The men sent to Guanzhang Prefecture quickly returned to Ji'an Prefecture.
"Your Highness, Princess, the city gates of Guanzhang Prefecture are heavily guarded. They aren’t stopping ordinary citizens from entering or leaving—only scholars."
Heavy guards, yet only scholars are barred.
How peculiar.
"Only scholars?" Song Yu set down the book in his hand. "The provincial exam results were just announced, and they dare to block scholars? If there weren’t something wrong with this exam, why would they do this?"
He’d stake his reputation as the top scorer on it—those bastards in Guanzhang Prefecture must have messed up.
Daring to tamper with the imperial examinations? Their ancestors must be rolling in their graves.
A sharp glint flashed in Song Yu’s eyes as he turned to Song Shihuan and Shen Qingping. "Ah-Huan, my presence would be too conspicuous. You and Shen Qingping should go to Guanzhang Prefecture instead."
"As for the reason—"
Before Song Yu could finish, Song Shihuan cut in sharply, "There’s a ready-made excuse. Guanzhang Prefecture has detained one of my people."
"I’ll go personally to demand her release."
The female coroner she had chosen—who dared to lay a hand on her?
......
At the same time, in Guanzhang Prefecture.
A crowd of provincial exam candidates had gathered outside the magistrate’s office, their faces twisted in outrage, demanding an explanation from the authorities.
"Brother Feng is a man of extraordinary talent—how could he have failed? There must be foul play!"
"How could a scoundrel like Lu Wenchao possibly pass?"
Inside the office, Magistrate Guan Ji paced anxiously. "These candidates have no respect for authority, daring to question the official results!"
The other officials were no better, their foreheads slick with cold sweat.
They had arranged for Young Master Lu to leave Guanzhang Prefecture immediately after the results were posted, yet the unrest had still erupted.
"Sir, we can’t let them keep causing trouble like this. Stationing heavy guards at the city gates isn’t a long-term solution, and then there’s the matter of that female coroner..."
Guan Ji shot the speaking official a glare, silencing him instantly.
"Sir, perhaps we could offer that Feng candidate some compensation—have the Lu family pay him off to keep his mouth shut," another official suggested. "Once he takes the money, he’ll stop stirring trouble."
"Do as you say."
Guan Ji wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve. This was his first time meddling with the exams, and his conscience was far from clear.
So uneasy that he hadn’t even dared to hold the traditional celebratory banquet.
"Sir, what about... the princess’s coroner?"
The official who spoke let out a heavy sigh. "That coroner is sharp-witted, and she happened to witness the commotion... This won’t be easy to handle."
"If this reaches the princess, we’ll all lose our heads."
Guan Ji’s voice sent a chill through the room. "She’s just a lowly coroner—the princess surely doesn’t value her much. Find an excuse to dispose of her."
"You handle it personally."
"Rest assured, Sir. It’ll be taken care of cleanly."
......
That night, the door to a secluded room creaked open. Yue Qing immediately struggled, but the rag stuffed in her mouth muffled her cries.
"Little lady, if you obey me, I promise you’ll live in comfort—no more dirty work as a coroner," Zhou Bing leered. "The order was to eliminate you, but I couldn’t bear to do it."
"Mmph—!" Yue Qing thrashed harder.
Zhou Bing yanked the rag from her mouth, only for Yue Qing to spit in his face.
"You’ve got some nerve!" He slapped her hard. "Tonight’s our wedding night. From now on, you’ll stay hidden in this room—it’s the only way you’ll survive. Understand?"
With that, he tore off his outer robe and lunged at her.
At the critical moment, a shadow loomed behind Zhou Bing. A brick came crashing down on his skull.
Zhou Bing collapsed instantly.
"Miss Yue, are you alright?"
"Young Master Feng!"
Yue Qing recognized the man, her pupils shrinking in shock.
"It’s me." Feng Kuizhi’s hands trembled around the brick. "I saw them sneaking someone in here and followed. I never expected it to be you. We can’t stay—let’s go."
Noticing Yue Qing’s gaze on the brick, he hastily dropped it.
Grabbing her sleeve, he pulled her outside.
"You saw me petitioning the authorities, so they won’t let you go easily. But I swear, I’ll clear my name—I won’t let you die because of me."
His words carried on the wind to Yue Qing, who was still reeling.
So this was the brilliant Feng Kuizhi everyone spoke of?
......
The next day.
"What? She escaped?!"
A teacup shattered on the floor as Guan Ji erupted in fury. "Useless! Can’t even handle one woman?"
"Sir, calm down! We’ll find her immediately."
"Tear this prefecture apart if you must, but find that coroner before she reaches the princess!" Guan Ji’s eyes darkened. "Kill her on sight."
Just then, frantic footsteps echoed outside.
"Disaster! A disaster!"
"Stop shouting! What could possibly be so urgent?" Guan Ji snapped.
But the next words struck him dumb.
"The princess and Young Master Shen are at the city gates right now. They demand you bring the coroner to them."
"What?!"
Guan Ji’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.
At the gates.
"Princess, Young Master Shen, Magistrate Guan has suddenly fallen ill and collapsed..."
The official delivering the message could barely speak straight.
"Oh? If he’s unwell, then I’ll have to visit him personally." Closing the carriage window, Song Shihuan’s expression turned icy.
"Move out."
Having concealed their arrival, Song Shihuan and Shen Qingping caught the Guanzhang officials completely off guard.
As soon as they entered the city, a crowd of exam candidates surged forward, blocking the carriage.
"Princess, Young Master Shen, we beg for justice!"
"This provincial exam was rigged! The talented failed, while fools like Lu Wenchao passed! Wealth buys titles now—this is an outrage!"
Amid the outcry, another official fainted dead away.
"These Guanzhang officials faint too easily. Pathetic."
Shen Qingping hopped down and nudged the unconscious man with his foot. "Fetch someone who can actually speak."
Within moments, another official arrived, drenched in sweat.
"Greetings, Princess, Young Master Shen."
From the carriage came a youthful yet commanding voice:
"Where is my person?"
