I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

Early the next morning.

The few people who slept in the storeroom last night woke up early, washed up, and were about to go to the examination hall to participate in the spring examination.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this exam will be the most important exam of their lives, bar none.

Because this exam can determine their fate!

After everyone had finished washing up, Qin Li was still nowhere to be seen. Cao Quan couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zhou, where is our benefactor? We haven't seen him since early this morning."

"Of course I should go back to my residence to change my clothes and prepare to preside over the examination hall..." Zhou Biao muttered to himself.

Of course, he couldn't tell everyone these honest truths yet, lest they affect their mood for the exam.

Zhou Biao simply said, "Young Master Cao, my young master has returned to the manor. Before dawn, someone from the manor came and said that the madam had caught a cold and the young master had rushed back. He asked me to tell you all that you don't need to wait for him."

"A cold? How could someone catch a cold out of nowhere?" Cao Quan was puzzled and a little worried.

"Alright, alright, it's getting late. You should head to the examination hall. The young master asked me to stay here specifically to inform you. Now it's time for me to return to my residence."

After saying that, Zhou Biao was about to leave.

Cao Quan grabbed him and said, "Will my benefactor be able to get here in time? If you can't get in on time, you'll never be able to get in again."

Zhou Biao said, "Well, I really don't know. I have to go back and see what's going on. Alright, alright, you guys hurry up and go. Maybe my young master will arrive at the examination hall before you."

Seeing that Cao Quan was still not leaving, Chen Wangju called to his brother Chen Shoutian that they were about to leave. They couldn't afford to be delayed by this small matter. If they were late and couldn't participate in the spring examination, they would definitely regret it to the point of vomiting blood.

Watching the two brothers leave, Zhou Biao couldn't help but spit on the ground at their backs: "Pah, what a heartless pair! They didn't even ask about my young master's situation. If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have saved them in the first place."

In comparison, Cao Quan's reaction was that of a normal person.

"Alright, alright, don't be angry," Cao Quan comforted her.

Zhou Biao hummed in agreement and parted ways with Cao Quan at the warehouse entrance.

……

Despite rushing all the way, Cao Quan still arrived at the entrance of the examination hall on time.

At this time, several long queues had already formed at the entrance of the examination hall, stretching as far as the eye could see.

The officers and soldiers are checking each candidate one by one to prevent anyone from bringing in anything they shouldn't.

Cao Quan randomly chose a queue and joined it, while the Chen brothers joined an adjacent queue.

Even while queuing, many students still made the most of their time, taking out their books to quickly glance at them one last time.

After a while, Cao Quan found himself standing side by side with the Chen brothers, and the two groups slowly inching forward.

Chen Wangju couldn't help but say, "Cao Quan, you mustn't forget our bet from last night."

The bet was nothing more than a wager on who would have the last laugh.

Cao Quan nodded slightly, wondering why Chen Wangju had become like this.

He simply said, "Chen Wangju, I don't care how you treat me, but I advise you to tone down your temper after you graduate from high school. Being too stubborn and straightforward can easily cost you your life."

This was his last act of kindness towards Chen Wangju, as a fellow townsman.

After the imperial examination, there was no longer any so-called hometown friendship between him and Chen Wangju.

If the two of them really pass the imperial examinations and become officials, they will become political enemies, and he will not show any mercy to his political enemies.

As the two were talking, a series of orderly footsteps came from behind them.

Everyone turned around and saw that it was a group of fully armed soldiers.

Just by looking into their eyes, you can tell they've been on the battlefield and killed enemies.

They were far superior to the soldiers who check students at the gates of the Imperial Examination Hall today.

The leader was a young man riding a tall horse.

He stood ramrod straight, exuding an imposing presence without being angry.

"Wow, money talks, this is how you get rich and still have to queue up like this."

Upon seeing the newcomer, Chen Wangju couldn't help but speak, for he recognized the man on horseback as Qin Li.

"What are you waiting in line for? This is His Highness the Crown Prince! You bumpkin, you don't even recognize His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Some of the students recognized Qin Li's identity and quickly knelt down.

Immediately afterwards, everyone knelt down at the entrance of the examination hall.

Only the Chen brothers and Cao Quan remained standing, making them stand out prominently.

