Gu Lingze glanced at Zhao Chengmo and said, "Chengmo and I are going to go shopping in the East Market today, so we won't go there for now."

Xu Mingyan nodded, packed up, and went out.

"The person is gone. If there is anything bad, just say it now." Zhao Chengmo said, gently holding his hand.

Gu Lingze couldn't help but feel that, as expected, my boyfriend understands my feelings best, and repeated the hexagram just now.

"To put it simply, if Brother Xu handles this matter well, the road ahead will be almost smooth."

"If this matter comes to a dead end, then my life will be a mediocre one."

Zhao Chengmo didn't expect the situation to be so serious. The two of them sat opposite each other, each feeling heavy in their hearts.

Zhao Chengmo suddenly tightened his grip on him, "Why don't I go find out who the soldiers who are in charge of patrolling the venue belong to, so that we can have a clue."

After listening to his idea, Gu Lingze thought it was a good idea and immediately agreed.

In the afternoon, Zhao Chengmo returned before Xu Mingyan. As soon as he entered the door, Gu Lingze handed him a glass of ice water.

When he stopped sweating, he asked, "How is it? Did you find out?"

Zhao Chengmo nodded, "They are from the Metropolitan Censorate. The Metropolitan Censorate is in charge of supervision and impeachment, so they are usually responsible for the examinations."

Gu Lingze suddenly felt that the three words "Duchayuan" were very familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had heard them.

Zhao Chengmo looked at him trying hard to recall and gave him a reminder.

"Zou Yingguang's second uncle, Zou Guanghong, is the Right Vice Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate."

Gu Lingze slapped his thigh and suddenly remembered.

At that time, Zou Guangmao used the name of Zou Guanghong to show off in front of Prefect Yao.

"Could it be that he is taking this opportunity to take revenge on his nephew?" After saying this, Gu Lingze felt something was wrong.

If this was Zou Guanghong's means of revenge, it was too straightforward and too stupid.

He was not the one who graded the papers. Xu Mingyan had great literary talent and he would definitely take part in the palace examination. This would not hinder Xu Mingyan's future.

To put it bluntly, even if the soldier took the opportunity to defile Xu Mingyan's test paper, there would be plenty of opportunities three years after three years. When Xu Mingyan soars to success, the unlucky one would be Zou Guanghong.

But the hexagram showed something else. Now nothing had happened and the two didn't know how to prepare.

The results would be announced in half a month. During this period, everything was calm. Apart from some doubts, Gu Lingze gradually relaxed his vigilance.

Although there were people spreading the good news everywhere after the results were announced, Gu Lingze wanted to see Xu Mingyan on the Xingbang list with his own eyes this time before he could feel at ease.

"Brother Xu, hurry up. If you are late, we won't be able to squeeze in at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall."

Gu Lingze was even more enthusiastic than Xu Mingyan, who was taking the imperial examination.

Xu Mingyan smiled gently, "If you can't squeeze in, then you can't squeeze in. Anyway, if you win, you win. If you don't win, you still won't win even if you go early."

Gu Lingze was not as calm as him, and urged the two to set off quickly.

But the three of them still arrived too late, and when they arrived, the list had already been released.

The entrance to the Imperial Examination Hall was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder.

From time to time, someone would squeeze out of the crowd and run as fast as he could, obviously coming to announce the good news.

Others were crying and shouting, cursing the heavens and the earth. Some of them had white beards, but they were still sitting on the ground, crying like a tearful man, and squeezing out of the crowd while crying.

In the end, Zhao Chengmo was the stronger one. He half-hugged Gu Lingze, with Xu Mingyan following behind him. He pushed through the crowd and squeezed to the front.

The three of them stood still, ignoring the curses and insults around them, and read from the beginning of the Xingbang.

Gu Lingze saw the first line with the words "Yongding Lin Xingwei" written on it in large letters. He was stunned for a moment, and then quickly turned to look at Xu Mingyan.

The other person had a wry smile on his face. When he saw Gu Lingze turning to look at him, he said, "The first place is something you can only encounter but not seek. If I don't get it, then I don't get it. I won't take it to heart."

While the two were talking, Zhao Chengmo quickly read through the list from beginning to end.

The metropolitan examination is different from the provincial examination. Those who pass the provincial examination will be listed on the list as Juren.

But only 300 candidates will be selected, and only these 300 people will be eligible to participate in the subsequent palace examination.

But now, Xu Mingyan’s name is not among these 300 people.

Gu Lingze and Xu Mingyan also noticed this, and the three of them started reading from the beginning again.

This is impossible.

Gu Lingze found it hard to believe that Xu Mingyan's name was not on the list. Not to mention his potential to be the top scholar, nor the fact that Xu Mingyan had won the first place in the provincial examination.

Xu Mingyan won the recognition of Xie Xiru simply based on his knowledge and literary talent.

With just this point in mind, how could it be possible that he failed to even pass the imperial examination?

Gu Lingze looked at him hesitantly, not knowing what to say.

"Okay, Lingze Chengmo, stop looking, I didn't win."

The three of them squeezed out of the crowd, and the more Gu Lingze thought about it, the more he felt that it didn't make sense.

"Let's go to the Taifu Mansion."

But Xu Mingyan didn't want to go. It was just like a fight between two children. They didn't win, so they went home crying and asked adults for support.

No matter how much Xu Mingyan didn't want to care, the result this time did affect him.

Gu Lingze understood the frustration in his heart at the moment. How could a person who was so talented and worked twice as hard end up failing like this? Did the imperial examination really depend entirely on luck and the examiner's preferences?

Zhao Chengmo walked over and patted Xu Mingyan on the shoulder.

"Mingyan, don't be anxious. This matter itself is very suspicious. The person patrolling your exam was Zou Guanghong's subordinate."

Xu Mingyan looked at Zhao Chengmo in surprise, only to see the other party nod affirmatively.

In the end, the three of them got on the carriage together and drove to the Taifu Mansion.

"Have all the matters been dealt with?" Qi Yixuan looked at the person kneeling on the ground, a hint of impatience in his eyes.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. Minister Wu of the Ministry of Rites has already replaced the first volume and destroyed the second volume."

"Zou Guanghong is such a loser that he is so timid even when doing such a small thing. I thought I could get it done with his help, but in the end, I still have to ask His Highness to do it myself."

"Alright, go tell Zou Guanghong to shut up and leave now."

"I'll take my leave."

After the person left, Qi Yixuan raised a sinister smile.

You dare to ruin my good deeds. I can’t do anything to you for now, but no one around you can escape.

When Gu Lingze and the other two arrived at the Grand Tutor's Mansion, they were eager to find Xie Xiru first.

Unexpectedly, the housekeeper said that the master was not at home, and the lady and the young master were talking in the pavilion in the garden, so the three of them went to the garden.

The three of them saluted together, "Old Madam."

Old Madam Xie watched the three of them approaching from afar, all with unhappy faces. Then she remembered that today seemed to be the day when the results of the imperial examination would be announced, and she roughly understood the reason.