Chapter 93 (1/2)

Chapter 93: Rattling the Snake

The administrative official handed the paper to them. Jun Huang read it over with a calm expression. She wasn't an official in the palace herself. She didn't know what the exam questions would be. Thus she couldn't be sure if this was legitimate.

”Do not let anyone know of this,” the official growled. ”If the emperor finds out, we'll all be thrown into prison.”

”Understood,” Qin Sheng and his friends responded. They put the paper away and respectfully saw the official off with cupped hands.

Jun Huang was still deep in thoughts even after the official had left. Qin Sheng walked up to her and patted her on the shoulder. She looked up at him with unfocused eyes.

Qin Sheng smiled. He thought that Jun Huang must have been intimidated by the official's words. He said gently, ”The official didn't mean what he said. There's no need for you to dwell on it.”

As if suddenly remembering something, he asked, ”By the way, do you want to have a drink with us at the Autumn House? To blow off some steam?”

Jun Huang waved a hand at him. ”This gentleman doesn't want to rain on brother Qin's parade. However, now that I've got my hand on the exam paper, I'd like to study it on my own to make sure I will do well in the metropolitan exam.”

Qin Sheng could understand that. Rich men like he and his friends could hand the questions to their honored guests and have the guests formulate answers for them. They needed only to memorize the answers and write them down when the exam came. Poor men like Jun Huang, on the other hand, had to study hard themselves even with the leaked information.

”If so, this gentleman will not try to sway you. I sincerely hope you will perform well in the exam. Let us meet at another time.” Qin Sheng cupped his hands and left with his posse of men from rich families. He missed the dark look in Jun Huang's eyes.

Jun Huang went straight back home and sent a message to Qi Yun. When Qi Yun visited in the evening, she was sitting in the garden alone with a piece of paper in her hand. Her eyebrows were tightly knitted together.

Qi Yun walked up to her, his robe brus.h.i.+ng against the leaves on the ground. He stepped on the twigs with his black boots and the sound startled Jun Huang. She looked over at him.

”What did you find?” asked Qi Yun.

Without a word, Jun Huang handed the paper to Qi Yun. He curiously took it. As soon as he saw what it was, his face darkened and his fingers tightened.

”Do you recognize it?” asked Jun Huang.

Qi Yun nodded. He took a deep breath to settle his rattled mind. ”I do. It's the questions for this year's metropolitan exam. I've seen the report the Ministry of Rites submitted to Royal Father.”

”What are you going to do about the official who has been selling the exam questions?” she asked, her eyes firmly on Qi Yun and her fingers tight around the teacup.

”I'll tell Royal Father, of course,” Qi Yun said through clenched teeth. His anger was apparent from his expression. ”Northern Qi will not tolerate deceitful actions like this! Besides, the metropolitan exam is held to find talented men with integrity. It's not for sc.u.ms like the official to exploit for his own gain.”

Jun Huang let out a quiet laugh. She took a sip of tea before saying, ”A mere administrative official like him wouldn't be able to do this on his own. Someone is behind him. Does Your Highness know who is in charge of the Ministry of Rites?”

Qi Yun widened his eyes and staggered backwards. ”Do you mean… second brother?”

Jun Huang shook her head. ”Qi Chen probably doesn't know about this yet. However, you must remember that the emperor has charged him with the task of managing the ministry. It's not yet time for us to make him our enemy. We cannot expose this scandal ourselves.”

”Are we going to just let it go?”

”Of course not,” she said with narrowed eyes. ”We can't get involved, but others can.”

Qi Yun had learned how to read some of Jun Huang's nuance expressions. From her tone, he soon figured out that she was trying to kill with a borrowed knife. ”Do you mean we should get the news out through the Court of Judicial Review?”

Jun Huang quirked her lips and nodded. ”Everyone knows that the Court of Judicial Review is fair and just. Once they know of this issue, they will report to the emperor. This won't be traced back to us, and Qi Chen won't be able to a.s.sert his influence on the court.”

Qi Yun nodded and sat down. He took the tea Jun Huang had poured for him, barely managing to swallow down his ire.

”The gentleman is indeed clever,” Nan Xun suddenly walked out and said. ”I truly admire you for that.”

Jun Huang threw him a quick glance before looking away. Nan Xun didn't take her lack of response personally. He sat down next to Qi Yun and looked at the exam questions. He scoffed.

”What have you found, Qi Yun?” Jun Huang asked.