Chapter 503: Sleeping is not allowed here

Chu Ningyu was stunned upon hearing this.

Evidence?

How could this "Ascending the River, Autumn Moon" possibly be Gao Yang's?

Zhou Zifu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes fixed on Gao Yang.

He wanted to see how this work, which was originally his, could become evidence for Gao Yang to crush him!

Gao Yang sneered, took a rolled-up piece of rice paper from his sleeve, and then opened it, revealing the contents.

"'Ascending the River, Autumn Moon'!"

For a moment, the officials' gazes gathered on Gao Yang, and some sharp-eyed officials even discovered the special nature of this rice paper, the special nature of the ink!

It seemed to have been polished by time, looking extremely old.

"Everyone, please look; this is the 'Ascending the River, Autumn Moon' I wrote seven years ago, preserved to this day, as evidence of my innocence."

"Whether it is the rice paper or the handwriting, both have been verified by time; on the contrary, Zhou Laoyezi took out a piece of rice paper that looked like it was less than a few months old and said I plagiarized him!"

"Isn't that shameless?"

"Justice resides in the hearts of the people; I ask you all to decide for yourselves. Would I have plotted against Zhou Laoyezi seven years ago and specifically copied it down in advance?"

"This claim is too ridiculous!"

Gao Yang said without changing his expression.

The Great Chu delegation had started building momentum two days ago; if he hadn't prepared in advance, he would have truly let down those two days!

As for forging this rice paper, he was even more skilled at it.

And this thing was simpler than the Sunflower Manual, just a bit rushed in time.

Zhou Laoyezi was renowned across the seven kingdoms and had countless disciples; one only needed to send someone to inquire slightly about who was his fanatical admirer, and it would be clear at a glance, then take the guards and find a reason to raid their home.

Three strikes later, they would confess everything.

Since they were fanatical admirers, how could they not have this famous work of Zhou Laoyezi in their home?

And to save time, he had attacked simultaneously!

And this copied rice paper had already been through the passage of time.

After his most professional forging techniques, it would appear even older, having been through the passage of time.

In this way, a setup that seemed full of loopholes became a huge conspiracy under step-by-step meticulous design!

Zhou Laoyezi had no way to turn the tables!

After today, his reputation would instantly collapse, and he would become a rat that everyone would beat!

Almost as soon as this old piece of rice paper appeared, Wu Zhao's lips curled up.

"This Gao Yang!"

"I almost forgot about the Sunflower Manual!"

Wu Zhao thought to herself.

Gao Yang's methods were unknown to others, but she knew them very clearly, though she naturally couldn't say.

Instead, she looked at Shangguan Wan'er and said, "Wan'er, show the evidence of Lord Gao's innocence to the officials and the Great Chu delegation!"

"I also agree with the Great Princess's words; justice resides in the hearts of the people!"

Shangguan Wan'er stepped forward, took the rice paper from Gao Yang's hand, and began to circle the Jin Luandian, showing it to everyone!

The officials stepped forward one after another, and when they saw the old rice paper with "Ascending the River, Autumn Moon" written on it in Gao Yang's hand, and the new rice paper Zhou Laoyezi had taken out earlier.

Once compared, the difference was clear!

"Hiss!"

"This rice paper is definitely aged!"

"These edges, these stains, and even this color—it absolutely couldn't have formed without several years!"

"By comparison, this so-called evidence of Zhou Laoyezi is too ridiculous."

The officials said one after another.

Their gazes turned to Zhou Laoyezi, filled with intense disdain.

They never expected that what Gao Yang said was actually true!

Some radical scholars even started cursing directly, while conservative scholars felt that the radical faction was too conservative.

"Great Chu's number one Poet Saint, I spit on that!"

"Too shameless, actually twisting things against him; it's fortunate Lord Gao had evidence, otherwise wouldn't he have been ruined today?"

"Come to think of it, Lord Gao recites masterpieces for the ages at will; although this 'Ascending the River, Autumn Moon' is not bad, it is completely not on the same level as the poems Lord Gao wrote today!"

"It makes sense; the level of this 'Ascending the River, Autumn Moon' is indeed the level of what Lord Gao would have written at ten-plus years old!"

The mocking and questioning reached Zhou Laoyezi's mind.

His complexion grew paler, and his spirit grew grayer.

When the rice paper in Shangguan Wan'er's hand reached him, he grabbed it, and when he saw the old marks and the creases on the edges.

His already aged face lost all color!

"This, how is this possible!"

Zhou Laoyezi was lost, his whole body trembling.

He stared fixedly at Gao Yang.

This stigma of plagiarism was more painful to him than death!

But everything Gao Yang had shown, along with this piece of evidence, left him unable to defend himself; the problem was, this "Ascending the River, Autumn Moon" was truly his painstaking work.

How on earth did Gao Yang do it?

At this moment, Zhou Laoyezi was in complete disarray.