At the residence of the Director of the Imperial Treasury, Madam Dong was preparing her makeup before a mirror.

The final session of the autumn examinations would end at noon today, and Madam Dong planned to meet Dong Lin at the examination hall gates.

Dong Lin was her only son. Over the years, due to his poor health, he had never taken the examinations before—he didn’t even know which direction the examination hall gates faced. This was Dong Lin’s first time taking the examinations, and regardless of whether he passed or not, Madam Dong wanted to make an appearance before others. Naturally, she needed to dress elegantly to give her son a face.

Behind her, a maid inserted a pearl and jade ornamental hairpin into her coiffure, but the movement was too forceful and pulled her hair. Madam Dong cried out in pain, and the maid immediately knelt to beg forgiveness.

Madam Dong glared at her: “How clumsy!” She inserted the hairpin herself, examined her reflection in the mirror until satisfied, and then asked the servants nearby: “What time is it? Is the carriage ready? Shengquan, Shengquan—”

After calling twice, the guard didn’t enter. Instead, a young servant rushed in, his face panic-stricken, immediately kneeling before Madam Dong: “Madam, terrible news!”

Madam Dong glanced at him, asking irritably: “What now?”

“In the examination hall—something’s happened in the examination hall—”

“What?”

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

“They say… they say a scholar died in one of the examination cells.”

A scholar died in an examination cell.

Madam Dong had been listening halfheartedly, but in an instant, as if suddenly comprehending the words’ meaning, her expression changed dramatically.

She stood up abruptly, staring intently at the person on the ground: “Who died?”

“This lowly one doesn’t know. People passing by the examination hall said there was a huge commotion inside. They only glimpsed someone in crimson clothes, and there was loud shouting about someone poisoning the provisions in the examination baskets.”

Hearing the words “crimson clothes,” Madam Dong swayed, nearly fainting.

Crimson clothes!

The new outfit Dong Lin wore to the examination was a crimson silk robe she had specially ordered from the tailor, hoping it would bring good fortune for his first examination.

That person could be her dear Lin’er!

Madam Dong cried out “My son!” and staggered several steps before the maids quickly helped her sit down in a chair.

“Has the master been informed?”

“The master is still in the palace, but someone has been sent to notify him.”

Madam Dong gritted her teeth: “Waiting for him to return… at a time like this!” She suddenly stood up, “Quickly, prepare the carriage, I’m going to the examination hall now!”

Upon receiving the news, Madam Dong couldn’t wait any longer and immediately ordered the carriage to prepare for the examination hall. Along the way, guard Shengquan rode ahead on horseback, trying to comfort her: “Don’t worry, Madam. The news from the examination hall is unclear. Young Master is blessed by heaven, he surely won’t come to harm.”

Madam Dong, eyes red, clutched her silk handkerchief tightly: “What do you know! Why would someone come to our door with news about Lin’er for no reason? There must be some truth to it.” She continued sobbing softly, “I said we should go pick him up earlier today, but he refused, insisting on waiting until the final session ended. My son—”

Her voice suddenly turned sharp: “If anything has happened to my son, none of those people in the examination hall will escape!”

Dong Lin was the apple of Madam Dong’s eye. Whenever something involved her son, she lost all composure and became hysterical. Shengquan dared not say more.

When the carriage reached the examination hall gates, they could see from afar that a crowd had gathered. Several patrol examiners and superintendents were trying to drive away the onlookers, shouting: “Go away, what are you all standing around for? The autumn examination isn’t over yet, stay away from the gates—”

Seeing this, Madam Dong immediately descended from the carriage, lifting her skirts, and strode forcefully toward the gates, grabbing a patrol examiner to demand: “Where is my son?”

The patrol examiner didn’t recognize Madam Dong but, seeing her luxurious attire, dared not slight her. His tone was less harsh than before: “The autumn examination hasn’t ended yet—”

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

Several associate examiners inside saw the situation and hurried over to inquire. Madam Dong, relying on her status as an official’s wife and concerned for her son, naturally wasn’t afraid of them. She demanded to see the body immediately, or else have Dong Lin come out from his examination cell—she needed to see her son safe and sound.

The associate examiner was sweating profusely, smiling apologetically: “Madam, all the examination cells are locked. If your son comes out now, his examination results for this year will be invalidated. As for the body…” He glanced behind him, speaking with difficulty: “With so many people watching outside, it might cause panic inside and outside the examination cells.”

