Chapter 30: Imperial Examination Troubles The Emperor is furious. If he discovers cheating in the imperial examinations...
Whether it was the people standing at the door watching the excitement or the people in the court, no one expected such a thing to happen.
Qin Yuqing closed her eyes and said silently in her heart, "Don't worry. I, Qin Yuqing, swear that I can't return to the modern era. Your efforts will not be in vain. Imperial examination cheating will never happen again!"
The emperor had experienced many ups and downs after all. His brows were furrowed, and anger was burning in his eyes. He was about to speak when he heard the crowd not far away making a commotion again.
"Report! Another person died at the city gate!" A servant came crawling and rolling over, and the person following him was dragging a corpse.
"Another death, what's going on?"
"Don't you know? It's said that the victims of the imperial examination cheating came here to seek revenge."
"What a sin! Is this the fourth dead body?"
"Who knows? As long as the people killed are all bad guys, then I'm happy."
"In the final analysis, it's all because of the tacit approval of the higher-ups. Without the imperial examination cheating, this tragedy wouldn't have happened."
The voices of the people's discussions could no longer be suppressed, and the pressure on the emperor's body became lower and lower.
I've said it before, the real show has just begun. How can we make those people back down without taking drastic measures?
How could I make my cheap father have the heart to punish these people?
Qin Yuqing curled the corners of her lips slightly. According to the law, all the dead should have died. She and Lu Jingchuan were also acting in accordance with the law, so it was not illegal.
The Emperor looked at Qin Yuqing, who was sipping tea. Although he knew the Sixth Princess was no ordinary woman, he had never imagined she could be so cruel at such a young age. As expected of her child, if Qing'er were a boy, perhaps the kingdom could be handed over to her.
If the prince could be half as cruel as Qin Yuqing, he wouldn't be so depressed. But being cruel alone doesn't make one an emperor.
"Your Majesty, please take a look." Lu Jingchuan handed the emperor a piece of paper that he had just taken from the corpse. On it were written the names and hometowns of three students. "The deceased is Qi Zhushi, the head of the Ministry of War."
The emperor looked at the name on the note and immediately understood what it meant. It was another person who cheated in the imperial examination.
His fingers trembled slightly. He had always known about the phenomenon of cheating in the imperial examinations, but in order to check and balance the court, he could only turn a blind eye.
But that doesn't mean he condones cheating in the imperial examinations. He vowed to be a wise ruler, so how could he let the students of the world feel disheartened?
"Lu Jingchuan, Qin Yuqing." The emperor's aura was powerful and inviolable.
"I'm here." Lu Jingchuan knelt down.
"Your son is here." Qin Yuqing also knelt down.
The emperor's eyes were piercing, and the murderous aura filled them with chilling intent. He said in a cold voice, "If anyone is found to be suspected of cheating in the imperial examination, they should be executed. There is no need to inform me."
"This is the power I give you!"
The cup in the emperor's hand broke with a sound. If it weren't for the war in the north and the natural disasters in the south, he would have wanted to clean up these bastards long ago. Now is the best opportunity to reshuffle the court!
He was cursed by the ministers, but he absolutely could not let the people down!
For a while, the capital was in turmoil, and the time for the imperial examination was getting closer and closer, leaving Qin Yuqing with little time left.
In an official's residence, Qin Yuqing sat high in the main hall, holding a book in one hand and drinking tea in the other.
"Sixth Princess, please spare my life! I have never cheated in the imperial examinations. I hope you will understand!"
Qin Yuqing didn't look up, pointed at Lu Jingchuan sitting next to her, and then took a sip of tea.
The official understood immediately and cried out, "General Lu, please understand. My family is innocent and upright and has never done anything against the law!" The official knelt at Lu Jingchuan's feet and said in embarrassment.
Lu Jingchuan had a wooden face. He took out a scroll from his pocket and read out everything the official had done, down to the specific time and moment.
The official's face gradually turned pale, and he slumped to the ground, muttering repeatedly, "It's over, it's all over."
After Lu Jingchuan finished reading, Qin Yuqing put the tea in her hand aside, raised her head and said, "Do you have anything else to say?"
The official suddenly thought of something and came forward in a fawning manner. He knelt on the ground and took out a dozen silver bills from his pocket and handed them to Qin Yuqing, saying, "Sixth Princess, this is a small token of respect. There will be a larger sum in a few days."
"Oh? So clever?" Qin Yuqing reached out and took the banknotes, then counted them carefully and laughed. "Lu Jingchuan, did you see that? There are quite a lot."
The official saw Qin Yuqing smile, so he also smiled, thinking that the matter was over. "It's not much, not much, just a small token of my appreciation. I hope the Sixth Princess won't despise it."
Lu Jingchuan shook his head. The official didn't notice it, but he could see that Qin Yuqing was really angry.
"Lu Jingchuan, how long can the sentence be for bribery?" Qin Yuqing said with a smile, blowing on the silver bill in his hand.
"The minimum penalty is five years in prison, and the maximum penalty is death."
Hearing Lu Jingchuan's words, the smile on the official's face froze in place. He grabbed Qin Yuqing's clothes in fear and said, "Sixth Princess, I was wrong. I was temporarily bewildered. I hope Sixth Princess will show mercy."
"Show mercy? Have you ever thought about those people who were cheated in the imperial examinations?" Qin Yuqing said sarcastically.
