The summer heat remained as intense as that of the afternoon, and he opened the door to stand briefly in the moonlight.
In the courtyard, after Yin Wuyan finished a set of military combat exercises, Prince Yu asked the guards watching, "Have you learned it?"
"Your subordinate has memorized all the moves," the guard replied quickly, his gaze sweeping to the side.
Seeing his two companions nod imperceptibly, the guard's relieved heart finally settled. He absolutely did not dare to ask the Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Guard to perform the exercises again.
"Go and practice it a few more times. If there are any unclear points, come and ask again." Prince Yu, who had resolved a major issue, was in an excellent mood. He patted Yin Wuyan on the shoulder, "Let Gu Qingzhou write this memorial. I'm too lazy to pick up a pen."
Yin Wuyan did not want this credit, and Prince Yu also wanted to shirk his duty. Who could blame him when Gu Qingzhou was the Emperor's confidant?
The study's casement window was half-open, and the cool breeze of the summer night wafted in from the courtyard.
Gu Qingzhou fanned himself leisurely with a folding fan in one hand, and said to Zhan Feiyu, "This policy essay on salt tax will surely be presented to His Majesty. As the saying goes, 'A person's character is reflected in their writing.' Indeed, one can know a person by their prose."
"Those who are narrow-minded cannot write grand and magnificent essays; those who are greedy, even if their entire text speaks of loyalty to the ruler and love for the people, it is merely empty talk. Their words are filled with ornate language, but lack genuine feeling."
Looking at his thoughtful young disciple, Gu Qingzhou advised, "I say this for two reasons: firstly, to remind you to keep your own writing in check, lest those with ulterior motives find fault and cause a literary inquisition; secondly, to remind you that in the future, when writing poems or essays, if you disagree with the exam question, it is better to say nothing than to express true feelings."
There was no shortage of intelligent people in the world. Although Chen Weibin was only a seventh-rank county magistrate, he was also a Jinshi graduate. Not to mention that Zhan Feiyu would have to take the imperial examinations in the future, and the examiners would be at least Jinshi graduates.
They could infer the candidate's character from their writing. If they encountered a biased examiner whose views clashed with the text, even a masterpiece might be rejected.
"Teacher, I understand," Zhan Feiyu nodded. What her teacher taught her could be considered the way of officialdom. "If His Majesty wants to enrich the national treasury, he will surely value merchants. However, Tong Xu's policy essay goes to great lengths to belittle the status of merchants."
Scholars, peasants, artisans, merchants! As the eldest son of the Tong family, Tong Xu was a member of the scholar-gentry class. It was understandable that he looked down upon merchants, but doing so offended His Majesty. If this were the imperial examination, even if his essay was flowery, it would be relegated to the bottom three.
"Merchants are as wealthy as the state, yet the national treasury is empty. His Majesty also intends to reclaim some businesses from the merchants, but some pedantic scholars in the court only say, 'One should not compete with the people for profit.' They are only one step away from being disfavored by His Majesty." Gu Qingzhou's ability to become the Emperor's confidant was not only due to his talent but also because his words and actions aligned with the Emperor's will.
Gu Qingzhou took two sips of tea to moisten his throat and continued, "In the early years of Daqing's founding, there were two candidates, Jia and Yi, in the Pingxian county examination. Their writing was equally good, making it impossible to determine the top scholar. They were tested repeatedly, but the outcome remained the same, causing the entire case to be delayed. The magistrate finally used the 'o' from the Analects, ordering each to write a preliminary interpretation."
As he finished speaking, Gu Qingzhou picked up his brush and drew a circle on the paper. Seeing his disciple's eyes suddenly widen, he couldn't help but laugh, "How would you interpret this question?"
This story was about the first year of Daqing's founding. In the Pingxian county examination, two students wrote excellent essays. The county magistrate, the instructor, and other examiners could not decide who was first and who was second. They gave the two students several more tests, but still could not distinguish them, causing the announcement of the results to be delayed.
Finally, the 'o' used to divide paragraphs in the "Four Books" (a circle about the same size as the character "和") was used as the examination question. The ranking would be decided by their preliminary interpretations.
Zhan Feiyu's scalp tingled. She deeply felt that the imperial examinations were being played with by these learned and knowledgeable magnates. How could a circle be interpreted?
Gu Qingzhou's folding fan snapped shut on Zhan Feiyu's forehead, "Now you know what it means to have people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens, don't you?"
"Please enlighten me, teacher," Zhan Feiyu bowed with clasped hands.
