In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1185 - 1097: Bridges to Bridges, Roads to Roads

Chapter 1185: Chapter 1097: Bridges to Bridges, Roads to Roads

Qin Yi had been frazzled these past few days over the matters of the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination, staying up so long that his eyes were bloodshot and his face showed fatigue.

Seeing the situation was unfavorable, Marquis Yingwu suggested that he go to the pavilion by the lotus pond for some fishing.

At the moment, early spring was warming but still chilly, and thin ice still covered the lake in the morning. After an hour of fishing, not to mention little fish, they hadn’t even seen a single shrimp.

However, neither of the men was paying attention to the little fish in the lake. They held their fishing rods and stared blankly at the water, but their thoughts had long since drifted far away.

When Su Pan’er came over, what she saw were two geese gazing vacantly, lost in the view of who knows what.

It was Marquis Yingwu who first noticed Su Pan’er approaching and quickly stood up to pay his respects, "This humble official greets the Empress."

"Marquis Yingwu, please rise."

Su Pan’er made a gesture in the air and then, looking at Qin Yi who turned to her, she bent slightly and greeted, "Your servant greets Your Majesty. Your Majesty seems to be enjoying himself."

"Empress, how did you come here?"

Qin Yi was somewhat surprised.

Although Su Pan’er occasionally threw a little tantrum, overall, she was sensible and understood the bigger picture. Her coming to find him in the morning like this was extremely rare.

After glancing at Marquis Yingwu, Su Pan’er smiled and inquired, "Your Majesty, I heard that Princess Anping has been found?"

So that was the issue.

"Indeed! That is the case." He did not elaborate and instead asked her, "This matter only just happened; how did you come to know of it?"

Seeing the Emperor and Empress in conversation, Marquis Yingwu promptly excused himself politely and, taking the fishing rods with him, moved a good distance away, standing with his back to them.

This distance was just right, allowing the Emperor and Empress to see him, but he couldn’t see them. Yet, he would be able to come over swiftly at the first call from them.

"Actually, I wanted to ask about Jun Ruoxue’s whereabouts. Is she doing well now?"

She gently bit her teeth.

"You took the risk to send her out of Shengjing, but for your sake, I will give her a chance to live. However, while the death penalty can be spared, the living punishment is hard to forgive! If she insists on following the same path as Qin Hong, opposing me, the next time we meet, I will not spare her!"

Qin Yi’s voice was heavy, his gaze firm.

Su Pan’er found herself at a loss for words, but still hastily nodded with a forced laugh.

"Jun Ruoxue was once my life’s savior; a life for a life, her great kindness is remembered in my heart. I couldn’t ignore her when in danger. But now, I have settled our debts, and should we meet again, it will be a case of each going our own way. Not to mention offending Your Majesty, even if she troubles me, I will handle it as it should be handled."

"Remember what you said today!"

Qin Yi visibly relaxed quite a bit and even showed a slight smile. Turning back, he picked up the rod again and started to bait the hook anew.

"Princess Anping unexpectedly appeared in Shengjing City last time, and afterward, I sent someone to Yingtian Prefecture to investigate. However, they encountered mountain robbers on the way and were unexpectedly thwarted, with dozens dying. The Imperial Envoy was delayed on the road for a few days and only managed to reach Yingtian Prefecture a few days ago, sending back news that both Qin Hong and Princess Anping were in the Prefecture."

He spoke calmly as if he was remarking on how pleasant the weather was today.

But Su Pan’er couldn’t help but let out a few cold laughs, "Their moves are indeed fast! Who do you think is helping them from behind?"

Qin Ru’s status was special and sensitive; although it was said that he was recuperating in Yingtian Prefecture, in reality, he was under house arrest. He could never leave Yingtian Prefecture for the rest of his life. However, at the moment, the Imperial Envoy dispatched by Qin Yi could still encounter "mountain robbers" on the road, which could only mean his opponent was incredibly connected. Yet, by looking at it from another angle, it also exposed their weaknesses.

Originally, Qin Yi could tolerate Qin Ru’s survival as long as he could control him. Now that Qin Ru was seeking death and heading straight into the line of fire, it was no wonder Qin Yi spoke so calmly about it.

The calmer he spoke, the more it indicated that he had already made up his mind about how to handle the situation.

Su Pan’er, who knew Qin Yi’s character well, nodded silently.

"You didn’t come today just to ask about this, did you?"

Qin Yi suddenly turned his head to look at her.

"Indeed, I came to see you because of the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination," she said.

Su Pan’er took the opportunity to sit next to Qin Yi on a large rock next to him: "I heard that you suspect there was cheating during the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination?"

"That is true. Last year during the Beneficent Examination, although we caught a group of cheaters, I always felt that there was still a big snake lurking in the dark, waiting for an opportunity. This feeling is quite peculiar; although I don’t have any solid evidence, I can clearly sense it. However, I sent Lord Wang to serve as the inspection official, and after much probing, he couldn’t find any conclusive results."

"How are the arrangements and personnel movements in the examination hall?"

Su Pan’er asked casually.

Qin Yi paused for just a moment before roughly explaining the situation inside the examination hall.

"As for cheating in the Imperial Examination, there are several common methods," she said.

With a mind full of such knowledge, Su Pan’er was naturally not stingy in sharing them: "Colluding with other people, submitting past works, smuggling in answers, using ghostwriters, oral transmission of answers, cheating using candles, sending messages by carrier pigeons, and so on."

"The first method is colluding with others, where dozens form factions and collectively create momentum. Before the Spring Exam, there were many such students in Shengjing City, bewildering the Chief Examiner with their acts, running about and infiltrating, or collectively targeting people from another ’shed.’

"The second method is submitting past works. Present officials all have a custom of turning in their best pieces to the officials they are satisfied with; if successful, they cheerfully enter their service. Another submission, known as ’reviewing,’ happens half a month later. Once they pass the exam, they naturally align themselves with the officials and are at their disposal."

"The third method is smuggling in answers, which is the most common form of cheating. Answers are pre-written on small slips of paper that are carried into the examination site with stationery, food, candles, etc. This year, His Majesty has forcefully reformed this practice, cutting off this approach and surely ringing a warning bell for those students who prepared adequately."

"The fourth method is using ghostwriters. Commonly, it’s either taking the exam in someone else’s name or swapping papers within the examination hall. The first type is someone else taking the exam under a false identity. In the second type, both individuals enter the hall as examinees; one writes the other’s name and vice versa. This usually happens between one rich and one poor student."

"The fifth method is oral transmission of answers. Preventing this relies on the atmosphere in the examination venue, as there aren’t many who can move freely within the examination hall after it begins."

"The sixth method, cheating using candles."

"The seventh method, sending messages by carrier pigeons."

"All these methods must have already been thoroughly investigated by His Majesty, so I won’t elaborate further," she said.

Su Pan’er rationally laid out so much to the astonishment of Qin Yi.

"I didn’t expect that you, Pan’er, knew such detail about these things!" exclaimed Qin Yi.

"I have sent people specifically to gather information in eateries and teahouses, so naturally, I am well informed," she replied.

Su Pan’er left unsaid that in her past life, she was a notorious ringleader and was well-acquainted with such matters.