Sparse raindrops fell around the inn, accompanied by occasional spring thunder. The students, however, seemed stunned, standing foolishly in the drizzle inside and outside the inn. This alley was a gathering place for students from other places coming to the capital for the imperial examinations, so the number of people was extremely large. After the shout just now, the crowd fell into a very strange silence.

After a long while, someone came back to their senses and surrounded the student who had shouted earlier, making a commotion as if a bomb had exploded, asking what had happened. Hou Jichang, Yang Wanli, and Cheng Jialin also showed excited expressions on their faces, but they suppressed their inner impulses and simply walked to the railing, listening to the conversation.

There were too many people asking questions, but only one person was answering. After a long time, the three finally understood that last night, the First Bureau of the Supervisory Council mobilized more than a hundred secret agents, dividing them into five groups, and directly pounced on the Guo residence in the south of the city. Four other groups went to four other residences and arrested four scholars from Jiangnan.

Because the action was extremely fast, the news was covered up all night. It wasn't until the morning court that His Majesty the Emperor said lightly that he had issued an edict ordering the Supervisory Council to investigate the current case of corruption in the imperial examinations in detail. The court was immediately plunged into some kind of chaos. At this time, the ministers realized why Guo Youzhi, the Minister of Rites, was not standing in the ranks.

The only ones who were truly calm deep down were the Prime Minister, the Minister of Revenue, and of course, Chen Pingping, the head of the Supervisory Council who still hadn't attended court.

The Supervisory Council's actions this time were extremely fast and accurate, especially the team that arrested the four Jiangnan scholars. They found letters exchanged between them and some officials on the spot. In Guo's residence, they found a staggering amount of silver. According to preliminary investigation results, the families of these four Jiangnan scholars were all local tycoons, and three of them were actually salt merchants. This time, they came to the capital for the examinations carrying a large amount of gold and silver, and after going through many channels, they finally submitted to Minister Guo.

Guo Youzhi has now been imprisoned in the Supervisory Council's prison, and the four Jiangnan scholars have also become pitiful guests. The Fourth Bureau of the Supervisory Council has ordered the Jiangnan branch to start arresting people since yesterday, and strive to make it an iron case. Because nominally, these four Jiangnan scholars bribed Guo Shangshu, the chief examiner of the spring examinations, but in fact, most of the money was passed on to the Eastern Palace, so the final background of this case is… the Crown Prince.

Of course, the students would not know any of these details. They only knew to curse Minister Guo in the rain, not even letting go of the poor old Guo's old mother and weak children.

It seems that His Majesty's determination to thoroughly investigate the case of corruption in the imperial examinations is extremely great. In addition to the Ministry of Rites, at least a dozen other officials have been suspended from their duties for investigation because of this. According to rumors in the Jianghu, the reason why the investigation was so fast and the arrest was so accurate was all because of a blacklist. The list contained the names of the scholars who colluded with the officials in the court during this spring examination. The Supervisory Council started with the scholars and traced back, with excellent results.

Hou Jichang walked back to the wine table from the railing in shock, raised his wine glass and poured it into his throat, seemingly unaware of the spiciness of the wine, and said absentmindedly, "I didn't expect it, I really didn't expect it."

"Didn't expect what?" Yang Wanli and Cheng Jialin had not recovered from the shocking news, and asked subconsciously.

Hou Jichang laughed loudly and slammed the table heavily, saying, "I didn't expect the Supervisory Council to be so accurate and ruthless, that they could get a list that could put the nobles in the court to death." He picked up the wine pot, filled the glasses of his two friends, raised his glass and invited them, his face full of excitement, "Come, let's toast the Supervisory Council!"

"Cheers!" Yang and Cheng had nothing else to say, and they excitedly raised their glasses and drank it all.

At this time, the inn was full of excited young students inviting people to drink heartily. Corruption in Qing Yu Nian's officialdom has been a long-standing problem. Although everyone knows that it is impossible to completely change this situation by simply catching a Minister of Rites, as the saying goes, a journey of ten thousand *li* begins with a single step. As long as His Majesty really discovers the problem and is willing to solve it, these young, energetic, and even extremely simple scholars believe that the future of Qing Yu Nian will definitely become better.

……

……

After a long time, the alcohol gradually rose to their chests and abdomens. Yang Wanli narrowed his eyes and smiled foolishly, "It's really enjoyable. Even if I don't pass this time, it's still enjoyable to have encountered such a shocking event."

Cheng Jialin drank less and was the most sober. He has always been enthusiastic about his official career, and asked hesitantly, "Now that the case of corruption in the imperial examinations has been revealed... will the spring examinations be re-examined?"

"No." On the contrary, after drinking a few pots of wine, Hou Jichang's thin face became calm, and his eyes became extremely clear, "This is just a warning from His Majesty, and there has been a precedent for this. Twelve years ago, when the world was first settled, there were also incidents in the spring examinations. That year, fourteen officials from the Ministry of Rites were beheaded, but the results of the spring examinations were still released as usual, only those students who were involved with officials were removed, and those behind them were added."

