Qin Prince's Mansion.
"Starting tomorrow, Father should publicly claim to be unwell until the provincial exams conclude. This would be the safest course of action." Song Shihuan propped her chin in her hands, her grown-up demeanor amusing Song Yu so much that he burst into laughter.
"I’ll leave it all to Ah Huan."
"As for the reason for the illness... let’s say it’s due to distress over the affairs of Ping Prince's Mansion. That way, Father can also be seen as a compassionate elder brother."
Not only did she want her father to smoothly avoid prying eyes and pass the provincial exams, but she also aimed to earn the Qin Prince's Mansion a wave of goodwill.
"Ah Huan, I’ve noticed that little head of yours is exceptionally sharp."
Song Yu glanced at an essay on statecraft lying on the table and deliberately drawled, "This is something I just finished. Might I trouble the young lady to take a look?"
Liuxi and Yingchun, standing guard by the door, couldn’t help but chuckle.
"Ahem..." Song Shihuan cleared her throat. "Fine, I’ll take a look—but just a glance."
The moment she said this, Liuxi and Yingchun doubled over with laughter.
The next day.
At the morning court session, Song Yu’s seat was conspicuously empty.
"Why is the Prince of Qin absent today?" Emperor Yuanyou voiced the question on every minister’s mind.
"Your Majesty, Prince Qin fell ill due to distress over the affairs of Ping Prince's Mansion and has requested leave," Wu Qi hastily replied.
"Very well."
Having already received word from the Qin Prince's Mansion, Emperor Yuanyou granted permission without hesitation.
The other ministers assumed Song Yu would only be absent for a few days.
But gradually, they began to sense something amiss.
On the first day, Prince Qin did not attend court.
On the second day, he was still absent.
...
By the seventh day, there was still no sign of him.
Unable to contain their curiosity, some ministers approached Mei Zhilin. "Physician Mei, how long must Prince Qin recuperate?"
"His Highness suffers from a heart ailment—it’s hard to predict," Mei Zhilin replied, feeling for the first time like a charlatan peddling false cures. "It could be half a year, or even three to five years."
"So long?"
Mei Zhilin’s words spread like wildfire.
While the common people praised Prince Qin’s loyalty and righteousness, their disdain for Ping Prince's Mansion grew.
To think they had caused Prince Qin such distress!
...
A few days later, Qin Prince's Mansion.
"Your Highness’s feigned illness is a stroke of genius," Shen Mingwen nodded approvingly. "If you had traveled to Ji'an Prefecture as openly as before, it would have drawn too much attention. This way, you can go unnoticed."
"It was Ah Huan’s idea." Song Yu’s face brimmed with pride.
"Your Highness, I came today to give you a thorough overview of the provincial exams." Shen Mingwen had racked his brain to find something he could offer that Ye Shijie couldn’t, hoping to impress Song Yu.
"My thanks, Grand Tutor."
Naturally, Song Yu wouldn’t pass up this chance for private tutoring and sat up attentively.
"The provincial exams are the gateway to officialdom, making the competition fiercer than the preliminary exams. For a chance at power, men will stoop to any depravity." Shen Mingwen fixed Song Yu with a solemn gaze. "Your Highness must be on guard—trust no one, especially not the unscrupulous."
"Are you saying someone might resort to underhanded tactics?" Song Yu narrowed his eyes. "If anyone dares play tricks in my presence, I’ll cut off their hands."
"Be wary of anything you consume or wear close to your body."
Having said his piece, Shen Mingwen shuddered at the memories of the vile schemes he’d witnessed during his own exams.
"The exams last three days. Even if the examination hall catches fire, no one may enter to intervene. The subjects tested include the Four Books and Five Classics, policy debates, and essays—but mastery of the classics remains paramount, as it determines whether one passes."
Shen Mingwen took a sip of tea. "However, in my experience, those who rank first invariably excel in policy essays."
He left the implication hanging.
Song Yu’s eyes gleamed with determination.
He was no longer the prince who struggled with policy essays!
"My thanks for your guidance, Grand Tutor."
Satisfied, Shen Mingwen departed as quietly as he had arrived.
...
Three days after Shen Mingwen’s warning about the ruthlessness of the exams, Song Yu received a letter from Ji'an Prefecture.
It was from Master Guo. As he opened it, Song Yu braced himself—had Old Man Ye written another scathing letter?
But when he read the contents, he slammed the table in outrage. "How could this happen? Absurd!"
Beside him, Shen Qingping exchanged a glance with Song Shihuan, who immediately stepped forward to read the letter with him.
"Zheng Fang assaulted and murdered a woman? That doesn’t sound like him."
Song Shihuan’s voice rose in disbelief. Zheng Fang was the epitome of a refined scholar, one who prized honor above all—how could he commit such a crime?
"The letter says the county magistrate is ready to close the case, with witnesses and evidence in place," Shen Qingping pointed out.
Had it not been for Shen Mingwen’s earlier warning, Song Yu might have remained stuck in shock and denial.
But now...
Song Yu snorted coldly. "This reeks of sabotage. With the exams approaching, someone wants Zheng Fang disgraced and disqualified."
Two pairs of eyes snapped toward him.
"Father’s theory makes perfect sense."
"Zheng Fang is a promising talent I’ve taken under my wing. I won’t let him be trampled like this." Song Yu struck the table again. "I’ll investigate this myself."
"Your Highness should focus on your studies. Leave Zheng Fang’s matter to me," Shen Qingping urged.
Song Shihuan nodded. "Father, the exams are too important for distractions."
"Very well. I entrust this to you."
As Song Yu lowered his gaze to his book, he felt the weight of the exams’ brutality.
The mere promise of officialdom was enough to drive men to madness.
...
Days later, a memorial penned by Ye Shijie himself arrived from Ji'an Prefecture and was presented to Emperor Yuanyou.
During court, the Emperor ordered Wu Qi to read it aloud.
As the ministers puzzled over why a mere scholar’s case had reached the throne, Emperor Yuanyou spoke:
"During the preliminary exams, the top candidate in Ji'an Prefecture was a man named Guo Feng."
"Along with the memorial, Ye Shijie sent a letter stating that Guo Feng is willing to stake his life on Zheng Fang’s innocence, suspecting the true culprit aims to disrupt the exams."
"Given the stakes for the imperial examinations, I cannot overlook this."
Song Shihuan’s carefully crafted scheme had brought Zheng Fang’s plight to light.
"Shen Qingping."
"Your servant is here."
"As the son of a top scholar, you shall go to Ji'an Prefecture and uncover the truth."
Emperor Yuanyou declared with finality:
"Where the imperial exams are concerned, I will show no leniency."
