Chapter 120: Did you go take a dump?

Early the next morning, at the Ning Prince's Mansion.

A servant reported, "Princess Consort, Master Liu Yunyi is outside requesting an audience."

"Liu Yunyi..." Cheng Ru'an pondered for a moment, but couldn't recall who he was.

"Did he say why he wishes to see me?"

"He said he came to take his leave, to thank the Princess Consort for her kindness in buying books and giving silver."

"Buying books and giving silver? Oh!" Cheng Ru'an remembered—he was the student who read books at the Hanmo Zhai bookstore!

"Please have him wait in the front hall."

"Yes."

Seeing Cheng Ru'an leading Tuan Tuan inside, Liu Yunyi hastily rose: "Student Liu Yunyi pays his respects to the Princess Consort and the Princess."

Tuan Tuan glanced up and exclaimed, "It's you!"

Cheng Ru'an smiled: "Master Liu, please sit, and serve tea."

Liu Yunyi bowed deeply, his words earnest: "Thanks to the Princess Consort's help before, I will never forget it; today I have come specially to take my leave."

"In the capital, paper is dear and lodging hard; my learning is insufficient, so I failed the imperial examination and have no face to stay—I will return home today, coming especially to thank the Princess Consort for her great kindness."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Tuan Tuan's face showed surprise: "You failed? How could you fail?"

Liu Yunyi looked at her, feeling bitter, and forced a smile: "It's my lack of talent and learning that has amused the Princess."

"This trip to the capital has yielded nothing; my writing failed to catch Mr. Yun Yai's eye, and the imperial examination..."

"Old Man Yun?" Tuan Tuan frowned, "How could his writing not impress him? You're lying!"

Liu Yunyi startled, "Old Man Yun? You mean Mr. Yun Yai?"

"I dare not deceive," he hurriedly explained, "That day I was gravely ill and had entrusted my essay to my classmate Zhao Qi to submit to Mr. Yun Yai on my behalf..."

"Ah! That scoundrel!" Tuan Tuan snapped, instantly furious, "You've been tricked by him!"

"That day he quarreled with my third brother, was scolded away by Old Man Yun, and never handed anything over for him to see!"

Liu Yunyi shuddered, his face instantly turning pale.

He had always thought his essay was poor—could it actually be Zhao Qi sabotaging him?

Tuan Tuan slid off the stool, walked around him once, her little face full of inquiry: "Did you go take a dump during the exam?"

"My third brother told me that if you go to the bathroom during the exam, you'll get a black mark and fail!"

Liu Yunyi laughed and cried, clasping his hands: "Princess, what your brother said is indeed a rule, but I observed the exam regulations and did not... go to the bathroom."

"That makes even less sense!" Tuan Tuan tilted her head, walked around him again, "You didn't go to the bathroom, your essay was so good—how could you not pass?"

She raised her little finger, pointing at him without doubt: "You are the Literary Star!"

Those words left Liu Yunyi completely stunned, his mind blank.

"Me? I'm the Literary Star? Really?"

Cheng Ru'an's heart skipped a beat.

She waved at Tuan Tuan, calling her over: "Tuan Tuan, is Master Liu really the Literary Star?"

"Yes, Mom!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, "I wouldn't mistake him—it's him! But..." she pouted, confused, "How could the Literary Star fail the exam? That's too strange!"

Cheng Ru'an's expression instantly turned grave.

She rose and said to the still‑shocked Liu Yunyi, "Master Liu, could we delay your return home? Please stay a little while in the mansion."

"As the Princess Consort arranges." Liu Yunyi instinctively bowed in assent, slowly sat down, his mind in turmoil.

Cheng Ru'an immediately had Liu Mama summon the Prince.

Moments later, Xiao Yuanhang strode in.

Tuan Tuan immediately lunged at him: "Daddy!"

"Eh!" Xiao Yuanhang scooped her up and sat down.

Liu Yunyi hastily rose to salute: "Student greets the Prince."

After briefly recounting what had just happened, Cheng Ru'an said to the Prince, "Your Highness, this matter likely has hidden circumstances."

Xiao Yuanhang looked at Liu Yunyi: "Master Liu, the imperial examination papers are divided into the Ink Scroll and the Red Scroll."

"What the candidate writes by hand is the Ink Scroll; what is copied by a specialist, with the name concealed and sent to the examiners for review, is the Red Scroll."

"You should now go to the Ministry of Rites, claiming a scoring error, and request to review your Ink and Red Scrolls for verification."

"Regardless of the outcome, return immediately to the mansion and inform me."

"Yes! Student obeys!"

If the Prince Ning intervenes, there may be a turning point!

Liu Yunyi felt a spark of hope, bowed, and hurried away.

Soon he returned to the Prince's Mansion hall, his face full of resentment.

"Your Highness, Princess Consort, I couldn't even get through the gate of the Ministry of Rites!"

"The gatekeeper, hearing I came to check the exam papers, said all this examination's papers have been sealed and cannot be accessed."

"I argued with him, but he threw me out."

Upon hearing this, Tuan Tuan flared, waving her tiny fists: "Scoundrel! Bullying people!"

Xiao Yuanhang's eyes flashed cold: "I understand. Master Liu, stay peacefully in the mansion for now. I will surely obtain justice for you."

Liu Yunyi rejoiced: "Many thanks, Your Highness! Many thanks, Princess Consort!"

Tuan Tuan was unhappy: "And what about me!"

Liu Yunyi embarrassedly scratched the back of his head: "Yes, yes! I ought to thank the Little Princess most!" Having said that, he bowed deeply to Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan nodded satisfactorily: "A child can be taught!"

Before Liu Yunyi could rise, his head nearly hit the floor.

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face and asked Cheng Ru'an: "What's wrong, Mother? Did I say something wrong?"

My disciple says it like that!

Cheng Ru'an laughed helplessly: "All right, go play."

Tuan Tuan happily ran out: "Second Uncle! Let's go out for a stroll!"

Xiao Er picked her up, and the two left the house.

Xiao Yuanhang did not pause, going straight into the palace to see the emperor.

Xiao Jieyun heard his report with a solemn face: "Cheng Jinyan."

Eunuch Cheng stepped forward: "Your servant is here."

Find someone unfamiliar and capable, go to the Ministry of Rites, and have the ink and red scrolls of this imperial examination's candidate Liu Yunyi brought to me for careful verification.

"Your servant understands." Eunuch Cheng comprehended and withdrew silently.

After nearly two hours, he returned, his expression grim.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have already verified it carefully."

"On Liu Yunyi's ink scroll and its corresponding red scroll, the names are completely different people!"

"This is, someone has impersonated him!"

Xiao Jieyun, furious, laughed coldly: "Excellent! A perfect case of substituting a peach for a plum! Excellent! A perfect case of deceiving heaven and crossing the sea!"

"The imperial examination selecting officials is the foundation of the state! How dare the Ministry of Rites act so recklessly, treating national law as nothing!"

"Convey my imperial decree! This imperial examination cheating case shall be overseen by Prince Ning, with the Inspection Court assisting."

"Investigate thoroughly for me! All involved shall be severely punished without mercy!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

At this moment, Xiao Er was holding Tuan Tuan, making his way through the streets and alleys.

Suddenly, from a nearby courtyard, a sharp angry shout came: "You can't even learn this! Am I raising you just to eat for free?"

Immediately followed by the children's cries and the swishing sound of rattan being whipped.

Tuan Tuan furrowed her brows: "Second Uncle!"

Xiao Er instantly understood, and with a kick flung open the courtyard gate: "Who dares to act wildly here!"