It was an incomplete system. If tasks kept failing, the next step wouldn't be a format but complete scrapping.
["I won't leave. I... I think what the host said is right. Exchanging over a hundred thousand for ten or twenty million is also considered acceptable in the system's algorithm."]
After saying this, System 07 suddenly felt a wave of relief. The database of the somewhat weaker onlooker system rapidly expanded...
Just as these two were locked in their intense internal struggle, within the grand hall, Wei Ping stole a glance at Yue Fuguang, who appeared to be asleep, and stepped forward to report, "Your Majesty, Zheng Zicheng and his sons have been brought and are now waiting outside the hall."
Emperor Mingxi said, "Summon them in."
Soon, the Zheng father and his four sons, cleaned up and looking somewhat thin and weary from their journey but otherwise in decent spirits, entered the grand hall and immediately knelt in unison, kowtowing to Emperor Mingxi and calling themselves guilty officials.
Yue Fuguang also 'woke up'. She looked down curiously, "Little Pearl, are these the Zheng father and sons? Which one is Zheng the Madman?"
[Master, look at the one standing at the back, who appears relatively more robust. That is Zheng the Madman.]
The Zheng father and sons suddenly looked up. How could there be the voices of two children in this solemn court session? And they seemed to know them.
As they looked up, they saw Yue Fuguang gazing at them curiously—a beautiful little girl. Who did the other voice belong to?
Having endured the hardships at the border these past years, the father and sons had developed keen alertness and sharp observational skills. They only saw one child.
And His Majesty and the others didn't seem to try to stop the speaker. Emperor Mingxi even gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head to the few of them.
The Zheng father and sons quickly lowered their heads again. Though unclear about the situation, responding with stillness was the most appropriate course.
Then Emperor Mingxi spoke, "Zheng Zicheng, Minister of Dali Temple Wei Ping, while reviewing past case files, had some remaining questions regarding the Imperial Examination Fraud case of that year. Coincidentally, We heard that your third son, Zheng Feng, is exceptionally brave and skilled, having repeatedly achieved military merits. Therefore, We summoned you and your four sons to the capital.
Please recount the events of that day to us in detail."
His inner suspicions confirmed, Zheng Zicheng felt his heart surge. His wrongful grievance could finally be redressed today.
He kowtowed solemnly before speaking, "Yes, Your Majesty. This guilty official will hold nothing back, speaking exhaustively and without the slightest concealment."
Zheng Zicheng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, as if transported back to that fateful night. "That year, Your Majesty appointed this guilty official as the Provisioning Officer, responsible for the storage of the engraved printing blocks. I was terribly anxious about failing in this duty, losing sleep day and night. Later, my good friend Zhao Xu noticed and suggested to me a strategy to 'reinforce precautions'.
This guilty official found his suggestion quite reasonable and thus devoted myself day and night to researching anti-counterfeiting methods.
During this period, Zhao Xu offered many good suggestions. With his help, the anti-counterfeiting measures gradually took shape. I permitted him to help me affix the seals! Trusting his stated purpose of 'researching anti-counterfeiting', I gave him discarded drafts and old blocks. At that time..."
As Zheng Zicheng recounted his memories, everyone present learned that Zhao Xu had actually made such suggestions to Zheng Zicheng back then. During the original trial of the case, none of this had emerged; Zhao Xu had remained completely invisible in the matter.
Wei Ping pressed further, "This official reviewed the old files and found a point of doubt. The incriminating correspondence found in your home, which confirmed your guilt, was written on specially made 'Chengxintang' paper.
The plum blossom paper among this type was exclusively supplied to senior officials of the Censorate that year. Externally, the plum blossom paper looked identical to other Chengxintang papers, except for a faint plum blossom petal imprint on the bottom left corner of the back.
Zheng Zicheng, you were then the Provisioning Officer, under the Ministry of Rites. Normally, you should have used ordinary Chengxintang paper, not the plum blossom paper."
Once these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.
Before anyone could react, Wei Ping picked up another piece of evidence—the counterfeit printing block that was a key exhibit.
"And this block. The old case record states that there is a natural wood grain at its lower right corner, identified as matching the genuine block.
But this official consulted the old craftsman from that time. He stated that the mark on the genuine block was actually a floral signature of the character 'Zheng', personally carved by the former Provisioning Officer Zheng Zicheng with a graver as an anti-counterfeiting measure!
The mark on this counterfeit block is merely a naturally similar grain pattern!"
Feeling it wasn't enough, Wei Ping continued to add weight, "All Censorate paper usage was numbered and archived. Records show that in the third month of the Tianyou First Year, Zhao Xu had applied for a batch of 'Chengxintang' plum blossom paper on the grounds of 'recording case files'. Two sheets from that batch remain unaccounted for.
Zheng Zicheng, were you aware of any of this?"
"Minister Wei, Zicheng was not aware. But over the years, the events of the past replayed daily in my mind. Slowly, I too began to see Zhao Xu's improprieties. However, I had no evidence to confirm my suspicions."
He bowed solemnly to Wei Ping. "Today, Zicheng thanks Minister Wei for resolving these doubts."
Wei Ping repeatedly mentioning Zhao Xu made Yue Fuguang realize the other party involved, Zhao Xu, was not present.
"Little Pearl, why isn't that scoundrel Zhao Xu here? Isn't he the other party involved?"
[I heard this person is currently imprisoned, critically ill, and probably doesn't have many days left. He certainly won't last until the autumn executions.]
Zhao Xu had contracted typhoid fever in prison. To prevent him from passing the illness to His Majesty, Wei Ping, after reporting, decided his presence was unnecessary.
After all, Zhao Xu had already confessed. Today was merely to verify the sequence of events with Zheng Zicheng again, a formality, mainly performed for the viewing of those two ancestors.
Wei Ping continued his report, "Your Majesty, what Zheng Zicheng has stated is largely consistent with Zhao Xu's confession. This official has no further questions."
Emperor Mingxi nodded slightly. "Today, Minister Zheng's wrongful grievance has been brought to light. By decree, Zheng Zicheng is hereby reinstated to his former official position effective immediately.
All confiscated Zheng family property is to be returned in full."
Hearing the words "brought to light" and "reinstated", Zheng Zicheng's body began to tremble slightly. The proud backbone he had forced himself to maintain for so many years finally softened at this moment of vindication.
He did not weep bitterly. Instead, slowly, ever so slowly, he knelt to the ground and deeply kowtowed to Emperor Mingxi.
His forehead touched the cold floor with a dull thud.
When he raised his head again, tears streamed down his face, yet he wore a faint smile of ultimate liberation from a cage. With all his strength, he declared loudly, "Your subject, Zheng Zicheng, his injustice cleared, kowtows in gratitude for Your Majesty's heavenly grace!"
Emperor Mingxi, looking at his emaciated frame and much-aged face, was also somewhat moved. And behind him was Zheng Feng, a talent he had decided to put to good use.
Therefore, this was the best moment to bestow favor. So he said, "Minister Zheng, you have suffered these past years. It was the court's failing, and Our failing as well."
Zheng Zicheng repeatedly kowtowed, saying he dared not accept such words.
"Your three sons have all been raised well, especially Zheng Feng. We have heard he shows both courage and strategy on the battlefield and will surely become a formidable general.
Let him first gain experience under General Wei's command for now. In the future, We intend to employ him greatly."
This was a promise to the Zheng family.
He then said to Wei Shouyi, "Minister Wei, We entrust this promising seedling, Zheng Feng, to you. You must train him well for Us."
