They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 395 Interrogation
Once they're in court, they can't keep their mouths shut.

Magistrate Lu was unwilling to carry out the executions on these three days, as it was considered unlucky. After asking him a few questions, he understood that these two servants were typical cunning and shrewish servants from wealthy families, who were adept at cheating and being cunning.

Magistrate Lu chuckled, "If you confess honestly, you'll suffer less. Since I've summoned you here, I naturally have evidence and witnesses. Giving Doctor Liu money for no reason, telling him to stay outside the city for a while, and someone who wasn't usually diligent suddenly becoming unusually attentive, serving tea and water—these are all suspicious points. If I'm not mistaken, the unused medicine packet is either on you or in your room, isn't it? After all, there are many people and eyes in the inn, and you wouldn't be in a hurry to deal with it, so it's safer to keep it. I'll investigate your entire itinerary for the past few days more carefully."

"Do you really think I can't find out?"

"If you don't confess honestly, you'll face a different fate once I find out."

Dou Jin and Dou Quan immediately panicked.

Dou Quan was the first to lose his temper, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for mercy, confessing everything.

Dou Jin's expression changed, but he didn't dare to stop it in front of Magistrate Lu, otherwise he would definitely be punished.

Left with no other choice, he had to confess as well.

Sure enough, the unused medicine packet was tucked into Dou Jin's pocket.

With witnesses and physical evidence present, and the two men signing and affixing their fingerprints, they were escorted to custody. Magistrate Lu immediately ordered Constable Yu to keep an eye on the examination hall, and as soon as Dou Zhongli came out, he was arrested and brought to justice.

Fortunately, Liang Minglang and Madam Xu were capable, and Liang Mingxuan was still able to participate in the preliminary examination; otherwise, it would have been a great pity.

Magistrate Lu was still a little worried, so he quickly asked Doctor Li to prepare medicine to treat diarrhea and regulate the spleen and stomach. After today's exam, he wanted to see Liang Mingxuan again as soon as possible.

Upon learning that Liang Mingxuan had been drugged by Dou Zhongli, Lu Xiaoyue angrily complained, "I knew it was Dou Zhongli who would harm Mingxuan! He and his two lackeys are so annoying. They're always trying to bully us. Mingxuan is stronger than him, so he especially likes to target Mingxuan and always tries to sow discord, constantly talking badly about Mingxuan in front of me. Humph, he's the worst! Mingxuan never speaks ill of others. I'm going to visit Mingxuan!"

Madam Lu hurriedly said, "We can't go. Madam Xu is here. Don't worry, Madam Xu is very capable. They will definitely take good care of Mingxuan. You can visit him after you go to the county school in a few days."

"Mom, by then it'll be too late!"

"You even know about daylilies? You still can't go there. Your father is the county magistrate. If our family has any private dealings with Mingxuan right now, and he passes the exam, some malicious people might say that our two families colluded to help him cheat. Wouldn't that ruin his life?"

Lu Xiaoyue was taken aback.

Madam Lu smiled and gently tapped her forehead, "You're not a child anymore, and you can't be so impulsive and willful all the time."

Lu Xiaoyue gave a muffled "Oh".

As the sun gradually moved westward, the crowd outside the cordon of the children's examination site gradually thickened, forming a large, dense mass.

Everyone is waiting for their family members or owners.

Xu Zhichun and Liang Minglang were also there.

Liang Minglang kept a close eye on everything around him, subtly protecting Xu Zhichun and preventing anyone from bumping into or touching her. He comforted Xu Zhichun, saying, "Don't worry, it should be over soon. Our Mingxuan will definitely get good grades."

Xu Zhichun nodded.

The people around immediately started talking, hoping for good luck.

"My son, Jing, did even better on the test!"

“Our son, Ayu, is praised by his teacher all the time. He says he’s sure to pass the exam this time!”

"My young master is diligent, hardworking, and intelligent; he'll definitely pass the high school entrance exam!"

"Hmph, my young master is much more impressive!"

Xu Zhichun and Liang Minglang were both amused and exasperated. Too lazy to join this seemingly harmonious but actually fiercely competitive battle where everyone wanted to gain the upper hand verbally, they simply moved to the side. Inside the examination hall, with three long whistles and the invigilator's call, the time for the first round of the children's examination had arrived. All the students put down their pens, stood up, and took their positions in an orderly fashion.

If anyone is caught not putting down their pen at this point, they will be considered to have violated the rules and their score for that round will be cancelled.

The students dared not act rashly, and were very cautious and well-behaved. They neatly packed their things and filed out in an orderly line.

Dou Zhongli was in a very good mood.

He felt he had performed exceptionally well, his thoughts flowed freely and his writing was divinely inspired. If nothing unexpected happened, this was an extraordinary performance, and he was sure to get a good result, and even had a great chance to compete for the top spot.

He never thought he would fail the exam; he was more concerned with what rank he would achieve.

A hand gently landed on his shoulder from behind. Dou Zhongli turned his head subconsciously, and was so startled that he almost dropped the basket in his hand. "How come it's you!"

Liang Mingxuan smiled, his expression innocent, harmless, and amiable. "Yeah, I didn't scare you, did I?"

Dou Zhongli: "."

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Wasn't he absent from the exam? How come he's here?
How could he even be allowed to take the exam? What are Dou Jin and Dou Quan doing?!
Strangely enough, Dou Zhongli, who was just moments before full of confidence and even thought he could compete for the top spot, saw Liang Mingxuan and his confidence crumbled instantly. He subconsciously felt that he definitely couldn't beat him in the exam.

This feeling made him angry, resentful, and jealous.

Dou Zhongli forced a smile: "When I entered this morning, I didn't see you for quite a while. I thought something had happened to you and you weren't coming, haha."

Several students from the county school, including the two, joined in the conversation upon hearing this, expressing their concern and curiosity.

"Yes, that's what I thought at the time too."

“That’s right, I was thinking the same thing. Mingxuan doesn’t usually stay out this late.”

"So what exactly happened that delayed Mingxuan this morning?"

It's no wonder everyone is curious. After all, the imperial examinations are incredibly important for scholars. Everyone tries to take them as early as possible, and even the most important matters have to give way to them.

Unless absolutely necessary.

Liang Mingxuan smiled and said, "There was a little accident. I must have eaten something I shouldn't have yesterday. I had severe abdominal pain and diarrhea last night. Fortunately, my older brother and sister-in-law had prepared medicine in advance. I felt better after taking the medicine. This morning, I still felt a little weak in my hands and feet and my face was pale, so I rested for a while before coming here."

Dou Zhongli felt a wave of dizziness wash over him and immediately exclaimed, "How could this happen? You were so careless!"

The more he did it, the more one should rush to declare their innocence.

Everyone else was also startled.

"My God, that was incredibly close!"

"I broke out in a cold sweat just listening to that."

"Be careful, we all need to be careful!"

"No!"

"Are you alright now?"

Liang Mingxuan deliberately chose this moment to speak, his purpose being to remind his classmates to be vigilant. He nodded, "Yes, you're all right. We all need to be careful. I'm fine now, and it didn't affect my exam today."