At the mansion of the Minister of Imperial Treasury, Madam Dong was arranging her hair before the mirror.

At noon today, the final session of the autumn examination would end, and Madam Dong planned to go to the examination hall entrance to pick up Dong Lin.

She had only one son, Dong Lin. Over the years, because of Dong Lin’s poor health, he had never taken the examination before and didn’t even know which direction the examination hall gates faced. This year was Dong Lin’s first time observing the examination. Whether he passed or not, Madam Dong wanted to show her face in front of others. Naturally, she also needed to dress splendidly to bring honor to her son.

Behind her, a maid inserted a pearl and jade hairpin into her hair bun, but the movement was too heavy and pulled her hair. Madam Dong cried out “Ouch!” and the maid quickly knelt down to beg forgiveness.

Madam Dong glared at her: “Clumsy hands and feet.” She inserted the hairpin herself, looked in the mirror, and only then was satisfied. She asked the servants beside her: “What time is it? Is the carriage ready? Sheng Quan, Sheng Quan—”

She called twice, but the guard didn’t come in. Instead, a young servant entered with a panicked expression, kneeling down to Madam Dong as soon as he entered: “Madam, madam, something terrible has happened!”

Madam Dong glanced at him and asked irritably: “What now?”

“The examination hall, the examination hall has had an incident—”

“What?”

The servant kept his head down, his body shaking like a sieve, not daring to look at Madam Dong’s expression.

“They say… they say a scholar died in the examination cell.”

A scholar died in the examination cell.

Madam Dong had been listening carelessly at first. After a moment, as if she had finally understood the meaning of those words, her face suddenly changed.

She stood up with a “whoosh,” staring fixedly at the person on the ground: “Who died?”

“This servant, this servant doesn’t know. People passing by outside the examination hall said there was quite a commotion inside. They could only vaguely see someone wearing red clothing, with very loud shouting, saying someone had poisoned the provisions in the examination baskets.”

When Madam Dong heard “red clothing,” her body swayed and she nearly fainted.

Red clothing!

The new garment Dong Lin wore to the examination was precisely the new robe she had specially ordered the tailor to make from crimson foreign satin, hoping for good luck on his first time observing the examination.

This person could be her Lin’er!

Madam Dong called out “my child” and her body staggered several steps. The maids beside her quickly supported her and helped her sit in a chair.

“Has this matter been reported to the master?”

“The master is still in the palace. Someone has been sent there.”

Madam Dong gritted her teeth: “Waiting for him to return… what time is it now!” She suddenly stood up, “Quickly, prepare the carriage. I’m going to the examination hall right now!”

Having received the news, Madam Dong couldn’t wait any longer and immediately ordered a carriage prepared to go to the examination hall. Along the way, guard Sheng Quan drove the horses in front while comforting Madam Dong: “Madam, don’t worry. The news from the examination hall is unclear. The young master is blessed and will surely be fine.”

Madam Dong only kept her eyes red, tightly gripping the silk handkerchief in her hand: “What do you understand! For no reason at all, how could someone come to our door to spread word about Lin’er’s affairs? There must be some wind of news.” She said while sobbing softly, “I said earlier today to go pick him up early, but he refused, insisting to wait until the final session ended before going to the examination hall. My child—”

At the end, her tone suddenly became sharp: “If anything really happens to my child, none of those people in the examination hall today should think of escaping!”

Dong Lin was the apple of Madam Dong’s eye. Whenever anything concerned her son, Madam Dong lost her usual composure and became hysterical. Sheng Quan didn’t dare say much more.

When the carriage reached the examination hall entrance, they could see from a distance that quite a crowd had gathered at the hall entrance. Several exam inspectors and supervisors were driving away the commoners watching the excitement, shouting: “Go, go, go! What are you all doing standing at the entrance? The autumn examination isn’t over yet—stay away from the hall entrance!”

Seeing this, Madam Dong immediately lifted her skirts and got off the carriage, walking aggressively toward the hall entrance. She grabbed an exam inspector and demanded: “Where is my son?”

The inspector didn’t recognize Madam Dong, but seeing her luxurious attire, he didn’t dare treat her lightly. His tone was not as fierce as before: “The autumn examination is not yet finished—”

“Where is my son?” Madam Dong interrupted him, her voice high and piercing. “Where is my Lin’er?”

Several co-examiners inside saw this and hurried over to inquire. Madam Dong, confident in her status as an official’s wife and with her son’s welfare at stake, naturally wasn’t afraid of them. She demanded to immediately see the corpse, or else let Dong Lin come out of the examination cell—she wanted to see her son whole and intact.

The co-examiner was sweating profusely and said with an apologetic smile: “Madam, all the examination cell doors are locked. If your son comes out now, this year’s autumn examination results will definitely be voided. As for the corpse…” He glanced behind him and spoke with difficulty: “With so many people watching outside, it might cause panic inside and outside the cells.”

