Chapter 96: Chapter 63: Cousin Visits_2
Liu Zide was going to take part in this year’s autumn examinations, which truly made one wonder.
After all, the Liu brothers were but mediocre scholars, careless and frivolous. It was already a stroke of great luck that Liu Zixian passed the exams, so on what grounds did Liu Zide dare to try his hand as well?
Lu Tong did not believe that her two cousins had buckled down in the unseen years, spending their time studiously engaged in "hanging beams and piercing thighs".
She put pen to paper and wrote down the names Liu Kun and Fan Zhenglian.
Logically speaking, Liu Kun should have met with Fan Zhenglian.
According to a revelation by Wan Fu, a servant of Ke Chengxing, after Lu Rou’s death, Lu Qian had visited the Ke Family and, following a heated argument, left on bad terms.
Perhaps by then, Lu Qian had already sensed something fishy about Lu Rou’s death.
If Lu Qian had found some evidence and taken it to an official, for the Lu Qian, who knew nothing about Shengjing, it would have been just logical to seek help from Fan Zhenglian, renowned for his reputation as an "upright magistrate".
But Fan Zhenglian was not as incorruptible as the rumors suggested, and he even considered destroying the evidence out of fear of the Grand Preceptor’s power.
Lu Qian realizing something was amiss, managed to escape in the chaos. Fan Zhenglian then privately concocted charges and launched a city-wide manhunt for Lu Qian.
Lu Qian, driven into a corner, had no choice but to hide at Liu Kun’s house, as in all of Shengjing, only the Liu Family could be considered old relatives of the Lu Family.
Lu Qian thought that Liu Kun, his uncle by marriage from Changwu County, was still trustworthy but did not expect that for enough gain, even relatives could turn their backs on you.
Liu Kun betrayed Lu Qian.
Lu Tong’s pen trembled, a large drop of ink seeping from the bristles, spreading a thick blot on the paper.
She drew a line between the names of Liu Kun and Fan Zhenglian.
Liu Kun had offered up Lu Qian as a token to Fan Zhenglian and, in return, Fan Zhenglian granted Liu Kun certain benefits.
Was it that noodle shop on Que’er Street?
No, even if the noodle shop had a good location and was well-renovated, was it worth just a noodle shop to involve the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion? Surely Liu Kun was not so short-sighted.
Liu Kun must have been after more. After all, knowing that Lu Qian was hiding in his home, Liu Kun must have been aware of the circumstances surrounding Lu Rou’s death. Why didn’t Fan Zhenglian tie up loose ends and instead left such a significant risk with Liu Kun, who could potentially betray him one day? After all, only the dead can keep secrets.
Unless...
Liu Kun had dirt on him that was in Fan Zhenglian’s hands.
And this dirt was significant enough that Fan Zhenglian was sure Liu Kun wouldn’t dare use it to threaten anything.
What could Liu Kun possibly hold over Fan Zhenglian’s head? For an examination official, a mere noodle vendor was insignificant, but perhaps his scholarly son was a different story.
Scholarly son...
Lu Tong’s eyes flickered with realization.
That’s it!
Liu Zixian succeeded in the autumn examinations, and Liu Zide was about to participate, while Fan Zhenglian... also began his career through the imperial examinations, going to Yuan’an County to become a magistrate, starting his open and aboveboard path.
The autumn examinations...
If Liu Kun’s betrayal of Lu Qian was the price for his son’s opportunity to be listed on the successful candidates, then in Liu Kun’s eyes, all of this was worth it. Fan Zhenglian didn’t need to worry about Liu Kun spilling the beans unless Liu Kun was willing to ruin his son’s future.
But... if her speculation was true, the corruption of the Liang Dynasty’s autumn examinations was far too brazen.
Lu Tong’s pen tip paused.
Furthermore, perhaps Fan Zhenglian’s own title as a graduate from the same examination was also dubiously attained; otherwise, how could he have managed the affair with Liu Zixian so smoothly? It seemed that in a few months, Liu Zide would follow suit.
She needed to find out what Fan Zhenglian’s scholarship was like back then.
However, since Fan Zhenglian was an official and Lord Cao might fear trouble, obtaining news about other officials was always elusive. Moreover, to avoid arousing suspicion, she could not ask directly.
Lu Tong took up her pen again and wrote "Yuan’an County" above Fan Zhenglian’s name.
Fan Zhenglian’s rise began in Yuan’an County. It was said that his accomplishments as magistrate there were so impressive that the Emperor himself specially transferred him back to Shengjing.
She needed to clarify what exactly were these "renowned cases" Fan Zhenglian handled in Yuan’an County.
The door opened, and Yin Zheng carried in a basin of hot water from outside.
Lu Tong put down her pen, picked up the paper she had been writing on, and burned it in the candlelight.
Yin Zheng handed her a wrung-out towel, and motioned with her mouth towards the window: "There’s still light in front."
She was referring to Miss Xia Rongrong and her maidservant.
Lu Tong thought she wanted to return to her own room and, while wiping her face with the towel, said, "They won’t stay for long."
Yin Zheng said, "Miss, you don’t really think Miss Xia is here just to take advantage of us like Shopkeeper Du does, do you?"