Mr. Peach Blossom's new book, in response to the trend, tells the story of a down-on-his-luck scholar who accidentally assumes someone else's identity and rises to prominence.
The story goes that this scholar, having failed the imperial examinations multiple times, resorted to street performances to make a living. One day, he was kidnapped and forced to take the exam in someone else's place. What should have been a nerve-wracking experience turned out to be a revelation – he actually passed! To gain fame and fortune, he killed the original owner of the body and took the palace examination under that identity. He later won the favor of a princess and became her consort.
The plot in the beginning is illogical and nonsensical, but the chapters about his intimate moments with the princess make up two-thirds of the book, and there's a cliffhanger at the end that says there's a conspiracy behind it all, and to find out what happens next, you have to wait for the sequel.
Song Yaozhu slammed the book on the table, suddenly realizing why Xie Liwei had looked so unnatural after learning that Ji Ming had written the play script for her...
Mr. Peach Blossom's writing style is truly... What's even more amazing is that there's a sentence at the end of the book: "This story is adapted from a reader's true experience," the meaning of which is quite obvious.
Coupled with the gossip spread by the thugs they hired, people in the capital soon learned about the disappearance of the fourth young master of the Peng family.
Those who liked to gossip spread the story widely, saying that Peng Si Gongzi, a spoiled brat, was mistakenly kidnapped and forced into the examination hall while escorting a friend there, where he remained for nine days, suggesting many shady dealings. The imperial examination was supposed to select talent for the country, so how could even the entry screening be so lax?
Some people are saying, why hasn't the original person, who was cheated on, appeared yet? Could it be that the person was murdered long ago?
Furthermore, with the Xie family members imprisoned for cheating in the imperial examinations, various conspiracy theories emerged.
Song Yaozhu wasn't afraid of making the situation even more complicated, so she directly attributed the matter to Tianyuan Gambling House.
"How could Tianyuan Gambling House be so kind as to be the bookmaker? They've set up such a large venue; they must be doing it to make money! Just watch, this year's champion will definitely not be one of the top scholars they've selected! It will definitely be some unknown kid so they can pocket all the money!"
"Yes! I heard that the Tianyuan Gambling House is backed by Consort Gao's family. Just think, as a consort, without the Empress overseeing her, how could she not have absolute power!"
"I have also heard that the Empress's death was inextricably linked to this Consort Gao!"
"Yes, yes, that's how women in the inner palace compete for the emperor's favor! I just didn't expect our emperor to be so devoted. Even though the empress has been gone for so many years, he hasn't appointed a new empress!"
"If this was really a scheme orchestrated by Consort Gao, then we ordinary people would be at a huge loss!"
Such remarks quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital city. Those who had placed bets at the Tianyuan Gambling House surrounded the gambling house, demanding an explanation. Some even went directly to the Gao residence to demand an explanation.
The gatekeeper of the Gao residence was not one to be trifled with; he immediately got into a fight, drew blood, and reported it to the authorities.
The matter escalated, and Lord Gao immediately went to the palace to see the Imperial Concubine. He found her sitting on the throne with a sorrowful expression, looking as if she had made a painful decision.
"Brother, I can't save you."
There are already rumors circulating that this is a scheme by the imperial concubine to help her son win over officials and amass wealth. If she doesn't abandon the Gao family, she will drag her son down with her!
Gao Yuqi immediately collapsed to the ground, as if all his strength had been drained away.
Even so, the Imperial Concubine still removed her hairpins and clothes and knelt at the entrance of the Qiankun Palace to plead for the Gao family, making a grand gesture.
These past two days, Yuwen Wuji has been driven to the point where he's thinking of going to the imperial prison right now and killing the Xie family members!
On the desk in the Imperial Study, most of the papers were pleading for leniency for the Xie family and demanding a public trial for the case. A significant portion was also discussing the Peng Si case.
He finally managed to suppress Peng Si's matter, and now he's forcing him to turn the court upside down!
He knew he had many corrupt subordinates, but his greater wish now was to deal with the Xie family, so he could temporarily ignore everything else for the sake of this matter.
