As the deputy examiner, Song Zhenglian solemnly announced the start of the exam and then toured the entire examination room.
The exam was quite difficult, with a lot to write. Most of the candidates raced against time, writing furiously, not daring to waste a single moment.
Song Zhenglian was naturally very satisfied with this attitude. Looking at them, he thought back to when he went to the capital to take the imperial examination, and he was in the same situation.
While feeling a mix of emotions, I noticed that some candidates were restless and their eyes were darting around.
Looking around, it was immediately obvious that something was wrong with them.
One of the candidates often raised his sleeve.
After observing for a long time, Song Zhenglian was finally able to confirm that someone had cheated!
However, as the deputy examiner, he did not step forward to stop them. Instead, he strolled to the door and gave Zhu Fei, who was guarding it, a look.
The latter immediately understood and headed straight for the Empress's palace.
Inside the palace, Qin Yu was enjoying his meal under Zhao Yan's care, when Zhu Fei immediately bowed and reported.
"Your Majesty, we have received news from Scholar Song. It has been confirmed that someone cheated in the examination hall."
"Is that so?" Qin Yu finally became serious, gave a cold laugh, and stood up.
"Put on airs! I want to personally inspect the Cohen examination hall!"
Besides Zhu Fei, there was also a type of eunuch who accompanied him.
Clearly, the emperor's inspection tour of Cohen was a grand affair.
Weng Tonghe, the chief examiner, had received the news early on. He first gave a look to the group of his own candidates in the examination room, then hurriedly went to greet them.
"Your Majesty, what brings you here?"
"The presence of His Holiness in the examination hall truly brings glory to this humble place!"
The emperor wore a smug expression. "I have come here specifically to inspect and ensure the smooth progress of the imperial examinations."
Is it proceeding smoothly?
Weng Tonghe was disdainful.
You incompetent ruler, you don't even attend the morning court sessions, yet you still have the mind to ensure the smooth conduct of the imperial examinations?
They're clearly just here to show off and watch the show!
Weng Tonghe greeted him with a smile, "Your Majesty, please come in. Everything is fine in the examination room!"
Upon entering the vast examination hall, Qin Yu immediately surveyed the group of examinees.
However, most of them behaved perfectly normally and did not engage in any of the cheating that Song Zhenglian claimed.
Of course, Qin Yu certainly didn't think Song Zhenglian was lying to him. He was quite certain that these candidates must have received the news long ago.
You can't grasp anything just by looking, so Qin Yu could only stroll around the examination room with an air of nonchalance.
Weng Tonghe bowed and followed behind, smiling and welcoming him.
"Your Majesty, as you can see, the examination environment is quite good, and with the reform of sealed exam papers, you won't have to worry about anyone cheating in the examination room."
"Hmm! Very good!"
Qin Yu turned around, smiled with satisfaction, and strode away, but then deliberately bumped into a candidate whose face was covered in sweat and who looked guilty.
Bang!
Although it looked unintentional, Qin Yu actually bumped into the emperor with all his might, and Weng Tonghe behind him quickly went to help him up.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
But when he turned around, he was stunned.
The examinee was knocked to the ground, and the cheat sheet hidden in his sleeve fell to the ground.
Sure enough, Qin Yu felt that she had made the right choice!
The next second, he put on an expression of fury and began to curse loudly.
"What's going on? You dared to cheat on the spot!"
"Your Majesty, this is..."
The examinee was so frightened that he knelt down on the ground, stammering and at a loss for what to do.
A foul stench emanated from beneath him; clearly, he was so terrified by the emperor's supreme power that he wet his pants!
Qin Yu turned around and slapped Weng Tonghe hard across the face.
"Grand Secretary Weng! Didn't you say there was absolutely no cheating in this imperial examination? If I hadn't accidentally bumped into someone, I would have actually believed your lies!"
"As the chief examiner, what the hell are you doing?!"
The latter's head was buzzing, and before he could respond, the emperor had already given orders in a loud voice.
"Where is Zhu Fei? Order the Embroidered Uniform Guards to immediately surround the entire examination hall! I want to search everyone!"
"Your Majesty, the imperial examinations are still in progress!"
Weng Tonghe was greatly alarmed upon hearing this.
This is bad, isn't this going to expose us?
Speaking out to stop him only provoked the emperor's even greater anger.
"Your imperial examinations are nothing compared to Weng Tonghe's! I only accidentally discovered one person cheating; don't even think about it!"
"Zhu Fei, search thoroughly for me!"
Clearly, Zhu Fei had made preparations long ago.
The Imperial Guards rushed in, surrounding the entire examination hall in layers, making it almost impossible to pass through.
The scientific expedition was halted, Zhu Fei announced sternly.
"Everyone stand up and wait to be searched. If you dare to make any further moves, don't blame this general for having no eyes on your blade!"
Even though Weng Tonghe kept giving him signals, the latter acted as if he didn't see them and led his men to search everyone one by one.
Originally, they were just conducting a routine body search from head to toe, but later on, the cheating methods became outrageous. They hid things in the soles of their feet or in their shoes, stuffed things into openings in their clothes, and so on.
Qin Yu was shocked. Sure enough, when it comes to cheating, test takers have always been quite clever.
He immediately waved his hand.
"Zhu Fei, is this search thorough enough? Make everyone take off their clothes. Those who cheated this time will not be tolerated!"
"yes!"
Soon, the originally tense and solemn examination room took on a ridiculous atmosphere.
All the candidates were completely naked, with only a piece of cloth covering their vital areas.
It was fortunate that Qin Yu gave the order, because many of them had actually written the answers down in their stomachs beforehand, and some even hid cheat sheets in their hair.
Some even hid cheat sheets in a piece of fabric in their underwear.
Song Zhenglian took out the cheat sheet, glanced at it, and immediately his eyes trembled.
Because the answers to these cheat sheets matched the exam questions perfectly.
Even if you deliberately nitpick, you won't find any problems.
Glancing at Weng Tonghe, whose face was deathly pale, he went straight up to him and deliberately handed him the cheat sheets.
"Prosecutor Weng, please take a look. The cheat sheets of these students look very suspicious!"
Just like Song Zhenglian, who received the cheat sheet, Weng Tonghe was struck dumb, standing there stunned.
How is that possible?
These cheat sheets contained answers to test questions that he had prepared in advance, and they were meant for the person that Prime Minister Sima had already decided on!
But the person who was found with this cheat sheet was not the person that Prime Minister Sima had already chosen!
How exactly did they obtain this perfect answer key?
Just as they were racking their brains trying to figure it out, the emperor flew into a rage and began to curse loudly.
"Examiner Song just said that all of your answers are correct. Tell me! How did you know the exam questions?"
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