Chapter 322: The Tan Family is Arrested

Chapter 322: The Tan Family is Arrested

When the news came out, Xingxing didn’t think much about it. She simply felt that Tan Jingqian wasn’t a good person, and even the heavens wouldn’t help him!

Thanks to the Luoyang Banquet, almost all the new successful candidates had the chance to see Liu Ge'er in person.

Liu Ge'er’s temperament was a perfect match for the ultimate aesthetic ideal of scholars in this dynasty—elegant, refined, scholarly, and dignified, with a proper and fitting demeanor.

Liu Ge'er could almost be considered the ultimate model of a scholar.

With just this one encounter, many of the new successful candidates were won over—how could someone as young and distinguished as Yu Jieyuan possibly stoop to such despicable tactics to win the title of Jieyuan?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Furthermore, since Tan Jingqian didn’t attend the Luoyang Banquet this time, many of the new Juren believed it was because he felt guilty and afraid.

As a result, Liu Ge'er’s reputation actually recovered quite a bit thanks to this single Luoyang Banquet.

Of course, a seventeen-year-old Jieyuan was bound to attract envy and jealousy. There were still some who stubbornly believed that Yu Yongliu’s title of Jieyuan had been unjustly earned.

But Liu Ge'er didn’t care at all.

When that Provincial Inspector Zhao arrived at the prefecture, he and Bai Ge'er presented the evidence of the Tan family’s crimes, along with the filthy deeds of Tan Jingqian.

By then, the expressions of these people would surely be priceless.

The day after the Luoyang Banquet, which was the third day after the exam results were posted, the aforementioned Inspector Zhao, with his entourage and escorting soldiers, finally arrived at the prefecture city.

Known for his iron face, Inspector Zhao had already detained more than three high-ranking officials during his eastern inspection tour.

Tan Zhizhou led his men to greet him outside the city gates, displaying the utmost respect.

However, what he was greeted with was an empty ceremonial procession.

An accompanying official, with a bitter smile, clasped his hands towards Tan Zhizhou and explained, “…Inspector Zhao has gone incognito on a private visit.”

Surprise flashed across Tan Zhizhou’s face.

Deeper within, there was an unconcealable tension.

Of course, Tan Zhizhou wouldn’t let anything show on the surface. He simply smiled and said, “Since Inspector Zhao is occupied with matters, it’s alright… all necessary preparations at the post station have been made for the officials. It’s better for the officials to rest at the post station first.”

The officials accompanying Inspector Zhao had a favorable impression of Tan Zhizhou.

However, two days later, as soon as Inspector Zhao returned and donned his official robes, the first thing he did was order his soldiers to arrest all seventy-four members of the Tan family.

Tan Furen, Tan Zhizhou’s wife, and his two sons were all arrested.

In theory, the crime shouldn’t extend to married-out daughters, but Tan Zhizhou had an elder daughter who had been married into the Fan family for some time. However, this time, the daughter was also arrested—because the Fan family had also committed numerous crimes and had nearly all been imprisoned.

Even the Wang family, who were related by marriage to the Fan family, had several of their members imprisoned.

This series of massive events left the entire prefecture city in shock.

Only then did everyone realize that before entering the prefecture city, Inspector Zhao had already obtained a secret report.

It detailed the numerous pieces of evidence showing how, over the years, the Tan family and their relatives had covertly drained the prefecture’s finances dry.

Even the Wang family, who had the lightest charges, bore the crime of conspiring with the officials to frame others and seize their properties—one of the most famous cases being the large Wang family estate, which was acquired in such a manner.

The crimes committed by the Tan family, when tallied one by one, were enough to ensure their complete downfall.

But the most explosive revelation was still Tan Jingqian's murder charge.

Along with the many pieces of evidence against the Tan family, there was a document proving that Tan Jingqian had hired his fellow exam candidate Wu Yong to frame Yu Yongliu, the newly appointed provincial champion. This evidence also included a handwritten suicide note by Wu Yong, who, fearing for his life, left this proof behind.

Because these events were so shocking, Governor Zhao, upon receiving this evidence, conducted a secret investigation. After confirming that this bulky dossier was indeed accurate, he returned, donned his official robes, and arrested the Tan family members.

…

When news about the Tan family spread, the entire prefecture city erupted in chaos.

No one could believe that Tan Jingqian, who appeared so refined and upright, was actually such a despicable scoundrel!

After leaving the examination compound, Tan Jingqian had been dropping hints that Yu Yongliu had poisoned him to secure the position of provincial champion. People were incensed on his behalf, only to later realize that what he accused Yu Yongliu of was exactly what he himself had done to Yu Yongliu!

Yu Yongliu was completely innocent!

To be targeted by such a vile, shameless scoundrel!

First, he narrowly escaped Tan Jingqian's trap of framing him for exam cheating, and then he was falsely accused of poisoning the man!

To make matters worse, the man had committed murder and then had the audacity to accuse Yu Yongliu of the crime, using his family's influence to throw Yu Yongliu into prison!

Despite all these dirty tricks and chaos, Yu Yongliu still managed to secure the position of provincial champion!

What does this prove?

This proves that heaven has sent down a literary genius!

Suddenly, Yu Yongliu's reputation in the prefecture city did a complete 180!

Those who had once dismissed Liu Ge'er were now heaping praise on him.

It was as if this would prove that they had only been deceived by villains and had never truly harbored any malice toward the provincial champion.

When the news reached Yu Erhu, he was stunned for a moment, then tears of joy filled his eyes as he shouted, "Heaven has opened its eyes!"

Bai Ge'er and Liu Ge'er remained much calmer. After all, this was all part of their original plan, and they had known that this day would come.

When Li Lanzhu came to visit Xingxing, she brought a copy of the *Analects* and hoped that Liu Ge'er could write an encouraging phrase inside. "My younger brother is still in his early education years. These days, everyone in my household has been talking about your third brother's accomplishments, and we all deeply respect him. I thought that if your third brother could write something in this book, my younger brother would cherish it and study hard every day."

It was a simple request, so Xingxing immediately agreed.

Li Lanzhu was already a young woman and had to observe the propriety between men and women. Xingxing took the book to the front study room and asked Liu Ge'er to write an encouraging phrase on the corner of a page in the *Analects*.

Pleased with the book, Li Lanzhu thanked Xingxing repeatedly before leaving.

When Bai Ge'er and the others returned to South Tuo Village, the entire village was decorated with lanterns and filled with joy.

The news of Liu Ge'er becoming the provincial champion had already reached the village. It was a great joy for the entire South Tuo Village, and everyone was filled with happiness. The villagers went out and spoke to people from other villages, saying, "Oh, did you know that a young man from our village has become the provincial champion?"

The aunts and older women were even prouder, telling others, "The provincial champion, you know? I held him in my arms when he was little!"

If the villagers were this happy, one could only imagine the joy of the Yujia family.

The Yujia family was ecstatic!

The day the news came back, Bai Xiaofeng cried tears of joy.

Gifts from other families in the county flowed into the Yujia household like water. Wei Pozi, along with her daughters-in-law, was busy returning the gifts, so much so that their feet barely touched the ground.