Opening his mouth, he was immediately met with a soft rebuff, making the esteemed officials of the Three Departments feel utterly unable to question him. The three officials exchanged glances, noticing the annoyance in each other's eyes. This time, Fan Xian's unorthodox act of ousting Minister Guo Youzhi of the Ministry of Rites had truly angered many officials in the capital. Fortunately, most officials, considering the Prime Minister and Vice Minister Fan, dared not act rashly.

However, these three officials each had their own backers and agendas hidden in their hearts.

After a long silence, Minister Han Zhiwei of the Ministry of Justice suddenly asked in a cold voice, "Yesterday, an Imperial Censor submitted a memorial impeaching you, Fan Fengzheng. Are you aware of this?"

"I know the event, but not the details," Fan Xian replied calmly.

Han Zhiwei stared into his eyes and asked, "Fan Xian, do not rely on your slight talent and powerful background to be so arrogant. And do not think this old man will believe that you exposed this corruption case purely out of concern for the country and its people. If you do not clearly explain your misconduct during the Spring Examinations, do not blame this old man for being impolite."

Fan Xian frowned slightly, "Your Honor's words are somewhat problematic. If this humble official had done anything during the Spring Examinations, would I have dared to risk exposing it to the court? As for the word 'misconduct,' I return it to you; I dare not accept it."

"Audacious!" The three officials rebuked in unison. In their many years in the capital, they had never seen such an arrogant junior. Han Zhiwei's beard trembled with anger as he scolded, "Do not think that all the officials in this city fear your background. Know that this official has held the position of Minister of Justice for eight years, relying on nothing but integrity, not your means of bestowing favors and intimidation."

Fan Xian said amusedly, "Investigating a case requires evidence. How can one act like Your Honor, delivering such passionate speeches? This humble official truly does not understand."

Han Zhiwei laughed out of extreme anger and said, "Very well, then this official will ask you: On February 16th, did you go to the Tongfu Inn?"

Fan Xian knew he was referring to that rainy day, and he replied with a smile, "Indeed."

"Did you meet Yang Wanli and the other three?"

"Indeed."

"Before Yang Wanli entered the examination hall for the Spring Examinations, did you whisper to him?"

"Indeed."

"As the chief examiner of this Spring Examinations, bearing the heavy responsibility of supervising the examination and concealing names… Enough, this official will ask you directly: Was Yang Wanli admitted into the third class?"

"Indeed."

"On that day outside the examination hall, there were many witnesses who can prove that you had already discovered that Yang Wanli had brought something concealed in his clothing. Why did you let him enter the examination hall?"

Fan Xian smiled inwardly, thinking that he had already instructed Wang Qinian to have Yang Wanli destroy that silk garment, so there was no need to worry at all. He said, "This matter is absolutely false."

"False?" Han Zhiwei asked furiously.

"Indeed."

"Very well, then this official asks you: On that day outside the examination hall, so many candidates were found with items for cheating. Did you still let them enter?"

Fan Xian's heart tightened slightly. He knew that this matter, if viewed as minor, would not even be considered a problem. However, if the other party insisted on pursuing it, it would indeed be somewhat troublesome. However, he still replied steadily, "Indeed."

"Good." A certain light flashed across Han Zhiwei's somewhat dark and thin face as he stared into Fan Xian's eyes and said coldly, "Since you have admitted it, then this official has no choice but to take you into custody for detailed investigation."

Fan Xian asked strangely, "What have this humble official admitted?"

Han Zhiwei frowned and said coldly, "You admitted to all my questions. It is obvious that Fan Xian, a fifth-rank Fengzheng, as the chief examiner of the Spring Examinations, secretly colluded with candidates such as Yang Wanli, engaging in corruption and treating the law as nothing, and the Emperor's grace as nothing. He is truly audacious."

Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and glanced at this Minister, defending himself, "When did this humble official admit to anything? It is true that this humble official met Yang Wanli on February 16th, because I admire this young man's talent. At that time, the corruption case broke out. If this humble official truly had any suspicion of favoritism, why would I go to meet him on that very day? Moreover, the meeting place was at the Tongfu Inn, where many students were gathered. Am I not afraid of gossip from others?"

He smiled and said, "Since this humble official dared to go, although I dare not say that this proves that this humble official's heart is as clear as the moon, how can it be concluded that I am colluding with Yang Wanli? Let this old man know that this humble official's first meeting with Yang Wanli was outside the examination hall. To say that there was collusion beforehand is truly unjust."

"Then how do you explain privately allowing students with concealed items to enter the examination hall?"

Fan Xian frowned slightly, thinking that too many people saw it at the time. He blamed himself for not taking Qing's Spring Examinations seriously enough, so his actions were so arrogant. He shook his head helplessly and said, "Because this humble official was entrusted by the Overwatch Council to secretly monitor those corrupt officials in the examination hall, so I could not let minor matters ruin the overall plan. As for the detailed reasons, Your Honor can send a document to the Overwatch Council, ordering them to explain it in detail."

Han Zhiwei snorted angrily, thinking, how could he question the Overwatch Council, the Emperor's special agency? The more he looked at Fan Xian's handsome face, the angrier he became. He pushed the signing tube away and shouted loudly, "Enough, since you refuse to admit it, someone come! Beat this shameless scoundrel for me!"

