Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 291 The Young Grand Secretary: This Time It's Secure
Chaotian Palace.

Yan Shifan paced back and forth with his hands behind his back.

His brows betrayed a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.

The emperor secluded himself to pray for blessings.

Because it concerned the Empress Dowager's safety, no one dared to risk offending the Empress Dowager by barging into the palace to pay their respects.

The courtiers initially felt that it was completely unnecessary.

After all, it was only a short seven-day fast.

Even the Imperial Guards don't solve cases this quickly.

But it turns out.

Let alone seven days, it was only three days and nights.

Yan Song then filled the imperial prison with his political enemies who were usually so eager to cause trouble.

Upon learning this news, Yan Shifan was both shocked by his father's ruthlessness and overjoyed.

There always needs to be a plausible reason for carrying out a major prison.

The reason given was that Huo Tao and his cronies, in their quest for power and profit, did not hesitate to use the imperial examination as a weapon, thus trampling on the bottom line of the rules.

This was achieved by Yan Shifan himself stepping on the scale and cleverly slandering himself.

Since he has paid such a price, the subsequent rectification should naturally return to him the position of tribute scholar that he deserves.

Moreover, there were initial concerns that this would draw criticism.

Now Yan Song has raised the butcher's knife, instigated numerous criminal cases, and killed so many officials that they were terrified.

Let's see who dares to say anything at this critical juncture!

Driven by this expectation of fame and future success.

"The Flower Camp and Brocade Formation" is no longer appealing.

Yan Shifan kept pacing around the room, muttering to himself.

This is what Tao Dianzhen saw through the window.

Compared to Grand Secretary Yan, Yan Shifan's understanding of the world is still quite shallow!

He shook his head secretly.

Master Shao Yuanjie has already retired and returned to his hometown. Without a powerful backer, he must curry favor with the powerful and influential if he wants to get ahead.

If he were to directly join Yan Song's ranks, Yan Song might not necessarily think highly of him.

On the contrary, it was the son of the prime minister who was easier to befriend.

In light of this, he stepped back, deliberately making some noise.

Wait a moment, then go back into the house.

As expected, Yan Shifan, who had been as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, the son of the chief minister sat upright at his desk, unfazed even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

Yan Shifan slowly put down the scroll: "How is it?"

Tao Dianzhen bowed slightly, adopting a reporting posture, and gave a detailed report on the list of officials from various prefectures arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Finally, he exclaimed, "Grand Secretary Yan's swift and decisive methods are truly admirable!"

"These mere monsters dare to challenge my father's magic?"

Yan Shifan said arrogantly, "My father enjoys the Emperor's favor so much that even the Embroidered Uniform Guard has been dispatched to him. How dare these ants try to shake a tree! How laughable!"

After making his grand pronouncements, he paused briefly and immediately asked, "How are the officials taking the imperial examinations?"

Yan Shifan was most concerned about the outcome of this year's imperial examination.

The question is whether the officials, led by the chief examiner Huang Wan, have been severely punished.

Only by determining the faults of these examiners can the wrongs be rectified and one's academic achievements restored.

Tao Dianzhen had indeed found out: "Minister Huang of the Ministry of Personnel and Grand Secretary Huo got into a fight at the Northern Garrison Command, which even alarmed the Imperial Medical Academy. Minister Huang had to be carried out..."

"what?"

Yan Shifan couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time: "This is truly a complete loss of face. And this is supposed to be a Minister and a Vice Minister..."

With a skill level like that, he could do it too!

After the mockery, Yan Shifan became excited again: "Since Huang Wan has been branded as a traitor, then the charges of cheating in the imperial examination and altering the rankings should naturally fall on her!"

Tao Dianzhen nodded as well: "Congratulations to Brother Donglou on passing the imperial examination with flying colors! May you rise to great heights!"

"Haha! Good! Good!"

Yan Shifan let out a hearty laugh.

Although the process was somewhat tortuous, the result was ultimately good.

His efforts paid off; he passed the imperial examination with flying colors and entered officialdom as a respectable Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

The father also intimidated the court. If the father and son work together, wouldn't they be incredibly powerful and have countless followers?
Calling him a junior Grand Secretary isn't an exaggeration, is it?
Now, there's just one final step before we reach that title.

Yan Shifan rose with a flick of his sleeve, his jade belt flashing like a rainbow in the morning light:
"It's time to bring this good show to a close!"

……

Imperial College.

Before the morning bell had even faded, groups of students had already gathered under the shade of the locust tree.

"Did you hear that?"

A student lowered his voice: "The number of officials from the Six Ministries who have been taken away by the Imperial Guards is as high as seventy-three..."

"Be careful!"

The student next to him hurriedly looked around: "Do you think the people from the Northern Garrison Command won't come in? It's only just gotten a little peaceful at our Imperial Academy, do you have to invite disaster?"

The students who had spoken earlier quickly shut up, but one of them, his face flushed with indignation, said: "You all study the classics and become so timid and hesitant? Does this mean that from now on, all channels of communication in the world will be cut off? Grand Secretary Yan was originally the leader of the upright scholars, but I deeply despise what he did today!"

"Ugh!"

Some of the other students admired this reckless behavior, some kept their distance, and some subconsciously glanced at the two people not far away.

Hu Zongxian and Zhao Zhenji.

In this imperial examination, Zhao Zhenji achieved the highest score, becoming a highly talented scholar admired by all. However, rumors and gossip soon began to circulate about him.

Because they were in the Imperial Academy, going in and out with the son of the Grand Secretary, and studying together.

