Chapter 104: A Mentor’s Favor

Tang Yin’s face was full of sincerity. He stood up, then knelt down again and said, “If Mentor has a way, can you try to save Xu Jing?”

He really had no other options left.

He was an outsider after all. Even though he had passed the Imperial Examination as a Tribute Scholar, he had no connections in the Capital. After thinking it over, wasn’t his Mentor the son of Nanhe Bo? And now Mentor worked in the House of the Crown Prince. Perhaps… his Mentor had a way?

As he spoke, his eyes reddened slightly, and his gaze was pleading.

Fang Jifan couldn’t help but think to himself, Little Tang is actually quite a loyal person, just like Ouyang Zhi and the other two.

Because of this, Fang Jifan started to feel a bit proud. Birds of a feather flock together. Why were all his disciples so loyal? It must be because he, Fang Jifan, was exceptionally righteous himself.

However…

Save Xu Jing? Are you kidding me?

In any major scandal related to the Imperial Examination, before the matter was fully investigated, anyone who interfered would likely face severe consequences. There was simply no reasoning involved. Had Little Tang been beaten silly by him? Did he really think that just because he could intimidate a Chief Constable of Shuntian Prefecture, he could walk into the Brocade Guard and meddle in an Imperial Examination scandal?

Fang Jifan wasn’t foolish to that extent. As the son of Nanhe Bo, a Chief Banner Officer of the Imperial Forest Guard, a holder of the Golden Belt, and the keeper of the Imperial Sword, Fang Jifan had a clear understanding of what matters he could stir up and what matters he absolutely must not touch.

“Alright, I will try to find a way to save him. But… this matter must be kept secret.”

Fang Jifan agreed without hesitation.

Tang Yin was stunned. He looked at Fang Jifan in shock. His Mentor… had agreed!

His face filled with gratitude, and he nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick. He couldn’t hold back a sob and said, “Thank you, Mentor. Your kindness is as weighty as a mountain. Even if I were crushed to pieces, I could never repay a fraction of it. If Brother Xu can be saved, I will surely bring him to thank you for your lifesaving grace.”

Fang Jifan made an acknowledging sound, but in his heart, he thought that at this moment, everyone must believe Xu Jing was doomed.

After all, Xu Jing had already confessed. Although Cheng Minzheng refused to admit guilt even unto death, the Brocade Guard had already obtained evidence of financial transactions between the two.

In everyone’s minds, since this was a case personally approved by the Emperor and the Brocade Guard had gotten involved, with solid evidence, the only outcome for Cheng Minzheng and Xu Jing was to be dragged to the market and executed. If they were even unluckier, their families might also face punishment.

But Fang Jifan knew that Emperor Hongzhi did not act blindly. Instead, he carefully compared the confessions and evidence, and finally ordered Li Dongyang to investigate the matter thoroughly.

In the end, the case turned into a muddled affair. Due to the lack of definitive proof, Emperor Hongzhi ultimately only stripped Xu Jing of his status as a Tribute Scholar, forbade him from further participation in the Imperial Examinations, and released him from the Imperial Prison.

So… Fang Jifan naturally agreed readily. When Xu Jing was eventually released, who would know whether Fang Jifan’s efforts had contributed? Matters of negotiation and rescue were always kept secret. Whether he had actually tried to save Xu Jing in secret, only heaven would know.

One day, when Xu Jing, with a few broken ribs, walked out of the Imperial Prison, Tang Yin would surely believe it was the result of his Mentor’s intervention.

Claiming credit for such a grand achievement seemed a bit dishonorable. But in order to build the image of himself as an all-powerful Mentor, it seemed he had no other choice.

Fang Jifan patted his chest and said, “Little Tang, don’t worry. Leave this matter to me.”

Tears instantly welled up in Tang Yin’s eyes. He suddenly felt that he must have misunderstood his Mentor before. His Mentor turned out to be such a straightforward and righteous person. The rumors circulating outside were truly unreliable.

So, with tears of gratitude, he bowed again and said, “Mentor, your disciple… your disciple is endlessly grateful.”

Ouyang Zhi and the other two, however, remained expressionless, still looking like stunned chickens. They thought to themselves that their Mentor was being a bit rash. How could he possibly save someone in such a major case?

However, they had long grown accustomed to their Mentor doing unreliable things, so they didn’t find it particularly strange.

At that moment, they heard Fang Jifan call, “Deng Jian… Deng Jian…”

Deng Jian rushed in and said, “Your servant is here.”

“Go.” Fang Jifan stood up. “Accompany Little Tang to the inn and help him move his belongings. Ask Manager Yang to prepare a room for him. Also, Little Tang is a talented man, so make sure to provide him with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.”

Manager Yang had been waiting outside the whole time. Hearing Tang Bohu affectionately addressing the young lord as Mentor left him speechless. Then, when he heard the Young Lord was going to try to save Xu Jing, his heart sank.

Just then, Fang Jifan said, “It’s getting late. I should go to the House of the Crown Prince for duty.”

Seeing the Young Lord come out of the hall, Manager Yang quickly followed closely behind.

Fang Jifan glanced back and asked, “Manager Yang, is something the matter?”

