Although Chen Xue Zheng was a third-rank official and had temporarily dismissed Prefect Zhang on charges of examination fraud, as the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. Under Prefect Zhang's jurisdiction, Nan Xuan Prefecture was not entirely united, but Chen Xue Zheng could not find an opportunity to frame Prefect Zhang.
Night fell, and they were in the prefecture's prison.
"Boss, why are you here so late?" the jailer guarding the prison eagerly greeted him. The other three jailers also hurried over upon hearing the sound.
"Take your men out to avoid trouble for a while. It's been raining for days, a good time to have some wine and drive away the cold," Wang Shan said, tossing over a purse filled with two taels of silver.
The jailers wanted to refuse, but Wang Shan had always been a man of his word. Once the silver was given, it would not be taken back.
A moment later, the jailers found a corner to wait. Although they were curious about who Wang Shan would bring to the prison, they would not ask. Even though they were just jailers guarding prisoners, the water here ran deep. Don't look at what you shouldn't, don't ask what you shouldn't, that was the rule.
In the dark night, dark clouds obscured the moon.
"Sir, I'll stand guard here. If you need anything, just call out," Wang Shan said respectfully, then stood like a mountain at the entrance.
Prefect Zhang was diligent and loved his people, so there were not many prisoners detained in the prefecture's prison. Kou Yuan Xing had falsely accused Prefect Zhang of examination fraud. Originally, the jailers intended to make him suffer, but Wang Shan had instructed them earlier. Not only did Kou Yuan Xing not suffer, but he was also locked up alone in a cell, without having to worry about being bullied by other prisoners.
In the dim prison cell, Kou Yuan Xing sat on a pile of dry straw, his expression numb, his eyes vacant.
After being imprisoned for several days, without torture or being brought to court again, Kou Yuan Xing, no matter how intelligent, was just a thirteen-year-old boy. The dirtiest and darkest thing he had ever seen was the various evil deeds committed by the Kou clan to forcibly seize his family's fertile land.
But now, Kou Yuan Xing's heart was filled with fear and unease. He looked around blankly. Was he going to be imprisoned for life? In this small space?
"Yuan Xing." The sudden, familiar voice startled Kou Yuan Xing. Had he been imprisoned for too long and lost his senses?
Master Xiao looked at the disheveled Kou Yuan Xing with pity and spoke again, "Yuan Xing."
"Master?" Kou Yuan Xing suddenly looked up, shocked to see Master Xiao outside the cell door. He froze for a long time, then quickly reacted, got up, and rushed over, his hoarse voice trembling with excitement, "Master!"
Seeing his beloved disciple so thin that his bones were showing, with dark circles under his eyes and bloodshot eyes, Master Xiao could not utter any reprimands. He was still a child.
"Do you regret it?" Master Xiao reached his hand through the gap in the cell door, touched Kou Yuan Xing's dirty face, and tidied his hair, which was mixed with straw.
Master Xiao looked at Kou Yuan Xing and said directly, "The prefectural examination has already concluded. In the past few days, candidates from various counties have returned. The children are starting to prepare for the academy examination in August, and those who failed continue to study diligently, waiting for the next examination. Yuan Xing, do you regret it!"
The deafening question made Kou Yuan Xing's face turn pale. He looked up, staring blankly at Master Xiao's stern face, his lips trembling a few times. In the end, the boy stubbornly turned his head away. He could not regret it! Regret would be useless!
"The Son of Heaven values heroes, and teaches you through essays; all other professions are inferior, only reading is noble. One must study diligently from a young age, and essays can establish one's life; the court is full of nobles, all of whom are educated people... In the morning, you are a farmer's son, and in the evening, you ascend to the Son of Heaven's hall; prime ministers and generals were not born noble, a man must strive for himself." In the quiet prison cell, Master Xiao recited the "Poem of Prodigies" that every young child knew by heart.
Kou Yuan Xing's mind flashed back to the scenes in the private school that day, reading with Master, practicing calligraphy, and the envy and praise from his classmates...
With a long sigh, Master Xiao handed Kou Yuan Xing the case files he had brought. "Take a look. These are the case files Prefect Zhang transferred from Shang Si County."
In the case of Madam Lin being poisoned, Wang Lin Lang was not the mastermind. Coupled with her young age, Magistrate Chen did not impose a heavy sentence. Wang Lin Lang's death was ultimately "died of illness" by the Wang family. Although the Wang family was a merchant family, they could not tolerate a daughter who poisoned her aunt tarnishing the family's reputation, so Wang Lin Lang had to die.
After quickly reading the case files, if it were before, Kou Yuan Xing might not have believed it, and would have firmly believed that it was collusion between officials, that Zhan Fei Yu and Shang Si County Magistrate Chen Wei Bin had forced Wang Lin Lang to death, and that Prefect Zhang was an accomplice covering for them.
But after being imprisoned for several days, Kou Yuan Xing had calmed down. What if the records in the case files were all true?
