Chapter 52 "We believe in you, sir!"
The guards spurred their horses and galloped swiftly, creating a gust of wind. In less than a quarter of an hour, they had reached the gate of the examination hall.
Before them stood the government office, a large, square courtyard, over a hundred feet long and wide, capable of accommodating more than five thousand people, its red walls and green tiles gleaming brightly.
One of the guards exclaimed in a low voice, "What a huge courtyard!"
A colleague whispered, "This year's imperial examination only has candidates from the three northern prefectures near the capital, totaling just over four thousand people. Wanzhou's capital has a much larger examination hall that can hold a full fifty thousand people."
As the group went inside, there were no stone lions guarding the gate, but instead two tall signs, each taller than a person, that read "Important Place" on one side and "Silence" on the other.
The wood's somber color and the large, gilded characters, rendered with a chilling and intimidating style, exude power and authority.
However, the two guards leaning lazily against the avoidance sign diminished the solemnity of the place by more than half.
Caught off guard, the two heard the sound of galloping hooves approaching from afar. When they looked up again, a group of people and horses were already in front of them menacingly. They were so frightened that they stumbled and almost fell to the ground.
The bolder one hurriedly went to look, but saw a dark mass of figures, almost stretching as far as the eye could see.
The young man at the head of the group was dressed in black, and the apricot leaf pattern on his robe shone with gold, even more dazzling than the sun.
Afterwards, all of them wore goose-feather sabers at their waists, secured with black iron, exuding a murderous aura.
One of the guards suddenly felt his legs go weak and fell to the ground with a thud.
His face practically screamed "hopeless and hopeless."
The other person stood trembling with fear, head bowed, listening to the imposing young man's cold voice: "Just the two of you? Where are the others?"
"Yes, yes..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a series of hurried footsteps.
Ji Chengning looked in the direction of the sound.
A small squad of imperial guards rushed over, frantically buttoning their clothes as they ran.
Ji Chengnin's expression grew even colder.
Upon seeing that it was Young Master Ji, the squad leader's fierce expression vanished instantly, and he greeted him with a fawning smile, "Lord Ji, what brings you here!"
Ji Chengnin brandished his token, "When Lü Wei handles a case, no one else is allowed to interfere!"
A flash of cold light passed before my eyes.
The squad leader instinctively shrank back.
For a fleeting moment, he even mistook the black iron token for a blade.
Because of Ji Chengnin's expression, it seemed like he really wanted to kill them all.
Qing Lüwei was one of only two guards directly under the emperor in the Imperial Guard, holding a superior position. Moreover, with such a fierce-looking young marquis present, he dared not obstruct him and could only nod and agree, signaling his subordinates to quickly retreat.
The vice-captain looked displeased.
Seeing that Ji Chengnin was just a young man, still quite immature, he interjected indignantly, "Sir, even if you want to investigate a case, this is still an order from the Imperial Guards, and we need to be qualified..."
Before he could finish speaking, the captain slapped him on the head and pulled him behind him.
"The newcomer is ignorant, please forgive him, young marquis," the captain of the Imperial Guard said with a bow and a smile. "Please let us in, young marquis, so as not to delay your important business."
Upon hearing this, the guards behind Ji Chengnin couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
They knew very well that if this matter escalated and the Emperor blamed them, their presence outside on guard duty would be seen as complicity, while going inside would only be seen as coercion.
To completely absolve oneself of any responsibility.
Ji Chengnin had no time to pay attention to that. He selected more than twenty people to guard the main gate and the side gate, and ordered in a deep voice: "No one is allowed to enter or leave under any circumstances. If this is done today, I will report your merits to the Emperor. Do not hold back. If anything goes wrong, I will take full responsibility!"
The guard who was called out answered loudly, "Yes!"
Compared to Qing Lüwei's high morale, the imperial guards entering the examination hall were like quails beaten by a heavy rain, timid and hesitant, hanging their heads as they went in one by one.
Seeing Ji Chengnin lead his men away, the squad leader couldn't help but kick the squad leader who had just spoken. "Didn't you see how confident and fearless Ji Chengnin looked? There must be orders from above. How dare you go with him!" He scolded him with exasperation, "Idiot."
