"That Rong Yubai... isn't he a fool? How did he suddenly pass the exam and become the top scholar?"
The old lady looked blankly at Mrs. Hu and then at Rong Qiwang.
"He's not even a scholar, so how did he get the top prize? Huh?"
"Go, go and tell the emperor about this and punish Rong Baichuan!"
"No! Just punishing is not enough..." Rong Qiwang frowned, his eyes red and fierce.
"Spread the news. Rong Baichuan and Qin Taifu abused their power to allow Rong Yubai to enter the provincial examination hall. Let scholars across the country despise them!"
"Let him spit out this champion!"
He did what he said and immediately turned around and left the house.
The places where news spreads the fastest are teahouses, storytelling halls, and riverside laundry areas.
There are many people in these places who like to say a few words.
Soon, the news that Rong Yubai participated in the provincial examination without the status of a scholar spread like wildfire.
Early the next morning, the matter reached the emperor's ears.
Qin Taifu immediately took off his official hat and resigned to prove his innocence.
The emperor was speechless!
Don’t you know whether you are innocent or not?
Rong Baichuan always resigns from his post, he must have learned it from you!
This is the teacher, you can't get angry with him.
The emperor looked at his ministers... and became furious. He ordered a thorough investigation of the rumormongers and announced the news that Rong Yubai had topped the list of scholars.
Rumors among the people took a sharp turn.
"The top scholar at the beginning of the year was Young Master Rong Yu Bairong from the General's Mansion!"
"He wrote that ingenious article? Isn't he stupid?"
"I was wondering why the young man's name wasn't announced. The government must be protecting him."
"Where did this even begin?"
"Do you still remember four years ago, when Master Rong suddenly appeared, his talent astonishing the entire capital, but before he could take the child examination, he was poisoned and became a fool."
"Oh...so the authorities are protecting him by not releasing his name this time."
"It's absolutely possible. How many people felt sorry for this back then? The higher-ups are really cherishing talent."
"I see……"
“…”
As soon as this news came out, the threshold of the general's mansion was once again trampled upon.
There was an endless stream of scholars who came to Rong Yubai to invite him to discuss academic matters.
Rong Yubai has never had any intersection with those people.
Therefore, the task of inviting him fell on Gu Lin.
He also performed well in this provincial examination, ranking ninth, ahead of Rong Shihan.
In addition to inviting Rong Yubai to the poetry meeting, he also wanted to request to continue studying under Master Qin and continue to participate in next year's Spring Examination.
"About this matter..." Rong Baichuan looked at Rong Chaoxi who was gnawing on a big bone.
"You have to ask Chaoxi for help. No one else can have a say with my father-in-law except her."
Rong Chaoxi saw that everyone was looking at him, and he grinned with his chubby little mouth.
"Hey, Wo has finished eating, there's no more."
There were a few "puffs" and everyone at the table laughed.
Everyone discovered a very important point.
That is, when Chaoxi is eating, don't look at her with a longing look on your face.
She'll think you're asking her for the food in her hand.
The little guy is very protective of his food and will definitely not give it to you.
…
"Outrageous! Outrageous!"
When the old lady heard about Rong Yubai's growing reputation, she was furious at home.
"I actually made him a wedding dress again this time!"
"You are confused!" Rong Shihan was rarely angry.
"Do you think Rong Baichuan has the final say in the court?"
"Do you think that Qin Taifu, who has been able to sit firmly at the head of the civil officials for so many years, is the kind of person who would abuse his power for personal gain?"
"Do you think the list of candidates for the provincial examination can be falsified?"
Three consecutive "what do you think"s left everyone speechless.
The old lady's anger immediately subsided, and she sat there with a look of being wronged.
"Shihan, don't be angry. We will tell you before we do anything in the future." Hu said in a low voice.
After the provincial examination, Rong Shihan told Mrs. Hu about Rong Yubai, a scholar.
He didn't question it at that time, and she thought Rong Shihan was angry, but she didn't expect this.
She didn't stop him until the old lady mentioned the word "scholar".
Rong Shihan was so angry that he was gasping for breath, and only after taking a big gulp of water did he extinguish some of his anger.
"Remember, from now on, don't act recklessly without my consent!"
"Okay...we will listen to you from now on."
"Dad, were you in disguise when you were spreading the news? Did anyone remember you?" Rong Shihan looked at Rong Qiwang who was silent.
"No, I just talked to a few of my old friends."
“…” Rong Shihan closed his eyes in despair.
"Your Majesty is investigating this matter now. Why don't you go and invite your friends home and tell them to shut up?"
He roared, "Do you want to wait for His Majesty to be found out and once again punish the Annan Marquisate?"
It's too late!
As soon as the news came out, Rong Baichuan knew that this must have been done by the Annan Marquisate.
They arranged for people to go to specific locations to investigate the source of the spread.
In addition, Jiang Lingyu has a large number of subordinates who are mixed in among the people.
The Jiang family, the Qin family, the general's mansion and people sent by the emperor were dispatched together, and in just half a day, the source of the spread was found out.
Within three days, the eunuch in charge of the palace set foot in the Annan Marquis' Mansion twice.
Rong Qiwang questioned the imperial court and spread false information, and was punished with thirty strokes of the cane.
The Marquis of Annan, for failing to educate his son, was punished with ten strokes of the cane and a fine of one year's salary. Considering that he had not recovered from the punishment he received the day before, his son bore half of the punishment.
After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, he raised his hand expressionlessly and said, "Use torture."
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