Chapter 593

Count's Mansion, Jia Cong's courtyard.

Just now, while dining with the sisters, in order not to cause suspicion among them, Jia Cong spoke lightly about the poisoning of the Ministry of Rites official.

But in fact, he didn't put the matter down in his heart; he talked to Daiyu for a while and sent her back to her residence, then returned to his study alone.

He took down the blue-covered booklet from the bookshelf and flipped through it until the page of the list of candidates for the chief examiner of the Spring Examination.

The names on it, except for the three who had been selected as chief examiners, Wang Shi-lun, Chen Mo, and Huang Hong-cang.

Were the few who were dropped or declined for various reasons: Grand Secretary Cai Xiang, Minister of Rites Guo You-chang, and Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Zheng Yan.

And those who were dropped due to lack of seniority, Minister of Works Li De-kang, and Left Vice Minister of Revenue Xu Liang-xiong...

Huang Hong-cang was accidentally poisoned and would definitely not be able to serve as the chief examiner of the Spring Examination; which one of these people would be the substitute chief examiner?

Although, on the surface, under the easy transcription of the examination, it doesn't matter much to the candidates who the chief examiner is; to win the golden list, it just depends on knowledge and talent.

But after the examination list is revealed, the chief examiner will know who the candidates he took are.

The chief examiner and the successful candidates will form a firm relationship between teacher and student; this relationship has a great connection in the officialdom, and even determines the future ups and downs of the official career, sharing both prosperity and disaster.

Although with Jia Cong's status as a noble family, the influence of the teacher will not be that great.

But within the possible range, he himself hopes that his future teacher will be someone with similar temperament and political views.

Therefore, he is naturally concerned about who will replace Huang Hong-cang as the new chief examiner.

……

He was stunned holding the blue-covered booklet.

Suddenly he heard soft footsteps and moist fragrance; Xing Xiuyan didn't know when she entered the study, her face was sweet and moist, and her hands were holding something, but they were hidden behind her back and couldn't be seen.

Jia Cong saw that she was dressed beautifully today, unlike the usual plainness; her upper body was a round-collared robe with embroidered magnolia branches on a crimson background, inside was a white-collared inner garment, and her lower body was paired with a water-red long skirt.

The whole person was fresh, beautiful, and elegant, like the spring of February on the tip of a bean-card branch, truly very pleasing to the eye.

He asked with a smile: "Xiuyan sister, what are you hiding in your hands? Why don't you take it out and let me see?"

Xing Xiuyan blushed and took out the thing hidden behind her back; it turned out to be a soft silk pillow, using a light blue background with dark flower tribute satin, embroidered with patterns such as the bright moon and laurel trees, and the craftsmanship was delicate and exquisite.

Jia Cong smiled and took it; he knew the meaning of the bright moon and laurel tree pattern, which was naturally the good intention of winning the laurel in the toad palace, which was just right for his Spring Examination this time, and he thought Xing Xiuyan had spent a lot of thought.

Xing Xiuyan said: "Cousin is going to take the Spring Examination; I heard that you have to spend nine days in the examination cell; the bed board in the examination cell is narrow and hard, so I made a soft pillow for cousin to sleep more peacefully at night."

In fact, this soft silk pillow had been made by Xing Xiuyan for two days, and she had been too shy to give it to Jia Cong.

Originally, she felt that Jia Cong was taking the Spring Examination, and with so many trusted maids around him, everything was naturally prepared for him, and she couldn't help.

Later, she heard that the examination cell for candidates in the examination hall was not only small in size, but also used number boards to splice into a bed at night, which was not as comfortable as at home.

She was worried that Jia Cong would not be comfortable in the examination cell, so she had a sudden idea to make a light and soft lying pillow so that he could sleep more peacefully at night.

It was just that after the thing was made, she suddenly thought that sending a lying pillow for sleeping seemed too intimate and ambiguous, and she was too shy to send it to him.

Today, the sisters gathered in Jia Cong's courtyard; she calculated that Jia Cong would take the exam in two more days, and if she didn't send the lying pillow she made herself, it would be too late.

It was just that in front of the sisters, she was really too shy in her heart, especially that fast-mouthed girl Xiangyun, who would definitely laugh at her.

