After listening to Chen Jin's explanation, Xu Kui and others suddenly realized and were impressed by this ingenious strategy.

Jiang Chunan and Qian Xili looked at each other, and most of the doubts in their hearts disappeared, but they were still a little worried about their future.

"Eunuch Chen, although this plan is brilliant, it has far-reaching implications. Won't people like us be affected?" Qian Xili said worriedly.

Chen Jin smiled faintly and soothed him, "Don't worry, Lord Qian. Your Majesty is wise and will naturally distinguish right from wrong. As long as we are loyal, why should we fear any disturbance?"

At this moment, a guard hurried in to report: "Report to Eunuch Chen, a tribute student was found in the examination room answering the question "On Rewarding Loyalty and Honesty"!"

Chen Jin flicked his sleeves with a decisive and elegant movement, and said in a loud voice, "Alright! Let's not alert the enemy yet. Let the officials record each person's name and place of origin. For everyone who answers this question, please record them all. There must be no mistakes."

The guards took the order and left. There were a total of 3,000 tribute students participating in this spring examination. The examination rooms were divided into 18 places according to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and strict surveillance was arranged in each examination room.

After receiving the order, the eighteen officials immediately shuttled between the examination rooms. They remained calm on their faces, but secretly paid attention to the answers of each tribute student.

The chief and deputy examiners, as well as Chen Jin, Xue Zhongfu and others returned to the podium. They waited quietly for news. As time passed, the atmosphere became more and more solemn.

Finally, an hour later, the officials from the famous houses came back one after another, each holding a detailed record in their hands.

"Your Excellency, we have recorded all the information about the tribute students who have done the 'Rewarding Loyalty and Honesty' theory." An official reported respectfully.

Chen Jin took the record and flipped through it carefully. Every page was densely filled with the names and hometowns of the tribute students. This information would become the key clue for them to expose the fraud.

The record book was passed around among everyone. Xu Kui, Qian Xili, and Jiang Chunan flipped through each page rapidly, their faces gradually turning pale.

What is shocking is that 116 candidates chose to answer the question with the topic "On Rewarding Loyalty and Honesty".

Jiang Chunan felt so sad that he almost couldn't cry.

He himself had won two first places in the imperial examination and then the second place, and was appointed to the Hanlin Academy with great glory. Naturally, he was well aware of the profoundness of the Four Books and Five Classics. How could there be such a coincidence in such a vast sea of ​​books that more than a hundred candidates happened to choose the same question?

In this year's spring examination, His Majesty and the Ministry of Rites discussed and decided to set the admission ratio at ten to one. You can imagine how fierce the competition was.

There are only three people in the first class, namely the top scholar, the second scholar and the third scholar, who are awarded the honor of being a Jinshi.

There were about fifty people in the second class, and they were awarded the status of Jinshi.

The remaining 200 people in the third class were given the same title as Jinshi.

If these tribute students really knew the test questions in advance, there would definitely be a lot of fakes among those who passed the exam.

Moreover, if these students who passed the imperial examination by cheating were to hold important positions in the court one day, wouldn't that allow criminals to mingle in the government?

This is really chilling and terrifying. Thinking of this, Jiang Chunan's hands trembled slightly and he could hardly control his emotions.

He looked up at Chen Jin, his eyes filled with anxiety and expectation, hoping that Eunuch Chen, the emperor's confidant, could respond.

Chen Jin also had a solemn expression at this moment. The severity of this Spring Examination cheating case had far exceeded his imagination. If these cheaters were allowed to infiltrate the court, the consequences would be disastrous.

"How long will it take before the exam papers are collected?" Chen Jin looked up at the examination rooms that were lined up one after another.

"Only half an hour left!" Xu Kui responded.

Chen Jin issued an order without hesitation: "Immediately take these students suspected of cheating out of the examination room and keep them under strict supervision to prevent them from colluding with others or escaping."

Then he turned his gaze to Xue Zhongfu and said, "Second Young Master, this badge is for you. Return to the palace and report immediately."

As for what happens next, Chen Jin will go to the imperial prison to handle it personally, and Xue Zhongfu will not need to get involved in the bloody situation there.

Xue Zhongfu took the badge and looked at Chen Jin deeply, with a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. He understood that Chen Jin was doing this to protect him and prevent him from being involved in the coming storm.

"Eunuch Chen, this matter is of great importance. I will report it to Your Majesty truthfully," he said solemnly.

Chen Jin nodded, then turned and signaled to Xu Kui and the others, "It's time to take action. We must ensure that every student suspected of cheating is under strict control."

Everyone responded in unison, and the Imperial Examination Hall guards began to take action.

The gate of the Imperial Examination Hall, which had been closed for a long time, slowly opened, and the heavy door panels made a creaking sound.

Xue Zhongfu took a deep breath and stepped out. Just as he was about to reach out to grab the reins, he suddenly felt a pain in his chest, as if hit by something heavy, and he staggered.

"Master Xue!" The guard leader beside him exclaimed, quickly supporting him, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Xue Zhongfu frowned, pressed his chest, and tried to calm his breathing: "It's okay, I have to go back to the palace quickly."

As he spoke, he reached out for the reins again, but his arm was trembling slightly. It was obvious that he was trying his best to endure the pain in his chest. Finally, he gritted his teeth, endured the severe pain in his chest, and galloped away on his horse.

On the Longmen Bridge in front of Gongyuan Square, Linjiang King's confidant, Manager Liu, stood quietly for a long time, taking in the entire scene.

From the moment the Imperial Guards surrounded the Imperial Examination Hall, to the figure of Eunuch Chen Jin riding hurriedly into the palace, to the moment when the young master of the Xingyuan Marquis's Mansion walked out of the Imperial Examination Hall alone, he had already understood in his heart that the matter of leaking the examination questions had already been brought to the attention of the Emperor.

Shopkeeper Liu hid his hands deep in his wide sleeves, looked into the distance at the clouds rolling in the clear sky, and took a deep breath.

The tranquility in the capital has lasted too long, and it is difficult to find even a hint of the restless atmosphere that should be present in spring in the air.

Did the Emperor and that eunuch Chen Jin really think that closing the gates of the Imperial Examination Hall would be enough to properly handle this matter? That was naive!

The whole court is filled with nobles, all of them are scholars!

Fame, wealth and honor. People have always pursued fame and honor in order to enjoy the wealth and glory it brings and to bring honor to their family.

However, if there is a shortcut to achieve success overnight, who would bother with the arduous road of imperial examinations?

What's more, some people, even if they pass the high school entrance examination, are still walking on thin ice because they have no roots or foundation. Even if they become officials, they are still poor and eventually become the laughing stock of the powerful and nobles.

Shopkeeper Liu let out a sinister laugh that seemed to echo from the depths of hell, making people's hair stand on end.

His eyes were as sharp as a knife, like a poisonous snake ready to strike, staring at the direction of the Imperial Examination Hall.

It seems that it is time to take another drastic measure!