Hong Yingrong and Chen Jin looked at each other, knowing that they had successfully dragged the emperor's confidant into this crisis.
"Sir Chen, we are now in the same boat and must work together to break this situation." Hong Yingrong spoke slowly, her tone full of determination.
Chen Jin nodded, his eyes sharp as an eagle. "Madam Hong is absolutely right. Now is not the time to be suspicious of each other. Only by working together can we overcome this difficult time."
After saying this, he turned and called over a eunuch from the Imperial Household Department, and ordered in a deep voice, "Go and inform the old ancestor immediately. Tell him that... I'm afraid my son won't be able to fulfill his filial duties in the future."
The "ancestor" Chen Jin mentioned refers to the number one eunuch in this huge imperial city, his adoptive father - Eunuch Li Fang, the chief eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department.
Everyone knows about Eunuch Li Fang's power and status in the palace.
From Chen Jin's tone and expression, Hong Yingrong could sense that Chen Jin also felt difficult and uneasy in the face of the current crisis, and found it difficult to deal with it alone.
It seems that he is planning to rely on the power of this "ancestor" at the critical moment.
Afterwards, Chen Jin led Hong Yingrong to the Golden Palace. The view from the high building on the palace wall was wide. In the distance, ministers were entering from the Meridian Gate one after another, preparing to attend court.
"Old lady, please follow me." Chen Jin said, leading her around the front hall and walking towards the back hall. The two of them walked one in front and the other behind, shuttling under the eaves of the palace.
Hong Yingrong followed closely and asked the question that concerned her most: "Eunuch Chen, have the test questions been sent out of the palace by the Imperial Guards?"
Chen Jin shook his head calmly, turned slightly, and replied, "It hasn't been sent out yet. Today is the third day. According to the rules, the test questions will be handed over to the Chief Guard of the Imperial Guard, Lord Gong Yan, by His Majesty in the Golden Palace. He will then be responsible for escorting them to the Imperial Examination Hall and handing them over to the Chief Examiner for unsealing."
"In that case, there's still time!" Upon hearing this, Hong Yingrong's tense expression relaxed a little and she breathed a sigh of relief.
However, a hint of trance inadvertently flashed across the depths of her eyes.
In the previous life, it was none other than the captain of the Imperial Guard, Gong Yan, who had the entire Marquis' Mansion imprisoned. People in the capital called him "Cold-blooded Rakshasa" for his cruel, ruthless and unrighteous methods.
Now, he has become the key figure in this incident. It is really fate.
Chen Jin noticed the subtle change in Hong Yingrong's expression and couldn't help but feel puzzled, but he didn't ask any more questions and just stood there respectfully.
"Madam, the emperor is here." Chen Jin reminded softly, with a solemn expression.
Upon hearing this, Hong Yingrong quickly turned her gaze to the rear hall door, only to see Li Longze wearing a dragon robe and court dress, a gilded crown on his head, and an air of majesty, apparently preparing to go to court to handle state affairs.
Chen Jin took a step forward, bowed, and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, I am late for something. Please ask Your Majesty to dismiss the attendants."
Li Longze couldn't help but frown when he saw that his expression looked extremely solemn and that the old lady of Xingyuan Hou was standing aside with her head bowed.
How could a lady from outside the imperial court appear in the back hall of the Golden Throne Hall at this hour?
"Your Majesty, something happened!" Chen Jin's voice rang out again, breaking the brief silence, his expression becoming more serious.
Upon seeing this, Li Longze waved his right hand, and the palace attendants immediately retreated in a well-trained manner, and the entire back hall fell into silence.
This silence seems like an invisible oppression that makes people feel breathless.
"I am guilty!" Chen Jin raised his hands high, with the note in his palms.
As the supreme ruler, Li Longze had a keen insight into potential crises. As if sensing something, he asked in a deep voice, "What about the Spring Examination?"
Chen Jin did not answer, but kowtowed deeply again, then knelt and took two steps forward, raising the note in his hand higher.
This action silently conveyed a heavy message. As the two sides were in a stalemate, he felt as if his throat was strangled by an invisible hand. He was speechless and dared not respond.
At this critical moment, Hong Yingrong stepped forward, knelt respectfully with great respect, and said in a sincere voice, "Your Majesty, this matter concerns the Spring Examination, and even more so, the fate of the Great Zhou. The Marquis's Mansion is implicated, and I dare not conceal it. I can only present this note to Your Majesty for your perusal."
Li Longze slowly reached out his hand and finally took it. After opening it, his eyes quickly scanned the words on it.
The content of the note had violated his bottom line as an emperor. It was a provocation to his authority and a threat to his rule.
Li Longze's face turned ashen in an instant, and his eyes flashed with anger, as if he wanted to burn to death anyone who dared to challenge the emperor's dignity and authority.
"Someone come!"
His roar was like the roar of a tiger and the roar of a dragon. It was the wrath of an emperor, the wrath that changed the sky and earth and made all officials tremble.
"The Imperial Guards will immediately surround the Imperial Examination Hall. Don't let even a fly escape!"
"Order the Jingzhao Yin to immediately dispatch troops to surround the residences of the chief examiner, deputy examiner, and all the gatekeepers and room officials. Guard them strictly. No one is allowed to enter or leave without my permission!"
"Gong Yan! Quickly tell Gong Yan to withdraw the test questions immediately and return to the palace to see me!"
Li Longze's voice at this moment sounded particularly urgent and angry, as if carrying the endless power of thunder. What shocked both Hong Yingrong and Chen Jin was that Gong Yan had already sent the test questions to the Imperial Academy.
Before the two had time to think about this sudden change, they saw Li Longze's body suddenly shake, and he seemed to be a little unstable. The eunuch who had just come in to deliver the imperial edict was quick to support him.
Chen Jin knelt forward, holding Li Longze's arms tightly with both hands, and the worry in his eyes was not fake at all.
"Your Majesty, take care!" He choked with tears, "It was because I failed to do my job properly that a traitor emerged in the palace, nearly ruining your Majesty's achievements."
"Your Majesty, whether you wish to kill me or chop me up, I am willing to bear the punishment. I only beg Your Majesty to trust me once more and allow me to complete this matter before I die! I will never allow Your Majesty's reputation to be tarnished in the slightest! Please, Your Majesty, grant this last wish of mine!"
Li Longze's face was pale, obviously due to anger. Although he was in his prime, he still felt dizzy. He subconsciously grabbed Chen Jin's hand tightly, and the oppression was even greater when he clenched his teeth.
"Go!"
In a split second, the emperor made his choice between belief and disbelief.
Chen Jin suddenly looked up, wiped away his tears, and replaced them with a look of determination. He kowtowed heavily, stepped back and prepared to leave the palace.
The moment he turned around, Chen Jin gave Hong Yingrong a reassuring look. Hong Yingrong's face remained calm, but she had already thoroughly understood Chen Jin's hint in her heart.
As expected, as soon as Chen Jin disappeared outside the door of the rear hall, Li Longze turned to her and said in a tone that was hard to tell whether he was happy or angry, "Old Madam, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to stay in the palace garden for a while until this matter is settled."
This incident was caused by her, and now to save face, she is under house arrest in the palace, which is already a special mercy.
Upon hearing this, Hong Yingrong lowered her head slightly and responded calmly, "I obey your command."
What she was worried about at the moment was how Xue Zhongfu was doing now.
Before entering the palace, in order to prevent the Imperial Guards from rushing to the Imperial Examination Hall first, she handed the dragon-patterned imperial staff to her son and strictly ordered him that if necessary, even at the cost of his life, he must not let the examination papers be sent out of the palace.
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