Chapter 234 My View on Xiao Yu

Xie Shang gently pinched her nose. "Their mother is very learned. She loved reading even while she was pregnant with them. She will raise them to be top scholars in the future."

"I can learn on my own, but I probably don't know how to teach the children. What should I do? Why don't you teach them yourselves, my husband? I'll just be responsible for giving birth, and I'll leave them to you." Jiang Fenghua blinked and tried to be charming.

Xie Shang also knew how to shirk responsibility: "Many of the students who made the list this year are my father-in-law's students. His teaching ability is beyond doubt. Why don't we just hand them over to my father-in-law to teach?"

Jiang Fenghua beamed, "That's good. We also need to find a good master to teach them martial arts to improve their health. If they have a daughter, I'll personally teach her to dance. The musicians and dancers in the palace are truly... indescribable..."

The couple were already discussing how to deal with the unborn baby. Jiang Fenghua had also thought about it. She couldn't take care of the baby alone. No matter how busy he was, she had to let him take care of the baby. This would increase the bond between father and son and father and daughter. This kind of family affection was what the royal family lacked the most.

When Jiang Jinyan brought Zhang Yumo to Lanyue Pavilion, he saw them whispering sweet nothings to each other. Lianye reminded them, "Young Master is here."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fenghua tried to get off Xie Shang, but Xie Shang hooked his arm around her thick waist, glanced at Jiang Jinyan and Zhang Yumo's intertwined fingers, and said indifferently, "Since you're here, come in and sit down."

Jiang Fenghua also saw it. It seemed that her elder brother and Zhang Yumo's relationship was getting better and better. She stood up from Xie Shang and walked to Zhang Yumo. Seeing that she looked a little disheveled, she asked, "What happened?"

Jiang Jinyan, accompanied by Zhang Yumo, respectfully greeted Xie Shang, saying, "Something happened at the entrance of the examination hall..."

Xie Shang frowned slightly. "Sit down and talk slowly."

Jiang Fenghua then asked Lianye to bring the medicine box to treat Zhang Yumo's bruises, and also asked someone to prepare two more sets of bowls and chopsticks.

Jiang Jinyan recounted everything that had happened at the examination hall.

After hearing this, Xie Shang said, "Given Pan Taifu's character, he would never help someone cheat. He has no reason to take money to do something that would tarnish his reputation in his later years."

Jiang Jinyan explained his plan: "The scene at the time seemed to suggest that someone was deliberately pushing this incident forward. I suspect that someone was deliberately causing trouble. I have asked Yang Zheng to keep an eye out for those who deliberately caused trouble and arrest them. We will eventually find some clues by following the clues."

Jiang Jinyan continued, “One of my junior brothers is the top scorer in this year’s examination. He is a student of my father and his name is Xiao Yu. He is indeed a rare and learned man, and his abilities are beyond doubt. Today’s incident is because some candidates discovered that a person named Wang Qing ranked fifth. They heard that this person is a good-for-nothing, which aroused everyone’s suspicion.”

Xie Shang already knew that Xiao Yu had come in first place. He remembered Xiao Yu and knew that Xiao Yu cared a lot about Jiang Fenghua.

He glanced at Jiang Fenghua discreetly and saw her calmly applying the medicine to Zhang Yumo.

Jiang Fenghua wasn't thinking about Xiao Yu; she was just feeling wary. Her mind raced. From her previous life, the Jiang family had been badly wronged, and it was the Su family who were behind it. Logically, her father wasn't an examiner and shouldn't have anything to do with him, but she still felt uneasy.

Since the Jiang family isn't involved yet, she can't afford to panic.

After applying the medicine to Zhang Yumo, they didn't disturb the two men's discussion. Jiang Fenghua served Zhang Yumo some soup, saying, "It's made by Granny Xu, it's delicious, and it won't make you fat."

Zhang Yumo didn't stand on ceremony, "I went with my mother early this morning to wait for the results to be released. I was really hungry, and the food looks delicious. I'd like to ask Granny Xu for some advice."