It was only when the students around them kindly pulled them down to kneel that they realized what was happening.

With a gulp, Chen Shoutian couldn't help but swallow, and asked the student beside him:

"What did you just say? You said he is the current Crown Prince?"

The students didn't dare to lift their heads: "That's right, it's the real deal, stop talking and come over here."

As they spoke, the students, who had knelt down with their heads bowed, first noticed the horse's hooves.

Qin Li, riding on horseback, glanced at them indifferently, then walked straight towards the entrance of the examination hall.

The students breathed a sigh of relief when Qin Li dismounted at the entrance of the examination hall.

After dismounting, Qin Li focused his energy in his dantian and said:

"I received intelligence that someone is smuggling cheat sheets into the examination hall."

"Before you enter the examination hall, I'll give you one chance: put the cheat sheets into the designated basket."

As they were talking, someone carried over a dozen baskets and placed them at the entrance of the examination hall.

"As long as you hand over the cheat sheets now, I will forgive and forget, and you can still enter the examination hall to take the exam."

"Otherwise, if I discover anyone has smuggled in cheat sheets, I will show no mercy and execute them without exception!"

After he finished speaking, someone brought Qin Li a grand chair and placed it at the entrance of the examination hall.

Qin Li waved his sleeve and sat down, personally taking charge.

The soldiers Qin Li brought urged the students to continue forward, and that they would personally conduct the body searches.

After a short while, the line continued to incline forward.

Among the group, the Chen brothers and Cao Quan had mixed feelings.

Chen Shoutian clenched his fists and said excitedly:

"Wangju, we've struck it rich! We've struck it rich! Our benefactor is actually His Highness the Crown Prince! Whether we pass the imperial examination or not is entirely up to him."

Chen Wangju was not happy; instead, his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Who would have thought that Qin Li was the current crown prince?

If he had known this would happen, he would have done what Cao Quan did and tried his best to build a good relationship with Qin Li no matter what.

But nowadays, Qin Li's relationship with the two brothers isn't very good, so why would he help them?

"Cao Quan, you really have incredible luck. With such a good relationship with the Crown Prince, you're sure to pass the imperial examination this time."

Chen Wangju said through gritted teeth.

Cao Quan snorted coldly and said, "If I pass the imperial examination this time, it will be because of my knowledge, not because of my good relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince."

Chen Wangju wouldn't listen to a word he said, only remarking, "You're getting a good deal and then acting innocent."

Cao Quan ignored him and continued forward in line.

Soon it was his turn to be searched.

It was Zhou Biao who was about to search him. Zhou Biao looked at Cao Quan in front of him, smiled, and waved his hand:

"You don't need to be searched. I trust you; you won't be carrying cheat sheets."

After saying that, Zhou Biao waved to Cao Quan, telling him to go inside quickly.

To everyone's surprise, Cao Quan stood still and said, "Sir, with so many people watching, for the sake of my innocence, it would be best if you searched me."

Qin Li glanced at Zhou Biao, and only then did Zhou Biao begin the body search.

As Zhou Biao searched Cao Quan, Qin Li said, "Cao Quan, we've known each other for so long, and I don't want my identity to affect your performance in this exam."

"Once you enter the examination hall, forget my identity and focus on passing the exam."

"If you pass the imperial examination, I will personally celebrate your success!"

Cao Quan bowed deeply to Qin Li: "Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness."

After thoroughly searching him inside and out, Zhou Biao found nothing. He waved for Cao Quan to enter, and Cao Quan then walked into the examination hall.

After Cao Quan went in, it was the Chen brothers' turn to be searched.

Chen Shoutian took the initiative to approach and ingratiate himself: "Brother Zhou, it's just the two of us brothers, so we don't need to be searched, right?"

After saying that, Chen Shoutian was about to lead Chen Wangju into the examination hall.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Biao stretched out an arm, blocking their path, and said with a fierce glare, "Don't you two know where this is? What makes you think you can get close to me? Men, search us thoroughly!"

After saying that, several soldiers surrounded the Chen brothers, stripped them of their clothes, and searched every nook and cranny.

To the uninformed, they would have thought the two had received intelligence and were carrying cheat sheets.