Chapter 132: Chapter 74 Various Forces_2
Lady Dong sneered coldly, "They won’t let my son out, you say? No matter, I’ll go in and take a look myself—it amounts to the same thing."
"That’s even less permissible! In the Tribute Court, unrelated persons are not allowed to enter."
The more he demurred, the more suspicious Lady Dong grew in her heart. Why would these people not let her see Dong Lin, nor allow her to view the body? Out of the blue, someone at the Dong Family doorstep claimed that a scholar had died—could there be someone from inside the Tribute Court deliberately sending a warning? Their timid and furtive demeanor, apprehensively looking in all directions, inevitably led to further speculation...
With alarm at the forefront and urgent hatred brewing behind, Lady Dong’s anger suddenly gave way to calm. She looked at the official in charge of the examination, "Before the end of the imperial examinations, no one may enter or leave; you say the dead scholar is not my son, but surely the death of someone here is undeniable?"
"There is an issue with the Tribute Court’s food supplies, any person here could be the murderer. Since that’s the case, then no one shall leave! Even after the examinations have concluded, all must remain inside! Sheng Quan—" She called the guard’s name, her gaze turning suddenly fierce, "send someone to the Department of Military Affairs and report that a crime has occurred in the Tribute Court; someone intends to poison the students in the examination hall!"
Upon hearing this, the official’s face changed drastically.
Lady Dong’s cold laugh persisted.
Her brother-in-law was a Magistrate in the Department of Military Affairs, responsible for the capital’s security, and now that the Ministry of Rites examiners would not let her in, she intended to prevent them from leaving. Let’s see who benefits once this blazes out of control!
As she calculated her next move, the two exam officials exchanged glances, both noting the unease in the other’s eyes.
The death of a lowly scholar in the Tribute Court typically wouldn’t be a big deal. Even with the current proliferation of rumors outside, as long as there was no evidence, the matter would subside after some time.
But if the Department of Military Affairs got involved, it would be troublesome: if students couldn’t leave the examination quarters, a thorough investigation would reveal the list of exam candidates within...
"This is bad," one official whispered to his companion, moving to one side, "tell the higher-up, we must think of a solution quickly!"
...
The major incident at the entrance of the Tribute Court spread swiftly through the streets and alleys of Shengjing.
Inside the Youye Court, Pei Yunmeng had just come out from Zichen Hall.
It was currently the time for the Palace Front Office guards to be on duty; only a few scattered guards remained on standby in the barracks.
After entering the Palace Marshal’s Mansion and removing his sword from his belt, Xiao Zhufeng walked in from the outside.
Usually as expressionless as a block of wood, today his handsome face unexpectedly betrayed a hint of mirth.
Unable to resist, Pei Yunmeng gave him several glances and asked, "What’s got you so happy? Find some money?"
Xiao Zhufeng sat down at the table and said, "There’s been an incident at the Tribute Court."
Pei Yunmeng paused.
"A scholar has died. The word on the street is that someone poisoned the rationed provisions at the Tribute Court."
Pei Yunmeng’s brows raised slightly, he leaned back in his chair, "Impossible. No one would do something so blatant to target a mere scholar."
Every year, the Ministry of Rites oversees the preparations for the imperial examinations, with the provisions being of paramount importance. Leaving other aspects aside, tampering with food to include poison is definitely out of the question. Moreover, with the students confined to their rooms for the seven-day examination, if someone indeed wanted to harm them, why go to such extravagant lengths?
Pei Yunmeng mused for a moment, "How did these rumors start?"
"It’s said that the deceased examinee broke a window in the quarters and ran out, his symptoms witnessed by many both inside and outside the Tribute Court." After a pause, Xiao Zhufeng added, "Now the Department of Military Affairs has arrived at the entrance of the Tribute Court."
"The Department of Military Affairs?"
"The wife of the Minister of Imperial Treasury made a scene at the entrance of the Tribute Court. Her son is sitting for the exam this year. When the Ministry of Rites wouldn’t release anyone, she called for the Department of Military Affairs to assist."
As he heard this, the gears turned in Pei Yunmeng’s head, his brows knitted slightly, "Dong Lin."
He had seen that young master from the Minister of Imperial Treasury’s home once at Wan’en Temple, a sickly boy suffering from an acute lung condition. He hadn’t expected that he would also be taking part in the examinations this year; it seemed his health had fully recovered.
Sitting in his chair, he pondered for a while then chuckled, "Looks like the Ministry of Rites has offended someone."
With a student dead within the Tribute Court and rumors flying rampant, just as the trouble seemed containable, the wife of the Minister of Imperial Treasury stirred up more chaos, bringing the Department of Military Affairs into the fray—this was no coincidence.
"In that case," Pei Yunmeng suddenly smiled, "let’s add fuel to the fire."
Xiao Zhufeng exchanged a knowing look with him, instantly understanding his intentions, "You want to get involved?"
"We’ve had our people in the Ministry of Rites for so long, if the positions above don’t clear out, how can those below rise?" He smiled, the dimples at the corner of his lips barely perceptible, "We can’t let such a good opportunity go to waste."