Therefore, Xing Xiuyan waited until the sisters had dispersed before coming over alone, and she knew in her heart that he would definitely like the things she made...

Jia Cong patted the soft pillow lightly; it was very soft and elastic, and he smiled: "Sister's heart is really meticulous; this thing is just right to be used in the examination cell.

I have slept on the number boards of the examination hall more than once; don't mention how stiff they are; with the soft pillow sister sent, I will definitely sleep much more peacefully at night."

Xing Xiuyan was full of joy upon hearing his praise.

Although she had just passed the age of bean-card and was still childish, she was smiling at this moment, but she could not hide her beauty, bright eyes and white teeth, peach smile and plum beauty, elegant and moving.

Jia Cong suddenly thought of something, his expression regretful, and said: "I forgot this; candidates entering the examination hall for the exam have to be strictly searched at the pass to prevent candidates from cheating and bringing things in.

Such a beautiful pillow, I'm afraid those yamen runners will tear it open to check; wouldn't it be a waste of sister's heart."

Xing Xiuyan smiled proudly upon hearing this and said: "I have already inquired about these; I thought of it when I made this soft pillow."

She took the pillow from Jia Cong's hand, turned it to the back of the pillow, and said with a smile: "Cousin, look."

Jia Cong saw a row of buttons on the back of the pillow and couldn't help but smile.

Xing Xiuyan's fingers were dexterous; she unbuttoned the buttons in a few times, propped up the soft pillow, and it was filled with fine palm silk inside.

She said with a smile: "Cousin, look, I have thought about it; you will be searched by the yamen runners when you enter the pass; you can unbutton these buttons and let them check; I'm not afraid of breaking the lying pillow."

Jia Cong smiled: "Sister's thoughts are really thoughtful; the pillow can also have buttons; why didn't I think of it."

Xing Xiuyan grabbed two handfuls of palm silk from inside, brought it to Jia Cong's nose, and asked with a smile: "Cousin, smell it, is it very fragrant? I heard from Second Sister that cousin loves to use clear soul incense daily.

But you can't light incense in the examination cell; I smoked these palm silks with green soul incense for a few days before putting them into the pillow; cousin can sleep more peacefully when sleeping on it, and then win the first place in the Spring Examination and come home."

Jia Cong smiled: "Sister's pillow is really well made; it's hard for you to spend so much thought.

It's just that after sleeping on your pillow, I'm afraid it will be too comfortable, and I won't be able to sleep on others in the future; I think the pillows in my room should be made by you in the future."

Xing Xiuyan couldn't help laughing upon hearing this; the two placed the pillow on the table, feeling comfortable, talking and laughing, and re-packed the palm silk into the pillow.

The clear wind blew from outside the window, and the blue-covered booklet on the desk was flipped by the wind, making a rustling sound...

……

Shenjing, Chengdong, Examination Hall.

The Spring Examination announcement posted at the entrance of the examination hall had obvious fading because time had passed for many days.

Only the names of the chief examiner and subordinate officials of the Spring Examination on the imperial edict were still visible, one stroke and one stroke, as clear as if carved by a knife.

The spring breeze kept blowing, and a corner of the edict had already withered and curled, making a strange clattering sound in the wind.

The sun had gradually set, and the sound of horse hooves came from the other end of the street, accompanied by the low rumbling sound of wheels crushing the road surface.

Five carriages followed one after another, appearing from the other end of the street, slowly driving toward the main gate of the examination hall, with more than twenty armored cavalrymen riding horses and following for protection.

Zhou Jun-xing, the head of the Court of Investigation, and Zheng Ying-quan, the main official, were also in the cavalry team, surrounded by more than ten investigative officers.

This road was rolling with wheels, knives and guns were bright, and horse hooves were roaring, quite powerful.

Because the day after tomorrow was the opening day of the Spring Examination, most of the candidates were doing their last hard study.

Therefore, few candidates would see the scene before them.

Although there were many pedestrians and vendors on the road, for these people, the Spring Examination was a distant and strange thing; at most, they stood on the side of the road to watch the power and liveliness of the cavalry and carriages.

