Wen Congrui looked down from above at the woman clutching her calf, her head raised, crying like a rain-drenched pear blossom, pitiful and lovely.
If this were a man, he probably would have softened and began cherishing the beauty before him.
However, Wen Congrui’s eyes flashed with disgust and irritation, and he said in a deep voice, "Let go."
Lan Shu’s heart trembled, and she instinctively released her grip, choking out, "Young Master, Lan Shu knows her mistake, please give Lan Shu a chance, Lan Shu won’t leave."
"You have served me for many years, do you not know my temperament? I have said that I will not change what I have decided, yet you dared to send word home? Lan Shu, you have greatly disappointed me." Wen Congrui coldly dropped the sentence, "Go and pack."
He lifted his leg to leave, and after taking only two steps, he heard a collision behind him.
Wen Congrui turned around to see that Lan Shu had bumped into the sharp corner of a table and was slumped on the ground, with blood flowing down her forehead. Her complexion changed greatly, and she shouted out, "Nan Shan!"
Afterward, he hurried back to Lan Shu’s side and picked her up. Lan Shu’s face was covered in blood, and she gave him a gruesome smile: "Young Master, I would rather die than leave, Young Master..."
Her head tilted, and she fainted.
When Nan Shan entered and saw this, his expression changed. He wanted to step forward to take Lan Shu but remembered his status and became anxious, "Young Master."
Men and women must not touch hands when giving or receiving objects, and a woman’s reputation is of utmost importance. Lan Shu is the Chief Maid by the Young Master’s side; it’s one thing for him to hold her, but for Nan Shan, it would mean he would have to take responsibility for her.
"Quickly go and call for a doctor," Wen Congrui swiftly carried Lan Shu back to her room.
There was quite a commotion in the Rear Government Office.
Wen Congrui sat in the study, drinking tea served by Nan Shan, not expecting Lan Shu to be so fierce in temperament.
"Young Master, could it be that Sister Lan Shu did something wrong? Please give her a chance. Sister Lan Shu has always been loyal to you," Nan Shan cautiously suggested.
Wen Congrui’s expression turned slightly cold.
Seeing this, Nan Shan immediately dared not speak anymore, thinking to himself that Sister Lan Shu had always been prudent, so why had she now upset the Young Master upon her arrival here?
At the study’s doorway, a guard reported that Mr. Li was seeking an audience.
"Let him in," Wen Congrui promptly said.
Mr. Li was his Adviser, and lately, they had been investigating the examination fraud occurring this year.
Indeed, this year, the number of scholars and Child Students from Huayang County and the neighboring Yaan County was nearly double that of previous years—an anomaly. Wen Congrui revisited the scholars’ exam papers and spotted the pattern.
From their county alone, three examinees had answers to the questions that, while not identical, were extremely similar, which was certainly no coincidence.
Therefore, he sent people to investigate and truly uncovered traces of deceit; someone had dared to leak the questions for profit, an act perpetrated by the former county magistrate and the current one.
They dared treat Wen Congrui as a stumbling block, as a fool to be played with!
Wen Congrui did not make a big public fuss but instead collected evidence in secret, just waiting for a chance to strike decisively, and Mr. Li was the one responsible for this task.
Mr. Li soon came in with a stack of papers, his face alight with excitement and fervor. Upon seeing Wen Congrui, he bowed and said, "Master Dong..."
"No need for such formalities, Mr. Li. Please, take a seat and let’s talk," Wen Congrui raised his hand, smiling as he gestured towards a seat.
Nan Shan served tea from the side and then stood aside.
Mr. Li took a sip of tea, then handed the papers over to Wen Congrui, joyfully saying, "I have not failed Master Dong, all the evidence has been found."
Wen Congrui was overjoyed, looking over the papers to see the testimonies, complete with the relevant personnel’s signatures.
"Master Dong, is it time to take action?" Mr. Li asked again.
Wen Congrui nodded and said, "Send the order down, arrest all those involved in the examination as well as the suspects, and bring them in for questioning."
A storm was brewing, and for some, misfortune was at the doorstep!