jdhmnovel Chapter 148: Thorough Investigation of the Imperial Examination
Chapter 148: Thorough Investigation of the Imperial Examination
The emperor sat high on the dragon throne, his face as gloomy as water, his tightly pursed lips and furrowed brows exuded a biting chill, and everyone in the hall dared not breathe.
Just as the dead silence fell, Grand Tutor Zhou, who was in charge of this examination, stepped forward, breaking the silence. He bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, the Nanping Prefecture students' examination papers are not only original and unique in their arguments, but also their proposed strategies are highly feasible. They are truly rare pillars of society."
The Minister of Rites beside him echoed this, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "As the Grand Tutor said, especially the top few, all have the potential to be the top scholar. However, they excel in different areas and have their own strengths, making it difficult to distinguish the superior one. It would be a pity to discard any of them."
The candlelight flickered and the atmosphere was so solemn that it was suffocating.
Grand Tutor Zhou quietly glanced at the emperor's expression, then continued carefully, "Your Majesty, there are indeed some suspicious aspects of this imperial examination."
The emperor immediately asked, "What are your doubts?"
Hearing the emperor's words, Grand Tutor Zhou pondered for a moment and said righteously, "It's incredible that half of the people who passed the imperial examination came from Nanping Prefecture. Could it be that Nanping Prefecture is a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers are hidden?"
His tone was full of surprise and confusion, which coincided with the emperor's thoughts.
The Minister of Revenue immediately echoed this, saying worriedly, "Yes, Your Majesty. Nanping Prefecture has always been obscure, and its sudden rise to prominence makes one suspect a conspiracy!"
At this time, the Minister of Rites stood up and refuted: "My Lords, please do not speak carelessly. I have heard that most of these successful students came from the school run by Yan Wanwan. Perhaps it is because of his unique teaching methods that he has cultivated so many talented people. This is a blessing for our dynasty!"
The Minister of Justice snorted coldly, his face full of disdain. "Hmph, what could be so great about a school run by a woman? In my opinion, there must be some hidden secret behind this. Perhaps someone is deliberately manipulating the imperial examinations and disrupting the government!"
The two factions of ministers confronted each other and refused to give in, and the court instantly became a mess.
The ministers who advocated a thorough investigation were filled with righteous indignation and demanded that the mastermind behind the incident be severely punished; the ministers who believed that the person should be rewarded and encouraged argued for their rights and tried their best to protect the educational achievements of Nanping Prefecture.
The emperor sitting on the dragon throne looked coldly at the quarreling ministers with a sharp gaze.
Suddenly, he slammed the armrest of the dragon throne and shouted, "Enough!"
The hall fell silent in an instant, and everyone knelt down in silence.
The emperor's eyes flashed coldly, and he spoke slowly, "This matter concerns the fairness of the imperial examination and the majesty of the court. I will not tolerate it. Come, immediately set up an investigation team and go to Nanping Prefecture to thoroughly investigate this matter. If there is any trace of favoritism or fraud, they will be executed without mercy!"
Everyone shouted "Yes, Your Majesty!" and their voices echoed in the hall.
But everyone knows that the court turmoil caused by the rise of Nanping Prefecture has just begun.
In Jingzhao City, a list was like a huge rock thrown into the hearts of people, causing a thousand waves. Everyone looked at the list with disbelief on their faces.
Those arrogant students from Jingzhao were even more furious. The students from Nanping Prefecture had only studied for less than a year, so how could they be better than them, the talented students from Jingzhao?
Furious, these usually arrogant students swarmed the government office and started a huge disturbance. Their fury was so strong that they strongly demanded that the government investigate whether there was any favoritism or fraud in the imperial examinations.
Faced with this sudden commotion, the officials within the yamen were all gloomy and troubled. The imperial examination was a matter of vital importance to the nation, and it would be difficult to convince the public to hastily label it problematic based on groundless suspicion and without any evidence.
Moreover, this is a shocking case. They are just insignificant yamen runners. How dare they act rashly?
However, not long after, their superior summoned them and gave them careful instructions with a serious expression, telling them that the court attached great importance to this incident and must investigate it thoroughly, and that their top priority at the moment was to do their best to appease those emotionally agitated students.