"Sixth Princess, I really know I was wrong. I was just temporarily..." Before the official could finish his words, Lu Jingchuan took action with a cold face.
"Noisy." Qin Yuqing looked at the bloodstain on the corner of her clothes. She shook her head helplessly and said with a soft "tsk". "Next."
At the beginning, many officials, like this official, thought that they could bribe the princess, but no one expected that the princess was such a cruel and ruthless character.
The remaining officials huddled in their homes in fear, nervously staring at their doorsteps for fear of any knocks. Many of those who had already received the lists breathed a sigh of relief.
For a while, the capital was bathed in blood. At dusk, Lu Jingchuan and Qin Yuqing came out of an official's house with their clothes stained with blood. Qin Yuqing rubbed his stomach and said.
"I'm hungry."
"I'll treat you to a meal." Lu Jingchuan took Qin Yuqing to a small stall in front of the examination hall and sat down.
Since his body was covered in blood, Qin Yuqing thought for a moment and said to the boss, "Boss, we can just sit on the floor over there and eat. It won't dirty your shop."
Unexpectedly, the boss said to Qin Yuqing with unusual enthusiasm, "No, I'm so happy that the Sixth Princess and General Lu are here. How could I let two distinguished guests sit on the roadside?"
Qin Yuqing felt warm in her heart, and her expression softened considerably. She smiled and said, "Then let's sit outside. I smell good, and it would be nice to get some fresh air."
"Okay, please wait a moment, my two distinguished guests."
Qin Yuqing took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off her face, complaining in her tone: "Why are you so angry? My face is even dirty."
Lu Jingchuan pursed his lips, his demeanor continuing to plummet. He said, not knowing who he was arguing with, "He's holding you hostage."
"Even a dog will jump over a wall when cornered, let alone a human." Qin Yuqing said nonchalantly. She looked at the students huddled together sharing an oil lamp and said, "I can finally give them an explanation."
Lu Jingchuan nodded. He pulled out the roster, took out a pen, and drew a red mark on the last column. "What a shame, that's all there is."
"Don't worry, we'll find them sooner or later." Qin Yuqing thanked the store owner and took the wontons he brought her. He ate them in small bites and said, "It's just that so many people are missing at once, someone has to fill the gap."
"Don't worry, someone will fill it in a few days."
On the street, some students recognized Qin Yuqing and greeted her happily, with pure gratitude in their eyes. Everyone thanked Qin Yuqing and Lu Jingchuan from the bottom of their hearts.
"Sixth Princess, I would like to offer you a toast." A student walked over bravely. His clothes were all patched, but one could smell the fragrance of soapberries.
Qin Yuqing looked at the student in astonishment. She smiled and handed the blood-stained handkerchief to the student and said, "He and I are both covered in blood. Aren't you afraid of me?"
"Why should we be afraid?" The student was a little confused. He looked at Qin Yuqing and Lu Jingchuan with a burning gaze, his words full of admiration for them, "In the eyes of us students, you are great heroes!"
Lu Jingchuan pulled out a stool and motioned for the student to sit down. The student shook his head and continued, "Actually, we all know that going to Beijing to take the imperial examination is just a dream. If you can't become a student of some important figure or a son-in-law, then you won't have a chance to be on the gold list. But now it's different."
"You and this lord have used your reputations to buy a way out for us students and to secure a truly fair imperial examination. How could we be afraid of blood?"
As the student finished speaking, many other students echoed him.
"Yes! We are not afraid!"
"Thank you, Sixth Princess and General Lu!"
Some students who were more informed raised the books in their hands and said to Qin Yuqing with a smile.
"Sixth Princess, see you at the imperial examination hall!"
Qin Yuqing was stunned. The simplest and plainest blessings from the students were the best affirmation.
Suddenly she felt that the path she was taking was affirmed, and she was very happy, but she still had one thing unfinished.
The three women who died in the Dali Temple had no relatives at home, so there was no one to collect their bodies. Qin Yuqing didn't want to see their bodies exposed in the wilderness, so he took the initiative to take the responsibility of collecting the bodies.
It is a secluded place in the suburbs, facing north and south, with excellent feng shui.
Qin Yuqing poured a jar of wine on the ground. Lu Jingchuan stood behind her without saying a word and also poured a jar of wine on the ground.
"I did it." Qin Yuqing muttered to herself, but no one responded. "Your efforts have not been in vain. Although I can't guarantee future imperial examinations, I'm sure there will be no cheating in this year's exam."
The breeze blew through the branches, making a gentle sound, as if someone was responding to something.
Tears rolled down Qin Yuqing's eyes as she watched officials fall in front of her one after another. Qin Yuqing was confused and scared. She was born in a peaceful era and she didn't know whether what she did was right.
Is she too cruel, too ruthless, too inhuman?
But until just now, when she saw the satisfied smiles on the students' faces, she realized that if she wasn't ruthless enough, she wouldn't even be able to survive in this cannibalistic dynasty.
"Cry if you want to." Lu Jingchuan stood beside Qin Yuqing and handed her a handkerchief.
Raindrops suddenly fell from the sky. Qin Yuqing could no longer hold back. She slowly squatted down, and tears mixed with the rain fell.
"I did it."
“I didn’t disappoint their expectations.”
Lu Jingchuan half-knelt beside Qin Yuqing, and he restrained himself from patting Qin Yuqing's back.
"Yes, you did."
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