Chapter 456

Zhu Qizhen: …

He looked deeply at Xue Shao.

Xue Shao also raised his head to glance at the Emperor, then lowered it at once, bowed, stepped back three paces, and withdrew slowly.

Zhu Qizhen's chest rose and fell as he suppressed the suffocating frustration and anger within, lowering his gaze.

An official from the Ministry of Rites held the exam papers and ventured softly, "Your Majesty?"

The Emperor, expressionless, reached out to take the paper, unfolded it, and began reading from the start.

Though he had already read it once, he was still awed by the candidate's opening argument.

But the latter half of the essay made him deeply uneasy.

Xue Shao clearly understood the intent behind this question—he had broken the topic by condemning illicit collusion between officials inside and outside the court—but the examples he cited were deeply distasteful to him.

In the latter half, he used the case of Xue Xuan as an example; it was less an answer to the question than a petition.

Zhu Qizhen was displeased with Wang Zhen and wanted to warn him, so he deliberately altered the palace examination question.

But this palace examination question was not merely meant to warn Wang Zhen.

Most of the court officials were holdovers from the previous Emperor, or once favored by the Grand Empress Dowager; very few were truly his own men.

He still needed Wang Zhen as his blade—if Wang Zhen were truly as described in this paper, ten heads would not be enough to cut off.

Zhu Qizhen clenched the paper tightly.

Several officials observing below exchanged glances, and one spoke up cautiously, "Your Majesty?"

Zhu Qizhen snapped back to himself and said expressionlessly, "Seal it."

Everyone: …

Wait, seriously? Seal it? This is the top scorer's answer—what's wrong with looking at it now?

Under everyone's eyes, could they possibly show favoritism?

Though palace exam papers are supposed to be sealed before grading, since the Emperor himself supervised the exam and there was only one essay question, it was common for the Emperor and examiners or the Grand Secretariat to grade them on the spot—why was this young Emperor suddenly so rigid about the rules?

They would soon find out why.

The papers were sealed, but as chief examiner, Yang Pu still saw the paper—he went from surprise to shock, then silence.

Finally, he waited quietly until all candidates had submitted their papers and left.

Only then did he retrieve Xue Shao's paper, step forward, kneel, and say, "Your Majesty, this answer is not merely a sound state strategy—it is also a petition. Please review it."

Wang Zhen had been unable to intervene and had no idea what was written on the paper; now, seeing Yang Pu kneel with the paper, he rushed forward ahead of the Ministry of Rites officials to snatch it, glancing swiftly over its contents.

Zhu Qizhen had intended to delay as long as possible, but seeing Wang Zhen approach, he involuntarily recalled the yellow talisman in his waist pouch, and sat back down, his half-risen body sinking again.

By protocol, eunuchs were not permitted to handle exam papers—only examiners or Ministry of Rites officials were to touch them.

Clearly, the last warning was not enough.

Zhu Qizhen pressed his lips together, paused only briefly, then said, "I have already read it. Wang Banban, show this paper to the other examiners. Let them see—what grade should this paper receive?"

The other examiners took the paper with puzzled expressions; Wang Zhen, having quickly scanned the middle of the essay, already looked grim.

The examiners passed the paper around—each one looked, then fell silent.

They stole glances at the Emperor, Wang Zhen, and Yang Pu, their minds flooded with ten thousand wild horses.

Wang Zhen didn't need guessing—they all knew with their toes that he wanted to destroy this paper;

Yang Pu… well, since he brought it up himself, clearly he intended to use this as an opportunity to bring down Wang Zhen;

The real question now: what did the Emperor think? What exactly did he want?

Outside the Imperial Prison, Xue Shao gazed upward, watching sunlight—invisible to ordinary mortals—poured through the golden light of merit onto the prison courtyard walls.

Xi Jin approached, carrying a food box. "Master, I bribed them with ten taels of silver—they still wouldn't let us in to see her, but they agreed to pass a message and deliver food. What should I tell Daoist Pan?"

Xue Shao turned his gaze away and said, "The wind has risen. Though it is spring wind, it carries deadly chill. Tell her to be vigilant day and night. In this world, men are terrifying—and demons are terrifying too. Please, take good care."

Xi Jin looked puzzled. "What does this have to do with demons?"

His eyes suddenly lit up. "I get it! Master is saying Wang Zhen is a demon—she must beware Wang Zhen!"

Xue Shao sighed. "Fortunately, she is not as clever as you. Just deliver my exact words."

Xi Jin frowned. "Master, are you calling me foolish? Then what demon are you talking about?"

"A demon is a demon—no metaphor. Go deliver the message, or your ten taels will be wasted."

Xi Jin snapped to attention and sprinted off with the food box toward the jailers; soon he returned with empty hands.

!. Read

"The food box and message were delivered, Master. Before, we avoided Yin Zhai entirely. You came straight here after the palace exam—isn't that risky? Couldn't you wait until the results are announced?"

Xue Shao turned and walked away. "That paper was a petition. Once submitted, I and she are naturally allies in the eyes of the world. Since we're exposed, why wait for a lucky day to come?"

Xue Shao strolled slowly toward his rented lodging and asked, "How much money do we have left?"

Xi Jin opened the money pouch and counted. He sighed. "Just over eight taels. The Imperial Prison is the Imperial Prison—bribes here cost more than anywhere else. In other prisons, a handful of copper coins could pass a message; one tael could get you inside to meet someone. Here, ten taels only buy one message—prices are outrageous!"

Xue Shao frowned.

Xi Jin glanced nervously at Xue Shao, held back for a moment, then whispered, "Master, the jailers say Daoist Pan is being tortured daily—her whole body is covered in blood. Shouldn't we… try to bribe someone to ease her suffering?"

Xue Shao's frown deepened. "Did the jailers say that?"

"Yes. They said it was on Wang Zhen's orders."

Xue Shao lowered his gaze, then said after a pause, "I trust her. If she dared enter the Imperial Prison, she can protect herself. The jailers said that to extort money from us."

Though he said that, at the next intersection, Xue Shao turned his steps toward Yin Zhai.

Today was the palace exam; Yin Song and his disciple were off duty, drawing talismans in the courtyard. Hearing the knock, they both looked up simultaneously, swiftly gathered the cluttered items off the stone table, then Yin Song sat upright while Yin Qingjun stood behind him, awaiting.

Feng Yan ushered Xue Shao and his servant inside.

Seeing Xue Shao, Yin Song's expression relaxed. He gestured. "Ah, Young Master Xue, please sit."

Only then did he realize his mistake, frowning. "Young Master Xue? Why are you here now?"

Xue Shao smiled gently and said, "I've finished the palace examination."

"I know, but you... how did you end up here? There are still people watching outside."

Xue Shao said, "The question for this year's palace examination was: 'All things have roots and branches; all affairs have beginnings and ends. Knowing what comes first and what comes last brings one near to the Dao.'"

Yin Song murmured it twice, his lips trembling slightly, "You... you didn't..."

"I used the injustices suffered by my uncle and Inspector Pan as examples in my exam essay. If nothing goes wrong, this essay will also be recognized as a petition."

(End of Chapter)