Chapter 68

After the two entered the study, Cao Xinggong sized up the room, walked behind the desk, and sat down, staring at his nephew standing opposite him and asked, "How is it? Is this study suitable for learning?"

Xu Fei chuckled, "This spacious and elegant study, if I still say it's not good, I would be unreasonable. Uncle, I really didn't expect that you have already acquired such a large mansion in this capital city where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold. Without considerable wealth, one wouldn't even dare to think about it. I heard from the servants that you not only have this large estate but also many other properties. Uncle, it seems you have been doing big business all these years. Why have I never heard about it from home?"

Cao Xinggong shook his head slightly, "What you see and hear may not necessarily be true. Some things may appear to be mine on the surface, but they may not actually be mine. They are just registered under my name, and I manage them on behalf of others. Some things are unclear and shouldn't be explained too clearly. There's no need to tell your family."

Xu Fei chuckled, "Uncle, you're joking. If it's registered under your name, it naturally belongs to you. How could it not be yours? Who could take it away by force?"

Cao Xinggong smiled faintly, "You will understand when the time comes. Now, let's not talk about this. Let's talk about your matters." He then reached into his sleeve, pulled out a folded piece of paper, and handed it to him. "Keep this well. Read it, memorize it, and then burn it."

What could be so cautious? Xu Fei was puzzled and unfolded the paper to check. He found a few lines written on it, "A scholar is favored by the grace of the emperor, endowed with the mandate of heaven, or strives for self-improvement..." He mumbled a few lines and then read the rest, discovering that they were topics for essays, classics, and poetry, with only the topics and no content. He couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, these look like the questions we usually get in exams. Why are you showing me this?"

Cao Xinggong said calmly, "These are not the usual exam questions, but the questions for your upcoming imperial examination!"

He said it lightly, but Xu Fei felt as if he had been struck by lightning, also quite shocked. He stammered, "Uncle, don't joke around. The exam is still a month away, and the questions haven't even been set yet. How could you have the questions already? This is a big joke."

Cao Xinggong said calmly, "I'm not joking, and I didn't set the questions. Xu Fei, you are about to enter the government service. Remember, the person who can influence the selection of the examiners can decide what the questions will be."

Xu Fei, still skeptical, asked, "Then... how did you get them?"

Clearly, he still didn't believe it. Leaking the imperial examination questions was a huge matter.

Cao Xinggong sighed, "I just said, what you hear and see may not necessarily be mine. The person who truly owns these things is the one who can influence the selection of the examiners. Do you know why I came back so late last night? I knelt outside someone's study for half an hour to beg for this paper for you. Do you understand?"

Xu Fei felt a lump in his throat, somewhat moved but still skeptical, "Who is this person, Uncle?"

Cao Xinggong: "That's not for you to ask. Our family has never produced a proper scholar. When I received the letter from home saying you passed the provincial exam, I couldn't believe it. Since you've come this far, I'm willing to go all out to give you a chance. Your two cousins are no good, and the Cao family might rely on you in the future. I hope you won't forget my efforts today."

Xu Fei, emotionally moved, said, "Uncle, rest assured. Since I know the questions in advance and have a month to prepare, I will strive to be the top scorer."

This almost choked Cao Xinggong. He glared and stood up, clearly agitated, "What nonsense are you talking? What I said outside was for others to hear. Did you take it seriously? To know your chances in the imperial examination and to see if I could help, I had someone evaluate your provincial exam paper. It was just a mediocre level, barely passing. To say it was a matter of luck is not an exaggeration.

If it weren't for the reputation you've gained as 'Xu Fei of Hengqiu' and the support of a high-ranking official, I wouldn't have dared to ask for help, and they might not have agreed. With your level, if you were to be the top scorer, would anyone still be able to live? If you were the top scorer, how many people would pay attention? Not to mention, would your acquaintances back home not be suspicious? Have you thought about the palace examination? The emperor will set the questions on the spot.

You can know the questions for the imperial examination in advance, but can the emperor also leak the palace examination questions to you? Who do you think you are? If you are the top scorer in the imperial examination and fail in the palace examination, do you think everyone is a fool? If you were the top scorer in the imperial examination, both our families would be in grave danger."

Xu Fei, as if struck by lightning, realized he had been too excited. He broke out in a cold sweat and blushed from his own foolish words.

Cao Xinggong, seeing his nephew embarrassed, changed his tone and spoke gently, "Don't aim for a high ranking. Just aim to pass as a Jinshi. This way, no one will suspect you, and they will just think you were lucky. As long as you can pass as a Jinshi and stay in the capital, that's enough. I'm in the capital too. The rest is up to you. Your ranking in the exam doesn't determine your future achievements and prospects. Do you understand?"

