Chapter 108: Dao Fruit Evolution, Eternal Prodigy, People Want to See You Fall (3)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“What are you shouting for? We’re here on Prime Minister Qin’s orders to capture you. Not only you, but also your accomplices!”
“That Xu Shun used his status as a descendant of the Xu family to bribe the Left
Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Lord Xu You, with a hundred Origin
Spirit Coins and learned of the examination question in advance. As his accomplice, how wronged can you be?”
“Stay here properly and don’t shout. If you really cheat in the Spring Quarter Examination, you won’t have many days to live. Eat your fill and save your strength. It’ll be easier when you enter the netherworld.” The official said
Liu Yue’s entire body was cold and he trembled as if he had been struck by lightning.
Xu Shun… Xu Shun was indeed distantly related to the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Lord Xu You. In fact, after Liu Yue arrived in Lin’an, he even accompanied Xu Shun to visit.
However, at that time, Lord Xu You was still not the main examiner of the Spring Quarter Examination. Who knew that the Minister of Rites would be removed from the position of the main examiner of the Spring Quarter Examination and replaced by Lord Xu You?
Liu Yue’s entire body went numb. He had definitely never cheated, but Xu Shun might have!
He had been implicated by Xu Shun!
“No! I’ve never cheated. It’s not me! I, Liu Yue, am open and aboveboard. I have my own talent. I answered those questions myself!”
Liu Yue roared in fear and anger. He kept knocking on the cell door, but the official ignored him and had long left. Nine out of ten people who were imprisoned complained about their injustice. Was there a point in listening to them?
Yesterday, he had tasted the extravagance and prosperity of Lin’an Prefecture. Today, he had fallen into a filthy prison and seen the darkness of Lin’an.
Liu Yue sat on the hay with a numb feeling in his heart. He felt that the path ahead was dim and incomparably despairing.
He really hated Xu Shun to death.
Prime Minister Qin’s Residence.
The flowing water and the jade pool pavilion revealed the scenery.
In a pavilion in the pavilion, two people were playing chess under the pavilion. They were Qin Qianqiu and Wang Qinhe, who had become the laughingstock of Lin’an Prefecture recently.
During this period of time, they had been carrying jokes one after another, causing the relationship between the two of them to become deeper.
After being crushed and defeated by An Le, Wang Qinhe had been dispirited for a few days. During this period of time, he had gotten over it. After all, he was not like Luo Qingchen, who had a tofu Dao heart. He recovered very quickly and had a passable mentality.
“Prime Minister Qin returned to the Qin Residence yesterday. Why is the atmosphere in the residence so tense? Shouldn’t he be free after the Spring Quarter Examination?” Wang Qinhe asked curiously.
When he entered the Qin Residence today, he felt that the atmosphere in the residence had changed.
“Could it be that Ye Wenxi challenged your brother, Qin Hua’an?”
Qin Hua’an was currently ranked third on the Little Sacred Ranking which was also the most insecure position.
After the Spring Quarter Examination ended, the Hall Examination would be held soon. At that time, the top scholar of this Imperial Examination would be born. As Qin Qianqiu’s half-brother, if Qin Hua’an could win first place in the Hall Examination, not only would he humiliate the Lin Residence, but he might also have a chance to talk to the Sacred Teacher. This naturally made Prime Minister Qin pay attention.
During this period of time, no matter how much Prime Minister Qin liked Qin Qianqiu, he diverted a lot of his attention to Qin Hua’an.
“Of course not. My brother is extremely talented and overflowing with talent. There’s naturally no need to worry.”
“It’s just that a few days ago, someone reported that someone had cheated in the Spring Quarter Examination. Father was furious and ordered people to investigate thoroughly. He really found some clues, so he was so angry that he didn’t sleep the entire night.” Qin Qianqiu said slowly.
“Cheating in the Spring Quarter Examination? No wonder Prime Minister Qin is furious. As the official in charge of the Spring Quarter Examination this time, if there’s cheating involved, it’s equivalent to damaging Prime Minister Qin’s prestige and saying that Prime Minister Qin’s control is not strict.”
