Song Xing: I am cultivating immortals in Qingcheng Mountain

"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: Our dynasty uses the imperial examination system to select scholars, and only the selection of talents is the foundation of governing the country. Now I have heard that there is fraud in the imperial examination system, which has caused misfortune to students and later led to the extermination of the whole family. This has implicated the court and caused heated discussions. This kind of fraud is related to the foundation of the country. If it is not thoroughly investigated, how can we uphold the discipline of the court and comfort the hearts of the poor scholars?"

"I hereby send Prince Yong'an Xiao Chuhe as the imperial envoy to contact the Dali Temple and the Censorate to investigate this matter. Wherever he goes, it shall be as if I am present in person."

"We must get the truth, and do not make false accusations or let anyone off the hook! If there is solid evidence, the chief examiner will be executed immediately, and the co-examiners will be hanged in prison. The candidate who bribed the examiner will be dismissed and exiled; his property will be confiscated, and his wife and children will be imprisoned by the government, as a warning to others."

"If anyone shirks his responsibilities or shields or protects others, he will be guilty of the same crime as the cheater!"

"Submit a report within seven days without delay and announce it to the whole nation so that everyone will know. I decree this."

At the Snowfall Villa, Xiao Se had just sat down and the water had not yet boiled when someone from the palace came with an imperial decree.

Unlike in the past, this time there were two people delivering the imperial decree.

The Chief Eunuch in charge of Incense - Jin Xian, and the Chief Eunuch in charge of Records - Jin Yu, both had very complicated expressions when they saw Xiao Chuhe again.

Especially the Grand Eunuch Jin Yu, he was originally a scholar and even took part in the imperial examination. What Xiao Chuhe is doing now is to uphold justice and fairness for thousands of scholars in Beili.

Compared with Xiao Chong, this chivalrous young man did not swallow his anger or turn a blind eye to the matter. He did not say anything about putting the overall situation first, but instead investigated the matter thoroughly.

Previously, Emperor Mingde ordered Xiao Chuhe to reflect on his mistakes in seclusion. He happened to know the reason. He believed that even if the scholar named Zhuge Jingxuan had not taken action, Dong Zhu and his men would definitely not have been spared, because there was still one person who had not given up.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for speaking up for the scholars of the world. The sky is finally clear for the imperial examination."

Xiao Se didn't have much dealings with this eunuch in charge of books. Seeing him like this, he subconsciously looked at Jin Xian.

"Your Highness, when we were out for training, Jin Yu transformed himself into a scholar. Actually, he also took the imperial examination, but he didn't make the list at that time. He only learned about the inside story of the imperial examination after returning to the palace. He has always been upset about this matter. Your Highness's actions this time can be regarded as helping Jin Yu to resolve his worries."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Se waved his hand gently.

"You don't have to be polite, eunuch. There should be an explanation for right and wrong. This matter was originally the fault of the court, and those students should not be held responsible."

Jinyu sighed softly.

"Your Highness, have mercy."

Xiao Se looked at Jin Xian, and was a little surprised by the word of mercy.

"For thousands of students around the world, your Highness' actions are like a bodhisattva saving the world. Scholars follow the Confucian path and seek fairness in their hearts. This is also the fundamental reason for Zhuge Jingxuan's message."

"Compassion is not exclusive to Buddha. Your Highness needs to be on guard against villains in this operation. There are rumors circulating outside. Some people say that Your Highness is upright and is willing to uphold justice for the students of the world, but there are also people with ulterior motives who say that the emperor is incompetent and should abdicate and let a wise man take over. Your Highness needs to make plans for this matter early."

Hearing this, Xiao Se's face changed.

What he said before were just words to shut up the ministers, but the words that came after were really heart-piercing.

"Thank you for your advice, Chief Supervisor."

"The message has been delivered. We will both go back and report first."

Jinxian and Jinyu bowed to Xiaose, then turned and left.

Then, Xiao Se turned and asked: "Where is Ji Xue? What's the situation over there?"

"I don't know what information Ji Xue received just now, and she has already left. She didn't tell me when I asked her just now."

Ye Ruoyi frowned. When she saw Ji Xue's expression change drastically just now, she knew something had happened. However, Ji Xue kept silent about the matter, and she couldn't guess for a moment. However, judging from the current situation, the information Ji Xue had just received should be about this matter.

"By the way, where are the Master and the others?"

Xiao Se looked around again, but didn't see Sikong Changfeng and the others, so he couldn't help but ask again. "Uncle Changfeng and the others haven't come back yet."

Xiao Se's mind moved. He had previously asked Sikong Changfeng and Baili Dongjun to take care of Tianqi's emergencies. Now that the two were not here, perhaps something had happened.

"Brother, Lei Wujie, and Qianluo, the rest of you come with me again. This time, I will root out all those involved in the imperial examination fraud!!"

With the imperial edict, there is no need to worry about taking action.

They have already investigated the intelligence and evidence, and now all they have to do is arrest people.

With the actions of Xiao Se and others, the truth about the imperial examination fraud was finally revealed to the world. From the Tianqi Imperial City to the various states and counties, all the officials involved in the matter were in danger.

For a time, the three words "Yong'an King Xiao Chuhe" became famous all over the world. After learning about it, scholars were moved and sang it one after another.

On the banks of the Wei River, the chess game is almost over.

Zhao Shouyi's gaze was no longer limited to the chessboard, but was more focused on the Wei River.

"Old man, the chess game has come to an end."

The old man sat in the air, his expression slightly complicated. After a while, he suddenly asked, "I thought the confrontation in front of the emperor was the key to this situation, but I didn't expect it to end like this."

"Do you know Prince Yongan?"

Zhao Shouyi raised the corner of his mouth, revealing a hint of a smile.

"I know him, but when I met him, he was just a horse dealer with no ambition at all."

The old man frowned, a hint of confusion hidden in his mottled wrinkles.

"Horse dealer??"

As a prince, no matter how poor he was, he would never fall to the point of selling horses for a living. Besides, there have not been any major wars in the past few years.

Of course, this is not true, but he knew the course of the battle. The one who took action on Beili's side was alone, and there was almost no consumption of military supplies such as war horses.

Xiao Chuhe was a horse dealer. This was the only plausible scenario he could think of, but he ruled it out.

Zhao Shouyi stood up slowly, Feng Xu Yufeng.

"The Ghost Codex belongs to the old seniors, right?"

Hearing this, the old man looked a little surprised, and then he asked curiously: "How did you guess it?"

The Ghost Book was something he obtained accidentally in the secret realm, but he had never practiced it and there was not a trace of ghost energy in his body. However, Zhao Shouyi was certain that the Ghost Book was his, which surprised him greatly.

"I returned to the Central Plains from Penglai when I was led here by the senior. Before that, I didn't understand why the senior wanted to block my way, but it was only at the end that I had a glimmer of understanding."

"The chess game between you and me has never been played by that scholar, but by that seventh prince!"

"And the old servant beside Xiao Lanwan, the senior used human hearts as his sons and made his move to Tianqi. This is really a good move."

The old man then stood up, stroked his beard and sighed.

"I really underestimated you. You are worthy of being the descendant of Qingxuan. But this game has already been decided and no one can change it!!"

(End of this chapter)