Chapter 9 The Incident
In ancient times, the imperial examination consisted of three sessions, each lasting three days and two nights, totaling nine days and six nights for all three sessions.
Zhuang Dongqing doubted whether she could persevere in such a harsh examination environment.
Unfortunately, there was no other choice.
When the time came, he packed his writing materials and provisions, and after being thoroughly searched, he entered the cell he had been assigned to.
It wasn't next to a latrine, and the space wasn't particularly cramped; it was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
After sitting on the wooden board for a while, Zhuang Dongqing laid out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and slowly ground the ink. Seeing that everything was ready, he finally came to his senses and resigned himself to answering the questions.
*
"Master, everything is here."
Xu Si placed all the statements in front of Cen Yan.
"Where's Hao San?" Cen Yan asked as he flipped through the pages.
Xu Si: "We are still interrogating the servants and verifying the details."
Cen Yan nodded.
Later that evening, Hao San and Master Zhao came to report back. The details matched up, and Master Zhao also detected the poison that the woman had taken.
Cen Yan brought only skilled people, and they took over the case completely as soon as they arrived.
The case was initially investigated by the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, but no results were found after half a month. Then, a murder occurred, and the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review was dispatched. Another half month passed, and there was still no conclusion.
The group from the Prince's Mansion had only been there for five days, and after careful analysis, the case was basically clear.
"No wonder every one they send is mute; they simply don't dare to investigate."
On the surface, it appears to be a prince of the imperial family harassing a beautiful woman, but upon closer investigation, it turns out to be a case of collusion between the two parties, involving the illegal lending of money at exorbitant interest rates, and the conflict arising from an unequal distribution of profits.
The imperial court has always strictly prohibited usury. On one side are members of the imperial family, and on the other are aristocratic families. If we really dig deeper, we'll find a whole host of other people involved.
Cen Yan scoffed: "I really have to do it."
The powerful families in the capital are numerous and interconnected, with everyone related to each other in some roundabout way. This business is extensive, highly profitable, and conducted quietly without causing a stir. It's impossible for a single aristocratic family to conceal it or possibly manage it all.
If it weren't for an outsider like him, no one would be involved at all. Anyone who had the money would have thought it over carefully.
"Alright, summon the Director of Justice and the Chief Justice to write a memorial and report to His Majesty."
This matter is of great importance; only the emperor can decide how to investigate it and how deeply.
In less than an hour, the memorial was written, sealed, and handed over to Xu Si, who then returned to the capital that very night to report it.
Thus, Cen Yan finally had a brief moment of leisure.
During dinner, Cen Yan thought of something and asked Liu Qi, "Has the imperial examination started yet?"
Liu Qi replied respectfully, "It started yesterday."
"Yesterday..."
Liu Qi lowered his voice, "The eldest and second young masters of the Zhuang family have already registered and are going to take the exam."
Cen Yan's expression was unreadable; he neither refuted Liu Qi nor spoke further.
After finishing their meal and putting down their chopsticks, they went out to digest their food. On their way, they saw many carriages passing by. Liu Qi thought, "They must be carriages from wealthy local families, returning with students who had gone to take the imperial examinations."
Cen Yan nodded.
Suddenly, the question arose: "Shouldn't we go to Daci Temple?"
Since the old prince passed away, Cen Yan has kept an ever-burning lamp for him at the Daci Temple outside the capital, visiting it every two or three months to pay his respects and add oil by hand.
"It has been two months and six days since my last visit."
"Then I'll go take a look when I get back to Beijing."
Liu Qi noted it down.
*
The first three days in the examination hall were bearable, but after the second exam, Zhuang Dongqing came out looking rather pale.
After a short night's rest, Zhuang Dongqing took the final exam. Halfway through, she felt extremely unwell; she couldn't explain it, but she felt uncomfortable all over her body.
Fortunately, knowing that the original owner of this body was not in good health, the clothes I brought were all thick and warm. Although they were uncomfortable, they were not cold.
When the exam was over and the spring imperial examinations were finished, Zhuang Dongqing felt like he was floating when he left the examination hall.
I haven't showered for nine days and six nights, and I'm about to go bad.
The ladies and mothers escorted the eldest son away.
Zhuang Dongqing was helped back to the courtyard by Liu Fu. He lay on the footstool for a while (disliking that he was dirty and refusing to get into bed), and then told Liu Fu to prepare water so he could take a bath.
In Liu Fu's eyes, ever since Zhuang Dongqing had a high fever, he had been taking more frequent baths and was particularly intolerant of uncleanliness. He had reminded him before the exam that after the second exam, Zhuang Dongqing really wanted to take a bath, but unfortunately, he didn't even have enough time to rest. In the end, Liu Fu persuaded him to get a good night's sleep.
