Chapter 634

Lady Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Lady Wang's original gloating words were mocked by Wang Wang Xifeng's ambiguous sarcasm, and her arrogance suddenly fell, even giving rise to some fear, and she dared not speak more.

Wang Wang Xifeng only thought her mouth was sharp and her aunt was no match for her edge, so she couldn't help but feel proud.

She didn't know that her unintentional words had stirred up the obscure matters in Lady Wang's heart. The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat strange for a time, and although Wang Wang Xifeng felt it, she didn't know the root cause.

At this time, a burst of footsteps came from outside the hall, and Seeing Yingchun, Lin Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and other sisters came to pay their respects to Jia Mu.

The hall was filled with graceful figures and fragrant skirts, suddenly full of life. Bao Yu felt cheerful when he saw the sisters, and when he saw Lin Daiyu, whom he hadn't seen for many days, he couldn't help but stare.

That day, because of Lin Daiyu's words about studying, he deliberately acted crazy to find a footnote for his laziness, hoping to gain Lin Daiyu's attention and favor, but he didn't expect to end up in a very sorry state.

Since then, he couldn't face Lin Daiyu, and Lin Daiyu had stayed in the East Mansion more and more, making the two even more distant than before.

But he had lived in the East Courtyard for more than a month and hadn't seen the sisters in the family for a long time. Seeing Lin Daiyu's skin glowing, her complexion rosy, her breath moist, and her moving appearance,

Bao Yu's heart pounded, but he also felt a bit of loss. When she was young, Lin Meimei was delicate and beautiful, truly the number one bone and flesh made of water in the world.

Now that she doesn't see me every day and only lives a muddled life in the East Mansion, she has been ruined by the corrupt atmosphere of the East Mansion and has actually changed her appearance.

It's a pity that the beauty of a girl's illness has been worn away...

He asked somewhat forgetfully: "I haven't seen Lin Meimei for many days. Sister's complexion is better than before."

Lin Daiyu saw Bao Yu's burning gaze and felt somewhat disgusted, but since everyone in the family was present, she couldn't be too cold.

She said: "Third Brother invited the divine physician Zhang to diagnose and treat me, and I often take the newly made Three Lives Soul-Nourishing Pill, so my body is much better than before."

When Bao Yu heard the words "Third Brother," he thought of the day Jia Cong had instigated the Master to set an engagement for him early, while he himself cheated the sisters in the family every day, and he felt grief and discomfort.

He said: "In this world, anyone who can see a few illnesses calls themselves a famous physician. In my opinion, most of them are seeking fame and reputation."

"Just like those scholars, most of them are like this. They love to talk about righteousness and shame, but what they do is the most lacking in righteousness and shame."

"For example, if they want to take the imperial examination, they should take it, but they engage in fraud. It's truly absurd and truly hypocritical."

"So, those so-called divine physicians are the same principle. Sister should not believe them completely."

"The body, hair, and skin are received from parents, and it is better to be born and raised by heaven. They all say that medicine is three-tenths poison, and relying too much on external things is not a long-term way..."

Bao Yu said a series of crooked reasons, his face showing pride, and he felt very good about himself.

Seeing Tan Chun, who was on the side, couldn't help but have a headache. Why was Second Brother writing his own cleverness again, saying offensive nonsense? His old habit still wouldn't change.

Third Brother spent a lot of effort to get rid of Lin Meimei's root of illness, and he didn't say a few good words, but instead said cool words...

When Lin Daiyu heard Bao Yu's words, her thin lips bit slightly, but she wasn't angry and smiled: "Bao Yu, speaking of scholars, I haven't seen you for a month, and we all know you are studying in the East Courtyard."

"This is a good thing. Now that you are making progress, you might be able to enter the school in a year or half a year. I fear that after Third Brother, the Jia family will likely show literary prosperity again."

"I heard that the family is planning a marriage for you, talking about that Xia family sister. That is a first-class person. This is a happy event upon a happy event, and establishing a career and a family is just around the corner."

Seeing Tan Chun had another headache when she heard this. She was right, Lin Meimei was indeed angry...

When Bao Yu heard Lin Daiyu's words about studying, entering school, and marriage, every sentence stabbed at his heart, and he felt the world spinning and his face turned pale.

When Lady Wang heard Lin Daiyu's words, she frowned, secretly cursing what a tricky girl. These words looked like good words, but the more she heard them, the more awkward they felt.

Jia Mu shook her head when she heard this in the hall. These two Jades were fighting again. Although they quarreled when they were young, they weren't as discordant as they were today.