……

……

"Cannot be beaten!"

Two people in the hall said these three words at the same time. One of them was the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, who smiled wryly as he advised the Minister of Justice. This young man was not an ordinary offspring of powerful nobles. Beating him was absolutely out of the question. The nobleman behind him only sought to teach him a lesson and deal with his crime; he dared not beat him.

After Minister Han calmed down slightly, he remembered that Fan Xian was not only the Prime Minister's son-in-law and the Vice Minister's son, but also a talented literary official whom His Majesty greatly admired. Moreover, Han Zhiwei, being in the Six Ministries, could not be unaware of Lin Wan'er's identity. After being reminded by his two colleagues, Han Zhiwei could not help but frown. If he really beat Fan Xian to a point where something happened, he would really have difficulty explaining to the other nobles in the palace.

Then, the three officials were a little curious: who was the other person who said "cannot be beaten"? The three of them looked down the hall and found that Fan Xian was looking at them with an innocent face.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review found it a little funny and could not help but ask, "Why cannot be beaten?"

Fan Xian explained sincerely, "This humble official is a Juren graduate. According to Qing law, I do not need to kneel, and I cannot be interrogated with torture at will. Therefore, I said that I cannot be beaten. Otherwise, if the Imperial Censor is interested tomorrow and impeaches Minister Han for violating Qing law, would that not become this junior's fault?"

Guo Zheng, the Chief Censor of the Censorate among the three judges, was actually a distant relative of Guo Youzhi. He was the leader of those who submitted memorials impeaching Fan Xian. At this time, listening to the other party's barbed words, he could not help but laugh coldly and said softly, "Lord Fan is not only talented, but also very familiar with Qing law. But do you know that in the first commentary of Qing law, there are fifteen major crimes that can disregard the rules you mentioned earlier?"

This Chief Censor would naturally not dare to use torture on Fan Xian, but he was very willing to use words to intimidate him and vent the frustration of the capital officials these days.

Fan Xian shook his head, still with an innocent face, "Still cannot be beaten."

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was the least involved in the examination fraud case among the Three Departments, and he could not help but ask curiously, "This involves a major crime, and Lord Fan is unwilling to defend himself. Why still cannot be beaten in this court?"

Fan Xian still played the trick of "a thousand words are not as good as bringing out the Overwatch Council," sincerely replying, "This involves Overwatch Council secrets. Without the permission of the relevant officials of the Overwatch Council, this humble official is really afraid to speak in detail."

This trial was truly frustrating. The three officials looked at each other, seeing each other's fears and anger. They could not beat him, so how could they make Fan Xian confess? The masters behind them were determined to make Fan Xian suffer, and there was no way they would let him return to his residence just like that.

Just then, a clerk ran in from the side curtain with a nervous face and whispered something into the ear of Han Zhiwei, the Minister of Justice. Han Zhiwei's face immediately changed, with a cold light flashing in his eyes, but also some vaguely visible fear.

Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and looked up. The tyrannical True Qi in his body had already begun to circulate, but he only heard a few broken words in Han Zhiwei's reply, vaguely mentioning the Eastern Palace and ruthless methods—he did not know who had delivered the message, nor did he know what had made this Minister of Justice so alarmed and uneasy.

At the same time, two more notes were passed to Chief Censor Guo Zheng and Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Guo Zheng glanced at the note expressionlessly, while the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review showed a look of shock. After thinking for a moment, he actually got up and bowed to the two officials beside him, saying, "I have a pressing need. Please continue the trial, and I will return soon."

Fan Xian's heart trembled. What kind of note would make this Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review use a "urinary escape"? Before coming to the Ministry of Justice, Fan Xian had already investigated thoroughly. That Minister of Justice seemed fair and honest, but he was actually a member of the Eastern Palace. The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review had a very good relationship with the Qin family of the Censorate, while that Chief Censor Guo Zheng had a somewhat ambiguous relationship with the Eldest Princess when he was young. If Fan Xian did not have the terrifying power of the Overwatch Council, he would never have known this relationship that had been hidden for many years.

While he was thinking, he suddenly heard a stern shout in the hall, "Someone come! Tai Xue Fengzheng Fan Xian is roaring in court, involved in a corruption case, committing fifteen major crimes! Beat him for me!" Minister Han Zhiwei's facial muscles twisted, as if he had made a great decision.

At this time, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review had already slipped away, apparently knowing that a very dangerous situation would appear in the hall of the Ministry of Justice next, and his master did not want to offend the Fan family and the Prime Minister too much. Fan Xian's eyes turned cold as he stared into Han Zhiwei's eyes and said coldly, "Does Your Honor want to extract a confession by torture?"

A fierce light also flashed in the eyes of Chief Censor Guo Zheng, and he shouted, "Beat him!"

Two fire sticks slammed hard towards Fan Xian's most vulnerable shins. The thirteen departments of the Ministry of Justice were accustomed to doing such things; there was no wind under the stick, yet it was still fierce.

Fan Xian's face was frosty, unmoving and unyielding. Only two cracking sounds were heard, and the trousers on his legs could not withstand the force, collapsing into several pieces—not because his shins were broken, but because the two sticks had snapped in half, revealing the jagged wood chips!