coobybook Chapter 322 Eliminating Pests, a Great Satisfaction
Chapter 322 Eliminating Pests, a Great Satisfaction
At that very moment, the taut string in Wang Qian's heart finally snapped, and fear surged like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing him. His uncle, the one who had always covered for him, had also failed to escape and was imprisoned as well! Now, isolated and helpless, how could he possibly survive?
Wang Qian's body began to tremble violently uncontrollably, and he swayed precariously. Suddenly, a foot slammed into his back, the force of which caused him to stumble and fall heavily to his knees. He looked up in terror and saw many other people kneeling around him, most of whom were magistrates from the counties under the jurisdiction of Pingyang Prefecture.
At this moment, Wang Qian was filled with fear and desperately wanted to shout out the words "injustice" to defend himself. However, when his gaze met the resentful eyes of the many people standing below, it was as if his throat was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand. No matter how hard he tried, he could not open his mouth even a fraction.
Amidst the clamor, someone was loudly proclaiming the various crimes they had committed. Wang Qian pricked up his ears to listen carefully, and soon he heard his own name and those heinous crimes: oppressing the people, abducting women, accepting bribes on a large scale, deliberately obstructing the imperial examinations... Each charge was like a heavy hammer blow to his heart, making him dizzy and almost faint.
As his crimes were revealed one by one, Wang Qian's final sentence was sealed—execution! First, he would be mercilessly whipped in front of a crowd, then paraded through the streets in heavy shackles, enduring unimaginable humiliation, before finally facing beheading. This verdict struck like a bolt from the blue, shattering Wang Qian's last remaining hope.
The moment that harsh and merciless verdict reached Wang Qian's ears, he felt a sudden darkness engulf him, and his entire body seemed to lose its support, falling straight backward until he lost consciousness. However, not long after, a bone-chilling cold suddenly swept over him, abruptly pulling him back from his unconsciousness. Someone had poured a bucket of cold water over his head.
The icy water streamed down his cheeks, seeping into his collar and bringing a suffocating chill. Wang Qian trembled as he opened his eyes, gasping for breath, only to find himself on Xingtai (a criminal investigation platform). At that moment, endless regret surged into his heart like a tidal wave. He remembered Xu Dong's earnest advice, but at the time, he was too arrogant and hadn't taken it to heart. Now, he realized that if he had heeded Xu Dong's advice and taken remedial measures in time, perhaps his shady deeds wouldn't have been exposed so thoroughly.
Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a "regret pill" in this world. Before Wang Qian could even recover from his regret, a whip with sharp barbs lashed out at him. The whip struck his body hard, leaving bloody welts, and the excruciating pain made him scream in agony. Once, twice… countless lashes, driving him to the brink of death. Each intense pain nearly made him faint, but then a bucket of icy water would be poured over his head, forcing him back to his senses and forcing him to continue enduring this inhuman torture.
Thus, in the repeated torment of suffering, Wang Qian felt as if he had fallen into an endless abyss of hell. As he was paraded through the streets, the streets were packed with angry people. Their eyes were wide with fury, they cursed incessantly, and stones rained down on Wang Qian. In just that short distance, Wang Qian's head was already broken open, blood gushing out and staining his pale face; his body was already covered in wounds, and he was in excruciating pain.
The moment of execution had finally arrived. Wang Qian was now barely breathing, his life hanging by a thread, with only a faint trace of consciousness remaining. Gazing at the large, gleaming sword hanging high in the air, his heart was filled with fear and despair. Finally, as the cold blade mercilessly sliced across his neck, Wang Qian's world plunged into eternal darkness.
With Wang Qian and other officials, including the prefect, being beheaded, Xu Dong, Wang Qian's former accomplice, also received his due punishment, being given a full thirty strokes of the cane! This result greatly excited the students of Pingyang County, who finally had a precious opportunity to participate in the imperial examinations and change their destiny.
These young scholars could hardly contain their excitement; they were filled with gratitude towards King Qin and Princess Jiayang. It was thanks to King Qin's wise decision and Princess Jiayang's righteous act that the path to the imperial examinations had reopened to them. After news of this spread throughout the land, scholars from other regions also heard of the fairness of the imperial examinations and the court's urgent desire to recruit talented individuals. Consequently, many ambitious people eagerly registered for the examinations, hoping to enter officialdom and serve the country through their talent and hard work.
Among these students, Chen Xuan was particularly moved. When he learned the truth behind the matter, his determination to pass the imperial examinations became even more unwavering. He began to study diligently day and night, neglecting sleep and meals, all in order to shine in the imperial examinations and live up to the favor bestowed upon him by the court.
Meanwhile, this rigorous rectification campaign successfully purged many corrupt officials from within the court. Although many officials lost their lives in this storm, the people of Qin's impression of the King of Qin not only did not worsen, but actually improved considerably. After all, eliminating those corrupt and wicked officials was not wrong; on the contrary, the people truly witnessed the King of Qin's dedication to the people and his impartial and selfless character. Moreover, even those who previously held many grievances against the Qin laws, considering them too harsh, now changed their views and began to accept and appreciate the legal system.
This phenomenon greatly displeased many ministers in the court. They believed that this move might trigger a series of unpredictable consequences, but the King of Qin was quite satisfied with it.
The King of Qin highly praised and commended Ying Wuyou's performance. Under Ying Wuyou's leadership, officialdom throughout the country became more transparent and efficient than ever before, and the imperial examination system became even more upright and honest. Previously rampant corruption and favoritism were effectively curbed, allowing truly talented and capable individuals to emerge.
Meanwhile, Princess Jiayang's reputation spread once again, and her image of fairness and selflessness deeply resonated with the people. Whether in bustling Xianyang or remote villages, people praised Princess Jiayang highly. She had become a symbol of fairness and justice in the hearts of the people, and was revered and loved by all.