Jia's preliminary interpretation was: "Before the Sages established their words, they received the celestial phenomena." (Before the Sages wrote anything, they understood the heavenly way.)
Yi said: "Before the Sages established their words, they had no square bodies." (Before the Sages wrote anything, they had no rules or forms.)
Thus, Jia was appointed the top scholar. Later, both men achieved high positions. Jia rose to Grand Scholar and ended his career with merit. Yi rose to Provincial Governor and was executed for his crimes.
Glancing out the window, Gu Qingzhou said, "Yi, the candidate, became a corrupt official and was eventually executed. Is it not also a lack of law and a disregard for legal statutes to have no rules?"
"I also sensed a degree of disdain and aversion towards merchants in Wan Yunhao's policy essay," Zhan Feiyu retrieved Wan Yunhao's policy essay from the desk. Of course, it was a copy; the original was sealed by Prince Yu at the county yamen.
"Wan Yunhao said that calling him 'from a humble background' was an exaggeration. If it weren't for Instructor Zhao, how could he have learned to read and write?" Gu Qingzhou scoffed, his attitude truly contemptuous.
Gu Qingzhou would not promote or employ a scholar with such poor character, even if he was erudite. The Emperor was not a foolish ruler either. Therefore, even if Wan Yunhao passed the imperial examinations, he would only spend his life copying books in the Hanlin Academy.
The sound of a door opening announced Prince Yu's arrival. He walked in and said directly to Gu Qingzhou, "Since you're idle, write the memorial to His Majesty. I'll have it sent to the capital by express horse later."
"Your Highness." Zhan Feiyu bowed and greeted him, then grinned at Yin Wuyan before obediently sitting aside to examine Wan Yunhao's policy essay.
Yin Wuyan took a book from the bookshelf and sat beside Zhan Feiyu, reading.
Although Prince Yu had asked Gu Qingzhou to write the memorial, he also had to write one himself. After all, the case of Wan Yunhao's poisoning could not yet identify the killer. Although Liu Jian was suspected, he was from the faction of the First Prince, so the matter had to be reported to His Majesty.
A moment later.
Zhan Feiyu put down the essay and couldn't help but sigh. In terms of literary talent, Wan Yunhao was ten thousand miles better than Tong Xu. Of course, she herself couldn't catch up even by whipping her horse.
However, her teacher was right: "A person's character is reflected in their writing!" Wan Yunhao might have been poor, which is why he particularly disliked merchants. Although his essay didn't explicitly state his views, he did say that His Majesty was a benevolent ruler, but merchants exploited the people and were rich and unkind, requiring strict laws to restrain them.
Zhan Feiyu couldn't help but smile. This was a typical case of "resentment of the rich" in modern times.
But suddenly, something flashed through her mind. Zhan Feiyu froze, sitting blankly in her chair. What was it?
When Prince Yu finished writing a detailed account of the events in Shangsi County over the past few days, he looked up and saw Zhan Feiyu sitting by the window, her mouth agape, lost in thought.
In the candlelight, the young girl's face was bathed in a soft glow. Her dark eyes were wide and round, and her long black eyelashes were like two small fans. This adorably foolish look made Prince Yu chuckle.
"Little girl..." Before Prince Yu could finish speaking, Gu Qingzhou shot him a cold glance, and Yin Wuyan, by the window, flicked his wrist, sending a paperweight flying.
Prince Yu accurately caught the paperweight with his right hand and understood Gu Qingzhou and Yin Wuyan's intentions. They did not want him to speak, fearing he might disturb the distracted Zhan Feiyu.
If it were the Emperor who was lost in thought, Prince Yu would not have spoken.
But looking at Zhan Feiyu, Prince Yu glared angrily at Gu Qingzhou and Yin Wuyan. These two were spoiling the little girl too much. If she was lost in thought, did he, a first-rank prince, not even have the right to speak?
Zhan Feiyu suddenly stood up and looked at Yin Wuyan, "Big Brother, can I go to the county yamen to see Wan Yunhao's examination papers?"
Although the physical evidence was sealed, Zhan Feiyu was also suspected of murder. However, with Yin Wuyan present, nothing was a problem.
"Okay." Without any hesitation, Yin Wuyan agreed and stood up.
Watching the two figures, one tall and one short, leave, Prince Yu, who could finally speak, said irritably, "What sorcery has this little disciple of yours cast upon Wuyan!"
Why did the Emperor appoint Yin Wuyan to manage the Forbidden Dragon Guard and grant him the privilege of executing officials below the third rank before reporting? It was precisely because Yin Wuyan was indifferent and impartial in his actions. He was only loyal to the Emperor.