"Your Majesty, the imperial examination is crucial to the fate of the nation and should not be underestimated!"
"Your Majesty, someone dares to manipulate the imperial examination system, which shows that this person has no respect for imperial authority. Please investigate thoroughly!"
When the officials presented their memorials, Yuwen Wuji, enraged, flipped the memorials to the bottom and summoned Prince Xuan.
"I entrust Peng Si's case to you! You must thoroughly investigate the whole story!"
King Xuan smiled wryly; he was the one who had to handle all the troublesome matters.
"The Xie family..."
"The Xie family is engaging in cheating by buying exam questions, attempting to interfere in state affairs. I will hand this over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation; you have no need to meddle!"
The Ministry of Justice is his man, so the life and death of the Xie family can be decided by a single word from him.
King Xuan accepted the order and withdrew. He immediately led his men out of the palace to the Peng family and arrested all those who were working at the examination hall at the time, imprisoning them.
However, the number of people sitting in protest at the palace gate did not decrease, because the emperor only said that the Xie family case would be handed over to the Ministry of Justice, without saying that it would be tried publicly, which remained ambiguous.
Just then, the Ministry of Rites released the list of successful candidates.
Topping the list is an unknown person!
Who is Li Yuanhe?
"I've never heard of this person before!"
"Yes, yes! He's from Chang'an County, Huizhou, my hometown, but I've never heard of him before!"
"This Li Yuanhe is the name of the person Peng Si took the exam for! Peng Si is a simpleton who can't even spell his own name correctly, how could he possibly be at the top of the list! There must be something wrong here!"
"There's something fishy going on here! Investigate thoroughly! Investigate thoroughly!"
Not only were the students agitated, but the common people who had bet on the top scholars from various regions were even more excited. Didn't this indirectly prove that the Gao family was manipulating the imperial examinations?
"The Gao family is Prince Yong's maternal family, and Prince Yong himself was in charge of organizing this year's imperial examination! Is Prince Yong deliberately trying to enrich his maternal family?"
Such remarks plunged the entire capital into further chaos. The person kneeling outside the Qiankun Palace became two, with Consort Gao and Prince Yong still bearing the marks of tears.
"Your Majesty, someone is deliberately framing me and the Third Prince! Your Majesty! Please investigate thoroughly!"
Li Wei felt a headache coming on just listening to Consort Gao's heart-wrenching screams, let alone Yuwen Wuji.
He was truly fed up these days!
Why, why is an emperor like him constantly being hindered by others!
The Xie family is in danger!
They deserve to die a horrible death!
"Let the Imperial Concubine come in and give her an answer!"
Upon seeing Yuwen Wuji, Consort Gao immediately composed herself and slowly recounted what had happened.
"Your Majesty, the Gao family has fallen into a trap! My brother had absolutely no intention of interfering in the imperial examinations!" Consort Gao wept, her face streaked with tears, but she knew in her heart that the Emperor would not let the Gao family off the hook. Just as he feared the Xie family, he would not allow another powerful maternal relative to run rampant. "Please, Your Majesty, spare my brother's life!"
Yuwen Wuji sneered. If Gao Yuqi hadn't had such intentions, how could Yu Gong have instigated him to do such a thing with just a few words!
The Gao family cannot be allowed to live!
"The death penalty may be waived, but the punishment is unforgivable!"
Consort Gao kowtowed in gratitude. With these words, she no longer needed to worry about the Emperor harming the Gao family. As long as the living are alive, there's always hope; wasn't the Xie family a perfect example?
Consort Gao withdrew, and Yuwen Wuji's eyes were filled with gloom.
Yu Gong is Xie Wanqing's man; the only one who can command him is Xie Liwei!
"Li Wei, summon Chu Wei!"
Li Wei shuddered. That Chu Wei was the commander of the death squad, and the emperor rarely used him.
As soon as Chu Wei entered the hall, Yuwen Wuji coldly ordered, "Kill Xie Liwei!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com