newbobooks Chapter 110 Exposing
Chapter 110 Exposing
Chapter 110 110 Exposing
Zhao Guang, a secretary in the Ministry of Rites and subordinate to the Department of Ceremonial Affairs, was in charge of this year's autumn imperial examinations. Upon hearing Chunyu Jing's words, he broke out in a cold sweat.
"Has Your Highness noticed something amiss?"
Chunyu Jing asked, "Which examinee is in cell number 302?"
The subordinate behind Zhao Langzhong hurriedly flipped through the registration list at hand, and after a moment replied: "Number 302 is named Zhao Xincheng, from Chuzhou, aged 15, and has lived in the capital with his uncle's family since childhood."
"Oh? Surname Zhao? Zhao Guang. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was your relative," Chunyu Jing said with a smile.
Zhao Langzhong quickly clarified, "My nephew is still a young child and is not yet of school age."
"Don't be nervous, I was just joking." Chunyu Jing stood up, put his hands behind his back and walked behind him. "Bring this Zhao Xincheng here, I want to see him."
"Yes!"
Ye Yingrou found her cell and was unloading her belongings to prepare for the upcoming exam when she suddenly heard heavy footsteps outside. Then, an official from the Ministry of Rites, dressed in official robes, appeared before her with two guards.
"Zhao Xincheng?" the official asked with a stern face.
Ye Yingrou sensed something was wrong. She quietly clenched her fist and said, "I'm here."
The official's gaze suddenly sharpened, and he gestured to the guard beside him, saying, "Seize him and take him away!"
Without a word, the guards stepped forward, grabbed Ye Yingrou's arm, and dragged her away. The examinees in the examination hall, noticing someone being captured by guards, immediately gathered on both sides of the road, casting curious yet gloating glances at Ye Yingrou.
Ye Yingrou's expression changed slightly. Had they discovered that she had disguised herself as a man and sneaked into the examination hall? In ancient times, the punishment for cheating in the imperial examinations was extremely severe! One wrong move could cost you your head!
She quickly thought of a solution in her mind and tried to plead with the official beside her: "Sir, sir, what law have I broken? Why are you arresting me?"
"Hmph, what law did you break?" the official scoffed. "You'll find out soon enough!"
Ye Yanxun overheard whispers around him about someone being arrested by the proctors, and curiously glanced outside. What he saw terrified him. He ran out of his cell, instinctively wanting to rescue Ye Yingrou, but suddenly his arm was grabbed. Tong Zhu stood behind him, smiling as he asked:
"Brother Ye, where are you going?"
Ye Yanxun's face stiffened, then he forced a smile and said, "Let's watch the show."
Tong Zhu crossed his arms, glanced at Ye Yingrou who was being led away by the guards, and shook his head with a tsk tsk: "Tsk, that girl looks so small and weak, but I didn't expect her to be so bold as to do something under the Fourth Prince's nose. She must be tired of living."
Ye Yanxun gave a dry laugh and made a few perfunctory replies, but his heart was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
Why didn't Rou'er tell him about her plan to sneak into the examination hall to take the autumn imperial examination? The autumn imperial examination consists of three rounds, each lasting three days and three nights. How could a girl like her possibly blend in with a group of men? Isn't that absurd? Now that she's been discovered, what should she do? Will the people from the Ministry of Revenue do anything to her?
Ye Yingrou was led away from the examination cell by the guards, through a long corridor, and finally stopped in front of a door. The guards pushed the door open and, without any warning, shoved Ye Yingrou inside. The door closed behind them, and Ye Yingrou staggered to her feet. Looking up, she saw a figure sitting in the room, looking at her with his wicked, cold eyes that held an ambiguous meaning.
Her heart skipped a beat, and Ye Yingrou immediately knelt down, bowing her head and saying, "This humble subject greets the Fourth Prince."
After she finished speaking, there was no response from the front. The room was silent for a moment, and all she could hear was the thumping of her own heart.
"Heh." Suddenly, Chunyu Jing in front chuckled and said, "Should I call you Zhao Xincheng or Ye Yingrou?"
Ye Yingrou froze, a cold sweat breaking out on her back. What was going on? She had clearly disguised herself; her current appearance was completely different from before. How did Chunyu Jing recognize her?
Gritting her teeth, she denied, "This humble subject has no idea what Your Highness is talking about."
Chunyu Jing suddenly stood up and walked slowly towards her. She lowered her head, listening to the approaching footsteps, her heart pounding faster and faster.
"I have been in charge of the Ministry of Rites for so many years, and I don't know how many people like you have been arrested for concealing their identities and trying to sneak into the examination hall. Do you know what kind of fate those people ultimately suffered?"
Before her eyes appeared a pair of deep purple boots embroidered with golden unicorns. She instinctively wanted to back away, but a pale, strong hand reached out from in front of her, pinched her chin, and forced her face up.
Chunyu Jing's handsome yet sinister face was right in front of her, but Ye Yingrou had absolutely no desire to appreciate it.
Her plan was indeed to eliminate Ye Pianran and Gongsun Yuan and restore her status as the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family. However, she was essentially a transmigrator, and she couldn't and wouldn't be content to remain a sheltered young lady confined to her home. Her infiltration of the examination hall was to leverage her extensive historical knowledge to stand out in the imperial examinations, drawing everyone's attention and increasing her presence in this world. She wouldn't compete with Ye Yanxun for the top scholar position, but she was confident her name would be among the top ten in this year's autumn examinations. She had even envisioned herself overcoming all obstacles, entering the palace examination, and shining brightly before the emperor. Then, if she "accidentally" revealed her true gender, it would undoubtedly make her even more conspicuous.
But despite the well-thought-out plan, an unexpected turn of events occurred right from the start, allowing Chunyu Jing, her target, to discover her true identity. Was her plan doomed to fail here today?
"Did you see those brightly colored flowers in the examination hall when you came? Those people were chopped into mincemeat by me and scattered in the examination hall as fertilizer." Noticing Ye Yingrou's absent-mindedness, Chunyu Jing was very displeased. He suddenly grabbed Ye Yingrou's neck and said coldly in her ear, "I hate being deceived more than anything in my life, especially being treated like a fool. Since you refuse to tell the truth, then don't blame me for being impolite."
Suddenly her neck was gripped, and the feeling of suffocation came unexpectedly. Ye Yingrou opened her eyes wide and immediately grabbed the poison sac hidden in her sleeve, staining her fingertips with poison powder.
However, Chunyu Jing had already seen through her movements. He reached behind her with his other hand, pinched the pulse point on her wrist, and pulled her hand, hidden behind her back, to the front. Seeing the powder subtly clung to her fingertips, his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Not only did you disguise yourself and sneak into the examination hall, but you also dared to hide poison on your person! Whatever your purpose is, with just these two things, I can take your life right now!" After he finished speaking, he increased the force in his hand.