sovbooks Chapter 61 The Scheme to Exterminate Children
Chapter 61 The Scheme to Exterminate Children
As the abrupt "Wait!" echoed through the hall, all eyes instantly focused on Yang Guang.
Then, Prince Yang Guang of Jin slowly walked out from the ranks of princes.
He walked with a composed gait, and on his incomparably handsome face, there was even a gentle and gratified smile, as if the demon who had threatened his nephew outside the palace gates had never existed.
"Your Majesty, I have two more matters to report!"
On his throne, Yang Jian looked at Yang Guang, who had stepped forward, and asked, "Oh? Guang'er, do you have any doubts about the war? Or do you have another plan?"
Yang Guang first bowed deeply and respectfully, his voice earnest: "Father, war is a matter of great importance to the state. Since you gentlemen have already devised a foolproof plan, I dare not say more. Minister Gao's plan is mature and strategic, and I can only admire it. However..."
"These two matters are related to the stability of the court before the war and the security of the rear. Your Majesty, I believe it is appropriate to consult with Your Majesty before issuing any orders."
"What do you mean?" Yang Jian frowned, clearly disliking this evasive manner. "Speak quickly."
Yang Guang took a deep breath, as if he had made a great decision, and suddenly raised his head, his voice carrying a hint of grief and indignation, and trembling:
"The first matter concerns the stability of the court, and even more so, the fairness of the talent selection ceremony of our Great Sui Dynasty!"
"Your subject has been ordered to manage all affairs in Yangzhou. Over the past few years, I have worked diligently and conscientiously, without daring to slack off in the slightest, all for the sake of recruiting talented individuals for our Great Sui Dynasty. This year, for the imperial examination, your subject has specially selected from among the many students in Yangzhou and recommended a brilliant but poor scholar named Liu Wenchang to go to the capital to take the examination."
At this point, Yang Guang's voice suddenly rose, echoing throughout the hall:
"This man is learned and talented, possessing great wisdom and strategic acumen. I was originally proud of him and hoped he would achieve high honors in the imperial examinations and share the burdens of the Emperor. But unexpectedly..."
He paused abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, staring directly at the throne: "This scholar, on whom I placed so much hope, died tragically in a brothel in Pingkang Ward of the capital on the eve of the imperial examination—a violent death!"
"The murderer is still at large!"
Upon hearing these words, the entire Daxing Hall fell into an eerie silence.
The civil and military officials looked at each other, their faces full of astonishment and confusion.
The important military and national affairs of conquering Liaodong have not yet been finalized, so how did they suddenly get involved in a seemingly unrelated murder case? And what's more, the murder occurred in a brothel, such an unclean place?
However, Yang Yan, standing in the queue, felt as if the blood in his body had been frozen instantly.
Great gift.
This is the "grand ceremony" that Yang Guang mentioned at the palace gate!
In that instant, the fragmented and unrelated memories in Yang Yan's mind, drawn together by Yang Guang's words, were like iron filings attracted by a magnet, snapping together seamlessly.
He remembered.
That was a fatal detail that the original owner of the body, and even the person after he was transmigrated, subconsciously overlooked.
The imperial examinations at the beginning of the transmigration were full of eeriness. In order to survive the inevitable political persecution, the original owner decided to take the risk and participate in the imperial examinations.
This whole thing is strange; the original owner wouldn't have acted that way given her personality.
Moreover, scientific expeditions require quotas and applications, so where do these qualifications come from?
At that time, he was drowning his sorrows in a tavern when he overheard the scholars at the next table chatting. They were talking about a hapless fellow from Yangzhou in the courtyard next door who was incredibly talented but a womanizer. He had "died drunk" in a brothel the night before the big exam, wasting his precious exam spot.
The original owner at the time thought it was a blessing from heaven, giving him a chance to "borrow a body and return to life" and take his place in the competition.
He bribed the relevant officials, took advantage of the vacancy created by the dead man, obtained the documents, changed his name and identity, and sneaked into the examination hall.