Wang Wang Xifeng felt happy when she heard Lin Daiyu's words. Don't look at Lin Meimei like a beauty lamp, this mouth is truly fierce, and the words are like knives, stabbing at people's soft ribs.

Aunt and Bao Yu coming to the West Mansion was one thing, but they also said some ambiguous scattered words, thinking that the people of the First Branch were easy to bully.

She saw Bao Yu's face pale and his eyes dazed, worried that he would put on a big show again, so she naturally wanted to dismantle the stage early.

She said: "Grandmother, my months are up now, and I have back pain when I sit for a long time. Granddaughter-in-law is useless and cannot serve by your side, so I want to go back and lie down."

Jia Mu smiled and said: "What kind of thing is this? It's worth being annoyed. The child will land in two months, so it's naturally like this. Hurry back and rest."

Wang Wang Xifeng just stood up and said to Lin Daiyu: "Lin Meimei, you didn't say that the Siamese tribute tea tastes excellent. I still have a lot there. Since you are here, I won't send anyone to deliver it."

"You come with me to my courtyard to talk, and you can take it when you leave."

Because Bao Yu was also in the hall, Lin Daiyu was worried that he would say something out of tune and make her suffer for nothing.

And seeing Bao Yu's face look wrong after hearing her words, she was worried that he would play rogue and cause trouble, so she was naturally happy to hear Wang Wang Xifeng's words.

She first apologized to Jia Mu and then left the Rongqing Hall with Wang Wang Xifeng. Seeing Lin Daiyu leave impatiently, Bao Yu felt another wave of grievance and sadness in his heart.

Jia Mu didn't care much when she saw Lin Daiyu leave with a smile.

She asked Seeing Yingchun: "I heard Sister Yuanyang say that today is the day for officials to rest, and it is said that the palace examination results cannot be posted. Is Cong Ge'er out to check the results?"

Seeing Yingchun replied: "Grandmother, although today is a holiday, Third Brother seems to have finished an errand, so he went out early to submit a memorial to the palace, so he didn't come to pay his respects to Grandmother."

When Bao Yu heard Seeing Yingchun say words like "errand," "palace," and "memorial," he felt annoyed and nauseated, and with Lin Daiyu gone, he felt even more like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Lady Wang had originally gloated over the rumors of imperial examination fraud.

Now that Jia Cong was handling errands and submitting memorials to the palace to claim credit, it sounded very lively and prosperous, and he would likely not be involved in those unlucky things, so she couldn't help but feel disappointed...

Jia Cong went to the Meridian Gate early to present his memorial. Ordinary officials, for memorials other than those for court sessions, need to report to the Office of Transmission, which is then transferred to the Grand Secretariat for review before being presented to the Emperor.

But several years ago, Jia Cong was granted the right of direct submission by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, and because he was the supervisor of the Firearms Office and involved in military secrets, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao granted him another special case.

His memorial did not need to pass through the Office of Transmission but was presented directly to the palace gate, received by the Directorate of Ceremonial, and sent directly to the Emperor without being marked in red.

By the time he submitted his memorial at the palace gate and passed by the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites on his way back to the mansion, it was only mid-morning, and many scholars had already gathered under the east wall.

Seeing their expressions, they had come to check the palace examination results, and the result would naturally be disappointment.

Jia Cong saw the Investigation Office constables arresting people everywhere yesterday, acting somewhat ostentatiously. He didn't know if the Ministry of Rites had issued a notice delaying the posting of the results.

Although the fraud in the imperial examination had erupted, after a day, it must have spread quite a bit in the city, but the Love Shenjing was truly too large, and it was reasonable that many scholars didn't know about it.

Jia Cong suddenly thought that yesterday, while passing Hancheng Street, he encountered Yang Yang Hongbin leading the Court of Judicial Review yamen runners to arrest Lin Zhaohe, but they missed him because Lin Zhaohe had gone to a neighboring county to visit a friend and hadn't returned.

Until today, many scholars in the Love Shenjing didn't know about the fraud case. Lin Zhaohe hadn't been in the Love Shenjing for the past few days, so he was naturally even more unaware.

But Lin Zhaohe would remember that the fifteenth was the day the results were posted and would likely rush back from the neighboring county to check the results.

Jia Cong could think of such a simple truth, and Yang Yang Hongbin and Zhou Zhou Junxing would surely think of it too. The result could be imagined...

Love Shenjing, Chengdong Gate, back alley.

