“Hanlin Scholar Wen Zhenkang is Left Chancellor Li Mao’s man – you should know this! But Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing is also Li Mao’s man… You probably don’t know that!” Bai Qingyan gestured for Bai Jinxiu to sit on the stone bench. “Since Li Mao has reached his hand to my presence, if I don’t break one of his arms, how will he know pain, how will he know fear?”

She placed the wet cloth on the black lacquered tray in Chun Tao’s hands, then continued: “They did these things themselves. No matter how capable others are, they can only go with the flow and add fuel to the fire.”

“Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing is also Li Mao’s man?!” Bai Jinxiu was greatly surprised.

“When the Second Prince rebelled and died, all his connections went to Prince Liang. So Jinxiu… never let Prince Liang’s weak facade deceive your eyes.” Bai Qingyan poured a cup of tea for Bai Jinxiu and pushed it in front of her. “I’ve already thought it through. If I’m afraid of breaking precious vessels while catching mice, I won’t be able to break Li Mao’s arm! Although making a big fuss will void the results, making a big fuss also has its benefits. Qin Lang and cousin Changyuan both have real talent and learning – they’re not afraid of retaking the exam!”

After Bai Jinxiu pondered with lowered eyes, she nodded: “Elder sister speaks reasonably!”

“Where is Qin Lang?” Bai Qingyan asked.

“Hearing that failed candidates were causing trouble at Wude Gate, he was called there by friends.” After Bai Jinxiu finished speaking, she stood up and curtsied to Bai Qingyan. “I’ll send someone to call Qin Lang back. Taking advantage of this time, he should study hard at home, striving to make an effort when retaking the exam!”

She nodded to Bai Jinxiu.

Just after Bai Jinxiu left, Lu Ping arrived.

Several of the servants Lu Ping had sent out to gather information had returned, bringing new news.

They reported that Chancellor Lu had entered the palace and come out again. Unlike when he went in such haste, Chancellor Lu’s two sons had also come out from the Ministry of Justice and returned home. Grand Tutor Chen, upon hearing the news, had also prepared his carriage to enter the palace.

Chancellor Lu was indeed the most skilled at protecting himself in court, slippery as a mudfish. Upon hearing the wind, he immediately went to the palace to plead guilty. Grand Tutor Chen, probably seeing Chancellor Lu’s actions and guessing why he entered the palace, also hurriedly went to plead guilty to the Emperor.

Once these two pleaded guilty before the Emperor, the Emperor would know just how serious the current examination bribery trend was. The angrier the Emperor became… the more dangerous Wen Zhenkang would be.

The Left Chancellor must be sitting restlessly right now!

She squinted her eyes, her fingers tapping the stone table intermittently. Now that news of examination fraud was spreading like wildfire outside, Wen Zhenkang’s family members must be extremely anxious.

This was Wen Zhenkang’s first time as chief examiner, yet he dared to be so arrogant in openly accepting gifts. Could this also be because he had Left Chancellor Li Mao backing him?

If Left Chancellor Li Mao was truly involved, and someone guided Wen Zhenkang’s family to seek help from the Left Chancellor, the Left Chancellor would probably be not only restless but also panicked. Even if Li Mao wasn’t involved, he would still have a headache!

Thinking of this, Bai Qingyan had Chun Tao summon Nanny Tong.

Bai Qingyan’s idea was to work from the inner quarters. Right now, Wen Zhenkang’s wife would certainly be anxious and confused – starting from there would be most appropriate.

Nanny Tong understood immediately upon hearing: “Miss, rest assured about this matter. This old servant will get it done.”

After this palace examination, the golden list was originally to be posted on the third day of the fourth month. But because nearly a hundred candidates knelt outside Wude Gate, beating the petition drum and begging the Emperor for justice, there was no golden list on the third day of the fourth month. Instead, there was an imperial edict for the examination fraud case to be jointly investigated by the Minister of Justice and the Crown Prince, with a three-day deadline to solve the case.

The Crown Prince was greatly troubled – this was a job that would offend people. Which of the noble and official families with candidates in this spring’s examination hadn’t sent gifts?

But the Emperor intended to punish severely without mercy. Except for the two grandsons of Chancellor Lu’s mansion and Grand Tutor Chen’s grandson, whose policy essays indeed had merit, all others who bribed would be severely punished and permanently barred from employment.

Some sought out Minister of Justice Lu Jin, but Lu Jin closed his doors to visitors and refused all gifts. At the height of this storm, unless Lu Jin didn’t want his official position, he could only ignore everything.

The Crown Prince wasn’t as strong-willed as Lu Jin. He initially accommodated several noble families, but later couldn’t withstand the pressure and summoned his advisors to discuss finding a way that wouldn’t offend people.

Qin Shangzhi’s opinion was that the state has state laws, and families have family rules. The Crown Prince, as heir apparent, should conduct himself uprightly. Before national law, there should be no personal feelings – only thus could the Emperor see the Crown Prince’s capable side.

But Old Fang said the Crown Prince should see them individually and scold them, agreeing to those who wept and begged first, then later, when judging with Lu Jin, make the sentences heavier, then go before the Emperor to plead for leniency. That way… these noble and eunuch families would become hearts won over by the Crown Prince.

But Qin Shangzhi was deeply disgusted by this. After all, the current Crown Prince was no longer the original Prince Qi – he was now the heir apparent, the foundation of the state. The foundation should be upright for the state to be proper!

But the Crown Prince, after pondering, thought Old Fang’s idea was good, nearly driving Qin Shangzhi to his wits’ end.

The heir apparent of the state, wanting to win hearts, wasn’t wrong, but hearts should never be won through such methods. Examination bribery corrupted the foundation of the state – such great evil… how could the Crown Prince tolerate it? If these corrupt ministers remained in court, what future would the Jin state have?

The polo tournament originally scheduled by the Third Prince for the sixth day of the fourth month also had fewer noble families attending than expected due to the examination fraud case’s impact.

Those involved in bribery naturally had no mood to come. Noble and official families not involved in bribery but with examination candidates at home naturally had to keep their people confined at home studying hard, in case the Emperor ordered a retake of the exam.

The Third Prince organized this polo match originally to select young ladies from various families for his son, seeing which family’s daughter might catch his son’s eye, so he could have the Princess Consort inquire and find his son a suitable match. So for the Third Prince… as long as the young ladies from various families came, that was enough.

On the polo field, groups of three to five were discussing the examination fraud case.

Bai Jinxiu sat briefly, overhearing someone say that Wen Zhenkang’s wife had gone to the Left Chancellor’s mansion the night before, reportedly staying for a long time before coming out. She used this as an excuse to take her leave and return to the Bai family to tell Bai Qingyan about this matter.

“Wen Zhenkang’s wife was originally a remarried woman after divorce… When women gather together, they talk about unseemly romantic affairs. But I think… since Wen Zhenkang’s wife stayed at the Left Chancellor’s mansion for so long, she must have bargained with the Left Chancellor. She probably has some leverage to use against Li Mao.”

Bai Jinxiu moved closer to Bai Qingyan and lowered her voice: “I will find a way to get that leverage from Wen Zhenkang’s wife.”

“No matter what kind of leverage Wen Zhenkang’s wife holds, Wen Zhenkang’s life cannot be saved.” Bai Qingyan pursed her lips and smiled at Bai Jinxiu. “If you can get it, that would naturally be best. If you can’t, don’t force it.”

“Elder sister, rest assured!” Bai Jinxiu nodded, then saw Nanny Tong lift the curtain and come in from outside.