"No need to learn, we have a great chef in our family," Jiang Fenghua said with a smile. "My older brother also loves my mother's cooking. If you want to learn, learn from her!"

Zhang Yumo actually wanted to learn some of the dishes that Jiang Jinyan liked to eat.

Jiang Fenghua then served soup to Jiang Jinyan and Xie Shang, saying, "Let's eat first!"

"Ruan Ruan, what do you think?" Xie Shang asked her, as if testing her opinion on Xiao Yu.

Jiang Fenghua said, "I'm thinking about Wang Qing. I feel like I vaguely remember that name."

Jiang Jinyan asked, "How do you know him?"

Jiang Fenghua gave them a reassuring smile. "I don't know him, I've never had any dealings with him, and he doesn't even know I exist. I remember three years ago, many students wanted to become my father's students, but my father wasn't willing to teach just anyone. The first thing he valued was character. And this Wang Qing, like the other students, wanted my father to be his teacher."

Wang Qing's family were wealthy merchants, so he brought two large chests of gold and silver to the Jiang residence, but his father politely refused. However, Wang Qing persisted, refusing to leave until we reported him to the authorities, at which point he was finally driven away. At that time, my elder brother was traveling and studying elsewhere and didn't know this man. Calling him a scoundrel would be an understatement.

"It's related to Grand Tutor Jiang again." Xie Shang also understood the implication. "Xiao Yu is also Grand Tutor Jiang's student. The two passed the exam at the same time, one ranked first and the other ranked fifth."

Jiang Jinyan seemed to sense the hidden meaning in Xie Shang's words; it seemed he still cared about Xiao Yu's feelings for Ruan Ruan. He took the initiative to explain and change the subject, "To be honest, Your Highness, many of the students who passed this exam are my father's students. People who don't know might think my father directly taught them the exam questions. I'm worried..."

"If someone is secretly plotting something, are you worried that they are targeting Grand Tutor Jiang?" Xie Shang said in a deep voice. "But Grand Tutor Jiang is not an examiner. How could he help the candidates cheat?"

Jiang Fenghua curled her lips and said, "I think the innocent will clear themselves. We can remain still and control all movements. They haven't said that our Jiang family is the biggest suspect. If we rush to prove our innocence, they'll just say we're guilty."

This matter should be handled calmly for now. Since someone cheated, let's investigate. Let the government investigate slowly, and if it turns out to be true, then deal with it according to the law.

If it turns out to be a frame-up, then we'll have to find out the motives of the person who framed them! Everything must be based on evidence. We can't just investigate who cheated because someone says so.

In addition, as both a daughter of the Jiang family and the Crown Princess, I must avoid any appearance of impropriety in this matter. Besides, the Crown Prince is currently overseeing the country; he doesn't have much time to deal with this matter solely for the Jiang family. If people accuse him of abusing his power for personal gain, the Jiang family will be even more unable to defend themselves.

Didn't my elder brother say that the suspect has been apprehended? As the chief examiner, Grand Tutor Pan will certainly not allow his reputation to be ruined. Let Grand Tutor Pan investigate thoroughly.

It would be even better if these troublemakers could produce evidence, because evidence can be fabricated! Whoever commits perjury is suspicious.

They need solid evidence to prove that Jiang Taifu leaked the exam questions, or that Wang Qing, once investigated, would definitely identify Jiang Taifu, and he would need to produce evidence to prove that he identified Jiang Taifu. Otherwise, he would be committing a false accusation, and the crime of cheating plus false accusation would be aggravated.

"What could his humble merchant family possibly want? Nothing more than to abandon commerce for politics, that's why he chose this path. Who gave him the exam questions? A thorough investigation will surely reveal the answer." Jiang Fenghua spoke eloquently and clearly.

Zhang Yumo said, "What if he admits that his father leaked the exam questions to him? The laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty do not punish cheating with death. At most, he will be unable to take the exam for a few years. But if he falsely accuses his father of leaking the exam questions, his father will be implicated and harmed, and may even lose his official position."