Chapter 97

The insect didn’t hesitate, quickly saying, "I’ll do it."

Yu Qing immediately put on a smile, and with a friendly arm around the insect’s shoulder, they walked into the house together. "That’s the spirit. Insect, you seem to have become quite distant with me. Are you reluctant to leave Xu Fei, feeling that following me is a hardship?"

The insect shook his head, saying, "No," but large tears already rolled down his cheeks.

"Look at you, talking properly, why are you crying? Always crying, no wonder others always mistake you for a woman. Well, from now on, just settle down here. Choose whichever room you want to clean up." Yu Qing patted his back and pushed him out, "After you’ve put your things away, I’ll get rid of your slave status."

After he had put his things away and looked uneasy, hesitant to move, Yu Qing pinched the back of his neck and pushed him out again.

At the entrance of the Zhong family’s mansion, the steward’s people were already waiting, and the carriage was ready.

They got into the carriage and headed straight for the capital’s government office. The person in charge of related matters from the Zhong family was experienced, as the Zhong family had many slaves. It didn’t take long to complete the procedures. However, the appearance of "A Shiheng" greatly shocked the relevant officials, who all came to see what the top scholar looked like.

At this point, Yu Qing was certain that A Shiheng could no longer appear publicly with his real identity.

On the way back in the carriage, thinking about the scene just now, the insect seemed to remember something and tried to congratulate him, "Congratulations, Master, for passing the imperial examination!"

Yu Qing looked at him speechlessly, realizing that this kid always brought up the wrong things. However, he couldn’t express his frustration, so he could only give a cold laugh, "Maybe you’ll understand later whether you helped me or harmed me."

The insect was puzzled...

Late at night, under the stars and moon, a lone rider in a black cloak galloped on the official road.

There were lights ahead, and upon approaching, it turned out to be a post station. The rider slowed down and entered, and a servant came out to look. The man in the black cloak jumped off his horse and threw the reins to the servant before entering the house.

The innkeeper behind the counter greeted with a smile, "Sir, are you here to stay or eat?"

The man in the cloak took out a silver ingot and pushed it to him, "I want to see today’s guest registration."

"This..." The innkeeper hesitated, seeing that the man’s face was mostly covered, but he eventually took the silver and handed over the register.

The man in the cloak immediately flipped through the register, his gaze finally settling on a name that had checked in late at night. He closed the register and walked straight inside.

The innkeeper immediately called out, "Sir, don’t cause trouble. There are soldiers staying at this post station tonight." He was trying to scare him.

The man in the cloak turned and said, "You’re overthinking it. I’m just here to deliver a message."

He headed straight to the back courtyard, looked around to confirm the target room, and then went up the stairs...

In a dimly lit room, Mr. Ming was writing at his desk.

"Knock... knock knock knock..."

A rhythmic and steady knocking sound suddenly rang out. Mr. Ming paused, then continued writing, saying calmly, "If you’ve come all the way from the capital, please come in."

The door latch opened, and the man in the cloak pushed the door and entered, closing it behind him. He took off his cloak and revealed himself to be Yu Qing’s junior uncle.

He had been searching all the way, basically stopping at every inn and post station to inquire, and finally found him.

"Do you know I was coming?" Zhou Xinyuan asked, suspiciously looking around.

Mr. Ming, who was writing, said, "You’re later than I expected. I thought you’d come last night." He put down his pen, turned around, and saw a completely unfamiliar face, but one with a certain presence. "Are you with A Shiheng?"

Zhou Xinyuan found this teacher interesting, sat down after taking off his cloak, and said, "You could say that. I guess you already know why I’m looking for you."

Mr. Ming: "What else could it be besides the palace examination?"

Zhou Xinyuan: "Could it not be to silence me?"

Mr. Ming: "Someone who can leak exam questions before the exam is not an ordinary person. The state is corrupt, with greedy officials deeply entrenched. The court has become a den of thieves. I reported it, but it didn’t move them at all, and I have no evidence. Why would they want to silence me? Is it to confirm that the top scholar of the palace examination is problematic? I just don’t understand why someone who doesn’t want to pass would take the exam, and why they would get the exam questions."

Is it that obvious? Zhou Xinyuan was speechless, not expecting this person to see through Yu Qing’s intentions so clearly.

Seeing that the other person didn’t respond, Mr. Ming said, "So you are here for the palace examination?"

Zhou Xinyuan nodded, "I ask for your cooperation."

Mr. Ming: "The questions for the palace examination are given by the emperor on the spot. How could you possibly know them in advance?"

Zhou Xinyuan: "That’s our business."

Mr. Ming: "I understand. Since you’ve come to me, I have no choice, but I still want an explanation... If I’m not satisfied, I’ll see how hard my bones are and whether I can make things difficult for you with my blood!"

After a moment of silence, Zhou Xinyuan said, "Have you heard of the former Minister of the Yu Department, A Jiezhang?"