Xu Fei immediately clasped his hands and said, "I understand. I will remember."

Cao Xinggong pointed to the paper in his hand, "Keep this well. Don't wave it around. Do you want others to see it? Memorize it and destroy it immediately."

"Yes," Xu Fei, a bit flustered, reached out, opened a book on the desk, and slipped the paper into the pages, then placed the book at the bottom of a stack of books on the desk.

Cao Xinggong shook his head, not overly criticizing him, "I have important guests to see at noon, so I won't talk too much. I'll set up a banquet for you tonight to welcome you."

With that, he left.

"Uncle, I'll see you out," Xu Fei quickly followed. He still had something to ask his uncle, but after being scolded, he didn't know if he should speak up.

After the two left the study, a slight sound came from behind a half-screen, half-bookshelf cabinet.

It was Chong'er, who was squatting behind it, a basin of water in front of him, and a damp cloth in his hand, making a slight sound as he put it in the water.

He didn't intend to eavesdrop on the conversation between uncle and nephew. He was just quietly cleaning the floor, trying to make the place where the young master studied cleaner. However, he accidentally overheard this shocking conversation and didn't dare to move, scared stiff.

He wasn't stupid and knew he had heard something he shouldn't.

Taking advantage of the two leaving, he quickly came out from behind the cabinet.

However, before he reached the door, he saw through a half-open window that Xu Fei and his uncle were still talking in the courtyard.

He was scared again and hid behind the window, waiting for them to leave so he could quickly depart.

However, after waiting for a while, they showed no signs of leaving, and he faintly heard the name "A Shi Heng."

Shi Heng? Chong'er was stunned, unsure if he had heard correctly. He thought for a moment, looked back at the desk, and after a while, bit his lip, seemingly making a decision. He quickly glanced outside and then quickly left through the window, went to the desk, and with trembling hands, moved a stack of books, took out the one at the bottom, and found the paper Cao Xinggong had given Xu Fei.

Earlier, while hiding behind the cabinet, he had seen through the gap in the bookshelf where Xu Fei had hidden the paper.

He opened the paper, read the content, which wasn't much, and listened for any sounds outside. He quickly took a brush from the brush holder, dipped it in the remaining ink in the inkstone, and pulled out a sheet of white paper from a stack on the desk, quickly copying the so-called imperial examination questions.

In no time, he had copied all the questions in a hurried, messy handwriting.

He quickly hid the copy in his clothes, put the original back in the book, and then moved the stack of books back to cover it.

After doing this, he was so scared that he was sweating. He then returned to the window to wait...

What Xu Fei and his uncle were discussing was not something else but the matter of 4,000 taels of silver, which Xu Fei wanted to borrow from his uncle.

It was better not to mention it. Once mentioned, Cao Xinggong expressed doubt. You were closely guarded on the way, with no chance to spend money. How could you have such a large expense? He wasn't unwilling to give his nephew the money, having even gone to the extent of getting the exam questions, but he wanted to know what had happened.

Under his uncle's questioning, Xu Fei had to confess, telling the story of cheating by guessing riddles, ending up in an ancient tomb, escaping, and finally arriving in the capital.

Cao Xinggong, surprised by his nephew's bizarre experience, said after listening, "So, A Shi Heng really saved your life?"

Xu Fei: "Yes, that's why I want to give him the money."

Cao Xinggong was silent for a moment and said, "Don't give him the money yet. Test him first, and see how things go. I know the situation. Focus on your preparation."

Xu Fei became a bit anxious, "Uncle, that guy will do anything for money. He has something on me. It's better to give him the money to avoid trouble."

Cao Xinggong, hands behind his back, said, "Don't be anxious or afraid. Precisely because he will do anything for money, we can't give it easily. What if he is insatiable? Giving money is to resolve issues, not to create more. If he is reasonable, he will get the money for saving my nephew's life. If he is unreasonable, there is no need to give it, and there will be another way to deal with it. I know the situation and will handle it for you."

Xu Fei roughly understood his meaning and nodded slightly.

"Relax and focus on your preparation," Cao Xinggong patted his shoulder and turned to leave.

Xu Fei responded and followed, personally seeing his uncle to the front door.

Chong'er, hiding in the study, finally got his chance. As soon as the two left the courtyard, he quickly came out of the study, walked to a small room on the side of the courtyard, pushed the door open, quickly entered his room, and closed the door. He was so scared that he was sweating and his heart was racing, his hands trembling.

He himself didn't understand why he had done such a thing.