Because of the cheating scandal caused by Zhao Qin and Shi Qi, the time of this state examination was one hour later than before.
The sun above our heads is gradually setting in the west, and this state examination has come to an end. In the examination room, most of the candidates have left one after another.
There are only a few people left who are still proofreading, and among these people, Qin Huai is naturally included.
Because he handed in a blank paper, it naturally took him more time than others.
Although it took a lot of time, I finally handed in the paper successfully before the drum beat ended.
When Qin Huai raised his eyes, he saw that most of the candidates in the examination room had left, including the big shots in the VIP seats.
I don't know when he left early. Qin Huai stood up not long after he walked out of the examination room.
Su Qi'an and Lin Yuan were waiting outside the venue. It looked like they had been waiting for a long time.
Qin Huai stepped forward, saluted Lin Yuanzhi respectfully, and said, "Thank you very much, Mr. Lin, for your help in this state examination. I can't thank you enough."
Lin Yuanzhi waved his hand casually and chuckled, "Hey, this is just my job, it's nothing. You have certain talents. The state examination is entirely based on personal ability and your appearance. This You will definitely have a seat in the title of Jinshi, so I would like to congratulate you first."
"Mr. Lin praised it." Qin Huai was still respectful.
No matter what Lin Yuanzhi said, Qin Huai understood that if Lin Yuanzhi had not taken the initiative just now and took one step ahead of the inspector, there might have been any trouble later.
Qin Huai will remember this kindness in his heart.
Lin Yuanzhi smiled broadly and didn't care. He turned his eyes and looked at Su Qi'an, looking up and down.
Some sighed, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, you are indeed a talent that I value. I haven't seen him for more than a year. Not only has he been awarded the title of earl, but he even has a place in Xizhou City. This achievement really makes me amazed."
"You're welcome, Mr. Lin. I will remember Mr. Lin's original teachings in my heart. This earldom title is unexpected."
"You don't have to be humble. If you don't say anything else, just to be able to go to the border battlefield and have such a big heart, this Dongshan Bo is the real deal."
Outside the court, the exchanges between the three people naturally attracted the attention of the students who were leaving around them.
These three people all have status in Xizhou City, especially the latter Lin Yuanzhi.
Among the many great scholars in Xizhou, he is quite prestigious. Even the three chief officials of Xizhou have a look of respect.
It was surprising to have this highly respected scholar communicate with two juniors, especially these two, who were causing quite a stir in Xizhou City.
The exchange between the three people quickly attracted many eyes.
Lin Yuanzhi's eyes flashed and he looked at Su Qi'an and said, "Originally, I was a little worried about the two of you establishing a foothold in Xizhou City, but it seems that this worry is unnecessary."
"This is not the place to talk. If you are free in the future, you can come to Linyuan to see me. Well, the state examination is over. I will take a step forward and say goodbye."
Su Qi'an and Qin Huai nodded and respectfully watched Lin Yuanzhi leave.
Lin Yuanzhi's departure made those who wanted to watch the show suddenly lose interest.
Su Qi'an and Qin Huai did not stop deliberately, turned around, got on the carriage, and left straight away.
This eye-catching state examination has finally come to an end, but the scandal about cheating in the examination room has become the talk of the streets in Xizhou City.
For a time, Xizhou City was in an uproar because of this matter. They cheated twice in a row. Even if there was a reason for the incident, the reputation of Xizhou City was not good.
Although this cheating scandal was suppressed by Lord Shumu in time, the news still spread to Kyoto.
Soon, three days later, Kyoto sent investigation officials to Xizhou City to investigate the matter.
The investigation was quite big. Everyone who participated in the state examination, from the invigilator to many candidates and students, were investigated.
The scale was large and the investigation took a long time, almost a month.
Due to the investigation into the cheating incident, the list of high schools for this state examination has also been postponed.
this news
It seems like bad news, but in fact it is one of the few good news in this cheating incident.
After all, according to past practice, if cheating is involved, the imperial examination will definitely be cancelled.
The reason why it was not canceled this time is said to be the three administrators' repeated pleas, and they just gave in.
The investigation results of the cheating incident will also be announced in three days, and everyone will be given an explanation.
The three-day waiting time really made the people in the city feel on pins and needles and felt that the time was very difficult.
But compared to the anxiety outside, the two parties involved in Su's house were very calm.
Sitting in the small courtyard, still sipping tea calmly, feeling the noise outside the wall, Qin Huai, sitting opposite Su Qi'an, said.
"Brother-in-law, do you think the results of this investigation will really turn a major issue into a trivial one?"
Su Qian nodded, "Brother-in-law, you have participated in many more imperial examinations than me. You should know what the consequences will be if this happens."
Qin Huai said thoughtfully, "Indeed, if there really is a big fuss, I'm afraid a number of officials involved will be found out. When the time comes for accountability, I'm afraid the three officials in charge of Xizhou City will not be able to escape their involvement."
"No wonder you stopped me in the examination room earlier."
