"Alright, you are all my trusted confidants. Just say what you need to say."
In the hall, only Suimo and Moyi remained, and in the shadows... Qin Zhaoyue was certain that Yinzhe was by her side.
That old maid loves listening to gossip, how could she miss it?
Chen Yu nodded and took a few steps closer.
Sui Mo and Mo Yi appeared outwardly calm, but secretly they were both on high alert, ready to make a move at any moment, especially Sui Mo.
Even though she guessed that Lady Yinzhe was hiding in the shadows, she did not take it for granted that Her Highness's safety could be entrusted to someone else, even though her cultivation level was far higher than her own.
It was this belief that enabled her to advance to the fourth rank.
Chen Yu bowed again, "My name is Chen Yu, I am from Yun County, and I hold the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination). I am taking the exam this year..."
She took out the household registration document and the most important official document for the examination from her bosom.
I left Huichuntang in a hurry and couldn't be exposed, so I only took the most important things with me.
Mo Yi stepped forward, took the document, quickly examined it, and then handed it to His Highness.
Qin Zhaoyue flipped through it; the official document was the most important document for the candidates, essentially a combination of the admission ticket and qualification certificate.
The certificate, issued by the state government where the candidate resides, proves the candidate's identity, name, place of origin, age, family background, etc.
In addition, his conduct and academic performance were recorded, confirming his eligibility to participate in the state examination.
Making something fake is a serious crime, and although Qin Zhaoyue couldn't tell the difference, she figured it shouldn't be a problem.
Chen Yu succinctly explained that his father was ill and unable to walk, and his younger brother was still young.
Qin Zhaoyue's heart skipped a beat.
A deceased mother, an ailing father, a young brother—she was left with no other choice…
Sure enough, what followed was a story about borrowing money.
In order to get medicine for her father and to support her younger brother, she had no choice but to borrow money from the villagers.
Given the urgency of the situation and the fact that they had been neighbors for many years, Chen Yu never expected that the other party was actually a loan shark.
With interest compounding, the amount owed quickly reached an unimaginable level.
"Later, Manager Wang made a request: if I did as he asked, the debt would be wiped off. He, he..."
Qin Zhaoyue's heart was in her throat.
No, sister, men's words are deceitful. Once you make a wrong move, there's no end to the suffering ahead.
"He wants me to cheat in the upcoming provincial examination!"
Phew... Qin Zhaoyue breathed a huge sigh of relief. Thank goodness, it was just cheating, huh?
What the hell! This is cheating on the imperial examinations!
Qin Zhaoyue suddenly stood up. "What did you say?"
Chen Yu raised her head, this time without avoiding his gaze, "That's right, he wanted me to cheat."
You could hear a pin drop in the hall.
Qin Zhaoyue's face darkened, and she uttered a soft command, "Hidden Hibernation!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a figure appeared behind her to her right; it was Yin Zhe, who was wearing a veil.
Those eyes were like a deep pool of ink, still and calm like an ancient well.
In an instant, two cold stars floated and sank in the thick ink, sharp as knives.
The sudden appearance of the figure startled Chen Yu, who felt as if she were in the middle of a storm under the gaze of those eyes.
It may seem calm on the surface, but one wrong step could lead to being torn apart by the raging winds.
Qin Zhaoyue wore a solemn expression, a rare sight, devoid of her usual playful demeanor.
"The man next to me is the commander of the Xuanji Guard. Do you know what the Xuanji Guard is?"
Chen Yu unconsciously swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I know."
Of the three imperial guards, the Xuanji Guard held the most power, overseeing all officials and the entire realm, and was feared by the common people.
"The student would never dare to speak recklessly. Manager Wang Chong, who is threatening me, is currently in the Jingzhao Prefecture."
I was detained and tried for illegally lending money at exorbitant interest rates, and was flogged one hundred times; otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to flee.
At this point, Chen Yu knelt down and performed the full kowtow, saying, "I am worried that Wang Chong may still have followers, so I beg Your Highness to protect my father and younger brother."
He kowtowed three times and lay motionless on the ground.
"Stand up and answer. If what you say is true, the Xuanji Guard will naturally protect your family."
"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Lord!"
Chen Yu stood up and explained the whole story.
To put it simply, Wang Chong took advantage of Chen Yu's vulnerability and secretly lent money, using their long-standing friendship in the village to trick Chen Yu into signing a contract.
After Chen Yu found out, he used the lives of her father and younger brother as leverage, making her afraid to act rashly and leaving her no choice but to submit to his control.
How could someone who lends money at exorbitant interest rates in the local area be involved in a major case of cheating in the imperial examinations? There must be someone behind him instigating it!
With the arrival of Princess Shuofeng in the capital, the talented women of the city were forced by His Majesty to take the imperial examinations, making this Zhongchendao provincial examination a highly anticipated event.
If a cheating scandal were to break out now, especially if it involved a woman, it would be a heavy blow to the Great Khanate and His Majesty's national policies.
Everyone present felt a chill run down their spines; the consequences would be unimaginable!
If His Majesty hadn't acted decisively and taken the initiative to test the aristocratic families, and if Qin Zhaoyue hadn't devised the strategy of arresting human traffickers and lending money at exorbitant interest rates, Wang Chong wouldn't have been arrested.
If he is not arrested, Chen Yu will be hesitant to act, and for the sake of his father and younger brother's lives, he might really resort to cheating if he has no other choice.
Hidden on the surface, yet a contradictory sense of ease rises within.
here we go again……
According to Chen Yu, she had no connections in Fengjing, and the only person she might have come into contact with was Xiao Liu, the former owner of Qizhen Pavilion.
However, under Xiao Liu's tutelage, Qizhen Pavilion does not look down on commoners.
Unfortunately, Qingfeng and Xiyu were sent to Qizhen Pavilion and brought people into the princess's residence without any substantial intelligence.
All of this was too coincidental and too smooth. But if you think about it carefully, if any one of the links had gone wrong, Chen Yu would never have been able to meet Xiao Liu.
In other words, Chen Yu would most likely never see any of the powerful figures in Fengjing other than Xiao Liu.
Is it a coincidence? Or is it just a coincidence?
Hidden in his heart, doubts arose more intensely than ever before.
However, now is not the time to investigate further; the cheating in the imperial examinations must be thoroughly investigated.
"Did you inform anyone that you were going to the Pavilion of Rare Treasures?"
"No, after hearing Wang Chong's trial in Jingzhao Prefecture, I immediately set off for Qionggui Lane without stopping."
"good!"
Qin Zhaoyue looked at Yin Zhe and quickly transmitted her voice:
"First, inform His Majesty."
Second, I gave Qingfeng Xiyu a gag order, instructing them to cover up Chen Yu's request for an audience.
Third, let Chen Yu go back to the pharmacy for now, and have someone secretly keep watch over him.
Fourth, interrogate Wang Chong to investigate clues.
Fifth, immediately dispatch men to Xianyun County to secretly investigate Wang Chong and Chen Yu, and also protect their families.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
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