"Sir, the person has been brought here."
Yue Lingfeng stared at the screen, only to hear a sonorous male voice coming from the other side: "Mr. Yue, I asked you to come here because I have something important to discuss with you."
Yue Lingfeng didn't say anything.
"I'm sure you've seen the essays posted. In previous years, there has never been a case of publishing essays, but in this spring's imperial examination, the emperor suddenly issued an order..."
At this moment, Yue Lingfeng suddenly took over the conversation: "The emperor suddenly ordered the posting of the essays, and you were caught off guard. It seemed that the matter of changing the test papers was about to be exposed, so he sent people to watch the entrance of the Ministry of Rites and "invited" me over."
"What Master Yue said is true."
"Well, since I'm here, can you let my friend go?"
"Of course you can, Master Yue, don't worry. When you stepped in, your friend had already been released unharmed."
The figure behind the screen said, "I want to discuss a deal with Master Yue. As long as you keep silent about the replacement of the test paper, the thousand taels of gold will be yours."
At this time, a man nearby brought in a heavy box, opened the lid, and a box full of gold bars came into view.
"Not only that, in the spring exam three years later, I can't guarantee you any convenience. However, with Master Yue's talent, you can naturally become the top scorer in the exam again without any external help, or even the top scholar."
Yue Lingfeng stared at the box of gold and said, "What a big move! You want to drag me down with you guys and make me a traitor to you guys."
As long as he accepted the gold, he would not be allowed to mention the matter of the test paper being replaced again, because he had chosen to be part of the cheating.
If he passes the imperial examination and enters officialdom in the future, he will be on their boat and will be held hostage by them.
Even if he didn't want to go along with the crowd, the fact that he had accepted the gold and tacitly accepted the test paper being switched was enough to strangle him, and he had to allow himself to be drawn into this vortex.
Yue Lingfeng asked: "If I don't agree, will I still be able to leave here alive today?"
A laugh came from behind the screen: "He who knows the current situation is a hero. Master Yue should understand this principle."
"But don't think that I'm some wicked person. I said it was a deal. How can a deal involve bloodshed here?"
He sighed visibly as he spoke: "But judging from the situation, Master Yue doesn't want to do this business anymore. He is very noble."
"But I have met many noble people, but what's the use of adding a drop of clean water to the officialdom? It's just like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. It's wishful thinking for one person to fight against a group of officials."
"Master Yue, don't rush to make a decision. Go back and think carefully about this box of gold and the stable career in three years. You should have an idea of which one to choose."
The figure behind the screen finished speaking, took a sip of tea, and said leisurely: "Come here, send the guest away."
The man who had been waiting on the side stepped out silently and took Yue Lingfeng out.
"Mr. Yue, please do as you please."
The man said and turned to leave.
Yue Lingfeng looked back at the yard and felt a chill in his heart.
One person wants to fight against a group of officials...
Yue Lingfeng closed his eyes, fearing that he was not the only one whose papers were swapped. However, the Ministry of Rites only made public the papers of the top-ranked candidates.
The imperial examination had actually become corrupt and partial to someone to such an extent, the interests involved were probably so huge that ordinary people could not even imagine it.
The man behind the screen said these things simply to tell him that it was useless to complain to the officials because they were the ones responsible for the cheating in the imperial examination.
"Brother Yue! Brother Yue, you're out!"
At this time, Cheng Enwen's voice sounded. He patted Yue Lingfeng up and down and asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"
Yue Lingfeng grabbed his hand and said, "Let's go."
"Brother Yue, you are the top of the list! Imperial examination fraud is a serious case. Let's go to the Ministry of Rites..."
"Let's talk about it when we get back."
Cheng Enwen shut up when he heard that.
After a day of tossing and turning, it was already getting dark when we returned to the alley.
Yue Lingfeng locked the door tightly and told Cheng Enwen about the situation.
Cheng Enwen's eyes widened, and he looked a little lost: "So it's possible that I didn't fail the exam, but the person I exchanged the exam paper with did, and he took my place."
"Brother Yue, what should we do now?"
At this moment, a faint fragrance wafted over, and both of them felt a little sleepy for a moment.
Yue Lingfeng grabbed his wrist, not good...
But he still couldn't resist the effects of the medicine, and he and Cheng Enwen fainted.
After a while, a figure flashed in. It was the plainly dressed man from not long ago.
He was holding a few empty wine jars in his hands, which were placed in a mess on the table.
Then he glanced at Yue Lingfeng and carried him directly to the bed.
Then he took off Yue Lingfeng's coat and shoes in one go, covered him with a quilt, and posed to create an atmosphere that he was sleeping.
The man finally looked at Cheng Enwen with disdain and turned away.
Soon, a raging fire broke out.
A dangerous red light appeared in the darkness.
I don't know how long it burned, but I heard the sound of banging pots in the alley.
“Bang bang bang—”
“Bang bang bang—”
"The fire is coming! The fire is coming! Come and put out the fire!"
"Oh my god! Master Yue's house is on fire!"
"Is he in there?"
"The fire is coming! The fire is coming!"
All the neighbors in the alley were startled and came out, looking at the red light with horror on their faces.
An obviously more mature uncle said, "Put out the fire! If one family catches fire, thousands of families will suffer! If the fire continues, it will burn to our house sooner or later!"
"Where is Master Yue? Is Master Yue still in there?"
"He should be selling paintings at this time of day..."
"Why are you still selling paintings when you have passed the imperial examination? I saw Master Yue and his friends entering the house today!"
Upon hearing this, the uncle kicked the already shaky door without saying a word and yelled, "What are you talking about! Help!"
"Uncle Jin, the fire is too big! It's very dangerous!"
Uncle Jin took off his coat and dipped it in the bucket, laughing loudly, "Who wouldn't be proud that a great official came out of our Sancong Hutong? Everyone knows what kind of person Master Yue is! Today, I, Uncle Jin, will risk my life to bring Master Yue out!"
As he said this, he put on his wet coat and rushed directly into the sea of fire.
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