For low-ranking officials like them, they don't seek merit, they only seek to avoid mistakes, so why should they get involved in the messy affairs of those above them!
The candidates faintly heard noises outside, but before they could react, a large, dark mass of people surged towards them like a tidal wave.
The candidates were stunned. They put down their pens and craned their necks to look outside.
However, some people were startled and frantically tried to hide something in their sleeves.
"My lord, my lord, look!"
The chief examiner, Meng Min, was still fast asleep, his eyes closed, when he was suddenly woken up. He looked displeased and asked gruffly, "What's wrong?"
An invigilator pointed tremblingly downstairs.
Meng Min followed his hand and looked down. When he saw the scene downstairs, he shuddered and the effects of the alcohol vanished instantly.
"Quickly, quickly help me change my clothes!"
The examiners hurriedly buttoned up Meng Min's clothes, straightened his official robes, and made him kneel.
Some attentive people even took out fans to fan Meng Min's face, as if trying their best to fan away the smell of alcohol.
The aroma of the wine was so strong that it lingered on my clothes.
The so-called "overlooking tower" is, as the name suggests, a high-rise building that monitors the entire examination hall. The chief examiner and the inspectors would overlook the examination hall from this place, with a clear view of everything. Young Master Ji's voice could also be heard by them without any attempt to conceal it.
The officials' faces were ashen, and they looked at Meng Min for help.
Meng Min's face was even paler than theirs.
He knew very well that as the chief examiner, if anything was discovered today, His Majesty would not let him off the hook.
"Gentlemen, divide into groups of ten and search the examinees!"
"No matter where it is—the inkstone, the candlestick, the pen holder, or even the examinee's body—no part should be overlooked!"
Ji Chengning had never participated in the imperial examinations, and he only learned these methods of detecting cheating from Mr. Li yesterday. Li Wensheng looked at him as if asking, "What kind of trouble are you up to now?"
"Li Bi, go and pass on the order to the men guarding outside: search the restaurants, teahouses, and inns outside the examination hall as well, and arrest anyone who seems suspicious!"
"yes!"
Meng Min dressed quickly and rushed downstairs.
He was running too fast, lost his footing, and tripped on the stairs.
The official beside him reacted quickly and helped him up, saying, "My mentor."
Meng Min quickly shook off his hand.
Ji Chengnin coldly raised his eyes.
Downstairs, Meng Min's heavy body was struggling to move towards him.
Upstairs, several maids fanning themselves were cautiously looking down. They all had fair skin and peach-blossom cheeks and were dressed in green gauze. Even from a distance, it was clear that they were all beauties.
Ji Chengnin's hand rested on his sword, and he unconsciously tightened his grip.
Tighten it again.
Although the examination hall was where the imperial examinations were held, the conditions were extremely poor.
The examination hall had a spacious exterior, but inside it was divided into thousands of small cubicles, each about ten feet wide, by bricks and stones. Three sides were walls, and one side was open to the sky. The tables used to answer the questions were just thin wooden boards, and the seats were also made of wood.
After finishing the exam, the examinees would pull out the wooden planks that served as their tables and use them as a makeshift bed.
The cubicle was cold in spring and hot in summer. At this moment, several students were dressed in thin clothes, and their hands were trembling from the cold as they held their pens.
But Meng Min and Ji Chengning thought without any expression, while making merry in the examination hall.
The difference between the Nine Heavens and Purgatory makes people yearn for official positions even more.
Therefore, the imperial court turned a blind eye to officials drinking tea and chatting on the viewing tower.
"You dare to trespass on the important grounds of the Imperial Examination Hall, Ji Chengnin! What do you think of the law of the land!"
A strong aroma of alcohol wafted over.
Ji Chengnin smiled slightly.
His eyes held no smile, but rather a murderous intent.
Ji Chengning said slowly, "It is precisely because I value the law that I am searching the examination hall."
Meng Min was in a state of utter confusion. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Qing Lüwei was already searching and rummaging through the area, which made him even more anxious, his eyes turning red.
He suddenly spread his arms wide, blocking Ji Chengning's horse, "As long as I live, I will never let you pass!"
"Whoosh—"
The cold blade was drawn from its sheath.
Meng Min's face was deathly pale, and he instinctively stepped back.
