“When this old servant was returning just now, I happened to meet Nanny Luo, who had just returned from escorting Second Miss back to the Qin mansion. Nanny Luo told this old servant… on the way back to the mansion, Second Miss encountered the Second Madam of Earl Shoushan’s mansion…”

“Second Miss pretended to be extremely annoyed and told her about how Chun Xing from our mansion had climbed high branches to become a proper concubine at the Minister of Revenue’s mansion, but stole the late Empress’s relic… wanting to use it as her dowry. She also said she would return to the mansion to investigate whether any of the servants and maids that our Bai mansion had arranged before had any connection to this Chun Xing, and if so, they wouldn’t dare use them.”

After Nanny Tong finished speaking, she smiled: “Second Miss is also worried that Chun Xing might do something disgraceful in the future that others would blame on First Miss, so she’s clearing First Miss’s name in advance. Second Miss is truly thoughtful!”

The corners of Bai Qingyan’s mouth curved into a smile: “Chun Xing… won’t be able to go to the Minister’s mansion as a proper concubine.”

Nanny Tong didn’t ask why Chun Xing couldn’t become a concubine. Since their First Miss said Chun Xing couldn’t do it, then Chun Xing definitely couldn’t.

For some reason, Nanny Tong thought of Chun Xing’s mother, who had defended Chun Xing in every way today. If Chun Xing’s mother knew that Chun Xing couldn’t marry into the Minister’s mansion and had also lost her position as the County Princess’s personal head maid, and that no noble family would dare employ Chun Xing’s family in the future, how would Chun Xing’s mother treat Chun Xing?

Today Bai Qingyan had spoken once in front of the Emperor, and again in front of the Crown Prince and Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing. No matter what schemes Chu Zhongxing and Li Mao wanted to use Chun Xing for, Chun Xing could now only be a discarded piece.

If calculated honestly, Chun Xing hadn’t yet done anything to betray her, but Bai Qingyan couldn’t place her entire family’s safety at risk. Knowing that Li Mao and Chu Zhongxing might use Chun Xing to harm the Bai family… or herself, she couldn’t spare Chun Xing.

Just like when grandfather had shown a moment of mercy and spared Lu Tianzhuo, but Lu Tianzhuo… had wanted Xiao Jiu’s life, had wanted her life.

Therefore, mercy and kindness were two things that only absolute powerhouses and sage gentlemen were qualified to give. She was currently just a mayfly swept along by circumstances, with no extra mercy to spare for others. If she had such a heart, she should have more pity for herself and her family.

Although Chun Xing’s crisis had been resolved, if Li Mao and Chu Zhongxing truly insisted on moving against her, she had only discarded one Chun Xing without damaging their foundation. Who knew what else was waiting for her?

Behind her were the orphaned widows of the Bai family. If she left the capital… and Li Mao and Chu Zhongxing stirred up trouble again, she would be beyond reach.

“Nanny, have Uncle Ping send several reliable people to the inns where candidates stayed most during the metropolitan examination to inquire whether there are any candidates with great talent who had considerable prestige among the examinees… but failed the metropolitan examination.” Bai Qingyan turned to look at Nanny Tong, giving measured instructions. “Find out who among them has complained, believing that someone’s reputation doesn’t match their ability!”

Every year’s spring examination had candidates who thought highly of themselves and were dissatisfied. Every year’s spring examination had people engaging in favoritism and fraud, but no one was willing to be the bird that stuck its head out to expose the matter. The few who had stood up… either met with accidents and disappeared from this world, or knelt and surrendered before gold, silver, and power.

Over these years, noble families had repeatedly bribed chief examiners in the imperial examinations. Counting these past few rounds of examinations… fewer and fewer sons from humble families had risen to prominence.

In previous years, bribery among noble families had become a common practice, but no one managed it. This year, it would only be worse. This cohort of humble family sons wanting to advance would find it even more difficult.

Although Bai Qingyan was only beginning her preparations now, which was somewhat late, it wasn’t too late.

If examination fraud was discovered this time, the chief examiner and Hanlin Scholar Wen Zhenkang… the Left Chancellor definitely couldn’t be protected. Losing Wen Zhenkang, who could speak before the Emperor, the Left Chancellor would be like losing an arm.

Bai Qingyan’s eyes were as deep as water. Since Li Mao’s hand reached so far, extending to her side, she would make Li Mao experience the pain of having his hand severed.

“Also send people to secretly watch the capital… those noble and official families whose descendants are taking the palace examination this time. See which families are purchasing large quantities of red paper for reward money, firecrackers, and preparing banquets in advance.” Bai Qingyan thought for a moment and added, “Also, investigate which families are buying large quantities of rice after the metropolitan examination ends but before the palace examination, preparing to distribute porridge…”

In the past, noble families whose descendants could reach the palace examination stage would prepare red paper wrapped reward money, firecrackers, and banquets at home. After their examination-taking descendants finished the palace examination, if they felt they could occupy a position in the first rank, they would immediately send people to buy large quantities of rice. When the results were announced, they would celebrate grandly, distribute money and porridge. If they were in the top few of the second rank, they would naturally celebrate joyfully as well.

If they fell to the third rank, they would just symbolically distribute some celebratory money.

Because over these years, bribery in imperial examinations among noble families had become common practice, with no one below daring to speak up and no one above willing to control it, the current noble families’ conduct had become increasingly unscrupulous. Most would prepare all celebration methods before the results were announced, to avoid being caught unprepared or, despite ranking high, not celebrating as grandly as other families, which would invite criticism.

Therefore, by observing these noble families’ purchasing activities, one could roughly guess who would be in the top ten.

Nanny Tong nodded: “This old servant understands.”

The next day was the palace examination. After Bai Jinxiu and Qin Lang left, Second Madam Liu threw herself into Fourth Madam Wang’s small Buddhist hall, worshipping Buddha together with Fourth Madam Wang.

At dinner time, when everyone gathered at the Grand Princess’s place for a lively evening meal, Third Madam Li mentioned this to the Grand Princess. Second Madam Liu only said it was last-minute cramming for peace of mind.

That evening, even Dong Shi knelt and prayed to the gods and Buddha, asking them to bless Dong Changyuan and Qin Lang to achieve first place.

Liu Shi tossed and turned sleeplessly. The next day she sent several groups of people to investigate, until Bai Jinxiu sent her personal maid Cui Bi back with news, only then did Liu Shi feel at ease.

The palace examination was much more comfortable than the previous examinations, after all, it was conducted before the imperial presence.

The Emperor set the examination questions and sat on the high dragon throne, holding a teacup and drinking tea. Looking out at the young talents seated in front in the great hall, he vaguely felt that he was getting old.

Perhaps suddenly feeling uncomfortable in his heart, the Emperor was even less inclined to follow custom and walk around to observe, waving his hand for the Crown Prince to take his place.

Because Qin Lang was Bai Qingyan’s brother-in-law, the Crown Prince lingered beside Qin Lang a bit longer. He didn’t seriously look at what Qin Lang was writing, only feeling that Qin Lang’s handwriting was very elegant and clean.

After the palace examination ended, Liu Shi sent people to inquire about the situation. Qin Lang said that although he didn’t yet know what rank he could achieve, he had done his absolute best to answer to the best of his ability. But this palace examination was filled with talent, and what rank he could achieve depended entirely on heaven’s will.

Bai Qingyan felt that Qin Lang’s ranking wouldn’t be low.

Qin Lang was someone the current Emperor had specifically mentioned and praised as a model among noble family sons. The chief examiner would naturally give face to the current Emperor.

After a day interval, the golden list will be posted the day after tomorrow.