Chapter 53

Shangguan Ming laughed smugly. “Yun Liang, you never imagined that one day you would fall into the hands of your own daughter, did you?”

“From this day forward, I shall take your position!”

Shangguan Ming brought Yun Yanyan, Yun Liang, and the others back to the imperial city, heading straight for the palace.

They made their way to the imperial garden, where they saw that familiar figure in bright yellow. Shangguan Ming immediately dropped to his knees, his eyes burning with ambition.

“Your Majesty, your subject Shangguan Ming has fulfilled His Majesty’s command and brought back the criminal Yun Liang!”

The ministers waiting in the imperial garden were all startled when they saw Yun Liang, pale from severe blood loss.

Yun Liang had actually escaped!

It all began after court that morning.

Yun Liang had been absent due to illness. Just as the ministers were leaving the palace after court, Prince Ze had appeared before His Majesty and reported that his own consort had been abducted by Yun Liang, who was likely plotting some treasonous scheme.

Shangguan Ming had then volunteered to pursue him.

Thus, the ministers had gathered in the imperial garden to await news, having lunch together in the meantime.

Shangguan Ming produced several letters and a document.

“Your Majesty, a few days ago, your subject already suspected that Yun Liang was plotting treason. After sending people to investigate, I discovered that he had been corresponding with a neighboring country, transferring his family’s assets there, and fabricating a false identity in preparation to flee the kingdom.”

“Yun Liang is the Minister of Rites of our country. He knows many of Yanchi’s secrets, yet he still intended to defect to another nation. His crimes are unforgivable!”

Yun Yaoyao took the letters and document and examined them carefully. They were all conclusive evidence.

Shangguan Ming continued, “When I pursued Yun Liang this time, I discovered that he had also secretly raised a private army. Fortunately, Consort Yan acted with righteousness and put family loyalty aside to save the day, allowing us to bring the situation under control!”

Yun Yanyan wore a look of lingering shock. She dabbed at her tears delicately and bowed gracefully.

“Your Majesty, although I could not bear to see my criminal father commit such vile and inhuman acts, I had no choice but to put righteousness before family and protect the peace of Yanchi.”

Tushan Ze gently stroked Yun Yanyan’s back. “Yanyan, don’t be afraid. This isn’t your fault. His Majesty will understand.”

Before long, a minister from Prince Ze’s faction stepped forward, indignant.

“Your Majesty, Yun Liang colluded with another nation and intended to flee the Yanchi Dynasty. He deserves death!”

“Assistant Minister Shangguan has rendered great service by bringing back the criminal. Since the position of Minister of Rites is vacant, I suggest that Assistant Minister Shangguan serve as acting minister.”

Several officials from the Ministry of Rites also stepped forward.

“Assistant Minister Shangguan has always performed his duties diligently in the Ministry of Rites. He is capable and steady, a pillar of the realm. I humbly suggest that he assume the position of Minister of Rites!”

“I second the motion!”

Yun Yaoyao took a sip of tea, her gaze dark and unreadable.

First, Prince Ze had made his move. Then Shangguan Ming had volunteered to pursue Yun Liang and produced the evidence. Consort Yan had put righteousness before family, and all the ministers had joined together to petition her.

How perfectly logical. How utterly legitimate.

It seemed that Prince Ze and Shangguan Ming were determined to bring the Ministry of Rites under their control today!

“Everything you have said does indeed make sense, my honored ministers. The Ministry of Rites cannot go a single day without a minister…” Yun Yaoyao calmly set down her teacup.

Shangguan Ming raised his head, joy blooming in his heart. After plotting for so long, the position of Minister of Rites would finally be his!

“But…” The ruler’s voice suddenly took a turn. “My beloved subject Lin also has something to say.”

A tall, bamboo-like figure strode forward from the crowd, his steps swift and purposeful. A group of people followed behind him.

Lin Qingti bowed with cupped hands. His words rang out clearly.

“Your Majesty, your subject Lin Qingti pays his respects!”

The appearance of Lin Qingti left everyone present stunned.

Half a month ago, Lin Qingti had been critically wounded by an assassin and confined to his bed. He had not attended court once in those fifteen days, and rumors had repeatedly spread from the Lin residence that he was on the verge of death.

Yet now he stood before them, spirited and vigorous, without the slightest sign of injury!

When Shangguan Ming saw Lin Qingti, it was as though a basin of icy water had been poured over his head. He faintly sensed that the situation was about to slip beyond his control.

“Your Majesty, your subject has fortunately fulfilled his mission. I have gathered evidence of the criminal Yun Liang’s crimes and hereby present it to Your Majesty!”

Lin Qingti submitted the evidence. A formidable aura suddenly burst from him as he spoke each word with force.

“Your Majesty, Yun Liang abused his position and switched the examination papers of thirty-six candidates from humble families. He cheated in the imperial examinations and deserves no mercy!”

“Candidate Xiao Liang, from a humble family, took the metropolitan examination six years ago. Because his examination paper was replaced, he failed to pass. The person whose paper replaced his did pass the metropolitan examination and went on to take the palace examination. He now serves in the court as Vice Director of the Imperial Academy!”

“Candidate Wang Rihan…”

“Candidate Shi Tinghan…”

“Candidate…”

Each time Lin Qingti spoke a name, another person stepped out from behind him.

Only after naming eleven candidates from humble families did Lin Qingti stop. His eyes held both fury and grief as he continued.

