major figures present understood the King's true intentions. The King intended to use Ning Zheng's hand to let Shen Lang vent his anger. They could not contain their indignation.
'Why? Shen Lang caused such a huge uproar, yet not only is he not being punished, he's being allowed to take his anger out on others?'
"Lian'en, take the Palace Guard and go with them."
* * *
An hour later, a large force dispatched from the capital's Central Governor's Office charged directly toward the Sacred Temple. At that time, outside the Sacred Temple, a dozen or so renowned courtesans were coquettishly singing to encourage the examinees. The young eunuch Li Lian'en frowned the moment he saw them, his expression filled with disgust.
"Kill them!"
The moment the order was given, dozens of soldiers leaped at them like fierce tigers, swinging their swords and cutting down all dozen or so courtesans. The lives of the beautiful women were cut short as bright red blood splattered everywhere. In an instant, a dead silence fell over the entire Sacred Temple. The wails of the thousands of failed candidates ceased abruptly, as if they were ducks with their necks wrung.
* * *
While the Third Prince Ning Qi was dealing with the failed candidates at the Sacred Temple, Ning Zheng was in charge of the hooligans who had caused the disturbance. Of course, though Ning Zheng was officially in charge, it was actually Shen Lang who took the lead. Shen Lang produced a long list. It named a full thousand hooligans who had all made a bet with him but then incited people to cause a disturbance to avoid honoring their promise. Shen Lang had a computer for a brain; no one could escape his notice. After receiving the King's edict, Wu Lie, Gao Daohuan, and Nan Yi, Nan Er, and the others led several hundred Palace Guards, storming house after house like ferocious tigers. Thus, all the hooligans and ruffians who had caused the recent disturbance were rounded up.
'Did you think hiding would do you any good? Did you think you'd be safe if you just ran inside and shut the door?'
In just two short days, hundreds of hooligans and ruffians were captured and dragged to an abandoned camp outside the capital. Shen Lang appeared before them once again, and the hooligans all dropped to their knees.
"Young Master Shen Lang, we know nothing about this. You've got the wrong people."
"Young Master Shen Lang, we were wrong. Please let us go."
"Young Master Shen Lang, heaven has the virtue of cherishing life. You should show mercy when you can."
"Young Master Shen Lang, if you let us go just this once, we'll spend every day telling everyone what a good person you are."
The hooligans wept and sniveled, looking utterly pathetic. Shen Lang pinched his nose firmly and said,
"There is a massive cesspit ahead. It contains over several hundred thousand catties of excrement. That's because this is a place for making compost. You were supposed to eat ten catties, but it's hard to measure it out for each of you! I want only one thing. If you can survive in this giant cesspit for half a quarter-hour and not die, I will forgive you."