As other officials suspected of fraud in scientific examinations have been arrested, those scholars who have tried to buy officials through improper means have not been spared.

Above the court, Zhao Yingluo sat beside the dragon chair, expressionless.

When Zhang Ruzhou was escorted into the main hall, his legs were as heavy as lead. He kept his head down, trembling all over, and didn't even have the courage to look up.

Zhao Yingluo's voice echoed in the empty hall, and she asked, "Zhang Ruzhou, are you guilty?" ”

Zhang Ruzhou replied in a trembling voice: "Minister...... I don't know what crime I have committed. ”

Zhao Yingluo sneered lightly, and there was a hint of majesty in her voice: "Oh? Don't know what the crime? Then why don't you dare to look up at Lonely? ”

Zhang Ruzhou raised his head stubbornly, but met Zhao Yingluo's eyes as bright as cold stars.

He carefully looked at Her Royal Highness the princess in front of him, and suddenly, a trace of consternation flashed in his eyes. this

A familiar face, a pair of eyes that had briefly crossed paths with him, made him wake up like a dream.

"Are you ......" Zhang Ruzhou stammered, "Are you the young man who went to Chunfangyuan that day?" ”

Zhao Yingluo nodded slightly, and a smug smile appeared on her face: "Yes, it's Lonely." Have you ever thought that you would be in this situation? ”

Zhang Ruzhou suddenly realized at this moment that the young Langjun he saw that day was actually Her Royal Highness the princess of the Great Song Dynasty.

The panic in his heart was even worse, as if he had fallen into a bottomless abyss. Cold sweat flowed from his forehead, and his lips trembled, and he said, "Your Royal Highness...... Minister...... The minister is guilty. ”

"Of course you are guilty," Zhao Yingluo's voice became stern, "You not only cheated in scientific research, but also dared to buy and sell officials, and regarded the laws of the imperial court as nothing!" Do you know how much harm your crimes have done to the court, to the scholars, and to the people of the Great Song Dynasty? ”

The atmosphere in the court became more and more solemn, and Commander Wen Boyuan stood aside, staring at Zhang Ruzhou with his eyes like a torch. Other officials also whispered about the scientific research fraud case that shocked the government and the public, and speculated about how the incident would end.

"Zhang Ruzhou dared to cheat in the scientific examination, it is really bold!"

"Yes, this is the crime of deception, and he will not escape this time."

"But then again, how did he, a small official, have the courage to do such a thing? There must be someone behind it. ”

Zhao Yingluo sat on the dragon chair in the court, her eyes were as sharp as cold stars, and she calmly looked at the ministers below, like a hunter examining her prey.

Today, she wants to bring a storm to this court, a storm of cleansing and corruption.

"Wen Boyuan, read out the results of the investigation." Zhao Yingluo's voice did not carry a trace of emotion.

Wen Boyuan held a thick document in his hand and strode to the center of the court, "After careful investigation by the Imperial City Division, it is now confirmed that Zhang Ruzhou and more than a dozen invigilators have joined forces to conduct scientific examination fraud, sell official positions, and illegally collect money from candidates, totaling 800,000 taels of silver!" ”

The court suddenly exploded, and the ministers exchanged heads and whispered.

Zhang Ruzhou was like being struck by lightning, his face instantly turned pale, his eyes were full of fear and despair, and his body trembled involuntarily.

Zhao Yingluo's gaze turned to Huang Zuyan, the left waiter of the Criminal Department, "Huang Shilang, according to the laws of the Great Song Dynasty, what punishment should Zhang Ruzhou and the others receive?" ”

Huang Zu instantly replied in a deep voice: "Back to the princess, you should be killed according to the law!" The amount of corruption and the severity of his crimes are beyond pardon. ”

As soon as these words came out, the court was in an uproar.

Zhang Ruzhou's face became even more like a dead man, his legs trembled like chaff, and he almost fell to his knees.

