Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

On the surface, the establishment of the Gyeonggi Water Conservancy Bureau was a continuation and expansion of his work-for-relief program, aimed at improving people's livelihoods and addressing practical issues.

However, its deeper purpose is closely related to the imperial examination case that Lin Yue is investigating.

He knew very well that once the imperial examination fraud case was exposed, it would inevitably implicate the Ministry of Rites.

The Minister of Rites was also a core figure in the faction of Grand Tutor Xun Huiming.

If, after bringing down Minister of Revenue Huang Shizhong, the Ministry of Rites can be severely damaged, then the Grand Tutor's power will suffer a devastating blow.

But Lacey also understood that bringing down two ministers of the Six Ministries in succession would inevitably arouse the emperor's vigilance and cause a major upheaval in the court.

He cannot appear as a powerful minister who is keen on factional struggles and eliminating dissidents.

Therefore, while secretly investigating the imperial examination scandal, he had to do something more eye-catching in the open.

The Gyeonggi Water Conservancy Bureau is the new chess game he has set up.

This move kills three birds with one stone.

Firstly, we can continue to expand the scale of work-for-relief programs to more firmly grasp the hearts and minds of the people.

The will of the people is his strongest shield against all conspiracies and schemes.

Secondly, it allows them to more closely unite pragmatic officials like Zhang Cheng, the Vice Minister of Works, around them.

They formed a political group labeled as "pragmatic" to distance themselves from the Grand Tutor's reformist faction and the so-called old party.

Thirdly, and most importantly, he wanted to use this incident to divert the court's attention.

While everyone's attention was focused on the bustling water conservancy projects in the capital, Lin Yue's secret investigation at the Dali Temple went largely unnoticed.

He wanted to use this overwhelming public outcry to cover up the sound of his sharpening knife.

Once Lin Yue has solid evidence and the time is right, he can then ignite the imperial examination scandal. At that time, he can stand on the moral high ground of "serving the people wholeheartedly and having no interest in factional strife" and deliver a fatal blow to his opponents.

This is the experience he summarized from the Grand Canal transport case: investigate through covert means and create momentum through overt means.

Both hands must be grasped and both hands must be strong.

Laisi returned to his desk, spread out a new memorial, and wrote the title: "Memorial Requesting the Establishment of a Capital Region Water Conservancy Bureau to Strengthen the Foundation of the Nation and Promote Water Conservancy".

His writing style is steady and powerful, just like his layout, which is meticulous and watertight.

He knew, of course, that Grand Tutor Xun Huiming was also trying to find a way to retaliate.

This old man, who has been navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom for decades, will certainly not sit idly by and wait for his doom.

But Lacey wasn't afraid.

Xun Huiming understood political maneuvering, but he didn't understand infrastructure.

Xun Huiming understood the wickedness of human nature, but he did not understand the unyielding nature of the people's hearts.

It is better to block than to open up.

Whether it's managing rivers or governing the world, the principles are the same.

And what he, Laixi, is best at is this Erhai medicine |] Cover [Liushan Er].

……

Over the next few days, Baizhao City presented a peculiar scene.

On the surface, King Yanxi of Qin once again became the focus of attention throughout the city.

His memorial regarding the establishment of the Capital Region Water Conservancy Bureau was immediately praised by the Emperor.

The emperor not only granted the request, but also allocated a huge sum of money from the imperial treasury and Huang Shizhong's confiscated property, and appointed Prince Qin Yanxi to oversee the matter, with Zhang Cheng, the Vice Minister of Works, as his deputy, to push it forward with all their might.

For a time, the reputation of the King of Qin for being "pragmatic" and "serving the people" reached its peak.

Throughout the capital, new recruitment points were set up everywhere, and countless unemployed craftsmen and laborers happily joined this massive infrastructure project.

The threshold of the Qin Prince's mansion was almost worn down by the officials and gentry who came to sing his praises.

……

Inside a secret room at the Dali Temple.

Lin Yue frowned as he looked at the intelligence reports handed to him by his subordinates.

"Sir, we've found it!" Wang Wu, who was in charge of keeping an eye on Wang Teng, reported.

"That Wang Teng has been very extravagant lately. He spent a fortune at the Zuimenglou in the west of the city and even redeemed a popular girl from her servitude and bought her a house."

"According to our estimates, he has spent at least 50,000 taels of silver in just half a month!"

"His father's entire year's salary wouldn't even be enough to fill this hole!"

Lin Yue snorted coldly: "It's more than just one year!"

"It seems he made quite a bit of money from this calligraphy deal."

"Sir, I've made progress on my end too." Li San, who was in charge of posing as a rich young man, looked exhausted with dark circles under his eyes, but his spirits were high.

"I've spent nearly ten thousand taels of silver at Zuimenglou and several big casinos these past few days, and I've finally managed to make a connection."

“A broker named Third Master secretly contacted me last night, saying he had connections and could get me the necessary travel documents, but not for the provincial examination, but for next year’s metropolitan examination.”

"I'll offer... 100,000 taels of gold, guaranteed to produce one Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)!"

"One hundred thousand taels of gold!" Everyone in the secret room gasped.

This is simply a sky-high price!

"What else did he say?" Lin Yue pressed.

He said that this was just a small step; the real key was his calligraphy for the provincial examination.

He said that the business had been monopolized by those in power, and that they, as middlemen, had no way to get involved.

