novelapdf 101. Imperial Examination
101. Imperial Examination
Lin Mo sat upright in the study of Seven Absolutes Manor, his fingertips lightly tapping the table. The news that Hong Jiu had sent back from the capital was spread out in front of him: the contents of the secret letter, the Third Prince's movements, the unusual mobilization of the inner guard "Dark Blade", the mysterious identity of "Xuan No. 7"... a series of clues intertwined in his mind like a spider web.
"His Highness is urging us urgently to clear away obstacles..." Lin Mo repeated the words from the secret letter in a low voice, his eyes cold. In his past life, was the destruction of Seven Absolutes Manor also influenced by the princes' struggle for the throne? Those sudden encirclements and precise strikes could not have been achieved without the tacit approval of insiders and high-ranking forces. This life's path of revenge seems far more complicated than anticipated, requiring not only facing enemies in the martial world but also dismantling the deeply entrenched power structure of the imperial court.
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the rolling mountains beyond the villa. The imperial examinations were approaching, and scholars from all over the country had begun to arrive in the capital. This was supposed to be a grand event for the court to select talent and for poor students to rise above their circumstances, but under the shadow of power struggles, the waters of the imperial examinations were unlikely to be clear.
"Master," came the voice of Lin Zhong, the trusted steward, from outside the study, "Chen Qiming, a tribute student from Jiangnan Circuit, is requesting an audience with a visiting card, saying he is the son of an old friend."
Lin Mo raised an eyebrow slightly. Chen Qiming… He remembered that name. In his past life, this young man seemed to have achieved good results in the imperial examinations, and later served as an official in a remote area, where his reputation was decent, but he had no connection with the Seven Absolutes Manor. Why would he take the initiative to visit in this life? Was it simply a visit out of admiration, or was there another reason?
"Please invite him to the side hall." Lin Mo straightened his robes and decided to meet him.
In the side hall, a young man dressed in a blue robe, with a slightly immature face but clear and upright eyes, bowed respectfully upon seeing Lin Mo, saying, "This junior, Chen Qiming, pays his respects to Master Lin. My father, Chen Yuan, once served as the magistrate of Yuhang County. He often mentioned that he had met Master Lin once before his death. In gratitude for the chivalry of the Seven Wonders Manor, he specifically instructed me to pay him a visit if I ever went to the capital."
Lin Mo nodded slightly, gesturing for him to sit down. He had some recollection of Chen Yuan; he was an honest and upright local official, but unfortunately, he offended his superiors and died in despair. It seemed that Chen Qiming was following the path of the "pure stream" (a term referring to officials who uphold integrity and upright conduct), hoping to establish connections with him through his father's influence. This was quite common before the imperial examinations; scholars would often visit respected local figures or influential people to seek their patronage or protection.
"Young Master Chen, there's no need for such formalities. I've also heard of your father's illustrious reputation. Did your preparations for the imperial examinations go smoothly this time in the capital?" Lin Mo greeted him politely, while secretly observing him.
A barely perceptible look of worry crossed Chen Qiming's face: "Thanks to the Master's concern, my exam preparation is going well. However... however, I've recently noticed that several wealthy students in the same lodging are behaving rather suspiciously. They often return late at night, having private conversations with others, and... and I happened to glimpse several pages of manuscripts on one of their desks. The handwriting and writing style were completely different from their usual work, as if they had been prepared in advance by a highly skilled ghostwriter..."
Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged: "Oh? The imperial examination is an important place, and it has its own rules. Perhaps it's because they studied hard."
Chen Qiming hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "I initially thought the same thing. But the other day, I was feeling troubled and took a walk in the backyard of my residence late at night. I overheard those people whispering in the corner, mentioning things like 'the connections are open' and 'the code remains the same,' and they even mentioned... mentioned the name of a certain official in the Ministry of Rites... I was terrified and thought it over. My father once said that Master Lin of the Seven Absolutes Manor is fiercely opposed to evil, and that the Seven Absolutes Manor prioritizes chivalry. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of coming here to inform the Master of this matter. I am but a humble person, and I only hope to put my mind at ease. I have no other intentions."
"Minister of Rites… connections… code…" A cold glint flashed in Lin Mo's eyes. Imperial examination fraud! And it might implicate officials in the Ministry of Rites! This was no small matter. Normally, he might not easily intervene in such court affairs, but now, he was struggling to find a breakthrough in the court's power struggles. If handled properly, this fraud case might become a pawn to manipulate certain forces. Especially since Hong Jiu's intelligence indicated that the Third Prince was colluding with the Imperial Guard, and the imperial examinations had always been an important way for various factions to cultivate their own followers and expand their influence.
"Young Master Chen, you have a strong sense of justice and are willing to take risks to reveal this secret. I admire you," Lin Mo said solemnly. "This matter is of great importance, involving the fairness of the imperial talent selection ceremony and the future of countless students who have studied diligently for years. Rest assured, I am aware of this matter and will investigate it carefully. After you return, act as usual and do not mention it to anyone else. Also, do not spy on those people again, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."
Seeing Lin Mo's solemn attitude, Chen Qiming felt somewhat relieved and quickly stood up to bow again: "Thank you, Master! I understand and will certainly be careful with my words and actions."
After seeing Chen Qiming off, Lin Mo immediately returned to his study, spread out paper and pen, and quickly wrote a secret letter.
"Hong Jiu: In addition to the original tasks, dispatch more capable personnel to the capital's undercover agents to focus on monitoring areas where candidates for the imperial examinations gather, especially the major guild halls and rented courtyards in the south of the city. Be alert for any wealthy young men secretly contacting officials of the Ministry of Rites or their entourages, and watch for unusual financial transactions, the movements of hired guns, and any special channels that might be used to transmit exam questions or codes. Target: Ministry of Rites. Maintain secrecy to avoid alerting them. Also, Chen Qiming should be given appropriate attention and protection. Lin Mo."
He treated the secret letter with a special potion, sealed it, and summoned the secret guards who were responsible for liaising with the capital: "Send it out immediately, using the fastest means."
The guards obeyed and left.
Lin Mo walked to the window and stood with his hands behind his back. The curtain of the imperial examination was about to rise, but the underworld battle had already quietly begun. He wanted to see what kind of demons and monsters were hiding behind this cheating, and what kind of connection they had with the princes vying for the throne and the mysterious imperial guards.