But now, seeing Yin Wuyan's doting behavior towards Zhan Feiyu, even abandoning his usual principles, Prince Yu once again suspected that Yin Wuyan was raising her as his own daughter, being utterly accommodating like a good father!
"Let's go to the county yamen first." Gu Qingzhou ignored Prince Yu and also got up to walk towards the door, wondering what his little disciple had thought of.
...
The county yamen of Shangsi County was already under strict guard. The soldiers of the Nanxuan Guard, not the yamen runners, were responsible for guarding it. Chen Fei, a young soldier named Xiao Qi, was on duty tonight.
Behind the county yamen, Yin Wuyan said coldly, "Chongguang, go and handle it."
A figure zipped over the wall with such speed that the two guards following Prince Yu couldn't help but glance sideways. The Forbidden Dragon Guard was indeed extraordinary.
Chongguang produced the Forbidden Dragon Guard's token. Chen Fei confirmed it and immediately led four subordinates to guard outside the courtyard.
After a while, Yin Wuyan scooped up Zhan Feiyu in his arms, tapped his toes on the ground, and easily leaped over the wall into the county yamen.
Prince Yu glanced smugly at Gu Qingzhou and followed suit with a leap.
Gu Qingzhou shook his head and gestured. A dark shadow quickly appeared from the darkness.
The candles were lit, and Zhan Feiyu quickly took the stack of papers handed to her by Yin Wuyan, which were Wan Yunhao's previous writings.
There were twelve sheets of paper in total. Only the last sheet, the one for the "Tie Jing" (classical text inscription) questions, was not finished. There was a large ink stain on the paper, presumably because Wan Yunhao, after being poisoned, could not hold his brush steady and stained the paper.
As Zhan Feiyu quickly checked the papers one by one, Prince Yu also picked up a sheet and looked at it. The densely packed questions and answers made Prince Yu's eyes hurt just looking at them.
"These questions were found by two people, Qiming and Qizhang, whom I asked," Prince Yu handed the papers to Gu Qingzhou beside him. His two grandsons were studying at the Imperial College, so finding "Tie Jing" questions was easy for them.
Prince Yu supervised them when they were finding the questions, asking them to find obscure and difficult questions, the more obscure and rare the better.
Head bowed, Zhan Feiyu quickly flipped through the twelve sheets of paper and then spread them out on the table. "Big Brother, can I have the original papers of Tong Xu and myself brought out?"
Zhan Feiyu's and Tong Xu's papers had been placed in the examination paper box by the constables and sealed. The two boxes were now on a shelf not far away.
Yin Wuyan nodded. He didn't need to do it himself. A moment later, Chongguang returned with the necessary tools and carefully removed the seals. After Zhan Feiyu finished looking, Chongguang would put the papers back and reapply the seals, leaving no trace.
Zhan Feiyu looked at her own papers, her brow furrowed. She then picked up Tong Xu's papers and flipped through them, finally arranging the three stacks of papers side by side on the table.
"Is there something wrong with these papers?" Prince Yu looked at them again and again. Besides the densely written characters that made his eyes hurt, Prince Yu truly saw nothing unusual.
Gu Qingzhou and Yin Wuyan were also the same. However, one was inscrutable, and the other had a cold expression, making them appear unfathomable, which made Prince Yu seem rather foolish.
"It is indeed so," Zhan Feiyu exhaled a breath. If it weren't for the flash of inspiration in her mind at that moment, she would never have discovered this anomaly.
"Little girl, don't keep us in suspense, hurry up and tell us!" Prince Yu couldn't help but urge.
Nodding, Zhan Feiyu looked at Yin Wuyan and said, "Big Brother, you investigated Wan Yunhao for me before. His family was poor, and when he was young, he listened to lessons outside the private school..."
Instructor Zhao, who valued talent, saw that Wan Yunhao was intelligent and eager to learn. Not only did Instructor Zhao waive his tuition fees, but he also provided him with writing materials for free and took care of his meals at the private school. This allowed Wan Yunhao to start his education at the age of five and achieve the rank of Xiucai (a successful candidate in the provincial examination) at twelve.
"I heard from Tutor Dou of the county school that Wan Yunhao had a habit. Because he cherished ink and paper, he would add a little more water each time he ground ink. Although the ink marks written would be lighter in color, it saved ink sticks," Zhan Feiyu, while not approving of Wan Yunhao's ungrateful character, deeply understood this habit.
Last year, when she was studying under Tutor Lin, Zhan Feiyu also bought the cheapest yellow hemp paper for practicing calligraphy. When she first started writing, she would dip her brush in water and write on the table to save ink and paper.