Then he paused, suddenly realizing that Ji Chengnin would never kill him, at least not in public.
He then pushed aside the guards, met the sword with righteous indignation, raised his chin and said: "Kill me! We are the ones who eat the king's food, and we should share the king's worries. How can we let you run rampant!"
Ji Chengning was so angry that he laughed.
As the chief examiner, how can someone who, while inspecting the examinations, is drinking and making merry on the observation tower, be worthy of sharing the emperor's worries?
A flash of sword light, and Meng Min felt a chill in his lower abdomen.
He suddenly felt as if his soul had left his body, and opened his mouth in vain, but no sound came out.
"Swish."
The sash fell to the ground.
Meng Min seemed to wake from a dream, and stiffly lowered his head.
Two thick, hairy legs were visible, along with their clothes and tattered belt, all lying on the ground.
"Ahhh!"
"Pfft." A student burst out laughing.
Ji Chengnin casually pushed Meng Min in front of the nearest Imperial Guard with the hilt of his sword, saying, "Keep an eye on him."
He strode away.
Inside the examination hall, some candidates were panicked, some were bewildered, some were pale, and many others were clenching their teeth but still trembling with fear.
However, what one sees is a glimmer of light in the eyes of some students.
They had heard rumors of the leaked exam questions long ago, and even surrounded the government office with Zhang Yuhuai. However, Zhang Yuhuai's fate was unknown, and the cheating seemed to have disappeared without a trace.
No results found.
They would also take the exam with this set of questions, which seemed to have been thoroughly studied by the sons of high-ranking officials and nobles.
Filled with resentment, yet utterly helpless.
Seeing Ji Chengnin was like seeing the dawn.
The imperial court was indeed just—no, at least the imperial court had just officials.
The candidate, dressed fashionably and clearly from a wealthy family, raised his chin and said, "Reporting to Your Honor, soldiers already searched us before we entered. If Your Honor searches us again, wouldn't that delay our exam time?"
Ji Chengnin narrowed his eyes. "You've already searched it?"
The student suddenly sensed a sense of danger, but still answered with a stiff upper lip, "Yes."
Ji Chengnin casually shook the exquisite brocade pouch in his hand.
"Ding-dong—"
The silver lining inside made a very pleasant sound when it clattered.
The bag containing the silver coins was just torn from the waist of the Imperial Guard captain by Ji Chengning. It was not only exquisitely embroidered, but also carried a rich fragrance, clearly having been scented by an incense burner.
Let alone ordinary imperial guards, even low-paid officials in the capital couldn't afford such things.
The student understood Ji Chengnin's meaning perfectly well, and quickly lowered his head, not daring to utter another word.
This team of imperial guards was personally selected by Ji Chengning. They acted swiftly and decisively, yet were also meticulous. Moreover, with an opportunity to make a contribution right in front of them, their efficiency was exceptionally high.
In no time, dozens of people had been pulled out, all standing trembling at the base of the wall.
"save……!"
Ji Chengning turned around abruptly and saw a student whose face was flushed purple, probably because he had swallowed something and was choking, his eyes turning white.
Ji Chengning rushed forward and punched him in the stomach.
With a loud "whoosh," the latter spat out a golden ball, drooling all over the table.
It looks just like a big jerk carrying a gold ingot.
The student raised his pale face, took a long breath with lingering fear, and said, "Thank you so much."
Ji Chengning smiled slightly and pinched the gold ball through the handkerchief. "No need to be polite."
He grabbed the student and threw him into the crowd of cheaters.
The sheer variety of cheating methods was an eye-opener for the guards.
Some had written tiny characters in the inner lining of their clothes, while others had writing on both arms and legs, the characters blurred by cold sweat.
Ji Chengning saw the grandson of the Prince of Ping.
That so-called honest man who only knows how to study.
At that moment, the honest young man was quietly folding a paper turtle into a tortoise shape, while a boy was kneeling beside him.
Ji Chengnin asked coldly, "Who are you?"
The boy answered in a trembling voice, "This servant...this servant is here to serve the young master."
The young man seemed unaware of what he had just said. He looked up and gave Ji Chengning a completely heartless smile.
It wasn't provocation, it was just plain stupid.
They have dared to be so audacious!
