PNB Chapter 146 A Wrongful Conviction
Chapter 146 A Wrongful Conviction
The other four parts are more profound in both their vocabulary and the emotions they express.
It looks a bit like a love letter? But the article contains not only longing for the beloved woman, but also promises and ambitions.
The examiners read it and then passed it on to the next examinee.
"I thought the plagiarism involved adding a part of your own writing, but it turns out you directly stole someone else's second version."
Jiang He's forehead was covered in sweat: "Your Majesty, I'm innocent! He has no evidence whatsoever; it's pure fabrication!"
Chen Boqing cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Majesty, I have the original version here, the very first manuscript."
What about the original manuscript?
Gu Yu'an bowed and said, "Your Majesty, since there were no outsiders to witness Mr. Chen and Jiang He drinking together, there is no physical evidence."
"pass"
Soon after, a middle-aged man arrived at the arena under the protection of the Gu family's guards.
"This humble subject pays homage to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"
"Get up"
Chu Yuan then asked Gu Yu'an, "Didn't you say there were no witnesses?"
“Your Majesty, he is indeed not a witness, but he is the owner of the paper mill, someone who can make the evidence speak for itself.”
"How can we let the evidence speak for itself?"
Gu Yu'an handed the original article to the middle-aged man: "Boss, is there anything special about this piece of paper?"
The middle-aged man took the paper in his hand and examined it carefully before saying, "This Xuan paper is a very famous type from the South. It was very popular more than ten years ago. The quality is excellent, but the paper is yellowish-black, so it was only popular for a short time before not many people bought it anymore."
Gu Yu'an asked, "Is this kind of paper available for sale in the capital?"
"Production ceased before it even reached the capital."
Gu Yu'an handed over another article: "Please take another look at this paper."
Jiang He's eyes narrowed. Where did Gu Yu'an get it?
The man examined it closely, then gently pinched it in his hand, saying, "This is just ordinary paper in the capital. We've been using this kind of paper for over ten years now, but it's truly remarkable that it's been preserved for so long."
Is there any difference between these two pieces of paper?
"After the production of dark yellow Xuan paper ceased, this whiter paper became popular. The Xuan paper we used before wasn't as yellowish as the one from the south, but it was still quite stiff. This white paper, on the other hand, is relatively soft, making it suitable for both writing and painting."
Gu Yu'an continued to ask, "You mean the darker, yellowish ones come first, and the white ones come last?"
"Yes, my lord"
Gu Yu'an bowed to the emperor: "Your Majesty's statement means that the original 'Ode to a Beautiful Woman' was written first, and the second version was copied by Jiang He using Xuan paper from the capital."
Jiang He's back slumped down. He tore Chen Boqing's writing to shreds, only to find that he had another one, an even better one.
However, he absolutely could not admit it, because if he did, not only would his future be ruined, but he would also be despised and condemned by students all over the world.
"You're talking nonsense. It's obvious that you were jealous after reading my 'Ode to a Beauty,' and you racked your brains to revise it. Since I'm going to publish it, I've naturally chosen better Xuan paper."
Chen Boqing questioned, "Then let me ask you, in the poem 'Ode to a Beauty,' there is a line that says, 'Gently, the heart is like a lotus, but it has strayed into the mud.' Shouldn't 'gently' be the 'clear' of 'clear water'? Why is 'light' the 'light' of 'heavy' used instead?"
"The reason why...the reason why we use the lightness of lightness is...the reason why..."
Jiang He racked his brains, but how could he know why?
When Chen Boqing wrote this article, he asked Chen Boqing, "Brother Chen, why do you use the character 'light' here, meaning 'lightness' instead of 'clear water'?"
Chen Boqing smiled mysteriously and said, "This is the key point, the essence of this article, which cannot be spoken of, cannot be spoken of."
Jiang He never made any changes after copying it.
Jiang He's racking his brains was disappointing to the students, who also had doubts when they read his work.
Even the author was unaware that a terrifying suspicion arose in the minds of all the students.
Chen Boqing moved closer to Jiang He: "You don't know, do you? Let me tell you, because 'Qing' in 'Qingzhong' is my wife's childhood nickname, and this article was originally given to my wife."
Jiang He collapsed to the ground instantly, his inner clothes soaked with cold sweat, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.
Finished!
The article had already been widely circulated outside the competition area, and the students who had read it were discussing it extensively.
"No wonder! I knew there was a special purpose behind the word 'light' back then."
"I just read the first version of the Ode to a Beauty, and it does indeed resemble a love letter."
"Yes, yes, I think so too, but the first edition of 'Ode to a Beauty' wasn't vulgar in its love letter style."
"Not only is it not vulgar, but it is also full of Mr. Chen's respect and deep affection for his first wife."
"Yes, even Vice Dean Jiang He couldn't explain it, but Mr. Chen did, and it matches the first edition of 'Ode to a Beauty.' It seems this 'Ode to a Beauty' really was written by Mr. Chen."
"Have you carefully compared the first and second editions? The style and details of both editions clearly show that they were written by the same person, indicating that both editions of 'Ode to a Beauty' were written by Mr. Chen."
"So the real plagiarist wasn't Mr. Chen, but Vice Dean Jiang He?"
"My God, how can there be such a person? Mr. Chen treated him like a brother, and in the end, his brother was stabbed for plagiarism."
The students below gradually began to address him as Mr. Chen. Some of them remained silent in support of Chen Boqing, while others denounced Jiang He.
Some even started crying.
"Oh my god, the person I've admired for so many years turns out to be a plagiarist, waaaaaaah!"
"I even cursed at Mr. Chen before, I'm really not human, waaaaaah!"
"You're alright, you only cursed at me. I even secretly threw rotten eggs at you, waaaaaah!"
"Your Majesty, we beg you to do justice for Mr. Chen."
"Your Majesty, we beg you to do justice for Mr. Chen."
The students below the stage all knelt down, and even the examiners knelt down. Instructor Yang glanced at the whole audience and then knelt down as well.
Chu Yuan was furious because he genuinely liked the article.
He originally wanted the Imperial Academy to reopen and him to be the dean, but what happened was that this guy actually plagiarized.
"Guards, drag Jiang He away! He's an eyesore!"
"Jiang He plagiarized the work 'Ode to a Beauty,' which prevented Chen Boqing from taking the imperial examination and caused him to suffer infamy. He has now resigned from his position as vice president of Tianxing Academy, and all his property has been confiscated and used to compensate Chen Boqing. From now on, Chen Boqing can continue to participate in the imperial examination."
The guards dragged Jiang He away like a dead dog.
"Chen Boqing, are you satisfied with this punishment?"
Chen Boqing knelt down: "This humble subject thanks Your Majesty for clearing my name."
"His Majesty"
Chu Yuan looked up at Gu Yu'an: "What do you want now?"
"Your Majesty, these are Mr. Chen's articles written in recent years. Please take a look."
Chen Boqing looked at Gu Yu'an with a puzzled expression. What's going on? This isn't a rehearsal, is it?
Zhao Fu took the article from Gu Yu'an and handed it to Chu Yuan, who nodded as he read it: "Hmm, very good, not bad."
Chu Yuan glanced at Gu Yu'an: "Speak, what is your purpose in showing me Chen Boqing's article?"
"I dare not presume to say that, but I do believe that Mr. Chen is a man of great talent, and that his talent should be recognized by more people and passed on to more people."