He still couldn't recall the specific details, but Yang Yan was certain of one thing: the original owner's participation in the scientific expedition was a conspiracy from beginning to end.
From the moment he had this idea, to someone offering him the exam qualification, to the deadly pill in the exam hall, to the carriage attack at that time!
"Yang Guang... so this is the 'grand gift' you prepared for me?!"
Yang Yan finally understood.
That talented scholar from Yangzhou, Liu Wenchang, was probably sent there by Yang Guang on purpose, and he was the one who killed him!
It must have been from the moment the original owner had the idea of taking the exam that he stepped onto the gallows that Yang Guang had carefully prepared for him!
Yang Yan felt that his back was soaked with cold sweat.
"Yang Guang...you have such a vicious mind."
Yang Yan lowered his eyelids, concealing the fleeting shock and anger in his eyes. His fingertips, hidden in his sleeve, dug deeply into his palms, forcing himself to calm down through the excruciating pain.
Because this is not just a murder case.
This is a complete trap, an abyss that was dug long ago to ensure his utter destruction!
If Liu Wenchang was Yang Guang's man, then the so-called "friend" who encouraged the original owner to "borrow a corpse to return to life" and take the place of the candidate in the imperial examination, as well as the "Liu Wenchang" who coincidentally died in a brothel to free up a place, and even the subsequent assassination outside the examination hall, were all part of a web woven by Yang Guang!
Yang Yan could even reconstruct Yang Guang's script: luring the eldest grandson of the emperor to impersonate a dead person. Once Yang Yan got involved, he would not only be guilty of deceiving the emperor, but also be suspected of "murdering to seize the emperor's name".
After devising one deadly scheme after another, they must also destroy one's spirit.
If this matter becomes a consensus in the eyes of others, what will Yang Yan be seen as in Yang Jian's eyes?
A scoundrel who, for the sake of a mere empty title in the imperial examinations, would not hesitate to mingle with scoundrels in brothels and might even be suspected of murdering poor students?
Not only were the methods despicable, but the flaws were also numerous, leading to them being caught red-handed.
Such incompetent people are not only a disgrace to the royal family, but also proof that the lineage of the Sui Dynasty's crown prince is completely rotten!
Yang Yan felt a chill run down his spine and straight to the top of his head. Was this the historical Emperor Yang of Sui?
When they strike, it's a decisive blow, leaving their opponents no chance to breathe.
At that moment, the air above the main hall seemed to solidify into a tangible substance.
On his throne, Yang Jian showed no expression.
The founding emperor merely frowned slightly; his eyes, which had witnessed countless vicissitudes of life, showed little emotion over the death of a single examinee.
In the eyes of emperors, the life of a poor scholar was not even worth as much as a warhorse on the frontier.
It was just a murder case, but things are different now. After all, it concerns scientific research and the policy of leaving a mark on history, so this matter can be big or small.
If it's just a regular murder case, the Ministry of Justice will handle it.
But Yang Guang chose this moment, raising it in the court where the grand strategy of conquering Liaodong was being decided, and it was certainly not just to plead for the life of a dead scholar.
Beneath Yang Jian's two white eyebrows, his gaze was like two cold, sharp swords, passing over the tearful Yang Guang and landing directly on Yang Yan.
That gaze wasn't one of anger or disappointment, but rather one of indifference akin to looking at a dead object.
The matter of Yang Yan taking the exam for someone else immediately came to the emperor's mind.
He was not clear about the details and did not know whether Yang Yan had ordered someone to kill Liu Wenchang and then take his place, or whether Yang Yan had taken the man after his death.
But he disliked both of them.
As the eldest grandson of the emperor, how could he possibly rely on such underhanded means to make a name for himself? If he truly possessed talent, why would he need to borrow someone else's name?
If you have no talent, just keep to yourself and don't make a fool of yourself.
Although Yang Jian had seen Yang Yan's strategy, if he couldn't even see through such an obvious scheme, then no matter how brilliant the strategy was, it was useless; he was just another Zhao Kuo.