Liu Liu Wenxuan walked alone to the quiet end of the alley and knocked on the yellow bronze door knocker of a small courtyard.

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

A tall woman came to open the door. Her appearance was beautiful, her demeanor was light, and a short blade was tucked into her slender waist. She nodded slightly when she saw Liu Liu Wenxuan and let him into the courtyard.

Entering early summer, the morning in the Love Shenjing already showed a trace of summer heat.

The flowers and plants carefully cultivated in the courtyard were lush and green, and the flower buds on some branches were blooming, colorful and eye-catching. A middle-aged man of about forty, wearing convenient short clothes with his sleeves rolled up, was loosening the soil with a flower hoe, his movements meticulous, his demeanor relaxed and happy.

Although he was dressed simply, his hands and sleeves were stained with a lot of mud, making him look like a home gardener.

But the warm sunlight shone on him, like a piece of raw jade suddenly glowing, showing his handsome features and graceful demeanor, which was quite extraordinary.

Seeing Liu Liu Wenxuan enter, he didn't stop his movements and asked: "Liu Qiu Xuan, how is the situation outside now?"

Liu Liu Wenxuan said: "Yesterday, Censor Sun Shouzhen impeached during the morning court session. Candidate Wu Liang was thrown into the Investigation Office prison early in the morning. Only an hour later, the Investigation Office constables were dispatched everywhere."

"They arrested four current candidates in inns in the east and south of the city, causing a great uproar."

"Our people found out the news. It is said that after Wu Liang was imprisoned, he confessed five other candidates who had also visited Xu Xu Liangxiong before the examination and received guidance on the topics from Xu Xu Liangxiong."

"It's a coincidence that four of those five candidates were on the metropolitan examination list, and only one failed. The one who failed left the capital ten days ago to return home, so he escaped a disaster."

"From last night until early this morning, the Investigation Office arrested six other candidates. I think it must be because the previous four were imprisoned or subjected to torture and confessed, implicating the other six."

In less than two days, including Wu Liang, nine current candidates and two failed candidates have been implicated.

Because today is a holiday for officials, the situation hasn't spread yet. I believe that after the court session tomorrow, it will surely stir up waves again."

!

The middle-aged man who was gardening was slightly stunned by Liu Liu Wenxuan's words and said: "The situation is even more intense than I expected. That Director Zhou is quite hardworking."

Liu Liu Wenxuan said: "Of the scholars arrested in the past two days, only one escaped being caught by the Investigation Office, and that is Lin Zhaohe, who ranked third in the metropolitan examination."

"It is said that he and Wu Liang were close friends. It is estimated that he was reported by someone or implicated by Wu Liang's confession."

"I sent someone to inquire. He went to a neighboring county to visit a friend the day before yesterday and happened to escape a disaster. He doesn't know about the situation in the city. Today is the fifteenth, so he will definitely rush back to the Love Shenjing to check the results."

"I have already sent people early this morning to wait at the east and west gates, which are the paths he must pass to enter the city."

The middle-aged man said: "You want to intercept him halfway and warn him in advance to avoid him falling into the hands of the Investigation Office."

Liu Liu Wenxuan said: "Master, previously, according to your arrangement, we screened 113 people from the list of the 13th year of Emperor Jia Zhao's provincial examination. These people were all top candidates in the provincial examinations of various states."

"Afterward, we screened 23 people from these people who had simple family backgrounds and no official foundation."

"Among these 23 people, 17 were on the metropolitan examination list. Lin Zhaohe is the most outstanding one, ranking third on the list. He is only one step away from the top candidate Jia Cong."

"Master once mentioned that Jia Cong has a special status, and even if he wins the metropolitan examination, it is difficult to win the top spot in the world."

"Before, there were rumors outside that Lin Zhaohe was also a popular candidate for the top spot this time. Such an outstanding person will surely be of great use in the future, so he cannot be damaged in the hands of the Investigation Office."

The middle-aged man carefully watered the flower pots he had loosened the soil for and said: "I once said that the spring examination is a major event for the country to select talent, and even the current Emperor cannot fully control it."

"We are just creating momentum. Doing things to this point has reached the end. Whether it succeeds or not is not in the planning, but in heaven."

"Lin Zhaohe winning the metropolitan examination list means he is already in the game, and now that he is on the Investigation Office's arrest list, he can never wash away the relationship."

"Escaping for a while doesn't mean he can hide forever; in the end, it will be of no help."