“Yes.” Manager Yang’s expression was grave, and he lowered his voice as much as possible. “Young Lord, the crime Xu Jing committed is no small matter. In every dynasty, anyone involved in an Imperial Examination scandal has faced certain death without any room for negotiation. Young Lord, you must not act foolishly. How could you casually agree to rescue him? I beg you to think twice. In my humble opinion, Xu Jing has already confessed, and the Brocade Guard has solid evidence. That alone is enough to condemn Xu Jing irrevocably. Even if we consider the remote possibility that there was some injustice, when it comes to Imperial Examination fraud, the rule has always been to rather kill wrongly than let anyone go…”

“Oh…” Fang Jifan merely nodded calmly. “I understand.”

With that, Fang Jifan strode away hurriedly.

Manager Yang had no time to say more and could only watch helplessly as the Young Lord departed.

…

Early in the morning, snowflakes drifted down, covering the entire land in a vast whiteness. Everything felt chilly.

Before the Mao hour had even arrived, when the sky was just beginning to lighten, Emperor Hongzhi’s Imperial Carriage arrived at the House of the Crown Prince.

The previous night, he had spent the entire night thinking about the Imperial Examination scandal. Cheng Minzheng was a minister he had trusted and valued. He never would have imagined that Cheng Minzheng would be involved in an Imperial Examination scandal.

Just half an hour earlier, the Brocade Guard’s Regional Military Commander, Mou Bin, had delivered the confessions and numerous pieces of related evidence.

Upon seeing the evidence, Emperor Hongzhi was furious. He slammed the Desk and spat out one word: “Utterly shameless!”

The evidence was solid. Several people from the Cheng family had already confessed, admitting they had indeed accepted silver. Moreover, since arriving in the Capital, Xu Jing had visited the Cheng residence seven times within just two or three months. Even Xu Jing himself had admitted that he received hints from Cheng Minzheng.

Cheng Minzheng was the son of Cheng Xin, the Minister of War in Nanjing. At the age of ten, he was recommended to the court as a “child prodigy” and studied at the Hanlin Academy. In the second year of the Chenghua era, he passed the Imperial Examination as a Metropolitan Graduate, ranking second in the Top Three Candidates, making him the youngest among the over 350 successful candidates that year. Most importantly, he immediately entered the Hanlin Academy, and later lectured at the Eastern Palace. He was exceptionally knowledgeable, considered the best of his time. Back then, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace was none other than Emperor Hongzhi himself.

In other words, historically speaking, Cheng Minzheng could be considered half a mentor to Emperor Hongzhi.

Back then, Cheng Minzheng assisted Wang Ao in lecturing on classical texts to Emperor Hongzhi, and he had always been respected by the Emperor.

After Emperor Hongzhi ascended the throne, he appointed Cheng Minzheng as the Right Vice Minister of Rites. Never would he have imagined that someone he held in such high regard—a man who had educated and guided him when he was still the Crown Prince—would commit such a disgraceful and serious crime.

Emperor Hongzhi was an extremely sentimental person. The fact that his mentor Cheng was involved in this matter left him both disheartened and uneasy. After staying up all night, he looked at the memorials piled on his Desk and found he couldn’t read a single word.

So, he decided to issue an order to visit the House of the Crown Prince. Perhaps only there, seeing the Crown Prince, his only son, could bring him some comfort.

It was said… the Crown Prince had been making progress lately.

This time, he didn’t launch a surprise visit, so Zhu Houzhao led all the staff of the House of the Crown Prince to welcome him.

At this time, it was still very early. Yang Tinghe, along with the Hanlin Academicians from the Left and Right Chunfang, had not yet arrived for duty. Even Fang Jifan hadn’t arrived yet. So, behind Zhu Houzhao, only a group of Eunuchs followed.

However…

Emperor Hongzhi looked over Zhu Houzhao and the group of Eunuchs. He saw that Zhu Houzhao was covered in dirt and smelled of earth. Liu Jin and the others looked as if they had been rolling around in mud.

So early in the morning, what was this all about?

Emperor Hongzhi frowned but remained calm. With a slight smile, he asked, “My son, you’re up so early?”

“Yes,” Zhu Houzhao replied with an ingratiating smile. “Your Son and Servant… was… um… planting.”

Ever since his last endeavor was taken over by his Imperial Father, and then seeing Fang Jifan and the palace make a fortune, Zhu Houzhao was now filled with a desire to get rich. Fang Jifan had said that growing melons could make a lot of money and had set up an Experimental Field in the House of the Crown Prince. Zhu Houzhao immediately became enthusiastic. Some time ago, Fang Jifan had already cultivated melon seedlings, and the Greenhouse was set up. Dozens of melon seedlings were planted, and he instructed the staff at the House of the Crown Prince to take good care of them.

Now, every morning, Zhu Houzhao would get up early to check the growth of the melon seedlings, wondering if they were infested with insects or why the leaves were turning yellow. This morning was no exception. He got up, slipped on his shoes, and braved the snow to go to the Greenhouse. Then he learned that his Imperial Father had arrived, so he rushed over in a hurry without having time to bathe or change clothes.