Madam Dong smiled coldly: “Won’t let my son out? Fine, then I’ll go in to see him, it’s the same thing.”

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

The more they refused, the more suspicious Madam Dong became. Why wouldn’t they let her see Dong Lin or the body? Someone had come to the Dong residence to report a scholar’s death—could it be that someone inside the examination hall deliberately sent word? These people’s hesitant manner and careful glances inevitably raised questions…

With suspicion before her and urgent hatred behind them, Madam Dong’s anger made her calm down. She looked at the associate examiner before her: “You say no one can enter or leave before the examination ends, and you claim the dead scholar isn’t my son, but someone did die here, right?”

“There’s a problem with your examination hall’s food, and everyone inside could be the murderer. If that’s the case, then no one leaves! Even after the examination ends, no one is allowed out! Shengquan—” she called her guard’s name, her gaze suddenly turning fierce, “Send someone to the Military Bureau and tell them there’s a case at the examination hall—someone tried to poison the students inside!”

Hearing this, the associate examiner’s face changed dramatically.

Madam Dong continued her cold laughter.

Her brother-in-law was a magistrate in the Military Bureau, and the capital’s security matters fell under their jurisdiction. Since these examination officials wouldn’t let her in, she wouldn’t let them out. Once the matter escalated, let’s see who would benefit!

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

A poor scholar dying in the examination hall might not be a big matter. Even with rumors spreading outside, without evidence, things would settle down after some time.

However, the Military Bureau’s involvement was problematic. If the students couldn’t leave their cells and a thorough investigation was conducted, the list of examination participants…

“This is bad,” one associate examiner turned aside, whispering to his companion, “Quick, tell the senior officials to think of something!”

…

The incident at the examination hall gates quickly spread throughout the capital’s streets and alleys.

Inside the Right Wing Palace Gate, Pei Yunying had just left the Purple Dawn Hall.

It was the Palace Guard’s watch time, with only a few scattered guards remaining in the camp.

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

Usually as expressionless as a block of wood despite his handsome face, today he showed a rare hint of a smile.

Pei Yunying couldn’t help but look at him a few extra times, asking: “So happy? Did you find money on the ground?”

Xiao Zhufeng sat down at the table and said: “Something’s happened at the examination hall.”

Pei Yunying paused.

“A scholar died. There are rumors that someone poisoned the provisions distributed in the examination hall.”

Pei Yunying raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair, “Impossible. Who would be foolish enough to make such a public display of dealing with a mere scholar?”

The Ministry of Rites prepared everything for the annual autumn examinations, with provisions being especially important. If nothing else, it would be impossible to poison them. Moreover, during the nine days and seven nights of the autumn examination, candidates were confined to their cells—if someone wanted to act, why make such a spectacle?

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

“They say the dying candidate broke his cell window and ran out. Everyone inside and outside the examination hall saw him when the poison took effect.” After a pause, Xiao Zhufeng added: “The Military Bureau’s people are at the examination hall gates now.”

“The Military Bureau?”

“The Director of the Imperial Treasury’s wife is causing a scene at the examination hall gates. Her son took the examination this year. When the Ministry of Rites wouldn’t release anyone, she called the Military Bureau for help.”

Hearing this, as if remembering someone, Pei Yunying’s brows furrowed slightly, saying: “Dong Lin.”

He had seen that young master from the Imperial Treasury Director’s household before—the sickly one who had an acute lung attack at Wan’en Temple. Unexpected that he would take the examination this year; it seems his health had fully recovered.

He sat in his chair, lowering his eyes in thought for a while, then laughed coldly: “It seems the Ministry of Rites has offended someone.”

A candidate died in the examination hall, rumors spreading everywhere, and right at this time, the Imperial Treasury Director’s wife comes to make trouble and brings in the Military Bureau—none of this seemed coincidental.

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

Xiao Zhufeng met his gaze, immediately understanding his intention, “You want to get involved?”

“Our people have been in the Ministry of Rites for so long. If the positions above don’t open up, how can those below move up?” He smiled, his dimple appearing faintly, “We can’t waste such a good opportunity.”

“The Palace Guard can’t appear directly right now.”

“Who said anything about the Palace Guard?” he spoke calmly, “Of course, we’ll have someone send this news to the Privy Council.”

