Early in the morning, Meng Yao personally went to wake Zhao Dahe up.
She personally attended to his washing and accompanied him for breakfast.
Qin Zheng carried the book box for Zhao Dahe.
Wen Shu carried his own book box, with Wen Nuan beside him.
The two households walked to the examination venue together.
A lot of examinees had already arrived, forming a long queue outside the examination venue.
Meng Yao had witnessed the throng of candidates like soldiers crossing a single-log bridge during modern college entrance exams.
In fact, the ancient imperial exams were no less grand than the modern ones.
In ancient times, one had to pass level by level examinations to continue studying.
Nowadays, at least there are various schools.
Wen Shu and Zhao Dahe joined the line together.
There was still some time before entering the venue, so the group waited with them.
After a long while, a government official arrived, politely announced the examination rules, and began inspecting what the examinees were carrying.
To prevent cheating, the checks were very strict.
Moreover, the first round of checks was on everything inside the examinees’ book boxes.
The second round was a body search after going inside.
Examinees had to remove their clothing for specialized personnel to check if there was any contraband within the garments, and even their hair had to be loosened to see if anything was hidden inside.
Just the first procedure left Wen Nuan astounded.
"This, this is too... too..." The young girl stammered several times but failed to complete her sentence.
Li Chang’an chimed in, "This is just the beginning. I’ve read that some examinees inscribe essays on grains of rice."
"Grains of rice?" Wen Nuan murmured, "Like the ones we eat?"
That small, engraving essays, how is it possible?
Li Chang’an nodded, "Yes."
Meng Yao was also astonished, "Is it true?"
"Since it is recorded in the books, it should not be false. Although it sounds unbelievable, there are many amazing talents among the people. At least, I’ve seen someone carve scenes of mountains and rivers on a walnut, and the original painting is said to be five meters long, with dozens of figures and various scenes." Li Chang’an said.
The queue moved slowly, with occasional instances of people found carrying contraband, resulting in a direct academic record and a three-year ban on examinations.
The reputation of a scholar was instantly ruined.
One of them was also staying at the Yuekelailai inn.
"I didn’t bring it, I really didn’t bring it, I don’t know who put the things inside." The scholar wailed in tears.
He could not prove his innocence.
The government official couldn’t trust him solely based on his defense.
"Those who go through the back door can participate in the exams openly, why can’t I? It’s unfair, unfair." Suddenly, the scholar shouted loudly as if mad.
At this moment, it was Zhao Dahe’s turn for inspection.
The person the scholar was referring to was him.
With such an uproar, the government officials couldn’t ignore it, and Zhao Dahe was immediately called out of the queue.
Very quickly, Ren Zhong and officials sent by the Court appeared.
Favoritism and corruption are taboos in imperial examinations.
"Do you have any evidence?" Ren Zhong asked solemnly.
"Everyone at Yuekelailai knows, Zhao Dahe’s mother has hooked up with the County Magistrate, so Zhao Dahe is certain to be on the list this time." The scholar shouted loudly.
The official beside Ren Zhong looked at him in surprise.
Ren Zhong spoke calmly, "This official cannot forget my deceased wife and has sworn before Buddha never to marry for life. This examinee is talking nonsense; I hope you can discern wisely."
"Based solely on your words, it’s hard to convince this official." The Court’s official spoke slowly.
"What’s known to everyone, why is evidence needed? Many at Yuekelailai have seen Zhao Dahe’s mother coming and going from the back courtyard of the County Government, and there’s a little boy calling her mother." The scholar said.
"Sir." Ren Zhong explained quietly, with a look of helplessness, "This is the situation, only I don’t know how it suddenly became known throughout the city. As a man, I could let it go, but my sister-in-law... if she weren’t firm in her resolve, now..."
The official appointed by the Court was an acquaintance of Ren Zhong and knew a bit about his situation and even more about his character.
The Court’s official patted Ren Zhong’s shoulder, "It’s been hard on you."
Then, opening his mouth seriously, "You are all scholars, yet you echo baseless rumors, having not even a bit of discerning ability."
"Sir, you cannot be swayed by the County Magistrate’s one-sided words," the scholar shouted, "The imperial examination is to select talents for the Court, and it requires absolute fairness."
The scholar spoke impassionedly, just shy of accusing the Court-appointed officials of mutual protection.
Moreover, some other scholars indeed voiced support for this scholar softly.
For a while, the situation became somewhat chaotic.
The Court’s official was also in a bit of a predicament, as he trusted Ren Zhong.
However, with so many examinees raising doubts.
For a while, it became a bit of a stalemate.
Suddenly, a woman was tossed in front of everyone, her face full of distress, trembling in fear.
Ren Zhong recognized the bound woman as his family’s cook, Liu.
Zhao Ting stepped forward, bowed with clasped hands to Ren Zhong and the Court’s official, then looked down at Liu, "Speak, with any falsehood, I’ll crush one of your fingers. Not break it, but grind the bone to dust."
Ren Zhong hurriedly stepped forward, "Sir, what do you mean by this?"
"Naturally, helping you clear the people around you. Otherwise, where did the rumors spread all over the city come from?" Zhao Ting said with some disdain, as a County Magistrate, unable even to recognize people properly.
Liu was scared out of her wits and dared not play any tricks.
She recounted everything in detail about how she worried about Meng Yao taking her job and the incident with Chen He, including the ambiguous words Chen He said and how he later found her several times to bribe her.
So, it was all condoned by Chen He and this woman, causing the mess.
Chen He was lined up in the latter half, seeing the misfortune and attempted to flee.
Unfortunately, Meng Yao was watching.
With deft skills, Chen He screamed miserably.
"Did you read books into a dog’s belly? Can’t you use the energy you spend on slandering people on studying?" Meng Yao said with contempt, "Pah, I wouldn’t have a son like you, lurking like a gutter rat."
Liu confessed that Chen He misled her into saying Meng was his mother.
Zhao Ting was simply amazed, this skill, clean and nimble, and exceedingly graceful.
From the Prince to Zhao Ting, he had seen countless women, none like Meng.
Do you think speaking a bit coarsely?
How can this be called coarse? It is called genuine, without pretense.
"Even if she didn’t hook up with the County Magistrate, she is morally corrupt, otherwise, how could a countryside woman frequently come and go from the County Government’s rear courtyard?" Chen He knew refusal to admit was his only chance.
It had to be confirmed that the County Magistrate had a relationship with Zhao Dahe’s mother.
The Court’s official looked at Ren Zhong, who nodded slightly, and only then did the Court’s official clear his throat, stating the relationship between Meng Yao and Ren Zhong.
Chen He first looked stunned, then shouted, "An uncle and nephew, isn’t there a chance the County Magistrate leaked the exam questions to Zhao Dahe long ago? Just watch; Zhao Dahe will certainly have impressive results this time."
"Presumptuous!" The Court’s official rebuked.
This year’s examination system had just changed; the County Magistrate only participated in maintaining order, nothing else. This scholar saying that implies those sort directly involved leaked the questions? Leaking questions is a capital crime!