These are Zhan Feiyu's three essay submissions for the prefectural examination? Before Magistrate Zhang could reach for them, Hu Bingzhi snatched them up first. Upon unfolding them, his face lit up with joy. "Excellent essays!"
"Lord Hu, you can't read three essays by yourself. We're here too." An impatient official spoke up, disregarding Hu Bingzhi and grabbing the remaining two essays and the examination poem from him. He kept one copy and handed the rest to the two officials beside him.
The three essays and one poem were reviewed by several examiners. Even though four of them belonged to the Chen family faction, they truly couldn't, in good conscience, claim that Zhan Feiyu's short period of study was insufficient or that her foundation was weak. If such essays were to fail, the essays that passed would likely have to be written by the top scholars from the Hanlin Academy.
"This essay was the top submission!" After finishing one, Hu Bingzhi excitedly slammed his hand on the table. His usually stern face was filled with surprise.
In contrast, the essays chosen for the top three by Scholar-Official Chen were merely gilded exteriors with rotten interiors.
Zhan Feiyu's essays were well-reasoned, rigorously structured, and possessed lofty ideals. To write the three four-book essays, "Gu Hong," "Gu Yan," and "Gu Mi," to such a degree was undoubtedly a masterpiece.
"I did not review Zhan Feiyu's vermilion scroll. Do any of you adults happen to have seen it?" Magistrate Zhang put down the examination poem he was holding. Compared to the topical essays, Zhan Feiyu's poetry was truly mediocre. Fortunately, the imperial examinations placed more importance on essays, with poetry and songs being mere embellishments.
Such excellent essays were unforgettable and maddening to contemplate.
Even Scholar-Official Chen likely couldn't have failed such an essay. Therefore, in the end, Zhan Feiyu's examination paper had mysteriously disappeared, replaced by a paper bearing her name, with identical handwriting, but with a mediocre essay.
Hu Bingzhi's expression was extremely grim. He had come to Nanxuan Prefecture precisely to ensure Zhan Feiyu's smooth progress in this prefectural examination. Yet, under his very nose, Zhan Feiyu's examination paper had vanished. This was Hu Bingzhi's dereliction of duty. However, the most crucial issue now was the lack of any evidence.
"Perhaps we could propose another re-examination," Cheng Shanzhang said after careful consideration. Without evidence, this was the best way to resolve the matter.
Originally, prefectural examinations were held twice. Of course, if the Scholar-Official decided to change it to a single examination, that was also possible.
Magistrate Zhang remained silent. Everyone present knew that Scholar-Official Chen would not agree to a second examination. The Chen family had done so much precisely to ensure Zhan Feiyu's failure, so why would they give Zhan Feiyu a second chance?
...
Hu Bingzhi went to find Scholar-Official Chen, while Zhan Feiyu followed Magistrate Zhang into the study in the rear courtyard of the prefectural office. After dismissing everyone else, Magistrate Zhang finally said, "Do you have a plan for this matter?"
"I was wondering why Scholar-Official Chen allowed candidates from Qing'an Prefecture, Guangning Prefecture, and Lizhou to participate in the prefectural examination together. Now I understand. It was merely to 'brighten the plank roads and cross the enemy's territory under the cover of darkness'." Zhan Feiyu was not angry. She had made an enemy of the Chen family, and it was normal for the Chen family to retaliate. The question was who would be the better strategist.
If it were only candidates from Nanxuan Prefecture, Zhan Feiyu would have known at least a portion of them, if not all. The students from Qi Heng and Qingya Academy could probably recognize everyone. In such a situation, it would be very difficult for anyone to fish in troubled waters.
Zhan Feiyu's examination paper was missing, and the paper that appeared must have been written by someone in the examination cubicle, and this person was skilled at imitating handwriting. If this were the case, after the prefectural examination concluded, there would be two papers bearing Zhan Feiyu's name.
And among the scribes responsible for anonymizing the papers, there must have been someone from the Chen family. Therefore, the real examination paper was hidden by the scribes. Everything else proceeded smoothly: anonymizing, copying, cross-referencing, and then reviewing and unsealing the papers.
In fact, after seeing the mediocre paper, Magistrate Zhang was certain it was not Zhan Feiyu's writing. He also understood Scholar-Official Chen's "substituting a peach for a plum" scheme.
Magistrate Zhang analyzed in a deep voice, "This person should be one of those who were absent from the prefectural examination, but he entered the examination hall. Therefore, when the number of examination papers was finally tallied, there was no extra copy."
Before entering the examination hall, the constables and yamen runners of Nanxuan Prefecture had verified identities. Therefore, this person was definitely a candidate, and his information was correct. However, after entering the cubicle, he wrote Zhan Feiyu's name on his own examination paper. When Zhan Feiyu's paper disappeared, the objective of "replacing a狸猫 with a crown prince" was achieved.
