"It will probably cost two hundred thousand taels."
After Song Ruier finished speaking, she saw Zhu Qingyue choke for a moment.
In the capital, bribes typically cost tens of thousands of taels of silver, with one hundred thousand or even two hundred thousand taels being considered a large sum. This would require the entire family to discuss the matter, making it impossible to conceal his intention to cheat.
Zhu Qingyue couldn't help but cast a suspicious glance at Song Ruier. How much of this money did Song Ruier intend to swallow?
Song Ruier, however, seemed indifferent: "Brother Zhu, you think I'm deliberately trying to trick you? It's just that we have some friendship, and I thought it was really difficult for you to pass the imperial examination, so I wanted to help you. You know it's not easy to do things in the examination hall. There are guards outside and invigilators inside, so many eyes are watching."
He lowered his voice: "I can imitate Brother Zhu's handwriting. I can provide different solutions to a question and guarantee a high score. The examiner will send Brother Zhu's paper to my seat so I can answer it for you. Wouldn't that be safe?"
A glint flashed in Zhu Qingyue's eyes. With Song Ruier personally handling the writing, it was indeed much more reliable.
"Alright, I'll think of a way to get these 200,000 taels."
"It would be best to give it to me within half a month. It's already winter, and there are only seven or eight months left until next year's provincial examination. The sooner you prepare, the better," Song Ruier reminded her.
He knew that no matter how stupid Zhu Qingyue was, he wasn't stupid enough to ask his family for 200,000 taels of silver; he would definitely think of other ways.
When Zhu Qingyue returned home, he counted his silver and found he had 50,000 taels. He then pleaded with his wife to give him 30,000 taels as dowry. He then sold several shops under his name and pawned some rare items, finally raising 200,000 taels.
He handed the box containing two hundred thousand taels of silver notes to Song Ruier.
"My wife still won't talk to me, and my family doesn't even know I sold those shops. Brother Song, you must help me pass the exam, or I won't be able to face my family."
"Don't worry." Song Ruier counted the silver notes, thinking to herself that they were indeed rich, and they could easily raise such a large sum of money.
“Brother Zhu, I have learned a secret to solving the problem. We will meet by Crescent Lake in the western suburbs in three days. Do not tell anyone that I invited you, and do not tell anyone your whereabouts. We must keep everything we do secret until you pass the imperial examination.”
"Okay, I will definitely keep my promise."
A few days later, shocking news spread throughout the capital: Zhu Qingyue, the only son of the Zhu family, for some unknown reason, went to Crescent Lake in the western suburbs as it was getting dark and accidentally fell into the water. Because his location was covered by bushes and in a bay of the lake, no one noticed him. He floated to the surface two days later after soaking in a floatation bag, and after drifting a distance, he was finally seen.
Although he was in a floatation tank, one could still see the look of terror and disbelief on Zhu Qingyue's face, but the reason for this remained unknown with Zhu Qingyue's death.
As Song Ruier listened to the rumors outside, a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.
Fool, how could he leave any evidence of something like this?
With 200,000 taels of silver in his pocket, he took a carriage and went to that mountain.
The box was placed in front of the monk, who counted it and showed a look of appreciation on his face.
"You do have some ability."
Inside the box was a slip of paper containing the birth date and time obtained from Qiao Lian'er.
The monk picked it up and looked at it, then picked up a scarecrow from the side, pasted the birth date and time on the top of the scarecrow's head, then opened a hole in the Gu box and brought it close to the scarecrow's heart.
A dark, thick centipede, larger than a thumb, crawled into my heart, its body faintly emanating a layer of black mist.
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