Yin Wuyan and Gu Qingzhou heard this, and their eyes turned to the examination papers on the table. The ink color on the three sets of papers was almost the same, with no discernible difference in lightness or darkness.
Prince Yu picked up Wan Yunhao's papers. "The writing materials for your competition were provided by the county school. Wan Yunhao is already a Juren (a successful candidate in the metropolitan examination) and married into the Qin family. He probably doesn't need to be so frugal."
"No, Wan Yunhao wanted to win over disciples from humble backgrounds, so he kept this habit. For a time, light ink calligraphy was popular in Nanxuan Prefecture, which was considered a beautiful story," Gu Qingzhou looked at Zhan Feiyu with admiration. The little girl was indeed sharp.
Wan Yunhao was extremely ambitious, possessing both cunning and means. He could betray Instructor Zhao and harm the granddaughter of Instructor Zhao, yet he pretended to be a gentleman, making disciples from humble backgrounds in Nanxuan Prefecture follow him. Such a person would act cautiously and meticulously, without making any mistakes.
"In this competition, if Wan Yunhao won, he would be able to become a disciple, and his essay would be circulated. Therefore, Wan Yunhao must have used light ink," Zhan Feiyu took out two sheets from the twelve and handed them to Prince Yu.
"Your Highness, please look. This is the first 'Tie Jing' paper, with light ink. This is the second, also with light ink. But the ink color on the following few sheets is no different from mine," Zhan Feiyu took out two more sheets for comparison.
Prince Yu looked at the papers in his hand and understood. When he started answering the questions, he added a little more water to the inkstone, so the ink was light. This indicated that his intention was clear: to use light-colored ink to portray himself as a disciple from a humble background.
However, the ink color on the subsequent papers became darker. There was only one possibility: Wan Yunhao's consciousness was becoming unclear.
From the third sheet onwards, Wan Yunhao might have already shown symptoms of poisoning. However, Wan Yunhao thought he had heatstroke and was only focused on finishing his answers quickly, not paying attention to the lightness or darkness of the ink.
"Wan Yunhao is already a Juren. With his foundation, it would take him less than fifteen minutes to complete one 'Tie Jing' paper. He wouldn't drink water at this time, so the previous deduction is wrong," Gu Qingzhou, although not Wan Yunhao's teacher, understood a Juren's mastery of the Four Books and Five Classics. A "Tie Jing" paper would not be difficult for him.
Since Wan Yunhao did not drink water, how could he have been poisoned?
"The poison was not in the bamboo tube!" Prince Yu frowned. The case was becoming more and more mysterious.
But not only the coroner and Dr. Xu from Jishi Hall, but even Dr. Ji had examined it. The poison was in the bamboo tube. However, according to the current deduction, if the poison was not in the bamboo tube, then there were two points of doubt.
First: How was Wan Yunhao poisoned? Second: Where did the poison in the bamboo tube come from?
Prince Yu snorted coldly, his face stern and displeased. "Those two constables and a runner must have given false testimony!"
After the incident, only Constable Zhao, Feng Daping, and the runner Liu Tong entered the room. According to the testimony of the three at the time, Constable Zhao accidentally pushed Wan Yunhao to the ground and immediately ran out to call for a doctor. Logically, he would not have had the opportunity to put the poison in the bamboo tube.
The real suspects were Constable Feng Daping and the runner Liu Tong. Among them, Feng Daping was looking for a flint on the table to light the candle, while the food box containing the bamboo tube was placed on the ground.
Based on this deduction, the real suspect was the runner Liu Tong. In the dark, he crouched on the ground. If he moved quickly, Feng Daping, who was standing in front of the table, would definitely not have noticed.
"Should we arrest Liu Tong?" Zhan Feiyu asked, looking at Yin Wuyan beside her.
Yin Wuyan patted the little girl's head with his large hand and said coldly, "He has not been exposed yet. The mastermind will not kill to silence him. There is no need to arrest anyone."
The mastermind was likely Liu Jian. Since he had done it, he would not leave any loopholes. Even if Liu Tong were arrested, he would probably not be able to provide any useful information, but would instead alert the enemy.
However, the mastermind would certainly not keep Liu Tong alive forever. It was likely that after the situation calmed down, they would arrange for Liu Tong to die in an accident. By then, Prince Yu and Grand Scholar Gu would have left Shangsi County, and the Forbidden Dragon Guard and Nanxuan Guard would have withdrawn. Liu Tong's death would not attract any attention or suspicion.
...