Mr. Ming thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes, I know. I once saw him in the capital... Are you saying he’s related to A Shiheng?"

Zhou Xinyuan: "He is A Shiheng’s father. This can be verified at any time. A Jiezhang opposed the emperor’s search for immortality and was punished, stripped of his position, and exiled from the capital. On the way, he was ambushed, and his entire family was massacred, except for A Jiezhang and A Shiheng, who were saved. A Jiezhang was crippled for the rest of his life and could never stand again. He passed away a year ago."

Mr. Ming was stunned for a moment, then sighed.

"Many things I can’t explain in detail, but in short, there are people in the court who want A Shiheng to follow in his father’s footsteps, but A Shiheng doesn’t want to be used again. That’s why the situation you described occurred. Why would someone who doesn’t want to pass take the exam, and why would they have the exam questions..."

In the morning, Yu Qing, who was drinking tea in the east courtyard, received good news, delivered by Zhong Su and Wen Jianhui.

The couple had chosen a date, and in a month and a half, it would be a very auspicious day.

"Shiheng, what do you think of this date?"

Wen Jianhui asked with a smile, her attitude warm and friendly.

The couple had come to seek Yu Qing’s opinion.

Yu Qing didn’t know what to say to them. They had announced the engagement without consulting him. If he had known, he could have found an excuse to stop it. Now, the engagement between A Shiheng and Zhong Ruochen was widely known. Did the date really matter to him?

He could only pretend to be indifferent and bow, "I leave everything to Uncle and Aunt."

Wen Jianhui giggled, "Good, then it’s settled. In a month and a half, we’ll have the wedding."

The insect, who was sweeping nearby, slowed his movements, listening to the conversation and biting his lip.

Zhong Su said, "We’ll handle the wedding arrangements. You don’t need to worry about anything. Focus on preparing for the palace examination."

Wen Jianhui: "Yes, yes, the palace examination is also important."

After a while of chitchat, Yu Qing finally managed to send them off, and he couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

The insect, who was sweeping nearby, couldn’t help but ask, "Master, is Miss Zhong more beautiful than that Tie Miaqing?"

Yu Qing shrugged, "I don’t know, I’ve never seen her."

The insect whispered, "Congratulations, Master."

"Hmph!" Yu Qing smiled sarcastically, not sure what there was to be happy about, but hoping the Zhong family wouldn’t turn on him.

A few days later, the inevitable arrived, and the palace examination was held as scheduled.

Early in the morning, outside the grand palace, about two hundred candidates lined up, with heavy guards inside and outside the palace gates.

Yu Qing, dressed neatly and with his hair perfectly combed, stood out. He led the group, standing at the front of all the candidates, attracting the attention of many, including the guards on the palace walls who wanted to see what the top scholar looked like.

Outside the large courtyard, the crowd included many onlookers and failed candidates who had come to the capital and wanted to see the opening of the palace examination, to gain some insight.

In the crowd, Su Yingtao asked, "The one at the front, that should be Shiheng, right?"

It was a bit far, and they couldn’t get closer, so they couldn’t see clearly.

Pan Wenqing said, "No doubt, it must be him. No one else has the right to lead. Two hundred candidates, leading the way into the palace, what an honor!"

Fang Wenxian: "Unfortunately, we don’t even have the right to be in the line."

A few sighs of regret and envy.

Zhong Su, his wife, Du Fei, and the steward were also there, watching with pride. Wen Jianhui really wanted to tell the strangers around her that the one leading the group was her son-in-law.

Wen Ruo, who also wanted to come, was not allowed by her parents, who were increasingly strict, fearing that someone would say the Zhong family’s daughter was poorly raised.

Yu Qing, under the gaze of countless envious eyes, appeared calm on the surface but was extremely nervous inside, unusually so.

Only he knew that this time entering the palace might be a matter of life and death. He didn’t know what the situation inside the palace was, and if something went wrong during the examination, and his junior uncle failed, how would he deal with it?

But there was no choice. As his junior uncle said, the trouble was caused by him, and he had to take the risk.

He wanted to look around, but the etiquette he had been taught for entering the palace forbade him from looking around.

Buzz...

The palace gates creaked open, and an old eunuch walked out with authority, followed by two whip-bearers.

The whip-bearers cracked their whips three times, and the old eunuch, in a high-pitched voice, announced, "This year’s top scholar, A Shiheng, leads the candidates into the palace for the palace examination!" He stepped aside, waved his duster, and gestured for them to enter.

The whips cracked again, echoing in the air.

A Shiheng immediately bowed to the palace, then straightened up and walked forward confidently.

The candidates behind him followed in three rows, bowing as they entered the palace.

Zhou Xinyuan, who was also in the crowd, couldn’t help but cover his forehead, finding the scene unbearable. He imagined the founders of Linglong Temple would never have dreamed that one of their successors would do such a thing.