klisemfg Chapter 557 Wang Xi admitted it, but it was useless; Heshen wasn't so easily brought down.
Chapter 557 Wang Xi admitted it, but it was useless; Heshen wasn't so easily brought down.
"Listen carefully, both of you. The search rules are even stricter than those for the provincial examination. There will be one search, then another, and you must supervise each other," Emperor Gaizhang instructed Mo Li and Heshen.
Mo Li said, "Lord He, listen carefully. The Emperor's intention is for the two of us to supervise each other. After you have searched all the candidates once, I will search them once more before they can enter the examination hall."
Heshen said, "Alright, alright, I understand. Your idea is aimed at me."
Mo Li said, "Lord He, why are they here for you? Didn't you understand what the Emperor said?"
Heshen said, "No matter who it's aimed at, don't you think about it? Letting those candidates check everything, one after another, do you think that's disgraceful and undignified?"
Emperor Gaizhang disagreed, saying, "The court should select truly talented individuals; appearances are secondary. This is my intention."
Upon hearing this, Heshen was speechless for a moment, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word.
He could only say, "It is His Majesty's will. After thinking about it carefully, this servant realizes it is indeed a good idea. I told you, Mo Li, you could never have come up with such a brilliant idea."
Mo Li said, "Oh my, Lord He, this... you're really something."
……
In the cell.
"Lord Liu, he has fainted again." The jailer stopped what he was doing.
Liu Yong said expressionlessly, "Splash him to wake him up."
The jailer immediately complied.
Wang Xi woke up, barely alive, and said, "Lord Liu, please spare me. I'd rather die."
"Want to die? Not so easy," Liu Yong said coldly.
Wang Xi said, "Lord Liu, I'm not trying to be mean, but do you think Heshen is so easily brought down? Even if I confess, without solid evidence, Heshen can say that you tortured him to get the confession, which led to this result. The Emperor loves Heshen deeply and will definitely not listen to you. In the end, you and Lord Mo will be in deep trouble."
Liu Yong thought that made sense... No, the Emperor was on Mo Li's side. He said, "You don't need to worry about this. You've admitted that Heshen instructed you. Heshen is your mastermind, isn't he?"
Wang Xi said, "Of course, I really can't take it anymore. It's too painful, it's worse than death. Please don't blame me, sir."
……
Royal study room.
Heshen and Moli stood before Emperor Gaizhang.
At this moment, Liu Yong strode in, bowed, and said, "Your subject Liu Yong greets Your Majesty."
"No need for formalities, Liu Yong. How is the investigation going? What did Wang Xi say?" Emperor Gaizhang sat in his chair, looking at Liu Yong kneeling on the ground.
Liu Yong stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Wang Xi has confessed that he conspired with Heshen to steal the exam questions."
Heshen said, "This is utter nonsense. Wang Xi clearly conspired with Mo Li to steal the Emperor's questions. Now, after all the investigation, they're saying I stole them. This is outrageous!"
Mo Li said, "Lord He, I ask you, why would I steal the exam questions?"
Heshen said, "Don't think I don't know about your affairs. You have a lover named Zhao Qing, right? Her friend went insane, and Zhao Qing disguised herself as a man to take the exam for him in order to save him. You stole the exam questions to help your lover."
Mo Li thought to himself, "You even know about Heshen's affairs? You really are quite capable."
After leaving Liansheng Inn, Zhao Qing went to find Heshen. Heshen said he could help her, but only if she paid 50,000 taels of silver. Zhao Qing couldn't afford it, so she had to leave Heshen's residence dejectedly.
It was only afterward that Heshen sent people to investigate Zhao Qing and learned of this matter.