"Four prefectures, nearly a thousand candidates. Candidates from each prefecture basically know each other, so finding this person is no different from searching for a needle in a haystack." Zhan Feiyu pondered for a long time and said again, "As long as Scholar-Official Chen does not agree to a second examination, the results will be posted as scheduled."
Then the truly tricky problem would arise. Zhan Feiyu looked at the grim-faced Magistrate Zhang and said with a bitter smile, "If I had evidence, it would be better, but now it's just my word against his. Scholar-Official Chen will not accept it."
Scholar-Official Chen could not possibly suppress the release of the results. Once the results were posted, everything would become an unalterable fact.
If some vague rumors were spread at this point, Zhan Feiyu's reputation as a child prodigy would be destroyed. The candidates from Nanxuan Prefecture might believe that Zhan Feiyu had made a mistake, especially since the examination question this time was a fragmented one, which was too unconventional, and it was normal for people to make mistakes.
However, the candidates from the other three prefectures did not know Zhan Feiyu well. Coupled with malicious guidance, this would be the power of public opinion to distort truth and destroy reputations.
If Zhan Feiyu lost her reputation, even if she participated in the prefectural examination again in the future, and even if she was the top scholar, people would suspect foul play. They might think that the chief examiner was currying favor with Scholar-Official Gu, and thus had pre-selected Zhan Feiyu as the top scholar.
Scholar-Official Chen's actions, if not completely ruining Zhan Feiyu's future, had certainly destroyed more than half of it.
"You sent the essays to the capital that day," Magistrate Zhang thought of a way to break the deadlock. Even if the handwriting on the current examination papers was a perfect imitation, the essays were not written by Zhan Feiyu.
"Scholar-Official Chen could say that I rewrote the essays after leaving the examination hall, or perhaps I hired someone to write them after the examination." Zhan Feiyu was quite impressed by Scholar-Official Chen's shamelessness. To deal with her, he would go to any extreme, even willing to bear the infamy of a fragmented examination question, just to ruin her reputation.
It was not easy to find someone skilled at imitating handwriting among nearly a thousand candidates. Generally, those who possessed such skills would hide their identities, and outsiders would not know.
Magistrate Zhang reviewed the entire incident in his mind. Just as he was about to speak, he heard footsteps approaching from outside the study. It was Hu Bingzhi, who had gone to discuss the re-examination with Scholar-Official Chen and failed.
"I have failed you," Hu Bingzhi said, bowing respectfully to Zhan Feiyu after entering the study.
Quickly dodging, Zhan Feiyu waved her hand, "Lord Hu, you are too kind. Scholar-Official Chen planned meticulously, while I was caught off guard. Even if your lord watched intently, what was meant to happen would still happen."
Magistrate Zhang also chimed in, "That is very true. The Chen family even committed child abduction in Feng Prefecture before. Their actions have no bottom line. It is normal for them to tamper with the imperial examinations."
Hu Bingzhi was a person of integrity. He had just argued with Scholar-Official Chen, and his expression remained grim, even though Zhan Feiyu did not hold it against him.
Hu Bingzhi sat down in a armchair. "I have thought about it carefully. Everything was normal during the anonymizing, copying, and cross-referencing. Only on the first night, around the hour of the ox, the junior official who poured me tea accidentally spilled tea on me."
Zhan Feiyu and Magistrate Zhang exchanged glances, understanding that this was the time the incident occurred.
If he had been more cautious at the time, Hu Bingzhi regretted it. He continued, "I did not leave. I asked the junior official to wipe it with a cloth. I might have been looking down at the time, and the junior official might have blocked my view while wiping."
Hiding an examination paper did not take much time. A few sheets could be quickly stuffed into a sleeve, and then, using the opportunity to change clothes, the papers could be hidden, then taken out of the prefectural office, and destroyed, thus completely "destroying the evidence."
"All the people involved in this prefectural examination were brought by Scholar-Official Chen. Even if we arrest them, we won't get anything," Zhan Feiyu knew that for this to succeed, more than one or two people were involved. But since Scholar-Official Chen dared to do it, he was not afraid of an investigation.
When it came to investigating cases, Magistrate Zhang was more adept at the intricacies. "Without evidence, we can only question them verbally, and they will certainly not confess."
If torture were used, there might be a small chance of confession, but the possibility was still very slim, especially with Chen Minzhong, a second-rank Scholar-Official, overseeing things.
Scholar-Official Gu might have a way, but he was far away in the capital, beyond reach.
Hu Bingzhi and Chen Xuezheng had parted on bad terms regarding the re-examination. Chen Xuezheng had already spread the news that the prefectural examination would only be held once. And the results were to be posted early the next morning.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the study became heavy.
"Magistrate Zhang, Lord Hu, since things have come to this, please relax. Even if I don't succeed this time, I can still participate in the next prefectural examination," Zhan Feiyu thanked the two, also hoping that they would not argue with Scholar-Official Chen over her matter. Without sufficient evidence, offending a superior could lead to punishment on some pretext, which would be a loss outweighing any gain.
