Chapter 50: Someone must be trying to make her bloated.

As Lu Wensheng entered the Wenhua Hall with his teacup in hand and head bowed, Shen Hegui and his ministers were still discussing how to eradicate cheating in the imperial examinations.

She held her breath and carefully placed the teacup next to Shen Hegui, her ears perked up, listening to every word of their conversation.

"...We should send more people to patrol the cells repeatedly, leaving them no opportunity to take advantage!"

"In my opinion, a thorough search is still the most important thing. The inner layers of clothing, writing brushes, inkstones, and even hair buns must be carefully examined!"

"Why not increase the number of co-examiners in the exam, so that they can supervise and check each other?"

She placed the tray on the table, glancing unintentionally at Shen Hegui's fingers lightly tapping the surface, and curled her lip in disdain.

The devil is always one step ahead of the saint. They can come up with all sorts of brilliant schemes here, but if they let her go to the exam hall, she could still come up with all sorts of elaborate cheating techniques. However, she is too outstanding, so there is no need for her to cheat at all.

Thinking of this, Lu Wensheng felt a surge of secret pleasure, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

As he brought the warm tea to his lips, Shen Hegui's eyes flickered slightly. He looked up at Lu Wensheng beside him, about to ask what kind of tea it was, when he noticed her smug smile.

When Lu Wensheng was with Prince Su, he was a popular candidate in the examination hall, so these methods must sound outdated and ridiculous to him.

Shen Hegui calmly put down his teacup, raised his hand to stop the ministers who were still speaking, and called out, "As the chief examiner this time, I wonder what brilliant ideas Lord Lu has?"

Lu Wensheng's heart skipped a beat when he was suddenly called out.

Her eyes darted around, and she tried to laugh it off with a few words.

However, Shen Hegui knew her too well and added a few more words: "In the eighth year of Tiande in the previous dynasty, the chief examiner Miao Huaili neglected his duties and allowed an illiterate person to take the palace examination, resulting in the exile of his entire family; in the later years, the chief and deputy examiners colluded with the candidates to accept bribes and were sentenced to beheading. Later, they were silenced in prison. Lord Lu, don't forget that you still have something stored here with me."

Lu Wensheng: "?!"

Her face tightened, and she swallowed the words that were about to come out.

We agreed to be best friends! Why did you suddenly expose her past and threaten her? Do you think she's easily frightened?

However, it seems that we really can't fool them.

I've been tricked! I shouldn't have been the chief examiner. The imperial examination is on March 9th. I'm afraid I'll be working like a beast of burden for the next few days!

Lu Wensheng gritted his teeth, suppressing his regret, and was about to stand back down to report when he heard Shen Hegui's voice sound again: "Stand beside me and speak."

It's more reassuring to keep it under our noses.

Lu Wensheng raised his hand in a salute: "I would not call it a brilliant idea. The methods of the esteemed officials are effective, but they only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. In my opinion, instead of examining the layers of clothing, writing brushes, inkstones, and even hair buns, it would be better to distribute clothing and writing brushes uniformly before the exam, and to send more people to supervise the candidates to wash themselves clean an hour before the exam."

"People patrolling make noise, and their movements are subtle. Your Highness has led troops before, so you should know that from a high platform, one can see like a hawk on patrol, and even the slightest movement can be clearly seen. Therefore, I believe that instead of sending more people, it would be better to set up more high platforms and have examiners with excellent eyesight stationed there. As for adding more examiners, there is no need."

As soon as Lu Wensheng finished speaking, a murmur of discussion immediately arose in the hall.

Zhan Xingxiu pondered for a moment, a look of approval flashing in his eyes. He stepped forward and said, "Lord Lu's idea is brilliant!"

"It's really good... How come I never thought of that!"

"Yes, the younger generation is truly formidable!"

Shen Hegui nodded in satisfaction and said to the eunuch standing to the side, "Go and fetch pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and let Lord Lu sit next to me to draft the regulations."

The evenings need to be used to nurture our relationship, so I'll have to trouble Lu Wensheng a bit.

"Your Highness, I can go back and write it," Lu Wensheng said urgently.

Why is Shen Hegui in such a hurry? We haven't finished discussing this yet!

"Write it now," Shen Hegui said firmly. "Everyone's here, so we can discuss it with them after it's finished and fill in any gaps!"

Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, Lu Wensheng had no choice but to agree.

The eunuch worked quickly, and soon a brand-new set of writing implements and a soft, comfortable chair were placed next to Shen Hegui.

