Once the examination hall gates were closed, they could not be easily reopened for at least nine days. As soon as the proctors took their positions and the examination began, a minor official came to report: "Sir, one of the students said he's not taking the exam anymore and wants to leave. He also said he's of special status and that if we don't let him leave, he'll make us suffer!"

The examiner sneered, "Nonsense! The gates of the examination hall are closed; there's no reason to open them casually! If he wants to leave, he'll have to wait nine days!"

Not long after the clerk left, he returned with another report: "That student is making a huge fuss, claiming he's not an examinee and was dragged in. Now the noise is making it impossible for the other students to take their exams properly."

"Nonsense!" The proctor was furious. Another proctor next to him said calmly, "The exam has only just begun and one person has already gone mad."

Such exams often bring enormous psychological pressure to test takers. In previous years, there have been cases of test takers going crazy in the exam room, but this is the first time someone has gone crazy so early.

"Tie him up first, gag him, and then see what happens."

The entire street outside the examination hall was blocked off. Xie Lü and Xie Mingyue were drinking tea in the nearest teahouse, with the fourth young master of the Peng family sitting next to them.

"I feel like I'm not quite as good as Brother Xie in appearance." He touched the silver mask on his face, feeling rather uncomfortable.

"It's alright. Just pretend to be sick when we get back. Stay with us for the next few days. Don't panic."

"Have you had your servant report this to the authorities?"

"They reported it! The people from the Jingzhao Prefecture have searched my house!" Peng Si said, one leg trembling. "We really won't be discovered, will we?"

Taking an exam for someone else is a capital offense. Xie Liwei not only took the exam for someone else, but he also used his identity!

He didn't gain anything himself, just for the sake of brotherhood, and in the end, he's the one who suffers in prison.

Waaaaah, it's so hard to go to great lengths for your brothers!

Xie Mingyue patted his shoulder, "Don't worry, don't worry, we'll definitely keep you safe."

That's what you say, but your Xie family has no connections in the court! How can you protect him?

Waaaaah!

Meanwhile, on the day of the examination, all the gambling dens removed the names of the top scholars, and their once bustling establishments became deserted.

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the gambling den's backyard, Gao Yuqi smashed a cup in a fit of rage.

"Haven't they found him yet? He doesn't have wings, how could he fly out of the capital city!"

The subordinate replied tremblingly, "We've searched everywhere we could..."

But they don't have many options. There are too many powerful and influential families in the capital, and any one of them is someone they can't afford to offend.

If that person just randomly picks a house to hide in, what can they do? Although the Gao family is the imperial concubine's maternal family, they can't just openly search someone's house!

"I told you to keep an eye on the Prince Xiaoyao's residence, has anything unusual happened?"

"We didn't notice anything unusual. The princess left the palace a few days ago and went outside the city, and hasn't returned since. The gates of the Prince Xiaoyao's mansion have been tightly closed, and apart from the vegetable vendors who deliver vegetables every day, there's nothing special about it."

Gao Yuqi's expression turned even more unpleasant.

"My lord, we can no longer keep this from the Imperial Concubine. Let's tell her!"

Gao Yuqi was the eldest son of the Gao family patriarch. Na Yugong had always lived in the Gao residence, and no one had any dealings with him. Gao Yuqi wanted to recruit this man for his own use, but unfortunately, he was too old-fashioned and obsessed with the deceased Xie Wanqing.

One day, he overheard Yu Gong and his advisors discussing a method of extorting money by using the title of Jieyuan (top scholar in the provincial examination). Yu Gong jokingly said, "This is just talk, it shouldn't be taken seriously. If it were actually put into practice, the money obtained would be the hard-earned money of the people, obtained without any conscience."

He spoke seemingly casually, but Gao Yuqi took it to heart. He then summoned his advisors to refine the plan.

Just when they had planned the whole thing perfectly, Lord Yu suddenly disappeared!

