Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1270: Chapter 1272: A Piece of Bitter Heart_1

The words were veiled, but those present understood the implications all too well. Tang Feng was highly likely to become this year’s Champion, and his statement about ”not associating with the Wang Family” suggested more than mere disassociation—it hinted at outright conflict with the Wang Family in the future.

Despite not being from the Capital, Tang Feng’s popularity in Jiangnan was immense. Coupled with the reputation of his mother as a female scholar and his connections with numerous Jiangnan officials, it was uncertain how the Wang Family would be sidelined in the days to come.

Furthermore, with the backing of the Empress Dowager’s maiden Family, the Ding Family, the aristocratic Leng Family from the Capital, and Lin Xufei’s Family, the Wang Family had managed to offend a host of people. Even if the one speaking was just a member of the younger generation, these individuals were the future successors of their Families, and their words carried weight.

Wang Tianyou was momentarily nervous, his forehead breaking out in fine beads of sweat, but he quickly recalled Yang Hongwen’s words and the benefits promised to him, which restored his composure.

With the support of the Yang Family, did he really need to fear these other Families?

It turned out that Yang Hongwen, unable to enter the Imperial Examination himself, had secretly directed Wang Tianyou to cause trouble for Bai Zepei.

”Suit yourself. By opposing our Wang Family over such lowly country folk, be careful not to pay too high a price!” Wang Tianyou said arrogantly as he walked away, clearly not taking responsibility for his actions.

Lin Xufei was itching to thrash him, but after all, this was the exam place. It wasn’t worth breaking the rules for such a person.

He turned and took two brushes from his pen holder and handed them to Bai Zepei, saying, ”Brother Bai, I happen to have extras, you can use these first.”

Leng Bin also took out one of his brushes and said, ”I have an extra one too, putting them together should suffice. Just don’t let it delay the exam.”

Bai Zepei smiled and thanked them both but didn’t accept the brushes they offered. ”Thank you both for your kindness. Fortunately, my younger sister prepared an extra set of brushes and ink for me. Keep yours for yourselves, so it doesn’t affect your own performance.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Bai Zepei opened the compartment of his carry box and revealed a complete set of brush and ink. It was a shame for Wang Tianyou not so far away, his complexion paled as his efforts seemed to have been in vain and had no effect on Bai Zepei.

Bai Zepei then bowed in thanks to everyone. Leng Bin returned the gesture, smiling as he said, ”Don’t thank us. Your sister asked us to look after you and even gave us some emergency pills. Those pills are worth their weight in gold, we got the better end of the deal.”

Lin Xufei and the others laughed along, and Bai Zepei realized that before she left, Bai Ruozhu had helped him prepare for everything, fearing he might face difficulties at the exam place.

Just then, an examiner walked in and, seeing the group, glared at them, ”What are you doing? The exam place is not for loud chatter. Do you want to be disqualified?”

Wang Tianyou’s mouth curled into a sinister smile as he bowed to the officer and said, ”Sir, Bai Zepei called a few people over for a chat, showing blatant disregard for the rules of the exam place and disturbing the other candidates.”

Upon hearing this, the examiner immediately glared at Bai Zepei and declared, ”Bai Zepei, you have violated the rules. There’s no need for you to stay in the exam place any longer—your qualification for the exam is now revoked!”

Everyone frowned upon hearing this. How could the examiner only listen to one side of the story from Wang Tianyou? But the more astute quickly realized that the examiner had been bought off.

”Sir, it was clearly Wang Tianyou who deliberately damaged Bai Zepei’s brushes upon entering the exam place. We are all classmates and just thought to share a few brushes with Bai Zepei to avoid unfair treatment,” Lin Xufei said meaningfully.

Bai Zepei rose, neither servile nor overbearing, and looked toward the invigilator to ask, ”Does your lordship have any evidence to mock my qualifications? You say that I violated the rules of the exam place, but has the test begun yet? Was it I who had gathered everyone together to talk? And as for Wang Tianyou destroying the other candidates’ examination tools, does that conform to the rules?”

”How audacious! Who gave you the gall to question this officer in such a way? I am the invigilator. I know the rules better than any of you. If I say your qualification is revoked, then it is revoked!” the invigilator bellowed as he slammed his hand on the table.

”My lord, we cannot accept this!” Leng Bin exclaimed loudly, ”We have toiled through bitter studies for over a decade, only to witness an authority abusing his power for personal gain?”

”If you revoke Bai Zepei’s qualification today, we refuse to take the exam and will enter the palace to submit an Imperial Decree immediately,” Ding Guangji said with a stern face, wondering what problems this invigilator might cause them next.

At that moment, the chief examiner, accompanied by another invigilator, entered and immediately noticed the standoff in the exam place. His expression turned serious as he said, ”Invigilator Lao, I heard everything that happened just now. You do have quite the nerve!”

Bai Zepei looked over and saw that the chief examiner was none other than Xue Wenhui, the imperial envoy who had once been in charge of investigating the cheating scandal in Anyuan Town.

Everyone promptly paid their respect to Xue Wenhui, and the invigilator Lao Guoliang followed suit before he explained, ”This Bai Zepei has gathered a crowd to create a disturbance. Your Excellency Xue must not be lenient!”

Xue Wenhui snorted coldly, looking at Wang Tianyou to say, ”Considering the hardships of your scholarly endeavors, I will give you one more chance. But this is also a warning—if there are any more actions on your part that affect others, your qualification for the exam will be completely revoked, and you can forget about participating in the Imperial Examination ever again!”

Upon hearing this, everyone showed signs of relief; clearly, Chief Examiner Xue was a man of integrity and fairness.

”All of you, return to your places. As for what just happened, let it be over. The examination is about to begin, and I do not wish for you to be affected by this trivial matter,” Xue Wenhui told Bai Zepei and the others.

Everyone thanked Xue Wenhui and returned to their seats in orderly fashion.

Xue Wenhui turned to look at Lao Guoliang with a chilly demeanor and said, ”The Emperor is wise, having predicted that there might be personal biases and cheating in the examination, and he commanded me to observe the situation covertly beforehand. Did you think I didn’t see what you were doing just now? This is an Imperial edict. You are hereby dismissed from your post and will be taken to prison to await the Emperor’s judgment.”

Lao Guoliang’s face turned ashen with fright as he pleaded innocence repeatedly, but Xue Wenhui paid him no heed and ordered the guards to drag him out.

Xue Wenhui, along with another invigilator, took his place at the head. He glanced at Bai Zepei, who remained composed and self-assured. He inwardly nodded in approval, recognizing that someone who could handle such situations with poise was indeed gifted. No wonder the Emperor had instructed him to ensure Bai’s safety against any underhanded harm.

Bai Zepei, on the other hand, began to speculate. The Emperor must have issued the edict beforehand thanks to his little sister and brother-in-law’s efforts. Indeed, even from afar, they had arranged everything impeccably, or else today he might have fallen into the trap laid by Wang Tianyou and Lao Guoliang.

He swiftly refocused his thoughts, calming his mind to immerse himself in the examination. He had to perform well, not to waste his sister and her husband’s heartfelt efforts.

...

Meanwhile, Bai Ruozhu and her group had just entered the Western Regions and immediately encountered their first trouble. Bai Ruozhu had the opportunity to witness the legendary Barbarian Tribe raiding the Beast Teams, something she had never anticipated before.