Once all the exams are over, I can't stand it for even a second longer.
The monthly allowance from the landlord wasn't much, and the food wasn't particularly good, but they never skimped on the hot water.
Soon, Liu Fu made arrangements and named Zhuang Dongqing.
Zhuang Dongqing was in a daze when she took off her clothes.
Liu Fu: "Young Master, why don't you eat something before you wash up?"
The food was already prepared by Liufu and is being kept warm.
Thanks to the young master, the dishes are plentiful.
Zhuang Dongqing refused without even thinking.
He doesn't want to do anything if he doesn't take a bath.
Finally, with Liu Fu's help, Zhuang Dongqing was completely immersed in the hot water and let out a long sigh of relief.
That feels good.
In my heart.
With my eyes half-closed, I carefully rubbed my entire body, and I felt comfortable.
"Young master, please slow down."
"This way."
Liu Fu guided Zhuang Dongqing to sit down, and in the rising steam, he handed Zhuang Dongqing a towel to wipe her body.
"I'll hang your clothes here. Young master, get dressed and come out for dinner."
“Okay,” Zhuang Dongqing replied.
After washing up, Zhuang Dongqing felt relaxed but also more tired. The room wasn't cold, and she moved slowly.
So by the time I dried myself and got dressed, most of the steam in the bathroom had dissipated.
With clear vision, Zhuang Dongqing was about to tie the belt of her undergarment when she froze.
After a few moments of stunned silence, Zhuang Dongqing opened his mouth but remained speechless.
He slowly stretched out his hand, his fingertips trembling slightly.
I touched my skin and rubbed it hard with my fingertip, but it didn't come off.
A winding red line stretched across his lower abdomen.
Bright and dazzling.
"The fertile men of this tribe all have one thing in common: a red line appears below their navel after they become pregnant..."
The words of that renowned doctor still echoed in my ears, resounding like a wake-up call.
Zhuang Dongqing swallowed, feeling his mouth dry.
It wasn't that we weren't prepared.
It wasn't unexpected.
But thinking about it in your head is different from actually seeing it with your own eyes and confirming it.
Very different.
"Young Master, what's wrong? Is it not ready yet?"
Luk Fook is calling out.
Zhuang Dongqing then came to her senses, hurriedly pulled her clothes together, put them on, and replied, "Coming."
You still need to eat.
I'm so hungry.
Moreover, one bad thing after another has happened recently, and to be honest, Zhuang Dongqing has been so shocked that she has become somewhat numb.
Picking up her chopsticks, Zhuang Dongqing's first thought was that things like the red thread, the child, and the future didn't matter.
After eating dry rations for nine days, seeing hot food again, Zhuang Dongqing had only one simple thought in his mind—
It smells so good.
He ate two large bowls.
*
After dinner, Liu Fu persuaded me to go to bed, and I actually fell asleep in a daze.
Perhaps I was too tired.
The ancient imperial examinations were truly inhuman.
I slept soundly until dawn, getting a good night's rest.
The next day, Liu Fu didn't wake him. When Zhuang Dongqing opened his eyes, he could hear Liu Fu sweeping outside.
After blinking and staring at the ceiling, Zhuang Dongqing got up once her mind was clear.
After getting dressed, washing up, and having breakfast, Zhuang Dongqing returned to the inner room.
After sitting there for a while, Zhuang Dongqing took out the packet of abortion pills.
I poured a bowl of warm water, sprinkled the medicine powder in, stirred it well, didn't drink it, and casually poured it into a pot of flower soil outside.
That day, her mind was in a mess. It wasn't until she got the medicine and came back that Zhuang Dongqing was able to think things through.
For example, Shi Zi, who had a bright future, didn't he ever think about aborting the child?
For example, even if the birthing conditions are poor and surgery is required to remove the fetus, under what circumstances would not only the mother's body be ruined after childbirth, but the child also need to take medication for many years?
Babies born during difficult labor are prone to oxygen deprivation, and the damage is mostly to the brain. Zhuang Dongqing hadn't heard much about the damage to the body.
Combining this with the original text, the situation becomes very clear.
Most likely, the original body attacked it but failed to destroy it.
The drugs ruined the original body and the child's body.
After all, abortion pills these days aren't very precise; they're often mixed with arsenic and cinnabar and taken together.
Looking at the damp flower soil, Zhuang Dongqing exhaled a breath of stale air.
He instructed Liu Fu to throw away the bowl, lit a candle, and burned the paper containing the medicine powder. Zhuang Dongqing then washed his hands.