But their plan had already begun, and it seemed to be spiraling out of control. At this point, Gao Yuqi understood perfectly well—he had been outmaneuvered!

"Sir, why don't we hurry up and run away with this money? If we run overseas, will we even be able to survive?"

"Fool! So many people in the capital have placed bets and brought cash on board. Do you think the ship crew doesn't know we're going to run away?!"

"Shall we go to the money exchange and get silver notes?"

After saying that, he realized he was wrong. They had so much silver; even setting aside which money exchange would lend it to them, wouldn't the money changers become suspicious? And if they ran away, they would definitely be wanted by the authorities.

The banknote is now invalid; you can't exchange it for silver at other banks. It's just a piece of waste paper!

"Send someone to deliver a token to the palace; I need to see the Imperial Concubine!" Gao Yuqi was covered in cold sweat; the Gao family couldn't be ruined in his hands!

On the 8th, the royal procession marched from the palace to the hunting grounds outside the city in a grand procession. Many people watched, and some even prayed for a bountiful spring hunt, as it symbolized that this year would also be a prosperous one for them.

The emperor and the imperial concubine's carriage moved slowly forward. After leaving the city, a young eunuch jogged to the imperial concubine's carriage.

"Your Majesty, Lord Gao requests an audience!"

The Imperial Concubine's expression was not good. Ever since the Emperor began his self-inspection of the harem, her relationship with him had become strained. She knew the Emperor intended to give her a warning, but she couldn't swallow her anger.

Xie Wanqing has been dead for so many years, yet she exercised the power of the Empress, not only refusing to grant her the title of Empress, but also refusing to give her even the title of Imperial Noble Consort!

She was holding a grudge, and thus kept delaying the matter of bringing Song Si into the palace. Because of this, the Emperor effectively blocked her spies outside the palace. The memorial Gao Yuqi had submitted the day before yesterday had not reached her. He could only risk going out of the palace today to see her.

"What is it?" she asked indifferently.

"Lord Gao said that this matter is of great importance and may affect the lives of the entire clan. He begs Your Majesty to see me immediately!"

The Imperial Concubine's delicate eyebrows furrowed. When they arrived at the hunting grounds, the palace servants went to set up camp, and the Emperor led a group of military officers on a hunt. Only then did she have a chance to see her brother.

"Your Majesty, you must think of a way to resolve this matter!" Gao Yuqi told the Consort what had happened, and the Consort's face grew increasingly grim, as cold as ice in the twelfth lunar month.

"Didn't I say that Lord Yu is a blindly loyal man? His heart is only for Xie Wanqing, and he would never be used by us! All you need to do is feed and care for him and keep him out of Xie Liwei's hands. You can't even keep an eye on one person! Not only can you not keep an eye on one person, but you also fell for his schemes!"

The Imperial Concubine was so angry that her chest heaved. She couldn't believe that her brother was so foolish as to be so blinded by greed for a little money!

Yu Gong was Xie Wanqing's man. Back then, rumors circulated that she was the one who murdered Xie Wanqing. To maintain her image as a close sister to Xie Wanqing, she had no choice but to raise Yu Gong in the Gao family mansion. She regularly had Yu Gong appear in public to solidify her own image.

Otherwise, she would have killed Duke Yu long ago!

"That old bastard may have come from a stable boy background, but he has more cunning schemes in his belly than any of you! Otherwise, do you think Xie Wanqing could have become the Empress?" The Consort was furious. Back then, she had also tried to turn Duke Yu against the government, but she failed.

Therefore, she had the Gao family keep Yu Gong in their mansion, effectively imprisoning him and preventing him from contacting Xie Liwei, fearing that he and Xie Liwei would conspire to take revenge!

"Your Majesty, the most urgent matter is how to appease the Emperor!"

The Imperial Concubine's expression changed several times. "You may leave now. Allow me to think this over carefully."

She wouldn't let anything happen to the Gao family; this was her entourage.