Prince Yu and Gu Qingzhou returned to the farm. Because of the doubts Zhan Feiyu had discovered, they had to go back and rewrite their memorials.
Zhan Feiyu, however, begged Yin Wuyan to take her to the county school. All three rooms were sealed. Except for the examination papers that were taken away, most of the other items were left untouched. Of course, the three food boxes were taken to the county yamen as evidence that day.
The candles were relit, and Zhan Feiyu first entered Wan Yunhao's room. A chalk mark indicated where the body had fallen on the ground. The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were still on the table.
"Big Brother, how do you think Wan Yunhao was poisoned?" Zhan Feiyu put down the ink stick. The ink and paper were provided by the county school and were brand new. The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table were the same as what she had used before.
Before, she thought the poison was in the water in the bamboo tube. Zhan Feiyu was baffled as to how the killer could be sure that Wan Yunhao would pick the food box that contained poison.
As for Prince Yu's speculation that Wan Yunhao was tricked by the mastermind, and that the food box had a specific mark, Zhan Feiyu felt that this deduction was a bit far-fetched.
Now, it seemed more logical that the poison was not in the bamboo tube, but the question was, how exactly was Wan Yunhao poisoned?
"Could he have been poisoned before coming to the county school?" Zhan Feiyu asked again. If he was poisoned at the inn where he was temporarily staying, then there would be no way to investigate.
"No. Ji Chaocai examined the poison in the bamboo tube. It was a mixture of Chuan Wutou and snake venom, and it acted very quickly. There is a distance from the inn to the county school, and Wan Yunhao would have definitely noticed," Yin Wuyan carefully examined the items on the table and looked at the narrow room, also unable to figure out how Wan Yunhao was poisoned.
Zhan Feiyu nodded in agreement. The toxicity did act quickly. The ink on the first paper was light, but the ink color on the third paper was normal. This indicated that Wan Yunhao had already been poisoned, which is why he no longer cared about establishing his image as a disciple from a humble background when he ground ink again.
Zhan Feiyu walked along the corner of the wall and looked back at the person behind her. "Big Brother, could it be that the poison was placed in the corner, or on the roof beam, or perhaps a poisoned incense? Wan Yunhao, focused on answering the questions, would definitely not have noticed."
As a member of the穿越 (transmigrator) army, Zhan Feiyu knew many palace intrigue and harem struggle plots. Incense was the easiest thing to tamper with. Mixing poison into it to make incense was like chronic poisoning; by the time it was discovered, it would be too late.
Yin Wuyan looked at Zhan Feiyu, who was tilting her head to look at the ceiling. His thin lips curved slightly. Was the little girl reading storybooks?
"You've forgotten that Wan Yunhao had poison in his mouth," Yin Wuyan reminded Zhan Feiyu of Wan Yunhao's poisoning symptoms. The coroner had examined the body, and there were slight white foam in his mouth and nose. This was definitely not poisoning caused by inhaling incense, but by direct consumption.
Still tilting her head, Zhan Feiyu pointed at the ceiling with her plump paw. "When I entered the room, I was thinking about answering the questions as quickly as possible and didn't look at the ceiling at all. If someone had been hiding on the roof beam at that time, Wan Yunhao definitely wouldn't have noticed. It's possible the killer lurked on the roof beam, administered the poison, and then escaped when the wind blew out the candles."
Pausing, Zhan Feiyu suddenly turned her head to look at Yin Wuyan. Her movement was too fast, and her neck made a clicking sound. The pain made Zhan Feiyu cry out, and she twisted her neck.
Yin Wuyan placed his large hand on Zhan Feiyu's neck and pressed down with his fingertips. "What are you in such a hurry for? I'll have someone ask tomorrow."
...
The third watch lamp and the fifth watch rooster, it is the time for men to study.
As a diligent and hardworking scholar, no matter how late Zhan Feiyu slept at night, she would get up punctually before dawn. First, she would recite scriptures for half an hour, and then she would go to the courtyard to exercise.
"Lift your left arm a little higher." Prince Yi also got up early and was sitting in a chair, instructing Zhan Feiyu in her boxing. "Keep your stance stable, and clear your mind..."
"Big Brother, you're here?" Zhan Feiyu leaped out. She could practice boxing anytime, but she was more eager to know the results of Big Brother's investigation.
This girl! Prince Yu frowned. As a military man, he hated it most when people were not focused while practicing martial arts. Seeing Zhan Feiyu darting out like a monkey, Prince Yu flicked a cherry pit.
Zhan Feiyu never expected Prince Yu to ambush her. She only felt a pain in the bend of her right knee, lost her balance, and fell forward.