"Then... don't we have a chance?" Yang Wanli smiled naively. His nature was pure and good, and he thought about things very simply, "There are only so many places in the top three. When those brothers who went astray are removed, our chances will be much greater."

Hou Jichang sneered, "If it weren't for more expensive nobles doing this, Guo Shangshu would only be a minister. How dare he do anything on this national ceremony. I'm afraid there are more students that those nobles want to protect. Ticking off the sons of four salt merchants is of no help to the overall situation."

The other two thought to themselves that it was indeed so, and couldn't help but feel a little黯然 (àn rán - disappointed/dejected). After a while, Yang Wanli suddenly slapped the table and laughed, "No matter what, this is a joyous thing. The most sensational thing in the capital last year was that memorial, forcing the Eldest Princess to reply to Xinyang. The most sensational thing this year is probably this blacklist, which actually overthrew a current Minister."

Cheng Jialin looked worried and said, "Let's wait until the results of the top three come out tomorrow."

Hou Jichang and Yang Wanli knew his personality and still had illusions about this spring examination. They smiled slightly and ignored him, saying, "I have to drag that kid Shi Chanli out of bed and tell him the good news."

Yang Wanli laughed, "Remember to let him buy some food."

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"Beautiful, really beautiful." Fan Xian gently flicked the paper that Wang Qinian brought over, feeling great. Wan'er sat beside him, and said worriedly, "Aren't you worried that Crown Prince *gege* will know that you reported the corruption case?"

Today, Fan Xian, who was severely reprimanded by his father, was banned from leaving the mansion for the first time, and had to stay at home obediently. He knew that what he had done was indeed a bit too absurd. Of course, if he hadn't received news from the courtyard in advance, knowing that His Majesty the Emperor was going to kill the chicken to warn the monkey this year, Fan Xian wouldn't have dared to be this "tainted witness" and be an enemy of the court officials.

In fact, that list was not a secret. Fan Xian had a few pieces of paper in his hand. Which of those examiners didn't have a few? Just looking at the scale of this blatant corruption, he knew that the officialdom of Qing Yu Nian had long been accustomed to it. It was precisely because of this that the Supervisory Council's investigation of corruption this time was beyond everyone's expectations, and no one would suspect Fan Xian in the first place for a while.

Listening to his wife's question, a strange expression appeared on Fan Xian's face, and he said, "Your Crown Prince *gege* is too bold and his methods are too poor. These court officials are also a group of bold and muddled-headed fools. What a major event is the corruption in the spring examinations, it has actually become known to the world. Even if I don't report it, if His Majesty wants to investigate, do they still want to hide it?"

Wan'er got out of the quilt and quietly looked at his face, "Husband, don't take such risks in the future. There is no wall that doesn't let the wind through. If people really know that this matter is related to you, what will you do in the future?"

"What to do? Stir-fry." Fan Xian said another witty remark that his wife didn't understand, and said with a smile, "So what if they know?"

Wan'er sighed and thought to herself that her husband was knowledgeable, full of poetry, and seemed stable on the surface, but no one knew when he would do such crazy things.

Fan Xian knew that his wife was worried about him, and said quietly, "The key to this matter is still in the palace. What is the imperial examination? It is His Majesty's means of gathering talents for himself. An emperor in the previous dynasty once laughed loudly during the imperial examination, saying that all the heroes in the world would be in my net from now on. His Majesty can tolerate court officials using the places in the imperial examination to exchange for wealth, but he cannot tolerate all the places being used to exchange for unjust gains. What's more, both the Crown Prince and the First Prince have intervened in this matter. Our Emperor uncle has to ask himself... what exactly do these two sons of his want to do?"

Wan'er didn't quite understand and asked curiously, "Naturally, it is to cultivate their own power in the court in the future."

Fan Xian smiled and continued to ask, "Then His Majesty has to ask, what do you cultivate your own power for? The First Prince is a commander, what does he need such a big power in the court for?"

Wan'er smiled bitterly, "What about Crown Prince *gege*? He is the Crown Prince, and it is reasonable to cultivate talents. After all, he will also be the emperor who will take charge of the country in the future. When I listened to the lectures of the imperial tutor in the Eastern Palace in the past, the imperial tutor said that the Eastern Palace cannot be inactive, and should not be afraid of rumors. It should take the lead in preparing some ministers for future use. This is the true loyalty and filial piety of the emperor's family."

Fan Xian shook his head, revealing a faint sarcasm, "The imperial tutor's articles are probably good, and the principles are certainly right, but the problem is that the current Emperor is in good health, and the Eastern Palace is already starting to cultivate talents at this time. His Majesty has to ask himself in his heart: Is the Crown Prince anxious?"