Chapter 1442: Excellent appearance, but a big straw bag inside

A moment later, Ma Jingming arrived at the office, bowed and saluted, "My lord, you called for me, is there something to instruct?"

Chen Guanlou pointed to Mu Qingshan on the side, "Mu Qingshan says that you procrastinate in your work, and that's one thing, but what's with all the mistakes and omissions? Since you passed the Child Scholar exam, basic document writing should be second nature to you. Why is it that after several days, there hasn't been the slightest progress?"

Document writing is one of the contents of the imperial examinations.

Any serious scholar should be able to write basic documents.

Ma Jingming was a bit embarrassed and a bit indignant. He secretly glanced at Mu Qingshan on the side, never expecting the other party to be a tattletale! A grown man, acting like a woman, petty!

"Reporting to my lord, I have been negligent in my studies these past few years and am not very proficient, hence the mistakes and omissions. I am already working hard to study and review the old to learn the new; I will definitely be able to do it in half a month at most."

Chen Guanlou sneered, "Your colleague Chen Mengzhi, whose studies are just average, has no merit, and couldn't even pass the county exam, yet he could handle the job as soon as he arrived. His document work has never had any errors. And you are a Child Scholar! Ma Jingming, tell me honestly, was your Child Scholar status really earned by yourself?"

Ma Jingming had an expression of being greatly humiliated, his expression particularly agitated, "My lord, please be careful with your words! The imperial examination is a major event, how can... how can... if this spreads out, hundreds of heads will fall."

In every dynasty and generation, the imperial examination has been a major event.

Cheating in the imperial examination is an even bigger event among major events, a major case among major cases. Any cheating in the imperial examination will definitely be recorded in the history books and will not be omitted.

The people who die are in strings, from first-rank high officials and imperial relatives down to peddlers and pawns. Anyone involved will not have a good end.

Ma Jingming's agitated emotions were understandable. The only person who could treat a capital crime lightly and not care much was Chen Guanlou.

"Then tell me, why is your document writing full of mistakes and omissions? Don't use negligence in studies as an excuse. Here with me, you'd better tell the truth! Mu Qingshan, you go out, don't let anyone get close. I don't want today's conversation to come out of your mouth and reach anyone else's ears."

Mu Qingshan was dumbfounded, then questioned, "Why can't I listen?"

"Because I don't allow it!" Chen Guanlou glared, Mu Qingshan said "Oh," his brain instantly cleared, and he retreated silently, closing the door on the way out.

"Now you can speak." Chen Guanlou stared fixedly at Ma Jingming.

Ma Jingming, however, insisted that his merit was earned by himself. Such things could not be spoken of randomly, let alone faked.

Chen Guanlou sneered, not believing a single word.

"Your father spent a lot of money to stuff you into the Heavenly Prison; it can be called a father's kind heart and painstaking efforts. I couldn't figure out for a long time why it had to be the Heavenly Prison.

With the background of the Hou Fu, you are Steward Ma's son; not to mention being an official, it wouldn't be a problem to go to any yamen with rich pickings and be a clerk. Yet you chose the Heavenly Prison, this place abandoned by the world.

Tell me, was the Child Scholar status earned by yourself? Your father knows your true level, so he didn't dare send you to a yamen crowded with scholars, only daring to send you to the Heavenly Prison. At least here, you have me covering for you, and you don't have to worry about being exposed by scholars. After all, in the entire Heavenly Prison, the only one who can be called a serious scholar is Mu Qingshan."

"My lord, please be discerning; I earned the Child Scholar status with my own ability. There was absolutely no substitute test-taker!"

"I didn't even say substitute test-taker, and you confessed without being asked."

Ma Jingming was dumbfounded, "No, I didn't mean that. I didn't... my lord, you misunderstood."

"I thought you bought the Child Scholar status with money; I didn't expect it was actually a substitute test-taker!"

Chen Guanlou smiled, his expression playful.

"It's not. There was no substitute test-taker; I really earned it with my own ability."