On the second floor of the teahouse opposite the examination hall, Liu Wen-xuan sat by the window, having stayed for nearly half an hour, calmly observing the street downstairs.

When the tea doctor filled the second pot of tea for him, he saw the cavalry team of considerable scale stop at the entrance of the examination hall.

He saw two people get off the first two carriages; he had already seen the portraits of these two people before, who were Grand Secretary Wang Shi-lun and Minister of Works Chen Mo.

March 16th at sunset is the time for the three chief examiners of the Spring Examination to enter the examination hall for seclusion; they enter the examination hall today and cannot leave the examination hall until the end of the Spring Examination.

Before the hour of the 17th of March, the Spring Examination questions finally decided by the three chief examiners will be sent to the palace by special personnel for the Emperor's preview and filing, as the examination questions for this Spring Examination.

Moreover, the three chief examiners compile the examination questions separately, and they do not know each other's questions before the actual exam.

Once a chief examiner takes advantage of the convenience of the questions to cheat and sell questions, he must bear the crime himself and cannot implicate others.

The methods of clarifying responsibilities for the Spring Examination questions in past dynasties have had some differences, and Da Zhou also based on the examination etiquette of the previous dynasty and extended its own set of rules...

At this time, Liu Wen-xuan's eyes were bright; Wang Shi-lun and Chen Mo appearing at this time were all reasonable; his attention was on the third carriage.

Because the person who got off this carriage was the third chief examiner who replaced Huang Hong-cang.

At this time, the curtain of the third carriage was lifted, and a middle-aged man of about forty got off, wearing a third-rank civil official uniform, with a decent appearance, self-respecting and calm, a short beard under his forehead, and an elegant spirit.

As soon as Liu Wen-xuan saw the person, his eyes brightened slightly, and he got up to pay the bill and then left the teahouse quickly.

……

At the entrance of the examination hall, Zhou Jun-xing watched the three chief examiners enter the examination hall; the two hundred elite soldiers of the Forbidden Army who had been mobilized early had swarmed to various gates and exits to strictly guard the entry and exit. Zhou Jun-xing watched the main gate of the examination hall close with a rumble, and then turned his horse's head to return to the Court of Investigation office.

Zheng Ying-quan on the side stepped forward and said: "Official, the shopkeeper and his wife of the Hongxing Southern Goods Store, and the servant who delivered goods to the Huang residence, have all been taken for questioning.

These three have all been tortured, but they don't know that the turtle meat is poisonous; I observed from the side, and these three are not lying.

If they are tortured again, they will definitely say whatever is asked, and a forced confession will be of no help, and the real murderer who harmed Huang Hong-cang will not be found."

Zhou Jun-xing sighed: "I also guessed that the three in the southern goods store were just ordinary goods, and nothing could be asked from them.

The person behind the scenes could easily poison the chief examiner of the Spring Examination of the third rank, which is a big matter; the other party will not leave obvious flaws, and the Hongxing Southern Goods Store is just a cover."

Zheng Ying-quan looked puzzled and asked: "Since the official had a plan early on, why did you make such a big fanfare to take these three, wouldn't it be beating the grass to scare the snake."

Zhou Jun-xing smiled gloomily: "I arrested the three in the southern goods store just to show others; although Huang Hong-cang cannot serve as the chief examiner, the matter is not over yet!"

Zheng Ying-quan saw that Zhou Jun-xing's language was deep and mysterious, knowing that he had other plans in his heart; since he didn't say it clearly, he would never ask, which was the tacit understanding between the two for many years.

He said again: "Official, in the morning at the Huang residence, we used the method of Imperial Physician Li Cheng-ming to feed the wild dog with roasted turtle meat, and the wild dog was not poisoned.

This shows that the turtle meat in the southern goods store is non-toxic; the Huang family mother and daughter and Li Cheng-ming all witnessed it, and the new chief examiner was very dissatisfied with us taking people to the southern goods store at that time.

!

Now that the three in the southern goods store have been tortured, since it has been confirmed that they have nothing to do with this matter, should we release them first, so as not to give people a handle."

Zhou Jun-xing's brows knitted slightly, saying: "The people in the southern goods store must be released, but not now; it must wait until the candidates enter the hall for the exam on the 18th.