"Your Royal Highness Princess, please be gracious!" Zhang Ruzhou suddenly begged loudly, "The minister is fascinated for a while, and begs the princess to give the minister a chance to reform himself!" ”

At this time, an old minister stood up and arched his hand and said: "Your Royal Highness Princess, although Zhang Ruzhou is guilty of corruption, he is an official of my Great Song Dynasty after all, and he has also made a lot of contributions to my Great Song Dynasty over the years. The old minister begged the princess to be lenient. ”

"Leniency?" Wen Boyuan sneered, "He embezzled 800,000 taels of silver, if he was treated leniently, why would the people be angry?" How can we correct the law? ”

"Commander Wen is wrong to say this," another minister retorted, "The law is nothing more than human affection, and although Zhang Ruzhou is guilty, it is reasonable to be lenient in his contributions over the years." ”

In the court, the ministers expressed their opinions and argued. Some advocate severe punishment and no loans, so as to set an example; Others advocated leniency, giving Zhang Ruzhou a chance to mend his ways, like a mess, all kinds of voices intertwined, as if to tear down the roof.

Zhao Yingluo sat on the dragon chair, she had already made a decision in her heart, but in the face of the disputes in the court, she knew that she had to give an answer that would satisfy everyone.

She hates corruption, especially a huge corruption like Zhang Ruzhou, and according to her character, she really wants to cut it with a thousand cuts.

But thinking of Li Qingzhao, the talented but ill-fated woman, she hesitated.

Although Li Qingzhao and Zhang Ruzhou's marriage is not affectionate, after all, it is in the name of husband and wife, and Zhao Yingluo does not want Li Qingzhao to be hurt more because of Zhang Ruzhou's crime.

Moreover, she knows that under the heavy punishment, there will be a backlash. Punishment that was too harsh could have frightened the courtiers, which could lead to a sense of detachment.

Thinking of this, Zhao Yingluo took a deep breath and decided to be extrajudicial. She stood up and announced in a loud voice, "Ladies and gentlemen! ”

The court suddenly fell silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on her.

Zhao continued: "Lone is well aware of the harm of corruption, but it also needs to take into account various factors. Therefore, Lone decided to take Zhang Ruzhou lightly. ”

She paused, her gaze swept over Zhang Ruzhou's pale and trembling face, "As long as Zhang Ruzhou returns the corrupt silver, he will be sentenced to thirty rods, and the black face will be stabbed with Qiongzhou." ”

As soon as these words came out, the court was in an uproar again.

A glimmer of disbelief flashed in Zhang Ruzhou's eyes, and then he burst into tears and kowtowed again and again to thank him.

His voice trembled and excited: "Your Royal Highness Princess Xie is gracious!" The minister must change his past mistakes and be a new man! ”

Zhao Yingluo turned to the other officials who were implicated, "As for you, you will all be exiled according to the severity of the crime." ”

After retiring from the dynasty, Zhao Yingluo did not return to the palace directly, but ordered Wang Shouen to drive to Zhang Ruzhou's mansion.

Along the way, her feelings were quite mixed, including resentment against corrupt officials and sympathy for Li Qingzhao.

Although Zhang Ruzhou's crime is hateful, Li Qingzhao, as the innocent party involved, also makes her feel pity.

Li Qingzhao was dressed in plain clothes, his expression was gloomy, and he had obviously learned the news of Zhang Ruzhou's sentence of exile.

"Courtesy Li Qingzhao, knock on Her Royal Highness the Princess." Li Qingzhao's voice trembled slightly, and he leaned down to bow.

Zhao Yingluo hurriedly helped Li Qingzhao up, and said warmly: "Zhang Ruzhou's crime has nothing to do with you, you don't have to blame yourself so much." ”

Li Qingzhao stood up, his eyes slightly red, "Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Royal Highness, and the courtiers are grateful." ”

Zhao Yingluo gently patted the back of Li Qingzhao's hand and comforted: "Now that Zhangfu's family property is at your disposal, I hope you can live well, and let it pass in the past." ”

When Li Qingzhao heard this, tears welled up in his eyes, "Her Royal Highness the princess's great kindness and virtue are remembered by the courtiers. ”