"Yes, brother-in-law, in the final analysis, we only need to give an explanation for this matter. If it really makes a big fuss, it will be a slap in the face of the three chief administrators. If we are really targeted by the three chief administrators, where can we have a foothold in Xizhou City?" Land, this is why Mr. Lin warned in advance. 「
"The water in Xizhou is too deep."
Qin Huai's eyes flashed, he drank all the tea on the table and sighed.
"Originally, I thought that by participating in the imperial examination and embarking on an official career, I could contribute to the court. However, after experiencing these things, I realized what a joke the imperial examination officialdom is today."
"With such a group of officials who hold the highest authority and control the imperial examinations, among the many students selected in this way, how many of them are truly talented?"
"It's really sad and deplorable. This may be why my brother-in-law saw through it early and didn't want to take part in the imperial examination."
Su Qi'an remained silent. Qin Huai was far more foresighted than many students in seeing the current state of decay in the imperial examination.
What Qin Huai didn't know was that Su Qi'an hadn't told him about the darker side of today's imperial examination.
The imperial examination system was originally intended to break up the upper-class elites and aristocratic families, win over official positions, and create a new upward path for the lower-class commoner students from poor families.
When Daliang was first established, the imperial examination system had indeed developed well. Many students from poor families had changed their destiny through the imperial examination, and they had also provided Daliang with many talented people with real talents.
They serve as the chief administrators of various counties and counties. They have access to the imperial court and can benefit the people below.
It's a pity that as time goes by and three hundred years have passed, no matter how good the imperial examination system is, it has not adapted to the development of the times and the reforms have remained unchanged.
In the end, it can only become the help of those aristocratic families and nobles to develop their own power.
In the Kyoto Palace Examination, because you are at the feet of the Emperor, you don't dare to go too far even if you resort to manipulation.
But like Xizhou, a remote place far away from the imperial court, the subordinates held the third-level imperial examination.
It has long become a way of entertainment for some noble families.
Let's not talk about it, let's just say that the last time Qin Huai was framed, it was revealed that Wei Yang bribed fellow students who took the exam and secretly put the answer templates in Qin Huai's package.
He was eventually caught on the spot and falsely accused of cheating.
But in fact, it was because Qin Huai refused the Gongsun family's recruitment on the eve of the state examination.
Therefore, Gongsun Yi instructed Wei Yang to make such a frame-up.
The so-called imperial examination and state examination are destiny-changing and sacred to outsiders, but to the children of aristocratic families like Gongsun Yi.
The township, county, and state imperial examinations were one of his methods to punish people.
This was not the first time for Gongsun Yi to engage in this kind of so-called entertainment. In the previous imperial examinations, any talented person who caught his eye had not shared his feelings at all.
The outcome is not very good, with the Gongsun family as his back, and the Gongsun Empress who lives far away in Kyoto.
Even if Gongsun Yi was found to have done it, the students were all afraid of the Gongsun family and no one spoke up to accuse him.
In the end, it just stopped.
These were all found by Su Qi'an and Li Xiaomei's working group in Xizhou City during this month.
What's the point of treating the imperial examination as a kind of fun?
Naturally, Su Qi'an would not tell Qin Huai about this. Although Qin Huai knew a lot, for the lower-class students who had been educated in Daliang since childhood, reading sages' books, taking part in the imperial examination, and obtaining fame were their beliefs.
Once he accepts this fact, the belief in his heart will immediately collapse.
Simply saying that the imperial examination needs reform, rather than becoming a plaything of noble families, would be acceptable to Qin Huai.
As time passed, three days passed quickly, and the results of the state test cheating incident were also released.
Just as Su Qi'an imagined, the only people manipulating this cheating incident were Shi Qi and Zhao Qin.
The motive of the two committing the crime was exactly the same as what they said in the examination room that day.
Because Shi Qi accepted Zhao Qin's bribe and transferred Qin Huai's examination papers, he was framed for cheating.
As for why Qin Huai was chosen, it was all because Qin Huai had the stain of cheating last time. As long as there is sufficient evidence this time, Qin Huai will definitely not be able to escape the fact of cheating.
There is no conflict or grudge between the two. Simply because Qin Huai ranked one higher in the county examination, choosing him can only be said to be a betrayal of Qin Huai.
Qin Huai, the person involved, was mentally prepared for such an outcome after talking to Su Qi'an.
Qin Huai did not express any opinions and accepted the result. Since the parties involved had accepted it, those who were watching the excitement had no idea what to say.
Shi Qi and Zhao Qin, who manipulated and cheated, in accordance with the laws of the Liang Dynasty, confiscated their property, deprived them of their honors and official positions, and imprisoned them for execution.
This uproarious state test cheating case has settled with the announcement of the results.
One day after sending away the Kyoto investigation officials, Su Qian received an invitation.
The owner of this invitation letter surprised Su Qi'an. It was Tang Feng, the state pastor.
In Su Qi'an's impression, he didn't seem to have any friendship with the highest administrator in Xizhou.
If we really want to talk about friendship, I'm afraid it's just the dinner party more than a month ago.
It's just that at that dinner, the two of them didn't communicate much. In terms of friendship, they really couldn't talk about it.
When the invitation was sent, Su Qian's eyes flashed, as if he had guessed something.
