"Your Majesty, we have been wronged!"
Hearing Jiang Xiaobai call for their execution on the spot, Chen Zhanqiu and An Zhiyuan both dropped to their knees with a thud. Their faces turned deathly pale, and cold sweat streamed down their foreheads.
An Zhiyuan's voice even trembled. "Your Majesty, please see the truth! I... I was merely threatened by Jiang Xiaobai and lost my judgment for a moment. I never intended to corrupt the Imperial Examination!"
"Your Majesty!"
Chen Zhanqiu hurriedly kowtowed as well. "Jiang Xiaobai bought his official rank and had someone take the examination for him. The witnesses are all here! Now that death is at his doorstep, he merely wants to force the blame onto us!"
Xiao Jinxuan ignored them both and simply watched Jiang Xiaobai in silence. "Jiang Xiaobai, you said you entered this game yourself to fish out the rotten apples in the Imperial Civil Service Examination for me."
"Then tell me... do you have solid proof?!"
At these words, the entire court fell silent, every gaze turning to Jiang Xiaobai.
Indeed, anyone could talk, but he still needed evidence.
Kneeling on the floor, Chen Zhanqiu felt his heart settle a little.
That's right, evidence!
Without evidence, it was nothing but wild nonsense.
And what evidence could Jiang Xiaobai possibly have?
Yet just as Chen Zhanqiu sneered, a smile appeared on Jiang Xiaobai's face as well. "Your Majesty, proof... of course I have it."
The civil and military officials present were all astonished to hear this.
But Jiang Xiaobai produced no letters and summoned no witnesses. He merely cupped his hands and smiled. "Though my reputation precedes me, that... does nothing to diminish my overflowing talent!"
"Even without someone writing for me, I could still place first as the Top Graduate."
He paused, his eyes brightening.