chapter 14.4

Ren Anle breathed a long sigh of relief and clapped the wood of the hall.

"Wu Yue, you have committed cheating in the imperial examination. The evidence of your guilt is conclusive. This official will give you the same punishment as Song Xian and Liu Jiang."

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your kindness."

"Du Ting Song, you leaked the examination questions, disrupted the examination, and caused Li Chong En to kill himself. This official will strip you of your title as a scholar and sentence you to be executed after the autumn."

"Your Excellency, this student accept his punishment." Du Tingsong's face was ashamed and indignant. He kowtowed his head to the ground.

"Gu Qishan, although you only cheated in the examination and are not the main culprit, you have a nasty attitude, roaring in the law court and looking down on the law. This official sentence you to 30 planks, a fine of 1,000 taels of silver to help the poor candidates, and three years of hard labor."

Gu Qishan's face was blue and white, and his expression was indignant.

At this moment, the exam candidates in the hall were in high spirits, and there was a hidden excitement in their eyes as they looked at Ren Anle.

Inside the back hall, Han Yue didn't know when he had gotten up. He looked quietly at the vivid red figure standing proudly beyond a curtain. The admiration in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Ren Anle, far more magnificent than he could have imagined. No other woman in the world could be as unyielding as her in this high hall.

Wen Shuo stood behind Han Yue, his shocked expression unmistakable.

"Go back." Seeing that the trial was nearly over, Han Yue turned to leave towards the back door. "When you return, you will personally select a congratulatory gift to send to the Ren fu."

Wen Shuo raised his eyebrows.

"I'm afraid the capital is about to get a new Da Lisi Minister." Han Yue's hearty laughter came from afar.

Inside the hall, Ren Anle raised her head and looked towards the crowd of candidates on top of the stone steps, her voice was loud and clear.

"We are all born into different status, but life is unpredictable. Who knows what will happen to you in a few decades? You are the future pillars of our country, so this official hopes that you will all do your best in the Imperial examination.

On the day that you are successful in the imperial examination, Ren Anle will drink and celebrate with you all! Retreat the hall!"

The wood of the hall was struck again, Ren Anle walked into the back hall. The stone drums were beaten and the thunderous applause shook the sky and lasted for a long time.

Both the exam candidates standing on the stone staircase and the people watching from outside the prefecture had a sense of well-being that they had never felt before.

In the aisle of the back hall, the left minister, with an ugly look on his face, turned and brushed his sleeves away, while the right minister, listening to the scene outside, nodded secretly, scratched his beard and walked away shaking his head.

He was sure that after this incident, all the scholars in this examination would have a desire to return the favour to Ren Anle. It is true what she said ... that even a woman may not be unable to have a place in the court of Dajing, and now it seems that there is more than just a place.

The scholars, the common people, plus the courtiers whom Ren Anle praised in the hall today, have all imperceptibly become Ren Anle's support and protection.