chapter 12.2

In the crowd, they don't know when the exam candidates who were at the Juxian Building just now all gathered outside the Da Lisi. When they heard that Pei Zhan was going to release Gu Qishan, they came out and questioned him loudly..

Pei Zhan saw the identity of these scholars and his expression changed. He glared at Wu Chong and hurriedly said, "Gentlemen, this is just a rumor. The Da Lisi has found out that the mastermind of the fraud case is the cabinet scholar Li Chong'en. Wu Yue has nothing to do with others..."

"Your Excellency!" Huang Pu stepped forward, interrupting Pei Zhan's words. He looked at the exam candidates under the government office and said loudly, "This case has not yet been investigated. Last night Wu Yue confessed that his examination questions came from Du Ting Song, son of the Minister of Household Affairs." He turned back around and arched his hands in obeisance towards Pei Zhan, "Also asked Your Excellency to ascend to the court and examine this case strictly."

Pei Zhan is in the Da Lisi, so naturally he can no longer go beyond the sacrificial altar and take over the kitchen.

[to go beyond the sacrificial altar and take over the kitchen (idiom); fig. to exceed one's place and meddle in other people's affairs; to take matters into one's own hands; The person who officiates at the ritual is stepping over the ceremonial vessel to take the place of the chef. It is a metaphor for going beyond one's duties, overstepping one's authority or taking over.]

The common people under the Dali government office suddenly went uproar and discussed spiritedly.

Pei Zhan's face was extremely ugly. He turned his head and whispered angrily, "Huang Pu, you actually dare to force this official! Li Chong'en has already left a suicide note confessing his guilt, and now you are only relying on Wu Yue's one-sided statement. If this official insists on not raising the court, what can you do to me?"

Pei Zhan was also furious and confused.He had been an official for dozens of years and had made a name for himself in the imperial court with his long-sleeved and good dancing]. He had never imagined that he would one day be forced to such an extent by Huang Pu, who was inferior to him, and a group of white body scholars.

[ Long-sleeved good dancing/ long sleeves and good dance skills means to able to balance the forces of all sides well, so that one is in the most advantageous position to gain the highest benefits and not be drawn into the conflicting interests of various other factions, thus keeping one's own benefits gained and a safe position from the constraints of others.]

[ The term "white clothes" became a synonym for a commoner who had no honorary title. In addition, the terms "white scholar", "white body" and "white people" have basically the same meaning, all they all refer to ordinary people without merit.]

"If Your Excellency does not ascend the hall ..." Huang Pu stepped back and took off his official hat, "then this humble official will overstep his bounds."

Ren Anle narrowed her eyes. Pei Zhan's expression changed, stunned in place.

Huang Pu suddenly turned around and took out a memorial from his sleeve. He slowly opened it up and presented it to the crowd, saying in a loud voice, "Gentlemen, the Da Lisi is in charge of the capital's prison. There will never be any unjust or false cases. Huang Pu will go to the Qinglong Pavilion to request His Majesty to give everyone a fair trial."