roccoschili Chapter 315 - 311 Dust Settles
Chapter 315 - 311 Dust Settles
Chapter 315: Chapter 311 Dust SettlesEvery candidate was thoroughly
The Empress Dowager did not wish for the tenth Prince to harbor resentment as he grew older, as it would be detrimental to brotherly harmony and national stability. By deposing her now, her longevity was left to fate, unrelated to anyone else.
Furthermore, the Empress Dowager believed that if Heaven spared the Empress while on death’s brink, it must’ve had its reasons. Presumably, she had committed too many wrongdoings, and it was time for her to endure some suffering.
Both the Su head of the household and the High Priest Su, along with their descendants, were executed. The female members and servants of the Su family were exiled to the frontier.
Other officials involved in this affair were either executed or exiled as well.
All the examinees who took part in this were flogged with ten heavy strokes, stripped of their titles, banned from taking the imperial examination for three generations, and condemned to servitude for ten years.
Ten heavy strokes were not excessive, but for the delicate scholars, it was almost half a life taken. Immediately after the beating, they were seized for servitude, which was lethal. The reason they were punished with ten strokes instead of fifty was for fear of taking their lives, which would have prevented them from fulfilling their servitude.
Ten strokes were just right! It wouldn’t claim their lives, but the blossoming of their buttocks was guaranteed to be unbearable.
After the end of the provincial examinations, when the candidates came out, the matter had already been resolved. They were extremely shocked to hear about it!
"No wonder there was some ’noble person’s random selection’ going on during the examination; the selection was a sham! The real goal was to arrest people!"
"Truly, Heaven has opened its eyes this time! Those who’ve committed terrible evils deserve to be punished!"
"Banned from the examination for three generations? Ha-ha! Good! They deserve it!"
"The Emperor has been too lenient; he should have sent them to the frontier!"
"I think servitude is better than exile. Ten years of grueling servitude is no small ordeal; the tasks are dirty, tiring, and tough. Hardly anyone survives ten years of servitude and comes out unscathed!"
The Imperial Court was at the time greatly engaged in water conservancy projects and city wall construction, requiring lots of stone. Quarrying stones was exhausting and filthy, mostly left for the convicts to do, as it saved silver.
Many commoners also worked in the quarries, as the pay was exceptionally high, but it was dangerous as well. There was always the risk of being crushed by large rocks, and people often got their toes shattered.
Broken legs were the least of it; many lost their lives.
...
The examinees were gathered around the announcement board, buzzing with discussion.
Ruo Shui and Ruo Shan were also looking at the board. After reading it, they decided not to join the discussion and planned to return home.
Just then, the examinees who had used sorcery to cheat were escorted out by the officers, to be taken to the quarries for servitude.
Jia Shijie saw them and immediately shouted, "Brother-in-law! Fellow Ruo, Ruo Shui! Save me! I’ve been wronged! Please save me!"
Ruo Shui and Ruo Jiang both glanced at him, then turned their heads away in unison as if they hadn’t seen anything, stepping away together in step.
Jia Shijie tried to dash forward, only to be kicked in the buttocks by an officer.
Falling to his knees with a thud, Jia Shijie’s tears came out from the pain. Pointing towards Ruo Shui, he said, "I’ve been framed; that man is Princess Wuyou’s biological father, and I am Princess Wuyou’s uncle! I demand justice! Ruo Shui, save me! I’ve been deceived!"