Thinking of the three brilliant topical essays Zhan Feiyu submitted for the prefectural examination, Hu Bingzhi's face became extremely grim. It was anger at his own incompetence and guilt towards Zhan Feiyu. She was the true "Little San Yuan" (a scholar who excels in three consecutive examinations), but now she was not even on the list and would be subjected to mockery and ridicule.
Magistrate Zhang glanced at Zhan Feiyu. Although it was a pity, losing was losing. Fortunately, the young lady was open-minded and not discouraged, nor had she given up on herself.
...
After leaving the prefectural office, Zhan Feiyu got into the carriage, her expression instantly turning cold.
Even though she was not a real nine-year-old child, losing to the Chen family's schemes and tricks, Zhan Feiyu could not swallow this insult.
Donghu Inn.
Seeing Zhan Feiyu's expression, He Nuan's heart skipped a beat. "Miss, what happened?"
Normally, He Sheng would not follow them into the room. After all, He Nuan was Zhan Feiyu's maid. Even as a bodyguard, He Sheng had to be mindful of avoiding suspicion. But today was different. He Sheng already knew about Zhan Feiyu's examination paper being swapped.
After briefly explaining the situation, Zhan Feiyu couldn't help but smile as she watched the usually gentle He Nuan's face turn ashen with anger. "The results are to be posted tomorrow, and without any evidence, anything said is futile."
Why did Scholar-Official Chen dare to do this? It was precisely by using the posting of the examination results to force Zhan Feiyu to submit.
In ordinary times, even if it were like searching for a needle in a haystack, by investigating one by one, by closely monitoring the involved soldiers and scribes, clues could always be found.
But the results were to be posted early tomorrow morning. What else could Zhan Feiyu do but accept her fate?
Her "examination paper" was kept at the yamen. It bore her name and her handwriting. If you said this paper was fake, where was the evidence?
As for the three essays Zhan Feiyu presented today and the three essays sent to Scholar-Official Gu in the capital, who could testify that they were written during the prefectural examination?
Scholar-Official Chen could also claim that Zhan Feiyu hired someone to write them after the examination. Without evidence, it was all a waste of breath.
He Nuan clenched her fists in anger. She knew better than anyone how hard Zhan Feiyu studied, revising her essays over and over again. Even if she disliked writing poetry, she wrote one every day. If she fell behind during the day, she would make up for the missed work at night, even if it meant not sleeping.
But all her efforts were in vain. Not only that, He Nuan could imagine how unpleasant the rumors would be after the results were posted tomorrow. Why should Miss endure all these undeserved hardships and pains?
He Sheng also had a grim expression. But when it came to imperial examinations, not to mention He Sheng, even Magistrate Zhang dared not act rashly. If it caused a scholarly riot, and a few more students died, the matter would truly escalate. Even if Miss was innocent, she would still be disliked by the Emperor.
"Let me think about it again." Zhan Feiyu was not so angry anymore, but she absolutely could not let this injustice pass. Therefore, she needed to think carefully about how to prove herself and how to strike back.
He Nuan and He Sheng exchanged glances and quietly retreated. Only when they reached the front corridor and ensured that Zhan Feiyu could no longer hear them did the siblings speak again.
"Brother, we can't just let this go. Send a message to Seventh Master. Only Seventh Master can investigate this matter and find out the truth in the shortest possible time." He Nuan looked worriedly in the direction of the study. Miss must be feeling the worst right now.
He Sheng agreed, "I understand."
"I'll go to the kitchen to make some appetizing small dishes," He Nuan also worried that Zhan Feiyu would have no appetite, and quickly headed towards the kitchen.
The room fell silent. Zhan Feiyu, for the rare occasion, did not need to study or write essays. She propped her chin with both hands, breaking down the entire incident piece by piece, trying to find loopholes.
"No, fingerprints!" In an instant, Zhan Feiyu sat up straight, her eyes shining with brilliance. Even if the name was hers, and the handwriting was so lifelike that it was indistinguishable from the real thing, the fake was still fake. That paper...
Her smile suddenly collapsed. Zhan Feiyu belatedly remembered that when she went to the yamen earlier, she not only picked up the three vermilion scrolls to look at them, but she also picked up the original scroll that was not hers. Therefore, there must have been her fingerprints on it.
As for the imitator's fingerprints, Zhan Feiyu gave a bitter smile.
Although she had made simple fingerprint powder before, extracting fingerprints from paper was too difficult, and the success rate was extremely low. Even if there were the imitator's fingerprints on it, without a fingerprint database to search, she still couldn't find the imitator.
This path was blocked! Zhan Feiyu slumped onto the table again, dejected. After an entire afternoon and a night, it was difficult to make a comeback...
Prefectural examinations were held every three years, with two examinations. The chief examiner for next year's prefectural examination would still be Scholar-Official Chen, and the same would be true for the provincial examination three years later. Zhan Feiyu wore a distressed expression. Did she really have to go to the capital to take the imperial examinations?