“As for the remaining twenty-five…”

“Candidate ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‍Sun Heng, from a humble family, failed six years ago because his examination paper was replaced. Three years later, while traveling to the capital to take the examination again, he encountered bandits and died at their hands.”

“Candidate Li Tan, from a humble family, failed six years ago because his examination paper was replaced. Three years later, while traveling to the capital to retake the examination, he endured hardship and slept in the open. After drinking contaminated water, he developed a severe intestinal illness and died.”

“Candidate Nan Mu, from a humble family, took the metropolitan examination in the examination compound three years ago. On the ninth day of the examination, he suddenly fell ill with an intestinal disease. He somehow endured until the end, only to learn upon the announcement of the results that he had failed. Despondent, he struck his head against a wall and died on the spot.”

“Candidate Lu Jing…”

The remaining twenty-five were all candidates from humble families who had failed after their examination papers were replaced. Afterward, they suffered accidents of one kind or another, and not a single one remained in this world.

Those who had stolen the lives that belonged to these humble scholars had enjoyed dazzling success, riding proudly in spring and seeing all the flowers of Chang’an in a single day.

Meanwhile, those who had been robbed either struggled to retake the examinations, resigned themselves to lives of ruin, or died on the road while attempting to try again.

How could such injustice not stir fury in everyone’s heart?

Even Yun Yaoyao, who had learned of the imperial examination fraud from Lin Qingti’s letters long ago, was deeply moved after hearing his account and seeing the eleven surviving candidates with her own eyes.

How difficult were the ancient imperial examinations?

And how much more difficult was it for scholars from humble families to rely on those examinations to change their fates?

Within the torrents of history, these humble scholars were no more than insignificant grains of sand, reduced to a single understated phrase in the history books of later generations: “The imperial examinations were harder than reaching the heavens.”

Yet when a grain of sand from that era landed on the head of each humble scholar, it became a mountain heavy enough to crush them.

Seeing it all with her own eyes made the truth even more shocking.

Yun Liang, you truly deserve to die!

“Lin Qingti!” Yun Yaoyao rose to her feet. Her posture was straight and her bearing commanding, the bright golden dragon-clawed robe trailing across the ground and billowing like flames.

“Your subject is here!” Lin Qingti knelt on the ground.

“Regarding this case of fraud in the imperial examinations, My heart is deeply grieved. Lin, you have rendered great service in solving the case. From this day forth, I appoint you Minister of Rites. During your tenure, no such injustice may ever occur again. Can you do this?”

Lin Qingti met Yun Yaoyao’s gaze, his expression solemn.

“When one holds an office, one must seek the welfare of that office and fulfill its responsibilities. During my tenure, I shall carry out the duties of Minister of Rites to the best of my ability. I will eradicate every injustice in the imperial examinations and restore fairness to all scholars!”

“Good!”

The autumn wind swept fiercely across the garden. All the ministers knelt in a sea before the throne. When they raised their heads, the ruler’s unrivaled majesty was even clearer.

Yun Yaoyao cast them a sidelong glance. “I have appointed my beloved subject Lin as Minister of Rites. Does anyone have an objection?”

The ministers exchanged glances.

Cheating in the imperial examinations was a grave matter that concerned the fate of the realm. Lin Qingti had exposed it outright, restoring justice to those impoverished scholars.

Compared with what Lin Qingti had done, everything Shangguan Ming had accomplished was worth nothing!

Even the members of Prince Ze’s faction could find no grounds to refute it.

They all cried out in unison, “His Majesty’s decision is truly wise! We have no objections!”

Yun Yaoyao turned her gaze to Shangguan Ming. Deep resentment and indignation still lingered in his eyes.

“Shangguan Ming, as Vice Minister of Rites, you failed to notice what Yun Liang had done, allowing thirty-six impoverished scholars to suffer such injustice. I have serious doubts about your competence!”

Shangguan Ming prostrated himself on the ground, trembling with fear. “Your Majesty, please forgive me!”

Yun Yaoyao looked at the other officials and gave a faint smile, making the hairs on their bodies stand on end.

“I never imagined that among my officials there would be people who cheated in the imperial examinations and stole someone else’s future…”

Yun Yaoyao then used the list provided by Lin Qingti to sentence every one of them to death!

After this bloody purge, the assembled ministers were utterly terrified.

Yet this time, His Majesty’s death sentences were entirely justified, supported by reason and law, and favored by the people. They had no choice but to praise her as a wise ruler!

Tushan Ze appeared calm and composed as he cupped his hands and praised His Majesty’s wisdom, but in truth, he was practically grinding his teeth to pieces.

When all was said and done, hadn’t he merely wasted all his efforts? Not only had he gotten himself into trouble, he had even paved the way for someone else!

Yun Yaoyao watched the flamboyant peacock secretly falling apart and smiled faintly.

From the beginning, when she had asked Lin Qingti to pretend to have been assassinated, her plan had been to use him as her trump card against Yun Liang.

She had pretended to be gravely ill while secretly searching frantically for evidence of Yun Liang’s crimes.

Under the combined pressure of Tu Shanjin and Tushan Ze, Yun Liang would sooner or later be unable to remain in the court. After giving it a little thought, she guessed that the old fox would try to flee.

So she had Dragon Shadow Guard watch him day and night, finally catching him on the very day he attempted to escape.

Then she had Lin Qingti appear publicly today and use Yun Liang’s crimes to unleash an unbeatable move!

Prince Ze, oh Prince Ze—never imagined that this time, she would be playing on an entirely different level!