Qi Jia.
Qi Huai took the exam paper from Jiang San's hand. After some hesitation, he finally went to his father's study.
As the Minister of Rites, Qi Zhen had become accustomed to getting up early and handling affairs in his study on days when he did not attend court.
"Father," Qi Huai knocked on the door, "I have something to ask of you."
"Come in," came the voice from inside.
Pushing open the door, one sees the flickering candlelight illuminating stacks of papers filled with arrangements for royal ceremonies over the next six months. The ink on the latest sheet is still wet, a testament to Qi Gongzheng's diligence.
The Qi family is not a prominent family; their current status is entirely due to their position as Minister of Rites.
Qi Huai felt a pang of unease and spoke softly, "Father, I would like to ask you for a favor. Could you please go to the examination hall and find a copy of the examination paper?"
Qi Zhen turned around abruptly, staring at his son who both made him proud and gave him a headache. "What do you want to do? How can you just touch the examination papers in the Imperial Examination Hall? Your father is the Minister of Rites, not the emperor."
"Father!" Qi Huai said anxiously, "It's not that I touched it casually, but... it's that I encountered a situation where the paper needed to be changed."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Zhenxiang stood up, his eyes wide open, as if he couldn't believe it.
But then, remembering something, he quickly narrowed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
It was cheating in the imperial examinations.
It has always existed, and it has never ceased.
On the contrary, it was the person who could get Qi Huai to help that made Qi Zhenxiang even more curious.
"Was it Xu Mo?" he asked in a deep voice. "His exam paper was switched?"
“Yes…” Qi Huai nodded. “Brother Xu is much more outstanding than me, but he failed the exam. We were all a little suspicious. When we checked the annotations, we found that it was not his exam paper at all.”
Qi Zhenxiang is not surprising at all.
Excellent students are more likely to be noticed, while those at the bottom of the class are ignored.
"Father, this is the examination paper he wrote out overnight. I am not qualified to enter the examination paper pavilion of the examination hall, so I can only ask you to find out who took Brother Xu's examination paper." Qi Huai said earnestly.
Qi Zhenxiang remained silent.
Last time, the ghostwriters were also full of ambition, but in the end, they were still taught a lesson by reality. Some powerful figures are simply beyond the reach of ordinary people, and some prestigious families are not to be trifled with by ordinary people. These kids are still too naive.
Yet, ironically, he was also proud to have such a son.
These are upright and outstanding young men, born with a clear conscience and a bright spirit. Although they are not strong, they dare to think and act, and are full of drive.
If only I didn't always get involved in such big things.
The Minister of Rites sighed, "Qi Huai, this matter is far more serious than the last time the ghostwriter was involved. If I get involved, I might even lose my position."
Qi Huai was stunned.
"So, are you still determined to help him?" Qi Zhen asked.
Qi Huai remained silent for a moment. Of course, he didn't want to lose his status as the son of a high-ranking official, but he also didn't want to watch Xu Mo suffer a loss. As a friend, he should lend a hand both morally and logically.
"Father," the boy knelt down, "your unfilial son."
This means they're determined to continue helping Xu Mo.
Qi Zhenxiang stroked his beard, but before he could say anything, the study door was suddenly forced open.
A girl in a long black dress rushed in and knelt before him, pleading, "Father, please help him, please!"
It seems they've been listening outside for quite some time.
Qi Zhendong shook his head with his hands behind his back, as if laughing at himself for having raised such good children, or as if he was helpless. "You guys, Xu Mo is someone that Lao Dou has his eye on. The requirement should be that he begs Lao Dou first, and then Lao Dou begs me. I can at least do a favor for the Dou family. But you guys are different. You begged me first. You're really... stupid."
After saying this, he blew out the oil lamp and staggered out of the study.
"Even if I don't get to wait for Old Dou to come and beg me, I still have to accept the favor from the Dou family. I can't run away, I absolutely can't run away."
Qi Huai and his sister Qi Yue exchanged a bright and joyful glance.
But when his gaze returned to the desk and he saw the stack of etiquette arrangement sheets, he froze in place.
That day.
The Minister of Rites went to the Imperial Examination Hall and, using his authority, searched through the examination papers of the current candidates. After a short while, he left in haste.
The people at the examination hall were puzzled, as were the Qi siblings.
The examination papers were generally lengthy and complex; one could only read the beginning in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, making it impossible to find Xu Mo's examination paper.
Unless, of course, that was the first book he picked up.
With mixed feelings, Qi Huai arrived at the study again and, unsurprisingly, found the Minister of Rites lost in thought.
"Father..." he pursed his lips, "Have you found it?"
Qi Zhenxiang nodded slowly.
"Who is that? Whose name is on the exam paper?" Qi Huai's surprise turned to joy. "I didn't expect to find it so quickly. Father, did you check if it's the same as the essay that Brother Xu wrote from memory?"
“Exactly the same.” Qi Zhenzheng frowned. “But that one is the examination paper for the top scholar.”
Today, the top scholar gathers here, and experts from all over the world gather here.
It really is him.
The Qi family father and son stood there, stunned, their faces full of confusion.
How could someone cheat and implicate the top scholar?
But considering the Fang family's status, it doesn't seem so surprising.
“Ah Huai, I won’t stop you from being upright, but we can’t afford to offend the Fang family. As an old and established family in Fengjing, with countless military achievements to back them up, the Fang family’s prosperity is beyond your imagination.”
"If you also care about your friend, you must persuade him to give up. He can take the exam again in three years, and there will still be a chance."
"But if we offend the Fang family, there will be no future."
Qi Zhentong's earnest advice still echoed in his ears. Qi Huai gripped the Xuan paper tightly, stood at the entrance of the second courtyard, and was torn between his inner thoughts and his own.
When Jiang Sheng came to open the door, she was pleasantly surprised to see him and said, "Big brother, Brother Qi Huai is here. There must be good news."
The chubby little girl skipped into the house, her steps radiating joy.
Qi Huai let out a breath and walked with difficulty into the courtyard, standing in front of Xu Mo.
"Brother Xu..." he said with difficulty, "This time, it might be more difficult."
How difficult is it?
Could it be that someone as ambitious as him has backed down and is thinking of settling things peacefully?
Does he not dare to drag his family into this mess?
Does he feel guilty towards Xu Mo?
"Brother Xu, it's Qi Huai's fault. Qi Huai is timid." He shoved the test paper at him haphazardly and turned away hastily. "It's Qi Huai who wronged you."
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