Ji Chengnin's hand gripping the knife turned pale.
However, an idea struck him like a thunderbolt: if the emperor had always valued the imperial examinations and had strictly investigated each one, never letting any cheating go unpunished, how could such an absurd scene have occurred?
...
"Tick-tock".
It dripped stickily onto the ground.
A faint, incongruous scent of incense wafted into my nostrils.
Lin Zimou trembled violently.
He struggled to open his swollen eyes, which had been bruised and swollen.
A tall, slender figure was reflected in the pupil.
This person had not a single drop of blood on him, yet his purity was completely out of place in the dungeon, making him extremely eerie.
This would have terrified Lin Zimou, even more so than anyone who had just committed torture.
The man said gently, "Don't be afraid, I just want to ask you a few questions."
Lin Zimou nodded vigorously, knowing the consequences of being stubborn; his broken front tooth was throbbing with excruciating pain.
While he was being tied up, he arrogantly shouted, "You dare to tie me up? Do you even know who my brother-in-law is?!"
At this moment, he only felt regret.
The man handed him something and calmly asked, "Is this paper printed by your family?"
Upon seeing the contents, Lin Zimou's pupils suddenly contracted.
My brother-in-law's words still echoed in my ears, "This is of utmost importance, you absolutely, absolutely must not let this information leak out!"
But Lin Zimou's lips trembled. It hurts too much, brother-in-law!
Why wasn't he told before he was asked to do something that a group of elusive people would kidnap him from the inner quarters, and why was he treated like this?
Other people's sisters marry into wealthy families and bring their families to great heights, so why is he so unlucky?
A flash of resentment crossed his mind, and when Lin Zimou heard the other party give a soft "hmm," cold sweat immediately broke out.
He hurriedly said, "I am the younger brother of Chief Eunuch Huang of the Second Prince's residence. Four days ago, my brother-in-law came to me mysteriously and said that he had found me a good job. I was just following orders. My lord, my family has been merchants for generations. If I had known that this matter was of great importance, I would never have dared to do it recklessly. I beg you, my lord, to spare my lowly life since this is my first offense!"
...
A total of 249 people were arrested inside the examination hall.
Since they were shameless, Ji Chengning wouldn't bother to give them any face, so he tied their hands and took them all back to the government office.
Meng Min finally finished tying his pants and jumped out, "Ji Chengnin, you are so arrogant, I will definitely report you to the Emperor!"
Ji Chengning chuckled.
Instead of hiding properly, Meng Min dared to jump out and make a scene.
Raising his whip, he pointed it at Meng Min's nose and said, "As the chief examiner, you failed to discover so many students cheating, and you are a mere liar. That's your first crime. You drank and made merry on the platform, neglecting your duties. That's your second crime. You obstructed official business. That's your third crime." With each word he spoke, Meng Min's face turned ashen. After he finished speaking, Ji Chengning revealed a sinister smile: "Guards, take Lord Meng away!"
The search was completed as the sun set.
The setting sun, like blood, drenched Ji Chengnin, making him appear almost unrealistically beautiful.
The students stared at him blankly, as if they were still in a dream.
Ji Chengning dismounted and bowed to the crowd, saying, "I acted rashly and have startled you all."
Some students recognized Ji Chengnin, and when they saw the rumored arrogant and domineering young marquis apologizing to them so politely, their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"This search was conducted out of necessity because of corrupt officials within the country," Ji Chengnin said in a deep, gentle voice, his attitude so warm and approachable that it inspired trust in everyone. "You are all pillars of the nation in the future. Please rest assured that His Majesty cares about the imperial examinations and about you all." There was a brief pause in Ji Chengnin's voice, but only for a moment. "He will not allow corruption to run rampant. He will surely deliver an explanation in the future. Please wait patiently."
A moment of silence.
Then, someone stood up first, saying, "We believe that Your Excellency will give us justice!"
Immediately, a thunderous response rang out, "We believe in you, sir!"
-----------------------
Author's note: Failed to time the timing correctly.
This chapter was so difficult to write. I wrote 4,500 words, then cut it down to 3,400. I'll revise it again. Goodnight, my wife.
...
Another 1100 has been added; wives who have already purchased can simply refresh the page.
Kiss.
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