"Why are there so many official hats placed outside the yamen?"
"I heard Lu Wenchao confessed, and all the officials involved had their hats removed—Young Master Shen personally went to strip them."
At the mention of Young Master Shen, the crowd found it less surprising.
"Young Master Shen truly has a keen eye for detail," they murmured, unsure how else to praise Shen Qingping, resorting to awkward compliments for this feared figure.
Meanwhile, Shen Qingping sat leisurely in front of the prison rack, listening to the agonized screams of the officials.
"Lu Wenchao is all pride but no backbone—he cracked under pressure and gave all of you up in no time. What’s the point of holding out?"
His tone was almost casual as he sentenced them to death.
"Oh, and I’ve already found the evidence. Feel free to stay silent—I’ll just beat you to death. That’ll count as having both confessions and evidence." Shen Qingping swept a disdainful glance around. "Though... if the Emperor learns you refused to confess, your entire families might be exterminated."
"I’ll talk."
"Me too."
One after another, voices rose. Shen Qingping let out a cold laugh. "Nian'an, record their confessions."
With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.
Nian'an watched Shen Qingping’s retreating figure, puzzled by the icy aura in his steps. The Third Master seemed in a foul mood.
Who had the nerve to provoke him this time?
......
Six days later, all confessions were successfully obtained.
"The Lu family really spared no expense—first bribing every examiner to leak the questions to Lu Wenchao, then letting him mark his exam papers." Song Yu shook his head. Was it worth such elaborate schemes for a mere provincial exam?
He himself had casually aced it and topped the list.
"I’ve drafted a memorial and sent it posthaste to the capital, asking His Majesty’s permission to hold a retake for the provincial exam."
Song Shihuan smiled at Song Yu. "Luckily, this twist of fate exposed the corruption in Guanzhang Prefecture. If Lu Wenchao had succeeded, countless others would’ve followed suit."
Throughout this, Shen Qingping remained silent.
Song Shihuan was the first to notice, nudging Song Yu with a glance.
"Shen the Third, are you brewing trouble again?"
Shen Qingping looked up at Song Yu, his expression feigning innocence.
"You played a key role in securing these confessions. Keep an eye on Feng Kuizhi—he’ll be as useful as Zheng Fang and Ling Ming, lightening your workload."
Song Yu, oblivious to Shen Qingping’s mood, added, "Since when do chancellors handle every trivial matter themselves?"
Shen Qingping’s gloom instantly lifted.
"Understood."
"Actually, I just remembered some loose ends to tie up. I’ll handle them."
He left with a smile, leaving only Song Shihuan to suppress a twitch of her lips.
Since when did their mentor’s moods shift so swiftly?
"Ah-Huan, this is your second memorial—both carry weight. Your father is proud." Song Yu leaned in, whispering, "From now on, submit whatever memorials you wish."
"Thank you for your praise, Father."
Song Shihuan beamed, her eyes curving with joy. Few noblewomen in history had ever submitted memorials!
Still, while her first memorial had eased the Emperor’s burdens, this one...
She could only hope His Majesty wouldn’t fly into a rage.
......
"Outrageous!"
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself."
The entire court knelt in unison, trembling. In the Great Qi Dynasty, someone dared to rig the imperial exams!
"How can I calm down?" Emperor Yuanyou roared, rising to his feet. "A provincial graduate can become an official! If anyone can buy their way in, what kind of incompetents will fill our ranks?"
"What would that make our bureaucracy?"
Gasping for breath, the Emperor recalled his own impoverished childhood, barred from proper schooling. He knew better than anyone what the exams meant.
"The imperial exams are the only ladder for poor children to climb. Sever that, and you sever their hopes. I will not allow it!"
"Your Majesty, the Princess and Young Master Shen have uncovered the truth—a sign of Heaven’s favor. Their proposal for a retake in Guanzhang Prefecture is just. Let fairness prevail." Gu Zheng, a military man with no stake in the exams, broke the ice.
"General Gu is right. A retake is the best solution."
As the courtiers echoed agreement, Emperor Yuanyou turned to Shen Mingwen. "Minister Shen, your thoughts?"
"Your Majesty, I volunteer to personally oversee the retake as chief examiner." Shen Mingwen knelt. "I stake my life on delivering a clean, impartial exam."
A first-rank Grand Tutor presiding over a provincial exam!
This was unprecedented.
Yet the Emperor approved.
"Minister Shen, you shall serve as chief examiner, with Ye Shijie of Ji'an Prefecture as deputy. The retake will be held at the end of September. Ensure no mishaps."
"Your subject obeys."
......
"What? My father is coming to Guanzhang Prefecture?"
Shen Qingping choked on his tea, his handsome face flushing red.
"Not just him. Since Minister Shen is chief examiner and Ye Shijie is deputy, he’s arriving too."
Song Yu pitied the examinees. With these two titans overseeing the exam, who knew how brutal the papers would be?
"Princess," Shen Qingping wheezed, "for the sake of my father and Ye Shijie coexisting peacefully... perhaps His Highness should return to Ji'an Prefecture. What do you think?"
Best to avoid a clash between these old rivals.
"No."
Song Yu, hearing he’d be sent away, scowled. "Missing this spectacle would haunt me forever. I’ve finally got a legitimate reason to stay in Guanzhang Prefecture."
"Surely... it won’t come to blows?" Song Shihuan glanced at Shen Qingping, her tone uncertain.
They could only leave it to fate.
News of the retake spread, but the examinees’ joy was short-lived upon learning the examiners’ names.
They scurried back to their studies, even Feng Kuizhi holing up indoors.
Time flew. When Shen Mingwen arrived in Guanzhang Prefecture, he crossed paths with Ye Shijie, who’d just stepped off his carriage.
"Minister Shen, long time no see."
"Minister Ye, the same to you."
Though old acquaintances, the air between them crackled with tension.
