Fifty thousand taels of silver is enough for the harem's expenses for a long time!
This was only one copy sold to them.
Considering how many scholars travel to the capital for the imperial examinations every year, and how Bolunlou cleverly attracted so many people, the final result was simply a natural outcome.
Qin Yu gave a cold smile and slowly boarded the carriage.
"Of course I know!"
"But isn't this an opportunity?"
With the scientific expedition imminent, seizing the right to conduct it will not be an easy task!
If we can use this as an opportunity to our advantage, it might play a very important role!
Since so many candidates have been questioned, there are plenty of people who know the truth, so there's no need to worry about them denying it.
Furthermore, since Bolunlou can guarantee the accuracy of its secret exam questions with its reputation, many candidates must have paid for them.
If they can find out and confiscate the silver, it will all end up in their own pockets!
A single item costs 50,000 taels of silver. Those who can afford it are all from wealthy and well-off families. Qin Yu never hesitates to take their money!
Back at the palace, I had just stepped off the carriage when I saw a group of Imperial Guards being mobilized, rushing past in a hurry.
The panic in the air was almost tangible.
Frowning, Qin Yu summoned the leader of the Imperial Guard.
Why are you in such a hurry?
"Ah, Your Majesty, an examiner and the chief examiner, Weng Tonghe, are arguing at the Imperial Academy and have even drawn their swords. We have received orders and are on our way to stop them!"
Qin Yu's eyes darted around, and he feigned surprise and anger!
"Nonsense! The Imperial Academy is such a sacred place, how dare these two cause such a ruckus! Not to mention that the troublemaker is the chief examiner. Lead the way, I will deal with this matter personally!"
Sure enough, before even entering the hall, they heard angry curses and spitting.
"Weng Tonghe! How dare you!"
"Scientific research is the very foundation of our nation, and should be treated with utmost sacredness and solemnity. Its desecration is absolutely unacceptable! This is precisely where the authority of our Great Qi lies!"
"Millions of poor scholars are eagerly anticipating this imperial examination. If we do this, wouldn't it discourage all the poor scholars in the country? This would shake the very foundation of our Great Xia nation!"
Qin Yu entered without making a sound, and saw a thin, gaunt middle-aged official in tattered official robes with two patches pointing at Weng Tonghe in front of his desk and making accusations.
The latter blushed and was speechless after being verbally abused.
Qin Yu roughly understood the situation from their subsequent verbal exchange.
It turns out that Weng Tonghe planned to cheat in the imperial examination and use his power for personal gain. He wanted to arrange the list of candidates to be admitted before the exam even started, but the official discovered this and that's how the scene before us came about.
What's his name?
Qin Yu pointed at the thin official and asked.
"Your Majesty, Song Zhenglian is well-regarded in the Imperial Academy and even the entire Ministry of Rites. He frequently advocates for reform of the imperial examination system and is considered a rather progressive official."
As An Fu was explaining, Song Zhenglian's emotions became agitated again during the argument.
"Grand Secretary Weng, I previously respected your integrity and uprightness. I never imagined you were this kind of person! I opposed your insidious actions, and you even wanted to strip me of my position."
“How dare you, Weng Tonghe, govern such a vast institution as the Imperial Academy? If you insist on this course of action, good will prevail over evil. I will kill myself right here and now, my blood splattering everywhere, and we will both perish together!”
Weng Tonghe was so angry that his nose was crooked and his old face turned ashen.
He truly regretted it; he shouldn't have mentioned it to him. Dividing the money? Forget about it!
This stupid, brain-dead idiot is courting death!
He feigned righteous indignation, while Weng Tonghe responded in a low, unpleasant tone.
"Song Zhenglian, don't make false accusations! I have never done such a thing!"
Just as he was vehemently denying it, Qin Yu suddenly stepped forward and began to angrily curse.
"You bunch of stinking intellectuals, what the hell are you doing here instead of working properly? What are you making a scene for? Are you looking for death?"
"I'll have you all killed!"
Everyone was taken aback and immediately knelt down and kowtowed.
Weng Tonghe, however, appeared quite flustered. He thought that the emperor might have been listening for a long time, and his legs were trembling.
If we investigate thoroughly, wouldn't that lead to a major disaster?
In stark contrast to his reaction, Song Zhenglian showed delight, as if he had grasped a lifeline, and dragged himself forward on his knees to report directly.
"Your Majesty, I must report that Weng Tonghe, the chief examiner, has engaged in favoritism and fraud in this imperial examination! He intends to directly provide the list of candidates to the ten examiners and then select candidates based on that list."
"This is an outrageous act that threatens the very foundation of our Great Xia Kingdom. We urge Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and restore justice to the poor scholars of the land."
"Slander! Your Majesty, he is slandering me!" Weng Tonghe was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his fur standing on end, pointing at him and shouting angrily.
If the emperor hadn't been there, this old man would have probably gone up and strangled Song Zhenglian to death on the spot.
Seeing their different reactions, Qin Yu's eyes flashed with cold light.
As the saying goes, no one gets up early without a reason. Song Zhenglian had absolutely no motive to directly frame Weng Tonghe, not to mention that Weng Tonghe was his superior.
Most of what Song Zhenglian reported was true.
However, now is not the time for a thorough investigation. If he dared to do this, there must be someone behind him instigating and manipulating things. He is probably just a pawn in the game.
Of course, I'm not satisfied with just this small fish. If I'm going to catch one, I'll catch a big one. Now is not the time to alert the enemy!
After a moment of silence, Qin Yu feigned anger and instead pointed at Song Zhenglian's nose and began to curse.
"You accuse Grand Secretary Weng of cheating, but do you have any evidence?"
After pondering for a moment, Song Zhenglian finally shook his head helplessly.
"Then you have no evidence, so on what grounds do you accuse Grand Secretary Weng of cheating? He was the top scholar in the imperial examinations, the leader of all scholars in the land, and recommended by Prime Minister Sima. How could he do something so despicable!"
"I think you're just jealous of Grand Secretary Weng's reputation. This is slander and defamation!"
These words shocked not only the two men, but also all the other officials and even the Imperial Guards.
"Very well, upon hearing of such a major event, the emperor's first reaction was not to send people to thoroughly investigate and find out the truth, but rather to be full of confidence and insist on it."
Such a tyrannical ruler is truly a once-in-a-millennium phenomenon!
Weng Tonghe was still stunned by the emperor's words, but he was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly, his old face beaming with joy.
"Your Majesty's discerning eye is truly admirable! Thank you, Your Majesty, for restoring my innocence!"
The latter, however, was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up with disbelief, and finally he collapsed to the ground, looking extremely disappointed.
"Am I wrong?"
Seeing his reaction, Qin Yu became even more certain that he could not possibly be making things up or talking nonsense, but he still asked coldly.
Faced with the questions, Song Zhenglian did not respond. Instead, he looked grief-stricken and laughed in anger.
"Hahaha... Tyrant! Tyrant!"
"The Great Xia Dynasty is in grave danger! The Great Xia Dynasty is in grave danger!"
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