"Yuan Xing." Prefect Zhang, who had been standing in the corner, walked out. Seeing Kou Yuan Xing, who immediately became defensive, he continued, "Besides the testimony of the plaintiff, defendant, and witnesses, the government also needs to find the murder weapon. Of course, the motive for murder is indispensable. You are convinced that Zhan Fei Yu forced Wang Lin Lang to death. They had no enmity, so what was Zhan Fei Yu's motive for murder?"
Kou Yuan Xing recalled Wang Lin Lang's last words before she died, and that suicide note: Zhan Fei Yu fancied Master Lin's son, Lin Xiu Yuan, but Madam Lin wanted to strengthen the family ties by marrying Wang Lin Lang to Lin Xiu Yuan. Therefore, Zhan Fei Yu devised a poisonous scheme, killed Madam Lin, and destroyed Wang Lin Lang, her "love rival."
At that time, Kou Yuan Xing believed it without any doubt. If he were not just a scholar who could not even lift a chicken, Kou Yuan Xing would have gone to Shang Si County to avenge Wang Lin Lang.
But now, thinking of Zhan Fei Yu's talent, her title as the top scholar in the prefectural examination, and the fact that she donated the money from "Beauty's Makeup" to the border generals, with reputation, wealth, and even a charming and cute appearance, Zhan Fei Yu could completely marry into wealthy and noble families. Why would she covet Lin Xiu Yuan? Or even kill for it?
Precisely because he was intelligent, when Kou Yuan Xing found the loophole in Wang Lin Lang's death, the hatred he had previously held collapsed like a mountain, making the imprisoned Kou Yuan Xing even more lost and helpless.
"Forget it. Considering your young age and that this was just a momentary lapse in judgment," Prefect Zhang finally softened his heart and decided not to pursue Kou Yuan Xing. He could participate in the prefectural examination again after three years.
Master Xiao thanked him repeatedly with excitement. It was just a matter of waiting three more years. Yuan Xing was only thirteen years old, and he would be sixteen in three years, which was not too late at all.
Kou Yuan Xing bowed respectfully to Prefect Zhang, "Thank you, sir."
After allowing Master Xiao and Kou Yuan Xing to stay alone for a while longer, Prefect Zhang then left the prison with his men. Wang Shan, who was guarding the entrance, whistled, and the jailers who had been sent away returned, and the prison was as it was before.
...
The heavy rain finally cleared after three days. Zhan Fei Yu had planned to return to Shang Si County as soon as the rain stopped, but after Yin Wu Yan arrived, she played the host and took Yin Wu Yan to tour Nan Xuan Prefecture.
"Li Ji's Gourd Chicken in Tong Gu Alley is especially delicious. I planned to eat it before, but Chen Jin ruined it," Zhan Fei Yu complained indignantly. If Fatty Chen hadn't shown up, she would have eaten the Gourd Chicken personally made by Master Li Ji.
After the bet, Fatty Chen lost five hundred and fifty thousand piculs of rice and was expelled from his home by Old Master Chen. He dared not retaliate against Zhan Fei Yu, so he took his anger out on Li Ji.
Fatty Chen hired a group of ruffians with money to smash Li Ji. Master Li was injured in the leg, and the head chef in the kitchen almost had his hands broken. Fortunately, Constable Geng arrived in time with his men.
Therefore, Zhan Fei Yu did not get to eat Gourd Chicken until the prefectural examination was over. Hearing that Li Ji had reopened and the head chef's arm had healed, Zhan Fei Yu brought Yin Wu Yan along.
It seemed that if they didn't tear each other down or argue, they wouldn't be comfortable. Chong Guang shook his head with disdain, as if he found Zhan Fei Yu uncouth. "Fatty girl, what good things hasn't Seventh Master eaten in the capital? Before coming, he ate imperial meals with that one."
"Later, my big brother and I will eat chicken, and Uncle Chong Guang can just watch!" Zhan Fei Yu snorted with her nose wrinkled, then took Yin Wu Yan's hand and playfully shook it.
No way, is the fatty girl trying to use her charm?
Thinking of how his Seventh Master indulged Zhan Fei Yu without principle or bottom line, Chong Guang's expression stiffened. Before he could beg for mercy, Yin Wu Yan's icy gaze swept over him.
Zhan Fei Yu's bun-like face showed a triumphant smile, and her clear, small voice was full of pride. "Big brother, let's just order one chicken and make Uncle Chong Guang drool!"
Yin Wu Yan did not speak, but his tacit approval indicated everything. Let alone one chicken, even if she wanted to kill someone, Yin Wu Yan would have acted first.
Looking at the two figures, one tall and one short, walking ahead, Chong Guang felt extremely heartbroken. Seventh Master is such a doting father! He cursed that Seventh Master would only have sons in the future...
"Xiao Yu!" Outside Li Ji, a voice excitedly rang out. Little Fatty Qi Heng ran over like a firecracker, completely devoid of the arrogance and hostility he had shown at Qing Ya Academy that day.
Ignoring Yin Wu Yan beside him, Qi Heng said excitedly, "Master said you returned to Shang Si County. I didn't expect to meet you. Are you here to eat Gourd Chicken? My treat!"