In a flash! Yin Wuyan lunged forward. With a long arm, he caught Zhan Feiyu, who was about to fall, in his embrace. His icy gaze shot towards Prince Yu like an arrow.
Uh... Prince Yu, who was being glared at, felt awkward. He had developed this habit from training his sons and grandsons at home. He had just forgotten that the little girl was a scholar.
"I was telling the little girl not to be distracted!" As a first-rank Prince Yu, the old prince spoke first. This brat Wuyan dared to glare at him!
The summer clothes were thin. Zhan Feiyu was wearing a pair of blue cotton trousers when she exercised in the morning. Now, she only felt a throbbing pain in the bend of her leg, and her chubby face was contorted in pain. "Big Brother, I feel like I'm crippled."
Holding her in his arms, Yin Wuyan strode into the room. He pushed his left palm outwards, and the door behind him closed with a click.
Prince Yu, who almost hit his nose, glared angrily.
"Your Highness, there is a difference between men and women," the guard said awkwardly, finding an excuse. His Highness had acted too quickly, and he hadn't had time to stop him.
"I'm already a grandfather!" Prince Yu kicked the guard impatiently. However, he did not push the door open, but walked back to the courtyard in a few steps.
Prince Yu turned around and looked at the closed door. Was that brat Wuyan also observing the difference between men and women!
The trousers were loose. Zhan Feiyu, who was placed on the couch, did not realize the difference between men and women. She quickly rolled up her trouser leg and bent over to look at the bend of her leg.
The cherry pit was small, and its tip was slightly sharp. Moreover, Prince Yu treated her like a tough, thick-skinned martial artist. This blow was delivered with full force, and the cherry pit directly pierced the fabric, shooting into the flesh like a hidden weapon. Fortunately, it only went in by one-third.
"Ah!" Zhan Feiyu gritted her teeth and dug out the cherry pit. Blood gushed out. This was truly an undeserved disaster!
Yin Wuyan's aura became even colder, but his movements were incredibly gentle. From wiping away the blood to applying medicine and bandaging, his movements were as gentle as if Zhan Feiyu were a porcelain doll that would shatter if handled with too much force.
"Big Brother, it's just a minor injury. I won't walk for a few days," Zhan Feiyu said with a smile, shaking Yin Wuyan's arm affectionately. "Don't be angry. His Highness didn't do it on purpose."
"Mm," Yin Wuyan only responded with a single word, but looking at his cold and terrifying expression, he did not seem at all unangry or unbothered.
"By the way, Big Brother, did you ask? Was there really wind at that time?" Zhan Feiyu changed the subject. If she hadn't been so eager to know the answer, she wouldn't have run out and gotten injured.
Yin Wuyan placed the wound medicine on the table. "Those who were standing in the courtyard at that time did not feel any wind, nor did they see anyone come out of the room."
If they hadn't been specifically asked, no one would have remembered this point. Just after the competition, everyone wanted to know how Zhan Feiyu and the others had answered their papers. Whether there was wind or not, no one really paid attention.
Therefore, when the candles in the three rooms were simultaneously extinguished, everyone simply assumed it was the wind, and no one thought much of it.
Even when asked, some people were quite puzzled, saying that it must have been the wind that blew out the candles.
Others said that they were standing in the crowd at the time, and there were too many people, so even if there was wind, they wouldn't have felt it.
The scholars standing in front hesitated. Some felt there was wind, while others said there wasn't. Then they heard Liu Tong shout that someone was dead, and everyone's attention was diverted.
"If there was no wind, then the candles were not extinguished naturally but were blown out by someone," Zhan Feiyu looked at Yin Wuyan. For an expert like Big Brother, it wouldn't be difficult to extinguish three candles simultaneously.
Yin Wuyan knew what Zhan Feiyu was asking and replied directly, "If someone was hidden among the scholars and acted simultaneously, hidden weapons could extinguish the candles."
"But the three rooms were sealed afterward, and the Nanxuan Guard kept watch outside the door. If there were hidden weapons, they would definitely still be in the rooms," Zhan Feiyu's eyes lit up. If they were very small hidden weapons, they might not have been found before, but now it was different. With a direction for investigation, if they searched the three rooms, they would definitely find the hidden weapons that extinguished the candles.
"No, there's nothing on the floor," Yin Wuyan said. Hearing this, Zhan Feiyu couldn't help but look disappointed, thinking she might have guessed wrong.
Yin Wuyan comforted the little girl by patting her head. "If the hidden weapons were made of ice, they would be impossible to find now."