"Besides, if you warn him in advance, he can rank third in the metropolitan examination, which means he is intelligent. He will surely be suspicious and guess the mastermind behind this, which will hinder the overall situation."

"Therefore, letting things take their natural course is the proper way."

"Besides, whether he is true material or not, putting him in the fire to refine will reveal the truth."

"Zhou Zhou Junxing is the Emperor's eagle dog, rising to power by acting for the Emperor. He thinks that as long as he makes this case big and solid, he can lead the power of the Investigation Office to the peak and advance his official career."

"But he didn't understand that the hunter sometimes becomes the hunted."

"His Investigation Office is aggressive, but the Court of Judicial Review, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Justice are not easy to deal with. These yamen heads all have eyes like torches."

"They all have their own calculations and their own interests. Facing such a major fraud case, they will not remain indifferent and will surely move with the trend to ensure their own convenience. This is the officialdom!"

"We have laid out the tinder. Since the Censorate and the Investigation Office have lit the fire, naturally someone will pour oil..."

Love Shenjing, Chengdong Gate.

Just past mid-morning, the bright morning light painted a layer of dry, crimson red on the mottled city wall.

The huge city gate was pushed by the guards, making a creaking sound, like the mouth of a giant beast slowly opening. The people who had been waiting outside the city poured into the city like moths to a flame.

In a teahouse near the city gate, in a private room on the second floor, several sturdy young men, each carrying weapons, one with a portrait in hand.

They stared intently at the crowd entering the city, not letting go of any gap.

On the side of the road outside the city gate, two vendors were selling bamboo ware, dealing with customers while carefully observing the crowd entering the city.

Until mid-morning, a young scholar-looking man rode a thin horse toward the city gate at a leisurely pace, about to enter the city.

One of the vendors saw the man and was about to step forward when he suddenly felt his shoulder tighten, as if held by someone.

He looked back and said somewhat unexpectedly: "Manager Liu..."

At this time, the young scholar rode his horse, gathered in the crowd entering the city, walked slowly into the city gate, and turned his horse's head to head toward the Ministry of Rites.

The group of people in the teahouse private room saw the scholar on horseback enter the city gate, and the leader's eyes lit up. After giving a low order, the group swarmed out.

Love Shenjing, Investigation Office Prison.

Yesterday morning, the more than ten prison cells closest to the inside were all cleared out one by one, and the original prisoners were stuffed into other cells in groups of three or five.

As time passed, the cleared cells were soon put to use, with only one prisoner in each cell, which seemed somewhat luxurious.

These prisoners were candidates and scholars arrested by the Investigation Office because of the imperial examination fraud case. Keeping them in separate cells was to prevent them from colluding.

The Investigation Office specifically arranged for several jailers to take turns guarding them overnight to prevent candidates in nearby cells from talking.

Since entering the Investigation Office prison, each of these people had been tortured to varying degrees, and everyone was covered in scars.

A moment ago, they were still noble candidates and scholars, and the next moment they became prisoners, tortured by those low-level jailers, losing all their refinement and face.

Many of them confessed and betrayed their peers under torture. The righteousness and shame of the sages they had studied for ten years became a joke under the unbearable physical pain.

When they were able to breathe temporarily, facing the ruin of their careers and recalling the loss of their morality, their hearts were filled with regret and fear, and they could only rely on tracing the root cause to vent their inner shame and anger.

From the moment they signed their confessions and were pushed back to their cells, they began to complain and curse endlessly, using the most poisonous words they knew from half a lifetime of hard study to curse a candidate named Wu Liang.

Because it was his confession that put them in a situation of no return.

Those crazy curses that echoed in the prison cells all night were filthy, varied, hysterical, and endless, making the jailers tremble with fear.

Wu Liang, who was locked in the innermost cell, was pale, his whole body soaked in cold sweat, and he was like a collapse. Last night was the most terrifying night of his life.

Prisoners in more than ten nearby cells didn't sleep all night, using the most vicious words to curse him in turns, like magic sounds piercing their ears, repeatedly ravaging his spirit and soul.

In their cursing, Wu Liang was the most despicable, shameless, and immoral person in the world, and even if he were cut into a thousand pieces, it would be hard to eliminate his crimes.

In the morning, he was tortured by the Investigation Office, and the pain of whipping and branding made him wish he were dead.

But the overnight cursing and humiliation were far more painful than the physical torture.

Wu Liang finally understood that compared to the ruin of his future and being wronged, being disgraced and reviled by ten thousand people was the most terrifying... (End of chapter)