"He also subtly mentioned that the top scorer in this provincial examination, a man named Liu Jing, had gotten his position by offering an exorbitantly priced calligraphy piece."

"Liu Jing?" Lin Yue's eyes narrowed.

At this moment, Zhao Si, who was in charge of investigating the students' backgrounds, immediately stepped forward and pulled out a file from a pile of files: "Sir, Liu Jing's information is here."

"This person comes from a humble background, his parents died early, and he has only been able to study to this day thanks to the support of the clan school. His performance in the school is mediocre, and can even be described as below average."

"But in this provincial examination, he amazed everyone with his essay 'On the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Equal Transportation System,' which was personally praised by the chief examiner, Lord Wang Qinian, as a 'talent for governing the world.' He overruled the objections of others and appointed him as the top candidate in the province."

"Utterly ordinary on ordinary days, but stunningly amazing in one day?" Lin Yue sneered.

"What a talent for governing the world!"

"Investigate! Find out everything about Liu Jing!"

"Where would a poor student like him get the money to buy calligraphy? He must have someone backing him!"

"Yes!"

As intelligence gathered, a massive fraud network began to take shape.

This network has a clear division of labor and a tight organization.

At the bottom level are brokers like Third Master, who are responsible for finding clients among wealthy merchants and the sons of powerful figures.

The middle-level personnel are likely to be second-generation officials like Wang Teng, who use their parents' power to handle specific operations, such as passing on exam questions and switching exam papers.

And at the top level, without a doubt, are the high-ranking officials of the six ministries who hold the power of examiners!

They are the protectors of this network and also the biggest beneficiaries.

From leaking exam questions to organizing proxy test-takers, and even directly switching exam papers after the exam, the methods of cheating are varied and rampant, far exceeding Lin Yue's imagination.

Liu Jing, who came first in the provincial examination, is a typical example of a poor but talented man, and he is very likely the model they promoted!

A facade used to cover up other cheaters and silence public opinion!

Having figured this out, Lin Yue felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

These people are not only greedy, but also vicious!

They not only sell official positions and titles, but also deceive the world!

"Sir, what should we do now? Should we take action against Liu Jing?" Li San asked.

Lin Yue shook his head.

"Don't move."

"Liu Jing is now the newly appointed township head, attracting everyone's attention. To touch him would be to alert the enemy."

"Don't touch Wang Teng's side for now. Our target isn't these small fry," Lin Yue said, shaking his head.

"Your Highness means to cast a long line to catch a big fish."

"What we have now is only the edge of this network."

"We must find the core of this network, the mastermind responsible for coordinating the overall situation and distributing the benefits!"

"But... but where are we supposed to find this?" The group looked at each other in bewilderment.

Lin Yue fell silent.

Yes, where should we look?

Wang Qinian, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was likely one of the key figures, but not necessarily the entire group.

Would Grand Tutor Xun Huiming get involved in such a matter?

Given his status, he seemed to disdain such matters.

But if he said he knew nothing about it, Lin Yue would never believe it.

The deeper the investigation goes, the more dangerous it becomes.

He felt as if he were walking on the edge of an abyss, with a bottomless cliff beneath his feet.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the secret room.

A trusted aide whispered outside the door, "Lord Lin, word has come from the manor that Miss...Miss has a high fever and requests your immediate return."

"What?" Lin Yue's expression changed, and the anger in his heart was instantly replaced by worry.

He had no time to think about the case anymore, so he immediately took off his official robes and hurriedly headed towards the mansion.

He was filled with self-reproach.

He's been busy investigating the case these past few days and has hardly been home, forgetting that his younger sister is still just a teenage girl.

Although she was intelligent, it was her first time dealing with such a dark case, and the pressure and fear she felt were unimaginable.

This illness is probably mostly caused by a combination of fear and anxiety.

Lin Yue was extremely anxious and galloped away on horseback.

……

Wherever the sun and moon reach, it is scorching earth: Chapter 253: The silly boy feigns illness

Lin Yue practically burst through the gates and stormed in, his rampage causing the lanterns under the corridor to sway violently in the gust of wind.

The maids and servants guarding the courtyard gate were so frightened that they all lowered their heads and dared not breathe. They had never seen their usually calm and composed Lord Lin lose his composure like this.

"Qingyan! How is Qingyan?" The voice arrived before the person.

He pushed open the door to his sister's bedroom, and the strong smell of medicine hit him, making his heart tighten.

On the bed, Lin Qingyan was wrapped in a thick quilt, her face flushed red, her lips chapped, her eyes tightly closed, and her brows furrowed.

Upon seeing Lin Yue, the old woman beside him quickly stood up and bowed, saying in a tearful voice, "Lord Lin, you've finally returned!"

"Miss...she's had a high fever since the afternoon, and she's been delirious. We can't get her to take any medicine, we're at our wits' end!"

Lin Yue rushed to the bedside in three quick steps and reached out to touch Lin Qingyan's forehead.

The scalding heat from his palms made his heart sink.

"Did you call a doctor? What did the doctor say?" he turned and asked sternly.

"I've already asked, but Doctor Zhang just left. He said... he said the shock and worry had gotten to her heart, and he prescribed a calming medicine, but Miss..."

Lin Yue's gaze fell on the almost untouched bowl of medicine soup by the bedside, and he felt extremely guilty and remorseful.

The root of the problem lies within oneself.

If he hadn't thrown that case at her to test her, how could she have acted this way?