Ice beads the size of soybeans, shot out, could certainly extinguish the candles. And in the summer, with high temperatures, the ice beads would quickly melt, disappearing without a trace.
So, they had walked into a dead end again. Zhan Feiyu sighed and patted her chubby cheeks, deciding not to think about it anymore.
When they went to have breakfast, Gu Qingzhou suddenly stood up upon seeing Zhan Feiyu being carried in by Yin Wuyan, and then glared at the guilty-looking Prince Yu.
"Your Highness, is this what you call accidentally hitting her?" Gu Qingzhou smiled menacingly. Before, Prince Yu had only said that he had hit Zhan Feiyu with a cherry pit, and Gu Qingzhou hadn't paid much attention. But how could he have imagined that Zhan Feiyu would be unable to walk?
Gently placing Zhan Feiyu on a chair, Yin Wuyan said in a cold and dangerous voice, "If Uncle's force was any greater, Ji Chaocai would have had to cut open the flesh to remove the cherry pit. If the force was even greater, Little Yu's right leg would have been crippled!"
"You're alarmist..." Prince Yu retorted, slapping the table, but his words died down under the cold gazes of Gu Qingzhou and Yin Wuyan. His force was indeed not small, and the little girl had tender skin. Crippling was unlikely, but she would definitely suffer some pain.
Seeing Prince Yu being reprimanded, Zhan Feiyu smiled. It felt so good to be protected.
Prince Yu looked up and saw the little girl's bright smile. Her eyes were still clear and transparent, without any resentment. This made Prince Yu feel even more guilty.
"Alright, it's my fault," Prince Yu admitted first and walked over to pat Zhan Feiyu's head. "How about I take you as an adopted daughter? No one will dare to bully you in the capital then."
Prince Yu knew that Zhan Feiyu had been adopted, and her adoptive parents had passed away. Without any close relatives or elders, it was fine when she was young, but when she reached adulthood and needed to get married, she would need elders to handle things. As for those people from the old Zhan family, Prince Yu felt it was better to have them gone.
"No!" The objections came at the same time. Gu Qingzhou and Yin Wuyan both strongly opposed.
Prince Yu became angry. He did indeed like Zhan Feiyu very much. She was well-behaved and sensible, intelligent, and diligent. Prince Yu's mansion did not have a scholar yet.
"It would mess up the辈分 (generations/status). How would Little Yu get married later?" Gu Qingzhou looked disdainfully at the white-haired and bearded Prince Yu. He was already a grandfather, yet he had no sense of propriety.
Uh... Prince Yu, thinking of this, touched his beard and smiled awkwardly. "That's reasonable. At that time, people of the same generation could be Little Yu's father."
"Then let's make her a granddaughter," Prince Yu offered as a compromise.
The reason he hadn't thought of this at first was mainly because his two sons were not very capable, and his two daughters-in-law were not good people. If there was an adopted daughter, they would not treat Little Yu well.
Gu Qingzhou was slightly satisfied, but he was still considering. Although Prince Yu was a prince with no official duties, his status was very noble. If he adopted Little Yu, he didn't know what the Emperor's reaction would be.
As the person concerned, Zhan Feiyu raised her plump paw. Meeting the gazes of the three, Zhan Feiyu nervously said, "Actually, I think having a higher辈分 is quite good, really. No one will dare to bully me in the future. After all, Daqing values filial piety!"
There were many royal relatives in the capital, let alone dissolute young men. Zhan Feiyu's appearance was not stunning, but it was not bad either. Moreover, as she continued her studies and took the imperial examinations, it would definitely cause a lot of controversy.
Bullying or making things difficult for someone of the same generation was not a big deal, but bullying an elder was a bit troublesome. Zhan Feiyu felt that her辈分 could be raised a bit, making her of the same generation as the current Emperor. Just thinking about it made her feel a bit smug.
Prince Yu did not speak, but Gu Qingzhou's expression gradually became solemn. He had sensed this before, but at that time, he only thought that Little Yu was young, only eight years old this year. It was too early to talk about marriage, at least ten years later.
But at this moment, Gu Qingzhou knew that his guess had come true.
"Teacher?" Feeling that Gu Qingzhou's expression was not right, Zhan Feiyu's heart skipped a beat. She habitually stood up from the ground, as attitude should be good!
Unfortunately, before she could get off the ground, Yin Wuyan placed a hand on Zhan Feiyu's shoulder, pressing her back into the chair.
"Big Brother?" Turning her head, Zhan Feiyu saw that Yin Wuyan's expression was even more terrifying, and his aura was as cold as if it could freeze people from blood to bone.
