The spring imperial examination venue was the Examination Hall, a place of stern solemnity. Just after the first beat of the mao hour, the sky was barely bright, and crowds had already gathered outside. Thousands of provincial graduates from all over the country held their exam baskets and waited in line for inspection before entering.
The air was thick with tension and anticipation. Occasionally, one could hear low recitations or murmured prayers, intermingled with suppressed coughs and sighs.
Yan Shu wore a blue brocade robe patterned with clouds and flowing water. Cold and aloof in bearing, with a face like a banished immortal, he drew countless glances the moment he stood there. The guards arranged by Shen Ji lurked around him, silently protecting him.
He pushed down the tangled thoughts in his heart, ignored the stares around him, and waited quietly to enter.
Not far away, Li Du was also carrying an exam basket, exchanging pleasantries with several nearby provincial graduates, wearing a smile that was properly humble.
As those around him turned to look and whisper, Li Du also glanced that way. The moment he saw that familiar figure, the smile on his face froze. His pupils shrank sharply, and his eyes filled with terror.
“Yan… Yan Shu?!” He nearly cried out. His heart pounded wildly, and a chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head. How was this possible? He had personally poisoned him, personally watched Yantai drive a sword into Yan Shu’s chest, and then push him off the ravine! How could Yan Shu still be alive?! And even appear at the spring imperial examination venue?!
Li Du’s face instantly went deathly pale. His fingers trembled, and his exam basket nearly slipped from his grasp. Yan Shu seemed to sense something and turned to look.
Their eyes met. Yan Shu’s gaze was calm. He merely gave a cold glance before turning away indifferently and continuing to wait in line.
That one glance made Li Du even more terrified. An immense fear seized his heart, and even breathing became difficult. He hurriedly lowered his head, fine beads of cold sweat seeping out at his temples.
“Brother Li? What’s wrong? Your face looks terrible,” asked the provincial graduate beside him with concern.
“It’s… it’s nothing…” Li Du forced out a faint smile, his voice dry. “Perhaps I got up too early and feel a little dizzy…”
The provincial graduate nodded in understanding. “The imperial examinations are a major matter; nervousness is only natural. Brother Li’s learning is outstanding, so there’s no need to worry.”
Li Du nodded vaguely in agreement. Yan Shu wasn’t dead! He was back! He would definitely seek revenge! What should he do? What could he do? Countless fears and thoughts exploded in his mind, leaving him nearly unable to stand. His mind went blank.
The heavy wooden door of his examination cell shut behind him. In the cramped space, only Li Du’s heavy breathing remained. Yan Shu was like a vengeful ghost come to claim his life. No! He couldn’t panic! He suddenly clenched his fists, nails digging deeply into his palm. The pain made him regain some clarity.
More than ten years of hard study, all for today! He absolutely could not let this throw him into confusion!
He forcefully suppressed his panic. Focus on the exam first! As long as he made the honor roll and had rank and the protection of the Vice Minister’s Residence, what did he have to fear from a rootless Yan Shu? The Yan family held great power in Jiangnan, but in the capital they were far inferior to the Vice Minister’s Residence. At the thought of Vice Minister Shi and Shi Qingyi, Li Du seemed to find his backbone and gradually calmed down. After the imperial examinations were over, he would find a way to eliminate Yan Shu!
Since he had dared to kill him once, he could certainly strike again and silence him for good, all because Yan Shu insisted on blocking his road to success.
He took out his brush and ink, cast aside all distractions, and concentrated on answering the questions.
…
Nine days and six nights of examinations were an immense test of both body and mind.
Yan Shu had only just recovered from his injuries. Fortunately, with the special healing medicine Shen Ji had exchanged with points, and with these days of careful recuperation, Yan Shu successfully endured the exams, pouring years of study onto the page.
When the bell signaling the end of the third session rang out, all the provincial graduates came out of their cells as if drained of all strength, and some were carried out directly.
Li Du rushed out of the gates of the Examination Hall almost immediately. He did not even dare look at Yan Shu once in the crowd, as though a fierce ghost were chasing him from behind. He shoved through the crowd and hurried to the Vice Minister’s Residence.
Inside Vice Minister Shi’s study, sandalwood incense curled upward.
Shi Mingyuan was leisurely sipping tea. When he heard that Li Du was urgently requesting an audience, he frowned slightly, feeling a little displeased. The imperial examinations had just ended, and he was already this unable to keep calm. How could such a person accomplish anything great?
