Chapter 139: Something Happened in the Exam Room!
The crowd scattered and fled, leaving only Zhou Mujiao and a few others standing there.
The leader, his face grim, sharply gestured to Zhou Mujiao: "Silence! Silence! No gatherings allowed here! Everyone disperse!"
Zhou Mujiao went up to him: "Sir, what happened?"
The leader glanced at her and saw that she was well-dressed, good-looking, and had several bodyguards around her. She had an imposing presence and was obviously not an ordinary person. She was probably some kind of official's daughter.
The leader said politely, "I can't tell you what happened yet, Miss. Please leave first. There will be a notice at the examination hall later."
Zhou Mujiao wanted to ask more, but the man had already turned and walked away, while another group of soldiers ran over from another street corner, all with serious expressions.
The examination hall was surrounded by soldiers, and no one could get close beyond ten zhang (approximately 33 meters).
Zhou Mujiao asked Uncle Zhao and his wife to take the children back to the inn first, while she and Jiang Wuyu stayed behind. Soon after, Headmaster Liang and Headmaster Wang arrived, followed by several other headmasters from the academy, all of whom had very unpleasant expressions.
"Headmaster Liang, has this ever happened at the Imperial Examination Hall before?" Zhou Mujiao asked.
Liang Shanzhang shook his head, then nodded: "This situation has never happened in Yuzhou, but our Great Liang Kingdom did experience a situation where the examination hall was besieged thirty years ago."
Lord Wang continued, "Thirty years ago, the Great Liang Kingdom experienced a cheating scandal in the imperial examinations. It was the only cheating scandal that had ever occurred in our Great Liang Kingdom since its founding. The chief examiner was cut in half at the waist on the spot, and all the other examiners were exiled or sent to the frontier."
After Lord Wang finished speaking, everyone in the room fell silent.
Although the Imperial Examination Hall did not hold the highest status in Daliang, it was still a place of sages and worthies. The government would never close it down without a reason. If someone hadn't died, then something must have gone wrong at the examination site.
If problems occurred during the imperial examinations, it was generally only because the candidates had cheated.
In ancient times, administrative agencies at all levels attached great importance to the imperial examinations. Even the lowest level, the county examination, required multiple checks before entering the examination hall. Not to mention the number of candidates, they had to be in groups of several and have at least three guarantors to register.
Therefore, if someone cheats, a whole bunch of people will be implicated. So generally no one would dare to take the risk of cheating. However, the title of top scholar is too great and the benefits are too tempting. Once you win, your whole family or even your entire clan can change their social standing. Fortune is sought in danger, and there are still people who dare to take the risk.
Thirty years ago, there was a candidate from a wealthy merchant family. His family had used money to bribe officials at the examination hall, and the candidate knew the exam questions in advance and had prepared his answers beforehand. He was supposed to be foolproof, but after the exam, he became too smug and couldn't help but sing a song, which angered the people in the next examination room. A quarrel broke out, and the candidate accidentally let slip that the cheating was exposed when a cabinet scholar happened to be patrolling the examination hall.
Could it be that some candidates are cheating at the Yuzhou Examination Hall today?
Jiang Wuyu lowered her voice: "I'll go find out. Don't make any rash moves."
As Zhou Mujiao watched Jiang Wuyu's departing figure, a shadow slowly settled over her heart.
She has a mysterious aura, and for the past two years, whatever she says has come true. Logically speaking, Zhao Yunjing and his group should have a smooth journey in this provincial examination. Could it be that the imperial examination is such a major event that even mysticism has to give way to it?
Liang Shanzhang went berserk on the spot, pacing back and forth, which confused everyone present. Just as everyone was about to tie his limbs and gag him, Jiang Wuyu returned.
"It's been investigated."
Jiang Wuyu remained expressionless, her eyes cold: "Someone cheated."
Upon hearing this, Headmaster Liang breathed a sigh of relief. No matter who cheated, it didn't matter, as the people from Huilan Academy wouldn't cheat.
"...and some people were falsely accused of cheating," Jiang Wuyu added.
Upon hearing this, Headmaster Liang was dumbfounded: "...Could it be that Yun Jing has been framed?"
"It's Yun Jing."
Liang Shanzhang plopped down on the ground.
Oh no, oh no, oh no! If failing the exam means he can still be a hero three years later, but if the other party successfully frames him and Zhao Yunjing is found guilty of cheating, then for the rest of his life, and for three generations of his descendants, it will be impossible for him to participate in the imperial examination again!
Zhou Mujiao frowned, feeling that something was really strange about this matter. She asked Jiang Wuyu, "Who framed me?"
"...himself."
No one spoke up then.
Accusing himself of cheating? Isn't that self-incrimination? How is that accusation?
Headmaster Wang asked Headmaster Liang, bewildered, "Old Liang, what is your Yun Jing trying to do? He's ruining his future!"
"How would I know!"
Zhou Mujiao's mind raced for a moment, then a sudden inspiration struck her: "The one who was framed is someone else entirely?"
Jiang Wuyu nodded: "At first, there was indeed someone cheating, but after he was caught, he reported the candidates in the two examination rooms on the left and right, saying that he heard someone whispering to them at night and saw someone slipping notes to them... The candidates in the two examination rooms on the left and right were Chen Liangjin and Mo Fei, a student from Shanglin Academy."
Yun Jing said, "They're all candidates from the same area, and they entered the exam hall together. If Chen Liangjin and Mo Fei got cheat sheets, then he definitely got one too… If they're going to arrest people, then arrest him too; otherwise, this exam is invalid, and he has to retake it immediately. All the students in Taohua County agree with Yun Jing."
"This...this is a coup!"
Liang Shanhai was now completely unable to remain calm, and he and Headmaster Wang of Shanglin Academy both fainted with a thud.
Another group of soldiers approached from a distance, led by three tall horses. The man at the front looked somewhat familiar. Zhou Mujiao frowned and stared at him. The man seemed to sense something and immediately turned around.
It's the Sixteenth Prince!
It turns out that the person in charge of the imperial examinations in Yuzhou was the Sixteenth Prince!
Jiang Wuyu lowered his voice: "The Sixteenth Prince is a very sensible person. If it is confirmed that there was a team cheating in Yuzhou Prefecture, he will also be implicated and will be punished by the Emperor. For the sake of his own reputation and status, he will definitely handle this matter carefully, so you don't need to worry too much."
That was someone whose fate was directly related to hers, how could she not worry? But worrying was useless, as she couldn't get into the examination hall anyway.
Zhou Mujiao nodded: "Uncle Jiang, you've worked hard."
Looking at Zhou Mujiao's calm and composed profile, Jiang Wuyu felt both gratified and saddened. If Li Luo hadn't had that accident twenty years ago, this girl in front of him would have been his own daughter!
He looked around and suddenly had a thought: "If this incident is a struggle between princes, and the Sixteenth Prince loses, and Zhao Yunjing and his group of students all become victims, and he and his descendants for three generations can no longer participate in the imperial examinations and become officials, what do you plan to do?"
Zhou Mujiao smiled faintly: "The Sixteenth Prince has lost, but isn't there still the Emperor above? Does the Emperor think he can just sit idly by and watch such an injustice happen? If that's the case, then what does it matter whether he participates in the imperial examination, whether he takes office, or whether he serves the court?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com