The Privy Council was the Palace Guard’s sworn enemy. Having the Privy Council take action while the Palace Guard watched from across the river would keep them completely clean of any sparks.

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

Pei Yunying looked up, sunlight filtering through the window lattice fell on his face, casting his handsome features in a warm, velvet light. He turned his head, staring at the distant tree shadows outside the window, his tone somewhat enigmatic.

“This capital is becoming more and more lively.”

…

The examination hall gates were extremely busy.

Beyond the common people watching from the periphery, in just moments, people from the Military Bureau, Justice Bureau, and Scholar’s Academy had all arrived. Even the Privy Council’s people had somehow heard the news and came to make arrests.

The Emperor, upon learning of the examination incident, was furious and appointed officials to thoroughly investigate. The Imperial Medical Academy had sent officials to examine the poison in the dead candidate’s body.

The Ministry of Rites’ chief examiners were extremely anxious, but now they were riding a tiger and couldn’t dismount—with so many eyes watching, even if they wanted to use some tricks, it would be difficult. There was no news from the Vice Minister, and since they were still in the examination hall, they had no way of knowing the palace’s current situation. Their Ministry of Rites Vice Minister was already struggling to protect himself.

The medical official who went to examine the body approached Scholar Zheng from the Scholar’s Academy: “Sir, death was indeed by poison, approximately two hours ago when it took effect.”

Two hours ago, the autumn examination hadn’t yet ended.

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 now all candidates remained in their cells, not daring to leave. With murder in the examination hall, everyone present, including the chief examiners, could be the killer. Even if the Ministry of Rites people wanted to cover it up, with so many eyes watching, they couldn’t manipulate anything.

After her brother-in-law from the Military Bureau arrived, Madam Dong learned that the poisoned person wasn’t Dong Lin and had returned home by carriage—with so many factions gathered here, the situation’s development was beyond her control; it was best to stay out of it.

Once assured of her son’s safety, a mother could regain clarity very quickly.

While several chief examiners still tried to cover things up, the Military Bureau and Justice Bureau people had already begun checking the candidates in the cells against the registry—this was standard procedure to identify all suspicious persons present. However, the check revealed that in the entire examination hall, there were twelve candidates whose identities didn’t match their registration at all.

To prevent imposters from entering and cheating, the registry included not only candidates’ names but also small portraits. These twelve people’s appearances differed slightly from their registry portraits. Someone from the Privy Council glanced at the chief examiners and suddenly laughed coldly: “How strange. Your eyes seem fine, yet you couldn’t notice such significant differences in appearance.”

The other candidates had already come out from their cells, watching uneasily as the twelve people at the front.

The Military Bureau magistrate, hand on his sword, stared coldly at the twelve and spoke: “It seems we need to look no further—these twelve whose names don’t match their faces must be the poisoners. Poisoning the examination hall, murdering fellow candidates, by law deserves execution—”

“No!” One of the young men at the front of the twelve instinctively cried out: “Officials, great lords, this is unjust! Even with a hundred times more courage, this lowly one would never dare commit murder. This matter truly wasn’t our doing!”

His cry prompted the others around him to react, all kneeling together to plead their innocence.

The magistrate remained unmoved, looking down at them: “Full of cunning words and endless lies! If you didn’t poison anyone, why did you sneak into the examination? Where are the original candidates you replaced—surely you killed them all. Plotting murder under the Son of Heaven’s feet, your hearts are condemnable—”

His theatrical intimidation truly frightened the group out of their wits. They knew that examination fraud and impersonation would only lead to imprisonment, not death, but if connected to murder, that was a capital offense.

They had only substituted for others in the examination to earn some money. Who would be foolish enough to risk their lives for a bit of silver?

The man at the front made a swift decision, kowtowing heavily to the magistrate and crying out in anguish: “Great lord, it truly wasn’t us who poisoned anyone. We entered the examination cells only to take the test for others. We were exam substitutes, nothing more—we didn’t dare take any lives!”

He shouted these words very loudly, not avoiding others’ ears, perhaps shouting for the fierce officials before him, or perhaps for others, but everyone inside and outside the examination hall heard clearly.

Substituting in the examination, taking the test for others?

These words caused an immediate uproar among the crowd.

The soldiers surrounding the examination hall revealed knowing smiles, while the chief examiners at the front of the cells suddenly turned pale.