That afternoon, Yan Wanwan was summoned for questioning by the imperial envoy sent by the court.
As soon as Yan Wanwan stepped into the lobby, her eyes immediately caught sight of the prefect.
The prefect looked a little flustered, with beads of sweat on his forehead, and was standing uncomfortably next to a man.
When she looked closely, she found that the man was her old acquaintance - Grand Tutor Zhou.
Yan Wanwan's steps did not pause at all when she saw Grand Tutor Zhou. She walked towards the two of them with a calm pace.
Grand Tutor Zhou also noticed Yan Wanwan's arrival. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze as sharp as an eagle, looking Yan Wanwan up and down, with a hint of imperceptible contempt in his eyes.
When Yan Wanwan walked in front of the two of them, Grand Tutor Zhou and her eyes suddenly met in the air, as if two sharp edges collided with each other, creating invisible sparks.
The air seemed to freeze at this moment, and the temperature around seemed to drop a few degrees in an instant.
Yan Wanwan raised the corner of her mouth in an imperceptible sneer, with a hint of sarcasm and disdain in that smile.
Her posture was elegant, yet revealed a coldness that kept people at a distance. Her voice was clear, cold, and firm: "Greetings, Grand Tutor Zhou."
Grand Tutor Zhou nodded slightly, a smile on his lips, and a hint of arrogance in his tone: "County Master Yan, it's been a long time since we last met. You are still as elegant as ever."
His voice was low and hoarse, as if it came from deep in his throat, with a chilling feeling.
Yan Wanwan raised her eyes and looked directly into Grand Tutor Zhou's. There was no fear in her eyes, but rather a scrutiny and provocation. "Grand Tutor Zhou, you are too kind. Wanwan is just a woman, how could she be so elegant? Grand Tutor Zhou, with his busy schedule, still has the leisure and elegance to come here. How enviable."
Her words seemed humble, but they were actually sharp and pointed, with double entendres that hit Grand Tutor Zhou directly in the sore spot.
Grand Tutor Zhou's eyes froze slightly, and the smile on his face froze instantly, but he quickly recovered and chuckled, "Miss Yan, you're joking. This Grand Tutor also has no choice."
The conversation between the two seemed calm, but in fact there were undercurrents and it was full of gunpowder.
The prefect was bewildered, completely unable to understand what the two people in front of him were up to.
It was just that the invisible pressure was like a heavy mountain, weighing heavily on his heart, and his legs couldn't help but tremble slightly.
He forced himself to remain calm, putting on a flattering smile. After hesitating for a few times, he finally managed to speak, "County Lady, Grand Tutor Zhou has condescended to visit us this time to discuss the imperial examination."
Upon hearing this, Yan Wanwan raised her delicate eyebrows slightly, and the corners of her lips curled up in disdain, "What does this imperial examination have to do with me?"
Grand Tutor Zhou snorted coldly, a fierce look flashing in his eyes. "County Master Yan, more than half of the students in Nanping Prefecture passed the imperial examination this time, and most of these students came from the school you founded. How dare you say that this matter has nothing to do with you?"
Yan Wanwan's expression remained calm, and she met Grand Tutor Zhou's scrutiny with a frank gaze. "Grand Tutor Zhou, running a school and educating talents is my duty. The students' outstanding achievements are the result of their own hard work and the school's effective teaching. What crime have they committed?"
The prefect stood nearby, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He trembled as he spoke, "County Lady, there's a lot of discussion about this matter in the court right now. The Emperor has ordered a thorough investigation. The Grand Tutor is also acting on orders, and I hope the County Lady will cooperate."
Yan Wanwan glanced at the prefect with disdain, ignoring his words. Instead, she continued to look directly at Grand Tutor Zhou. "Grand Tutor Zhou, if you base your suspicions solely on the number of successful candidates, then I'd like to ask, do you have any real evidence? If you slander me and the academy without proof, you will have to bear the consequences."
Grand Tutor Zhou looked at her deeply and suddenly laughed, "Don't worry, County Lady. The truth will eventually come out."
Yan Wanwan raised her eyebrows and replied unyieldingly, "Of course."