It's just that there is one thing that I can't figure out; Huang Hong-cang has been on leave at home for many days, never going out, and his daily diet is at the same table as his wife and daughter.

If you want to take action against him, except for poisoning that piece of turtle meat, I really can't think of any other way, but that piece of turtle meat is non-toxic."

……

Shenjing Chengdong, Yuping Street, Hongjin Silk Shop.

Liu Wen-xuan returned to the shop, gave a few instructions to the shop's clerks, and entered the backyard of the shop.

He almost didn't stop his steps, left through the back door of the courtyard, and entered the back alley of Yuping Street.

He walked for a while in the back alley, turned a few corners, and walked on the deep alley paths behind the main street.

After walking for half a cup of tea like this, he stopped at the end of a quiet alley and knocked on the brass door knocker of a small courtyard.

The monotonous and regular metal knocking sound echoed in the quiet alley...

However, the person who came to open the door this time was not the tall woman, but the middle-aged man in short clothes and brown clothes.

After the two entered the courtyard, Liu Wen-xuan said: "Proprietor, your candidate for the new chief examiner is exactly as you guessed; just now at the entrance of the examination hall, I saw this person enter the hall for seclusion with my own eyes.

It's just that this person took over the position of chief examiner; this person is also a backbone civil official of the court like Huang Hong-cang; how can the proprietor be sure that he can make us succeed?"

That middle-aged man smiled indifferently: "I have never been sure that this person can help us succeed."

Liu Wen-xuan was confused upon hearing this, but he knew that his proprietor had always been deep in strategy and would not do anything without a target; he said so, and there must be his reason.

That middle-aged man took Liu Wen-xuan into the study, took the blue-covered booklet on the desk, and flipped to a page, on which were written five or six names of candidates for the chief examiner of the Spring Examination.

He said: "I am only sure that the person who makes us succeed is definitely not Huang Hong-cang!

Huang Hong-cang has a strict temperament and is upright as an official; I have been paying attention to this person for a long time.

Although he gave Wu Liang and Zhou Yan draft questions to guide them, as long as he is the chief examiner, he will not let people have an opportunity to take advantage of, and it is impossible for there to be any selling of questions.

Ever since the court announced the Spring Examination edict and he was appointed as the chief examiner, I have arranged for eyes and ears to pay attention to the daily movements of the Huang residence.

Before he was poisoned, this person had been on leave at home for five days, staying behind closed doors and refusing guests, never going out, and must have been fully compiling the Spring Examination questions.

With his talent and vision, such painstaking pondering, the examination questions he compiled, hoping that he would overlap with the draft questions he issued, is simply impossible; this is contrary to his nature.

The three chief examiners of the Spring Examination, Wang Shi-lun is a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, holding the highest position, deeply valued by the current Emperor; Chen Mo is the Minister of Works, one of the leaders of the six ministries, with a deep foundation in the court.

These two are both leaders in the officialdom, floating and sinking in the official sea, in charge of the Spring Examination, no matter what, it is difficult to reveal flaws.

Moreover, they are both backbone heavy ministers, with deep connections in the court; no matter which one of them has an accident, it will really poke a hornet's nest, and the beginning and end will be difficult to clean up.

However, Huang Hong-cang is different; this person is the lowest official among the three chief examiners, an official for ten years, upright and clean, low-key and pragmatic; such a decent clean official is not popular in the officialdom.

Apart from having some prestige in the Ministry of Rites, he has almost no connections in the court; if he has an accident, it will not cause too much waves.

Since these three chief examiners are a piece of iron, if you want to pry one, Huang Hong-cang is undoubtedly the best choice!"

The middle-aged man flipped the blue-covered booklet to a page...

He continued: "This matter, I was still hesitant at first, until I got news from a bookstore on Wenhan Street.

Two candidates went to the bookstore to buy books, and there was a conversation related to the Spring Examination; these two people didn't know their names, one had the courtesy name Xiwen, and the other had the courtesy name Brother Bao Kun."

That middle-aged man looked at Liu Wen-xuan and said: "You got the draft questions he issued from Huang Hong-cang's study; you should know who these two people are?"

