"Don't know? I think you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Where is Yin Canwen?"
"This humble subject is here!"
Soon, Yin Canwen stood out from the crowd of censors and stepped forward.
"Speak out the matter you wish to accuse today. Worry not, I shall naturally uphold justice for you!"
With these words, all the disputes and infighting in the court were attributed to Yin Canwen.
If Wen Jingsong could be brought down today, he would be credited with the primary achievement. But if not, it would merely be a nameless scholar from a humble background to pay for it, with no significant loss.
As talents emerge in succession, the loss of one Yin Canwen would naturally lead to others stepping up.
Yin Canwen was no fool and understood the Emperor's intentions.
However, things had reached this point, and he had no retreat. Since his conscience was clear, he spoke of the substitution.
Elder Xu and Bai Dalang observed coldly, while the censors were filled with righteous indignation.
Wen Jingsong, however, listened with an impassive face, as if the accused was not him.
On the contrary, Wen Mengsheng beside him grew nervous, cold sweat streaming down his face, but he dared not say anything more for fear of his life.
Yin Canwen not only wrote eloquently but also spoke with great reason and order.
He clearly and lucidly explained how Wen Mengsheng had replaced him as the top scholar.
The censors standing behind him nodded in agreement, delighted to expose such a sordid affair.
Unexpectedly, Wen Jingsong chuckled, which stirred a hint of doubt in the Emperor's angered heart, and the suspicion grew more evident.
"Wen Jingsong, what are you laughing at?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, all this is merely Yin Gongzi's one-sided accusation. He claims I replaced his essay with my son's. I humbly ask, is Your Majesty implying I am a fool? Knowing this essay was excellent and a sure first place, would I dare to commit such a high-risk act against the entire world? With the results only a few hours away, Yin Gongzi can accuse me before the throne. Is this not clearly an attempt to frame me?"
"You are talking nonsense! You clearly ruined my future, and yet you quibble here!"
Yin Canwen was, after all, an inexperienced youth, and Wen Jingsong's few words provoked him into an immediate retort.
The Emperor glanced at Yin Canwen impatiently. He had initially thought him tactless, but now he found him lawless.
Such behavior showed no regard for him, the Emperor, speaking as he pleased.
He understood no rules!
Elder Xu coughed twice, his gaze fixed on Yin Canwen, a clear warning in his eyes.
Yin Canwen was not foolish and immediately said to the Emperor, "This humble subject was rash. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
The Emperor, seated on the high throne, could not fail to see the situation.
It seemed Elder Xu's protection of Yin Canwen was indeed extraordinary.
He couldn't help but look at the "frank" Wen Jingsong beside him, whose words sounded even more sincere than others.
For a moment, the Emperor couldn't help but ponder. Indeed, the accusation had been made too quickly.
It seemed someone was instigating everything from behind the scenes.
The Emperor's suspicious nature was thoroughly exploited by Wen Jingsong. A matter that was once a foregone conclusion was, with a few words of conspiracy theory, tipping the scales.
While the Emperor was contemplating, Wen Jingsong spoke kindly to Yin Canwen.
"Yin Gongzi's talent is extraordinary and his reputation precedes him. Moreover, his essay for this examination was indeed brilliant. Appointing you as the first place was unanimously approved by both the preliminary and final reviews. Before the Ministry of Personnel transferred the list to the Ministry of Rites, your name was indeed first. I do not know what mishap occurred in between, leading someone to use you to harm my son. I implore Yin Gongzi not to be misled by petty individuals. You and Meng Sheng share the camaraderie of fellow scholars. Once this matter is rectified, justice will surely be served!"
With a few words, he managed to twist black into white and white into black.
If not for considering Elder Xu behind Yin Canwen, Wen Jingsong would have wanted to beat Yin Canwen soundly. However, he now shifted his approach, acting as if both of them were being framed and that they should not fall into infighting and let others reap the benefits.
Yin Canwen's face turned red with anger, but as a newcomer, how could he contend with a minister who had been in court for over twenty years and was exceptionally skilled at sophistry?
Wen Mengsheng listened to his father's words and was filled with admiration.
However, in doing so, his reputation as the top scholar would have to be handed over.
And to Yin Canwen, of all people!
He felt extremely displeased for a moment, but he also knew that if he refused, both he and his father would lose their heads.
Compared to a good reputation, living was more important.
As long as the green hills remained, there would be wood to burn!
Following this, Wen Jingsong said, "Your Majesty, I have already sent someone to retrieve my son's and Yin Gongzi's examination papers. The truth will be revealed for all to see."
His confidence was so great that even Elder Xu frowned slightly.
Had he prepared in advance?
He dared to speak so arrogantly before the Emperor, unafraid of being proven wrong?
Holding the list that Prince Ding had sent someone to deliver in advance, the contents of which were solid evidence, if he dared to quibble further, then let the evidence speak.
On the other side, a censor who had long been at odds with Wen Jingsong directly retorted.
"Lord Wen's skill in calling white black is indeed formidable, even daring to deceive Your Majesty. Do you dare to present all the essays from this examination, allowing the Grand Secretariat to review them one by one, with the Dali Temple assisting, and thoroughly investigate if there are any other cases of substitution?"
This sentence struck Wen Jingsong's Achilles' heel.
His hands began to sweat, but he maintained a calm expression.
"Why would I not dare? If Lord Ying wishes to investigate, then investigate. Having served as an official for over twenty years, I have no shame before heaven and earth. What do I have to fear?"
Such an attitude caused many of the originally aggressive censors to hesitate.
They held evidence of his corruption and cheating through the imperial examinations, but with him speaking like this, had he destroyed the evidence in advance, or why was he so confident?
The reason Wen Jingsong dared to make such bold claims was that he had made two contingency plans.
The replaced examination papers had already been secretly treated with powder. After this much time, they were likely already gnawed to pieces by insects and ants, making it extremely difficult to argue.
Secondly, the person he sent this time had strict orders: either "accidentally" reveal Wen Mengsheng's papers in a way that suggested they were replaced, or directly burn those papers to ashes.
With no evidence, it would be a case of each side having their own version of the story.
In this way, as long as he insisted that no one could be wrongly accused without evidence, and elevated the matter to an attempt to frame him and destabilize the court, he believed the Emperor would not stand idly by.