Chapter 122: Backroom Dealing

"Perhaps it is simply that my writing was not good enough."

He spoke with an air of indifference, as if he had already accepted this as fact.

"Impossible. Someone must be meddling behind the scenes. Your writing and your insights are far superior to those of an ordinary man."

Young Master Zhu did not believe this for a moment. He immediately sent men to investigate. The examiners were officials from the Hanlin Academy, including the aforementioned Lord Lu. And there, buried in the calculations, the problem was found: Lord Lu had deliberately withheld his examination paper, denying him the status of a promoted scholar, even though his essay was clearly the best.

"Long before it began, I foresaw this outcome. Lord Lu had previously taken an interest in me, wanting me to submit to his arrangements. He suppressed my paper, hoping I would rely on his patronage to enter the Hanlin Academy. It is merely a matter of being forced to owe a favor, is it not?"

Lord Lu had played a clever game.

"Then what should we do? Shall we report him?"

Han Qing shook his head. It would not succeed. From the very beginning, the board of examiners had been composed of eighteen scholars from the Hanlin Academy. Who would dare to take responsibility for such a reckless accusation against them?

"But if you don't, you will never be able to enter the imperial court."

Han Qing remained expressionless, continuing to toy with the chess piece in his hand. Whether he could enter the court was not for a mere Hanlin Academy scholar to decide. Had he forgotten about Master Wenxuan, far away from Luojing? During the days of the metropolitan examination, Master Wenxuan had sent several letters, informing him that if the need arose, he could use those letters to secure assistance from others. Was this not the perfect moment?

"You mean Ouyang Wenxuan? He holds no real power or standing in the court," Young Master Zhu asked, incredulous.

"But his mother’s family does. Besides, Lady Wenjing served on the battlefield in her time; how could she not have a voice in these matters?"

Young Master Zhu had almost forgotten. The truth of Lord Lu’s actions had already been exposed. By now, those letters had likely reached the Emperor’s hands.

The so-called help was nothing more than ensuring the letters reached the right people. As for those who expected Han Qing to beg them in person? They were thinking far too highly of themselves.

As expected, the Emperor was furious. He ordered imperial officials to thoroughly investigate the matter, particularly the malicious treatment of certain candidates by the examiners. The examination papers were brought directly to the Emperor for his personal review. Lord Lu was consumed with panic; he had never imagined that decades of striving could be undone by a few letters. Setting aside whether the origin of those letters was genuine or not, why had the Emperor acted so decisively?

"Brother Han, I do not understand. How could such vague words cause the Emperor to make a decision so quickly?"

"A man who bears the burden of the throne never trusts anyone. At the slightest sign of trouble, he becomes wary. Moreover, when someone is so blatantly recruiting their own faction right under his nose, how could he sit idly by?" He said this calmly. It had been this way since ancient times; the more ambiguous the words, the more they breed suspicion. That Hanlin scholar was likely unable to eat or sleep, and the other examiners under his command were surely in a state of panic.

"Lord Lu, did you not say he was someone insignificant with no background? How has this suddenly escalated to the Emperor?"

"Examiner Zhao, what is the use of blaming me now? Quickly, think of a way out for yourselves."

The group fell apart instantly. In the face of absolute danger, everyone thought only of self-preservation.

The results of the examination were re-evaluated, and his name appeared at the top of the list. His essays were read by high-ranking officials in the court, and his feasible proposals regarding the flooding that had plagued the region for years caught the Emperor’s attention, marking him as a man of rare talent.

"Wonderful! Those people deserve their punishment. I heard all their ranks were lowered, and some were even dismissed from office entirely."

It was truly gratifying. To manipulate such affairs in plain sight—their behavior was far from honorable. Yet, Lord Lu would surely harbor a grudge.

"You must be careful in Luojing. It is hard to ensure that some won't come after you," Young Master Zhu warned him. Even if things seemed safe, who knew if someone might strike in the shadows? They might not take his life, but they could render him useless.

"I am aware. However, Old Master Lin wants to meet with me, and that is not something I can decline."

He spoke with resignation. Even if the Magistrate of the Capital had done something wrong, he was still a fourth-rank official, and he had only been reprimanded slightly before. His sudden request for a visit was clearly a move to curry favor.

Old Master Lin arrived with a beaming smile. "Young Master Han, I knew from the start that you were a dragon among men. You did not disappoint me. To be favored by the Emperor so quickly—your future is surely boundless."

"Lord Lin, you flatter me. I merely acted according to my own convictions; it is not so grand as that."

"I see you have no acquaintances in Luojing. Shall I organize a gathering at my estate for you and the dozen other successful candidates?"

*This?* Was the old man looking for entertainment, or was he trying to gain some advantage? It was not that the other scholars had any particular connection to Han Qing, but to make such a grand display so abruptly—would it not invite criticism?

"You need not fear. The others in the court do not dare to stretch their hands into my territory. I have long since seen through their cowardice," Old Master Lin said, appearing fearless. He claimed he only wished to celebrate the scholars' success, with no ulterior motives. If any officials tried to impeach him over this, he would not let them off easily.

"Very well," Han Qing agreed. It would be a good chance to see what scheme the old man was brewing.

This time, only twenty people had been admitted. Excluding those who had left the capital, the remaining dozen were still in Luojing. The Lin estate was lively. Besides Lord Lin, there was Lord Gao from the court and Lord Sun from the Patrol Battalion. Hearing that the scholars were gathered there, they had come in person to offer gifts. The process was all too familiar.

Han Qing sat calmly in the middle of the pavilion, having no desire to entangle himself with the officials. Because of the incident with Lord Lu, the officials present—save for a few who had briefly crossed paths with him—avoided him as if he were a plague, terrified that one wrong move might lead to their own undoing without them even realizing how.

"Young Master Han, you have found yourself a quiet corner, haven't you?" Lord Gao teased.