Liu Wen-xuan's eyes brightened, and he blurted out: "Wu Liang and Zhou Yan!

Is it because of this that the proprietor decided to take Huang Hong-cang and let others replace his position as chief examiner? Is it just that the new chief examiner taking office will definitely be beneficial to us?"

The middle-aged man said: "Liu Xuan, I once said that the Spring Examination is a matter of great importance to the country; we have done things to this point, which is the end.

Wang Shi-lun and Chen Mo cannot be moved; I cannot be sure that the new chief examiner will definitely be beneficial to us.

However, if Huang Hong-cang is always in office, we will definitely not be able to succeed!

Only by breaking the balance of the three chief examiners can we win an opportunity; whether it succeeds or not is no longer in the plan, but in heaven.

I took Huang Hong-cang before he entered the examination hall for seclusion, and I also specially calculated the timing to create an urgent opportunity.

Everything in the world is like this; one must seek newness in change, and chaos must arise in urgency..."

……

As the two were talking, they heard a slight sound of landing in the courtyard.

That middle-aged man smiled: "It must be Shenglan who is back; only she doesn't walk through the front door."

Liu Wen-xuan saw the shadow shaking at the door, and a tall and graceful woman walked into the room steadily.

The middle-aged man asked: "Shenglan, how is the situation outside?"

The woman named Shenglan said: "This morning, Li Cheng-ming, the head of the Imperial Academy of Medicine, entered the Huang residence; it must be that the palace sent him to diagnose and treat Huang Hong-cang."

The middle-aged man's gaze froze upon hearing the name Li Cheng-ming, saying: "Li Cheng-ming has a good inheritance and is a person with quite a means; I think he can mostly cure Huang Hong-cang."

Shenglan said: "I followed the proprietor's instructions; the rat-mang grass poison I used is not fatal and is mixed with hallucinogenic things from Miao territory, which will only make his vitality stagnant and unconscious.

Even if Li Cheng-ming finds a way to detoxify and makes Huang Hong-cang wake up and recover, it will take five or six days to decide, and it will take at least ten days to recover to health; he cannot delay our affairs."

Shenglan said again: "This morning, the investigative officers of the Court of Investigation took the shopkeeper and his wife of the southern goods store, as well as the servant who delivered goods to the Huang residence, to the Court of Investigation."

That middle-aged man asked gloomily: "We used that southern goods store as a cover this time; did you leave any flaws?"

Shenglan replied: "Proprietor, rest assured; the turtle meat sent from the southern goods store was tampered with by me and was indeed poisonous.

But after Huang Hong-cang used the stewed turtle meat last night, I swapped the remaining turtle meat in the kitchen overnight, and even the stewed meat residue thrown away by the Huang family cook was cleaned up and handled by me.

Zhou Jun-xing is meticulous, and Li Cheng-ming's medical skills are superb; they will mostly suspect that Huang Hong-cang might be poisoned by turtle meat, but the turtle meat left in the Huang family is non-toxic.

Since the proprietor said that Li Cheng-ming has a good inheritance and has quite a means, he will definitely find that the turtle meat is non-toxic, so this matter cannot be framed on the Hongxing Southern Goods Store."

The middle-aged man smiled: "You are right; Zhou Jun-xing's scheming will definitely be able to think that the turtle meat is poisonous, and Li Cheng-ming's means will definitely be able to determine that the turtle meat is non-toxic.

But this Zhou Yuan-shi of the Court of Investigation still made a big fanfare to arrest people in the southern goods store; he doesn't seem to worry that Li Cheng-ming will impeach him for breaking the law and harming people; there is some article in this..."

The middle-aged man looked at Liu Wen-xuan and smiled: "I said just now that we are just doing our best; whether it succeeds or not depends on human effort and heaven's will.

Now it seems that paying attention to the Spring Examination is not just us; Zhou Jun-xing of the Court of Investigation is good at framing and being coolie, using this to invite favor from the Emperor's heart and develop his official career.

We have already created the trend, and naturally there will be such people who will drum up the wind and stir up the waves for their own purposes, hoping he won't let me down..."

(End of chapter)