Looking at Shen Guangzong's calm and composed demeanor, Madam Shen couldn't help but start indulging in all sorts of unrealistic fantasies: "Is it because our Guangzong has achieved such outstanding results that the court can't wait to grant him an official position?"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhou also showed anticipation.
But Shen Yaozu poured cold water on him, saying, "It's true that you passed the imperial examination, but if your results were truly outstanding, you should at least be the runner-up, if not the top scholar."
"At the very least, he should be a top scholar."
"How could it be like this now, with such a long line that you can't even see a shadow of anyone?" What a pipe dream!
The old lady didn't like hearing that.
But she couldn't bear to scold Shen Yaozu, so she comforted herself by saying, "Guangzong knows a lot. Maybe the official has something to ask him. Why don't you invite him to the yamen?"
The old lady guessed half of it correctly.
Shen Guangzong was indeed taken to the yamen, but not to be questioned or taught; he was interrogated and punished!
When the news reached the manor, the old lady could hardly believe it.
"What did you say?!" She looked at the servant who came to answer, swayed, and slumped back onto the soft couch, her eyes filled with disbelief: "Guangzong has been arrested by the officials?"
"Yes!" The steward was almost in tears. "They said that the young master has broken the law and will be held accountable."
"Nonsense!"
"How dare this servant lie..."
Besides, why would he tell such a lie for no reason?
Aunt Zhou felt dizzy and confused, and asked the old lady in a panic, "Grandma, what is going on?"
Madam Shen: "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?!"
She thought she was finally going to have a good life, but before she could even finish dreaming, she was woken up by a bucket of cold water.
It truly is a matter of heaven in an instant and hell in a single thought.
"Oh dear, my life is so miserable!" Old Madam Shen couldn't bear it any longer and burst into tears: "Life at home is getting harder and harder. We were hoping that Guangzong could become a high-ranking official and make a lot of money this time..."
"Who would have thought that before the money even appeared, I couldn't even get this official position!"
Aunt Zhou was already anxious, and the old lady's crying only made her more upset.
Just as they were completely lost, Shen Cang strode in, supported by a servant, and finally got to the point: "Have the officials said what crime Guangzong committed?"
"They said that the eldest son participated in the imperial examination while you were in prison, which violated the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
"According to the law, his results this time are invalid!"
"Not only that, from now on, he can no longer participate in the imperial examinations... Oh, sir!"
Shen Cang didn't even get to hear the last sentence before he fainted.
Old Madam Shen fainted even faster than him.
Zhuijintang was thrown into complete chaos.
Shen Qiyin put on an anxious expression, but her heart was calm and even a little happy: double happiness!
In fact, Shen Guangzong's status as a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) in his previous life had also been revoked.
However, this will happen three years later.
In another imperial examination, a student achieved the top rank of Jieyuan. However, while he was traveling to the capital for the examination, his father was arrested and imprisoned. Some people who envied his talent brought up the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Article 182 explicitly stipulates that sons of criminal families or those of slave status are not allowed to take the examinations.
Therefore, the results that were originally in hand were no longer valid.
As a result, Shen Guangzong's past misdeeds were also brought up, and he was stripped of his status as a candidate for the imperial examinations.
The reason it wasn't mentioned back then was because cases like this, where the father is imprisoned midway through the imperial examination, are extremely rare. Shen Guangzong was not a person of widespread talent and didn't attract much attention, which is why he managed to escape unscathed.
But now, Shen Qiyin tore off the law with Article 182 written on it and sent it to Chen Shi. He failed the exam, while Shen Guangzong passed as he wished. How could he not be envious?
Human nature is most vulnerable to testing.
Shen Qiyin handed the knife to him, and he indeed stabbed Shen Guangzong hard.
The noise around her brought her back to reality.
Shen Yaozu called out to her.
The last time Shen Cang fainted, Shen Qiyin treated him because it was at the behest of Old Madam Shen.
But this time, even Old Madam Shen herself was unconscious, and there was no one in the room who could command her.
Of course, she couldn't just stand by and watch them die.
So she closed her eyes.
She fainted too!
Ren Dong kept shouting, "My young lady has caught a cold and is still recovering. Now, she's getting a heart attack and her body can't take it anymore." Then she picked up Shen Qiyin and ran towards Haitang Courtyard.
With both of the physicians in the manor falling ill, Shen Yaozu had no choice but to send someone to fetch a doctor from outside.
He stayed by Shen Cang's bedside like a dutiful son, never leaving his side.
As for Shen Guangzong, he simply sent his steward to inquire about the situation.
The officials convicted Shen Guangzong, stripping him of his Juren (a degree in the imperial examination system) status and ordering him to be flogged.
According to Shen Qiyin, the weapon used for caning in the yamen was called the Water and Fire Cudgel. It was about eyebrow-length, with a red section at the bottom about the length of a shank, and the rest of the body was black. The bottom was covered with a flat iron, and each blow would leave blood.
She felt a little regretful.
If I had known, I wouldn't have pretended to faint; I could have gone to the yamen to witness the execution.
Tsk, what a miscalculation.
No matter how chaotic things were outside, Shen Qiyin and Rendong remained unaffected, one reading a book and the other practicing calligraphy.
Around lunchtime, news came from inside the manor.
The good news is that Shen Guangzong has returned.
The bad news is, they had to be carried back.
His upper body looked like it had been soaked in water, and his clothes were completely drenched in sweat.
Her lower body looked as if she had fallen into a dye vat, covered in bright red.
Shen Guangzong was lying on the stretcher, barely breathing. When Old Madam Shen finally woke up, she almost fainted again after just one glance at him.
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