The soft tip of the brush dipped into the ink, and Lu Wensheng's gaze swept over it casually, a sudden question arising in his mind.

Why is the lid of that teacup sticking up?

She glanced furtively at Shen Hegui, and seeing that his gaze was still fixed on the officials, she quietly put down her pen and subtly moved the teacup in front of her.

Could it be that someone was monitoring her every move, trying to poison her and frame her, but ended up making a mistake by messing up the lid of the bowl? Before She Hegui takes effect, she needs to take a closer look.

Her slender fingers lifted the teacup and turned it upside down.

In an instant, pieces of soaked wood ear mushrooms rolled out of her hands and scattered onto the white rice paper with a pattering sound. The water stains were distinct, creating a striking contrast between black and white!

At some point, the discussions inside the hall ceased again, and everyone's gaze fell upon Lu Wensheng's hands.

"I wonder what kind of tea it is, that it absorbs water so much?"

"They've all bulged out!"

"How could they be so reckless! Who brewed this tea?"

Lu Wensheng chuckled twice, looking rather embarrassed: "I brewed it for His Highness."

The ministers exchanged glances and immediately realized that the one who had been dozing off in the hall earlier was Lu Wensheng, but His Highness the Crown Prince did not hold it against him and even gave him a way out!

For a moment, a hint of jealousy welled up in the hearts of the ministers.

Lu Wensheng had seen wood ear mushrooms before, but never ones so fragmented. He didn't immediately make the connection and blurted out, "Your Highness, someone dislikes me and wants to poison you to frame me!"

She placed the teacup right under Shen Hegui's nose, saying, "Please investigate, Your Highness!"

"Heh!" Shen Hegui stared at the dark brown bits of wood ear fungus, feeling both helpless and amused.

It is said that the tea brewed by Lu Wensheng only tastes earthy and has no tea flavor. It turns out that it is not tea at all, but water used to soak and wash wood ear fungus. How did Lu Wensheng grow up?

Interrupted repeatedly by Lu Wensheng, Shen Hegui lost all interest in discussing politics. He waved for the officials to leave, saying, "That's all for today, we'll discuss it again tomorrow!"

"Huh?! Your Highness, they are all my witnesses..."

“There’s no poison in it. Try it yourself and see what’s in the bowl,” Shen Hegui interrupted in a deep voice.

Lu Wensheng glanced at Shen Hegui, who seemed indifferent, and reluctantly picked up a small piece.

Although Shen Hegui is handsome and clean-cut, it's still disgusting to taste the tea he's drunk from.

Fine, consider it the price of promotion!

Lu Wensheng pursed his lips, closed his eyes, and put the bits of wood ear fungus on his fingertips into his mouth.

Hmm? So crisp! It looks a lot like wood ear mushrooms.

Lu Wensheng opened his eyes hesitantly and asked, "Wood ear fungus tea?"

The imperial court is always very strict; only tea can appear in the tea room. It must be because she is ignorant.

Just as I was feeling annoyed, a slight pain came from my forehead.

Shen Hegui withdrew his hand and chuckled softly, "Stupid!"

He turned to the eunuch and instructed him, "Go and find out where the mistake was, and deal with it according to palace rules."

"Wait a minute." Lu Wensheng stopped the little eunuch, covering his forehead, and said to Shen Hegui, "If it turns out to be unintentional, we might as well let it go. Even the most meticulous plans can have flaws, and everyone makes mistakes."

According to palace regulations, such punishment would result in death or serious injury.

Seeing that Shen Hegui remained silent, Lu Wensheng stepped forward and tugged at Shen Hegui's sleeve: "It was my carelessness that led me to not check carefully. I have some methods to prevent cheating in the imperial examinations. Would you mind telling Your Highness about them separately?"

Shen Hegui was pleased by the word "alone" and immediately gave up his thoughts, waving the little eunuch away.

So for the entire afternoon, Lu Wensheng spent telling Shen Hegui about her experiences in being sought after over the years, the flaws she had seen in the imperial examinations, and also enjoyed a delicious dinner.

Time passed, and the grand court assembly of February 15th arrived.

Springtime is unpredictable, with sudden shifts between warm and cold, making it easy to catch a cold. Unable to bear the chilly early morning air, Lu Wensheng got himself a horse-drawn carriage.

For the past two weeks, Cheng Sang has been driving her carriage, and the horse that Shen Hegui gave her has been pulling it.

Now the horse has its own name, Lu Wencai.

The carriage rumbled along in the hazy morning light, but came to a slow stop as it approached the palace gate.

