Chapter 307 - 307 304 Imperial Court Senior Official_1

Chapter 307: Chapter 304: Imperial Court Senior Official_1 Chapter 307: Chapter 304: Imperial Court Senior Official_1 The next morning, after Bai Qingyan finished practicing with her red-tasseled silver spear in Qinghui Courtyard, Nanny Tong, who handled affairs for Bai Qingyan, returned and brought two lists.

“This one is the list you asked me to check. It includes examinees who stayed at various inns and were talented but not selected… and those examinees who were honest. The names circled have already left Dadu City. Those not circled are still lingering in Dadu City, probably waiting to see who tops the list.”

Nanny Tong unfolded the other list: “This list is the result of Lu Ping’s personal investigation of various purchasing activities…”

Bai Qingyan took the towel handed by Chun Tao, wiped the sweat from her face and neck, and instructed Chun Tao to prepare water.

Chun Tao handed the warmed tea to Bai Qingyan and turned to instruct the kitchen to prepare water.

“It’s quite coincidental. Early this morning, Lu Ping went to the largest rice shop in the city. Before he could inquire, the clerk recognized him. The clerk thought Lu Ping was sent by the second madam to buy supplies for the second lord. The clerk smiled and said that our second young lady is overly cautious in her actions. While the Lu family, Minister Chen’s household, the Vice Minister of Public Works’ residence, and General Zhang’s mansion all sent people to buy large amounts of red paper, firecrackers, and stockpiles of rice right after the examination, preparing to distribute porridge after the results are out.”

“But our second young lady has remained inactive. After finally sending someone to have rice delivered for porridge, it wasn’t even half of what the Lu family and Minister Chen’s household purchased! The clerk even joked with Lu Ping, asking if the second madam found out and specially sent Lu Ping to buy more.”

All of these families… were high-ranking officials in the Imperial Court.

Even Zhang Duanrui’s household had prepared in advance?

Bai Qingyan handed the teacup to Nanny Tong and took the list for a look. Zhang Duanrui’s eldest son was only eleven. Had he also taken the imperial examination? Zhang Duanrui hadn’t mentioned it…

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s gaze on General Zhang’s household, Nanny Tong hurriedly explained, “General Zhang’s elder brother passed away early, and his widowed sister-in-law brought her eldest son to Dadu City for the examination, residing in General Zhang’s mansion. General Zhang’s nephew is also among those taking the examination. The remaining names on the list are those who came from various places, either having bought houses in the city or residing with their uncles or grandfathers.”

Calculating the time, the chief examiners had not yet begun to discuss the rankings with the Emperor.

Bai Qingyan handed the list of residences that had made early preparations for the porridge distribution to Nanny Tong: “Spread this list quietly. Say that these noble households have bribed the chief examiners, thus ensuring that… these people will definitely be in the top ten.”

“Send someone to pose as merchants or scholars… to spread this news within Dadu City!” She pointed to the first list, “Make sure the failed examinees hear about it quickly! Have Uncle Ping arrange for people to provoke these examinees… to beat the grievance drum before the results are announced and ask the Emperor to preside over justice!”

Bai Qingyan continued thinking aloud, “Once the grievance drum is sounded, the Emperor will definitely investigate the corruption in the examination. But if these people’s names indeed appear in the top ten before the announcement, the Emperor will take it even more seriously and investigate thoroughly! It will depend on whether these scholars dare to use their lives to seek justice for their years of hard study, or kneel before power.”

“Yes!” Nanny Tong responded and hurriedly went to find Lu Ping to handle the matter.

Nanny Tong never questioned what the Eldest Young Lady wanted to do.

Even though she used to advise Bai Qingyan to behave as a proper young lady, since the sudden change in the Bai family’s fortunes, Nanny Tong knew that the family had to rely on the Eldest Young Lady’s support. As the eldest legitimate daughter, this burden could only be shouldered by her.

After the Emperor’s birthday banquet, the most attention-grabbing event in Dadu City was the imperial examination. The bet was on whether the top scholar would end up in Minister Chen’s household, the Lu family’s residence, or perhaps a humble household.

Even gambling dens had set up wagers.

Someone had leaked the names of seven of the predetermined top ten, claiming that Lu Yuanqing, Lu Yuanbao, Chen Zhaolu, Wu Anbang, Zhang Ruohuai, Lin Chaodong, and Wang Chengyu, all were noble children of officials. Their respective households had already informed Hanlin scholar Wen Zhenkang and sent gifts.

Someone also mentioned that Zhang Ruohuai, who had failed several times in previous exams, suddenly became a tribute student eligible for the imperial examination this time.

Wang Chengyu’s fellow townsmen stated that the son of the Governor of Yingzhou, Wang Chengyu, could curse colorfully but was ignorant. In Yingzhou… he always made a fool of himself whenever he attended literary gatherings. If such a person were in the top ten of the imperial examination, it would indeed be a huge joke.

Except for the two grandsons of Prime Minister Lu and the grandson of Minister Chen, no one could find fault with the other four’s dirty secrets exposed.

In the famous Kuishou Inn, Xue Renyi, who was highly regarded among examinees, was extremely dissatisfied with his failure, drinking heavily, insisting on waiting there for the results.

He believed that even if he did not become the top scholar, he would still be in the top ten, absolutely not failing! Hearing about the top ten list, he was berating the corrupt examination system: “Who is Wang Chengyu… a buffoon! I, Xue Renyi, failed, and he got in… who would believe it?!”

Xue Renyi’s classmates tried to console him.

A man sitting nearby drank some wine and said, “What’s the use of just shouting here? If you have the guts, be like the Princess of Zhen and beat the grievance drum to seek justice for yourself! When the Princess of Zhen beat the grievance drum, the Emperor even demoted his legitimate son, King Xin, to a commoner and exiled him to Yongzhou!”

The examinee, who was comforting his classmate, turned his head and grumbled at the man’s attempt to add fuel to the fire: “The Princess of Zhen had the bamboo slip detailing military records. We have no evidence…”

“What do you mean, no evidence? This list is the evidence… if you dare to risk your life for justice, then beat the grievance drum! If someone dares to beat the grievance drum and complain, the Emperor will have to weigh it and investigate! If these seven people really are in the top ten before the results are announced, wouldn’t the Emperor panic upon hearing this?” The man grabbed some food with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth, “Even I, a commoner, can understand this logic. Can’t you scholars?”

The man, now visibly drunk, lifted his wine cup and continued, “Only before the results are announced, or even before the chief examiners and vice examiners leave the palace, if you beat the grievance drum and appeal to the Emperor, will this early leaked list have the greatest impact!”

Several of the failed examinees looked at each other, feeling that the drunken man had a point.

“I think… you’re just afraid of offending the nobles and don’t dare!” The man put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with his hand, “I come from a poor family. I can’t stand those noble families bullying others with their power!”