Feeling like she had caused a big problem! Zhan Feiyu smiled, her expression as innocent as possible, and said crisply, "Teacher, Big Brother, breakfast is cold. Let's eat quickly!"
"Eat what!" Gu Qingzhou slapped the table and looked seriously at the smiling little girl, his face stern and cold. "Tell me clearly, why do you want to raise your辈分? Are you not planning to get married after reaching adulthood?"
Yin Wuyan remained silent, but his stern gaze fell on Zhan Feiyu, waiting for her answer.
Seeing Zhan Feiyu lowering her head, looking like a bullied little rabbit, wilting entirely, Prince Yu couldn't help but feel pity. He said irritably to Gu Qingzhou, "You, as a teacher, are already of an age where you know the Mandate of Heaven, and you're not married yourself. Why are you making things difficult for the little girl?"
If it weren't for fear of Gu Qingzhou's future retaliation, Prince Yu would have pointed at his nose and cursed: "The upper beam is not straight, and the lower beam is crooked!" Zhan Feiyu's unmarried status was definitely learned from her teacher, Gu Qingzhou.
Scholars were the most not to be offended. Prince Yu suddenly looked at Yin Wuyan beside him. He was a junior of the Yin family, and he could be scolded!
Prince Yu's voice suddenly became louder, his tiger eyes wide with anger, glaring at Yin Wuyan. "And you! They all say 'establish a career after marriage'! You're already of age, and you refuse the marriage arranged by His Majesty, and you won't choose for yourself. There are so many noble ladies in the capital, both plump and slender, yet you don't fancy any of them. Are you going to learn from Gu Qingzhou?"
The more Prince Yu spoke, the angrier he became. One was over fifty, and the other was eighteen, and neither intended to get married. This was corrupting the little girl. Hmph!
Head bowed, Zhan Feiyu smiled silently. The old prince was mighty!
"Are you secretly happy about this?" Gu Qingzhou slapped Zhan Feiyu on the back of her head. Seeing the little girl look up in surprise, and her smile not yet faded, Gu Qingzhou was amused to the point of anger.
"Teacher," Zhan Feiyu naturally hugged Gu Qingzhou's arm, shaking it coquettishly. Her small face lifted into a smile, and her soft voice was sickeningly sweet, "If there were candidates like Teacher or Big Brother, I would definitely not be afraid of getting married. But if I can't find anyone, then forget it."
Gu Qingzhou and Yin Wuyan were both pleased. It was not wrong for the little girl to use herself as a standard. Although there were many talented young men in the capital, truly good husbands were rare.
Those with three wives and four concubines were directly ruled out; as for those without ability, who relied on their ancestors' patronage, they were also crossed out.
As for disciples from humble backgrounds, how many of them became arrogant once successful? There were also some who were ridiculed by colleagues outside, and instead of reflecting on themselves, they took their anger out on their wives, developing a temper while being supported!
As for military officers, they were even less to be mentioned. They had no ink in their bellies. Such a delicate and cute girl like this little girl should stay far away from those rough military men!
In a short period, Gu Qingzhou and Yin Wuyan reviewed all the potential candidates in their minds, but they couldn't find anyone who met the criteria. Looking at the little girl smiling with her white teeth showing, such a soft little girl, well, there was no rush, she was still young!
Prince Yu, who had been forgotten, couldn't help but ask, "Little girl, what do you mean by that? Am I not a good candidate?"
Why should she choose according to Gu Qingzhou and Yin Wuyan's standards? Prince Yu, who considered himself extremely outstanding and the best in the capital, was displeased. When he was young, when he paraded through the capital on horseback, how many young girls screamed their desire to marry him!
How could she answer this? Zhan Feiyu looked at Prince Yu, whose hair and beard were graying, and whose face was full of wrinkles. When he got angry, he looked like a big lion. Zhan Feiyu couldn't imagine what Prince Yu looked like when he was young, but she could raise her paw and guarantee that he definitely did not meet her aesthetic standards.
"Your Highness, Little Yu is a scholar. Can you compose a five-character, six-rhyme poem?" Gu Qingzhou said disdainfully. Moreover, with Old Prince Yu's irritable temper, if Little Yu found such a husband in the future, she would surely be angered to death!
Yin Wuyan glanced at Prince Yu, who was about to retort, and said pointedly, "If Little Yu's husband dares to take a concubine..."
Yin Wuyan did not say the rest, but the meaning was clear: if he dared to take a concubine, Yin Wuyan would directly castrate him!
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