Yihua received an invitation from her elder sister-in-law. After reading it for a while, she asked Granny Chen to deliver the rheumatism plaster she had obtained a few days ago to the Ulanara residence. She also politely declined Xinghui Fujin's invitation, giving a ready-made reason: the eldest princess's face should not be exposed to the wind.
At this time, she had something more important to do: to put a major event that had been in preparation for about a year on the agenda.
Most of the students who were about to participate in the palace examination were very low-key. They were still studying hard, hoping to shine in front of the emperor. They had studied for more than ten or even several decades, just for the time it takes to meet the emperor.
One of the students, surnamed Rong and named Haibin, had a very different style of doing things. Although he did not have the best ranking in the imperial examination, he attended the most welcoming banquets and celebration banquets.
Wherever there is a bustling place in the capital, you can be sure to find this scholar surnamed Rong. At the same time, what makes him particularly noteworthy is his insatiable appetite; whether it is rare delicacies and fine jade or beautiful women, he takes them all into his possession.
He doesn't look like someone who's going to take the imperial examination; he looks more like a spoiled brat who specializes in eating, drinking, and having fun.
This scholar surnamed Rong has a special talent for poetry. He often comes up with wonderful lines after getting drunk, which attracts countless admirers.
However, his surname involuntarily reminds some people of an old case in the capital, in which the person involved was surnamed Rong.
This isn't a common surname like Zhao, Qian, Sun, or Li. Some busybodies went to ask what its relationship was with that Rong scholar who was embroiled in a sex scandal.
Rong Haibin pondered for a moment: "Five hundred years ago we were all one family, why distinguish between you and me? Come, drink!"
There was another important reason why Rong Haibin was so popular: he would prepare a small gift for everyone attending the banquet, at least a piece of high-quality white jade, and some even included antiques from previous dynasties.
This is why everyone thinks he has nothing to do with the Rong man who died before. After all, one of them slept with a man for money, while the other spent money like water without a care. They don't seem to be the same person at all.
One day, someone received a small gift, an exquisite butterfly hairpin. He found it to be indeed small and cute, so he gave it to his wife, who then wore it to social occasions.
Someone recognized the hairpin's previous owner: "Huh? Isn't this the style that the Eighth Prince's wife liked in her boudoir? How did it end up in your hands?"
The speaker is a girl from the Guoluo clan, making her highly credible.
The lady, surprised, blurted out, "This was a gift from my master; it has nothing to do with the Eighth Prince's wife."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of those around her grew even stranger, with some even showing a hint of sympathy.
The wife of the chief priest realized what was happening and was both amused and exasperated. Her first reaction was to retort, "What are you all thinking? This is a gift that our master received from Scholar Rong a few days ago."
"Oh?!" The ladies' expressions became even more distorted, clearly their thoughts had gone completely astray.
Thus, with the added boost of the sensational news, the Rong student became a household name in the capital!
Another spring banquet was held to celebrate that the peach blossoms were blooming better than yesterday. A group of second-generation rich kids joined Rong Xuezi in drinking and having a lively time.
After a few rounds of drinks, Rong Haibin seemed to be drunk. He put his arm around someone's shoulder and asked mysteriously, "Do you want to know where my money comes from?"
The second-generation rich kids crowded around, eager to hear what was going on. Rong Haibin let out a burp: "Of course, someone gave it to me."
“Where we live, as long as you swear to be loyal to the emperor after you pass the imperial examinations,” Rong Haibin made an eight with his hand, then let go, “you’ll have a steady stream of money, as much as you want.”
"What if you don't win?"
"You've all sworn to be loyal to the death, how could you not pass? Are you stupid? That's why I can become an official, but you can't."
These few words contained a wealth of information. The second-generation princes exchanged bewildered glances and continued drinking, preoccupied with their own enjoyment and paying no heed to the princes' infighting.
However, many of those who heard this were students from impoverished families. Just as they were about to take their shot, they were informed that some of them had already been given penalty kicks, and these were penalty kicks that were sure to go in from the center.
Almost no one could tolerate this, so they jointly reported the matter to the examiner, demanding that the truth be revealed and that all the students be given an explanation.
The chief examiner was the Minister of Rites, the deputy was Prince Cheng, and the thirteenth prince, Yinxiang, assisted him.
The Minister of Personnel, seeing that the matter involved the Eighth Prince, dared not act on his own and reported it to Prince Cheng.
Prince Cheng is a typical example of someone who wants to fight but lacks common sense. He seized upon the Eighth Prince's weakness and wanted to report it to his father, the Emperor.
Yinxiang stopped him: "Third brother, let me be frank, this year's chief examiner is ostensibly the Minister of Rites, but in reality, it's you, third brother."
"This is a great trust placed in you by the Emperor. If you do it well, all the students in this year's class will be your students, which is a huge resource."
"Now, relying on the words of a few students, we're afraid we won't get any favors from Father Emperor. It would be better if Third Brother investigated the truth first. This would not only give an explanation to the students, but also earn you face in front of Father Emperor."
Prince Cheng thought about it and felt it made a lot of sense: "No wonder someone like the fourth prince would like you. The thirteenth prince is a wonderful person."
"This matter also relies on the help of my thirteenth brother. I'll eat meat and you can have soup."
"My younger brother thanks Third Brother for his help."
In order to get closer to Rong Haibin, Prince Cheng took Yinxiang to a banquet. The theme of the banquet was that the sound of yesterday's rain was particularly pleasant.
Prince Cheng was quite cultured and looked down on the messy and irregular sentences written by a group of people who had no real talent.
He sat down next to Rong Haibin with a clear purpose, looked him up and down a few times, and thought to himself.
He looks just like the young master Rong from Wenyunxuan back then.
"Your surname is Rong? Are you a student who will participate in the palace examination?"
"Student Rong Haibin wishes His Highness Prince Cheng peace."
"Please rise."
Do you remember what you said when you were drunk a few days ago?
"Of course I remember. I have an exceptionally good memory. I remember everything, whether it's gratitude or resentment."
"You have committed a crime by slandering the Eighth Prince of the current dynasty?" Prince Cheng became serious, and his demeanor was quite imposing.
“When I tell the truth, no one believes me. Everyone in Jinjing County can testify for me that the Eighth Prince’s wife gave me her gold hairpin back then, and that is physical evidence.”
"Where's the hairpin?"
"Let me look. Oh right, I gave it away." Rong Haibin didn't seem to care much. "I think it's not proper for her to give her personal belongings to a man outside the marriage."
Wow, Prince Cheng thought to himself, "Good heavens! He dares to say anything. Isn't he afraid that the Eighth Prince and his wife will team up against him?"
"Your princes wouldn't go back on their word, would they?" Rong Haibin asked suspiciously. "The Eighth Prince's wife promised me that if I promoted the Eighth Prince's virtuous reputation, she would give me money and a direct pass to the palace examination."
Prince Cheng's eyes widened. The banquet was quiet for a moment, then became as noisy as a vegetable market.
Yinxiang leaned close to Prince Cheng and whispered, "Third brother, we can't cover this up. If Rongxue dies under mysterious circumstances, Father Emperor won't think we're in cahoots with Eighth Brother, will he?"
Prince Cheng's eyelids twitched as he heard this: "Immediately, come with me to the palace to meet the Emperor!"
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