He was not as tall as Zhan Fei Yu, but judging by Qi Heng's familiar and enthusiastic attitude, he clearly treated Zhan Fei Yu like a younger sister and took care of her.
Zhan Fei Yu was equally in good spirits and gave Qi Heng a big smile. "I didn't leave because it was raining before."
Xiao Yu smiles so beautifully... Little Fatty Qi Heng stared blankly at the smiling Zhan Fei Yu, her face as white as jade, her eyes curved. In an instant, Qi Heng remembered the line from the Book of Songs: "There is a beautiful person, with bright eyes and graceful demeanor."
Zhan Fei Yu and Qi Heng had met through conflict, but they were only acquaintances. Even when Zhan Fei Yu smiled, it was faint. Qi Heng felt it was normal; boys and girls were not allowed to be in the same seat after the age of seven.
But at this moment, looking at Zhan Fei Yu, whose eyes were full of smiles, Little Fatty Qi Heng inexplicably blushed and became restrained.
Yin Wu Yan, who was watching from the side, looked down at the annoying little fatty. This was clearly a child raised in wealth, covered in flesh! The key was that seeing him gaze longingly at his own little girl, Yin Wu Yan's aura suddenly turned cold.
Qi Heng, who inexplicably felt a chill down his spine, finally noticed that Zhan Fei Yu's hand was held in another slender hand.
Qi Heng looked up along this large hand and saw Yin Wu Yan, whose face was ordinary but whose eyes were chillingly cold. Qi Heng stammered, "Xiao Yu, is this... your father? Greetings, Uncle. Junior Qi Heng."
Yin Wu Yan, who had disguised himself when he went out, became a father unexpectedly. His imposing aura became even more chilling.
Zhan Fei Yu chuckled, and her clear laughter made Qi Heng blush again. Xiao Yu looks even more beautiful when she smiles...
"Big brother, this is my big brother," Zhan Fei Yu winked mischievously at Yin Wu Yan.
So he wasn't Xiao Yu's father! Qi Heng nodded in understanding, but immediately reacted, "Don't you only have one daughter in your family?"
Zhan Fei Yu's situation was easy to investigate. Basically, all the scholars in Nan Xuan Prefecture knew about it. Qi Heng's gaze suddenly fixed on this hand holding a small hand. The originally proud little fatty became anxious. "Xiao Yu, you are a scholar. You can't be so close to an outsider!"
Uh... Zhan Fei Yu met Yin Wu Yan's deep, bottomless phoenix eyes and was stunned for a moment. She squeezed the fatty paw that was holding her hand tightly.
"Big brother is not an outsider. Let's go. I want to go in and eat Gourd Chicken." Reminded by Qi Heng, Zhan Fei Yu also realized that she and Yin Wu Yan were too close.
But she was still young, and Big Brother was not married yet. After a few more years, she would pay attention. But now, nine-year-old Zhan Fei Yu held Yin Wu Yan's hand and strode into Li Ji. According to her previous life, she was still an elementary school student. What gender segregation, it didn't exist!
Yin Wu Yan curled his lips silently, his icy gaze sweeping over the stunned Qi Heng. A little fatty he had met only a few times dared to interfere with his own little girl. He had quite the nerve.
Chong Guang, who was a few steps behind, looked sympathetically at the crestfallen little fatty. With all this flesh, he definitely didn't meet Seventh Master's criteria for choosing a spouse for the fatty girl!
"Let's go, little fatty," Chong Guang patted Qi Heng's shoulder and teased with malicious intent, "You and my fatty girl are both fat, but my fatty girl is proficient in both civil and martial arts. She can kick you away with one foot. You can't compare in studies, nor can you compare in martial arts. It's no wonder fatty girl doesn't think highly of you."
"I..." Qi Heng's face stiffened as he wanted to retort, but he was sixth in the prefectural examination, while Xiao Yu was the top scholar!
As for martial arts, Qi Heng looked at the sign of Li Ji in a daze. Before, Xiao Yu and Young Master Chen had a competition at Li Ji, which was a martial arts fight. Whoever stepped out of the white circle first would lose. Young Master Chen was famous for being fat, rumored to be two hundred jin, but he was kicked out by Xiao Yu with one foot.
Thinking of this, Qi Heng suddenly felt ashamed of his former arrogance and complacency. But looking at Chong Guang, who was laughing at him, Qi Heng arrogantly snorted, put his hands behind his back, and said with the precociousness of a child, "This is between Xiao Yu and me, and has nothing to do with irrelevant people!"
With that, Qi Heng also entered Li Ji. He searched with his eyes and headed straight for Zhan Fei Yu, who was sitting by the window. He would work hard to catch up to Xiao Yu. He must win against Xiao Yu in the academy examination!
Are all little fatties this annoying now? Chong Guang rolled his eyes speechlessly. Smelling the aroma of roasted chicken, well, what's better than watching the excitement than eating roasted chicken!
"I'm Going to Ancient China to Take the Imperial Examinations" unedited chapters will continue to be updated on,