Madam Dong sneered: “Won’t let my son out? Fine, then I’ll go in to see him—that works the same.”

“That’s even more impossible! No unrelated persons can enter the examination hall.”

The more he made excuses, the more suspicious Madam Dong became. Why wouldn’t these people let her go in to see Dong Lin, nor let her see the corpse? Out of nowhere, someone had come to the Dong family door saying a scholar had died. Could there be someone in the examination hall who had deliberately come to tip them off? These people looked fearful and hesitant, naturally making one think more…

With alarm in front and urgent hatred behind, Madam Dong’s anger actually made her calm down. She looked at the co-examiner before her: “Before the autumn examination ends, you won’t let anyone in or out. You say the dead scholar isn’t my son, but someone did die here, right?”

“Your examination hall’s food has problems. Every person in this examination ground could be the murderer. If that’s the case, then none of them should leave! Even after the autumn examination ends, no one is allowed to come out! Sheng Quan—” She called the guard’s name, her gaze suddenly fierce. “Have someone go to the Military Commission and say there’s been a case at the examination hall—someone tried to poison the students in the examination ground!”

Hearing this, the co-examiner’s face suddenly changed.

Madam Dong sneered repeatedly.

Her brother-in-law worked as a clerk at the Military Commission. Beijing’s public security was originally the Military Commission’s responsibility. Since the Ministry of Rites examiners wouldn’t let her in, she wouldn’t let these people out. Once the matter escalated, let’s see who could benefit!

While she was calculating, the two co-examiners exchanged glances, each seeing the unease in the other’s eyes.

The death of a poor scholar in the examination hall wasn’t really such a big matter. Even with all the rumors flying outside now, as long as there was no evidence, it would die down after some time.

But if the Military Commission got involved, that would be bad. The students in the examination cells couldn’t come out, and once they seriously investigated, the list of people taking the examination inside…

“This is bad,” one co-examiner leaned over and whispered to his companion. “Quickly tell the superior to think of a solution!”

…

This major incident at the examination hall entrance spread throughout Shengjing’s streets and alleys in an instant.

Inside the Right Palace Gate, Pei Yunying had just come out of the Purple Chen Hall.

The Imperial Guard was currently on duty, with only a few scattered guards remaining in the camp.

He entered the Marshal’s Mansion and had just removed his sword when Xiao Zhufeng walked in from outside.

Usually he was like a block of wood, his handsome face showing no expression whatsoever, but today he rarely showed a trace of amusement.

Pei Yunying couldn’t help but look at him a few more times and asked: “So happy? Did you find money?”

Xiao Zhufeng walked to the table and sat down, saying: “There’s been an incident at the examination hall.”

Pei Yunying paused.

“A scholar died, and there are rumors outside that someone poisoned the provisions distributed by the examination hall.”

Pei Yunying raised an eyebrow slightly and leaned back in his chair: “Impossible. It’s not like they’re idiots—who would make such a big show of targeting a scholar?”

Every year’s autumn examination affairs were prepared by the Ministry of Rites, and provisions were especially important. Setting aside other considerations, it would be absolutely impossible to poison them. Moreover, during the nine days and seven nights of the autumn examination, candidates were all in their cells. If someone really wanted to take action, why make such a big spectacle?

Pei Yunying pondered for a moment: “How did the rumors spread?”

“I heard the dead candidate smashed through his examination cell window and ran out. When the poison took effect, everyone inside and outside the examination hall saw it.” After a pause, Xiao Zhufeng added: “Military Commission people are now at the examination hall entrance too.”

“Military Commission?”

“The wife of the Minister of Imperial Treasury is causing trouble at the examination hall entrance. Her son took the examination this year. The Ministry of Rites won’t release people, so she called the Military Commission to help.”

Hearing this, as if remembering someone, Pei Yunying’s brow furrowed slightly as he said: “Dong Lin.”

He had seen that young master from the Minister of Imperial Treasury’s household—the sickly person who had an acute lung attack at Wan’en Temple. He hadn’t expected him to take the examination this year. It seemed his health had completely recovered.

He sat in his chair, lowered his gaze and thought for a while, then chuckled: “It seems the Ministry of Rites has offended someone.”

A candidate died in the examination hall, rumors spread everywhere, and just at this time the Minister of Imperial Treasury’s wife came to make trouble, even bringing in the Military Commission. No matter how you looked at it, this couldn’t be coincidental.

“In that case,” Pei Yunying suddenly smiled, “let’s add fuel to the fire too.”

Xiao Zhufeng met his gaze and immediately understood his intention: “You want to get involved?”

“Our people have been stuck in the Ministry of Rites for so long. If the positions above don’t open up, how can those below move up?” He smiled, dimples faintly visible at the corners of his mouth. “Such a good opportunity shouldn’t be wasted.”

“The Imperial Guard shouldn’t show its hand right now.”

“Who said anything about the Imperial Guard?” He spoke calmly and composedly. “Of course we’ll find someone to deliver this news to the Privy Council.”