Those in the know understand that this is a mutual aid mechanism within the Yixin Society, which existed in the previous session. Those who are unaware, however, have reservations, believing that they are currying favor with the powerful and paving the way for their official careers, and that the top scholar in the imperial examinations is even suspected of cheating.

Hu Zongxian doesn't care about criticism; you guys want to pave the road but there's nowhere to pave it!

Zhao Zhenji was furious, for his ranking was earned through genuine talent and ability!

Moreover, if there had truly been cheating, how could Yan Shifan have failed the exam?

This is such a simple truth, yet it is deliberately ignored by those who spread rumors...

Seeing that Zhao Zhenji was indignant and about to argue, Hu Zongxian pulled him back and whispered, "Don't stoop to their level. Just focus on preparing for the palace examination!"

"Preparing for the exam?"

Zhao Zhenji frowned: "Now that the court is in turmoil, the palace examination has been postponed, and Yan Donglou is nowhere to be found, his fate unknown. How can I be at ease?"

Hu Zongxian also sighed.

But they really can't do anything more.

All we can do is wait.

"Yan Donglou..."

Just then, a commotion arose from the direction of Jixian Gate. Someone rushed in, shouting in alarm, "Yan Donglou is back!"

As the crowd surged out.

A disheveled figure stumbled and collapsed beneath the archway, his robes filthy, and bloody marks from binding his wrists were clearly visible.

"Brother Donglou!"

Hu Zongxian was the first to rush forward.

Zhao Zhenji was a few steps slower, but he quickly stepped forward and helped him up.

"Well!"

Yan Shifan weakly raised his pale face.

That was the effect of lead powder prepared by the Taoist priests of Chaotian Palace; his lips were chapped and bleeding, and ginger juice was specially applied to his eyes to bring out the red veins.

"Thief...you've ruined me..."

He uttered a few words in a weak voice, then suddenly his head lolled to the side and he fainted.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Zhenji was extremely anxious: "Quick! Get to the Imperial Hospital immediately!"

Yan Shifan's disguise could fool ordinary people who were not skilled in medicine, but it could not be diagnosed by the imperial physicians. He would then slowly wake up when the crowd gathered.

Hu Zongxian, who was closest to him, vaguely sensed that Donglou's condition was not as bad as it appeared, and asked, "Brother Donglou, you have been missing these days. Are you really being held captive by thieves?"

Zhao Zhenji was still preoccupied with the murder case. Upon seeing him awake, she asked, "Who killed Hongchang? Did that group of murderers target you?"

"Ugh!"

"Now that things have come to this, I won't hide it from you anymore—"

"The thieves wanted to frame me for murder in order to get rid of my father... The mastermind behind this group is Huo Tao!"

Yan Shifan thought to himself that the two of them were cooperating well, and he intermittently revealed the "truth" about the imperial examination.

The crowd immediately exploded.

"Elder Huo... that old scoundrel Huo actually did such a thing!"

"How can the talent selection ceremony be tainted by court intrigue?"

The students of the Imperial Academy ultimately retained a sense of innocence.

They pursue justice and fairness.

Moreover, the fairness of the imperial examination was related to the future of each of them, and they became even more indignant upon hearing this.

Zhao Zhenji said sternly, "This matter must be thoroughly investigated and the truth revealed. Such acts of fraud and deception will not be tolerated!"

For a member of the council to utter such words is quite remarkable.

After all, this, in a sense, negated the results of this imperial examination.

The first to be affected were the many tribute students who were on the list.

Many students were filled with awe and respect.

Some people believe that he made a verbal promise in order to gain fame.

"Gentlemen, you are all wise... Thank you..."

Yan Shifan had finished speaking when he coughed violently again, coughing up the cinnabar pill he had been holding under his tongue, which bloomed into a shocking blood flower on the ground.

"I never imagined that the son of the Grand Secretary would suffer such torment!"

"That old scoundrel Huo Tao, in order to frame the Grand Secretary, has even abandoned the dignity of a scholar!"

"Lord Yan is also deeply concerned for his son... If I were to suffer such an injustice, my father would probably be even more..."

People often pity the suffering before their eyes, but they can hardly discern the truth behind the scenes.

Even the students who were previously dissatisfied with Yan Song have changed their minds.

His son suffered such an unjust injustice, and even his life was threatened. No wonder the usually gentle Grand Secretary Yan took such a ruthless action!

That's understandable!
The messenger quickly returned, and a horse-drawn carriage sped over.

Inside the carriage was the old servant of the Yan family, who was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes: "Young Master is finally back! Master and Madam have been so worried these past few days that they haven't been able to eat or drink!"

"I need to get back quickly...to put my parents' minds at ease!"

With the help of Hu Zongxian and Zhao Zhenji, Yan Shifan boarded the carriage and reluctantly bid farewell to his classmates.

Everyone watched him leave, and when they returned to the Imperial Academy, the winds of change had shifted considerably.

"Jie Jie Jie!"

Yan Shifan, who had narrowly escaped death, lay sprawled in the carriage, letting out a series of triumphant laughs.

The old servant's expression also calmed down, and he said in a low voice, "Young master, the master is really angry this time!"

Yan Shifan pursed his lips, thinking to himself, 'Father will thank me in the future! If it weren't for this coercion, how would the world know the power of the Yan family?'

Of course, he didn't dare say it directly, so he changed his words: "Now, in the cabinet, no one will dare to oppose Father, right?"

The old servant sighed softly, "Scholar Xia has entered the Qianqing Palace..."

Yan Shifan was stunned upon hearing this, then suddenly straightened up, his eyes wide open:
"Xia Yan?"

(End of this chapter)