"Oh my god, it worked! It worked!"

The villagers cheered excitedly to each other.

Originally, Li Zhiyuan passing the imperial examination was not something that had much to do with them.

But because of Granny Zhao's outburst, the villagers became unusually united. They wished Li Zhiyuan would immediately become the top scholar, let alone a scholar, just to make Qinghe Village envious.

Granny Zhao's face turned pale. Could it be? Was she seeing things because of her old eyes?

Pshaw, what a waste of time!

Li Zhiyuan was also pleasantly surprised: "How could this be..."

Granny Li exclaimed excitedly, "What do you mean, 'can't'? You must have seen wrong! Zhiyuan, you've passed! You're a scholar now! You can become an official!"

"Yes, I misread it!" Li Zhiyuan's eyes were red-rimmed. "I knew it! I knew it! I answered so well! As soon as I picked up the pen, my thoughts flowed like a spring, and I wrote with divine inspiration..."

"My article is so beautifully written, so well-written, how could it not be accepted!"

Li Ziming: "Dad, congratulations!"

Li Jiaojiao also breathed a sigh of relief. Although she didn't want Li Zhiyuan to be stuck in this limbo, the current situation was indeed a slap in the face to Granny Zhao and Ye Caiping.

I have to say, this twist after twist is so satisfying!

Villagers: "Congratulations, sir! No, you should be called a successful candidate in the imperial examinations!"

"Congratulations!"

The constables stood by, completely bewildered. What was going on?

Li Zhiyuan stepped forward excitedly and arrogantly: "Gentlemen, may I ask what rank this scholar has achieved?"

One of the constables finally lost his temper: "Go to hell, you scholar! Did I say you passed the imperial examination? Did I say I came to deliver good news?"

Li Zhiyuan and all the villagers were frozen in place.

What? This isn't good news? Then... Li Zhiyuan didn't pass?

Zhang Shuiniang was unwilling to accept it: "How is that possible..."

"Get out of my way! What business is it of yours!" The constable rudely shoved Zhang Shuiniang aside and stared at Li Zhiyuan: "You're Li Zhiyuan? Li Ziming and Li Jiaojiao?"

As he spoke, he looked around at the three of them.

Li Jiaojiao frowned, a bad feeling creeping into her heart.

Li Zhiyuan's face turned ashen: "Yes. May I ask why you've come here..."

The constable leading them sneered, "Men, tie them up and take them back to the yamen!"

As soon as she finished speaking, six or seven constables rushed in and quickly kicked Li Jiaojiao and the other two to their knees. Then, they put shackles on them all!

"My God!!" Upon seeing this, the villagers all took several steps back in fright: "This is...this is a shackle! Only prisoners wear them!"

Li Jiaojiao's mind went blank for a moment.

She found out; her theft of the exam questions had been exposed!

How could this be...?

Li Ziming realized it too, his face turned pale, and his body trembled.

Li Zhiyuan was still shouting, "Let us go! What are you doing?"

"I, Li Zhiyuan, am a scholar!"

"Shut up!" The constable was merciless and gave him a big shovel.

"you--"

Another big rip-off!

"I--"

Another huge bulge! His teeth even fell out.

Only then did they finally behave themselves.

The lead constable shouted coldly, "Take him away!"

The three of them were dragged away by a group of constables.

Granny Li burst into tears and clung tightly to the last constable:

"What happened? Why did they take my son and grandson away! You have to give us an explanation, why—"

The constable frowned: "Hmph, what else could it be! Of course, it's that they cheated on the imperial examinations! Not only this provincial examination, but also the last prefectural examination, they cheated on both. Otherwise, how could Li Ziming's nonsensical essay have made him the top scholar?"

After saying that, he shoved Granny Li aside and strode away.

The villagers only recovered from their shock after the constables and the three men disappeared.

Cheating?

"Hahahaha!" Granny Zhao finally realized what was happening and laughed so hard she rolled on the ground. "This is hilarious! Good heavens!"

"It turns out that the top score they were always bragging about was obtained through cheating."

"And that promise just now... Good heavens! What?! Li Jiaojiao swore here that she will definitely pass the imperial examination in three years! And she will even become the top scholar in the provincial examination."

"No wonder she talks so confidently and can just spout off whatever comes to mind. It turns out her confidence comes from cheating."

The villagers cursed Li Zhiyuan and his gang a hundred times in their hearts, feeling utterly humiliated, and scattered in all directions.

Granny Li and Zhang Shuiniang sat on the ground, dumbfounded.

Granny Zhao laughed so hard her stomach almost burst. She scrambled to her feet and ran outside, still laughing.

Granny Zhao walked quickly towards Qinghe Village.

In every village they passed through, they would go in and chat with acquaintances, saying that Li Zhiyuan and his gang had cheated on the provincial examination and had been arrested by the government.

Li Ziming's top ranking was also achieved through cheating.

After a round of visits, the news spread to several nearby villages, causing widespread shock.

...

Ye Caiping had just returned from the spicy soup workshop and sat down in the main room when Granny Zhao rushed over:

"Picking apples! Picking apples!"

Grandma Ye came out of the room: "What is it now?"

"Li Zhiyuan and his entire gang have been arrested by the yamen runners! It turns out they cheated on the provincial examination!"

"What? Such a good thing!" Grandma Ye clapped her hands happily. "Quick, go tell the eldest son."

After saying that, he took Granny Zhao's hand and they went out together.

The two had just left when they saw Jin'er and Huan'er returning together.

Ye Jin'er: "Mom, why are Grandma and Grandma Zhao laughing so happily?"

Ye Caiping said, "Li Zhiyuan has been arrested and thrown into jail. Quick, let's get ready to eat. If nothing unexpected happens, the court will be holding a trial after dinner. Let's hurry over so we can get a good seat."

Ye Jin'er and her sister's eyes lit up: "Okay."

After lunch, the Ye family set off in a grand procession, riding in a carriage.

Except for Ye Yong, who was at work, and Xiuxiu, who was pregnant, the entire Ye family came along. Even Granny Zhao jumped into the car.

Since the horse-drawn carriage couldn't fit so many people, Ye Daquan's family used an oxcart.

Ye Erquan received the job and left early in the morning, so the second branch of the family didn't go.

Because of the seriousness of the case, it was directly handled by Prefect Qin.

When Ye Caiping and her family arrived at the prefectural government office, the main hall was already surrounded by a large crowd of people, most of whom were scholars.

Ye Daquan exclaimed in surprise, "He's only been arrested for a little over an hour, how come so many people know about it?"

Granny Zhao patted her chest: "I'll tell everyone I meet!"

Ye Caiping's lips twitched slightly.

There are quite a few scholars in the surrounding villages, and today is the day the results are announced. With such a significant case happening, the news spread like wildfire.

Moreover, the fact that Li Zhiyuan and his companions were escorted back to the yamen alarmed many people, so they all gathered around to watch.

Ye Caiping clenched her wrist: "A miscalculation, it's too late! We should have brought our lunch on the way."

At this moment, a voice rang out: "Madam Ye".

Ye Caiping turned around and said happily, "It's Dragon Boat Festival, your husband is here?"

"Yes." Duanwu nodded with a smile: "Master asked me to invite Madam Ye and you over."

Where to?

"please."

Ye Caiping smiled and said, "Alright. Father, Mother, Big Brother, let's go."