"My lord!" Cheng Sang's deep, resonant voice came from outside the carriage curtain, "A carriage is blocking our way. Should we overturn it?"

"How many times have I told you? We'll try to be polite first, then resort to force. We're not robbers." Lu Wensheng, with a steaming shrimp wonton in his mouth, lifted the curtain and looked out. He saw a dim yellow paper lantern hanging in front of the carriage opposite, with a large character "Zhang" written on it.

The brown-clad attendant bowed and gestured for her to enter.

At this point, in this place, with this surname, only Grand Secretary Zhang Mianzhi would dare to stop her carriage.

Speaking of which, she hadn't seen Zhang Mianzhi in a long time. Everyone said he was ill and was staying at home, refusing to see anyone.

Shen Hegui also treated Zhang Mianzhi coldly, ignoring him and acting as if he didn't exist.

After swallowing the wonton in his mouth, Lu Wensheng patted Cheng Sang on the shoulder: "We're acquaintances. I'll ride in his carriage to court. You can go back to sleep!"

"Okay!"

Lu Wensheng straightened his official robes, leisurely boarded the carriage opposite, and greeted with a smile: "Long time no see, Your Excellency, how are you feeling?"

The medicine tastes far too strong. With such a strong taste, Zhang Mianzhi probably won't live much longer! Now that the position of Grand Secretary is vacant, I wonder who will fill it.

Zhang Mianzhi leaned back on the brocade cushion, his face gaunt and aged: "When you get old, there's nothing good or bad about it. Every extra day you live is a bonus."

Zhang Mianzhi slightly twitched his lips, but there was little smile in his eyes. "Since I'm speaking with Lord Lu, I won't beat around the bush. I just want to confirm one thing."

Meeting Zhang Mianzhi's suddenly sharp gaze, Lu Wensheng curled the corners of her lips, unconcerned, and replied casually, "Please speak freely, sir."

Strangely enough, she rose from a minor official to the Vice Minister of Rites in a meteoric rise without encountering any difficulties. Moreover, she seemed to have gained a lot more confidence than before, and recently, she even developed a sense of reliance on him for no apparent reason.

"Is my adopted son Wang Minzhi dead?" Zhang Mianzhi asked in a low voice, his gaze falling on Lu Wensheng's face, which had become noticeably rounder.

Lu Wensheng was startled, but he didn't show it on his face. He only asked, "Why do you say that, sir? Have you heard any rumors?"

“I passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty-six and entered the Hanlin Academy.” Zhang Mianzhi did not respond to her words, but instead looked up at Lu Wensheng, as if looking at his younger self through her. “I once wanted to be a loyal and honest official. Unfortunately, time waits for no one, and I did not meet a wise ruler.”

He paused slightly, his breath becoming somewhat heavy, and after catching his breath, he continued, "I entered the cabinet when I was fifty, and became the Grand Secretary when I was sixty. My power comes from the imperial power. Lord Lu has now chosen the same path as me. The only difference is that your master is currently a bit stronger than me."

A gust of wind blew into the carriage, causing the candlelight to flicker. Lu Wensheng instinctively raised his hand to shield it, lowered his eyes, and whispered, "Is my lord blaming me for betraying Prince Su and siding with the Crown Prince?"

"No." Zhang Mianzhi slowly waved his hand, revealing his withered, brittle wrist beneath his clothes. "I just hope you will learn from my mistakes and not follow in my footsteps. My son and grandson are both good-for-nothings; this is probably my retribution!"

Upon hearing the word "retribution," Lu Wensheng suddenly recalled the care Zhang Mianzhi had given her over the years.

She was required to undress for a physical examination to participate in the imperial examination. Zhang Mianzhi used his connections to help her get through it, and he didn't ask why after he did.

When she first entered the Hanlin Academy, she was attacked by a group of people for speaking frankly, and it was Zhang Mianzhi who came to her rescue.

Even when she first gained favor with Prince Su, His Majesty harbored murderous intentions towards her, and it was Zhang Mianzhi who helped her.

...

Four years have passed, and the events have been numerous and varied, too many to count on all twenty fingers combined.

Lu Wensheng suddenly looked up, the flickering candlelight reflecting in her eyes. She blurted out, "My lord, you have helped me before. From my personal point of view, I don't want you to die. How about I take you to see His Highness first, and you can resign and retire from your official post?"

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Author's Note: [doge] Guess if Zhang Mianzhi will resign, or if he will die? [doge with a rose in his mouth]