"Really? Which year were you a Child Scholar? What was the topic of the policy essay? Come, here is paper and pen, write it on the spot. If you can write it, I'll believe you."

Chen Guanlou clearly didn't trust the other party; the paper and pen were placed right in front of him.

Will he take the challenge?

Ma Jingming was covered in cold sweat.

In the middle of winter, he looked like he had been fished out of water.

Everything was self-evident!

Chen Guanlou clicked his tongue twice, "Even if you were a substitute test-taker, I wouldn't report it. Since your knowledge doesn't seem sufficient to handle the current work, I need to understand the truth. At least I need to know your true level, and then arrange tasks for you."

"My lord won't report it?" Ma Jingming instantly seemed to come alive, his eyes shining like stars.

One has to admit, apart from being short, this guy's appearance is really good.

Such a big fake, Chen Guanlou hadn't noticed it at first.

After all, the other party had the face of a scholar, looking refined and polite, with the appearance of having great knowledge.

It gave people the feeling of being very good at reading and very persuasive!

This face was too deceptive.

No wonder Steward Ma was willing to spend money on his youngest son.

Just by relying on this face, he could eat from the public pot!

"Why would I report it, what's the benefit? How you got your Child Scholar status has nothing to do with me!" Chen Guanlou said with a smile, "You have the ability to evade the imperial court's investigation and successfully obtain the Child Scholar status; that is the ability of your Ma family."

Ma Jingming felt relieved, yet slightly embarrassed.

The embarrassment of being exposed.

Song Anxu instantly laughed, laughing like a sweet girl, too deceptive!

"Don't laugh like that, it doesn't fit your temperament!"

"Is it not good for me to laugh like this?" Song Anxu leaned forward, pulling Chen Guanlou's body.

The Prince Mansion's servants were very sensible, without a sound, taking the child away quietly.

Song Dabao was reluctant to part with his small wooden shovel and wailed loudly.

The servant woman hurriedly took the little ancestor's toy and left the greenhouse.

Inside the greenhouse, flowers were falling, and the ground was messy!

Young men and women, knowing the taste of the marrow, the battlefield moved from the greenhouse to the bedroom!

Until dark, the servant reported that the Princess had urged several times, waiting to open the banquet.

Chen Guanlou patted his forehead, "Your mother must be furious!"

Song Anxu laughed loudly, "Be bolder, the ugly son-in-law always has to see the mother-in-law!"

The two tidied up and hurried to the flower hall.

The Lu Princess is a middle-aged woman with a very strong aura. As soon as she entered the door, she first glared at Song Anxu, and then began to look at Chen Guanlou.

In terms of appearance, Chen Guanlou had never lost, from eight-year-olds to eighty-year-olds, all liked him! Many decent widows wanted to throw themselves at him, but he refused them all. Widows have high risks! Forget it, forget it!

The Lu Princess's anger seemed to have dissipated a bit, showing a smile, "You're here, sit down. Go invite the Prince! Tonight is a family banquet, Little Chen, don't be restrained, just treat it as your own home."

"Junior pays respects to the Princess, if there is any disrespect, I hope the Princess will forgive me!"

"I know you young people have a lot to say, this Princess is not a rigid person. Little Chen, don't be nervous, sit down and talk."

Chen Guanlou sat down as ordered, sitting at the lower right! The attitude was very respectful! The respect of a junior to an elder!

The Lu Princess is a mother-in-law looking at a son-in-law, can't say the more she looks the more satisfied she is, at least she didn't dislike him, quite satisfied.

"I heard you have an older sister, you were brought up by your sister since you were young. How is your sister's health, is she good?"

"Thank you for your concern, Princess, my sister's health is good, she runs a teahouse, and the business is okay. Both nephews have reached the age of reading, and are studying in the Chen clan school..."

Chen Guanlou introduced all family members in one breath, so as not to let the other party continue to ask.

The Lu Princess nodded, "How is your Marquis?"