I went back inside and took off my clothes to take a look. The red thread was still there, and it even matched the direction of human muscles; it was horizontal.
My hand was still trembling a little in the air, but it eventually pressed down on my lower abdomen. The feeling was very complicated.
I was a little scared, but mostly I felt lost and helpless.
Zhuang Dongqing's parents died early, and he was raised by his aunt. After he was admitted to university, his aunt was diagnosed with a malignant tumor. He had to take a six-month leave of absence to see his aunt pass away. After that, Zhuang Dongqing had no relatives left in the world. In addition, he was gay, and he thought that what awaited him in the future was only one relationship after another...
After all, that's how it is in the entertainment industry; it's easy to fall in love, but difficult to maintain a lasting relationship.
He never thought he would have children.
Is he related by blood?
...
When Liu Fu returned with the bowl, Zhuang Dongqing had already tidied up and was sitting in the courtyard drinking water.
After watching Liu Fu wash his hands, Zhuang Dongqing poured him a cup of tea and said, "Starting tomorrow, let's go out for a walk."
Liu Fu misunderstood, saying, "I've been preparing for exams for a while now, which has been quite boring."
Zhuang Dongqing didn't correct her, and asked again, "How much of your monthly savings are left?"
"Hmm, let me see..." He took out the bag and counted the money. It wasn't much. He had spent some more money on the doctor's visit, so he only had a little over fifty taels left.
The original owner only earned two taels of silver a month, and that's how she saved up for many years.
Zhuang Dongqing did some mental calculations and figured that, excluding what he needed to leave for Liufu, he shouldn't have to worry about food and drink for the time being.
Having made up his mind, Zhuang Dongqing took Liufu out that afternoon.
He spent several days traveling, going out in the morning and returning to the mansion before sunset. In addition, the original owner of this body had done well in his studies. Even if the madam wanted to say something, firstly, Zhuang Dongqing did not break the rules, and secondly, the imperial list of successful candidates in the imperial examination had not yet been released, so she was also a little afraid that his ranking was too high and just pretended not to know.
Needless to say, Master Zhuang was too busy with official duties related to grading papers to notice Zhuang Dongqing at all.
At first, Liu Fu said a few words, but after all, he was younger than Zhuang Dongqing, and within two days he was having too much fun.
Oh right, Zhuang Dongqing also ran into Li Yang on the street.
We've all eaten together twice.
Honestly, if you didn't know Li Yang was the male lead, with his cheerful and enthusiastic personality, it would be hard for anyone not to like him as a friend.
Zhuang Dongqing even sometimes felt that if the other person were born in modern times, they would probably be very attractive to men.
It's hard to say whether he's a dream guy or not, but there must be quite a few people who like this type.
Li Yang also asked Zhuang Dongqing about his confidence in the imperial examination.
After answering, Zhuang Dongqing belatedly realized something else.
The original owner was able to become Li Yang's retainer because he was shrewd and cunning.
If it were him...
Even if it follows the original plot, the original book doesn't cover everything perfectly. Minor differences in details might create a butterfly effect, causing the opponent to adjust their strategies...
He is not the one Li Yang needs right now.
When she finally understood, Zhuang Dongqing choked up for a moment, but as the saying goes, "a lice infestation doesn't itch," and she quickly let it go, never worrying about it again.
After playing for eight days, Zhuang Dongqing was a little too tired to walk anymore.
On the tenth day, he got up, yawning, and was about to ask Liufu if he could rest at the mansion today when he lifted the bed curtain and saw Liufu already standing by the bedside, waiting for him to wake up.
Zhuang Dongqing was still confused. "Why is your face all scrunched up?"
Liu Fu leaned closer and whispered, "Young Master, Master didn't come home last night."
"Oh? You stayed at the yamen to rest?"
Liu Fu shook his head. "He didn't actually come back the night before last. Madam thought he was busy and didn't take it seriously. He didn't come back last night either. This morning, I sent someone to the Ministry of Rites to inquire, but he still hasn't returned."
Zhuang Dongqing suddenly became sober.
Liu Fu didn't say much, only relaying, "The madam gave an order early this morning that no one in the mansion is allowed to enter or leave at will."
"……oh."
Zhuang Dongqing got up as usual and had breakfast when he heard that the madam had gone out in person.
I practiced calligraphy in the yard this morning to keep myself occupied.
After being away for several days, Zhuang Dongqing discovered that the potted plant he had used to take abortion medicine had completely withered and turned black.
Madam returned at noon, but Master Zhuang was still nowhere to be seen.
Upon hearing Liu Fu's report, Zhuang Dongqing looked up at the sky.
The scandal of cheating in the imperial examinations that led to the deposed crown prince likely began from this point.
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