The Privy Council was the Imperial Guard’s mortal enemy. Having the Privy Council take action while the Imperial Guard watched from across the river—not a single spark would touch them, which was perfect.

Xiao Zhufeng was silent for a moment: “That works too.”

Pei Yunying looked up. Sunlight fell through the window gap onto his face, coating his handsome features with a layer of warm, fuzzy light. He turned his head, staring at the distant tree shadows outside the window, his tone somewhat inexplicable.

“This Shengjing is becoming more and more lively.”

…

The examination hall entrance was extremely bustling.

Besides the common people watching from the perimeter, in just a short while, people from the Military Commission, Criminal Prison Bureau, and Hanlin Academy had all arrived. Even people from the Privy Council had somehow heard the news and come to the examination hall entrance to arrest people.

The Emperor, upon learning of the examination incident, was furious and specifically appointed ministers to thoroughly investigate the matter. The Imperial Medical Academy sent medical officials who were currently examining the poison in the deceased candidate.

The several chief examiners from the Ministry of Rites were anxious, but at this point they were caught between a rock and a hard place. With so many eyes watching, even if they wanted to use some trick, it would be difficult. There was no word from the vice minister either. Since they were still at the examination hall, they had no way of knowing the current situation in the palace. Their Ministry of Rites vice minister was now unable to protect himself.

The medical official who had gone to examine the corpse approached Scholar Zheng from the Hanlin Academy and said: “Sir, it was indeed death by poisoning, with the poison taking effect about two hours ago.”

Two hours ago, the autumn examination wasn’t yet finished.

Scholar Zheng stroked his long beard: “It seems the murderer is still hidden among these examination cells.”

The final session of the autumn examination had ended, but at this moment all the candidates remained in their examination cells, not daring to come out. With a murder case occurring in the examination hall, the candidates present, including the chief examiners, could all be murderers. Even if the Ministry of Rites people wanted to cover it up, under so many watchful eyes at this moment, they couldn’t make any moves.

After Madam Dong’s brother-in-law from the Military Commission arrived, she figured out that the poisoned person was not Dong Lin and had returned home by carriage—with so many different forces now gathered here, the situation’s development was beyond her control, so it was best to protect herself wisely.

Once she learned her son’s life was safe, mothers could always regain their clarity quickly.

The several chief examiners still wanted to cover up, but the Military Commission and Criminal Prison Bureau people had already begun checking the names of candidates in the examination cells one by one. This was routine verification, after all, they needed to count the current suspicious persons present. However, once they started checking, they discovered that throughout the entire examination hall, there were actually twelve candidates whose names didn’t match their actual persons at all.

To prevent people from sneaking into the examination ground to cheat, the roster contained not only candidates’ names but also small portraits. These twelve had slight discrepancies with the roster portraits. The Privy Council people glanced at the several chief examiners and suddenly sneered: “How strange. You gentlemen’s eyes seem fine, so how could you not notice such obvious differences in appearance?”

The other candidates had all come out of their examination cells and looked uneasily at the twelve people at the front.

The Military Commission clerk placed his hand on his sword hilt and stared coldly at those twelve people: “It seems there’s no need to investigate further. These twelve people whose names don’t match their identities are the poisoning murderers. Poisoning in the examination hall, murdering fellow candidates—according to law, they should be executed—”

“No!” The young man at the front of the twelve instinctively shouted: “Sir, Your Honors, we’ve been wronged! Even if you gave this lowly person a hundred times the courage, he wouldn’t dare kill anyone. This matter was not done by this lowly person!”

With his shout, the others around him also reacted and knelt on the ground together, crying out their innocence.

The clerk remained unmoved, looking down at the group condescendingly: “Full of excuses and lies! If you didn’t poison anyone, why did you sneak into the examination ground? Where did you take the original candidates—surely you killed them all together. Plotting murder at the feet of the Son of Heaven—your hearts deserve punishment—”

His intimidating act truly terrified the group. You must know that examination substitution and autumn examination fraud were merely imprisonment matters, not worth losing one’s life over. But if human lives were involved, that would be a capital offense.

They were just substituting for others in the examination, wanting to earn some pocket money. But to lose their lives for a bit of silver—only fools would do such a thing!

The man at the front made a quick decision, kowtowed heavily to the clerk, and spoke with grief and indignation: “Sir, Sir, it really wasn’t this lowly person who poisoned anyone! This lowly person entered the examination hall cells only to substitute for others in the examination. This lowly person took the examination in place of others, nothing more. He would never dare harm human lives!”

He shouted these words extremely loudly, not avoiding others. Whether he was shouting to the fierce officials before him or to someone else, everyone inside and outside the examination hall heard clearly.

Taking examinations for others, substituting in the examination?

At these words, the crowd erupted in uproar.

The officers and soldiers surrounding the examination hall revealed knowing smiles, while the several chief examiners in front of the examination cells instantly turned pale.