Wang Qinhe was instantly shocked. Cheating in the Imperial Examination was definitely not a small matter. It would even alarm His Majesty in the Heavenly Profound Palace.
“They’ve found out that a Provincial Scholar called Xu Shun is a distant relative of the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Xu You. He came to Lin’an and visited Xu You. That was when he leaked the question.”
“If this matter was done covertly, how could it be reported?”
Wang Qinhe was puzzled.
“That Xu Shun is on good terms with someone. He’s called Liu Yue. This person is talented in literature and is good at painting mountains and rivers. He’s majestic and has a poetic talent. He has a good reputation as a great scholar in Huating. These two people drank at the Drunken Dragon Pavilion yesterday.
Perhaps they were drunk, but they actually shouted that the top scholar of the List B Ranking List would be theirs. The two of them would even be invited to the imperial court to be officials and climb to the top.”
Qin Qianqiu placed the chessboard down, rolled up his sleeves, and picked up the West Lake Longjing tea to drink.
Wang Qinhe raised his eyebrows. “It’s not a big deal for a scholar to say a few words after getting drunk…”
A smile appeared on Qin Qianqiu’s lips. “Coincidentally, yesterday, the Confucian scholars on the Literary Music Ranking of the Literary Department were all drinking to drown their sorrows. They were unhappy and depressed that An Le had left them in the dust in the Heart Examining Forest. These two people also said that they were related to An Le and could support each other in the court in the future… The Confucian scholars on the Literary Music Ranking reported them in a fit of anger.”
“As a genius of Huating, Liu Yue can understandably say such arrogant words.
But who is that Xu Shun?”
“In the name of suspecting the three of them of cheating, I reported them to Father. In his anger, Father ordered a thorough investigation and really found out about Xu Shun…”
“The person Xu Shun bribed wasn’t Xu You, but Xu You’s servant. However,
Father was furious and implicated him. Xu You can only admit his bad luck.”
“What I’m concerned about is that… An Le is involved.”
Qin Qianqiu put down his teacup, his eyes shining.
“An Le is on good terms with Liu Yue and travels to West Lake every day. Many people have seen it with their own eyes. Therefore, An Le might be involved in this Spring Quarter Examination cheating situation and be considered a cheater.”
Qin Qianqiu smiled.
Wang Qinhe was stunned. Then, he rolled his eyes. “How is that possible?! An Le is extremely talented and his painting and calligraphy are top-notch. He’s famous in Lin’an. How can he cheat? Why would he cheat?!”
Qin Qianqiu looked at Wang Qinhe quietly. “We’ll just add fuel to the fire.
Coupled with the testimony of the Confucian scholars on the Literary Music Ranking, it’ll be said that he cheated. How can he prove his innocence? He does have supreme talent, but perhaps he wants to firmly enter the Hall Examination? The matters of scholars are illusory. It’s impossible to explain clearly. If you want to frame someone, there’s no need to hesitate.”
“No matter how talented you are, a group of scholars say that you cheated, so you can’t defend yourself. The Spring Quarter Examination won’t open another round for them. Even if he proves that he didn’t cheat, who cares? People in the world like to see geniuses collapse and fall into prison. Your reputation is already stinky, and it even affects your mind. The rest is not important.”
Qin Qianqiu held a chess piece and gently placed it on the chessboard.
He pushed in Wang Qinhe’s direction, making a slightly ear-piercing friction sound.
Wang Qinhe looked at the chess piece that was pushed over and could not help but be silent.
Imperial Ancestral Temple Alley, small courtyard.
An Le was sitting under the old locust tree in the courtyard, his mental power overflowing around him. The Ink Pool Sword was placed horizontally between his knees, and he was comprehending the secret technique contained in the Little Sacred Token, Sword Qi Draws Near.
Suddenly, An Le’s eyes moved slightly and he ended his comprehension. He frowned and slowly opened his eyes.
Hurried footsteps came from the alley, and a figure ran quickly.
Soon, he appeared in front of An Le.
An Le looked at the person who came and could not help but be stunned. This was because the Derson who came was none other than the constable of the Black Office, Huang Xian, whom he had not seen for a long time..
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