But thinking of Li Du’s talent and his daughter’s situation, he waved a hand. “Let him in.”
Li Du staggered into the study, his face white as paper. He even forgot to bow, his voice trembling: “F-Father-in-law, my Lord! Your son-in-law… has caused a terrible disaster!”
Seeing how panicked he looked, Shi Mingyuan frowned even harder. He set down his teacup with a heavy thud and said in a deep voice, “What has you so flustered?”
“Father-in-law… Yan Shu… he, he…” Li Du was incoherent, cold sweat pouring down his face. “He’s not dead! I saw him at the examination hall!”
“Yan Shu?” Shi Mingyuan did not react at first. “Which Yan Shu? So what if he’s not dead? What does that have to do with you?” As he spoke, suspicion grew in his heart, and he keenly sensed that something was wrong with Li Du.
Li Du dropped to his knees with a thud. “Father-in-law, please see clearly! Your son-in-law… was foolish for a moment and committed a grave mistake! That Yan Shu… that Yan Shu should never have appeared at the examination hall! He should have… should have died on the road to the capital!”
Hearing this, Shi Mingyuan’s expression changed drastically, his gaze sharp as a blade. “What did you say? Died on the road to the capital? Li Du, tell me the truth! What exactly did you do?!” His voice suddenly turned severe.
Li Du no longer dared to hide anything. Tears and mucus streaming down his face, he stammered out everything: that because he was jealous of Yan Shu’s talent and feared Yan Shu would block his road to the top scholar title, he had plotted to poison him along the way and bribed Yan Shu’s page boy to help kill him.
“…At the time, your son-in-law was certain there was no way he could have survived… who would have thought, who would have thought he was not dead! Father-in-law! If he exposes this matter, your son-in-law’s utter disgrace and death would be nothing, but I fear… I fear it would implicate the Vice Minister’s Residence and Young Lady Qingyi!”
After hearing everything, Shi Mingyuan’s face turned frighteningly dark. His chest rose and fell violently, and he slammed the table hard.
“Idiot!” Rage surged in his eyes. “If you were going to make a move, you should have done it cleanly. Who would have thought you’d leave such a loose end!”
He had originally valued Li Du’s talent, and given his daughter’s situation, she could not marry into a better family. He had hoped Li Du would make the honor roll and become his support in court in the future. He never imagined the man would be so bold and so utterly stupid!
“Father-in-law, please calm your anger! Your son-in-law knows he was wrong! I beg you, Father-in-law, save your son-in-law!” Li Du prostrated himself on the ground, his voice trembling.
Shi Mingyuan’s eyes shifted rapidly as he weighed the advantages and disadvantages. Yan Shu must die! And he had to die before the results were posted!
He reined in his anger, bent down to help Li Du up, and softened his tone. “My worthy son-in-law, since matters have come to this, and since you are the future son-in-law of the Shi family, I naturally won’t stand by and do nothing.”
Hope flared in Li Du’s eyes. “Father-in-law…”
“How did the imperial examinations go?” Shi Mingyuan interrupted to ask.
Li Du answered carefully, “F-fairly well… It’s just that in the first policy essay, because I was flustered, I used one classical citation incorrectly. Although the content was still appropriate, I should still be able to contend for first place…”
Shi Mingyuan only then relaxed. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Do you know where Yan Shu is now?”
“Your son-in-law doesn’t know…” Li Du replied timidly.
A ruthless killing intent flashed across Shi Mingyuan’s eyes. “Rest assured. He’s just a scholar without office or rank. It will be easy enough to deal with him quietly.”
He walked to the desk, quickly wrote a note, summoned the butler, and gave a few low-voiced instructions.
Only then did Shi Mingyuan look at Li Du and say with a hint of warning, “I have already arranged for people to investigate where he is staying. For the next few days, you’ll stay in the residence and not go out.”
“Yes! Your son-in-law understands! Thank you, Father-in-law!” Li Du answered repeatedly, suppressing his dread of the Yan family. Fearing that Shi Mingyuan might refuse to help him eliminate Yan Shu, he did not dare say a single word about the Yan family’s prestige in Jiangnan.
For his part, Shi Mingyuan felt that since Yan Shu had been harmed by Li Du and had only one attendant with him, his family background must be ordinary and not worth worrying about.
Meanwhile, Li Wenruo’s side had also learned the inside story behind Li Du’s hasty engagement to the vice minister’s young lady.